1
|
Robinson GI, Ye F, Lu X, Laviolette SR, Feng Q. Maternal Delta-9-Tetrahydrocannabinol Exposure Induces Abnormalities of the Developing Heart in Mice. Cannabis Cannabinoid Res 2024; 9:121-133. [PMID: 36255470 DOI: 10.1089/can.2022.0180] [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: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Cannabis is increasingly being consumed by pregnant women for recreational purposes as well as for its antiemetic and anxiolytic effects despite limited studies on its safety during pregnancy. Importantly, phytocannabinoids found in cannabis can pass through the placenta and enter the fetal circulation. Recent reports suggest gestational cannabis use is associated with negative fetal outcomes, including fetal growth restriction and perinatal intensive care, however, the effects of delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) on fetal heart development remains to be elucidated. Materials and Methods: We aimed to determine the outcomes of maternal THC exposure on fetal heart development in mice by administering 0, 5, or 10 mg/kg/day of THC orally to C57BL/6 dams starting at embryonic day (E)3.5. Offspring were collected at E12.5 for molecular analysis, at E17.5 to analyze cardiac morphology or at postnatal day (PND)21 to assess heart function. Results: Maternal THC exposure in E17.5 fetuses resulted in an array of cardiac abnormalities with an incidence of 44% and 55% in the 5 and 10 mg/kg treatment groups, respectively. Maternal THC exposure in offspring resulted in ventricular septal defect, higher semilunar valve volume relative to orifice ratio, and higher myocardial wall thickness. Notably, cell proliferation within the ventricular myocardium was increased, and expression of multiple cardiac transcription factors was downregulated in THC-exposed E12.5 fetuses. Furthermore, heart function was compromised with lower left ventricular ejection fraction, fractional shortening, and cardiac output in PND21 pups exposed to THC compared to controls. Discussion: The results show that maternal THC exposure during gestation induces myocardial hyperplasia and semilunar valve thickening in the fetal heart and postnatal cardiac dysfunction. Our study suggests that maternal cannabis consumption may induce abnormalities in the developing heart and cardiac dysfunction in postnatal life.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Gregory I Robinson
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Fang Ye
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Xiangru Lu
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Steven R Laviolette
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, and Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| | - Qingping Feng
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Lu P, Wang P, Wu B, Wang Y, Liu Y, Cheng W, Feng X, Yuan X, Atteya MM, Ferro H, Sugi Y, Rydquist G, Esmaily M, Butcher JT, Chang CP, Lenz J, Zheng D, Zhou B. A SOX17-PDGFB signaling axis regulates aortic root development. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4065. [PMID: 35831318 PMCID: PMC9279414 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31815-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2019] [Accepted: 06/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental etiologies causing complex congenital aortic root abnormalities are unknown. Here we show that deletion of Sox17 in aortic root endothelium in mice causes underdeveloped aortic root leading to a bicuspid aortic valve due to the absence of non-coronary leaflet and mispositioned left coronary ostium. The respective defects are associated with reduced proliferation of non-coronary leaflet mesenchyme and aortic root smooth muscle derived from the second heart field cardiomyocytes. Mechanistically, SOX17 occupies a Pdgfb transcriptional enhancer to promote its transcription and Sox17 deletion inhibits the endothelial Pdgfb transcription and PDGFB growth signaling to the non-coronary leaflet mesenchyme. Restoration of PDGFB in aortic root endothelium rescues the non-coronary leaflet and left coronary ostium defects in Sox17 nulls. These data support a SOX17-PDGFB axis underlying aortic root development that is critical for aortic valve and coronary ostium patterning, thereby informing a potential shared disease mechanism for concurrent anomalous aortic valve and coronary arteries.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pengfei Lu
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Ping Wang
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- School of Medical Imaging, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Bingruo Wu
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Yidong Wang
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Cardiovascular Research Center, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Jiaotong University, Xi'an, Shanxi, China
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Wei Cheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Xuhui Feng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Xinchun Yuan
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi, China
| | - Miriam M Atteya
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Haleigh Ferro
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Yukiko Sugi
- Department of Regenerative Medicine and Cell Biology, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston, SC, USA
| | - Grant Rydquist
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Mahdi Esmaily
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | | | - Ching-Pin Chang
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Jack Lenz
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Departments of Microbiology & Immunology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
- Departments of Neurology and Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
| | - Bin Zhou
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
- Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine (Cardiology), Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Palmquist-Gomes P, Meilhac SM. Shaping the mouse heart tube from the second heart field epithelium. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2022; 73:101896. [PMID: 35026527 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2021.101896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
As other tubular organs, the embryonic heart develops from an epithelial sheet of cells, referred to as the heart field. The second heart field, which lies in the dorsal pericardial wall, constitutes a transient cell reservoir, integrating patterning and polarity cues. Conditional mutants have shown that impairment of the epithelial architecture of the second heart field is associated with congenital heart defects. Here, taking the mouse as a model, we review the epithelial properties of the second heart field and how they are modulated upon cardiomyocyte differentiation. Compared to other cases of tubulogenesis, the cellular dynamics in the second heart field are only beginning to be revealed. A challenge for the future will be to unravel key physical forces driving heart tube morphogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul Palmquist-Gomes
- Université de Paris, Imagine- Institut Pasteur, Unit of Heart Morphogenesis, INSERM UMR1163, Paris, F-75015, France
| | - Sigolène M Meilhac
- Université de Paris, Imagine- Institut Pasteur, Unit of Heart Morphogenesis, INSERM UMR1163, Paris, F-75015, France.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Wang Y, Fang Y, Lu P, Wu B, Zhou B. NOTCH Signaling in Aortic Valve Development and Calcific Aortic Valve Disease. Front Cardiovasc Med 2021; 8:682298. [PMID: 34239905 PMCID: PMC8259786 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2021.682298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Accepted: 05/14/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
NOTCH intercellular signaling mediates the communications between adjacent cells involved in multiple biological processes essential for tissue morphogenesis and homeostasis. The NOTCH1 mutations are the first identified human genetic variants that cause congenital bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) and calcific aortic valve disease (CAVD). Genetic variants affecting other genes in the NOTCH signaling pathway may also contribute to the development of BAV and the pathogenesis of CAVD. While CAVD occurs commonly in the elderly population with tri-leaflet aortic valve, patients with BAV have a high risk of developing CAVD at a young age. This observation indicates an important role of NOTCH signaling in the postnatal homeostasis of the aortic valve, in addition to its prenatal functions during aortic valve development. Over the last decade, animal studies, especially with the mouse models, have revealed detailed information in the developmental etiology of congenital aortic valve defects. In this review, we will discuss the molecular and cellular aspects of aortic valve development and examine the embryonic pathogenesis of BAV. We will focus our discussions on the NOTCH signaling during the endocardial-to-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) and the post-EMT remodeling of the aortic valve. We will further examine the involvement of the NOTCH mutations in the postnatal development of CAVD. We will emphasize the deleterious impact of the embryonic valve defects on the homeostatic mechanisms of the adult aortic valve for the purpose of identifying the potential therapeutic targets for disease intervention.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yidong Wang
- The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Yuan Fang
- The Institute of Cardiovascular Sciences, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, China
| | - Pengfei Lu
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Bingruo Wu
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| | - Bin Zhou
- Departments of Genetics, Pediatrics (Pediatric Genetic Medicine), and Medicine (Cardiology), The Wilf Family Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
- The Einstein Institute for Aging Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, United States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Aortic stenosis (AS) remains one of the most common forms of valve disease, with significant impact on patient survival. The disease is characterized by left ventricular outflow obstruction and encompasses a series of stenotic lesions starting from the left ventricular outflow tract to the descending aorta. Obstructions may be subvalvar, valvar, or supravalvar and can be present at birth (congenital) or acquired later in life. Bicuspid aortic valve, whereby the aortic valve forms with two instead of three cusps, is the most common cause of AS in younger patients due to primary anatomic narrowing of the valve. In addition, the secondary onset of premature calcification, likely induced by altered hemodynamics, further obstructs left ventricular outflow in bicuspid aortic valve patients. In adults, degenerative AS involves progressive calcification of an anatomically normal, tricuspid aortic valve and is attributed to lifelong exposure to multifactoral risk factors and physiological wear-and-tear that negatively impacts valve structure-function relationships. AS continues to be the most frequent valvular disease that requires intervention, and aortic valve replacement is the standard treatment for patients with severe or symptomatic AS. While the positive impacts of surgical interventions are well documented, the financial burden, the potential need for repeated procedures, and operative risks are substantial. In addition, the clinical management of asymptomatic patients remains controversial. Therefore, there is a critical need to develop alternative approaches to prevent the progression of left ventricular outflow obstruction, especially in valvar lesions. This review summarizes our current understandings of AS cause; beginning with developmental origins of congenital valve disease, and leading into the multifactorial nature of AS in the adult population.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Punashi Dutta
- The Herma Heart Institute, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (P.D., J.F.J., H.K., J.L.).,Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (P.D., J.F.J., J.L.)
| | - Jeanne F James
- The Herma Heart Institute, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (P.D., J.F.J., H.K., J.L.).,Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (P.D., J.F.J., J.L.)
| | - Hail Kazik
- The Herma Heart Institute, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (P.D., J.F.J., H.K., J.L.).,Department of Biomedical Engineering, Marquette University & Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (H.K.)
| | - Joy Lincoln
- The Herma Heart Institute, Section of Pediatric Cardiology, Children's Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI (P.D., J.F.J., H.K., J.L.).,Department of Pediatrics, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee (P.D., J.F.J., J.L.)
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Musfee FI, Agopian AJ, Goldmuntz E, Hakonarson H, Morrow BE, Taylor DM, Tristani-Firouzi M, Watkins WS, Yandell M, Mitchell LE. Common Variation in Cytoskeletal Genes is Associated with Conotruncal Heart Defects. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:genes12050655. [PMID: 33925651 PMCID: PMC8146932 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2021] [Revised: 04/15/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
There is strong evidence for a genetic contribution to non-syndromic congenital heart defects (CHDs). However, exome- and genome-wide studies conducted at the variant and gene-level have identified few genome-wide significant CHD-related genes. Gene-set analyses are a useful complement to such studies and candidate gene-set analyses of rare variants have provided insight into the genetics of CHDs. However, similar analyses have not been conducted using data on common genetic variants. Consequently, we conducted common variant analyses of 15 CHD candidate gene-sets, using data from two common types of CHDs: conotruncal heart defects (1431 cases) and left ventricular outflow tract defects (509 cases). After Bonferroni correction for evaluation of multiple gene-sets, the cytoskeletal gene-set was significantly associated with conotruncal heart defects (βS = 0.09; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.03–0.15). This association was stronger when analyses were restricted to the sub-set of cytoskeletal genes that have been observed to harbor rare damaging genotypes in at least two CHD cases (βS = 0.32, 95% CI 0.08–0.56). These findings add to the evidence linking cytoskeletal genes to CHDs and suggest that, for cytoskeletal genes, common variation may contribute to the risk of CHDs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Fadi I. Musfee
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (F.I.M.); (A.J.A.)
| | - A. J. Agopian
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (F.I.M.); (A.J.A.)
| | - Elizabeth Goldmuntz
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (E.G.); (H.H.); (D.M.T.)
| | - Hakon Hakonarson
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (E.G.); (H.H.); (D.M.T.)
- Center for Applied Genomics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Bernice E. Morrow
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY 10461, USA;
| | - Deanne M. Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, Perelman School of Medicine at University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; (E.G.); (H.H.); (D.M.T.)
- Department of Biomedical and Health Informatics, The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Martin Tristani-Firouzi
- Division of Pediatric Cardiology, University of Utah School of Medicine, Salt Lake City, UT 84113, USA;
- Nora Eccles Harrison Cardiovascular Research and Training Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - W. Scott Watkins
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (W.S.W.); (M.Y.)
| | - Mark Yandell
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA; (W.S.W.); (M.Y.)
- Utah Center for Genetic Discovery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT 84112, USA
| | - Laura E. Mitchell
- Department of Epidemiology, Human Genetics and Environmental Sciences, UTHealth School of Public Health, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (F.I.M.); (A.J.A.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-713-500-9955
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Leung C, Engineer A, Kim MY, Lu X, Feng Q. Myocardium-Specific Deletion of Rac1 Causes Ventricular Noncompaction and Outflow Tract Defects. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2021; 8:jcdd8030029. [PMID: 33804107 PMCID: PMC8001666 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd8030029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Left ventricular noncompaction (LVNC) is a cardiomyopathy that can lead to arrhythmias, embolic events and heart failure. Despite our current knowledge of cardiac development, the mechanisms underlying noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium are still poorly understood. The small GTPase Rac1 acts as a crucial regulator of numerous developmental events. The present study aimed to investigate the cardiomyocyte specific role of Rac1 in embryonic heart development. Methods and Results: The Nkx2.5-Cre transgenic mice were crossed with Rac1f/f mice to generate mice with a cardiomyocyte specific deletion of Rac1 (Rac1Nkx2.5) during heart development. Embryonic Rac1Nkx2.5 hearts at E12.5–E18.5 were collected for histological analysis. Overall, Rac1Nkx2.5 hearts displayed a bifid apex, along with hypertrabeculation and a thin compact myocardium. Rac1Nkx2.5 hearts also exhibited ventricular septal defects (VSDs) and double outlet right ventricle (DORV) or overriding aorta. Cardiomyocytes had a rounded morphology and were highly disorganized, and the myocardial expression of Scrib, a planar cell polarity protein, was reduced in Rac1Nkx2.5 hearts. In addition, cell proliferation rate was significantly decreased in the Rac1Nkx2.5 ventricular myocardium at E9.5. Conclusions: Rac1 deficiency in the myocardium impairs cardiomyocyte elongation and organization, and proliferative growth of the heart. A spectrum of CHDs arises in Rac1Nkx2.5 hearts, implicating Rac1 signaling in the ventricular myocardium as a crucial regulator of OFT alignment, along with compact myocardium growth and development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carmen Leung
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (C.L.); (A.E.); (M.Y.K.); (X.L.)
| | - Anish Engineer
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (C.L.); (A.E.); (M.Y.K.); (X.L.)
| | - Mella Y. Kim
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (C.L.); (A.E.); (M.Y.K.); (X.L.)
| | - Xiangru Lu
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (C.L.); (A.E.); (M.Y.K.); (X.L.)
| | - Qingping Feng
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada; (C.L.); (A.E.); (M.Y.K.); (X.L.)
- Department of Medicine, Schulich School of Medicine and Dentistry, Western University, London, ON N6A 5C1, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-519-850-2989
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Durbin MD, O'Kane J, Lorentz S, Firulli AB, Ware SM. SHROOM3 is downstream of the planar cell polarity pathway and loss-of-function results in congenital heart defects. Dev Biol 2020; 464:124-136. [PMID: 32511952 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.05.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2019] [Revised: 05/24/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common birth defect, and the leading cause of death due to birth defects, yet causative molecular mechanisms remain mostly unknown. We previously implicated a novel CHD candidate gene, SHROOM3, in a patient with CHD. Using a Shroom3 gene trap knockout mouse (Shroom3gt/gt) we demonstrate that SHROOM3 is downstream of the noncanonical Wnt planar cell polarity signaling pathway (PCP) and loss-of-function causes cardiac defects. We demonstrate Shroom3 expression within cardiomyocytes of the ventricles and interventricular septum from E10.5 onward, as well as within cardiac neural crest cells and second heart field cells that populate the cardiac outflow tract. We demonstrate that Shroom3gt/gt mice exhibit variable penetrance of a spectrum of CHDs that include ventricular septal defects, double outlet right ventricle, and thin left ventricular myocardium. This CHD spectrum phenocopies what is observed with disrupted PCP. We show that during cardiac development SHROOM3 interacts physically and genetically with, and is downstream of, key PCP signaling component Dishevelled 2. Within Shroom3gt/gt hearts we demonstrate disrupted terminal PCP components, actomyosin cytoskeleton, cardiomyocyte polarity, organization, proliferation and morphology. Together, these data demonstrate SHROOM3 functions during cardiac development as an actomyosin cytoskeleton effector downstream of PCP signaling, revealing SHROOM3's novel role in cardiac development and CHD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthew D Durbin
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - James O'Kane
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Samuel Lorentz
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Anthony B Firulli
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Stephanie M Ware
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA; Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Santos-Ledo A, Washer S, Dhanaseelan T, Eley L, Alqatani A, Chrystal PW, Papoutsi T, Henderson DJ, Chaudhry B. Alternative splicing of jnk1a in zebrafish determines first heart field ventricular cardiomyocyte numbers through modulation of hand2 expression. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008782. [PMID: 32421721 PMCID: PMC7259801 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/18/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The planar cell polarity pathway is required for heart development and whilst the functions of most pathway members are known, the roles of the jnk genes in cardiac morphogenesis remain unknown as mouse mutants exhibit functional redundancy, with early embryonic lethality of compound mutants. In this study zebrafish were used to overcome early embryonic lethality in mouse models and establish the requirement for Jnk in heart development. Whole mount in-situ hybridisation and RT-PCR demonstrated that evolutionarily conserved alternative spliced jnk1a and jnk1b transcripts were expressed in the early developing heart. Maternal zygotic null mutant zebrafish lines for jnk1a and jnk1b, generated using CRISPR-Cas9, revealed a requirement for jnk1a in formation of the proximal, first heart field (FHF)-derived portion of the cardiac ventricular chamber. Rescue of the jnk1a mutant cardiac phenotype was only possible by injection of the jnk1a EX7 Lg alternatively spliced transcript. Analysis of mutants indicated that there was a reduction in the size of the hand2 expression field in jnk1a mutants which led to a specific reduction in FHF ventricular cardiomyocytes within the anterior lateral plate mesoderm. Moreover, the jnk1a mutant ventricular defect could be rescued by injection of hand2 mRNA. This study reveals a novel and critical requirement for Jnk1 in heart development and highlights the importance of alternative splicing in vertebrate cardiac morphogenesis. Genetic pathways functioning through jnk1 may be important in human heart malformations with left ventricular hypoplasia.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Adrian Santos-Ledo
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Sam Washer
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Tamil Dhanaseelan
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Lorraine Eley
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Ahlam Alqatani
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Paul W. Chrystal
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Tania Papoutsi
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Deborah J. Henderson
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| | - Bill Chaudhry
- Biosciences Institute, Faculty of Medicine, International Centre for Life, Newcastle University, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Maleki S, Poujade FA, Bergman O, Gådin JR, Simon N, Lång K, Franco-Cereceda A, Body SC, Björck HM, Eriksson P. Endothelial/Epithelial Mesenchymal Transition in Ascending Aortas of Patients With Bicuspid Aortic Valve. Front Cardiovasc Med 2019; 6:182. [PMID: 31921896 PMCID: PMC6928128 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2019.00182] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2019] [Accepted: 11/21/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Thoracic aortic aneurysm (TAA) is the progressive enlargement of the aorta due to destructive changes in the connective tissue of the aortic wall. Aneurysm development is silent and often first manifested by the drastic events of aortic dissection or rupture. As yet, therapeutic agents that halt or reverse the process of aortic wall deterioration are absent, and the only available therapeutic recommendation is elective prophylactic surgical intervention. Being born with a bicuspid instead of the normal tricuspid aortic valve (TAV) is a major risk factor for developing aneurysm in the ascending aorta later in life. Although the pathophysiology of the increased aneurysm susceptibility is not known, recent studies are suggestive of a transformation of aortic endothelium into a more mesenchymal state i.e., an endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition in these individuals. This process involves the loss of endothelial cell features, resulting in junction instability and enhanced vascular permeability of the ascending aorta that may lay the ground for increased aneurysm susceptibility. This finding differentiates and further emphasizes the specific characteristics of aneurysm development in individuals with a bicuspid aortic valve (BAV). This review discusses the possibility of a developmental fate shared between the aortic endothelium and aortic valves. It further speculates about the impact of aortic endothelium phenotypic shift on aneurysm development in individuals with a BAV and revisits previous studies in the light of the new findings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shohreh Maleki
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Flore-Anne Poujade
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Otto Bergman
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Jesper R Gådin
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Nancy Simon
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Karin Lång
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Anders Franco-Cereceda
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Unit, Department of Molecular Medicine and Surgery, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Simon C Body
- Department of Anesthesiology, Perioperative, and Pain Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Hanna M Björck
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| | - Per Eriksson
- Cardiovascular Medicine Unit, Center for Molecular Medicine, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Solna, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Abstract
The vertebrate heart tube forms from epithelial progenitor cells in the early embryo and subsequently elongates by progressive addition of second heart field (SHF) progenitor cells from adjacent splanchnic mesoderm. Failure to maximally elongate the heart results in a spectrum of morphological defects affecting the cardiac poles, including outflow tract alignment and atrioventricular septal defects, among the most common congenital birth anomalies. SHF cells constitute an atypical apicobasally polarized epithelium with dynamic basal filopodia, located in the dorsal wall of the pericardial cavity. Recent studies have highlighted the importance of epithelial architecture and cell adhesion in the SHF, particularly for signaling events that control the progenitor cell niche during heart tube elongation. The 22q11.2 deletion syndrome gene Tbx1 regulates progenitor cell status through modulating cell shape and filopodial activity and is required for SHF contributions to both cardiac poles. Noncanonical Wnt signaling and planar cell polarity pathway genes control epithelial polarity in the dorsal pericardial wall, as progenitor cells differentiate in a transition zone at the arterial pole. Defects in these pathways lead to outflow tract shortening. Moreover, new biomechanical models of heart tube elongation have been proposed based on analysis of tissue-wide forces driving epithelial morphogenesis in the SHF, including regional cell intercalation, cell cohesion, and epithelial tension. Regulation of the epithelial properties of SHF cells is thus emerging as a key step during heart tube elongation, adding a new facet to our understanding of the mechanisms underlying both heart morphogenesis and congenital heart defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Cortes
- From Aix-Marseille University, CNRS UMR 7288, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille, France
| | - Alexandre Francou
- From Aix-Marseille University, CNRS UMR 7288, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille, France
| | - Christopher De Bono
- From Aix-Marseille University, CNRS UMR 7288, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille, France
| | - Robert G Kelly
- From Aix-Marseille University, CNRS UMR 7288, Developmental Biology Institute of Marseille, France.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Bai X, Zhou Y, Ouyang N, Liu L, Huang X, Tian J, Lv T. A de novo Mutation in the MTUS1 Gene Decreases the Risk of Non-compaction of Ventricular Myocardium via the Rac1/Cdc42 Pathway. Front Pediatr 2019; 7:247. [PMID: 31338350 PMCID: PMC6626910 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2019.00247] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2019] [Accepted: 05/30/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The MTUS1 gene encodes a microtubule-associated protein involved in multiple processes including cell polarity and microtubule balance during myocardial development. Aims: To investigate the association between a de novo c. 2617A->C mutation in MTUS1 (NM_001001924.2) and non-compaction of ventricular myocardium (NVM) and explore the potential mechanisms. Methods: A de novo mutation in MTUS1 was identified for a familial pedigree with NVM. Lentiviral vectors containing MTUS1 wild type or the mutation MTUS1 were constructed and co-infected into HEK-293 cells. MTUS1, Rac1/Cdc42, α-tubulin, α/β-tubulin, polarity protein (PAR6), and the morphology of daughter cells were measured by real-time PCR, Western blot, and immunofluorescence assays, respectively. Results: The lentiviral vectors were constructed successfully. Immunofluorescence assays revealed the fluorescence intensity of α-tubulin to be decreased and α/β-tubulin to be increased in the mutation MTUS1 group. The fluorescence intensity of PAR6 was higher and morphology of the daughter cells in the mutation group was different from the wild type group. The phosphorylation of Rac1/Cdc42 in the mutation group was significantly lower than in the wild type group. Conclusions: A de novo mutation in MTUS1 decreased the stability of microtubules and increased cell polarity via the Rac1/Cdc42 pathway, which may partly elucidate the mechanism underlying cellular protection in NVM.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xuehan Bai
- Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuanlin Zhou
- Chengdu Women's and Children's Central Hospital, Chengdu, China
| | - Na Ouyang
- Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Lingjuan Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Xupei Huang
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charlie E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, United States
| | - Jie Tian
- Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| | - Tiewei Lv
- Department of Cardiology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.,China International Science and Technology Cooperation Base of Child Development and Critical Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Pediatrics, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing, China
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Engineer A, Saiyin T, Lu X, Kucey AS, Urquhart BL, Drysdale TA, Norozi K, Feng Q. Sapropterin Treatment Prevents Congenital Heart Defects Induced by Pregestational Diabetes Mellitus in Mice. J Am Heart Assoc 2018; 7:e009624. [PMID: 30608180 PMCID: PMC6404194 DOI: 10.1161/jaha.118.009624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2018] [Accepted: 09/17/2018] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Background Tetrahydrobiopterin is a cofactor of endothelial NO synthase ( eNOS ), which is critical to embryonic heart development. We aimed to study the effects of sapropterin (Kuvan), an orally active synthetic form of tetrahydrobiopterin on eNOS uncoupling and congenital heart defects ( CHD s) induced by pregestational diabetes mellitus in mice. Methods and Results Adult female mice were induced to pregestational diabetes mellitus by streptozotocin and bred with normal male mice to produce offspring. Pregnant mice were treated with sapropterin or vehicle during gestation. CHD s were identified by histological analysis. Cell proliferation, eNOS dimerization, and reactive oxygen species production were assessed in the fetal heart. Pregestational diabetes mellitus results in a spectrum of CHD s in their offspring. Oral treatment with sapropterin in the diabetic dams significantly decreased the incidence of CHD s from 59% to 27%, and major abnormalities, such as atrioventricular septal defect and double-outlet right ventricle, were absent in the sapropterin-treated group. Lineage tracing reveals that pregestational diabetes mellitus results in decreased commitment of second heart field progenitors to the outflow tract, endocardial cushions, and ventricular myocardium of the fetal heart. Notably, decreased cell proliferation and cardiac transcription factor expression induced by maternal diabetes mellitus were normalized with sapropterin treatment. Furthermore, sapropterin administration in the diabetic dams increased eNOS dimerization and lowered reactive oxygen species levels in the fetal heart. Conclusions Sapropterin treatment in the diabetic mothers improves eNOS coupling, increases cell proliferation, and prevents the development of CHD s in the offspring. Thus, sapropterin may have therapeutic potential in preventing CHD s in pregestational diabetes mellitus.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anish Engineer
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologySchulich School of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Tana Saiyin
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologySchulich School of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Xiangru Lu
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologySchulich School of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Andrew S. Kucey
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologySchulich School of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Brad L. Urquhart
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologySchulich School of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Thomas A. Drysdale
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologySchulich School of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
- Department of PediatricsSchulich School of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
- Children's Health Research InstituteLondonOntarioCanada
| | - Kambiz Norozi
- Department of PediatricsSchulich School of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
- Children's Health Research InstituteLondonOntarioCanada
- Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care MedicineHannover Medical SchoolHannoverGermany
- Department of Paediatric Cardiology and Intensive Care MedicineUniversity of GöttingenGermany
| | - Qingping Feng
- Department of Physiology and PharmacologySchulich School of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
- Department of MedicineSchulich School of Medicine and DentistryUniversity of Western OntarioLondonOntarioCanada
- Children's Health Research InstituteLondonOntarioCanada
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Wu B, Wang Y, Xiao F, Butcher JT, Yutzey KE, Zhou B. Developmental Mechanisms of Aortic Valve Malformation and Disease. Annu Rev Physiol 2017; 79:21-41. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-physiol-022516-034001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bingruo Wu
- Departments of Genetics, Pediatrics, and Medicine (Cardiology), Wilf Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461;
| | - Yidong Wang
- Departments of Genetics, Pediatrics, and Medicine (Cardiology), Wilf Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461;
| | - Feng Xiao
- Departments of Genetics, Pediatrics, and Medicine (Cardiology), Wilf Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461;
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029 China
| | - Jonathan T. Butcher
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York 14853;
| | - Katherine E. Yutzey
- Division of Molecular Cardiovascular Biology, Cincinnati Children's Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio 45229;
| | - Bin Zhou
- Departments of Genetics, Pediatrics, and Medicine (Cardiology), Wilf Cardiovascular Research Institute, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York 10461;
- Department of Cardiology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029 China
| |
Collapse
|