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Cordero-Varela JA, Reyes-Corral M, Lao-Pérez M, Fernández-Santos B, Montenegro-Elvira F, Sempere L, Ybot-González P. Analysis of Gut Characteristics and Microbiota Changes with Maternal Supplementation in a Neural Tube Defect Mouse Model. Nutrients 2023; 15:4944. [PMID: 38068802 PMCID: PMC10708240 DOI: 10.3390/nu15234944] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Adequate nutrient supply is crucial for the proper development of the embryo. Although nutrient supply is determined by maternal diet, the gut microbiota also influences nutrient availability. While currently there is no cure for neural tube defects (NTDs), their prevention is largely amenable to maternal folic acid and inositol supplementation. The gut microbiota also contributes to the production of these nutrients, which are absorbed by the host, but its role in this context remains largely unexplored. In this study, we performed a functional and morphological analysis of the intestinal tract of loop-tail mice (Vangl2 mutants), a mouse model of folate/inositol-resistant NTDs. In addition, we investigated the changes in gut microbiota using 16S rRNA gene sequencing regarding (1) the host genotype; (2) the sample source for metagenomics analysis; (3) the pregnancy status in the gestational window of neural tube closure; (4) folic acid and (5) D-chiro-inositol supplementation. We observed that Vangl2+/Lp mice showed no apparent changes in gastrointestinal transit time or fecal output, yet exhibited increased intestinal length and cecal weight and gut dysbiosis. Moreover, our results showed that the mice supplemented with folic acid and D-chiro-inositol had significant changes in their microbiota composition, which are changes that could have implications for nutrient absorption.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Antonio Cordero-Varela
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (J.A.C.-V.); (M.L.-P.); (B.F.-S.); (F.M.-E.); (L.S.)
| | - Marta Reyes-Corral
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (J.A.C.-V.); (M.L.-P.); (B.F.-S.); (F.M.-E.); (L.S.)
| | - Miguel Lao-Pérez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (J.A.C.-V.); (M.L.-P.); (B.F.-S.); (F.M.-E.); (L.S.)
| | - Beatriz Fernández-Santos
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (J.A.C.-V.); (M.L.-P.); (B.F.-S.); (F.M.-E.); (L.S.)
| | - Fernando Montenegro-Elvira
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (J.A.C.-V.); (M.L.-P.); (B.F.-S.); (F.M.-E.); (L.S.)
| | - Lluis Sempere
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (J.A.C.-V.); (M.L.-P.); (B.F.-S.); (F.M.-E.); (L.S.)
| | - Patricia Ybot-González
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain; (J.A.C.-V.); (M.L.-P.); (B.F.-S.); (F.M.-E.); (L.S.)
- Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Spain
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2
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Fernández-Santos B, Reyes-Corral M, Caro-Vega JM, Lao-Pérez M, Vallejo-Grijalba C, Mesa-Cruz C, Morón FJ, Ybot-González P. The loop-tail mouse model displays open and closed caudal neural tube defects. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050175. [PMID: 37589570 PMCID: PMC10481946 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) are the second most common cause of congenital malformations and are often studied in animal models. Loop-tail (Lp) mice carry a mutation in the Vangl2 gene, a member of the Wnt-planar cell polarity pathway. In Vangl2+/Lp embryos, the mutation induces a failure in the completion of caudal neural tube closure, but only a small percentage of embryos develop open spina bifida. Here, we show that the majority of Vangl2+/Lp embryos developed caudal closed NTDs and presented cellular aggregates that may facilitate the sealing of these defects. The cellular aggregates expressed neural crest cell markers and, using these as a readout, we describe a systematic method to assess the severity of the neural tube dorsal fusion failure. We observed that this defect worsened in combination with other NTD mutants, Daam1 and Grhl3. Besides, we found that in Vangl2+/Lp embryos, these NTDs were resistant to maternal folic acid and inositol supplementation. Loop-tail mice provide a useful model for research on the molecular interactions involved in the development of open and closed NTDs and for the design of prevention strategies for these diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz Fernández-Santos
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Marta Reyes-Corral
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - José Manuel Caro-Vega
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Miguel Lao-Pérez
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Claudia Vallejo-Grijalba
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Cristina Mesa-Cruz
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Francisco J. Morón
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
| | - Patricia Ybot-González
- Institute of Biomedicine of Seville (IBiS)/Virgen del Rocío University Hospital/CSIC/University of Seville, 41013 Seville, Spain
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3
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Eszlari N, Bruncsics B, Millinghoffer A, Hullam G, Petschner P, Gonda X, Breen G, Antal P, Bagdy G, Deakin JFW, Juhasz G. Biology of Perseverative Negative Thinking: The Role of Timing and Folate Intake. Nutrients 2021; 13:4396. [PMID: 34959947 PMCID: PMC8703428 DOI: 10.3390/nu13124396] [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: 10/21/2021] [Revised: 12/02/2021] [Accepted: 12/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Past-oriented rumination and future-oriented worry are two aspects of perseverative negative thinking related to the neuroticism endophenotype and associated with depression and anxiety. Our present aim was to investigate the genomic background of these two aspects of perseverative negative thinking within separate groups of individuals with suboptimal versus optimal folate intake. We conducted a genome-wide association study in the UK Biobank database (n = 72,621) on the "rumination" and "worry" items of the Eysenck Personality Inventory Neuroticism scale in these separate groups. Optimal folate intake was related to lower worry, but unrelated to rumination. In contrast, genetic associations for worry did not implicate specific biological processes, while past-oriented rumination had a more specific genetic background, emphasizing its endophenotypic nature. Furthermore, biological pathways leading to rumination appeared to differ according to folate intake: purinergic signaling and circadian regulator gene ARNTL emerged in the whole sample, blastocyst development, DNA replication, and C-C chemokines in the suboptimal folate group, and prostaglandin response and K+ channel subunit gene KCNH3 in the optimal folate group. Our results point to possible benefits of folate in anxiety disorders, and to the importance of simultaneously taking into account genetic and environmental factors to determine personalized intervention in polygenic and multifactorial disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Eszlari
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (P.P.); (G.B.); (G.J.)
- NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (A.M.); (X.G.)
| | - Bence Bruncsics
- Department of Measurement and Information Systems, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Magyar Tudósok krt. 2, H-1521 Budapest, Hungary; (B.B.); (G.H.); (P.A.)
| | - Andras Millinghoffer
- NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (A.M.); (X.G.)
- Department of Measurement and Information Systems, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Magyar Tudósok krt. 2, H-1521 Budapest, Hungary; (B.B.); (G.H.); (P.A.)
| | - Gabor Hullam
- Department of Measurement and Information Systems, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Magyar Tudósok krt. 2, H-1521 Budapest, Hungary; (B.B.); (G.H.); (P.A.)
- MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Petschner
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (P.P.); (G.B.); (G.J.)
- MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary
- Bioinformatics Center, Institute for Chemical Research, Kyoto University, Gokasho, Uji, Kyoto 611-0011, Japan
| | - Xenia Gonda
- NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (A.M.); (X.G.)
- MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, Semmelweis University, Gyulai Pál utca 2, H-1085 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Gerome Breen
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King’s College London, Memory Lane, London SE5 8AF, UK;
- UK National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) Maudsley Biomedical Research Centre (BRC), London SE5 8AF, UK
| | - Peter Antal
- Department of Measurement and Information Systems, Budapest University of Technology and Economics, Magyar Tudósok krt. 2, H-1521 Budapest, Hungary; (B.B.); (G.H.); (P.A.)
| | - Gyorgy Bagdy
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (P.P.); (G.B.); (G.J.)
- NAP-2-SE New Antidepressant Target Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (A.M.); (X.G.)
- MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary
| | - John Francis William Deakin
- Division of Neuroscience and Experimental Psychology, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PL, UK;
| | - Gabriella Juhasz
- Department of Pharmacodynamics, Faculty of Pharmacy, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary; (P.P.); (G.B.); (G.J.)
- MTA-SE Neuropsychopharmacology and Neurochemistry Research Group, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary
- SE-NAP 2 Genetic Brain Imaging Migraine Research Group, Hungarian Brain Research Program, Semmelweis University, Nagyvárad tér 4, H-1089 Budapest, Hungary
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Senousy SM, Farag MK, Gouda AS, El Noury MA, Dabbous OA, Gaber KR. Association between biomarkers of vitamin B12 status and the risk of neural tube defects. J Obstet Gynaecol Res 2018; 44:1902-1908. [DOI: 10.1111/jog.13751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 06/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Sameh M. Senousy
- Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Medicine Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division; National Research Centre; Cairo Egypt
| | - Mona K. Farag
- Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Medicine Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division; National Research Centre; Cairo Egypt
| | - Amr S. Gouda
- Biochemical Genetics Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division; National Research Centre; Cairo Egypt
| | - Mohamed A. El Noury
- Medical Applications of Laser Department, Laser Institute; Cairo University; Cairo Egypt
| | - Ola A. Dabbous
- Medical Applications of Laser Department, Laser Institute; Cairo University; Cairo Egypt
| | - Khaled R. Gaber
- Prenatal Diagnosis and Fetal Medicine Department, Human Genetics and Genome Research Division; National Research Centre; Cairo Egypt
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5
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Stover PJ, James WPT, Krook A, Garza C. Emerging concepts on the role of epigenetics in the relationships between nutrition and health. J Intern Med 2018; 284:37-49. [PMID: 29706028 DOI: 10.1111/joim.12768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Understanding the physiological and metabolic underpinnings that confer individual differences in responses to diet and diet-related chronic disease is essential to advance the field of nutrition. This includes elucidating the differences in gene expression that are mediated through programming of the genome through epigenetic chromatin modifications. Epigenetic landscapes are influenced by age, genetics, toxins and other environmental factors, including dietary exposures and nutritional status. Epigenetic modifications influence transcription and genome stability are established during development with life-long consequences. They can be inherited from one generation to the next. The covalent modifications of chromatin, which include methylation and acetylation, on DNA nucleotide bases, histone proteins and RNA are derived from intermediates of one-carbon metabolism and central metabolism. They influence key physiological processes throughout life, and together with inherited DNA primary sequence, contribute to responsiveness to environmental stresses, diet and risk for age-related chronic disease. Revealing diet-epigenetic relationships has the potential to transform nutrition science by increasing our fundamental understanding of: (i) the role of nutrients in biological systems, (ii) the resilience of living organisms in responding to environmental perturbations, and (iii) the development of dietary patterns that programme physiology for life-long health. Epigenetics may also enable the classification of individuals with chronic disease for specific dietary management and/or for efficacious diet-pharmaceutical combination therapies. These new emerging concepts at the interface of nutrition and epigenetics were discussed, and future research needs identified by leading experts at the 26th Marabou Symposium entitled 'Nutrition, Epigenetics, Genetics: Impact on Health and Disease'. For a compilation of the general discussion at the marabou symposium, click here http://www.marabousymposium.org/.
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Affiliation(s)
- P J Stover
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - W P T James
- Department of Population Health, Nutrition Group, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - A Krook
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section for Integrative Physiology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - C Garza
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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6
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Gao X, Finnell RH, Wang H, Zheng Y. Network correlation analysis revealed potential new mechanisms for neural tube defects beyond folic acid. Birth Defects Res 2018; 110:982-993. [PMID: 29732722 DOI: 10.1002/bdr2.1336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2018] [Revised: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 03/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural tube defects (NTDs) are clinically significant congenital malformations which are known to be folic acid (FA) responsive, such that supplementation significantly reduces the prevalence of NTDs. Nonetheless, some individuals fail to respond to FA supplementation; hence NTDs remain a significant public health concern. The mechanisms that underlie the beneficial effects of FA supplementation remain poorly understood. Mouse models have been used extensively to study the mechanisms driving neural tube closure (NTC). METHODS Microarray data of GSE51285 was downloaded from the NCBI GEO database, which contains the RNA expression profiles of livers from five NTD mouse mutants (heterozygous females) and their corresponding wildtype (WT) controls. Those five NTD mutants have different responsiveness to FA supplementation. The differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between NTD heterozygous and WT mice, as well as the DEGs between FA-responsive and FA-resistant mutants were carefully examined. Weighted gene correlation network analysis (WGCNA) was performed in order to identify genes with high correlations to either FA responsiveness or NTDs, respectively. RESULTS In total, we identified 18 genes related to the pathogenesis of NTDs, as well as 55 genes related to FA responsiveness. Eight more candidate genes (Abcc3, Gsr, Gclc, Mthfd1, Gart, Bche, Slc25a32, and Slc44a2) were identified by examining the DEGs of those genes involved in the extended folate metabolic pathway between FA-responsive and FA-resistant mutants. CONCLUSIONS Those genes are involved in mitochondrial choline metabolism, de novo purine synthesis, and glutathione generation, suggesting that formate, choline, and manipulating antioxidant levels may be effective interventions in FA-resistant NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoya Gao
- Institute of Developmental Biology & Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Collaborative Innovation Center for Genetics & Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongyan Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yufang Zheng
- Institute of Developmental Biology & Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,State Key Laboratory of Genetic Engineering, Collaborative Innovation Center of Genetics and Development, School of Life Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.,Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital, Institute of Reproduction and Development, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
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7
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Do Gametes Woo? Evidence for Their Nonrandom Union at Fertilization. Genetics 2018; 207:369-387. [PMID: 28978771 DOI: 10.1534/genetics.117.300109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2017] [Accepted: 07/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
A fundamental tenet of inheritance in sexually reproducing organisms such as humans and laboratory mice is that gametes combine randomly at fertilization, thereby ensuring a balanced and statistically predictable representation of inherited variants in each generation. This principle is encapsulated in Mendel's First Law. But exceptions are known. With transmission ratio distortion, particular alleles are preferentially transmitted to offspring. Preferential transmission usually occurs in one sex but not both, and is not known to require interactions between gametes at fertilization. A reanalysis of our published work in mice and of data in other published reports revealed instances where any of 12 mutant genes biases fertilization, with either too many or too few heterozygotes and homozygotes, depending on the mutant gene and on dietary conditions. Although such deviations are usually attributed to embryonic lethality of the underrepresented genotypes, the evidence is more consistent with genetically-determined preferences for specific combinations of egg and sperm at fertilization that result in genotype bias without embryo loss. This unexpected discovery of genetically-biased fertilization could yield insights about the molecular and cellular interactions between sperm and egg at fertilization, with implications for our understanding of inheritance, reproduction, population genetics, and medical genetics.
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8
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Parent-of-origin effects of A1CF and AGO2 on testicular germ-cell tumors, testicular abnormalities, and fertilization bias. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:E5425-33. [PMID: 27582469 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1604773113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Testicular tumors, the most common cancer in young men, arise from abnormalities in germ cells during fetal development. Unconventional inheritance for testicular germ cell tumor (TGCT) risk both in humans and mice implicates epigenetic mechanisms. Apolipoprotein B mRNA-editing enzyme complex 1 (APOBEC1) cytidine deaminase and Deadend-1, which are involved in C-to-U RNA editing and microRNA-dependent mRNA silencing, respectively, are potent epigenetic modifiers of TGCT susceptibility in the genetically predisposed 129/Sv inbred mouse strain. Here, we show that partial loss of either APOBEC1 complementation factor (A1CF), the RNA-binding cofactor of APOBEC1 in RNA editing, or Argonaute 2 (AGO2), a key factor in the biogenesis of certain noncoding RNAs, modulates risk for TGCTs and testicular abnormalities in both parent-of-origin and conventional genetic manners. In addition, non-Mendelian inheritance was found among progeny of A1cf and Ago2 mutant intercrosses but not in backcrosses and without fetal loss. Together these findings suggest nonrandom union of gametes rather than meiotic drive or preferential lethality. Finally, this survey also suggested that A1CF contributes to long-term reproductive performance. These results directly implicate the RNA-binding proteins A1CF and AGO2 in the epigenetic control of germ-cell fate, urogenital development, and gamete functions.
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Anderson MJ, Schimmang T, Lewandoski M. An FGF3-BMP Signaling Axis Regulates Caudal Neural Tube Closure, Neural Crest Specification and Anterior-Posterior Axis Extension. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006018. [PMID: 27144312 PMCID: PMC4856314 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/08/2016] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
During vertebrate axis extension, adjacent tissue layers undergo profound morphological changes: within the neuroepithelium, neural tube closure and neural crest formation are occurring, while within the paraxial mesoderm somites are segmenting from the presomitic mesoderm (PSM). Little is known about the signals between these tissues that regulate their coordinated morphogenesis. Here, we analyze the posterior axis truncation of mouse Fgf3 null homozygotes and demonstrate that the earliest role of PSM-derived FGF3 is to regulate BMP signals in the adjacent neuroepithelium. FGF3 loss causes elevated BMP signals leading to increased neuroepithelium proliferation, delay in neural tube closure and premature neural crest specification. We demonstrate that elevated BMP4 depletes PSM progenitors in vitro, phenocopying the Fgf3 mutant, suggesting that excessive BMP signals cause the Fgf3 axis defect. To test this in vivo we increased BMP signaling in Fgf3 mutants by removing one copy of Noggin, which encodes a BMP antagonist. In such mutants, all parameters of the Fgf3 phenotype were exacerbated: neural tube closure delay, premature neural crest specification, and premature axis termination. Conversely, genetically decreasing BMP signaling in Fgf3 mutants, via loss of BMP receptor activity, alleviates morphological defects. Aberrant apoptosis is observed in the Fgf3 mutant tailbud. However, we demonstrate that cell death does not cause the Fgf3 phenotype: blocking apoptosis via deletion of pro-apoptotic genes surprisingly increases all Fgf3 defects including causing spina bifida. We demonstrate that this counterintuitive consequence of blocking apoptosis is caused by the increased survival of BMP-producing cells in the neuroepithelium. Thus, we show that FGF3 in the caudal vertebrate embryo regulates BMP signaling in the neuroepithelium, which in turn regulates neural tube closure, neural crest specification and axis termination. Uncovering this FGF3-BMP signaling axis is a major advance toward understanding how these tissue layers interact during axis extension with important implications in human disease. During embryological development, the vertebrate embryo undergoes profound growth in a head-to-tail direction. During this process, formation of different structures within adjacent tissue layers must occur in a coordinated fashion. Insights into how these adjacent tissues molecularly communicate with each other is essential to understanding both basic embryology and the underlying causes of human birth defects. Mice lacking Fgf3, which encodes a secreted signaling factor, have long been known to have premature axis termination, but the underlying mechanism has not been studied until now. Through a series of complex genetic experiments, we show that FGF3 is an essential factor for coordination of neural tube development and axis extension. FGF3 is secreted from the mesodermal layer, which is the major driver of extending the axis, and negatively regulates expression of another class of secreted signaling molecules in the neuroepithelium, BMPs. In the absence of FGF3, excessive BMP signals cause a delay in neural tube closure, premature specification of neural crest cells and negatively affect the mesoderm, causing a premature termination of the embryological axis. Our work suggests that FGF3 may be a player in the complex etiology of the human birth defect, spina bifida, the failure of posterior neural tube closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Anderson
- Genetics of Vertebrate Development Section, Cancer and Developmental Biology Lab, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
| | - Thomas Schimmang
- Instituto de Biología y Genética Molecular, Universidad de Valladolid y Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas, Valladolid, Spain
| | - Mark Lewandoski
- Genetics of Vertebrate Development Section, Cancer and Developmental Biology Lab, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, Maryland, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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10
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Joubert BR, den Dekker HT, Felix JF, Bohlin J, Ligthart S, Beckett E, Tiemeier H, van Meurs JB, Uitterlinden AG, Hofman A, Håberg SE, Reese SE, Peters MJ, Andreassen BK, Steegers EAP, Nilsen RM, Vollset SE, Midttun Ø, Ueland PM, Franco OH, Dehghan A, de Jongste JC, Wu MC, Wang T, Peddada SD, Jaddoe VWV, Nystad W, Duijts L, London SJ. Maternal plasma folate impacts differential DNA methylation in an epigenome-wide meta-analysis of newborns. Nat Commun 2016; 7:10577. [PMID: 26861414 PMCID: PMC4749955 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms10577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2015] [Accepted: 12/31/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Folate is vital for fetal development. Periconceptional folic acid supplementation and food fortification are recommended to prevent neural tube defects. Mechanisms whereby periconceptional folate influences normal development and disease are poorly understood: epigenetics may be involved. We examine the association between maternal plasma folate during pregnancy and epigenome-wide DNA methylation using Illumina's HumanMethyl450 Beadchip in 1,988 newborns from two European cohorts. Here we report the combined covariate-adjusted results using meta-analysis and employ pathway and gene expression analyses. Four-hundred forty-three CpGs (320 genes) are significantly associated with maternal plasma folate levels during pregnancy (false discovery rate 5%); 48 are significant after Bonferroni correction. Most genes are not known for folate biology, including APC2, GRM8, SLC16A12, OPCML, PRPH, LHX1, KLK4 and PRSS21. Some relate to birth defects other than neural tube defects, neurological functions or varied aspects of embryonic development. These findings may inform how maternal folate impacts the developing epigenome and health outcomes in offspring.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bonnie R Joubert
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Herman T den Dekker
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Janine F Felix
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Jon Bohlin
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo 0403, Norway
| | - Symen Ligthart
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Emma Beckett
- Department of Applied Sciences, School of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Newcastle, Ourimbah, New South Wales 2258, Australia.,Food and Nutrition Flagship, CSIRO, North Ryde, New South Wales 2113, Australia
| | - Henning Tiemeier
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands.,Department of Psychiatry, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Joyce B van Meurs
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Andre G Uitterlinden
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands.,Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Albert Hofman
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Siri E Håberg
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo 0403, Norway
| | - Sarah E Reese
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Marjolein J Peters
- Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Bettina Kulle Andreassen
- Department of Clinical Molecular Biology, Institute of Clinical Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo 0316, Norway
| | - Eric A P Steegers
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Roy M Nilsen
- Department of Research and Development, Centre for Clinical Research, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen 5021, Norway
| | - Stein E Vollset
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo 0403, Norway.,Department of Global Public Health and Primary Care, University of Bergen, Bergen 5018, Norway
| | | | - Per M Ueland
- Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen 5018, Norway.,Laboratory of Clinical Biochemistry, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen 5018, Norway
| | - Oscar H Franco
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Abbas Dehghan
- Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Johan C de Jongste
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Michael C Wu
- Public Health Sciences Program, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, Washington 98109, USA
| | - Tianyuan Wang
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Shyamal D Peddada
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
| | - Vincent W V Jaddoe
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Wenche Nystad
- Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo 0403, Norway
| | - Liesbeth Duijts
- The Generation R Study Group, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands.,Department of Pediatrics, Division of Respiratory Medicine, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands.,Department of Epidemiology, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam 3000 CA, Netherlands
| | - Stephanie J London
- Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Research Triangle Park, North Carolina 27709, USA
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Functional variant in methionine synthase reductase intron-1 is associated with pleiotropic congenital malformations. Mol Cell Biochem 2015; 407:51-6. [DOI: 10.1007/s11010-015-2453-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2015] [Accepted: 05/16/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
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