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Wei W, Li B, Li F, Sun K, Jiang X, Xu R. Variants in FOXC1 and FOXC2 identified in patients with conotruncal heart defects. Genomics 2024; 116:110840. [PMID: 38580085 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2024.110840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/31/2024] [Indexed: 04/07/2024]
Abstract
Conotruncal heart defects (CTD), subtypes of congenital heart disease, result from abnormal cardiac outflow tract development (OFT). FOXC1 and FOXC2 are closely related members of the forkhead transcription factor family and play essential roles in the development of OFT. We confirmed their expression pattern in mouse and human embryos, identifying four variants in FOXC1 and three in FOXC2 by screening these two genes in 605 patients with sporadic CTD. Western blot demonstrated expression levels, while Dual-luciferase reporter assay revealed affected transcriptional abilities for TBX1 enhancer in two FOXC1 variants and three FOXC2 variants. This might result from the altered DNA-binding abilities of mutant proteins. These results indicate that functionally impaired FOXC1 and FOXC2 variants may contribute to the occurrence of CTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Wei
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Bojian Li
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Fen Li
- Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Shanghai Children's Medical Center, China
| | - Kun Sun
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Xuechao Jiang
- Scientific Research Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai, China
| | - Rang Xu
- Scientific Research Center, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine Xinhua Hospital, Shanghai, China.
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2
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Ujiie N, Norden PR, Fang R, Beckmann L, Cai Z, Kweon J, Liu T, Tan C, Kuhn MS, Stamer WD, Aoto K, Quaggin SE, Zhang HF, Kume T. Differential roles of FOXC2 in the trabecular meshwork and Schlemm's canal in glaucomatous pathology. Life Sci Alliance 2023; 6:e202201721. [PMID: 37414529 PMCID: PMC10326420 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202201721] [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: 09/12/2022] [Revised: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 06/29/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Impaired development and maintenance of Schlemm's canal (SC) are associated with perturbed aqueous humor outflow and intraocular pressure. The angiopoietin (ANGPT)/TIE2 signaling pathway regulates SC development and maintenance, whereas the molecular mechanisms of crosstalk between SC and the neural crest (NC)-derived neighboring tissue, the trabecular meshwork (TM), are poorly understood. Here, we show NC-specific forkhead box (Fox)c2 deletion in mice results in impaired SC morphogenesis, loss of SC identity, and elevated intraocular pressure. Visible-light optical coherence tomography analysis further demonstrated functional impairment of the SC in response to changes in intraocular pressure in NC-Foxc2 -/- mice, suggesting altered TM biomechanics. Single-cell RNA-sequencing analysis identified that this phenotype is predominately characterized by transcriptional changes associated with extracellular matrix organization and stiffness in TM cell clusters, including increased matrix metalloproteinase expression, which can cleave the TIE2 ectodomain to produce soluble TIE2. Moreover, endothelial-specific Foxc2 deletion impaired SC morphogenesis because of reduced TIE2 expression, which was rescued by deleting the TIE2 phosphatase VE-PTP. Thus, Foxc2 is critical in maintaining SC identity and morphogenesis via TM-SC crosstalk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoto Ujiie
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Pieter R Norden
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Raymond Fang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Lisa Beckmann
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Zhen Cai
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Junghun Kweon
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
| | - Ting Liu
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Can Tan
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Megan S Kuhn
- Duke Eye Center, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | - Kazushi Aoto
- Department of Biochemistry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Hamamatsu, Japan
| | - Susan E Quaggin
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Hao F Zhang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Northwestern University, Evanston, IL, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Tsutomu Kume
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Department of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Ophthalmology, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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3
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Tan C, Norden PR, Yu W, Liu T, Ujiie N, Lee SK, Yan X, Dyakiv Y, Aoto K, Ortega S, De Plaen IG, Sampath V, Kume T. Endothelial FOXC1 and FOXC2 promote intestinal regeneration after ischemia-reperfusion injury. EMBO Rep 2023; 24:e56030. [PMID: 37154714 PMCID: PMC10328078 DOI: 10.15252/embr.202256030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 04/19/2023] [Indexed: 05/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Intestinal ischemia underlies several clinical conditions and can result in the loss of the intestinal mucosal barrier. Ischemia-induced damage to the intestinal epithelium is repaired by stimulation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), and paracrine signaling from the vascular niche regulates intestinal regeneration. Here, we identify FOXC1 and FOXC2 as essential regulators of paracrine signaling in intestinal regeneration after ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) injury. Vascular endothelial cell (EC)- and lymphatic EC (LEC)-specific deletions of Foxc1, Foxc2, or both in mice worsen I/R-induced intestinal damage by causing defects in vascular regrowth, expression of chemokine CXCL12 and Wnt activator R-spondin 3 (RSPO3) in blood ECs (BECs) and LECs, respectively, and activation of Wnt signaling in ISCs. Both FOXC1 and FOXC2 directly bind to regulatory elements of the CXCL12 and RSPO3 loci in BECs and LECs, respectively. Treatment with CXCL12 and RSPO3 rescues the I/R-induced intestinal damage in EC- and LEC-Foxc mutant mice, respectively. This study provides evidence that FOXC1 and FOXC2 are required for intestinal regeneration by stimulating paracrine CXCL12 and Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Can Tan
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoILUSA
| | - Pieter R Norden
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoILUSA
| | - Wei Yu
- Division of Neonatology, Department of PediatricsChildren's Mercy HospitalKansas CityMOUSA
| | - Ting Liu
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoILUSA
| | - Naoto Ujiie
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoILUSA
| | - Sun Kyong Lee
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoILUSA
| | - Xiaocai Yan
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoILUSA
| | - Yaryna Dyakiv
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoILUSA
| | - Kazushi Aoto
- Department of BiochemistryHamamatsu University School of MedicineHamamatsuJapan
| | - Sagrario Ortega
- Mouse Genome Editing Unit, Biotechnology ProgramSpanish National Cancer Research CentreMadridSpain
| | - Isabelle G De Plaen
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoILUSA
| | - Venkatesh Sampath
- Division of Neonatology, Department of PediatricsChildren's Mercy HospitalKansas CityMOUSA
| | - Tsutomu Kume
- Department of Medicine, Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of MedicineNorthwestern UniversityChicagoILUSA
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Takenoshita M, Takechi M, Vu Hoang T, Furutera T, Akagawa C, Namangkalakul W, Aoto K, Kume T, Miyashin M, Iwamoto T, Iseki S. Cell lineage- and expression-based inference of the roles of forkhead box transcription factor Foxc2 in craniofacial development. Dev Dyn 2021; 250:1125-1139. [PMID: 33667029 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2020] [Revised: 02/08/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Foxc2 is a member of the winged helix/forkhead (Fox) box family of transcription factors. Loss of function of Foxc2 causes craniofacial abnormalities such as cleft palate and deformed cranial base, but its role during craniofacial development remains to be elucidated. RESULTS The contributions of Foxc2-positive and its descendant cells to the craniofacial structure at E18.5 were examined using a tamoxifen-inducible Cre driver mouse (Foxc2-CreERT2) crossed with the R26R-LacZ reporter mouse. Foxc2 expression at E8.5 is restricted to the cranial mesenchyme, contributing to specific components including the cranial base, sensory capsule, tongue, upper incisor, and middle ear. Expression at E10.5 was still positively regulated in most of those regions. In situ hybridization analysis of Foxc2 and its closely related gene, Foxc1, revealed that expression domains of these genes largely overlap in the cephalic mesenchyme. Meanwhile, the tongue expressed Foxc2 but not Foxc1, and its development was affected by the neural crest-specific deletion of Foxc2 in mice (Wnt1-Cre; Foxc2fl/fl ). CONCLUSIONS Foxc2 is expressed in cranial mesenchyme that contributes to specific craniofacial tissue components from an early stage, and it seems to be involved in their development in cooperation with Foxc1. Foxc2 also has its own role in tongue development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manami Takenoshita
- Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Special Needs Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masaki Takechi
- Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tri Vu Hoang
- Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toshiko Furutera
- Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Chisaki Akagawa
- Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Worachat Namangkalakul
- Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazushi Aoto
- Department of Biochemistry, Hamamatsu University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Kume
- Feinberg Cardiovascular Research Institute, Development of Medicine, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Michiyo Miyashin
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Special Needs Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tsutomu Iwamoto
- Department of Pediatric Dentistry and Special Needs Dentistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sachiko Iseki
- Department of Molecular Craniofacial Embryology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University (TMDU), Tokyo, Japan
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Inman KE, Caiaffa CD, Melton KR, Sandell LL, Achilleos A, Kume T, Trainor PA. Foxc2 is required for proper cardiac neural crest cell migration, outflow tract septation, and ventricle expansion. Dev Dyn 2019; 247:1286-1296. [PMID: 30376688 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24684] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Proper development of the great vessels of the heart and septation of the cardiac outflow tract requires cardiac neural crest cells. These cells give rise to the parasympathetic cardiac ganglia, the smooth muscle layer of the great vessels, some cardiomyocytes, and the conotruncal cushions and aorticopulmonary septum of the outflow tract. Ablation of cardiac neural crest cells results in defective patterning of each of these structures. Previous studies have shown that targeted deletion of the forkhead transcription factor C2 (Foxc2), results in cardiac phenotypes similar to that derived from cardiac neural crest cell ablation. RESULTS We report that Foxc2-/- embryos on the 129s6/SvEv inbred genetic background display persistent truncus arteriosus and hypoplastic ventricles before embryonic lethality. Foxc2 loss-of-function resulted in perturbed cardiac neural crest cell migration and their reduced contribution to the outflow tract as evidenced by lineage tracing analyses together with perturbed expression of the neural crest cell markers Sox10 and Crabp1. Foxc2 loss-of-function also resulted in alterations in PlexinD1, Twist1, PECAM1, and Hand1/2 expression in association with vascular and ventricular defects. CONCLUSIONS Our data indicate Foxc2 is required for proper migration of cardiac neural crest cells, septation of the outflow tract, and development of the ventricles. Developmental Dynamics 247:1286-1296, 2018. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberly E Inman
- Department of Natural Sciences, Shawnee State University, Portsmouth, Ohio
| | | | - Kristin R Melton
- Section of Neonatology, Pulmonary and Perinatal Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Lisa L Sandell
- Department of Oral Immunology & Infectious Diseases, School of Dentistry, University of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky
| | - Annita Achilleos
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Tsutomu Kume
- Feinberg Cardiovascular and Renal Research Institute, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Paul A Trainor
- Stowers Institute for Medical Research, Kansas City, Missouri.,Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas School of Medicine, Kansas City, Kansas
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Foxc2 and BMP2 Induce Osteogenic/Odontogenic Differentiation and Mineralization of Human Stem Cells from Apical Papilla. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:2363917. [PMID: 30147726 PMCID: PMC6083741 DOI: 10.1155/2018/2363917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
As a transcription factor regulated by bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2), Forkhead c2 (Foxc2) plays a pivot role in osteogenesis/odontogenesis. However, the role of Foxc2 and BMP2 in regulating osteo-/odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of stem cells from apical papilla (SCAP) is still uncertain. In this research, overexpression of Foxc2 gene significantly improved the proliferation of SCAP four days and eight days after transfection, but overexpression of both Foxc2 and BMP2 genes significantly inhibited the proliferation of SCAP eight days after transfection. RT-qPCR and western blot results indicated that SCAP-Foxc2-BMP2 significantly upregulated osteo-/odontogenic genes and proteins at most of the time points in SCAP after transfection. Moreover, SCAP-Foxc2-BMP2 formed notably more alkaline phosphatase-positive and alizarin red-positive mineralized nodules than other three group cells sixteen days after transfection. In conclusion, our findings revealed that Foxc2 and BMP2 synergistically promoted osteo-/odontogenic differentiation and mineralization of SCAP in vitro.
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