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Wang J, Xiao B, Kimura E, Mongan M, Hsu WW, Medvedovic M, Puga A, Xia Y. Crosstalk of MAP3K1 and EGFR signaling mediates gene-environment interactions that block developmental tissue closure. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107486. [PMID: 38897570 PMCID: PMC11294703 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 06/12/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Aberrant regulation of signal transduction pathways can adversely derail biological processes for tissue development. One such process is the embryonic eyelid closure that is dependent on the mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase 1 (MAP3K1). Map3k1 KO in mice results in defective eyelid closure and an autosomal recessive eye-open at birth phenotype. We have shown that in utero exposure to dioxin, a persistent environmental toxicant, induces the same eye defect in Map3k1+/- heterozygous but not WT pups. Here, we explore the mechanisms of the Map3k1 (gene) and dioxin (environment) interactions (GxE) underlying defective eyelid closure. We show that, acting through the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, dioxin activates epidermal growth factor receptor signaling, which in turn depresses MAP3K1-dependent Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) activity. The dioxin-mediated JNK repression is moderate but is exacerbated by Map3k1 heterozygosity. Therefore, dioxin exposed Map3k1+/- embryonic eyelids have a marked reduction of JNK activity, accelerated differentiation and impeded polarization in the epithelial cells. Knocking out Ahr or Egfr in eyelid epithelium attenuates the open-eye defects in dioxin-treated Map3k1+/- pups, whereas knockout of Jnk1 and S1pr that encodes the sphigosin-1-phosphate (S1P) receptors upstream of the MAP3K1-JNK pathway potentiates the dioxin toxicity. Our novel findings show that the crosstalk of aryl hydrocarbon receptor, epidermal growth factor receptor, and S1P-MAP3K1-JNK pathways determines the outcome of dioxin exposure. Thus, gene mutations targeting these pathways are potential risk factors for the toxicity of environmental chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingjing Wang
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Bo Xiao
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Eiki Kimura
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Maureen Mongan
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Wei-Wen Hsu
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Mario Medvedovic
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Alvaro Puga
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Ying Xia
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA.
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2
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Brennan L, Disatham J, Menko AS, Kantorow M. Multiomic analysis implicates FOXO4 in genetic regulation of chick lens fiber cell differentiation. Dev Biol 2023; 504:25-37. [PMID: 37722500 PMCID: PMC10843493 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2023.09.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2023] [Revised: 09/06/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/20/2023]
Abstract
A classic model for identification of novel differentiation mechanisms and pathways is the eye lens that consists of a monolayer of quiescent epithelial cells that are the progenitors of a core of mature fully differentiated fiber cells. The differentiation of lens epithelial cells into fiber cells follows a coordinated program involving cell cycle exit, expression of key structural proteins and the hallmark elimination of organelles to achieve transparency. Although multiple mechanisms and pathways have been identified to play key roles in lens differentiation, the entirety of mechanisms governing lens differentiation remain to be discovered. A previous study established that specific chromatin accessibility changes were directly associated with the expression of essential lens fiber cell genes, suggesting that the activity of transcription factors needed for expression of these genes could be regulated through binding access to the identified chromatin regions. Sequence analysis of the identified chromatin accessible regions revealed enhanced representation of the binding sequence for the transcription factor FOXO4 suggesting a direct role for FOXO4 in expression of these genes. FOXO4 is known to regulate a variety of cellular processes including cellular response to metabolic and oxidative stress, cell cycle withdrawal, and homeostasis, suggesting a previously unidentified role for FOXO4 in the regulation of lens cell differentiation. To further evaluate the role of FOXO4 we employed a multiomics approach to analyze the relationship between genome-wide FOXO4 binding, the differentiation-specific expression of key genes, and chromatin accessibility. To better identify active promoters and enhancers we also examined histone modification through analysis of H3K27ac. Specific methods included CUT&RUN (FOXO4 binding and H3K27ac modification), RNA-seq (differentiation state specific gene expression), and ATAC-seq (chromatin accessibility). CUT&RUN identified 20,966 FOXO4 binding sites and 33,921 H3K27ac marked regions across the lens fiber cell genome. RNA-seq identified 956 genes with significantly greater expression levels in fiber cells compared to epithelial cells (log2FC > 0.7, q < 0.05) and 2548 genes with significantly lower expression levels (log2FC < -0.7, q < 0.05). Integrated analysis identified 1727 differentiation-state specific genes that were nearest neighbors to at least one FOXO4 binding site, including genes encoding lens gap junctions (GJA1, GJA3), lens structural proteins (BFSP1, CRYBB1, ASL1), and genes required for lens transparency (HSF4, NRCAM). Multiomics analysis comparing the identified FOXO4 binding sites in published ATAC-seq data revealed that chromatin accessibility was associated with FOXO4-dependent gene expression during lens differentiation. The results provide evidence for an important requirement for FOXO4 in the regulated expression of key genes required for lens differentiation and link epigenetic regulation of chromatin accessibility and H3K27ac histone modification with the function of FOXO4 in controlling lens gene expression during lens fiber cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Brennan
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - Joshua Disatham
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA
| | - A Sue Menko
- Department of Pathology and Genomic Medicine, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Marc Kantorow
- Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine, Florida Atlantic University, Boca Raton, FL, USA.
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3
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Makrides N, Wang Q, Tao C, Schwartz S, Zhang X. Jack of all trades, master of each: the diversity of fibroblast growth factor signalling in eye development. Open Biol 2022; 12:210265. [PMID: 35016551 PMCID: PMC8753161 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.210265] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
A central question in development biology is how a limited set of signalling pathways can instruct unlimited diversity of multicellular organisms. In this review, we use three ocular tissues as models of increasing complexity to present the astounding versatility of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling. In the lacrimal gland, we highlight the specificity of FGF signalling in a one-dimensional model of budding morphogenesis. In the lens, we showcase the dynamics of FGF signalling in altering functional outcomes in a two-dimensional space. In the retina, we present the prolific utilization of FGF signalling from three-dimensional development to homeostasis. These examples not only shed light on the cellular basis for the perfection and complexity of ocular development, but also serve as paradigms for the diversity of FGF signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neoklis Makrides
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Qian Wang
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chenqi Tao
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Samuel Schwartz
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xin Zhang
- Departments of Ophthalmology and Pathology and Cell Biology, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
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4
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Shankar SP, Fallurin R, Watson T, Shankar PR, Young TL, Orel-Bixler D, Rauen KA. Ophthalmic manifestations in Costello syndrome caused by Ras pathway dysregulation during development. Ophthalmic Genet 2021; 43:48-57. [PMID: 34612139 DOI: 10.1080/13816810.2021.1978103] [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] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Costello syndrome (CS) is a multisystem developmental disorder caused by germline pathogenic variants in HRAS resulting in dysregulation of the Ras pathway. A systematic characterization of ophthalmic manifestations provides a unique opportunity to understand the role of Ras signal transduction in ocular development and guide optimal ophthalmic care in CS individuals. METHODS Visual function, ocular features and genotype/phenotype correlations were evaluated in CS individuals harboring HRAS pathogenic variants, by cross-sectional and retrospective studies, and were recruited through the Costello Syndrome Family Network (CSFN) between 2007 and 2020. RESULTS Fifty-six molecularly diagnosed CS individuals including 34 females and 22 males, ages ranging from 0.5 to 37 years were enrolled. The most common ophthalmic manifestations in the cross-sectional study were lack of stereopsis (96%), refractive errors (83%), strabismus (72%), nystagmus (69%), optic nerve hypoplasia or pallor (55%) and ptosis (13.7%) with higher prevalence than in the retrospective data (refractive errors (41%), strabismus (44%), nystagmus (26%), optic nerve hypoplasia or pallor (7%) and ptosis (11%)). Visual acuities were found to ranged from 20/25 to 20/800 and contrast sensitivity from 1.6% to 44%. HRAS pathogenic variants included p.G12S (84%), p.G13C (7%), p.G12A (5.4%), p.G12C (1.8%) and p.A146V (1.8%). CONCLUSION Majority of individuals with CS have refractive errors, strabismus, nystagmus, absent stereopsis, and optic nerve abnormalities suggesting that HRAS and the Ras pathway play a vital role in visual system development. Ptosis, refractive errors and strabismus are amenable to treatment and early ophthalmic evaluation is crucial to prevent long-term vision impairment and improve overall quality of life in CS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Suma P Shankar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Reshmitha Fallurin
- Department of Internal Medicine, The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, USA
| | - Tonya Watson
- The School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Prabhu R Shankar
- Department of Public Health, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
| | - Terri L Young
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Deborah Orel-Bixler
- The School of Optometry and Vision Science, University of California Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
| | - Katherine A Rauen
- Department of Pediatrics, University of California Davis, Sacramento, California, USA
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5
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Fattah IOA, Madani GA, El-Din WAN. Topical onion juice mitigates the morphological alterations of the cornea in the aged male rats. Anat Cell Biol 2021; 54:375-386. [PMID: 34253691 PMCID: PMC8493016 DOI: 10.5115/acb.21.077] [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: 04/20/2021] [Revised: 06/15/2021] [Accepted: 06/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Aging is associated with structural and functional changes of the cornea. Fresh onion juice contains phenolic compounds and flavonoids that may provide an anti-aging effect. The aim of this study was to assess the ability of the onion juice to ameliorate these aging changes. Rats were grouped as adult and aged groups. Rats of both groups received eye drops of diluted onion juice in their right eyes every 8 hours for 12 weeks, while the left ones were served as control eyes. The corneas of both eyes underwent histopathological, immunohistochemical and morphometric assessments, in addition to measuring their intraocular pressure (IOP). The aged group exhibited a significantly elevated IOP, decreased tear secretion, degenerated corneal epithelium and endothelium, surface erosions and stromal edema with irregular collagen fibers. Administration of onion juice led to lowering of IOP, significant increase in tearing, restoration of most of epithelial, endothelial and stromal integrity, and increased epithelial, keratocystic and endothelial cell densities. Immunohistochemically, the epithelium and endothelium revealed positive immune reactions for both epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and paired box protein-6 (PAX6) in the control and onion-treated corneas of the adult group, while these immune reactions were negative in the untreated aged ones. Onion drops in aged corneas showed a positive immune reaction for EFGR and PAX6 involving the epithelial and endothelial layers. In conclusion, topical onion juice improves corneal aging changes through its direct effect, and indirectly through lowering IOP and enhancing tear secretion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Islam Omar Abdel Fattah
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt
| | - Gisma Ahmed Madani
- Department of Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, The National University, Khartoum, Sudan
| | - Wael Amin Nasr El-Din
- Department of Human Anatomy and Embryology, Faculty of Medicine, Suez Canal University, Ismailia, Egypt.,Department of Anatomy, College of Medicine and Medical Sciences, Arabian Gulf University, Manama, Bahrain
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6
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Srivastava K, Tripathi R, Mishra R. Age-dependent alterations in expression and co-localization of Pax6 and Ras-GAP in brain of aging mice. J Chem Neuroanat 2018; 92:25-34. [PMID: 29787792 DOI: 10.1016/j.jchemneu.2018.05.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2017] [Revised: 05/18/2018] [Accepted: 05/18/2018] [Indexed: 10/16/2022]
Abstract
As the brain ages, the survival and plasticity of neurons and glia are compromised. The data-mining and in silico studies suggest interactions of Pax6 with Ras and binding sites in Ras-GAP promoter. The Pax6 also shows age-dependent alterations. Therefore, it is presumed that Pax6 may be associated with the Ras-GAP, a synaptic protein, either directly or indirectly in brain. The expression, co-localization and interaction of Pax6 and Ras-GAP in different regions of brain of mice during aging were investigated through immunofluorescence assay, co-immunoprecipitation and western blotting, respectively. The co-localization of Pax6 and Ras-GAP were observed in dentate gyrus (DG) and sub-granular zone (SGZ) of hippocampus, in glomerular (GlLa) and mitral cells (MiCe) of olfactory lobe, granular cells (GrCe), Purkinje cell (PuCe) and molecular cell layer (MoLa) of cerebellum, internal plexiform layer (InPl), molecular layer (MoLa) of cerebral cortex and in intercalated cells of amygdala (ITC), caudate nucleus regions in brain of aging mice. The expression of Pax6 and Ras-GAP was altered in hippocampus, amygdala, caudate nucleus, olfactory lobe, cerebral cortex and cerebellum from young to old mice. The Pax6 interacts with Ras-GAP in brain of mice. Results indicate impact of Pax6 on Ras-GAP-mediated activities of synapses, learning and memory, emotions and fear as well as motor functions. Alterations in expression and co-localization of Pax6 and Ras-GAP during aging may be responsible for age-associated compromised survival and plasticity of neurons and glia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Khushboo Srivastava
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Ratnakar Tripathi
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India
| | - Rajnikant Mishra
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Laboratory, Department of Zoology, Institute of Science, Banaras Hindu University, Varanasi, 221005, India.
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7
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Drosos Y, Neale G, Ye J, Paul L, Kuliyev E, Maitra A, Means AL, Washington MK, Rehg J, Finkelstein DB, Sosa-Pineda B. Prox1-Heterozygosis Sensitizes the Pancreas to Oncogenic Kras-Induced Neoplastic Transformation. Neoplasia 2016; 18:172-84. [PMID: 26992918 PMCID: PMC4796801 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2016.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2015] [Revised: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 02/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The current paradigm of pancreatic neoplastic transformation proposes an initial step whereby acinar cells convert into acinar-to-ductal metaplasias, followed by progression of these lesions into neoplasias under sustained oncogenic activity and inflammation. Understanding the molecular mechanisms driving these processes is crucial to the early diagnostic and prevention of pancreatic cancer. Emerging evidence indicates that transcription factors that control exocrine pancreatic development could have either, protective or facilitating roles in the formation of preneoplasias and neoplasias in the pancreas. We previously identified that the homeodomain transcription factor Prox1 is a novel regulator of mouse exocrine pancreas development. Here we investigated whether Prox1 function participates in early neoplastic transformation using in vivo, in vitro and in silico approaches. We found that Prox1 expression is transiently re-activated in acinar cells undergoing dedifferentiation and acinar-to-ductal metaplastic conversion. In contrast, Prox1 expression is largely absent in neoplasias and tumors in the pancreas of mice and humans. We also uncovered that Prox1-heterozygosis markedly increases the formation of acinar-to-ductal-metaplasias and early neoplasias, and enhances features associated with inflammation, in mouse pancreatic tissues expressing oncogenic Kras. Furthermore, we discovered that Prox1-heterozygosis increases tissue damage and delays recovery from inflammation in pancreata of mice injected with caerulein. These results are the first demonstration that Prox1 activity protects pancreatic cells from acute tissue damage and early neoplastic transformation. Additional data in our study indicate that this novel role of Prox1 involves suppression of pathways associated with inflammatory responses and cell invasiveness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiannis Drosos
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Geoffrey Neale
- Department of Hartwell Center for Bioinformatics and Biotechnology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Jianming Ye
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Leena Paul
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Emin Kuliyev
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Anirban Maitra
- The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
| | - Anna L Means
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - M Kay Washington
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN
| | - Jerold Rehg
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - David B Finkelstein
- Department of Computational Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Beatriz Sosa-Pineda
- Department of Genetics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN; Department of Medicine, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL.
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8
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Kuracha MR, Thomas P, Loggie BW, Govindarajan V. Patient-derived xenograft mouse models of pseudomyxoma peritonei recapitulate the human inflammatory tumor microenvironment. Cancer Med 2016; 5:711-9. [PMID: 26833741 PMCID: PMC4831290 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Revised: 12/04/2015] [Accepted: 12/15/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a neoplastic syndrome characterized by peritoneal tumor implants with copious mucinous ascites. The standard of care for PMP patients is aggressive cytoreductive surgery performed in conjunction with heated intraperitoneal chemotherapy. Not all patients are candidates for these procedures and a majority of the patients will have recurrent disease. In addition to secreted mucin, inflammation and fibrosis are central to PMP pathogenesis but the molecular processes that regulate tumor-stromal interactions within the peritoneal tumor microenvironment remain largely unknown. This knowledge is critical not only to elucidate PMP pathobiology but also to identify novel targets for therapy. Here, we report the generation of patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models for PMP and assess the ability of these models to replicate the inflammatory peritoneal microenvironment of human PMP patients. PDX mouse models of low- and high-grade PMP were generated and were of a similar histopathology as human PMP. Cytokines previously shown to be elevated in human PMP were also elevated in PDX ascites. Significant differences in IL-6 and IL-8/KC/MIP2 were seen between human and PDX ascites. Interestingly, these cytokines were mostly secreted by mouse-derived, tumor-associated stromal cells rather than by human-derived PMP tumor cells. Our data suggest that the PMP PDX mouse models are especially suited to the study of tumor-stromal interactions that regulate the peritoneal inflammatory environment in PMP as the tumor and stromal cells in these mouse models are of human and murine origins, respectively. These mouse models are therefore, likely to be useful in vivo surrogates for testing and developing novel therapeutic treatment interventions for PMP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murali R Kuracha
- Department of Surgery, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska, 68178
| | - Peter Thomas
- Department of Surgery, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska, 68178
| | - Brian W Loggie
- Department of Surgery, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska, 68178
| | - Venkatesh Govindarajan
- Department of Surgery, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska, 68178.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Creighton University, 2500 California Plaza, Omaha, Nebraska, 68178
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9
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Zhang J, Upadhya D, Lu L, Reneker LW. Fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 (FGFR2) is required for corneal epithelial cell proliferation and differentiation during embryonic development. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0117089. [PMID: 25615698 PMCID: PMC4304804 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0117089] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) play important roles in many aspects of embryonic development. During eye development, the lens and corneal epithelium are derived from the same surface ectodermal tissue. FGF receptor (FGFR)-signaling is essential for lens cell differentiation and survival, but its role in corneal development has not been fully investigated. In this study, we examined the corneal defects in Fgfr2 conditional knockout mice in which Cre expression is activated at lens induction stage by Pax6 P0 promoter. The cornea in LeCre, Fgfr2loxP/loxP mice (referred as Fgfr2CKO) was analyzed to assess changes in cell proliferation, differentiation and survival. We found that Fgfr2CKO cornea was much thinner in epithelial and stromal layer when compared to WT cornea. At embryonic day 12.5–13.5 (E12.5–13.5) shortly after the lens vesicle detaches from the overlying surface ectoderm, cell proliferation (judged by labeling indices of Ki-67, BrdU and phospho-histone H3) was significantly reduced in corneal epithelium in Fgfr2CKO mice. At later stage, cell differentiation markers for corneal epithelium and underlying stromal mesenchyme, keratin-12 and keratocan respectively, were not expressed in Fgfr2CKO cornea. Furthermore, Pax6, a transcription factor essential for eye development, was not present in the Fgfr2CKO mutant corneal epithelial at E16.5 but was expressed normally at E12.5, suggesting that FGFR2-signaling is required for maintaining Pax6 expression in this tissue. Interestingly, the role of FGFR2 in corneal epithelial development is independent of ERK1/2-signaling. In contrast to the lens, FGFR2 is not required for cell survival in cornea. This study demonstrates for the first time that FGFR2 plays an essential role in controlling cell proliferation and differentiation, and maintaining Pax6 levels in corneal epithelium via ERK-independent pathways during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinglin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Dinesh Upadhya
- Dept. of Ophthalmology, Mason Eye Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
| | - Lin Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Lixing W. Reneker
- Dept. of Ophthalmology, Mason Eye Institute, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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10
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Wada K, Matsushima Y, Tada T, Hasegawa S, Obara Y, Yoshizawa Y, Takahashi G, Hiai H, Shimanuki M, Suzuki S, Saitou J, Yamamoto N, Ichikawa M, Watanabe K, Kikkawa Y. Expression of truncated PITX3 in the developing lens leads to microphthalmia and aphakia in mice. PLoS One 2014; 9:e111432. [PMID: 25347445 PMCID: PMC4210183 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0111432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2014] [Accepted: 09/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Microphthalmia is a severe ocular disorder, and this condition is typically caused by mutations in transcription factors that are involved in eye development. Mice carrying mutations in these transcription factors would be useful tools for defining the mechanisms underlying developmental eye disorders. We discovered a new spontaneous recessive microphthalmos mouse mutant in the Japanese wild-derived inbred strain KOR1/Stm. The homozygous mutant mice were histologically characterized as microphthalmic by the absence of crystallin in the lens, a condition referred to as aphakia. By positional cloning, we identified the nonsense mutation c.444C>A outside the genomic region that encodes the homeodomain of the paired-like homeodomain transcription factor 3 gene (Pitx3) as the mutation responsible for the microphthalmia and aphakia. We examined Pitx3 mRNA expression of mutant mice during embryonic stages using RT-PCR and found that the expression levels are higher than in wild-type mice. Pitx3 over-expression in the lens during developmental stages was also confirmed at the protein level in the microphthalmos mutants via immunohistochemical analyses. Although lens fiber differentiation was not observed in the mutants, strong PITX3 protein signals were observed in the lens vesicles of the mutant lens. Thus, we speculated that abnormal PITX3, which lacks the C-terminus (including the OAR domain) as a result of the nonsense mutation, is expressed in mutant lenses. We showed that the expression of the downstream genes Foxe3, Prox1, and Mip was altered because of the Pitx3 mutation, with large reductions in the lens vesicles in the mutants. Similar profiles were observed by immunohistochemical analysis of these proteins. The expression profiles of crystallins were also altered in the mutants. Therefore, we speculated that the microphthalmos/aphakia in this mutant is caused by the expression of truncated PITX3, resulting in the abnormal expression of downstream targets and lens fiber proteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenta Wada
- Department of Bioproduction, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Abashiri, Japan
- Mammalian Genetics Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshibumi Matsushima
- Mammalian Genetics Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Tomoki Tada
- Department of Bioproduction, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Abashiri, Japan
| | - Sayaka Hasegawa
- Department of Bioproduction, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Abashiri, Japan
| | - Yo Obara
- Mammalian Genetics Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Yoshizawa
- Department of Bioproduction, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Abashiri, Japan
| | - Gou Takahashi
- Department of Bioproduction, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Abashiri, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hiai
- Medical Innovation Center, Graduate School of Medicine Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Midori Shimanuki
- Basic Research Center, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sari Suzuki
- Department of Bioproduction, Tokyo University of Agriculture, Abashiri, Japan
- Mammalian Genetics Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junichi Saitou
- Mammalian Genetics Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Naoki Yamamoto
- Institute of Joint Research, Fujita Health University, Toyoake, Japan
| | - Masumi Ichikawa
- Basic Research Center, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kei Watanabe
- Mammalian Genetics Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Tsukuba, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Kikkawa
- Mammalian Genetics Project, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Santhoshkumar P, Xie L, Raju M, Reneker L, Sharma KK. Lens crystallin modifications and cataract in transgenic mice overexpressing acylpeptide hydrolase. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:9039-52. [PMID: 24554718 PMCID: PMC3979366 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.510677] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2013] [Revised: 02/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The accumulation of crystallin fragments in vivo and their subsequent interaction with crystallins are responsible, in part, for protein aggregation in cataracts. Transgenic mice overexpressing acylpeptide hydrolase (APH) specifically in the lens were prepared to test the role of protease in the generation and accumulation of peptides. Cataract development was seen at various postnatal days in the majority of mice expressing active APH (wt-APH). Cataract onset and severity of the cataracts correlated with the APH protein levels. Lens opacity occurred when APH protein levels were >2.6% of the total lens protein and the specific activity, assayed using Ac-Ala-p-nitroanilide substrate, was >1 unit. Transgenic mice carrying inactive APH (mt-APH) did not develop cataract. Cataract development also correlated with N-terminal cleavage of the APH to generate a 57-kDa protein, along with an increased accumulation of low molecular weight (LMW) peptides, similar to those found in aging human and cataract lenses. Nontransgenic mouse lens proteins incubated with purified wt-APH in vitro resulted in a >20% increase in LMW peptides. Crystallin modifications and cleavage were quite dramatic in transgenic mouse lenses with mature cataract. Affected lenses showed capsule rupture at the posterior pole, with expulsion of the lens nucleus and degenerating fiber cells. Our study suggests that the cleaved APH fragment might exert catalytic activity against crystallins, resulting in the accumulation of distinct LMW peptides that promote protein aggregation in lenses expressing wt-APH. The APH transgenic model we developed will enable in vivo testing of the roles of crystallin fragments in protein aggregation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Leike Xie
- From the Departments of Ophthalmology and
| | | | | | - K. Krishna Sharma
- From the Departments of Ophthalmology and
- Biochemistry, University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri 65212
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Upadhya D, Ogata M, Reneker LW. MAPK1 is required for establishing the pattern of cell proliferation and for cell survival during lens development. Development 2013; 140:1573-82. [PMID: 23482492 DOI: 10.1242/dev.081042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs; also known as ERKs) are key intracellular signaling molecules that are ubiquitously expressed in tissues and were assumed to be functionally equivalent. Here, we use the mouse lens as a model system to investigate whether MAPK1 plays a specific role during development. MAPK3 is known to be dispensable for lens development. We demonstrate that, although MAPK1 is uniformly expressed in the lens epithelium, its deletion significantly reduces cell proliferation in the peripheral region, an area referred to as the lens germinative zone in which most active cell division occurs during normal lens development. By contrast, cell proliferation in the central region is minimally affected by MAPK1 deletion. Cell cycle regulators, including cyclin D1 and survivin, are downregulated in the germinative zone of the MAPK1-deficient lens. Interestingly, loss of MAPK1 subsequently induces upregulation of phosphorylated MAPK3 (pMAPK3) levels in the lens epithelium; however, this increase in pMAPK3 is not sufficient to restore cell proliferation in the germinative zone. Additionally, MAPK1 plays an essential role in epithelial cell survival but is dispensable for fiber cell differentiation during lens development. Our data indicate that MAPK1/3 control cell proliferation in the lens epithelium in a spatially defined manner; MAPK1 plays a unique role in establishing the highly mitotic zone in the peripheral region, whereas the two MAPKs share a redundant role in controlling cell proliferation in the central region of the lens epithelium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dinesh Upadhya
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Missouri, Columbia, MO 65212, USA
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Madakashira BP, Kobrinski DA, Hancher AD, Arneman EC, Wagner BD, Wang F, Shin H, Lovicu FJ, Reneker LW, Robinson ML. Frs2α enhances fibroblast growth factor-mediated survival and differentiation in lens development. Development 2012; 139:4601-12. [PMID: 23136392 DOI: 10.1242/dev.081737] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Most growth factor receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs) signal through similar intracellular pathways, but they often have divergent biological effects. Therefore, elucidating the mechanism of channeling the intracellular effect of RTK stimulation to facilitate specific biological responses represents a fundamental biological challenge. Lens epithelial cells express numerous RTKs with the ability to initiate the phosphorylation (activation) of Erk1/2 and PI3-K/Akt signaling. However, only Fgfr stimulation leads to lens fiber cell differentiation in the developing mammalian embryo. Additionally, within the lens, only Fgfrs activate the signal transduction molecule Frs2α. Loss of Frs2α in the lens significantly increases apoptosis and decreases phosphorylation of both Erk1/2 and Akt. Also, Frs2α deficiency decreases the expression of several proteins characteristic of lens fiber cell differentiation, including Prox1, p57(KIP2), aquaporin 0 and β-crystallins. Although not normally expressed in the lens, the RTK TrkC phosphorylates Frs2α in response to binding the ligand NT3. Transgenic lens epithelial cells expressing both TrkC and NT3 exhibit several features characteristic of lens fiber cells. These include elongation, increased Erk1/2 and Akt phosphorylation, and the expression of β-crystallins. All these characteristics of NT3-TrkC transgenic lens epithelial cells depend on Frs2α. Therefore, tyrosine phosphorylation of Frs2α mediates Fgfr-dependent lens cell survival and provides a mechanistic basis for the unique fiber-differentiating capacity of Fgfs on mammalian lens epithelial cells.
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14
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Qu X, Pan Y, Carbe C, Powers A, Grobe K, Zhang X. Glycosaminoglycan-dependent restriction of FGF diffusion is necessary for lacrimal gland development. Development 2012; 139:2730-9. [PMID: 22745308 DOI: 10.1242/dev.079236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) play a central role in embryonic development by regulating the movement and signaling of morphogens. We have previously demonstrated that GAGs are the co-receptors for Fgf10 signaling in the lacrimal gland epithelium, but their function in the Fgf10-producing periocular mesenchyme is still poorly understood. In this study, we have generated a mesenchymal ablation of UDP-glucose dehydrogenase (Ugdh), an essential biosynthetic enzyme for GAGs. Although Fgf10 RNA is expressed normally in the periocular mesenchyme, Ugdh mutation leads to excessive dispersion of Fgf10 protein, which fails to elicit an FGF signaling response or budding morphogenesis in the presumptive lacrimal gland epithelium. This is supported by genetic rescue experiments in which the Ugdh lacrimal gland defect is ameliorated by constitutive Ras activation in the epithelium but not in the mesenchyme. We further show that lacrimal gland development requires the mesenchymal expression of the heparan sulfate N-sulfation genes Ndst1 and Ndst2 but not the 6-O and 2-O-sulfation genes Hs6st1, Hs6st2 and Hs2st. Taken together, these results demonstrate that mesenchymal GAG controls lacrimal gland induction by restricting the diffusion of Fgf10.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuxia Qu
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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15
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The lens in focus: a comparison of lens development in Drosophila and vertebrates. Mol Genet Genomics 2011; 286:189-213. [PMID: 21877135 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-011-0643-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2011] [Accepted: 08/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The evolution of the eye has been a major subject of study dating back centuries. The advent of molecular genetics offered the surprising finding that morphologically distinct eyes rely on conserved regulatory gene networks for their formation. While many of these advances often stemmed from studies of the compound eye of the fruit fly, Drosophila melanogaster, and later translated to discoveries in vertebrate systems, studies on vertebrate lens development far outnumber those in Drosophila. This may be largely historical, since Spemann and Mangold's paradigm of tissue induction was discovered in the amphibian lens. Recent studies on lens development in Drosophila have begun to define molecular commonalities with the vertebrate lens. Here, we provide an overview of Drosophila lens development, discussing intrinsic and extrinsic factors controlling lens cell specification and differentiation. We then summarize key morphological and molecular events in vertebrate lens development, emphasizing regulatory factors and networks strongly associated with both systems. Finally, we provide a comparative analysis that highlights areas of research that would help further clarify the degree of conservation between the formation of dioptric systems in invertebrates and vertebrates.
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Kuracha MR, Burgess D, Siefker E, Cooper JT, Licht JD, Robinson ML, Govindarajan V. Spry1 and Spry2 are necessary for lens vesicle separation and corneal differentiation. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2011; 52:6887-97. [PMID: 21743007 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.11-7531] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE The studies reported here were performed to analyze the roles of Sproutys (Sprys), downstream targets and negative feedback regulators of the fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling pathway, in lens and corneal differentiation. METHODS Spry1 and -2 were conditionally deleted in the lens and corneal epithelial precursors using the Le-Cre transgene and floxed alleles of Spry1 and -2. Alterations in lens and corneal development were assessed by hematoxylin and eosin staining, in situ hybridization, and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS Spry1 and -2 were upregulated in the lens fibers at the onset of fiber differentiation. FGF signaling was both necessary and sufficient for induction of Spry1 and -2 in the lens fiber cells. Spry1 and -2 single- or double-null lenses failed to separate from the overlying ectoderm and showed persistent keratolenticular stalks. Apoptosis of stalk cells, normally seen during lens vesicle detachment from the ectoderm, was inhibited in Spry mutant lenses, with concomitant ERK activation. Prox1 and p57(KIP2), normally upregulated at the onset of fiber differentiation were prematurely induced in the Spry mutant lens epithelial cells. However, terminal differentiation markers such as β- or γ-crystallin were not induced. Corneal epithelial precursors in Spry1 and -2 double mutants showed increased proliferation with elevated expression of Erm and DUSP6 and decreased expression of the corneal differentiation marker K12. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, the results indicate that Spry1 and -2 (1) through negative modulation of ERKs allow lens vesicle separation, (2) are targets of FGF signaling in the lens during initiation of fiber differentiation and (3) function redundantly in the corneal epithelial cells to suppress proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Murali R Kuracha
- Department of Surgery, Creighton University, Omaha, Nebraska, USA
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Charlton-Perkins M, Whitaker SL, Fei Y, Xie B, Li-Kroeger D, Gebelein B, Cook T. Prospero and Pax2 combinatorially control neural cell fate decisions by modulating Ras- and Notch-dependent signaling. Neural Dev 2011; 6:20. [PMID: 21539742 PMCID: PMC3123624 DOI: 10.1186/1749-8104-6-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2010] [Accepted: 05/03/2011] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The concept of an equivalence group, a cluster of cells with equal potential to adopt the same specific fate, has served as a useful paradigm to understand neural cell type specification. In the Drosophila eye, a set of five cells, called the 'R7 equivalence group', generates a single photoreceptor neuron and four lens-secreting epithelial cells. This choice between neuronal versus non-neuronal cell fates rests on differential requirements for, and cross-talk between, Notch/Delta- and Ras/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK)-dependent signaling pathways. However, many questions remain unanswered related to how downstream events of these two signaling pathways mediate distinct cell fate decisions. RESULTS Here, we demonstrate that two direct downstream targets of Ras and Notch signaling, the transcription factors Prospero and dPax2, are essential regulators of neuronal versus non-neuronal cell fate decisions in the R7 equivalence group. Prospero controls high activated MAPK levels required for neuronal fate, whereas dPax2 represses Delta expression to prevent neuronal fate. Importantly, activity from both factors is required for proper cell fate decisions to occur. CONCLUSIONS These data demonstrate that Ras and Notch signaling are integrated during cell fate decisions within the R7 equivalence group through the combinatorial and opposing activities of Pros and dPax2. Our study provides one of the first examples of how the differential expression and synergistic roles of two independent transcription factors determine cell fate within an equivalence group. Since the integration of Ras and Notch signaling is associated with many developmental and cancer models, these findings should provide new insights into how cell specificity is achieved by ubiquitously used signaling pathways in diverse biological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Charlton-Perkins
- Department of Pediatric Ophthalmology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Ave, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
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Carbe C, Zhang X. Lens induction requires attenuation of ERK signaling by Nf1. Hum Mol Genet 2011; 20:1315-23. [PMID: 21233129 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddr014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Aphakia (lack of lens) is a rare human congenital disorder with its genetic etiology largely unknown. Even in model organisms, very few mutations are known to result in such a drastic ocular defect. In this study, we have shown that homozygous deletion of Nf1, the Ras GTPase gene underlying human neurofibromatosis type 1 syndrome, causes lens dysgenesis in mouse. Although early lens specification proceeded normally in Nf1 mutants, lens induction was disrupted due to deficient cell proliferation. Further analysis showed that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling was initially elevated in the invaginating lens placode, but by the lens vesicle stage, ERK phosphorylation was significantly reduced. Only after intraperitoneal treatment of U0126, an inhibitor of ERK phosphorylation, was lens development restored in Nf1 mutants. Hyperactive Ras-mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling is known to cause neuro-cardiofacial-cutaneous (NCFC) syndromes in humans. As a member of NCFC family genes, Nf1 represents the first example that attenuation of Ras-MAPK kinase signaling pathway is essential for normal lens development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christian Carbe
- Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
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