1
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Satou-Kobayashi Y, Takahashi S, Haramoto Y, Asashima M, Taira M. Zbtb11 interacts with Otx2 and patterns the anterior neuroectoderm in Xenopus. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0293852. [PMID: 39083515 PMCID: PMC11290676 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0293852] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024] Open
Abstract
The zinc finger and BTB domain-containing 11 gene (zbtb11) is expressed in the Xenopus anterior neuroectoderm, but the molecular nature of the Zbtb11 protein during embryonic development remains to be elucidated. Here, we show the role of Zbtb11 in anterior patterning of the neuroectoderm and the cooperative action with the transcription factor Otx2. Both overexpression and knockdown of zbtb11 caused similar phenotypes: expanded expression of the posterior gene gbx2 in the neural plate, and later microcephaly with reduced eyes, suggesting that a proper level of zbtb11 expression is necessary for normal patterning of the neuroectoderm, including eye formation. Co-immunoprecipitation assays showed that Zbtb11 formed a complex with itself and with a phosphomimetic and repressive form of Otx2, suggesting that Zbtb11 forms a dimer or oligomer and interacts with Otx2 in a phosphorylation-dependent manner. Reporter analysis further showed that Zbtb11 enhanced the activity of the phosphomimetic Otx2 to repress a silencer element of the posterior gene meis3. These data suggest that Zbtb11 coordinates with phosphorylated Otx2 to specify the anterior neuroectoderm by repressing posterior genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yumeko Satou-Kobayashi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shuji Takahashi
- Amphibian Research Center, Graduate School of Science, Hiroshima University, Higashi-Hiroshima, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Yoshikazu Haramoto
- Cellular and Molecular Biotechnology Research Institute, National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), Tsukuba, Ibaraki, Japan
- Department of Agri-Production Sciences, College of Agriculture, Tamagawa University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Makoto Asashima
- Advanced Comprehensive Research Organization, Teikyo University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masanori Taira
- Department of Biological Sciences, Graduate School of Science, University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Faculty of Science and Engineering, Chuo University, Tokyo, Japan
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2
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Rath MF. Homeobox gene-encoded transcription factors in development and mature circadian function of the rodent pineal gland. J Pineal Res 2024; 76:e12950. [PMID: 38558122 DOI: 10.1111/jpi.12950] [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: 10/03/2023] [Revised: 02/15/2024] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024]
Abstract
Homeobox genes encode transcription factors that are widely known to control developmental processes. This is also the case in the pineal gland, a neuroendocrine brain structure devoted to nighttime synthesis of the hormone melatonin. Thus, in accordance with high prenatal gene expression, knockout studies have identified a specific set of homeobox genes that are essential for development of the pineal gland. However, as a special feature of the pineal gland, homeobox gene expression persists into adulthood, and gene product abundance exhibits 24 h circadian rhythms. Recent lines of evidence show that some homeobox genes even control expression of enzymes catalyzing melatonin synthesis. We here review current knowledge of homeobox genes in the rodent pineal gland and suggest a model for dual functions of homeobox gene-encoded transcription factors in developmental and circadian mature neuroendocrine function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin F Rath
- Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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3
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Kwon HJ, Farmer LDM, Moore MH. Heterozygous FGFR3 c.138G>A Mutation Presenting With Achondroplasia and Hemifacial Microsomia. J Craniofac Surg 2024:00001665-990000000-01352. [PMID: 38363292 DOI: 10.1097/scs.0000000000010030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
We present a case of a patient with achondroplasia, hemifacial microsomia and an fibroblast growth factor receptor3 c.138G>A mutation. An association between the 2 conditions has not been previously described, but there is biological plausibility that the etiology of the 2 conditions is linked.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hyok Jun Kwon
- Cleft and Craniofacial South Australia, Women's and Children's Hospital, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
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4
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Seto Y, Ogihara R, Takizawa K, Eiraku M. In vitro induction of patterned branchial arch-like aggregate from human pluripotent stem cells. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1351. [PMID: 38355589 PMCID: PMC10867012 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45285-0] [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: 05/16/2023] [Accepted: 01/19/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Early patterning of neural crest cells (NCCs) in the craniofacial primordium is important for subsequent development of proper craniofacial structures. However, because of the complexity of the environment of developing tissues, surveying the early specification and patterning of NCCs is difficult. In this study, we develop a simplified in vitro 3D model using human pluripotent stem cells to analyze the early stages of facial development. In this model, cranial NCC-like cells spontaneously differentiate from neural plate border-like cells into maxillary arch-like mesenchyme after a long-term culture. Upon the addition of EDN1 and BMP4, these aggregates are converted into a mandibular arch-like state. Furthermore, temporary treatment with EDN1 and BMP4 induces the formation of spatially separated domains expressing mandibular and maxillary arch markers within a single aggregate. These results suggest that this in vitro model is useful for determining the mechanisms underlying cell fate specification and patterning during early facial development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusuke Seto
- Laboratory of Developmental Systems, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan.
| | - Ryoma Ogihara
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan
| | - Kaori Takizawa
- Laboratory of Developmental Systems, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - Mototsugu Eiraku
- Laboratory of Developmental Systems, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
- Department of Polymer Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Kyoto, 615-8510, Japan.
- Institute for Advanced Study of Human Biology (WPI-ASHBi), Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
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5
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Terrinoni A, Micheloni G, Moretti V, Caporali S, Bernardini S, Minieri M, Pieri M, Giaroni C, Acquati F, Costantino L, Ferrara F, Valli R, Porta G. OTX Genes in Adult Tissues. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:16962. [PMID: 38069286 PMCID: PMC10707059 DOI: 10.3390/ijms242316962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2023] [Revised: 11/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
OTX homeobox genes have been extensively studied for their role in development, especially in neuroectoderm formation. Recently, their expression has also been reported in adult physiological and pathological tissues, including retina, mammary and pituitary glands, sinonasal mucosa, in several types of cancer, and in response to inflammatory, ischemic, and hypoxic stimuli. Reactivation of OTX genes in adult tissues supports the notion of the evolutionary amplification of functions of genes by varying their temporal expression, with the selection of homeobox genes from the "toolbox" to drive or contribute to different processes at different stages of life. OTX involvement in pathologies points toward these genes as potential diagnostic and/or prognostic markers as well as possible therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alessandro Terrinoni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Micheloni
- Genomic Medicine Research Center, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via JH Dunant 5, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Vittoria Moretti
- Genomic Medicine Research Center, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via JH Dunant 5, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Sabrina Caporali
- Department of Industrial Engineering, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via del Politecnico 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Bernardini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Marilena Minieri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Massimo Pieri
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Via Montpellier 1, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Cristina Giaroni
- Department of Medicina e Innovazione Tecnologica, University of Insubria, Via JH Dunant 5, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Francesco Acquati
- Genomic Medicine Research Center, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via JH Dunant 5, 21100 Varese, Italy
- Department of Biotechnology and Life Science, University of Insubria, Via JH Dunant 3, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Lucy Costantino
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centro Diagnostico Italiano, Via Saint Bon 20, 20147 Milano, Italy
| | - Fulvio Ferrara
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Centro Diagnostico Italiano, Via Saint Bon 20, 20147 Milano, Italy
| | - Roberto Valli
- Genomic Medicine Research Center, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via JH Dunant 5, 21100 Varese, Italy
| | - Giovanni Porta
- Genomic Medicine Research Center, Department of Medicine and Surgery, University of Insubria, Via JH Dunant 5, 21100 Varese, Italy
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6
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Lim Y. Transcription factors in microcephaly. Front Neurosci 2023; 17:1302033. [PMID: 38094004 PMCID: PMC10716367 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2023.1302033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Higher cognition in humans, compared to other primates, is often attributed to an increased brain size, especially forebrain cortical surface area. Brain size is determined through highly orchestrated developmental processes, including neural stem cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, lamination, arborization, and apoptosis. Disruption in these processes often results in either a small (microcephaly) or large (megalencephaly) brain. One of the key mechanisms controlling these developmental processes is the spatial and temporal transcriptional regulation of critical genes. In humans, microcephaly is defined as a condition with a significantly smaller head circumference compared to the average head size of a given age and sex group. A growing number of genes are identified as associated with microcephaly, and among them are those involved in transcriptional regulation. In this review, a subset of genes encoding transcription factors (e.g., homeobox-, basic helix-loop-helix-, forkhead box-, high mobility group box-, and zinc finger domain-containing transcription factors), whose functions are important for cortical development and implicated in microcephaly, are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youngshin Lim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA, United States
- Department of Biomedical Science Education, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA, United States
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7
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Ovadia S, Cui G, Elkon R, Cohen-Gulkar M, Zuk-Bar N, Tuoc T, Jing N, Ashery-Padan R. SWI/SNF complexes are required for retinal pigmented epithelium differentiation and for the inhibition of cell proliferation and neural differentiation programs. Development 2023; 150:dev201488. [PMID: 37522516 PMCID: PMC10482007 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2022] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/01/2023]
Abstract
During embryonic development, tissue-specific transcription factors and chromatin remodelers function together to ensure gradual, coordinated differentiation of multiple lineages. Here, we define this regulatory interplay in the developing retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), a neuroectodermal lineage essential for the development, function and maintenance of the adjacent retina. We present a high-resolution spatial transcriptomic atlas of the developing mouse RPE and the adjacent ocular mesenchyme obtained by geographical position sequencing (Geo-seq) of a single developmental stage of the eye that encompasses young and more mature ocular progenitors. These transcriptomic data, available online, reveal the key transcription factors and their gene regulatory networks during RPE and ocular mesenchyme differentiation. Moreover, conditional inactivation followed by Geo-seq revealed that this differentiation program is dependent on the activity of SWI/SNF complexes, shown here to control the expression and activity of RPE transcription factors and, at the same time, inhibit neural progenitor and cell proliferation genes. The findings reveal the roles of the SWI/SNF complexes in controlling the intersection between RPE and neural cell fates and the coupling of cell-cycle exit and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shai Ovadia
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Guizhong Cui
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Department of Basic Research, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Ran Elkon
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Mazal Cohen-Gulkar
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Nitay Zuk-Bar
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
| | - Tran Tuoc
- Department of Human Genetics, Ruhr University of Bochum, 44791 Bochum, Germany
| | - Naihe Jing
- Guangzhou National Laboratory, Department of Basic Research, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Ruth Ashery-Padan
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neuroscience, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv 69978, Israel
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8
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Suppinger S, Zinner M, Aizarani N, Lukonin I, Ortiz R, Azzi C, Stadler MB, Vianello S, Palla G, Kohler H, Mayran A, Lutolf MP, Liberali P. Multimodal characterization of murine gastruloid development. Cell Stem Cell 2023:S1934-5909(23)00170-4. [PMID: 37209681 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2023.04.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/22/2023]
Abstract
Gastruloids are 3D structures generated from pluripotent stem cells recapitulating fundamental principles of embryonic pattern formation. Using single-cell genomic analysis, we provide a resource mapping cell states and types during gastruloid development and compare them with the in vivo embryo. We developed a high-throughput handling and imaging pipeline to spatially monitor symmetry breaking during gastruloid development and report an early spatial variability in pluripotency determining a binary response to Wnt activation. Although cells in the gastruloid-core revert to pluripotency, peripheral cells become primitive streak-like. These two populations subsequently break radial symmetry and initiate axial elongation. By performing a compound screen, perturbing thousands of gastruloids, we derive a phenotypic landscape and infer networks of genetic interactions. Finally, using a dual Wnt modulation, we improve the formation of anterior structures in the existing gastruloid model. This work provides a resource to understand how gastruloids develop and generate complex patterns in vitro.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simon Suppinger
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), 4058 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Marietta Zinner
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nadim Aizarani
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Ilya Lukonin
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Roche Institute of Human Biology, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Raphael Ortiz
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Chiara Azzi
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), 4058 Basel, Switzerland; Babraham Institute, Cambridge CB22 3AT, UK
| | - Michael B Stadler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), 4058 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland; Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Stefano Vianello
- School of Life Sciences, Federal Institute of Technology EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Giovanni Palla
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Center Munich, 85764 Munich, Germany; TUM School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technical University of Munich, 80333 Munich, Germany
| | - Hubertus Kohler
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), 4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Mayran
- School of Life Sciences, Federal Institute of Technology EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Matthias P Lutolf
- Roche Institute of Human Biology, 4058 Basel, Switzerland; School of Life Sciences, Federal Institute of Technology EPFL, 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Prisca Liberali
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research (FMI), 4058 Basel, Switzerland; University of Basel, 4001 Basel, Switzerland.
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9
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Cohen-Gulkar M, David A, Messika-Gold N, Eshel M, Ovadia S, Zuk-Bar N, Idelson M, Cohen-Tayar Y, Reubinoff B, Ziv T, Shamay M, Elkon R, Ashery-Padan R. The LHX2-OTX2 transcriptional regulatory module controls retinal pigmented epithelium differentiation and underlies genetic risk for age-related macular degeneration. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3001924. [PMID: 36649236 PMCID: PMC9844853 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3001924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Accepted: 11/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Tissue-specific transcription factors (TFs) control the transcriptome through an association with noncoding regulatory regions (cistromes). Identifying the combination of TFs that dictate specific cell fate, their specific cistromes and examining their involvement in complex human traits remain a major challenge. Here, we focus on the retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE), an essential lineage for retinal development and function and the primary tissue affected in age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a leading cause of blindness. By combining mechanistic findings in stem-cell-derived human RPE, in vivo functional studies in mice and global transcriptomic and proteomic analyses, we revealed that the key developmental TFs LHX2 and OTX2 function together in transcriptional module containing LDB1 and SWI/SNF (BAF) to regulate the RPE transcriptome. Importantly, the intersection between the identified LHX2-OTX2 cistrome with published expression quantitative trait loci, ATAC-seq data from human RPE, and AMD genome-wide association study (GWAS) data, followed by functional validation using a reporter assay, revealed a causal genetic variant that affects AMD risk by altering TRPM1 expression in the RPE through modulation of LHX2 transcriptional activity on its promoter. Taken together, the reported cistrome of LHX2 and OTX2, the identified downstream genes and interacting co-factors reveal the RPE transcription module and uncover a causal regulatory risk single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the multifactorial common blinding disease AMD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mazal Cohen-Gulkar
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Ahuvit David
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Naama Messika-Gold
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Mai Eshel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shai Ovadia
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Nitay Zuk-Bar
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Maria Idelson
- The Hadassah Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center, The Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy and Department of Gynecology, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Yamit Cohen-Tayar
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Benjamin Reubinoff
- The Hadassah Human Embryonic Stem Cell Research Center, The Goldyne Savad Institute of Gene Therapy and Department of Gynecology, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Tamar Ziv
- Smoler Proteomics Center, Lorry I. Lokey Interdisciplinary Center for Life Sciences and Engineering, Faculty of Biology, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Meir Shamay
- Daniella Lee Casper Laboratory in Viral Oncology, Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar-Ilan University, Safed, Israel
| | - Ran Elkon
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- * E-mail: (RE); (RAP)
| | - Ruth Ashery-Padan
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics and Biochemistry, Sackler Faculty of Medicine and Sagol School of Neurosciences, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- * E-mail: (RE); (RAP)
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10
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Regionalization of the Early Nervous System. Neurogenetics 2023. [DOI: 10.1007/978-3-031-07793-7_3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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11
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Sun C, Chen S. Disease-causing mutations in genes encoding transcription factors critical for photoreceptor development. Front Mol Neurosci 2023; 16:1134839. [PMID: 37181651 PMCID: PMC10172487 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2023.1134839] [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: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Photoreceptor development of the vertebrate visual system is controlled by a complex transcription regulatory network. OTX2 is expressed in the mitotic retinal progenitor cells (RPCs) and controls photoreceptor genesis. CRX that is activated by OTX2 is expressed in photoreceptor precursors after cell cycle exit. NEUROD1 is also present in photoreceptor precursors that are ready to specify into rod and cone photoreceptor subtypes. NRL is required for the rod fate and regulates downstream rod-specific genes including the orphan nuclear receptor NR2E3 which further activates rod-specific genes and simultaneously represses cone-specific genes. Cone subtype specification is also regulated by the interplay of several transcription factors such as THRB and RXRG. Mutations in these key transcription factors are responsible for ocular defects at birth such as microphthalmia and inherited photoreceptor diseases such as Leber congenital amaurosis (LCA), retinitis pigmentosa (RP) and allied dystrophies. In particular, many mutations are inherited in an autosomal dominant fashion, including the majority of missense mutations in CRX and NRL. In this review, we describe the spectrum of photoreceptor defects that are associated with mutations in the above-mentioned transcription factors, and summarize the current knowledge of molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenic mutations. At last, we deliberate the outstanding gaps in our understanding of the genotype-phenotype correlations and outline avenues for future research of the treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Sun
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- *Correspondence: Chi Sun,
| | - Shiming Chen
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, United States
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12
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Schnirman RE, Kuo SJ, Kelly RC, Yamaguchi TP. The role of Wnt signaling in the development of the epiblast and axial progenitors. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 153:145-180. [PMID: 36967193 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.01.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/29/2023]
Abstract
Understanding how the body plan is established during embryogenesis remains a fundamental biological question. The Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a crucial and highly conserved role in body plan formation, functioning to polarize the primary anterior-posterior (AP) or head-to-tail body axis in most metazoans. In this chapter, we focus on the roles that the mammalian Wnt/β-catenin pathway plays to prepare the pluripotent epiblast for gastrulation, and to elicit the emergence of multipotent axial progenitors from the caudal epiblast. Interactions between Wnt and retinoic acid (RA), another powerful family of developmental signaling molecules, in axial progenitors will also be discussed. Gastrulation movements and somitogenesis result in the anterior displacement of the RA source (the rostral somites and lateral plate mesoderm (LPM)), from the posterior Wnt source (the primitive streak (PS)), leading to the establishment of antiparallel gradients of RA and Wnt that control the self-renewal and successive differentiation of neck, trunk and tail progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Samuel J Kuo
- NCI-Frederick, NIH, Frederick, MD, United States
| | - Ryan C Kelly
- NCI-Frederick, NIH, Frederick, MD, United States
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13
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Fabiani M, Libotte F, Margiotti K, Tannous DKI, Sparacino D, D’Aleo MP, Monaco F, Dello Russo C, Mesoraca A, Giorlandino C. Agnathia-Otocephaly Complex Due to a De Novo Deletion in the OTX2 Gene. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13122269. [PMID: 36553536 PMCID: PMC9778614 DOI: 10.3390/genes13122269] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Revised: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 11/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Agnathia-otocephaly complex (AOC) is a rare and usually lethal malformation typically characterized by hypoplasia or the absence of the mandible, ventromedial and caudal displacement of the ears with or without the fusion of the ears, a small oral aperture with or without a tongue hypoplasia. Its incidence is reported as 1 in 70,000 births and its etiology has been attributed to both genetic and teratogenic causes. AOC is characterized by a wide severity clinical spectrum even when occurring within the same family, ranging from a mild mandibular defect to an extreme facial aberration incompatible with life. Most AOC cases are due to a de novo sporadic mutation. Given the genetic heterogeneity, many genes have been reported to be implicated in this disease but to date, the link to only two genes has been confirmed in the development of this complex: the orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2) gene and the paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) gene. In this article, we report a case of a fetus with severe AOC, diagnosed in routine ultrasound scan in the first trimester of pregnancy. The genetic analysis showed a novel 10 bp deletion mutation c.766_775delTTGGGTTTTA in the OTX2 gene, which has never been reported before, together with a missense variant c.778T>C in cis conformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marco Fabiani
- ALTAMEDICA, Human Genetics Laboratory, Viale Liegi 45, 00198 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Libotte
- ALTAMEDICA, Human Genetics Laboratory, Viale Liegi 45, 00198 Rome, Italy
| | - Katia Margiotti
- ALTAMEDICA, Human Genetics Laboratory, Viale Liegi 45, 00198 Rome, Italy
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +39-06-85058961
| | - Dina Khader Issa Tannous
- School of Medicine and Surgery, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, UniCamillus-Saint Camillus International University of Health Sciences, Via di Sant’Alessandro, 8, 00131 Rome, Italy
| | - Davide Sparacino
- ALTAMEDICA, Human Genetics Laboratory, Viale Liegi 45, 00198 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria Pia D’Aleo
- ALTAMEDICA, Human Genetics Laboratory, Viale Liegi 45, 00198 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Monaco
- ALTAMEDICA, Human Genetics Laboratory, Viale Liegi 45, 00198 Rome, Italy
| | | | - Alvaro Mesoraca
- ALTAMEDICA, Human Genetics Laboratory, Viale Liegi 45, 00198 Rome, Italy
| | - Claudio Giorlandino
- ALTAMEDICA, Human Genetics Laboratory, Viale Liegi 45, 00198 Rome, Italy
- ALTAMEDICA, Department of Prenatal Diagnosis, Fetal-Maternal Medical Centre, Altamedica Viale Liegi 45, 00198 Rome, Italy
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14
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Celse T, Tingaud-Sequeira A, Dieterich K, Siegfried G, Lecaignec C, Bouneau L, Fannemel M, Salaun G, Laffargue F, Martinez G, Satre V, Vieville G, Bidart M, Soussi Zander C, Turesson AC, Splitt M, Reboul D, Chiesa J, Khau Van Kien P, Godin M, Gruchy N, Goel H, Palmer E, Demetriou K, Shalhoub C, Rooryck-Thambo C, Coutton C. OTX2 duplications: a recurrent cause of oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum. J Med Genet 2022; 60:620-626. [DOI: 10.1136/jmg-2022-108678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 10/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
BackgroundOculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS) is the second most common cause of head and neck malformations in children after orofacial clefts. OAVS is clinically heterogeneous and characterised by a broad range of clinical features including ear anomalies with or without hearing loss, hemifacial microsomia, orofacial clefts, ocular defects and vertebral abnormalities. Various genetic causes were associated with OAVS and copy number variations represent a recurrent cause of OAVS, but the responsible gene often remains elusive.MethodsWe described an international cohort of 17 patients, including 10 probands and 7 affected relatives, presenting with OAVS and carrying a 14q22.3 microduplication detected using chromosomal microarray analysis. For each patient, clinical data were collected using a detailed questionnaire addressed to the referring clinicians. We subsequently studied the effects ofOTX2overexpression in a zebrafish model.ResultsWe defined a 272 kb minimal common region that only overlaps with theOTX2gene. Head and face defects with a predominance of ear malformations were present in 100% of patients. The variability in expressivity was significant, ranging from simple chondromas to severe microtia, even between intrafamilial cases. Heterologous overexpression ofOTX2in zebrafish embryos showed significant effects on early development with alterations in craniofacial development.ConclusionsOur results indicate that properOTX2dosage seems to be critical for the normal development of the first and second branchial arches. Overall, we demonstrated thatOTX2genomic duplications are a recurrent cause of OAVS marked by auricular malformations of variable severity.
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Howard AGA, Uribe RA. Hox proteins as regulators of extracellular matrix interactions during neural crest migration. Differentiation 2022; 128:26-32. [PMID: 36228422 PMCID: PMC10802151 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2022.09.003] [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: 08/02/2022] [Revised: 09/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Emerging during embryogenesis, the neural crest are a migratory, transient population of multipotent stem cell that differentiates into various cell types in vertebrates. Neural crest cells arise along the anterior-posterior extent of the neural tube, delaminate and migrate along routes to their final destinations. The factors that orchestrate how neural crest cells undergo delamination and their subsequent sustained migration is not fully understood. This review provides a primer about neural crest epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), with a special emphasis on the role of the Extracellular matrix (ECM), cellular effector proteins of EMT, and subsequent migration. We also summarize published findings that link the expression of Hox transcription factors to EMT and ECM modification, thereby implicating Hox factors in regulation of EMT and ECM remodeling during neural crest cell ontogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aubrey G A Howard
- BioSciences Department, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA; Biochemistry and Cell Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA
| | - Rosa A Uribe
- BioSciences Department, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA; Biochemistry and Cell Biology Program, Rice University, Houston, TX, 77005, USA.
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16
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Diacou R, Nandigrami P, Fiser A, Liu W, Ashery-Padan R, Cvekl A. Cell fate decisions, transcription factors and signaling during early retinal development. Prog Retin Eye Res 2022; 91:101093. [PMID: 35817658 PMCID: PMC9669153 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2022.101093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2022] [Revised: 06/02/2022] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The development of the vertebrate eyes is a complex process starting from anterior-posterior and dorso-ventral patterning of the anterior neural tube, resulting in the formation of the eye field. Symmetrical separation of the eye field at the anterior neural plate is followed by two symmetrical evaginations to generate a pair of optic vesicles. Next, reciprocal invagination of the optic vesicles with surface ectoderm-derived lens placodes generates double-layered optic cups. The inner and outer layers of the optic cups develop into the neural retina and retinal pigment epithelium (RPE), respectively. In vitro produced retinal tissues, called retinal organoids, are formed from human pluripotent stem cells, mimicking major steps of retinal differentiation in vivo. This review article summarizes recent progress in our understanding of early eye development, focusing on the formation the eye field, optic vesicles, and early optic cups. Recent single-cell transcriptomic studies are integrated with classical in vivo genetic and functional studies to uncover a range of cellular mechanisms underlying early eye development. The functions of signal transduction pathways and lineage-specific DNA-binding transcription factors are dissected to explain cell-specific regulatory mechanisms underlying cell fate determination during early eye development. The functions of homeodomain (HD) transcription factors Otx2, Pax6, Lhx2, Six3 and Six6, which are required for early eye development, are discussed in detail. Comprehensive understanding of the mechanisms of early eye development provides insight into the molecular and cellular basis of developmental ocular anomalies, such as optic cup coloboma. Lastly, modeling human development and inherited retinal diseases using stem cell-derived retinal organoids generates opportunities to discover novel therapies for retinal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Raven Diacou
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Prithviraj Nandigrami
- Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Andras Fiser
- Department of Systems and Computational Biology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Department of Biochemistry, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA
| | - Ruth Ashery-Padan
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, 69978, Israel
| | - Ales Cvekl
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA; Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, 10461, USA.
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17
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Endoh M, Niwa H. Stepwise pluripotency transitions in mouse stem cells. EMBO Rep 2022; 23:e55010. [PMID: 35903955 PMCID: PMC9442314 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202255010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 07/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent cells in mouse embryos, which first emerge in the inner cell mass of the blastocyst, undergo gradual transition marked by changes in gene expression, developmental potential, polarity, and morphology as they develop from the pre-implantation until post-implantation gastrula stage. Recent studies of cultured mouse pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) have clarified the presence of intermediate pluripotent stages between the naïve pluripotent state represented by embryonic stem cells (ESCs-equivalent to the pre-implantation epiblast) and the primed pluripotent state represented by epiblast stem cells (EpiSCs-equivalent to the late post-implantation gastrula epiblast). In this review, we discuss these recent findings in light of our knowledge on peri-implantation mouse development and consider the implications of these new PSCs to understand their temporal sequence and the feasibility of using them as model system for pluripotency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsuhiro Endoh
- Department of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG)Kumamoto UniversityKumamotoJapan
| | - Hitoshi Niwa
- Department of Pluripotent Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics (IMEG)Kumamoto UniversityKumamotoJapan
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18
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Leung RF, George AM, Roussel EM, Faux MC, Wigle JT, Eisenstat DD. Genetic Regulation of Vertebrate Forebrain Development by Homeobox Genes. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:843794. [PMID: 35546872 PMCID: PMC9081933 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.843794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2021] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Forebrain development in vertebrates is regulated by transcription factors encoded by homeobox, bHLH and forkhead gene families throughout the progressive and overlapping stages of neural induction and patterning, regional specification and generation of neurons and glia from central nervous system (CNS) progenitor cells. Moreover, cell fate decisions, differentiation and migration of these committed CNS progenitors are controlled by the gene regulatory networks that are regulated by various homeodomain-containing transcription factors, including but not limited to those of the Pax (paired), Nkx, Otx (orthodenticle), Gsx/Gsh (genetic screened), and Dlx (distal-less) homeobox gene families. This comprehensive review outlines the integral role of key homeobox transcription factors and their target genes on forebrain development, focused primarily on the telencephalon. Furthermore, links of these transcription factors to human diseases, such as neurodevelopmental disorders and brain tumors are provided.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan F. Leung
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Ankita M. George
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Enola M. Roussel
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Maree C. Faux
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
| | - Jeffrey T. Wigle
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Max Rady College of Medicine, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
- Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, St. Boniface Hospital Albrechtsen Research Centre, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
| | - David D. Eisenstat
- Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC, Australia
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
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Hidalgo-Sánchez M, Andreu-Cervera A, Villa-Carballar S, Echevarria D. An Update on the Molecular Mechanism of the Vertebrate Isthmic Organizer Development in the Context of the Neuromeric Model. Front Neuroanat 2022; 16:826976. [PMID: 35401126 PMCID: PMC8987131 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2022.826976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
A crucial event during the development of the central nervous system (CNS) is the early subdivision of the neural tube along its anterior-to-posterior axis to form neuromeres, morphogenetic units separated by transversal constrictions and programed for particular genetic cascades. The narrower portions observed in the developing neural tube are responsible for relevant cellular and molecular processes, such as clonal restrictions, expression of specific regulatory genes, and differential fate specification, as well as inductive activities. In this developmental context, the gradual formation of the midbrain-hindbrain (MH) constriction has been an excellent model to study the specification of two major subdivisions of the CNS containing the mesencephalic and isthmo-cerebellar primordia. This MH boundary is coincident with the common Otx2-(midbrain)/Gbx2-(hindbrain) expressing border. The early interactions between these two pre-specified areas confer positional identities and induce the generation of specific diffusible morphogenes at this interface, in particular FGF8 and WNT1. These signaling pathways are responsible for the gradual histogenetic specifications and cellular identity acquisitions with in the MH domain. This review is focused on the cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in the specification of the midbrain/hindbrain territory and the formation of the isthmic organizer. Emphasis will be placed on the chick/quail chimeric experiments leading to the acquisition of the first fate mapping and experimental data to, in this way, better understand pioneering morphological studies and innovative gain/loss-of-function analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matías Hidalgo-Sánchez
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- *Correspondence: Matías Hidalgo-Sánchez Diego Echevarria
| | - Abraham Andreu-Cervera
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain
| | - Sergio Villa-Carballar
- Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Diego Echevarria
- Instituto de Neurociencias de Alicante, Universidad Miguel Hernández-CSIC, Alicante, Spain
- *Correspondence: Matías Hidalgo-Sánchez Diego Echevarria
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20
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Gur M, Bendelac-Kapon L, Shabtai Y, Pillemer G, Fainsod A. Reduced Retinoic Acid Signaling During Gastrulation Induces Developmental Microcephaly. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:844619. [PMID: 35372345 PMCID: PMC8967241 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.844619] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2022] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinoic acid (RA) is a central signaling molecule regulating multiple developmental decisions during embryogenesis. Excess RA induces head malformations, primarily by expansion of posterior brain structures at the expense of anterior head regions, i.e., hindbrain expansion. Despite this extensively studied RA teratogenic effect, a number of syndromes exhibiting microcephaly, such as DiGeorge, Vitamin A Deficiency, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, and others, have been attributed to reduced RA signaling. This causative link suggests a requirement for RA signaling during normal head development in all these syndromes. To characterize this novel RA function, we studied the involvement of RA in the early events leading to head formation in Xenopus embryos. This effect was mapped to the earliest RA biosynthesis in the embryo within the gastrula Spemann-Mangold organizer. Head malformations were observed when reduced RA signaling was induced in the endogenous Spemann-Mangold organizer and in the ectopic organizer of twinned embryos. Two embryonic retinaldehyde dehydrogenases, ALDH1A2 (RALDH2) and ALDH1A3 (RALDH3) are initially expressed in the organizer and subsequently mark the trunk and the migrating leading edge mesendoderm, respectively. Gene-specific knockdowns and CRISPR/Cas9 targeting show that RALDH3 is a key enzyme involved in RA production required for head formation. These observations indicate that in addition to the teratogenic effect of excess RA on head development, RA signaling also has a positive and required regulatory role in the early formation of the head during gastrula stages. These results identify a novel RA activity that concurs with its proposed reduction in syndromes exhibiting microcephaly.
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21
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Tsume-Kajioka M, Kimura-Yoshida C, Mochida K, Ueda Y, Matsuo I. BET proteins are essential for the specification and maintenance of the epiblast lineage in mouse preimplantation embryos. BMC Biol 2022; 20:64. [PMID: 35264162 PMCID: PMC8905768 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-022-01251-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2020] [Accepted: 02/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Background During mammalian preimplantation development, as the fertilized egg develops and differentiates, three cell lineages become specified: trophectoderm (TE), epiblast, and primitive endoderm (PrE). Through two steps of cell fate decisions, 16-cell blastomeres develop into TE and an inner cell mass (ICM), and thereafter, the latter differentiates into pluripotent epiblast and PrE. Although bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) proteins, such as BRD4, are necessary for the transcriptional activation of genes involved in the maintenance of mouse embryonic stem cells by occupying their enhancers, their roles in the development of mouse preimplantation are unknown. Results To evaluate the effect of BET protein deficiency on cell lineage formation, we cultured preimplantation embryos in the presence of JQ1, which blocks the binding of BET bromodomains to acetylated-histones. We found BET inhibition blocked the transcriptional activation of genes, such as Nanog, Otx2, and Sox2, important for the formation of the epiblast lineage in blastocysts. Expression studies with lineage-specific markers in morulae and blastocysts revealed BET proteins were essential for the specification and maintenance of the epiblast lineage but were dispensable for the formation of primarily extraembryonic TE and PrE lineages. Additional Ingenuity Pathway Analysis and expression studies with a transcriptionally active form of signal transducer and activator of the transcription 3 (STAT3) suggested BET-dependent activation was partly associated with the STAT3-dependent pathway to maintain the epiblast lineage. To identify BET proteins involved in the formation of the epiblast lineage, we analyzed mutant embryos deficient in Brd4, Brd2, and double mutants. Abolishment of NANOG-positive epiblast cells was only evident in Brd4/Brd2 double-deficient morulae. Thus, the phenotype of JQ1-treated embryos is reproduced not by a Brd4- or Brd2-single deficiency, but only Brd4/Brd2-double deficiency, demonstrating the redundant roles of BRD2 and BRD4 in the specification of the epiblast lineage. Conclusions BET proteins are essential to the specification and maintenance of the epiblast lineage by activating lineage-specific core transcription factors during mouse preimplantation development. Among BET proteins, BRD4 plays a central role and BRD2 a complementary role in the specification and maintenance of epiblast lineages. Additionally, BET-dependent maintenance of the epiblast lineage may be partly associated with the STAT3-dependent pathway. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12915-022-01251-0.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mami Tsume-Kajioka
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Research Institute, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization, 840, Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan
| | - Chiharu Kimura-Yoshida
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Research Institute, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization, 840, Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan
| | - Kyoko Mochida
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Research Institute, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization, 840, Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan
| | - Yoko Ueda
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Research Institute, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization, 840, Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan
| | - Isao Matsuo
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Research Institute, Osaka Women's and Children's Hospital, Osaka Prefectural Hospital Organization, 840, Murodo-cho, Izumi, Osaka, 594-1101, Japan. .,Department of Pediatric and Neonatal-Perinatal Research, Osaka Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan.
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22
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McMahon R, Sibbritt T, Aryamanesh N, Masamsetti VP, Tam PPL. Loss of Foxd4 Impacts Neurulation and Cranial Neural Crest Specification During Early Head Development. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:777652. [PMID: 35178396 PMCID: PMC8843869 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.777652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The specification of anterior head tissue in the late gastrulation mouse embryo relies on signaling cues from the visceral endoderm and anterior mesendoderm (AME). Genetic loss-of-function studies have pinpointed a critical requirement of LIM homeobox 1 (LHX1) transcription factor in these tissues for the formation of the embryonic head. Transcriptome analysis of embryos with gain-of-function LHX1 activity identified the forkhead box gene, Foxd4, as one downstream target of LHX1 in late-gastrulation E7.75 embryos. Our analysis of single-cell RNA-seq data show Foxd4 is co-expressed with Lhx1 and Foxa2 in the anterior midline tissue of E7.75 mouse embryos, and in the anterior neuroectoderm (ANE) at E8.25 alongside head organizer genes Otx2 and Hesx1. To study the role of Foxd4 during early development we used CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) to generate bi-allelic frameshift mutations in the coding sequence of Foxd4. In an in vitro model of the anterior neural tissues derived from Foxd4-loss of function (LOF) mESCs and extraembryonic endoderm cells, expression of head organizer genes as well as Zic1 and Zic2 was reduced, pointing to a need for FOXD4 in regulating early neuroectoderm development. Mid-gestation mouse chimeras harbouring Foxd4-LOF mESCs displayed craniofacial malformations and neural tube closure defects. Furthermore, our in vitro data showed a loss of FOXD4 impacts the expression of cranial neural crest markers Twist1 and Sox9. Our findings have demonstrated that FOXD4 is essential in the AME and later in the ANE for rostral neural tube closure and neural crest specification during head development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riley McMahon
- Embryology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, Australia
| | - Tennille Sibbritt
- Embryology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Nadar Aryamanesh
- Embryology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - V Pragathi Masamsetti
- Embryology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, Australia
| | - Patrick P L Tam
- Embryology Research Unit, Children's Medical Research Institute, Sydney, NSW, Australia.,School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Darlington, NSW, Australia
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Sun J, Yoon J, Lee M, Lee HK, Hwang YS, Daar IO. Zic5 stabilizes Gli3 via a non-transcriptional mechanism during retinal development. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110312. [PMID: 35108539 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 11/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Zic family of zinc finger transcription factors plays a critical role in multiple developmental processes. Using loss-of-function studies, we find that Zic5 is important for the differentiation of retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) and the rod photoreceptor layer through suppressing Hedgehog (Hh) signaling. Further, Zic5 interacts with the critical Hh signaling molecule, Gli3, through the zinc finger domains of both proteins. This Zic5-Gli3 interaction disrupts Gli3/Gli3 homodimerization, resulting in Gli3 protein stabilization via a reduction in Gli3 ubiquitination. During embryonic Hh signaling, the activator form of Gli is normally converted to a repressor form through proteosome-mediated processing of Gli3, and the ratio of Gli3 repressor to full-length (activator) form of Gli3 determines the Gli3 repressor output required for normal eye development. Our results suggest Zic5 is a critical player in regulating Gli3 stability for the proper differentiation of RPE and rod photoreceptor layer during Xenopus eye development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jian Sun
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Jaeho Yoon
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Moonsup Lee
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Hyun-Kyung Lee
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Yoo-Seok Hwang
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA
| | - Ira O Daar
- Cancer and Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD 21702, USA.
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Expression of Otx Genes in Müller Cells Using an In Vitro Experimental Model of Retinal Hypoxia. J Ophthalmol 2022; 2021:6265553. [PMID: 35003791 PMCID: PMC8741358 DOI: 10.1155/2021/6265553] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/03/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Müller glial cells typically activate to react to hypoxic tissue damage in several retinal diseases. We evaluated the in vitro response to a hypoxia-mimicking stimulus on the expression of a set of genes, known to contribute to eye morphogenesis and cell differentiation. Materials and Methods A MIO-M1 Müller cell line was cultured in a hypoxia-mimicking environment by the addition of cobalt chloride to the culture medium, followed by a recovery time in which we mimic restoration from the hypoxic insult. The HIF-1α protein and VEGF-A gene expression were quantified to verify the induction of a hypoxia-like state. Results Among the genes under study, we did not observe any difference in the expression levels of Otx1 and Otx2 during treatment; conversely, Otx1 was overexpressed during recovery steps. The VEGF-A gene was strongly upregulated at both the CoCl2 and recovery time points. The transactivated isoform (TA) of the TP73 gene showed an overexpression in long-term exposure to the hypoxic stimulus with a further increase after recovery. Discussion. Our molecular analysis is able to describe the activation of a set of genes, never before described, that can drive the response to a hypoxia-like status. The improved comprehension of these cellular events will be useful for designing new therapeutical approaches for retinal pathologies.
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Lohoff T, Ghazanfar S, Missarova A, Koulena N, Pierson N, Griffiths JA, Bardot ES, Eng CHL, Tyser RCV, Argelaguet R, Guibentif C, Srinivas S, Briscoe J, Simons BD, Hadjantonakis AK, Göttgens B, Reik W, Nichols J, Cai L, Marioni JC. Integration of spatial and single-cell transcriptomic data elucidates mouse organogenesis. Nat Biotechnol 2022; 40:74-85. [PMID: 34489600 PMCID: PMC8763645 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-01006-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 126] [Impact Index Per Article: 63.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Accepted: 07/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Molecular profiling of single cells has advanced our knowledge of the molecular basis of development. However, current approaches mostly rely on dissociating cells from tissues, thereby losing the crucial spatial context of regulatory processes. Here, we apply an image-based single-cell transcriptomics method, sequential fluorescence in situ hybridization (seqFISH), to detect mRNAs for 387 target genes in tissue sections of mouse embryos at the 8-12 somite stage. By integrating spatial context and multiplexed transcriptional measurements with two single-cell transcriptome atlases, we characterize cell types across the embryo and demonstrate that spatially resolved expression of genes not profiled by seqFISH can be imputed. We use this high-resolution spatial map to characterize fundamental steps in the patterning of the midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB) and the developing gut tube. We uncover axes of cell differentiation that are not apparent from single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data, such as early dorsal-ventral separation of esophageal and tracheal progenitor populations in the gut tube. Our method provides an approach for studying cell fate decisions in complex tissues and development.
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Affiliation(s)
- T Lohoff
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
| | - S Ghazanfar
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A Missarova
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - N Koulena
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - N Pierson
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - J A Griffiths
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Genomics Plc, Cambridge, UK
| | - E S Bardot
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - C-H L Eng
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA
| | - R C V Tyser
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - R Argelaguet
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK
| | - C Guibentif
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Sahlgrenska Center for Cancer Research, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Gothenburg, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - S Srinivas
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - J Briscoe
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - B D Simons
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- The Wellcome/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Applied Mathematics and Theoretical Physics, Centre for Mathematical Sciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - A-K Hadjantonakis
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - B Göttgens
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - W Reik
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, UK.
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
| | - J Nichols
- Wellcome-Medical Research Council Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
| | - L Cai
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, USA.
| | - J C Marioni
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK.
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Cambridge, UK.
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26
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Dissecting the Complexity of Early Heart Progenitor Cells. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 9:jcdd9010005. [PMID: 35050215 PMCID: PMC8779398 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd9010005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 12/17/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Early heart development depends on the coordinated participation of heterogeneous cell sources. As pioneer work from Adriana C. Gittenberger-de Groot demonstrated, characterizing these distinct cell sources helps us to understand congenital heart defects. Despite decades of research on the segregation of lineages that form the primitive heart tube, we are far from understanding its full complexity. Currently, single-cell approaches are providing an unprecedented level of detail on cellular heterogeneity, offering new opportunities to decipher its functional role. In this review, we will focus on three key aspects of early heart morphogenesis: First, the segregation of myocardial and endocardial lineages, which yields an early lineage diversification in cardiac development; second, the signaling cues driving differentiation in these progenitor cells; and third, the transcriptional heterogeneity of cardiomyocyte progenitors of the primitive heart tube. Finally, we discuss how single-cell transcriptomics and epigenomics, together with live imaging and functional analyses, will likely transform the way we delve into the complexity of cardiac development and its links with congenital defects.
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Bando H, Gergics P, Bohnsack BL, Toolan KP, Richter CE, Shavit JA, Camper SA. Otx2b mutant zebrafish have pituitary, eye and mandible defects that model mammalian disease. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:1648-1657. [PMID: 32277752 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddaa064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2020] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/30/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Combined pituitary hormone deficiency (CPHD) is a genetically heterogeneous disorder caused by mutations in over 30 genes. The loss-of-function mutations in many of these genes, including orthodenticle homeobox 2 (OTX2), can present with a broad range of clinical symptoms, which provides a challenge for predicting phenotype from genotype. Another challenge in human genetics is functional evaluation of rare genetic variants that are predicted to be deleterious. Zebrafish are an excellent vertebrate model for evaluating gene function and disease pathogenesis, especially because large numbers of progeny can be obtained, overcoming the challenge of individual variation. To clarify the utility of zebrafish for the analysis of CPHD-related genes, we analyzed the effect of OTX2 loss of function in zebrafish. The otx2b gene is expressed in the developing hypothalamus, and otx2bhu3625/hu3625 fish exhibit multiple defects in the development of head structures and are not viable past 10 days post fertilization (dpf). Otx2bhu3625/hu3625 fish have a small hypothalamus and low expression of pituitary growth hormone and prolactin (prl). The gills of otx2bhu3625/hu3625 fish have weak sodium influx, consistent with the role of prolactin in osmoregulation. The otx2bhu3625/hu3625 eyes are microphthalmic with colobomas, which may underlie the inability of the mutant fish to find food. The small pituitary and eyes are associated with reduced cell proliferation and increased apoptosis evident at 3 and 5 dpf, respectively. These observations establish the zebrafish as a useful tool for the analysis of CPHD genes with variable and complex phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironori Bando
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Peter Gergics
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Brenda L Bohnsack
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kevin P Toolan
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Catherine E Richter
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jordan A Shavit
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Sally A Camper
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Oonuma K, Kusakabe TG. The complete cell lineage and MAPK- and Otx-dependent specification of the dopaminergic cells in the Ciona brain. Development 2021; 148:269114. [PMID: 34121117 DOI: 10.1242/dev.198754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The Ciona larva has served as a unique model for understanding the development of dopaminergic cells at single-cell resolution owing to the exceptionally small number of neurons in its brain and its fixed cell lineage during embryogenesis. A recent study suggested that the transcription factors Fer2 and Meis directly regulate the dopamine synthesis genes in Ciona, but the dopaminergic cell lineage and the gene regulatory networks that control the development of dopaminergic cells have not been fully elucidated. Here, we reveal that the dopaminergic cells in Ciona are derived from a bilateral pair of cells called a9.37 cells at the center of the neural plate. The a9.37 cells divide along the anterior-posterior axis, and all of the descendants of the posterior daughter cells differentiate into the dopaminergic cells. We show that the MAPK pathway and the transcription factor Otx are required for the expression of Fer2 in the dopaminergic cell lineage. Our findings establish the cellular and molecular framework for fully understanding the commitment to dopaminergic cells in the simple chordate brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kouhei Oonuma
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology and Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, Japan
| | - Takehiro G Kusakabe
- Institute for Integrative Neurobiology and Department of Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Konan University, Kobe 658-8501, Japan
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Chowdhury F, Huang B, Wang N. Cytoskeletal prestress: The cellular hallmark in mechanobiology and mechanomedicine. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2021; 78:249-276. [PMID: 33754478 PMCID: PMC8518377 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21658] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2021] [Revised: 03/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Increasing evidence demonstrates that mechanical forces, in addition to soluble molecules, impact cell and tissue functions in physiology and diseases. How living cells integrate mechanical signals to perform appropriate biological functions is an area of intense investigation. Here, we review the evidence of the central role of cytoskeletal prestress in mechanotransduction and mechanobiology. Elevating cytoskeletal prestress increases cell stiffness and reinforces cell stiffening, facilitates long-range cytoplasmic mechanotransduction via integrins, enables direct chromatin stretching and rapid gene expression, spurs embryonic development and stem cell differentiation, and boosts immune cell activation and killing of tumor cells whereas lowering cytoskeletal prestress maintains embryonic stem cell pluripotency, promotes tumorigenesis and metastasis of stem cell-like malignant tumor-repopulating cells, and elevates drug delivery efficiency of soft-tumor-cell-derived microparticles. The overwhelming evidence suggests that the cytoskeletal prestress is the governing principle and the cellular hallmark in mechanobiology. The application of mechanobiology to medicine (mechanomedicine) is rapidly emerging and may help advance human health and improve diagnostics, treatment, and therapeutics of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farhan Chowdhury
- Department of Mechanical Engineering and Energy ProcessesSouthern Illinois University CarbondaleCarbondaleIllinoisUSA
| | - Bo Huang
- Department of Immunology, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences & State Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular BiologyChinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical CollegeBeijingChina
| | - Ning Wang
- Department of Mechanical Science and EngineeringUniversity of Illinois at Urbana‐ChampaignUrbanaIllinoisUSA
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30
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Gregory LC, Gergics P, Nakaguma M, Bando H, Patti G, McCabe MJ, Fang Q, Ma Q, Ozel AB, Li JZ, Poina MM, Jorge AAL, Benedetti AFF, Lerario AM, Arnhold IJP, Mendonca BB, Maghnie M, Camper SA, Carvalho LRS, Dattani MT. The phenotypic spectrum associated with OTX2 mutations in humans. Eur J Endocrinol 2021; 185:121-135. [PMID: 33950863 PMCID: PMC8437083 DOI: 10.1530/eje-20-1453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Objective The transcription factor OTX2 is implicated in ocular, craniofacial, and pituitary development. Design We aimed to establish the contribution of OTX2 mutations in congenital hypopituitarism patients with/without eye abnormalities, study functional consequences, and establish OTX2 expression in the human brain, with a view to investigate the mechanism of action. Methods We screened patients from the UK (n = 103), international centres (n = 24), and Brazil (n = 282); 145 were within the septo-optic dysplasia spectrum, and 264 had no eye phenotype. Transactivation ability of OTX2 variants was analysed in murine hypothalamic GT1-7 neurons. In situ hybridization was performed on human embryonic brain sections. Genetically engineered mice were generated with a series of C-terminal OTX2 variants. Results Two chromosomal deletions and six haploinsufficient mutations were identified in individuals with eye abnormalities; an affected relative of one patient harboured the same mutation without an ocular phenotype. OTX2 truncations led to significant transactivation reduction. A missense variant was identified in another patient without eye abnormalities; however, studies revealed it was most likely not causative. In the mouse, truncations proximal to aa219 caused anophthalmia, while distal truncations and the missense variant were tolerated. During human embryogenesis, OTX2 was expressed in the posterior pituitary, retina, ear, thalamus, choroid plexus, and partially in the hypothalamus, but not in the anterior pituitary. Conclusions OTX2 mutations are rarely associated with hypopituitarism in isolation without eye abnormalities, and may be variably penetrant, even within the same pedigree. Our data suggest that the endocrine phenotypes in patients with OTX2 mutations are of hypothalamic origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise C Gregory
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research & Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Peter Gergics
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Marilena Nakaguma
- Developmental Endocrinology Unit, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Hironori Bando
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Giuseppa Patti
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research & Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
- Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Mark J McCabe
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research & Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
| | - Qing Fang
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Qianyi Ma
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Ayse Bilge Ozel
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Jun Z Li
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Michele Moreira Poina
- Developmental Endocrinology Unit, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Alexander A L Jorge
- Developmental Endocrinology Unit, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Anna F Figueredo Benedetti
- Developmental Endocrinology Unit, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Antonio M Lerario
- Developmental Endocrinology Unit, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ivo J P Arnhold
- Developmental Endocrinology Unit, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Berenice B Mendonca
- Developmental Endocrinology Unit, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mohamad Maghnie
- Department of Pediatrics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genova, Genova, Italy
| | - Sally A Camper
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Luciani R S Carvalho
- Developmental Endocrinology Unit, Hospital das Clinicas da Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mehul T Dattani
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research & Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, UK
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31
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Fischer M, Chander P, Kang H, Mellios N, Weick JP. Transcriptomic changes due to early, chronic intermittent alcohol exposure during forebrain development implicate WNT signaling, cell-type specification, and cortical regionalization as primary determinants of fetal alcohol syndrome. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 2021; 45:979-995. [PMID: 33682149 PMCID: PMC8643076 DOI: 10.1111/acer.14590] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) due to gestational alcohol exposure represents one of the most common causes of nonheritable lifelong disability worldwide. In vitro and in vivo models have successfully recapitulated multiple facets of the disorder, including morphological and behavioral deficits, but far less is understood regarding the molecular and genetic mechanisms underlying FAS. METHODS In this study, we utilized an in vitro human pluripotent stem cell-based (hPSC) model of corticogenesis to probe the effects of early, chronic intermittent alcohol exposure on the transcriptome of first trimester-equivalent cortical neurons. RESULTS We used RNA sequencing of developing hPSC-derived neurons treated for 50 days with 50 mM ethanol and identified a relatively small number of biological pathways significantly altered by alcohol exposure. These included cell-type specification, axon guidance, synaptic function, and regional patterning, with a notable upregulation of WNT signaling-associated transcripts observed in alcohol-exposed cultures relative to alcohol-naïve controls. Importantly, this effect paralleled a shift in gene expression of transcripts associated with regional patterning, such that caudal forebrain-related transcripts were upregulated at the expense of more anterior ones. Results from H9 embryonic stem cells were largely replicated in an induced pluripotent stem cell line (IMR90-4), indicating that these patterning alterations are not cell line-specific. CONCLUSIONS We found that a major effect of chronic intermittent alcohol on the developing cerebral cortex is an overall imbalance in regionalization, with enrichment of gene expression related to the production of posterodorsal progenitors and a diminution of anteroventral progenitors. This finding parallels behavioral and morphological phenotypes observed in animal models of high-dose prenatal alcohol exposure, as well as patients with FAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máté Fischer
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Praveen Chander
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Huining Kang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Nikolaos Mellios
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Autophagy Inflammation and Metabolism (AIM) Center, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA
| | - Jason P Weick
- Department of Neurosciences, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,Center for Brain Recovery and Repair, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA.,New Mexico Alcohol Research Center, University of New Mexico HSC, Albuquerque, NM, USA
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32
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Dewell TE, Gjoni K, Liu AZ, Libby ARG, Moore AT, So PL, Conklin BR. Transcription factor overexpression drives reliable differentiation of retinal pigment epithelium from human induced pluripotent stem cells. Stem Cell Res 2021; 53:102368. [PMID: 34087997 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2021.102368] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 04/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Age-related macular degeneration and genetic forms of blindness such as Best Disease and Retinitis Pigmentosa can be caused by degeneration of the Retinal Pigment Epithelium (RPE). RPE generated from patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) is valuable for both the study of disease mechanisms and development of therapeutic strategies. However, protocols to produce iPSC-derived RPE in vitro are often inefficient, labor-intensive, low-throughput, and highly variable between cell lines and within batches. Here, we report a robust, scalable method to generate iPSC-RPE using doxycycline-inducible expression of eye field transcription factors OTX2, PAX6 and MITF paired with RPE-permissive culture media. Doxycycline addition induces exogenous expression of these transcription factors in Best Disease patient- and wildtype iPSCs to efficiently produce monolayers of RPE with characteristic morphology and gene expression. Further, these RPE monolayers display functionality features including light absorption via pigmentation, polarity-driven fluid transport, and phagocytosis. With this method, we achieve a highly efficient and easily scalable differentiation without the need for mechanical isolation or enrichment methods, generating RPE cultures applicable for in vitro studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tessa E Dewell
- Gladstone Institutes, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ketrin Gjoni
- Gladstone Institutes, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Angela Z Liu
- Gladstone Institutes, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ashley R G Libby
- Gladstone Institutes, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, University of California, 1675 Owens St, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Anthony T Moore
- UCSF Department of Ophthalmology, 10 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143-0730, USA
| | - Po-Lin So
- Gladstone Institutes, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; Gladstone Institutes Stem Cell Core, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Bruce R Conklin
- Gladstone Institutes, 1650 Owens Street, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; UCSF Department of Ophthalmology, 10 Koret Way, San Francisco, CA 94143-0730, USA; Innovative Genomics Institute, 2151 Berkeley Way, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA; UCSF Department of Medicine, 535 Mission Bay Blvd South, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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33
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George SM, Lu F, Rao M, Leach LL, Gross JM. The retinal pigment epithelium: Development, injury responses, and regenerative potential in mammalian and non-mammalian systems. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 85:100969. [PMID: 33901682 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2020] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Diseases that result in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE) degeneration, such as age-related macular degeneration (AMD), are among the leading causes of blindness worldwide. Atrophic (dry) AMD is the most prevalent form of AMD and there are currently no effective therapies to prevent RPE cell death or restore RPE cells lost from AMD. An intriguing approach to treat AMD and other RPE degenerative diseases is to develop therapies focused on stimulating endogenous RPE regeneration. For this to become feasible, a deeper understanding of the mechanisms underlying RPE development, injury responses and regenerative potential is needed. In mammals, RPE regeneration is extremely limited; small lesions can be repaired by the expansion of adjacent RPE cells, but large lesions cannot be repaired as remaining RPE cells are unable to functionally replace lost RPE tissue. In some injury paradigms, RPE cells proliferate but do not regenerate a morphologically normal monolayer, while in others, proliferation is pathogenic and results in further disruption to the retina. This is in contrast to non-mammalian vertebrates, which possess tremendous RPE regenerative potential. Here, we discuss what is known about RPE formation during development in mammalian and non-mammalian vertebrates, we detail the processes by which RPE cells respond to injury, and we describe examples of RPE-to-retina and RPE-to-RPE regeneration in non-mammalian vertebrates. Finally, we outline barriers to RPE-dependent regeneration in mammals that could potentially be overcome to stimulate a regenerative response from the RPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie M George
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Fangfang Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, The Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Mishal Rao
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Lyndsay L Leach
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA
| | - Jeffrey M Gross
- Department of Ophthalmology, Louis J. Fox Center for Vision Restoration, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA; Department of Developmental Biology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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34
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Yamamoto H, Kon T, Omori Y, Furukawa T. Functional and Evolutionary Diversification of Otx2 and Crx in Vertebrate Retinal Photoreceptor and Bipolar Cell Development. Cell Rep 2021; 30:658-671.e5. [PMID: 31968244 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.12.072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Revised: 11/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Otx family homeoproteins Otx2 and Crx are expressed in photoreceptor precursor cells and bind to the common DNA-binding consensus sequence, but these two proteins have distinct functions in retinal development. To examine the functional substitutability of Otx2 and Crx, we generate knockin mouse lines in which Crx is replaced by Otx2 and vice versa. We find that Otx2 and Crx cannot be substituted in photoreceptor development. Subsequently, we investigate the function of Otx2 in photoreceptor and bipolar cell development. High Otx2 levels induce photoreceptor cell fate but not bipolar cell fate, whereas reduced Otx2 expression impairs bipolar cell maturation and survival. Furthermore, we identify Otx2 and Crx in the lamprey genome by using synteny analysis, suggesting that the last common ancestor of vertebrates possesses both Otx2 and Crx. We find that the retinal Otx2 expression pattern is different between lampreys and mice, suggesting that neofunctionalization of Otx2 occurred in the jawed vertebrate lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haruka Yamamoto
- Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Tetsuo Kon
- Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Omori
- Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takahisa Furukawa
- Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, 3-2 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka 565-0871, Japan.
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35
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Xu X, Wang B, Jiang Z, Chen Q, Mao K, Shi X, Yan C, Hu J, Zha Y, Ma C, Zhang J, Guo R, Wang L, Zhao S, Liu H, Zhang Q, Zhang YB. Novel risk factors for craniofacial microsomia and assessment of their utility in clinic diagnosis. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 30:1045-1056. [PMID: 33615373 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddab055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2020] [Revised: 01/03/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Craniofacial microsomia (CFM, OMIM%164 210) is one of the most common congenital facial abnormalities worldwide, but it's genetic risk factors and environmental threats are poorly investigated, as well as their interaction, making the diagnosis and prenatal screening of CFM impossible. We perform a comprehensive association study on the largest CFM cohort of 6074 samples. We identify 15 significant (P < 5 × 10-8) associated genomic loci (including eight previously reported) and decipher 107 candidates based on multi-omics data. Gene Ontology term enrichment found that these candidates are mainly enriched in neural crest cell (NCC) development and hypoxic environment. Single-cell RNA-seq data of mouse embryo demonstrate that nine of them show dramatic expression change during early cranial NCC development whose dysplasia is involved in pathogeny of CFM. Furthermore, we construct a well-performed CFM risk-predicting model based on polygenic risk score (PRS) method and estimate seven environmental risk factors that interacting with PRS. Single-nucleotide polymorphism-based PRS is significantly associated with CFM [P = 7.22 × 10-58, odds ratio = 3.15, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.74-3.63], and the top fifth percentile has a 6.8-fold CFM risk comparing with the 10th percentile. Father's smoking increases CFM risk as evidenced by interaction parameter of -0.324 (95% CI -0.578 to -0.070, P = 0.011) with PRS. In conclusion, the newly identified risk loci will significantly improve our understandings of genetics contribution to CFM. The risk prediction model is promising for CFM prediction, and father's smoking is a key environmental risk factor for CFM through interacting with genetic factors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Xu
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.,Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Bingqing Wang
- Department of Ear Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Zhuoyuan Jiang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.,School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Ear Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Ke Mao
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.,School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Xiaofeng Shi
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Chun Yan
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jintian Hu
- Department of Ear Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Yan Zha
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.,School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Chao Ma
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.,School of Biological Science and Medical Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China
| | - Jiao Zhang
- Department of Ear Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Rui Guo
- Department of Ear Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Liguo Wang
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Shouqin Zhao
- Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery, Beijing Tongren Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing 100730, China
| | - Huisheng Liu
- Bioland Laboratory, Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory, Guangzhou 510320, China
| | - Qingguo Zhang
- Department of Ear Reconstruction, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing 100144, China
| | - Yong-Biao Zhang
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Big Data-Based Precision Medicine, School of Medicine and Engineering, Beihang University, Beijing 100191, China.,Key Laboratory of Big Data-Based Precision Medicine (Beihang University), Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Beijing 100191, China
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36
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Basinski BW, Balikov DA, Aksu M, Li Q, Rao RC. Ubiquitous Chromatin Modifiers in Congenital Retinal Diseases: Implications for Disease Modeling and Regenerative Medicine. Trends Mol Med 2021; 27:365-378. [PMID: 33573910 DOI: 10.1016/j.molmed.2021.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Revised: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 01/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Retinal congenital malformations known as microphthalmia, anophthalmia, and coloboma (MAC) are associated with alterations in genes encoding epigenetic proteins that modify chromatin. We review newly discovered functions of such chromatin modifiers in retinal development and discuss the role of epigenetics in MAC in humans and animal models. Further, we highlight how advances in epigenomic technologies provide foundational and regenerative medicine-related insights into blinding disorders. Combining knowledge of epigenetics and pluripotent stem cells (PSCs) is a promising avenue because epigenetic factors cooperate with eye field transcription factors (EFTFs) to direct PSC fate - a foundation for congenital retinal disease modeling and cell therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian W Basinski
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Daniel A Balikov
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Michael Aksu
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Qiang Li
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rajesh C Rao
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, W.K. Kellogg Eye Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; A. Alfred Taubman Medical Research Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA; Section of Ophthalmology, Surgery Service, Veterans Administration Ann Arbor Healthsystem, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
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37
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Harding P, Cunha DL, Moosajee M. Animal and cellular models of microphthalmia. THERAPEUTIC ADVANCES IN RARE DISEASE 2021; 2:2633004021997447. [PMID: 37181112 PMCID: PMC10032472 DOI: 10.1177/2633004021997447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2021] [Accepted: 02/02/2021] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
Microphthalmia is a rare developmental eye disorder affecting 1 in 7000 births. It is defined as a small (axial length ⩾2 standard deviations below the age-adjusted mean) underdeveloped eye, caused by disruption of ocular development through genetic or environmental factors in the first trimester of pregnancy. Clinical phenotypic heterogeneity exists amongst patients with varying levels of severity, and associated ocular and systemic features. Up to 11% of blind children are reported to have microphthalmia, yet currently no treatments are available. By identifying the aetiology of microphthalmia and understanding how the mechanisms of eye development are disrupted, we can gain a better understanding of the pathogenesis. Animal models, mainly mouse, zebrafish and Xenopus, have provided extensive information on the genetic regulation of oculogenesis, and how perturbation of these pathways leads to microphthalmia. However, differences exist between species, hence cellular models, such as patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) optic vesicles, are now being used to provide greater insights into the human disease process. Progress in 3D cellular modelling techniques has enhanced the ability of researchers to study interactions of different cell types during eye development. Through improved molecular knowledge of microphthalmia, preventative or postnatal therapies may be developed, together with establishing genotype-phenotype correlations in order to provide patients with the appropriate prognosis, multidisciplinary care and informed genetic counselling. This review summarises some key discoveries from animal and cellular models of microphthalmia and discusses how innovative new models can be used to further our understanding in the future. Plain language summary Animal and Cellular Models of the Eye Disorder, Microphthalmia (Small Eye) Microphthalmia, meaning a small, underdeveloped eye, is a rare disorder that children are born with. Genetic changes or variations in the environment during the first 3 months of pregnancy can disrupt early development of the eye, resulting in microphthalmia. Up to 11% of blind children have microphthalmia, yet currently no treatments are available. By understanding the genes necessary for eye development, we can determine how disruption by genetic changes or environmental factors can cause this condition. This helps us understand why microphthalmia occurs, and ensure patients are provided with the appropriate clinical care and genetic counselling advice. Additionally, by understanding the causes of microphthalmia, researchers can develop treatments to prevent or reduce the severity of this condition. Animal models, particularly mice, zebrafish and frogs, which can also develop small eyes due to the same genetic/environmental changes, have helped us understand the genes which are important for eye development and can cause birth eye defects when disrupted. Studying a patient's own cells grown in the laboratory can further help researchers understand how changes in genes affect their function. Both animal and cellular models can be used to develop and test new drugs, which could provide treatment options for patients living with microphthalmia. This review summarises the key discoveries from animal and cellular models of microphthalmia and discusses how innovative new models can be used to further our understanding in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Mariya Moosajee
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, 11-43 Bath
Street, London, EC1V 9EL, UK
- Moorfields Eye Hospital NHS Foundation Trust,
London, UK
- Great Ormond Street Hospital for Children NHS
Foundation Trust, London, UK
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
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38
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Gopinathan NV, Rajkumar S, Vasavada AR. A rare association of aniridia with conjunctival xerosis in two Indian siblings with PAX6 mutation. Indian J Ophthalmol 2020; 68:2635-2637. [PMID: 33120723 PMCID: PMC7774223 DOI: 10.4103/ijo.ijo_2185_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Nair Vidya Gopinathan
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Iladevi Cataract and IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
| | - Sankaranarayanan Rajkumar
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Iladevi Cataract and IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat; Department of Ophthalmic Genetics, Aditya Jyot Foundation for Twinkling Little Eyes, Mumbai, Maharashtra, India
| | - Abhay Raghukant Vasavada
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Iladevi Cataract and IOL Research Centre, Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India
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39
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Liu X, Fang Z, Wen J, Tang F, Liao B, Jing N, Lai D, Jin Y. SOX1 Is Required for the Specification of Rostral Hindbrain Neural Progenitor Cells from Human Embryonic Stem Cells. iScience 2020; 23:101475. [PMID: 32905879 PMCID: PMC7486433 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 07/11/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Region-specific neural progenitor cells (NPCs) can be generated from human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) by modulating signaling pathways. However, how intrinsic transcriptional factors contribute to the neural regionalization is not well characterized. Here, we generate region-specific NPCs from hESCs and find that SOX1 is highly expressed in NPCs with the rostral hindbrain identity. Moreover, we find that OTX2 inhibits SOX1 expression, displaying exclusive expression between the two factors. Furthermore, SOX1 knockout (KO) leads to the upregulation of midbrain genes and downregulation of rostral hindbrain genes, indicating that SOX1 is required for specification of rostral hindbrain NPCs. Our SOX1 chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing analysis reveals that SOX1 binds to the distal region of GBX2 to activate its expression. Overexpression of GBX2 largely abrogates SOX1-KO-induced aberrant gene expression. Taken together, this study uncovers previously unappreciated role of SOX1 in early neural regionalization and provides new information for the precise control of the OTX2/GBX2 interface.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Zhuoqing Fang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Jing Wen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Fan Tang
- Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 225 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Bing Liao
- Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 225 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Naihe Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yue Yang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Dongmei Lai
- International Peace Maternity and Child Health Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200030, China
| | - Ying Jin
- CAS Key Laboratory of Tissue Microenvironment and Tumor, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 320 Yueyang Road, Shanghai 200031, China
- Department of Histoembryology, Genetics and Developmental Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Reproductive Medicine, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 225 South Chongqing Road, Shanghai 200025, China
- Basic Clinical Research Center, Renji Hospital, Shanghai JiaoTong University School of Medicine, 160 Pujian Road, Shanghai 200127, China
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 100 Haike Road, Shanghai 201210, China
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40
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Kamata S, Hashiyama R, Hana-Ika H, Ohkubo I, Saito R, Honda A, Anan Y, Akahoshi N, Noguchi K, Kanda Y, Ishii I. Cytotoxicity comparison of 35 developmental neurotoxicants in human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC), iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells, and transformed cell lines. Toxicol In Vitro 2020; 69:104999. [PMID: 32949729 DOI: 10.1016/j.tiv.2020.104999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2020] [Revised: 08/05/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
The Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) test guideline 426 for developmental neurotoxicity (DNT) of industrial/environmental chemicals depends primarily on animal experimentation. This requirement raises various critical issues, such as high cost, long duration, the sacrifice of large numbers of animals, and interspecies differences. This study demonstrates an alternative protocol that is simple, quick, less expensive, and standardized to evaluate DNT of many chemicals using human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) and their differentiation to neural progenitor cells (NPC). Initially, concentration-dependent cytotoxicity of 35 DNT chemicals, including industrial materials, insecticides, and clinical drugs, were compared among iPSC, NPC, and two transformed cells, Cos-7 and HepG2, using tetrazolium dye (MTS)-reducing colorimetric and ATP luciferase assays, and IC50 values were calculated. Next, inhibitory effects of the 14 representative chemicals (mainly insecticides) on iPSC differentiation to NPC were evaluated by measuring altered expression of neural differentiation and undifferentiation marker genes. Results show that both iPSC and NPC were much more sensitive to most DNT chemicals than the transformed cells, and 14 chemicals induced differential patterns of marker gene expression, highlighting the validity and utility of the protocol for evaluation and classification of DNT chemicals and preclinical DNT tests for safety assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shotaro Kamata
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Reina Hashiyama
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Hiroto Hana-Ika
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Issei Ohkubo
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Ryota Saito
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Akihiro Honda
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Yasumi Anan
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Noriyuki Akahoshi
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan
| | - Kohji Noguchi
- Laboratory of Molecular Target Therapy, Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Tokyo University of Science, Noda, Chiba 278-8510, Japan
| | - Yasunari Kanda
- Division of Pharmacology, National Institute of Health Sciences, Kawasaki, Kanagawa 210-9501, Japan.
| | - Isao Ishii
- Department of Health Chemistry, Showa Pharmaceutical University, Machida, Tokyo 194-8543, Japan.
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41
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Méndez-Maldonado K, Vega-López GA, Aybar MJ, Velasco I. Neurogenesis From Neural Crest Cells: Molecular Mechanisms in the Formation of Cranial Nerves and Ganglia. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:635. [PMID: 32850790 PMCID: PMC7427511 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00635] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The neural crest (NC) is a transient multipotent cell population that originates in the dorsal neural tube. Cells of the NC are highly migratory, as they travel considerable distances through the body to reach their final sites. Derivatives of the NC are neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) and the enteric nervous system as well as non-neural cells. Different signaling pathways triggered by Bone Morphogenetic Proteins (BMPs), Fibroblast Growth Factors (FGFs), Wnt proteins, Notch ligands, retinoic acid (RA), and Receptor Tyrosine Kinases (RTKs) participate in the processes of induction, specification, cell migration and neural differentiation of the NC. A specific set of signaling pathways and transcription factors are initially expressed in the neural plate border and then in the NC cell precursors to the formation of cranial nerves. The molecular mechanisms of control during embryonic development have been gradually elucidated, pointing to an important role of transcriptional regulators when neural differentiation occurs. However, some of these proteins have an important participation in malformations of the cranial portion and their mutation results in aberrant neurogenesis. This review aims to give an overview of the role of cell signaling and of the function of transcription factors involved in the specification of ganglia precursors and neurogenesis to form the NC-derived cranial nerves during organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karla Méndez-Maldonado
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico.,Departamento de Fisiología y Farmacología, Facultad de Medicina Veterinaria y Zootecnia, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico
| | - Guillermo A Vega-López
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.,Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Manuel J Aybar
- Instituto Superior de Investigaciones Biológicas (INSIBIO, CONICET-UNT), San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina.,Instituto de Biología "Dr. Francisco D. Barbieri", Facultad de Bioquímica, Química y Farmacia, Universidad Nacional de Tucumán, San Miguel de Tucumán, Argentina
| | - Iván Velasco
- Instituto de Fisiología Celular - Neurociencias, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Ciudad de México, Mexico.,Laboratorio de Reprogramación Celular, Instituto Nacional de Neurología y Neurocirugía "Manuel Velasco Suárez", Ciudad de México, Mexico
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42
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An OTX2-PAX3 signaling axis regulates Group 3 medulloblastoma cell fate. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3627. [PMID: 32686664 PMCID: PMC7371715 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17357-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/26/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OTX2 is a potent oncogene that promotes tumor growth in Group 3 medulloblastoma. However, the mechanisms by which OTX2 represses neural differentiation are not well characterized. Here, we perform extensive multiomic analyses to identify an OTX2 regulatory network that controls Group 3 medulloblastoma cell fate. OTX2 silencing modulates the repressive chromatin landscape, decreases levels of PRC2 complex genes and increases the expression of neurodevelopmental transcription factors including PAX3 and PAX6. Expression of PAX3 and PAX6 is significantly lower in Group 3 medulloblastoma patients and is correlated with reduced survival, yet only PAX3 inhibits self-renewal in vitro and increases survival in vivo. Single cell RNA sequencing of Group 3 medulloblastoma tumorspheres demonstrates expression of an undifferentiated progenitor program observed in primary tumors and characterized by translation/elongation factor genes. Identification of mTORC1 signaling as a downstream effector of OTX2-PAX3 reveals roles for protein synthesis pathways in regulating Group 3 medulloblastoma pathogenesis. OTX2 promotes tumour growth in Group 3 medulloblastoma. Here, the authors show that OTX2 regulates PAX3 to induce neural de-differentiation and promote tumourigenesis in Group 3 medulloblastoma.
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43
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Müller JS, Burns DT, Griffin H, Wells GR, Zendah RA, Munro B, Schneider C, Horvath R. RNA exosome mutations in pontocerebellar hypoplasia alter ribosome biogenesis and p53 levels. Life Sci Alliance 2020; 3:3/8/e202000678. [PMID: 32527837 PMCID: PMC7295610 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202000678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2020] [Revised: 06/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The RNA exosome is a ubiquitously expressed complex of nine core proteins (EXOSC1-9) and associated nucleases responsible for RNA processing and degradation. Mutations in EXOSC3, EXOSC8, EXOSC9, and the exosome cofactor RBM7 cause pontocerebellar hypoplasia and motor neuronopathy. We investigated the consequences of exosome mutations on RNA metabolism and cellular survival in zebrafish and human cell models. We observed that levels of mRNAs encoding p53 and ribosome biogenesis factors are increased in zebrafish lines with homozygous mutations of exosc8 or exosc9, respectively. Consistent with higher p53 levels, mutant zebrafish have a reduced head size, smaller brain, and cerebellum caused by an increased number of apoptotic cells during development. Down-regulation of EXOSC8 and EXOSC9 in human cells leads to p53 protein stabilisation and G2/M cell cycle arrest. Increased p53 transcript levels were also observed in muscle samples from patients with EXOSC9 mutations. Our work provides explanation for the pathogenesis of exosome-related disorders and highlights the link between exosome function, ribosome biogenesis, and p53-dependent signalling. We suggest that exosome-related disorders could be classified as ribosomopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juliane S Müller
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - David T Burns
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Helen Griffin
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Graeme R Wells
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Romance A Zendah
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Benjamin Munro
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
| | - Claudia Schneider
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Rita Horvath
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Mitochondrial Research, Institute of Genetic Medicine, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK .,Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge, UK
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44
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Gregory LC, Dattani MT. The Molecular Basis of Congenital Hypopituitarism and Related Disorders. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2020; 105:5614788. [PMID: 31702014 DOI: 10.1210/clinem/dgz184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Accepted: 11/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT Congenital hypopituitarism (CH) is characterized by the presence of deficiencies in one or more of the 6 anterior pituitary (AP) hormones secreted from the 5 different specialized cell types of the AP. During human embryogenesis, hypothalamo-pituitary (HP) development is controlled by a complex spatio-temporal genetic cascade of transcription factors and signaling molecules within the hypothalamus and Rathke's pouch, the primordium of the AP. EVIDENCE ACQUISITION This mini-review discusses the genes and pathways involved in HP development and how mutations of these give rise to CH. This may present in the neonatal period or later on in childhood and may be associated with craniofacial midline structural abnormalities such as cleft lip/palate, visual impairment due to eye abnormalities such as optic nerve hypoplasia (ONH) and microphthalmia or anophthalmia, or midline forebrain neuroradiological defects including agenesis of the septum pellucidum or corpus callosum or the more severe holoprosencephaly. EVIDENCE SYNTHESIS Mutations give rise to an array of highly variable disorders ranging in severity. There are many known causative genes in HP developmental pathways that are routinely screened in CH patients; however, over the last 5 years this list has rapidly increased due to the identification of variants in new genes and pathways of interest by next-generation sequencing. CONCLUSION The majority of patients with these disorders do not have an identified molecular basis, often making management challenging. This mini-review aims to guide clinicians in making a genetic diagnosis based on patient phenotype, which in turn may impact on clinical management.
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Affiliation(s)
- Louise Cheryl Gregory
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mehul Tulsidas Dattani
- Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
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45
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Ghinia Tegla MG, Buenaventura DF, Kim DY, Thakurdin C, Gonzalez KC, Emerson MM. OTX2 represses sister cell fate choices in the developing retina to promote photoreceptor specification. eLife 2020; 9:e54279. [PMID: 32347797 PMCID: PMC7237216 DOI: 10.7554/elife.54279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
During vertebrate retinal development, subsets of progenitor cells generate progeny in a non-stochastic manner, suggesting that these decisions are tightly regulated. However, the gene-regulatory network components that are functionally important in these progenitor cells are largely unknown. Here we identify a functional role for the OTX2 transcription factor in this process. CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing was used to produce somatic mutations of OTX2 in the chick retina and identified similar phenotypes to those observed in human patients. Single cell RNA sequencing was used to determine the functional consequences OTX2 gene editing on the population of cells derived from OTX2-expressing retinal progenitor cells. This confirmed that OTX2 is required for the generation of photoreceptors, but also for repression of specific retinal fates and alternative gene regulatory networks. These include specific subtypes of retinal ganglion and horizontal cells, suggesting that in this context, OTX2 functions to repress sister cell fate choices.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Diego F Buenaventura
- Department of Biology, The City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY)New YorkUnited States
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY)New YorkUnited States
| | - Diana Y Kim
- Department of Biology, The City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY)New YorkUnited States
| | - Cassandra Thakurdin
- Department of Biology, The City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY)New YorkUnited States
| | - Kevin C Gonzalez
- Department of Biology, The City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY)New YorkUnited States
| | - Mark M Emerson
- Department of Biology, The City College of New York, City University of New York (CUNY)New YorkUnited States
- PhD Program in Biology, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY)New YorkUnited States
- PhD Program in Biochemistry, The Graduate Center of the City University of New York (CUNY)New YorkUnited States
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Green DG, Whitener AE, Mohanty S, Mistretta B, Gunaratne P, Yeh AT, Lekven AC. Wnt signaling regulates neural plate patterning in distinct temporal phases with dynamic transcriptional outputs. Dev Biol 2020; 462:152-164. [PMID: 32243887 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2019] [Revised: 02/28/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The process that partitions the nascent vertebrate central nervous system into forebrain, midbrain, hindbrain, and spinal cord after neural induction is of fundamental interest in developmental biology, and is known to be dependent on Wnt/β-catenin signaling at multiple steps. Neural induction specifies neural ectoderm with forebrain character that is subsequently posteriorized by graded Wnt signaling: embryological and mutant analyses have shown that progressively higher levels of Wnt signaling induce progressively more posterior fates. However, the mechanistic link between Wnt signaling and the molecular subdivision of the neural ectoderm into distinct domains in the anteroposterior (AP) axis is still not clear. To better understand how Wnt mediates neural AP patterning, we performed a temporal dissection of neural patterning in response to manipulations of Wnt signaling in zebrafish. We show that Wnt-mediated neural patterning in zebrafish can be divided into three phases: (I) a primary AP patterning phase, which occurs during gastrulation, (II) a mes/r1 (mesencephalon-rhombomere 1) specification and refinement phase, which occurs immediately after gastrulation, and (III) a midbrain-hindbrain boundary (MHB) morphogenesis phase, which occurs during segmentation stages. A major outcome of these Wnt signaling phases is the specification of the major compartment divisions of the developing brain: first the MHB, then the diencephalic-mesencephalic boundary (DMB). The specification of these lineage divisions depends upon the dynamic changes of gene transcription in response to Wnt signaling, which we show primarily involves transcriptional repression or indirect activation. We show that otx2b is directly repressed by Wnt signaling during primary AP patterning, but becomes resistant to Wnt-mediated repression during late gastrulation. Also during late gastrulation, Wnt signaling becomes both necessary and sufficient for expression of wnt8b, en2a, and her5 in mes/r1. We suggest that the change in otx2b response to Wnt regulation enables a transition to the mes/r1 phase of Wnt-mediated patterning, as it ensures that Wnts expressed in the midbrain and MHB do not suppress midbrain identity, and consequently reinforce formation of the DMB. These findings integrate important temporal elements into our spatial understanding of Wnt-mediated neural patterning and may serve as an important basis for a better understanding of neural patterning defects that have implications in human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- David G Green
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-5001, USA
| | - Amy E Whitener
- Department of Biology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-3258, USA
| | - Saurav Mohanty
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-5001, USA
| | - Brandon Mistretta
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-5001, USA
| | - Preethi Gunaratne
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-5001, USA
| | - Alvin T Yeh
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, 77843-3120, USA
| | - Arne C Lekven
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Houston, Houston, TX, 77204-5001, USA.
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Markitantova Y, Simirskii V. Inherited Eye Diseases with Retinal Manifestations through the Eyes of Homeobox Genes. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:E1602. [PMID: 32111086 PMCID: PMC7084737 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21051602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal development is under the coordinated control of overlapping networks of signaling pathways and transcription factors. The paper was conceived as a review of the data and ideas that have been formed to date on homeobox genes mutations that lead to the disruption of eye organogenesis and result in inherited eye/retinal diseases. Many of these diseases are part of the same clinical spectrum and have high genetic heterogeneity with already identified associated genes. We summarize the known key regulators of eye development, with a focus on the homeobox genes associated with monogenic eye diseases showing retinal manifestations. Recent advances in the field of genetics and high-throughput next-generation sequencing technologies, including single-cell transcriptome analysis have allowed for deepening of knowledge of the genetic basis of inherited retinal diseases (IRDs), as well as improve their diagnostics. We highlight some promising avenues of research involving molecular-genetic and cell-technology approaches that can be effective for IRDs therapy. The most promising neuroprotective strategies are aimed at mobilizing the endogenous cellular reserve of the retina.
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Paris JM, Letko A, Häfliger IM, Švara T, Gombač M, Klinc P, Škibin A, Pogorevc E, Drögemüller C. A de novo variant in OTX2 in a lamb with otocephaly. Acta Vet Scand 2020; 62:5. [PMID: 31969185 PMCID: PMC6977343 DOI: 10.1186/s13028-020-0503-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2019] [Accepted: 01/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Otocephaly is a rare lethal malformation of the first branchial arch. While the knowledge on the causes of otocephaly in animals is limited, different syndromic forms in man are associated with variants of the PRRX1 and OTX2 genes. Case presentation A stillborn male lamb of the Istrian Pramenka sheep breed showed several congenital craniofacial anomalies including microstomia, agnathia, aglossia, and synotia. In addition, the lamb had a cleft palate, a small opening in the ventral neck region, a cystic oesophagus and two hepatic cysts. The brain was normally developed despite the deformed shape of the head. Taken together the findings led to a diagnosis of otocephaly. Whole-genome sequencing was performed from DNA of the affected lamb and both parents revealing a heterozygous single nucleotide variant in the OTX2 gene (Chr7: 71478714G > A). The variant was absent in both parents and therefore due to a de novo mutation event. It was a nonsense variant, XM_015097088.2:c.265C > T; which leads to an early premature stop codon and is predicted to truncate more than 70% of the OTX2 open reading frame (p.Arg89*). Conclusions The genetic findings were consistent with the diagnosis of the otocephaly and provide strong evidence that the identified loss-of-function variant is pathogenic due to OTX2 haploinsufficiency. The benefits of trio-based whole-genome sequencing as an emerging tool in veterinary pathology to confirm diagnosis are highlighted.
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Surgical Approach in a Patient With Agnathia-Otocephaly Complex: Three-Stage Mandibular Distraction Protocol. J Craniofac Surg 2019; 31:e84-e89. [PMID: 31634311 DOI: 10.1097/scs.0000000000005945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Agnathia-otocephaly complex (AOC) is a rare malformation complex of the first pharyngeal arch that is characterized by agnathia/dysgnathia, microstomia, aglossia/hypoglossia and variable displacement of the ears. Only 11 post-infancy patients with severe AOC have been described in the literature, and the incidence of this malformation complex is estimated to be 1 per 70,000 births. In this brief clinical study, the authors describe the case of an 18-year-old female diagnosed with AOC who underwent a 3-step mandibular distraction protocol with an external distraction device. The surgical protocol the authors used was unique in that we first placed a tissue expander in the submental area to enlarge the skin envelope in an effort to mitigate skeletal relapse from soft tissue forces. Furthermore, the way in which the authors slowed the activation of the distraction device to allow for soft tissue healing behind the pins was a novel component of the patient's treatment. The 3-step mandibular distraction protocol the authors present in this study increased the length of the mandible by 20 mm, and nearly doubled the size of the patient's mandible from an initial volume of 3.62 cm to a post-operative volume of 6.89 cm. Future surgeries will aim to improve the function of our patient's expanded mandible. Most important of all, the surgical treatment authors are presenting led to a significant improvement in our patient's physical appearance and 3d quality of life.
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Zamariolli M, Colovati M, Moysés-Oliveira M, Nunes N, Caires Dos Santos L, Alvarez Perez AB, Bragagnolo S, Melaragno MI. Rare single-nucleotide variants in oculo-auriculo-vertebral spectrum (OAVS). Mol Genet Genomic Med 2019; 7:e00959. [PMID: 31469246 PMCID: PMC6785430 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Accepted: 08/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Oculo‐auriculo‐vertebral spectrum (OAVS) is a craniofacial developmental disorder that affects structures derived from the first and second pharyngeal arches. The clinically heterogeneous phenotype involves mandibular, oral, and ear development anomalies. Etiology is complex and poorly understood. Genetic factors have been associated, evidenced by chromosomal abnormalities affecting different genomic regions and genes. However, known pathogenic single‐nucleotide variants (SNVs) have only been identified in MYT1 in a restricted number of patients. Therefore, investigations of SNVs on candidate genes may reveal other pathogenic mechanisms. Methods In a cohort of 73 patients, coding and untranslated regions (UTR) of 10 candidate genes (CRKL, YPEL1, MAPK1, NKX3‐2, HMX1, MYT1, OTX2, GSC, PUF60, HOXA2) were sequenced. Rare SNVs were selected and in silico predictions were performed to ascertain pathogenicity. Likely pathogenic variants were validated by Sanger sequencing and heritability was assessed when possible. Results Four likely pathogenic variants in heterozygous state were identified in different patients. Two SNVs were located in the 5’UTR of YPEL1; one in the 3’UTR of CRKL and one in the 3’UTR of OTX2. Conclusion Our work described variants in candidate genes for OAVS and supported the genetic heterogeneity of the spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malú Zamariolli
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mileny Colovati
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Mariana Moysés-Oliveira
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Natália Nunes
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Leonardo Caires Dos Santos
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ana B Alvarez Perez
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Silvia Bragagnolo
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Maria Isabel Melaragno
- Genetics Division, Department of Morphology and Genetics, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
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