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Carotenuto R, Pallotta MM, Tussellino M, Fogliano C. Xenopus laevis (Daudin, 1802) as a Model Organism for Bioscience: A Historic Review and Perspective. BIOLOGY 2023; 12:890. [PMID: 37372174 DOI: 10.3390/biology12060890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2023] [Revised: 06/15/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023]
Abstract
In vitro systems have been mainly promoted by authorities to sustain research by following the 3Rs principle, but continuously increasing amounts of evidence point out that in vivo experimentation is also of extreme relevance. Xenopus laevis, an anuran amphibian, is a significant model organism in the study of evolutionary developmental biology, toxicology, ethology, neurobiology, endocrinology, immunology and tumor biology; thanks to the recent development of genome editing, it has also acquired a relevant position in the field of genetics. For these reasons, X. laevis appears to be a powerful and alternative model to the zebrafish for environmental and biomedical studies. Its life cycle, as well as the possibility to obtain gametes from adults during the whole year and embryos by in vitro fertilization, allows experimental studies of several biological endpoints, such as gametogenesis, embryogenesis, larval growth, metamorphosis and, of course, the young and adult stages. Moreover, with respect to alternative invertebrate and even vertebrate animal models, the X. laevis genome displays a higher degree of similarity with that of mammals. Here, we have reviewed the main available literature on the use of X. laevis in the biosciences and, inspired by Feymann's revised view, "Plenty of room for biology at the bottom", suggest that X. laevis is a very useful model for all possible studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosa Carotenuto
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
| | | | | | - Chiara Fogliano
- Department of Biology, University of Naples Federico II, 80126 Naples, Italy
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Stoupa A, Kariyawasam D, Polak M, Carré A. Genetics of congenital hypothyroidism: Modern concepts. Pediatr Investig 2022; 6:123-134. [PMID: 35774517 PMCID: PMC9218988 DOI: 10.1002/ped4.12324] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most common neonatal endocrine disorder and one of the most common preventable causes of intellectual disability in the world. CH may be due to developmental or functional thyroid defects (primary or peripheral CH) or be hypothalamic-pituitary in origin (central CH). In most cases, primary CH is caused by a developmental malformation of the gland (thyroid dysgenesis, TD) or by a defect in thyroid hormones synthesis (dyshormonogenesis, DH). TD represents about 65% of CH and a genetic cause is currently identified in fewer than 5% of patients. The remaining 35% are cases of DH and are explained with certainty at the molecular level in more than 50% of cases. The etiology of CH is mostly unknown and may include contributions from individual and environmental factors. In recent years, the detailed phenotypic description of patients, high-throughput sequencing technologies, and the use of animal models have made it possible to discover new genes involved in the development or function of the thyroid gland. This paper reviews all the genetic causes of CH. The modes by which CH is transmitted will also be discussed, including a new oligogenic model. CH is no longer simply a dominant disease for cases of CH due to TD and recessive for cases of CH due to DH, but a far more complex disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasia Stoupa
- Department of Paediatric EndocrinologyGynaecology and DiabetologyIle de France Regional Neonatal Screening Centre (CRDN)Necker Enfants‐Malades University HospitalParisFrance
- Institut IMAGINEINSERM U1163ParisFrance
- Institut CochinINSERM U1016ParisFrance
- Centre des maladies endocriniennes rares de la croissance et du dévelopementParisFrance
| | - Dulanjalee Kariyawasam
- Department of Paediatric EndocrinologyGynaecology and DiabetologyIle de France Regional Neonatal Screening Centre (CRDN)Necker Enfants‐Malades University HospitalParisFrance
- Institut IMAGINEINSERM U1163ParisFrance
- Institut CochinINSERM U1016ParisFrance
- Centre des maladies endocriniennes rares de la croissance et du dévelopementParisFrance
| | - Michel Polak
- Department of Paediatric EndocrinologyGynaecology and DiabetologyIle de France Regional Neonatal Screening Centre (CRDN)Necker Enfants‐Malades University HospitalParisFrance
- Institut IMAGINEINSERM U1163ParisFrance
- Institut CochinINSERM U1016ParisFrance
- Centre des maladies endocriniennes rares de la croissance et du dévelopementParisFrance
- Université de Paris CitéParisFrance
| | - Aurore Carré
- Institut IMAGINEINSERM U1163ParisFrance
- Institut CochinINSERM U1016ParisFrance
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Zhang RJ, Yang GL, Cheng F, Sun F, Fang Y, Zhang CX, Wang Z, Wu FY, Zhang JX, Zhao SX, Liang J, Song HD. The mutation screening in candidate genes related to thyroid dysgenesis by targeted next-generation sequencing panel in the Chinese congenital hypothyroidism. Clin Endocrinol (Oxf) 2022; 96:617-626. [PMID: 34374102 DOI: 10.1111/cen.14577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Revised: 05/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is known to be due to thyroid dyshormonogenesis (DH), which is mostly inherited in an autosomal recessive inheritance pattern or thyroid dysgenesis (TD), whose inheritance pattern is controversial and whose molecular etiology remains poorly understood. DESIGN AND METHODS The variants in 37 candidate genes of CH, including 25 genes related to TD, were screened by targeted exon sequencing in 205 Chinese patients whose CH cannot be explained by biallelic variants in genes related to DH. The inheritance pattern of the genes was analyzed in family trios or quartets. RESULTS Of the 205 patients, 83 patients carried at least one variant in 19 genes related to TD, and 59 of those 83 patients harbored more than two variants in distinct candidate genes for CH. Biallelic or de novo variants in the genes related to TD in Chinese patients are rare. We also found nine probands carried only one heterozygous variant in the genes related to TD that were inherited from a euthyroid either paternal or maternal parent. These findings did not support the monogenic inheritance pattern of the genes related to TD in CH patients. Notably, in family trio or quartet analysis, of 36 patients carrying more than two variants in distinct genes, 24 patients carried these variants inherited from both their parents, which indicated that the oligogenic inheritance pattern of the genes related to TD should be considered in CH. CONCLUSIONS Our study expanded the variant spectrum of the genes related to TD in Chinese CH patients. It is rare that CH in Chinese patients could be explained by monogenic germline variants in genes related to TD. The hypothesis of an oligogenic origin of the CH should be considered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui-Jia Zhang
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Guang-Lin Yang
- Department of Vascular Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng Cheng
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Fujian Children's Hospital, Fujian Provincial Maternity and Children's Hospital, Fuzhou, China
| | - Feng Sun
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Ya Fang
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Cao-Xu Zhang
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zheng Wang
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Feng-Yao Wu
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun-Xiu Zhang
- Department of Endocrinology, Maternal and Child Health Institute of Bozhou, Bozhou, China
| | - Shuang-Xia Zhao
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Jun Liang
- Department of Endocrinology, The Central Hospital of Xuzhou Affiliated to Xuzhou Medical College, Xuzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Huai-Dong Song
- The Core Laboratory in Medical Center of Clinical Research, State Key Laboratory of Medical Genomics, Department of Molecular Diagnostics & Endocrinology, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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Stoupa A, Kariyawasam D, Polak M, Carré A. [Genetic of congenital hypothyroidism]. Med Sci (Paris) 2022; 38:263-273. [PMID: 35333163 DOI: 10.1051/medsci/2022028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital hypothyroidism (CH) is the most frequent neonatal endocrine disorder. CH is due to thyroid development or thyroid function defects (primary) or may be of hypothalamic-pituitary origin (central). Primary CH is caused essentially by abnormal thyroid gland morphogenesis (thyroid dysgenesis, TD) or defective thyroid hormone synthesis (dyshormonogenesis, DH). DH accounts for about 35% of CH and a genetic cause is identified in 50% of patients. However, TD accounts for about 65% of CH, and a genetic cause is identified in less than 5% of patients. The pathogenesis of CH is largely unknown and may include the contribution of individual and environmental factors. During the last years, detailed phenotypic description of patients, next-generation sequence technologies and use of animal models allowed the discovery of novel candidate genes in thyroid development and function. We provide an overview of recent genetic causes of primary and central CH. In addition, mode of inheritance and the oligogenic model of CH are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Athanasia Stoupa
- Service d'endocrinologie, gynécologie et diabétologie pédiatriques, Centre régional de dépistage néonatal (CRDN) Île-de-France, Hôpital universitaire Necker-Enfants-malades, AP-HP Paris, France - Affilié Institut IMAGINE, Inserm U1163, Paris, France - Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France - Centre des maladies endocriniennes rares de la croissance et du développement, Paris, France
| | - Dulanjalee Kariyawasam
- Service d'endocrinologie, gynécologie et diabétologie pédiatriques, Centre régional de dépistage néonatal (CRDN) Île-de-France, Hôpital universitaire Necker-Enfants-malades, AP-HP Paris, France - Affilié Institut IMAGINE, Inserm U1163, Paris, France - Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France - Centre des maladies endocriniennes rares de la croissance et du développement, Paris, France
| | - Michel Polak
- Service d'endocrinologie, gynécologie et diabétologie pédiatriques, Centre régional de dépistage néonatal (CRDN) Île-de-France, Hôpital universitaire Necker-Enfants-malades, AP-HP Paris, France - Affilié Institut IMAGINE, Inserm U1163, Paris, France - Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France - Centre des maladies endocriniennes rares de la croissance et du développement, Paris, France - Université de Paris, Paris, France
| | - Aurore Carré
- Affilié Institut IMAGINE, Inserm U1163, Paris, France - Inserm U1016, Institut Cochin, Paris, France
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Vick P, Eberle B, Choukair D, Weiss B, Roeth R, Schneider I, Paramasivam N, Bettendorf M, Rappold GA. Identification of ZBTB26 as a Novel Risk Factor for Congenital Hypothyroidism. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12121862. [PMID: 34946811 PMCID: PMC8701029 DOI: 10.3390/genes12121862] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital primary hypothyroidism (CH; OMIM 218700) is characterized by an impaired thyroid development, or dyshormonogenesis, and can lead to intellectual disability and growth retardation if untreated. Most of the children with congenital hypothyroidism present thyroid dysgenesis, a developmental anomaly of the thyroid. Various genes have been associated with thyroid dysgenesis, but all known genes together can only explain a small number of cases. To identify novel genetic causes for congenital hypothyroidism, we performed trio whole-exome sequencing in an affected newborn and his unaffected parents. A predicted damaging de novo missense mutation was identified in the ZBTB26 gene (Zinc Finger A and BTB Domain containing 26). An additional cohort screening of 156 individuals with congenital thyroid dysgenesis identified two additional ZBTB26 gene variants of unknown significance. To study the underlying disease mechanism, morpholino knock-down of zbtb26 in Xenopus laevis was carried out, which demonstrated significantly smaller thyroid anlagen in knock-down animals at tadpole stage. Marker genes expressed in thyroid tissue precursors also indicated a specific reduction in the Xenopus ortholog of human Paired-Box-Protein PAX8, a transcription factor required for thyroid development, which could be rescued by adding zbtb26. Pathway and network analysis indicated network links of ZBTB26 to PAX8 and other genes involved in thyroid genesis and function. GWAS associations of ZBTB26 were found with height. Together, our study added a novel genetic risk factor to the list of genes underlying congenital primary hypothyroidism and provides additional support that de novo mutations, together with inherited variants, might contribute to the genetic susceptibility to CH.
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Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Vick
- Department of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (P.V.); (I.S.)
| | - Birgit Eberle
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.E.); (B.W.); (R.R.)
| | - Daniela Choukair
- Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Children’s Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (D.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Birgit Weiss
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.E.); (B.W.); (R.R.)
| | - Ralph Roeth
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.E.); (B.W.); (R.R.)
| | - Isabelle Schneider
- Department of Zoology, University of Hohenheim, 70599 Stuttgart, Germany; (P.V.); (I.S.)
| | - Nagarajan Paramasivam
- Computational Oncology Group, Molecular Diagnostics Program at the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and DKFZ (German Cancer Research Center), 69120 Heidelberg, Germany;
| | - Markus Bettendorf
- Division of Paediatric Endocrinology, Children’s Hospital, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (D.C.); (M.B.)
| | - Gudrun A. Rappold
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, Ruprecht-Karls-University Heidelberg, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany; (B.E.); (B.W.); (R.R.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +49-6221-56-5153
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6
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Citterio CE, Rivolta CM, Targovnik HM. Structure and genetic variants of thyroglobulin: Pathophysiological implications. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2021; 528:111227. [PMID: 33689781 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2021.111227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2020] [Revised: 01/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Thyroglobulin (TG) plays a main role in the biosynthesis of thyroid hormones (TH), and, thus, it is involved in a wide range of vital functions throughout the life cycle of all vertebrates. Deficiency of TH production due to TG genetic variants causes congenital hypothyroidism (CH), with devastating consequences such as intellectual disability and impaired growth if untreated. To this day, 229 variations in the human TG gene have been identified while the 3D structure of TG has recently appeared. Although TG deficiency is thought to be of autosomal recessive inheritance, the introduction of massive sequencing platforms led to the identification of a variety of monoallelic TG variants (combined with mutations in other thyroid gene products) opening new questions regarding the possibility of oligogenic inheritance of the disease. In this review we discuss remarkable advances in the understanding of the TG architecture and the pathophysiology of CH associated with TG defects, providing new insights for the management of congenital disorders as well as counseling benefits for families with a history of TG abnormalities. Moreover, we summarize relevant aspects of TH synthesis within TG and offer an updated analysis of animal and cellular models of TG deficiency for pathophysiological studies of thyroid dyshormonogenesis while highlighting perspectives for new investigations. All in all, even though there has been sustained progress in understanding the role of TG in thyroid pathophysiology during the past 50 years, functional characterization of TG variants remains an important area of study for future advancement in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cintia E Citterio
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética/Cátedra de Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Carina M Rivolta
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética/Cátedra de Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Héctor M Targovnik
- Universidad de Buenos Aires. Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Microbiología, Inmunología, Biotecnología y Genética/Cátedra de Genética, Buenos Aires, Argentina; CONICET-Universidad de Buenos Aires. Instituto de Inmunología, Genética y Metabolismo (INIGEM), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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Asghar MY, Lassila T, Törnquist K. Calcium Signaling in the Thyroid: Friend and Foe. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13091994. [PMID: 33919125 PMCID: PMC8122656 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13091994] [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: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary All cells in our body are activated by several different signals. The calcium ion is one of the most versatile signaling molecules, and regulates a multitude of different events in the cells. These range from activation of muscle contraction, to the regulation of cell movement, just to name a few. In normal thyroid cells, calcium signaling is of importance for the normal physiology of the cells. In thyroid pathologies, e.g., thyroid cancer, calcium is important for the regulation of proliferation and invasion, and may also activate gene transcription programs important for cancer cell survival. In this Commentary, we summarize what is known regarding calcium in the normal thyroid, and highlight the importance of calcium signaling in thyroid pathologies. Abstract Calcium signaling participates in a vast number of cellular processes, ranging from the regulation of muscle contraction, cell proliferation, and mitochondrial function, to the regulation of the membrane potential in cells. The actions of calcium signaling are, thus, of great physiological significance for the normal functioning of our cells. However, many of the processes that are regulated by calcium, including cell movement and proliferation, are important in the progression of cancer. In the normal thyroid, calcium signaling plays an important role, and evidence is also being gathered showing that calcium signaling participates in the progression of thyroid cancer. This review will summarize what we know in regard to calcium signaling in the normal thyroid as, well as in thyroid cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Yasir Asghar
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum Helsinki 2U, Tukholmankatu 8, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (M.Y.A.); (T.L.)
| | - Taru Lassila
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum Helsinki 2U, Tukholmankatu 8, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (M.Y.A.); (T.L.)
- Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, 00250 Turku, Finland
| | - Kid Törnquist
- Minerva Foundation Institute for Medical Research, Biomedicum Helsinki 2U, Tukholmankatu 8, 00290 Helsinki, Finland; (M.Y.A.); (T.L.)
- Cell Biology, Faculty of Science and Engineering, Åbo Akademi University, Artillerigatan 6, 00250 Turku, Finland
- Correspondence:
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