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Developmental HCN channelopathy results in decreased neural progenitor proliferation and microcephaly in mice. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2009393118. [PMID: 34429357 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2009393118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The development of the cerebral cortex relies on the controlled division of neural stem and progenitor cells. The requirement for precise spatiotemporal control of proliferation and cell fate places a high demand on the cell division machinery, and defective cell division can cause microcephaly and other brain malformations. Cell-extrinsic and -intrinsic factors govern the capacity of cortical progenitors to produce large numbers of neurons and glia within a short developmental time window. In particular, ion channels shape the intrinsic biophysical properties of precursor cells and neurons and control their membrane potential throughout the cell cycle. We found that hyperpolarization-activated cyclic nucleotide-gated cation (HCN) channel subunits are expressed in mouse, rat, and human neural progenitors. Loss of HCN channel function in rat neural stem cells impaired their proliferation by affecting the cell-cycle progression, causing G1 accumulation and dysregulation of genes associated with human microcephaly. Transgene-mediated, dominant-negative loss of HCN channel function in the embryonic mouse telencephalon resulted in pronounced microcephaly. Together, our findings suggest a role for HCN channel subunits as a part of a general mechanism influencing cortical development in mammals.
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Dirkx N, Miceli F, Taglialatela M, Weckhuysen S. The Role of Kv7.2 in Neurodevelopment: Insights and Gaps in Our Understanding. Front Physiol 2020; 11:570588. [PMID: 33192566 PMCID: PMC7657400 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2020.570588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Kv7.2 subunits encoded by the KCNQ2 gene constitute a critical molecular component of the M-current, a subthreshold voltage-gated potassium current controlling neuronal excitability by dampening repetitive action potential firing. Pathogenic loss-of-function variants in KCNQ2 have been linked to epilepsy since 1998, and there is ample functional evidence showing that dysfunction of the channel indeed results in neuronal hyperexcitability. The recent description of individuals with severe developmental delay with or without seizures due to pathogenic variants in KCNQ2 (KCNQ2-encephalopathy) reveals that Kv7.2 channels also have an important role in neurodevelopment. Kv7.2 channels are expressed already very early in the developing brain when key developmental processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and synaptogenesis play a crucial role in brain morphogenesis and maturation. In this review, we will discuss the available evidence for a role of Kv7.2 channels in these neurodevelopmental processes, focusing in particular on insights derived from KCNQ2-related human phenotypes, from the spatio-temporal expression of Kv7.2 and other Kv7 family member, and from cellular and rodent models, highlighting critical gaps and research strategies to be implemented in the future. Lastly, we propose a model which divides the M-current activity in three different developmental stages, correlating with the cell characteristics during these particular periods in neuronal development, and how this can be linked with KCNQ2-related disorders. Understanding these mechanisms can create opportunities for new targeted therapies for KCNQ2-encephalopathy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Dirkx
- Applied and Translational Neurogenomics Group, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Francesco Miceli
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Maurizio Taglialatela
- Section of Pharmacology, Department of Neuroscience, University of Naples Federico II, Naples, Italy
| | - Sarah Weckhuysen
- Applied and Translational Neurogenomics Group, VIB Center for Molecular Neurology, Vlaams Instituut voor Biotechnologie, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Translational Neurosciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium.,Department of Neurology, Antwerp University Hospital, Antwerp, Belgium
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Yang B, Chen H, Cao J, He B, Wang S, Luo Y, Wang J. Transcriptome Analysis Reveals That Alfalfa Promotes Rumen Development Through Enhanced Metabolic Processes and Calcium Transduction in Hu Lambs. Front Genet 2019; 10:929. [PMID: 31632445 PMCID: PMC6785638 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
A healthy gut is very important for young animal development. The rumen of ruminants expands in size with the colonization of microbiota by 2 months of age. This process is promoted by alfalfa intervention. To elucidate the mechanism of this promotion, we performed transcriptomic analyses using a cohort of 23 lambs to evaluate the effects of starter diets plus alfalfa on the development of the rumen wall from the pre- to the postweaning period. The quantitative PCR analyses were used to validate selected genes that were differentially expressed in the transcriptome mapping. We found that several metabolic processes associated with rumen tissue development were affected by solid feed intake, with genes linked to the calcium signaling transduction pathway and the metabolism of pteridine-containing compounds and homocysteine metabolic process being upregulated in the group with alfalfa intervention. The results suggest that the pteridine-containing compounds and calcium signaling are targets for precise regulation of rumen development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Yang
- MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Institution of Dairy Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Hongwei Chen
- MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Institution of Dairy Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiawen Cao
- MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Institution of Dairy Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Bo He
- MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Institution of Dairy Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Wang
- MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Institution of Dairy Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yang Luo
- MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Institution of Dairy Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jiakun Wang
- MoE Key Laboratory of Molecular Animal Nutrition, Institution of Dairy Science, College of Animal Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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Re S, Dogan AA, Ben-Shachar D, Berger G, Werling AM, Walitza S, Grünblatt E. Improved Generation of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells From Hair Derived Keratinocytes - A Tool to Study Neurodevelopmental Disorders as ADHD. Front Cell Neurosci 2018; 12:321. [PMID: 30319360 PMCID: PMC6167495 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2018.00321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2018] [Accepted: 09/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
In the last decade, there is an increasing application of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) for disease modeling. The iPSC technology enables the study of patient-specific neuronal cell lines in vitro to evaluate dysfunction at the cellular level and identify the responsible genetic factors. This approach might be particularly valuable for filling the gap of knowledge at the cellular and molecular levels underlying the pathophysiology of various neurodevelopmental and/or psychiatric disorders, such as attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the invasiveness of skin biopsy or blood withdrawal might represent a major impediment in such protected population. Using hair derived keratinocytes as starting somatic cells circumvents this problem as sample collections can be performed non-invasively. Here we describe an improved, convenient, standardized and effective method to culture and reprogram hair derived keratinocytes from three healthy controls and one ADHD patient into iPSCs, which in turn will be used to generate differentiated neuronal cells. All the cell types were maintained in highly defined, serum-free conditions and showed expression of the respective key marker genes, assessed by both immunocytochemistry and qRT-PCR. The described in vitro personalized neuronal model has its advantage in modeling neurodevelopmental trajectories since it can recapitulate key processes of brain development at the cellular and molecular level and is intended to be used as for example studying ADHD etiopathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvano Re
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Asli Aybike Dogan
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dorit Ben-Shachar
- Laboratory of Psychobiology, Department of Psychiatry, Rambam Health Care Campus, B. Rappaport Faculty of Medicine, Rappaport Family Institute for Research in Medical Sciences, Technion-Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa, Israel
| | - Gregor Berger
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Anna Maria Werling
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Susanne Walitza
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Edna Grünblatt
- Department of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University Hospital of Psychiatry Zurich, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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Expression of Pluripotency Genes in Chondrocyte-Like Cells Differentiated from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19020550. [PMID: 29439516 PMCID: PMC5855772 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19020550] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2017] [Revised: 02/05/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) constitute an important breakthrough in regenerative medicine, particularly in orthopedics, where more effective treatments are urgently needed. Despite the promise of hiPSCs only limited data on in vitro chondrogenic differentiation of hiPSCs are available. Therefore, we compared the gene expression profile of pluripotent genes in hiPSC-derived chondrocytes (ChiPS) to that of an hiPSC cell line created by our group (GPCCi001-A). The results are shown on heatmaps and plots and confirmed by Reverse Transcription Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-qPCR) analysis. Unlike the ChiPS, our GPCCi001-A cells maintained their pluripotency state during long-term culture, thus demonstrating that this cell line was comprised of stable, fully pluripotent hiPSCs. Moreover, these chondrocyte-like cells not only presented features that are characteristic of chondrocytes, but they also lost their pluripotency, which is an important advantage in favor of using this cell line in future clinical studies.
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Plucked human hair shafts and biomolecular medical research. ScientificWorldJournal 2013; 2013:620531. [PMID: 24302865 PMCID: PMC3835906 DOI: 10.1155/2013/620531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2013] [Accepted: 09/24/2013] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The hair follicle is a skin integument at the boundary between an organism and its immediate environment. The biological role of the human hair follicle has lost some of its ancestral importance. However, an indepth investigation of this miniorgan reveals hidden complexity with huge research potential. An essential consideration when dealing with human research is the awareness of potential harm and thus the absolute need not to harm—a rule aptly qualified by the Latin term “primum non nocere” (first do no harm). The plucked hair shaft offers such advantages. The use of stem cells found in hair follicles cells is gaining momentum in the field of regenerative medicine. Furthermore, current diagnostic and clinical applications of plucked hair follicles include their use as autologous and/or three-dimensional epidermal equivalents, together with their utilization as surrogate tissue in pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamics studies. Consequently, the use of noninvasive diagnostic procedures on hair follicle shafts, posing as a surrogate molecular model for internal organs in the individual patient for a spectrum of human disease conditions, can possibly become a reality in the near future.
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