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Liu X, Li H, Wang L, Zhang L, Wang L. The Effect of Sow Maternal Behavior on the Growth of Piglets and a Genome-Wide Association Study. Animals (Basel) 2023; 13:3753. [PMID: 38136791 PMCID: PMC10740555 DOI: 10.3390/ani13243753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Sows' maternal behavior is important for improving piglet survival and growth; thus, breeding for good mothering sows is necessary for pig production. However, there is little research on the genetic mechanism of maternal behavior. In this study, a comparative analysis of piglets' growth traits between good and bad maternal behavior groups and a genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to elucidate the impact of sows' maternal behavior on piglet growth and identify candidate genes and markers of sow's maternal behaviors. Comparing the growth traits of piglets between good and bad sows' maternal behavior groups, the results showed that the growth traits of piglets from sows with good maternal behavior were better than those from sows with bad maternal behavior and especially for the multiparous sows group, this comparative difference was significant. For the intensive study of the genetic mechanisms of sows' maternal behavior, a total of 452 sows were genotyped using the Illumina Porcine 50K SNP Chip, and 4 traits, including biting piglets (BP), crushing piglets (CP), trampling piglets (TP) and screaming test (ST), were examined. Using a GWAS, 20 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were found to be associated with these traits. Within 1 Mb upstream and downstream of the significant SNPs screened, 138 genes were obtained. After pathway enrichment and gene annotation, HIP1, FZD9 and HTR7 were identified as important candidate genes affecting sows' maternal behaviors. These findings preliminarily elucidate the genetic basis of sows' maternal behavior traits and provide candidate genes and markers for molecular breeding in pigs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Lixian Wang
- Institute of Animal Science, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100193, China; (X.L.); (H.L.); (L.W.); (L.Z.)
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2
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Serrano-Juárez CA, Prieto-Corona B, Rodríguez-Camacho M, Sandoval-Lira L, Villalva-Sánchez ÁF, Yáñez-Téllez MG, López MFR. Neuropsychological Genotype-Phenotype in Patients with Williams Syndrome with Atypical Deletions: A Systematic Review. Neuropsychol Rev 2023; 33:891-911. [PMID: 36520254 DOI: 10.1007/s11065-022-09571-2] [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: 05/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/04/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a microdeletion in the q11.23 region of chromosome 7. Recent case series reports and clinical case studies have suggested that the cognitive, behavioral, emotional, and social profile in WS could depend on the genes involved in the deletion. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze and synthesize the variability of the cognitive and behavioral profile of WS with atypical deletion and its probable relationship with the affected genes. The medical subject headings searched were "Williams syndrome," "genotype," "phenotype," "cognitive profile," and "atypical deletion." The studies included were in English or Spanish, with children and adults, and published between January 2000 and October 2022. Twenty-three studies are reported. The characteristics of the participants, the genes involved, the neuropsychological domains and instruments, and the prevalence of the WS cognitive profile criteria were used for the genotype-phenotype analysis. The genes with a major impact on the cognitive profile of WS were (a) LIMK1 and those belonging to the GTF2I family, the former with a greater influence on visuospatial abilities; (b) GTF2IRD1 and GTF2I, which have an impact on intellectual capacity as well as on visuospatial and social skills; (c) FZD9, BAZ1B, STX1A, and CLIP2, which influence the cognitive profile if other genes are also effected; and (d) GTF2IRD2, which is related to the severity of the effect on visuospatial and social skills, producing a behavioral phenotype like that of the autism spectrum. The review revealed four neuropsychological phenotypes, depending on the genes involved, and established the need for more comprehensive study of the neuropsychological profile of these patients. Based on the results found, we propose a model for the investigation of and clinical approach to the WS neuropsychological phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Alberto Serrano-Juárez
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Belén Prieto-Corona
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México.
| | - Mario Rodríguez-Camacho
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Lucero Sandoval-Lira
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Ángel Fernando Villalva-Sánchez
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México
| | - Ma Guillermina Yáñez-Téllez
- Neuroscience Group. Laboratorio de Neurometría, Facultad de Estudios Superiores Iztacala, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Av. De los Barrios #1, Col. Los Reyes Iztacala, Tlalnepantla, Estado de México, CP 54090, México
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3
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Umar SA, Dong B, Nihal M, Chang H. Frizzled receptors in melanomagenesis: From molecular interactions to target identification. Front Oncol 2022; 12:1096134. [PMID: 36620565 PMCID: PMC9816865 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.1096134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 12/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Frizzled (FZD) proteins are receptors for the WNT family ligands. Inherited human diseases and genetic experiments using knockout mice have revealed a central role of FZDs in multiple aspects of embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. Misregulated FZD signaling has also been found in many cancers. Recent studies on three out of the ten mammalian FZDs in melanoma have shown that they promote tumor cell proliferation and invasion, via the activation of the canonical WNT/β-catenin or non-canonical PCP signaling pathway. In this concise review, we summarize our current knowledge of individual FZDs in melanoma, discuss the involvement of both the canonical and non-canonical pathways, and describe ongoing efforts to target the FZD receptors for melanoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheikh A. Umar
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Bo Dong
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Minakshi Nihal
- William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States
| | - Hao Chang
- Department of Dermatology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, United States,William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, Madison, WI, United States,*Correspondence: Hao Chang,
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4
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Kot M, Neglur PK, Pietraszewska A, Buzanska L. Boosting Neurogenesis in the Adult Hippocampus Using Antidepressants and Mesenchymal Stem Cells. Cells 2022; 11:cells11203234. [PMID: 36291101 PMCID: PMC9600461 DOI: 10.3390/cells11203234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The hippocampus is one of the few privileged regions (neural stem cell niche) of the brain, where neural stem cells differentiate into new neurons throughout adulthood. However, dysregulation of hippocampal neurogenesis with aging, injury, depression and neurodegenerative disease leads to debilitating cognitive impacts. These debilitating symptoms deteriorate the quality of life in the afflicted individuals. Impaired hippocampal neurogenesis is especially difficult to rescue with increasing age and neurodegeneration. However, the potential to boost endogenous Wnt signaling by influencing pathway modulators such as receptors, agonists, and antagonists through drug and cell therapy-based interventions offers hope. Restoration and augmentation of hampered Wnt signaling to facilitate increased hippocampal neurogenesis would serve as an endogenous repair mechanism and contribute to hippocampal structural and functional plasticity. This review focuses on the possible interaction between neurogenesis and Wnt signaling under the control of antidepressants and mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) to overcome debilitating symptoms caused by age, diseases, or environmental factors such as stress. It will also address some current limitations hindering the direct extrapolation of research from animal models to human application, and the technical challenges associated with the MSCs and their cellular products as potential therapeutic solutions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Kot
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +48-22-60-86-563
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5
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Davenport CM, Teubner BJW, Han SB, Patton MH, Eom TY, Garic D, Lansdell BJ, Shirinifard A, Chang TC, Klein J, Pruett-Miller SM, Blundon JA, Zakharenko SS. Innate frequency-discrimination hyperacuity in Williams-Beuren syndrome mice. Cell 2022; 185:3877-3895.e21. [PMID: 36152627 PMCID: PMC9588278 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2022.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 06/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a rare disorder caused by hemizygous microdeletion of ∼27 contiguous genes. Despite neurodevelopmental and cognitive deficits, individuals with WBS have spared or enhanced musical and auditory abilities, potentially offering an insight into the genetic basis of auditory perception. Here, we report that the mouse models of WBS have innately enhanced frequency-discrimination acuity and improved frequency coding in the auditory cortex (ACx). Chemogenetic rescue showed frequency-discrimination hyperacuity is caused by hyperexcitable interneurons in the ACx. Haploinsufficiency of one WBS gene, Gtf2ird1, replicated WBS phenotypes by downregulating the neuropeptide receptor VIPR1. VIPR1 is reduced in the ACx of individuals with WBS and in the cerebral organoids derived from human induced pluripotent stem cells with the WBS microdeletion. Vipr1 deletion or overexpression in ACx interneurons mimicked or reversed, respectively, the cellular and behavioral phenotypes of WBS mice. Thus, the Gtf2ird1-Vipr1 mechanism in ACx interneurons may underlie the superior auditory acuity in WBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Davenport
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brett J W Teubner
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Seung Baek Han
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Mary H Patton
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Tae-Yeon Eom
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Dusan Garic
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Benjamin J Lansdell
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Abbas Shirinifard
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Ti-Cheng Chang
- Center for Applied Bioinformatics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jonathon Klein
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shondra M Pruett-Miller
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Jay A Blundon
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Stanislav S Zakharenko
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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6
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Zhou J, Zheng Y, Liang G, Xu X, Liu J, Chen S, Ge T, Wen P, Zhang Y, Liu X, Zhuang J, Wu Y, Chen J. Atypical deletion of Williams-Beuren syndrome reveals the mechanism of neurodevelopmental disorders. BMC Med Genomics 2022; 15:79. [PMID: 35379245 PMCID: PMC8981662 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-022-01227-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Genes associated with specific neurocognitive phenotypes in Williams–Beuren syndrome are still controversially discussed. This study identified nine patients with atypical deletions out of 111 patients with Williams–Beuren syndrome; these deletions included seven smaller deletions and two larger deletions. One patient had normal neurodevelopment with a deletion of genes on the distal side of the Williams–Beuren syndrome chromosomal region, including GTF2I and GTF2IRD1. However, another patient retained these genes but showed neurodevelopmental abnormalities. By comparing the genotypes and phenotypes of patients with typical and atypical deletions and previous reports in the literature, we hypothesize that the BAZ1B, FZD9, and STX1A genes may play an important role in the neurodevelopment of patients with WBS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianrong Zhou
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ying Zheng
- Department of Nutrition, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guiying Liang
- Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoli Xu
- Department of Endocrinology, General Hospital of Central Theater Command, Wuhan, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Shaoxian Chen
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Research Department of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Tongkai Ge
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Pengju Wen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Research Department of Medical Sciences, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yong Zhang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Xiaoqing Liu
- Division of Epidemiology, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital and Cardiovascular Institute, Guangzhou, China
| | - Jian Zhuang
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yueheng Wu
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China. .,Department of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
| | - Jimei Chen
- Department of Cardiovascular Surgery of Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China. .,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of South China Structural Heart Disease, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, China.
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7
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Çalışkan E, Şahin MN, Güldağ MA. Oxytocin and Oxytocin Receptor Gene Regulation in Williams Syndrome: A Systematic Review. THE YALE JOURNAL OF BIOLOGY AND MEDICINE 2021; 94:623-635. [PMID: 34970101 PMCID: PMC8686774] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Williams Syndrome (WS) is a rare genetic multisystem disorder that occurs because of a deletion of approximately 25 genes in the 7q11.23 chromosome region. This causes dysmorphic facial appearances, multiple congenital cardiovascular defects, delayed motor skills, and abnormalities in connective tissues and the endocrine system. The patients are mostly diagnosed with mild to moderate mental retardation, however, they have a hyper sociable, socially dis-inhibited, and outgoing personality, empathetic behavior, and are highly talkative. Oxytocin (OT), a neuropeptide synthesized at the hypothalamus, plays an important role in cognition and behavior, and is thought to be affecting WS patients' attitudes at its different amounts. Oxytocin receptor gene (OXTR), on chromosome 3p25.3, is considered regulating oxytocin receptors, via which OT exerts its effect. WS is a crucial disorder to understand gene, hormone, brain, and behavior associations in terms of sociality and neuropsychiatric conditions. Alterations to the WS gene region offer an opportunity to deepen our understandings of autism spectrum disorder, schizophrenia, anxiety, or depression. We aim to systematically present the data available of OT/OXTR regulation and expression, and the evidence for whether these mechanisms are dysregulated in WS. These results are important, as they predict strong epigenetic control over social behavior by methylation, single nucleotide polymorphisms, and other alterations. The comparison and collaboration of these studies may help to establish a better treatment or management approach for patients with WS if backed up with future research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elif Çalışkan
- Trakya University School of Medicine, Edirne,
Turkey,To whom all correspondence should be addressed:
Elif Çalışkan, Trakya University School of Medicine, Edirne, Turkey;
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8
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Agarwala S, Ramachandra NB. Risk homozygous haplotype regions for autism identifies population-specific ten genes for numerous pathways. THE EGYPTIAN JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY, PSYCHIATRY AND NEUROSURGERY 2021. [DOI: 10.1186/s41983-021-00323-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Background
Recessive homozygous haplotype (rHH) mapping is a reliable tool for identifying recessive genes by detecting homozygous segments of identical haplotype structures. These are shared at a higher frequency amongst probands compared to parental controls. Finding out such rHH blocks in autism subjects can help in deciphering the disorder etiology.
Objectives
The study aims to detect rHH segments of identical haplotype structure shared at a higher frequency in autism subjects than controls to identify recessive genes responsible for autism manifestation.
Methods
In the present study, 426 unrelated autism genotyped probands with 232 parents (116 trios) were obtained from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) Database. Homozygosity mapping analyses have been performed on the samples using standardized algorithms using the Affymetrix GeneChip® 500K SNP Nsp and Sty mapping arrays datasets.
Results
A total of 38 homozygous haplotype blocks were revealed across sample datasets. Upon downstream analysis, 10 autism genes were identified based on selected autism candidate genes criteria. Further, expressive Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis of SNPs revealed various binding sites for regulatory proteins BX3, FOS, BACH1, MYC, JUND, MAFK, POU2F2, RBBP5, RUNX3, and SMARCA4 impairing essential autism genes CEP290, KITLG, CHD8, and INS2. Pathways and processes such as adherens junction, dipeptidase activity, and platelet-derived growth factor—vital to autism manifestation were identified with varied protein-protein clustered interactions.
Conclusion
These findings bring various population clusters with significant rHH genes. It is suggestive of the existence of common but population-specific risk alleles in related autism subjects.
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Pascual-Vargas P, Salinas PC. A Role for Frizzled and Their Post-Translational Modifications in the Mammalian Central Nervous System. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:692888. [PMID: 34414184 PMCID: PMC8369345 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.692888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt pathway is a key signalling cascade that regulates the formation and function of neuronal circuits. The main receptors for Wnts are Frizzled (Fzd) that mediate diverse functions such as neurogenesis, axon guidance, dendritogenesis, synapse formation, and synaptic plasticity. These processes are crucial for the assembly of functional neuronal circuits required for diverse functions ranging from sensory and motor tasks to cognitive performance. Indeed, aberrant Wnt-Fzd signalling has been associated with synaptic defects during development and in neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer's disease. New studies suggest that the localisation and stability of Fzd receptors play a crucial role in determining Wnt function. Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of Fzd are emerging as an important mechanism that regulates these Wnt receptors. However, only phosphorylation and glycosylation have been described to modulate Fzd function in the central nervous system (CNS). In this review, we discuss the function of Fzd in neuronal circuit connectivity and how PTMs contribute to their function. We also discuss other PTMs, not yet described in the CNS, and how they might modulate the function of Fzd in neuronal connectivity. PTMs could modulate Fzd function by affecting Fzd localisation and stability at the plasma membrane resulting in local effects of Wnt signalling, a feature particularly important in polarised cells such as neurons. Our review highlights the importance of further studies into the role of PTMs on Fzd receptors in the context of neuronal connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Patricia C. Salinas
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
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10
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Planar cell polarity (PCP) proteins support spermatogenesis through cytoskeletal organization in the testis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 121:99-113. [PMID: 34059418 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Few reports are found in the literature regarding the role of planar cell polarity (PCP) in supporting spermatogenesis in the testis. Yet morphological studies reported decades earlier have illustrated the directional alignment of polarized developing spermatids, most notably step 17-19 spermatids in stage V-early VIII tubules in the testis, across the plane of the epithelium in seminiferous tubules of adult rats. Such morphological features have unequivocally demonstrated the presence of PCP in developing spermatids, analogous to the PCP noted in hair cells of the cochlea in mammals. Emerging evidence in recent years has shown that Sertoli and germ cells express numerous PCP proteins, mostly notably, the core PCP proteins, PCP effectors and PCP signaling proteins. In this review, we discuss recent findings in the field regarding the two core PCP protein complexes, namely the Van Gogh-like 2 (Vangl2)/Prickle (Pk) complex and the Frizzled (Fzd)/Dishevelled (Dvl) complex. These findings have illustrated that these PCP proteins exert their regulatory role to support spermatogenesis through changes in the organization of actin and microtubule (MT) cytoskeletons in Sertoli cells. For instance, these PCP proteins confer PCP to developing spermatids. As such, developing haploid spermatids can be aligned and orderly packed within the limited space of the seminiferous tubules in the testes for the production of sperm via spermatogenesis. Thus, each adult male in the mouse, rat or human can produce an upward of 30, 50 or 300 million spermatozoa on a daily basis, respectively, throughout the adulthood. We also highlight critical areas of research that deserve attention in future studies. We also provide a hypothetical model by which PCP proteins support spermatogenesis based on recent studies in the testis. It is conceivable that the hypothetical model shown here will be updated as more data become available in future years, but this information can serve as the framework by investigators to unravel the role of PCP in spermatogenesis.
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11
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Zacarías-Fluck MF, Jauset T, Martínez-Martín S, Kaur J, Casacuberta-Serra S, Massó-Vallés D, Serrano Del Pozo E, Martín-Fernández G, González-Larreategui Í, López-Estévez S, Brown-Swigart L, Beaulieu ME, Whitfield JR, Madan B, Virshup DM, Evan GI, Soucek L. The Wnt signaling receptor Fzd9 is essential for Myc-driven tumorigenesis in pancreatic islets. Life Sci Alliance 2021; 4:e201900490. [PMID: 33653688 PMCID: PMC8008953 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.201900490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The huge cadre of genes regulated by Myc has obstructed the identification of critical effectors that are essential for Myc-driven tumorigenesis. Here, we describe how only the lack of the receptor Fzd9, previously identified as a Myc transcriptional target, impairs sustained tumor expansion and β-cell dedifferentiation in a mouse model of Myc-driven insulinoma, allows pancreatic islets to maintain their physiological structure and affects Myc-related global gene expression. Importantly, Wnt signaling inhibition in Fzd9-competent mice largely recapitulates the suppression of proliferation caused by Fzd9 deficiency upon Myc activation. Together, our results indicate that the Wnt signaling receptor Fzd9 is essential for Myc-induced tumorigenesis in pancreatic islets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariano F Zacarías-Fluck
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Toni Jauset
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
- Peptomyc SL, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sandra Martínez-Martín
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jastrinjan Kaur
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Daniel Massó-Vallés
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Erika Serrano Del Pozo
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Génesis Martín-Fernández
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Íñigo González-Larreategui
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | | | - Lamorna Brown-Swigart
- Department of Pathology and Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Marie-Eve Beaulieu
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jonathan R Whitfield
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Babita Madan
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - David M Virshup
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-National University of Singapore (NUS) Medical School, Singapore, Singapore
| | - Gerard I Evan
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Laura Soucek
- Mouse Models of Cancer Therapy Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
- Peptomyc SL, Vall d'Hebron Barcelona Hospital Campus, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Bellaterra, Spain
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12
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Buurstede JC, van Weert LTCM, Colucci P, Gentenaar M, Viho EMG, Koorneef LL, Schoonderwoerd RA, Lanooij SD, Moustakas I, Balog J, Mei H, Kielbasa SM, Campolongo P, Roozendaal B, Meijer OC. Hippocampal glucocorticoid target genes associated with enhancement of memory consolidation. Eur J Neurosci 2021; 55:2666-2683. [PMID: 33840130 PMCID: PMC9292385 DOI: 10.1111/ejn.15226] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Glucocorticoids enhance memory consolidation of emotionally arousing events via largely unknown molecular mechanisms. This glucocorticoid effect on the consolidation process also requires central noradrenergic neurotransmission. The intracellular pathways of these two stress mediators converge on two transcription factors: the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and phosphorylated cAMP response element‐binding protein (pCREB). We therefore investigated, in male rats, whether glucocorticoid effects on memory are associated with genomic interactions between the GR and pCREB in the hippocampus. In a two‐by‐two design, object exploration training or no training was combined with post‐training administration of a memory‐enhancing dose of corticosterone or vehicle. Genomic effects were studied by chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by sequencing (ChIP‐seq) of GR and pCREB 45 min after training and transcriptome analysis after 3 hr. Corticosterone administration induced differential GR DNA‐binding and regulation of target genes within the hippocampus, largely independent of training. Training alone did not result in long‐term memory nor did it affect GR or pCREB DNA‐binding and gene expression. No strong evidence was found for an interaction between GR and pCREB. Combination of the GR DNA‐binding and transcriptome data identified a set of novel, likely direct, GR target genes that are candidate mediators of corticosterone effects on memory consolidation. Cell‐specific expression of the identified target genes using single‐cell expression data suggests that the effects of corticosterone reflect in part non‐neuronal cells. Together, our data identified new GR targets associated with memory consolidation that reflect effects in both neuronal and non‐neuronal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacobus C Buurstede
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa T C M van Weert
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.,Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Paola Colucci
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Max Gentenaar
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Eva M G Viho
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Lisa L Koorneef
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Robin A Schoonderwoerd
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Suzanne D Lanooij
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Ioannis Moustakas
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Judit Balog
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Hailiang Mei
- Sequencing Analysis Support Core, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Szymon M Kielbasa
- Department of Medical Statistics and Bioinformatics, Bioinformatics Center of Expertise, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Patrizia Campolongo
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Benno Roozendaal
- Department of Cognitive Neuroscience, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.,Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Radboud University, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Onno C Meijer
- Division of Endocrinology, Department of Medicine, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
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13
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Niego A, Benítez-Burraco A. Autism and Williams syndrome: Dissimilar socio-cognitive profiles with similar patterns of abnormal gene expression in the blood. AUTISM : THE INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND PRACTICE 2020; 25:464-489. [PMID: 33143449 DOI: 10.1177/1362361320965074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
LAY ABSTRACT Autism spectrum disorders and Williams syndrome are complex cognitive conditions exhibiting quite opposite features in the social domain: whereas people with autism spectrum disorders are mostly hyposocial, subjects with Williams syndrome are usually reported as hypersocial. At the same time, autism spectrum disorders and Williams syndrome share some common underlying behavioral and cognitive deficits. It is not clear, however, which genes account for the attested differences (and similarities) in the socio-cognitive domain. In this article, we adopted a comparative molecular approach and looked for genes that might be differentially (or similarly) regulated in the blood of people with these conditions. We found a significant overlap between genes dysregulated in the blood of patients compared to neurotypical controls, with most of them being upregulated or, in some cases, downregulated. Still, genes with similar expression trends can exhibit quantitative differences between conditions, with most of them being more dysregulated in Williams syndrome than in autism spectrum disorders. Differentially expressed genes are involved in aspects of brain development and function (particularly dendritogenesis) and are expressed in brain areas (particularly the cerebellum, the thalamus, and the striatum) of relevance for the autism spectrum disorder and the Williams syndrome etiopathogenesis. Overall, these genes emerge as promising candidates for the similarities and differences between the autism spectrum disorder and the Williams syndrome socio-cognitive profiles.
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14
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Li L, Li H, Wang L, Wu S, Lv L, Tahir A, Xiao X, Wong CKC, Sun F, Ge R, Cheng CY. Role of cell polarity and planar cell polarity (PCP) proteins in spermatogenesis. Crit Rev Biochem Mol Biol 2020; 55:71-87. [PMID: 32207344 DOI: 10.1080/10409238.2020.1742091] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Studies on cell polarity proteins and planar cell polarity (PCP) proteins date back to almost 40 years ago in Drosophila and C. elegans when these proteins were shown to be crucial to support apico-basal polarity and also directional alignment of polarity cells across the plane of an epithelium during morphogenesis. In adult mammals, cell polarity and PCP are most notable in cochlear hair cells. However, the role of these two groups of proteins to support spermatogenesis was not explored until a decade earlier when several proteins that confer cell polarity and PCP proteins were identified in the rat testis. Since then, there are several reports appearing in the literature to examine the role of both cell polarity and PCP in supporting spermatogenesis. Herein, we provide an overview regarding the role of cell polarity and PCP proteins in the testis, evaluating these findings in light of studies in other mammalian epithelial cells/tissues. Our goal is to provide a timely evaluation of these findings, and provide some thought provoking remarks to guide future studies based on an evolving concept in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Linxi Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Center for Biomedical Research, The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Population Council, New York, USA
| | - Huitao Li
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Center for Biomedical Research, The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Population Council, New York, USA
| | - Lingling Wang
- Center for Biomedical Research, The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Population Council, New York, USA
| | - Siwen Wu
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Center for Biomedical Research, The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Population Council, New York, USA
| | - Lixiu Lv
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Anam Tahir
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiang Xiao
- Department of Reproductive Physiology, Zhejiang Academy of Medical Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Chris K C Wong
- Department of Biology, Croucher Institute for Environmental Sciences, Hong Kong Baptist University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Fei Sun
- Institute of Reproductive Medicine, Nantong University School of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Renshan Ge
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - C Yan Cheng
- The Second Affiliated Hospital and Yuying Children's Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,Center for Biomedical Research, The Mary M. Wohlford Laboratory for Male Contraceptive Research, Population Council, New York, USA
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15
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Zhao C, Yu Y, Zhang Y, Shen J, Jiang L, Sheng G, Zhang W, Xu L, Jiang K, Mao S, Jiang P, Gao F. β-Catenin Controls the Electrophysiologic Properties of Skeletal Muscle Cells by Regulating the α2 Isoform of Na +/K +-ATPase. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:831. [PMID: 31440132 PMCID: PMC6693565 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.00831] [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] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
β-Catenin is a key component of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway. It has been shown to have an important role in formation of the neuromuscular junction. Our previous studies showed that in the absence of β-catenin, the resting membrane potential (RMP) is depolarized in muscle cells and expression of the α2 subunit of sodium/potassium adenosine triphosphatase (α2NKA) is reduced. To understand the underlying mechanisms, we investigated the electrophysiologic properties of a primary cell line derived from mouse myoblasts (C2C12 cells) that were transfected with small-interfering RNAs and over-expressed plasmids targeting β-catenin. We found that the RMP was depolarized in β-catenin knocked-down C2C12 cells and was unchanged in β-catenin over-expressed muscle cells. An action potential (AP) was not released by knockdown or over-expression of β-catenin. α2NKA expression was reduced by β-catenin knockdown, and increased by β-catenin over-expression. We showed that β-catenin could interact physically with α2NKA (but not with α1NKA) in muscle cells. NKA activity and α2NKA content in the cell membranes of skeletal muscle cells were modulated positively by β-catenin. These results suggested that β-catenin (at least in part) regulates the RMP and AP in muscle cells, and does so by regulating α2NKA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Congying Zhao
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yonglin Yu
- Department of Rehabilitation, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yi Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Jue Shen
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lihua Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Guoxia Sheng
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Weiqin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Lu Xu
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Kewen Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Biobank, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Department of Neurobiology, Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology of Ministry of Health of China, Zhejiang Province Key Laboratory of Neurobiology, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Mao
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China.,Scientific Research Office, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Peifang Jiang
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Feng Gao
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, China
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16
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Zhang S, Liu D, Dong Y, Zhang Z, Zhang Y, Zhou H, Guo L, Qi J, Qiang R, Tang M, Gao X, Zhao C, Chen X, Qian X, Chai R. Frizzled-9+ Supporting Cells Are Progenitors for the Generation of Hair Cells in the Postnatal Mouse Cochlea. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:184. [PMID: 31427926 PMCID: PMC6689982 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Lgr5+ cochlear supporting cells (SCs) have been reported to be hair cell (HC) progenitor cells that have the ability to regenerate HCs in the neonatal mouse cochlea, and these cells are regulated by Wnt signaling. Frizzled-9 (Fzd9), one of the Wnt receptors, has been reported to be used to mark neuronal stem cells in the brain together with other markers and mesenchymal stem cells from human placenta and bone marrow. Here we used Fzd9-CreER mice to lineage label and trace Fzd9+ cells in the postnatal cochlea in order to investigate the progenitor characteristic of Fzd9+ cells. Lineage labeling showed that inner phalangeal cells (IPhCs), inner border cells (IBCs), and third-row Deiters’ cells (DCs) were Fzd9+ cells, but not inner pillar cells (IPCs) or greater epithelial ridge (GER) cells at postnatal day (P)3, which suggests that Fzd9+ cells are a much smaller cell population than Lgr5+ progenitors. The expression of Fzd9 progressively decreased and was too low to allow lineage tracing after P14. Lineage tracing for 6 days in vivo showed that Fzd9+ cells could also generate similar numbers of new HCs compared to Lgr5+ progenitors. A sphere-forming assay showed that Fzd9+ cells could form spheres after sorting by flow cytometry, and when we compared the isolated Fzd9+ cells and Lgr5+ progenitors there were no significant differences in sphere number or sphere diameter. In a differentiation assay, the same number of Fzd9+ cells could produce similar amounts of Myo7a+ cells compared to Lgr5+ progenitors after 10 days of differentiation. All these data suggest that the Fzd9+ cells have a similar capacity for proliferation, differentiation, and HC generation as Lgr5+ progenitors and that Fzd9 can be used as a more restricted marker of HC progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shasha Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
| | - Dingding Liu
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Dong
- Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zhong Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuan Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Han Zhou
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Lingna Guo
- Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jieyu Qi
- Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Ruiying Qiang
- Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mingliang Tang
- Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xia Gao
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Chunjie Zhao
- Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyun Chen
- Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaoyun Qian
- Jiangsu Provincial Key Medical Discipline (Laboratory), Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Affiliated Drum Tower Hospital of Nanjing University Medical School, Nanjing, China
| | - Renjie Chai
- Key Laboratory for Developmental Genes and Human Disease, Ministry of Education, Institute of Life Sciences, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China.,Jiangsu Province High-Tech Key Laboratory for Bio-Medical Research, Southeast University, Nanjing, China.,Beijing Key Laboratory of Neural Regeneration and Repair, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
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17
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Abstract
Wnt proteins are secreted glycoproteins that regulate multiple processes crucial to the development and tissue homeostasis of multicellular organisms, including tissue patterning, proliferation, cell fate specification, cell polarity and migration. To elicit these effects, Wnts act as autocrine as well as paracrine signalling molecules between Wnt-producing and Wnt-receiving cells. More than 40 years after the discovery of the Wg/Wnt pathway, it is still unclear how they are transported to fulfil their paracrine signalling functions. Several mechanisms have been proposed to mediate intercellular Wnt transport, including Wnt-binding proteins, lipoproteins, exosomes and cytonemes. In this Review, we describe the evidence for each proposed mechanism, and discuss how they may contribute to Wnt dispersal in tissue-specific and context-dependent manners, to regulate embryonic development precisely and maintain the internal steady state within a defined tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Routledge
- Living Systems Institute, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
| | - Steffen Scholpp
- Living Systems Institute, Biosciences, College of Life and Environmental Science, University of Exeter, Exeter EX4 4QD, UK
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18
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Niego A, Benítez-Burraco A. Williams Syndrome, Human Self-Domestication, and Language Evolution. Front Psychol 2019; 10:521. [PMID: 30936846 PMCID: PMC6431629 DOI: 10.3389/fpsyg.2019.00521] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2018] [Accepted: 02/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Language evolution resulted from changes in our biology, behavior, and culture. One source of these changes might be human self-domestication. Williams syndrome (WS) is a clinical condition with a clearly defined genetic basis which results in a distinctive behavioral and cognitive profile, including enhanced sociability. In this paper we show evidence that the WS phenotype can be satisfactorily construed as a hyper-domesticated human phenotype, plausibly resulting from the effect of the WS hemideletion on selected candidates for domestication and neural crest (NC) function. Specifically, we show that genes involved in animal domestication and NC development and function are significantly dysregulated in the blood of subjects with WS. We also discuss the consequences of this link between domestication and WS for our current understanding of language evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Niego
- Ph.D. Program, Faculty of Humanities, University of Huelva, Huelva, Spain
| | - Antonio Benítez-Burraco
- Department of Spanish, Linguistics, and Theory of Literature, Faculty of Philology, University of Seville, Seville, Spain
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19
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Hussain T, Kil H, Hattiangady B, Lee J, Kodali M, Shuai B, Attaluri S, Takata Y, Shen J, Abba MC, Shetty AK, Aldaz CM. Wwox deletion leads to reduced GABA-ergic inhibitory interneuron numbers and activation of microglia and astrocytes in mouse hippocampus. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 121:163-176. [PMID: 30290271 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The association of WW domain-containing oxidoreductase WWOX gene loss of function with central nervous system (CNS) related pathologies is well documented. These include spinocerebellar ataxia, epilepsy and mental retardation (SCAR12, OMIM: 614322) and early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE28, OMIM: 616211) syndromes. However, there is complete lack of understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms at play. In this study, using a Wwox knockout (Wwox KO) mouse model (2 weeks old, both sexes) and stereological studies we observe that Wwox deletion leads to a significant reduction in the number of hippocampal GABA-ergic (γ-aminobutyric acid) interneurons. Wwox KO mice displayed significantly reduced numbers of calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expressing interneurons in different subfields of the hippocampus in comparison to Wwox wild-type (WT) mice. We also detected decreased levels of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase protein isoforms GAD65/67 expression in Wwox null hippocampi suggesting lower levels of GABA synthesis. In addition, Wwox deficiency was associated with signs of neuroinflammation such as evidence of activated microglia, astrogliosis, and overexpression of inflammatory cytokines Tnf-a and Il6. We also performed comparative transcriptome-wide expression analyses of neural stem cells grown as neurospheres from hippocampi of Wwox KO and WT mice thus identifying 283 genes significantly dysregulated in their expression. Functional annotation of transcriptome profiling differences identified 'neurological disease' and 'CNS development related functions' to be significantly enriched. Several epilepsy-related genes were found differentially expressed in Wwox KO neurospheres. This study provides the first genotype-phenotype observations as well as potential mechanistic clues associated with Wwox loss of function in the brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tabish Hussain
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Hyunsuk Kil
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Bharathi Hattiangady
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple and College Station, TX, United States; Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, CTVHCS, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Jaeho Lee
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Maheedhar Kodali
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple and College Station, TX, United States; Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, CTVHCS, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Bing Shuai
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple and College Station, TX, United States; Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, CTVHCS, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Sahithi Attaluri
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple and College Station, TX, United States; Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, CTVHCS, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Yoko Takata
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Jianjun Shen
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Martin C Abba
- CINIBA, School of Medicine, UNLP, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Ashok K Shetty
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple and College Station, TX, United States; Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, CTVHCS, Temple, TX, United States
| | - C Marcelo Aldaz
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States.
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20
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Abstract
West syndrome (WS) is an early life epileptic encephalopathy associated with infantile spasms, interictal electroencephalography (EEG) abnormalities including high amplitude, disorganized background with multifocal epileptic spikes (hypsarrhythmia), and often neurodevelopmental impairments. Approximately 64% of the patients have structural, metabolic, genetic, or infectious etiologies and, in the rest, the etiology is unknown. Here we review the contribution of etiologies due to various metabolic disorders in the pathology of WS. These may include metabolic errors in organic molecules involved in amino acid and glucose metabolism, fatty acid oxidation, metal metabolism, pyridoxine deficiency or dependency, or acidurias in organelles such as mitochondria and lysosomes. We discuss the biochemical, clinical, and EEG features of these disorders as well as the evidence of how they may be implicated in the pathogenesis and treatment of WS. The early recognition of these etiologies in some cases may permit early interventions that may improve the course of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seda Salar
- Laboratory of Developmental EpilepsySaul R. Korey Department of NeurologyMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
| | - Solomon L. Moshé
- Laboratory of Developmental EpilepsySaul R. Korey Department of NeurologyMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of NeuroscienceMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
- Department of PediatricsMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
| | - Aristea S. Galanopoulou
- Laboratory of Developmental EpilepsySaul R. Korey Department of NeurologyMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
- Dominick P. Purpura Department of NeuroscienceMontefiore/Einstein Epilepsy CenterAlbert Einstein College of MedicineBronxNew YorkU.S.A.
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21
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Frizzled Receptors as Potential Therapeutic Targets in Human Cancers. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19051543. [PMID: 29789460 PMCID: PMC5983605 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19051543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 05/12/2018] [Accepted: 05/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Frizzled receptors (FZDs) are a family of seven-span transmembrane receptors with hallmarks of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that serve as receptors for secreted Wingless-type (WNT) ligands in the WNT signaling pathway. Functionally, FZDs play crucial roles in regulating cell polarity, embryonic development, cell proliferation, formation of neural synapses, and many other processes in developing and adult organisms. In this review, we will introduce the basic structural features and review the biological function and mechanism of FZDs in the progression of human cancers, followed by an analysis of clinical relevance and therapeutic potential of FZDs. We will focus on the development of antibody-based and small molecule inhibitor-based therapeutic strategies by targeting FZDs for human cancers.
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22
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Martin C, Cho YE, Kim H, Yun S, Kanefsky R, Lee H, Mysliwiec V, Cashion A, Gill J. Altered DNA Methylation Patterns Associated With Clinically Relevant Increases in PTSD Symptoms and PTSD Symptom Profiles in Military Personnel. Biol Res Nurs 2018; 20:352-358. [PMID: 29514460 PMCID: PMC5993080 DOI: 10.1177/1099800418758951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Military personnel experience posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), which is associated with differential DNA methylation across the whole genome. However, the relationship between these DNA methylation patterns and clinically relevant increases in PTSD severity is not yet clearly understood. The purpose of this study was to identify differences in DNA methylation associated with PTSD symptoms and investigate DNA methylation changes related to increases in the severity of PTSD in military personnel. In this pilot study, a cross-sectional comparison was made between military personnel with PTSD (n = 8) and combat-matched controls without PTSD (n = 6). Symptom measures were obtained, and genome-wide DNA methylation was measured using methylated DNA immunoprecipitation (MeDIP-seq) from whole blood samples at baseline and 3 months later. A longitudinal comparison measured DNA methylation changes in military personnel with clinically relevant increases in PTSD symptoms between time points (PTSD onset) and compared methylation patterns to controls with no clinical changes in PTSD. In military personnel with elevated PTSD symptoms 3 months following baseline, 119 genes exhibited reduced methylation and 8 genes exhibited increased methylation. Genes with reduced methylation in the PTSD-onset group relate to the canonical pathways of netrin signaling, Wnt/Ca+ pathway, and axonal guidance signaling. These gene pathways relate to neurological disorders, and the current findings suggest that these epigenetic changes potentially relate to PTSD symptomology. This study provides some novel insights into the role of epigenetic changes in PTSD symptoms and the progression of PTSD symptoms in military personnel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christiana Martin
- National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR),
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Christiana Martin and Young-Eun Cho are
co-first authors
| | - Young-Eun Cho
- National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR),
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Christiana Martin and Young-Eun Cho are
co-first authors
| | - Hyungsuk Kim
- National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR),
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Rebekah Kanefsky
- National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR),
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Hyunhwa Lee
- University of Nevada, School of Nursing, Las
Vegas, NV, USA
| | | | - Ann Cashion
- National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR),
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Jessica Gill
- National Institute of Nursing Research (NINR),
National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
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23
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Tapia-Rojas C, Inestrosa NC. Loss of canonical Wnt signaling is involved in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease. Neural Regen Res 2018; 13:1705-1710. [PMID: 30136680 PMCID: PMC6128062 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.238606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in the older population, however, the precise cause of the disease is unknown. The neuropathology is characterized by the presence of aggregates formed by amyloid-β (Aβ) peptide and phosphorylated tau; which is accompanied by progressive impairment of memory. Diverse signaling pathways are linked to AD, and among these the Wnt signaling pathway is becoming increasingly relevant, since it plays essential roles in the adult brain. Initially, Wnt signaling activation was proposed as a neuroprotective mechanism against Aβ toxicity. Later, it was reported that it participates in tau phosphorylation and processes of learning and memory. Interestingly, in the last years we demonstrated that Wnt signaling is fundamental in amyloid precursor protein (APP) processing and that Wnt dysfunction results in Aβ production and aggregation in vitro. Recent in vivo studies reported that loss of canonical Wnt signaling exacerbates amyloid deposition in a transgenic (Tg) mouse model of AD. Finally, we showed that inhibition of Wnt signaling in a Tg mouse previously at the appearance of AD signs, resulted in memory loss, tau phosphorylation and Aβ formation and aggregation; indicating that Wnt dysfunction accelerated the onset of AD. More importantly, Wnt signaling loss promoted cognitive impairment, tau phosphorylation and Aβ1-42 production in the hippocampus of wild-type (WT) mice, contributing to the development of an Alzheimer's-like neurophatology. Therefore, in this review we highlight the importance of Wnt/β-catenin signaling dysfunction in the onset of AD and propose that the loss of canonical Wnt signaling is a triggering factor of AD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheril Tapia-Rojas
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE UC), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Nibaldo C Inestrosa
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE UC), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago; Centre for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia; Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
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24
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Role of G Protein-Coupled Receptors in the Regulation of Structural Plasticity and Cognitive Function. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22071239. [PMID: 28737723 PMCID: PMC6152405 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22071239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2017] [Accepted: 07/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Cognition and other higher brain functions are known to be intricately associated with the capacity of neural circuits to undergo structural reorganization. Structural remodelling of neural circuits, or structural plasticity, in the hippocampus plays a major role in learning and memory. Dynamic modifications of neuronal connectivity in the form of dendritic spine morphology alteration, as well as synapse formation and elimination, often result in the strengthening or weakening of specific neural circuits that determine synaptic plasticity. Changes in dendritic complexity and synapse number are mediated by cellular processes that are regulated by extracellular signals such as neurotransmitters and neurotrophic factors. As many neurotransmitters act on G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs), it has become increasingly apparent that GPCRs can regulate structural plasticity through a myriad of G protein-dependent pathways and non-canonical signals. A thorough understanding of how GPCRs exert their regulatory influence on dendritic spine morphogenesis may provide new insights for treating cognitive impairment and decline in various age-related diseases. In this article, we review the evidence of GPCR-mediated regulation of structural plasticity, with a special emphasis on the involvement of common as well as distinct signalling pathways that are regulated by major neurotransmitters.
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25
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Chailangkarn T, Muotri AR. Modeling Williams syndrome with induced pluripotent stem cells. NEUROGENESIS (AUSTIN, TEX.) 2017; 4:e1283187. [PMID: 28229087 PMCID: PMC5305168 DOI: 10.1080/23262133.2017.1283187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2016] [Revised: 12/01/2016] [Accepted: 01/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The development of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) like never before has opened novel opportunity to study diseases in relevant cell types. In our recent study, Williams syndrome (WS), a rare genetic neurodevelopmental disorder, that is caused by hemizygous deletion of 25-28 genes on chromosome 7, is of interest because of its unique cognitive and social profiles. Little is known about haploinsufficiency effect of those deleted genes on molecular and cellular phenotypes at the neural level due to the lack of relevant human cellular model. Using the cellular reprogramming approach, we reported that WS iPSC-derived neural progenitor cells (NPCs) has increased apoptosis and therefore increased doubling time, which could be rescued by complementation of frizzled 9, one of the genes typically deleted in WS. Moreover, WS iPSC-derived CTIP2-positive pyramidal neurons exhibit morphologic alterations including longer total dendrites and increasing dendritic spine number. In addition, WS iPSC-derived neurons show an increase in calcium transient frequency and synchronized activity likely due to increased number of dendritic spines and synapses. Our work integrated cross-level data from genetics to behavior of WS individuals and revealed altered cellular phenotypes in WS human NPCs and neurons that could be validated in other model systems such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in live subjects and postmortem brain tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thanathom Chailangkarn
- University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), La Jolla, CA, USA
- National Center for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (BIOTEC), Virology and Cell Technology Laboratory, Pathum Thani, Thailand
| | - Alysson R. Muotri
- University of California San Diego, School of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics/Rady Children's Hospital San Diego, Department of Cellular & Molecular Medicine, Stem Cell Program, Center for Academic Research and Training in Anthropogeny (CARTA), La Jolla, CA, USA
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26
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Bengoa-Vergniory N, Gorroño-Etxebarria I, López-Sánchez I, Marra M, Di Chiaro P, Kypta R. Identification of Noncanonical Wnt Receptors Required for Wnt-3a-Induced Early Differentiation of Human Neural Stem Cells. Mol Neurobiol 2016; 54:6213-6224. [DOI: 10.1007/s12035-016-0151-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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27
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Abstract
Tissue growth and regeneration are autonomous, stem-cell-mediated processes in which stem cells within the organ self-renew and differentiate to create new cells, leading to new tissue. The processes of growth and regeneration require communication and interplay between neighboring cells. In particular, cell competition, which is a process in which viable cells are actively eliminated by more competitive cells, has been increasingly implicated to play an important role. Here, we discuss the existing literature regarding the current landscape of cell competition, including classical pathways and models, fitness fingerprint mechanisms, and immune system mechanisms of cell competition. We further discuss the clinical relevance of cell competition in the physiological processes of tissue growth and regeneration, highlighting studies in clinically important disease models, including oncological, neurological, and cardiovascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rajan Gogna
- Institut für Zellbiologie, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland; .,Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03766
| | - Kevin Shee
- Department of Radiology, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire 03766
| | - Eduardo Moreno
- Institut für Zellbiologie, University of Bern, CH-3012 Bern, Switzerland;
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28
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Abstract
Williams syndrome is a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by an uncommon hypersociability and a mosaic of retained and compromised linguistic and cognitive abilities. Nearly all clinically diagnosed individuals with Williams syndrome lack precisely the same set of genes, with breakpoints in chromosome band 7q11.23 (refs 1-5). The contribution of specific genes to the neuroanatomical and functional alterations, leading to behavioural pathologies in humans, remains largely unexplored. Here we investigate neural progenitor cells and cortical neurons derived from Williams syndrome and typically developing induced pluripotent stem cells. Neural progenitor cells in Williams syndrome have an increased doubling time and apoptosis compared with typically developing neural progenitor cells. Using an individual with atypical Williams syndrome, we narrowed this cellular phenotype to a single gene candidate, frizzled 9 (FZD9). At the neuronal stage, layer V/VI cortical neurons derived from Williams syndrome were characterized by longer total dendrites, increased numbers of spines and synapses, aberrant calcium oscillation and altered network connectivity. Morphometric alterations observed in neurons from Williams syndrome were validated after Golgi staining of post-mortem layer V/VI cortical neurons. This model of human induced pluripotent stem cells fills the current knowledge gap in the cellular biology of Williams syndrome and could lead to further insights into the molecular mechanism underlying the disorder and the human social brain.
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29
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Ramírez VT, Ramos-Fernández E, Henríquez JP, Lorenzo A, Inestrosa NC. Wnt-5a/Frizzled9 Receptor Signaling through the Gαo-Gβγ Complex Regulates Dendritic Spine Formation. J Biol Chem 2016; 291:19092-107. [PMID: 27402827 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m116.722132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2016] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt ligands play crucial roles in the development and regulation of synapse structure and function. Specifically, Wnt-5a acts as a secreted growth factor that regulates dendritic spine formation in rodent hippocampal neurons, resulting in postsynaptic development that promotes the clustering of the PSD-95 (postsynaptic density protein 95). Here, we focused on the early events occurring after the interaction between Wnt-5a and its Frizzled receptor at the neuronal cell surface. Additionally, we studied the role of heterotrimeric G proteins in Wnt-5a-dependent synaptic development. We report that FZD9 (Frizzled9), a Wnt receptor related to Williams syndrome, is localized in the postsynaptic region, where it interacts with Wnt-5a. Functionally, FZD9 is required for the Wnt-5a-mediated increase in dendritic spine density. FZD9 forms a precoupled complex with Gαo under basal conditions that dissociates after Wnt-5a stimulation. Accordingly, we found that G protein inhibition abrogates the Wnt-5a-dependent pathway in hippocampal neurons. In particular, the activation of Gαo appears to be a key factor controlling the Wnt-5a-induced dendritic spine density. In addition, we found that Gβγ is required for the Wnt-5a-mediated increase in cytosolic calcium levels and spinogenesis. Our findings reveal that FZD9 and heterotrimeric G proteins regulate Wnt-5a signaling and dendritic spines in cultured hippocampal neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valerie T Ramírez
- From the Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150 Santiago, Chile
| | - Eva Ramos-Fernández
- From the Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150 Santiago, Chile
| | - Juan Pablo Henríquez
- the Laboratorio de Neurobiología del Desarrollo, Departamento de Biología Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Núcleo Milenio de Biología Regenerativa, Centro de Microscopía Avanzada, Universidad de Concepción, 4089100 Concepción, Chile
| | - Alfredo Lorenzo
- the Laboratorio de Neuropatología Experimental, Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, 5016 Córdoba, Argentina
| | - Nibaldo C Inestrosa
- From the Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, 8331150 Santiago, Chile, the Center for Healthy Brain Ageing, School of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of New South Wales, Sydney, 2031 New South Wales, Australia, and the Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes, Universidad de Magallanes, 6200000 Punta Arenas, Chile
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30
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Abstract
Wnt signaling has emerged in recent years as a major player in both nervous system development and adult synaptic plasticity. Of particular relevance to researchers studying learning and memory, Wnt signaling is critical for normal functioning of the hippocampus, a brain region that is essential for many types of memory formation and whose dysfunction is implicated in numerous neurodegenerative and psychiatric conditions. Impaired hippocampal Wnt signaling is implicated in several of these conditions, however, little is known about how Wnt signaling mediates hippocampal memory formation. This review will provide a general overview of Wnt signaling and discuss evidence demonstrating a key role for Wnt signaling in hippocampal memory formation in both normal and disease states. The regulation of Wnt signaling by ovarian sex steroid hormones will also be highlighted, given that the neuroprotection afforded by Wnt-hormone interactions may have significant implications for cognitive function in aging, neurodegenerative disease, and ischemic injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Fortress
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI, USA
| | - Karyn M Frick
- Department of Psychology, University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, WI, USA
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31
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Abstract
Frizzled proteins are the principal receptors for the Wnt family of ligands. They mediate canonical Wnt signaling together with Lrp5 and Lrp6 coreceptors. In conjunction with Celsr, Vangl, and a small number of additional membrane and membrane-associated proteins, they also play a central role in tissue polarity/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling. Targeted mutations in 9 of the 10 mammalian Frizzled genes have revealed their roles in an extraordinarily diverse set of developmental and homeostatic processes, including morphogenetic movements responsible for palate, ventricular septum, ocular furrow, and neural tube closure; survival of thalamic neurons; bone formation; central nervous system (CNS) angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier formation and maintenance; and a wide variety of processes that orient subcellular, cellular, and multicellular structures relative to the body axes. The last group likely reflects the mammalian equivalent of tissue polarity/PCP signaling, as defined in Drosophila, and it includes CNS axon guidance, hair follicle and tongue papilla orientation, and inner ear sensory hair bundle orientation. Frizzled receptors are ubiquitous among multicellular animals and, with other signaling molecules, they very likely evolved to permit the development of the complex tissue architectures that provide multicellular animals with their enormous selective advantage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanshu Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Hao Chang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Amir Rattner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeremy Nathans
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
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32
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Wnt/β-catenin signaling plays an ever-expanding role in stem cell self-renewal, tumorigenesis and cancer chemoresistance. Genes Dis 2016; 3:11-40. [PMID: 27077077 PMCID: PMC4827448 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2015.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 203] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling transduces evolutionarily conserved pathways which play important roles in initiating and regulating a diverse range of cellular activities, including cell proliferation, calcium homeostasis, and cell polarity. The role of Wnt signaling in controlling cell proliferation and stem cell self-renewal is primarily carried out through the canonical pathway, which is the best-characterized the multiple Wnt signaling branches. The past 10 years has seen a rapid expansion in our understanding of the complexity of this pathway, as many new components of Wnt signaling have been identified and linked to signaling regulation, stem cell functions, and adult tissue homeostasis. Additionally, a substantial body of evidence links Wnt signaling to tumorigenesis of cancer types and implicates it in the development of cancer drug resistance. Thus, a better understanding of the mechanisms by which dysregulation of Wnt signaling precedes the development and progression of human cancer may hasten the development of pathway inhibitors to augment current therapy. This review summarizes and synthesizes our current knowledge of the canonical Wnt pathway in development and disease. We begin with an overview of the components of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway and delve into the role this pathway has been shown to play in stemness, tumorigenesis, and cancer drug resistance. Ultimately, we hope to present an organized collection of evidence implicating Wnt signaling in tumorigenesis and chemoresistance to facilitate the pursuit of Wnt pathway modulators that may improve outcomes of cancers in which Wnt signaling contributes to aggressive disease and/or treatment resistance.
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33
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Bengoa-Vergniory N, Kypta RM. Canonical and noncanonical Wnt signaling in neural stem/progenitor cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2015; 72:4157-72. [PMID: 26306936 PMCID: PMC11113751 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-015-2028-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 114] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2015] [Revised: 07/17/2015] [Accepted: 08/18/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The first mammalian Wnt to be discovered, Wnt-1, was found to be essential for the development of a large part of the mouse brain over 25 years ago. We have since learned that Wnt family secreted glycolipoproteins, of which there are nineteen, which activate a diverse network of signals that are particularly important during embryonic development and tissue regeneration. Wnt signals in the developing and adult brain can drive neural stem cell self-renewal, expansion, asymmetric cell division, maturation and differentiation. The molecular events taking place after a Wnt binds to its cell-surface receptors are complex and, at times, controversial. A deeper understanding of these events is anticipated to lead to improvements in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and stem cell-based replacement therapies. Here, we review the roles played by Wnts in neural stem cells in the developing mouse brain, at neurogenic sites of the adult mouse and in neural stem cell culture models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Bengoa-Vergniory
- Cell Biology and Stem Cells Unit, CIC bioGUNE, Bilbao, Spain.
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, Oxford University, Oxford, UK.
| | - Robert M Kypta
- Cell Biology and Stem Cells Unit, CIC bioGUNE, Bilbao, Spain.
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, UK.
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34
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Borralleras C, Sahun I, Pérez-Jurado LA, Campuzano V. Intracisternal Gtf2i Gene Therapy Ameliorates Deficits in Cognition and Synaptic Plasticity of a Mouse Model of Williams-Beuren Syndrome. Mol Ther 2015. [PMID: 26216516 DOI: 10.1038/mt.2015.130] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Williams-Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by a heterozygous deletion of 26-28 genes at chromosome band 7q11.23. Haploinsufficiency at GTF2I has been shown to play a major role in the neurobehavioral phenotype. By characterizing the neuronal architecture in four animal models with intragenic, partial, and complete deletions of the WBS critical interval (ΔGtf2i(+/-), ΔGtf2i( -/-), PD, and CD), we clarify the involvement of Gtf2i in neurocognitive features. All mutant mice showed hypersociability, impaired motor learning and coordination, and altered anxiety-like behavior. Dendritic length was decreased in the CA1 of ΔGtf2i(+/-), ΔGtf2i ( -/-), and CD mice. Spine density was reduced, and spines were shorter in ΔGtf2i ( -/-), PD, and CD mice. Overexpression of Pik3r1 and downregulation of Bdnf were observed in ΔGtf2i(+/-), PD, and CD mice. Intracisternal Gtf2i-gene therapy in CD mice using adeno-associated virus resulted in increased mGtf2i expression and normalization of Bdnf levels, along with beneficial effects in motor coordination, sociability, and anxiety, despite no significant changes in neuronal architecture. Our findings further indicate that Gtf2i haploinsufficiency plays an important role in the neurodevelopmental and cognitive abnormalities of WBS and that it is possible to rescue part of this neurocognitive phenotype by restoring Gtf2i expression levels in specific brain areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Borralleras
- Neurosciences Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Unitat de Genètica, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Spain
| | - Ignasi Sahun
- PCB-PRBB Animal Facility Alliance, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Luis A Pérez-Jurado
- Neurosciences Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Unitat de Genètica, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Spain
| | - Victoria Campuzano
- Neurosciences Program, Institut Hospital del Mar d'Investigacions Mèdiques (IMIM), Unitat de Genètica, Barcelona, Spain; Departament de Ciències Experimentals i de la Salut, Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain; Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Spain.
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35
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Dijksterhuis JP, Petersen J, Schulte G. WNT/Frizzled signalling: receptor-ligand selectivity with focus on FZD-G protein signalling and its physiological relevance: IUPHAR Review 3. Br J Pharmacol 2014; 171:1195-209. [PMID: 24032637 DOI: 10.1111/bph.12364] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Revised: 08/22/2013] [Accepted: 08/25/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The wingless/int1 (WNT)/Frizzled (FZD) signalling pathway controls numerous cellular processes such as proliferation, differentiation, cell-fate decisions, migration and plays a crucial role during embryonic development. Nineteen mammalian WNTs can bind to 10 FZDs thereby activating different downstream pathways such as WNT/β-catenin, WNT/planar cell polarity and WNT/Ca(2+) . However, the mechanisms of signalling specification and the involvement of heterotrimeric G proteins are still unclear. Disturbances in the pathways can lead to various diseases ranging from cancer, inflammatory diseases to metabolic and neurological disorders. Due to the presence of seven-transmembrane segments, evidence for coupling between FZDs and G proteins and substantial structural differences in class A, B or C GPCRs, FZDs were grouped separately in the IUPHAR GPCR database as the class FZD within the superfamily of GPCRs. Recently, important progress has been made pointing to a direct activation of G proteins after WNT stimulation. WNT/FZD and G protein coupling remain to be fully explored, although the basic observation supporting the nature of FZDs as GPCRs is compelling. Because the involvement of different (i) WNTs; (ii) FZDs; and (iii) intracellular binding partners could selectively affect signalling specification, in this review we present the current understanding of receptor/ligand selectivity of FZDs and WNTs. We pinpoint what is known about signalling specification and the physiological relevance of these interactions with special emphasis on FZD-G protein interactions.
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Affiliation(s)
- J P Dijksterhuis
- Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
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36
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Abstract
WNT-β-catenin signalling is involved in a multitude of developmental processes and the maintenance of adult tissue homeostasis by regulating cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, genetic stability and apoptosis, as well as by maintaining adult stem cells in a pluripotent state. Not surprisingly, aberrant regulation of this pathway is therefore associated with a variety of diseases, including cancer, fibrosis and neurodegeneration. Despite this knowledge, therapeutic agents specifically targeting the WNT pathway have only recently entered clinical trials and none has yet been approved. This Review examines the problems and potential solutions to this vexing situation and attempts to bring them into perspective.
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37
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Avilés EC, Pinto C, Hanna P, Ojeda J, Pérez V, De Ferrari GV, Zamorano P, Albistur M, Sandoval D, Henríquez JP. Frizzled-9 impairs acetylcholine receptor clustering in skeletal muscle cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2014; 8:110. [PMID: 24860427 PMCID: PMC4029016 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2014.00110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2013] [Accepted: 03/28/2014] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Cumulative evidence indicates that Wnt pathways play crucial and diverse roles to assemble the neuromuscular junction (NMJ), a peripheral synapse characterized by the clustering of acetylcholine receptors (AChR) on postsynaptic densities. The molecular determinants of Wnt effects at the NMJ are still to be fully elucidated. We report here that the Wnt receptor Frizzled-9 (Fzd9) is expressed in developing skeletal muscles during NMJ synaptogenesis. In cultured myotubes, gain- and loss-of-function experiments revealed that Fzd9-mediated signaling impairs the AChR-clustering activity of agrin, an organizer of postsynaptic differentiation. Overexpression of Fzd9 induced the cytosolic accumulation of β-catenin, a key regulator of Wnt signaling. Consistently, Fzd9 and β-catenin localize in the postsynaptic domain of embryonic NMJs in vivo. Our findings represent the first evidence pointing to a crucial role of a Fzd-mediated, β-catenin-dependent signaling on the assembly of the vertebrate NMJ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelyn C Avilés
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Millennium Nucleus of Regenerative Biology, Center for Advanced Microscopy, Universidad de Concepción Concepción, Chile
| | - Cristina Pinto
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Millennium Nucleus of Regenerative Biology, Center for Advanced Microscopy, Universidad de Concepción Concepción, Chile
| | - Patricia Hanna
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Millennium Nucleus of Regenerative Biology, Center for Advanced Microscopy, Universidad de Concepción Concepción, Chile
| | - Jorge Ojeda
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Millennium Nucleus of Regenerative Biology, Center for Advanced Microscopy, Universidad de Concepción Concepción, Chile
| | - Viviana Pérez
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Millennium Nucleus of Regenerative Biology, Center for Advanced Microscopy, Universidad de Concepción Concepción, Chile
| | - Giancarlo V De Ferrari
- Faculty of Biological Sciences, Center for Biomedical Research and FONDAP Center for Genome Regulation, Universidad Andres Bello Santiago, Chile
| | - Pedro Zamorano
- Department of Biomedicine, Universidad de Antofagasta Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Miguel Albistur
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Millennium Nucleus of Regenerative Biology, Center for Advanced Microscopy, Universidad de Concepción Concepción, Chile
| | - Daniel Sandoval
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Millennium Nucleus of Regenerative Biology, Center for Advanced Microscopy, Universidad de Concepción Concepción, Chile
| | - Juan P Henríquez
- Laboratory of Developmental Neurobiology, Department of Cell Biology, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Millennium Nucleus of Regenerative Biology, Center for Advanced Microscopy, Universidad de Concepción Concepción, Chile
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Osório A, Soares JM, Prieto MF, Vasconcelos C, Fernandes C, Sousa S, Carracedo A, Gonçalves OF, Sampaio A. Cerebral and cerebellar MRI volumes in Williams syndrome. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2014; 35:922-928. [PMID: 24529862 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2013.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2013] [Revised: 12/26/2013] [Accepted: 12/30/2013] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Individuals with Williams syndrome (WS) present a set of cognitive, affective and motor symptoms that resemble those of patients with lesions to the cerebellum. Although there is some evidence for overall structural alterations in this brain region in WS, explorations on cerebellar white matter and cerebellar cortex volumes remain rather neglected. We aimed to compare absolute and relative cerebellar volumes, as well as patterns of white matter to cortex volumes in this brain region, between a group of individuals with WS and a group of healthy controls. T1-weighted magnetic resonance images were acquired in 17 individuals with WS and in 15 typically developing individuals. Our results showed that even though individuals from the clinical group had significantly smaller cerebrums (and cerebellums), cerebellar volumes relative to intracranial volumes were significantly enlarged. In addition, while gray matter was relatively spared and white matter disproportionately reduced in the cerebrum in WS, relative cerebellar cortex and white matter volumes were preserved. These findings support the hypothesis that volume alterations in the cerebellum are associated with the cognitive, affective and motor profiles in WS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Osório
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal.
| | - José Miguel Soares
- Life and Health Sciences Research Institute (ICVS), School of Health Sciences, University of Minho, Minho, Portugal; ICVS/3B's-PT Government Associated Laboratory, Guimarães, Braga, Portugal; Clinical Academic Center, Braga, Portugal
| | - Montse Fernández Prieto
- Biomedical Research Center Network for Rare Diseases (CIBERER), University of Santiago of Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Genetic Molecular Unit, Galician Public Foundation of Genomic Medicine, Galicia, Spain
| | | | - Catarina Fernandes
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Sónia Sousa
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
| | - Angel Carracedo
- Biomedical Research Center Network for Rare Diseases (CIBERER), University of Santiago of Compostela, Santiago de Compostela, Spain; Genetic Molecular Unit, Galician Public Foundation of Genomic Medicine, Galicia, Spain
| | - Oscar F Gonçalves
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal; Department of Counseling and Educational Psychology, Bouvé College of Health Sciences, Northeastern University, Boston, USA
| | - Adriana Sampaio
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, Campus Gualtar, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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Vandewalle J, Langen M, Zschaetzsch M, Nijhof B, Kramer JM, Brems H, Bauters M, Lauwers E, Srahna M, Marynen P, Verstreken P, Schenck A, Hassan BA, Froyen G. Ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 regulates axon branching through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in a Drosophila model for intellectual disability. PLoS One 2013; 8:e81791. [PMID: 24303071 PMCID: PMC3841167 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0081791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2013] [Accepted: 10/26/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
We recently reported that duplication of the E3 ubiquitin ligase HUWE1 results in intellectual disability (ID) in male patients. However, the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. We used Drosophila melanogaster as a model to investigate the effect of increased HUWE1 levels on the developing nervous system. Similar to the observed levels in patients we overexpressed the HUWE1 mRNA about 2-fold in the fly. The development of the mushroom body and neuromuscular junctions were not altered, and basal neurotransmission was unaffected. These data are in agreement with normal learning and memory in the courtship conditioning paradigm. However, a disturbed branching phenotype at the axon terminals of the dorsal cluster neurons (DCN) was detected. Interestingly, overexpression of HUWE1 was found to decrease the protein levels of dishevelled (dsh) by 50%. As dsh as well as Fz2 mutant flies showed the same disturbed DCN branching phenotype, and the constitutive active homolog of β-catenin, armadillo, could partially rescue this phenotype, our data strongly suggest that increased dosage of HUWE1 compromises the Wnt/β-catenin pathway possibly by enhancing the degradation of dsh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joke Vandewalle
- Human Genome Laboratory, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
- Human Genome Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marion Langen
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marlen Zschaetzsch
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bonnie Nijhof
- Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour & Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Jamie M. Kramer
- Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour & Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Hilde Brems
- Laboratory for Neurofibromatosis Research, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marijke Bauters
- Human Genome Laboratory, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
- Human Genome Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elsa Lauwers
- Laboratory of Neuronal Communication, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mohammed Srahna
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Peter Marynen
- Human Genome Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Patrik Verstreken
- Laboratory of Neuronal Communication, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics, Nijmegen Centre for Molecular Life Sciences, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour & Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
| | - Bassem A. Hassan
- Laboratory of Neurogenetics, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- * E-mail: (GF); (BAH)
| | - Guy Froyen
- Human Genome Laboratory, VIB Center for the Biology of Disease, Leuven, Belgium
- Human Genome Laboratory, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
- * E-mail: (GF); (BAH)
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Bravo DT, Yang YL, Kuchenbecker K, Hung MS, Xu Z, Jablons DM, You L. Frizzled-8 receptor is activated by the Wnt-2 ligand in non-small cell lung cancer. BMC Cancer 2013; 13:316. [PMID: 23815780 PMCID: PMC3707790 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-13-316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2013] [Accepted: 06/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Wnt-2 plays an oncogenic role in cancer, but which Frizzled receptor(s) mediates the Wnt-2 signaling pathway in lung cancer remains unclear. We sought to (1) identify and evaluate the activation of Wnt-2 signaling through Frizzled-8 in non-small cell lung cancer, and (2) test whether a novel expression construct dominant negative Wnt-2 (dnhWnt-2) reduces tumor growth in a colony formation assay and in a xenograft mouse model. Methods Semi-quantitative RT-PCR was used to identify the expression of Wnt-2 and Frizzled-8 in 50 lung cancer tissues from patients. The TCF reporter assay (TOP/FOP) was used to detect the activation of the Wnt canonical pathway in vitro. A novel dnhWnt-2 construct was designed and used to inhibit activation of Wnt-2 signaling through Frizzled-8 in 293T, 293, A549 and A427 cells and in a xenograft mouse model. Statistical comparisons were made using Student’s t-test. Results Among the 50 lung cancer samples, we identified a 91% correlation between the transcriptional increase of Wnt-2 and Frizzled-8 (p<0.05). The Wnt canonical pathway was activated when both Wnt-2 and Frizzled-8 were co-expressed in 293T, 293, A549 and A427 cells. The dnhWnt-2 construct we used inhibited the activation of Wnt-2 signaling in 293T, 293, A549 and A427 cells, and reduced the colony formation of NSCLC cells when β-catenin was present (p<0.05). Inhibition of Wnt-2 activation by the dnhWnt-2 construct further reduced the size and mass of tumors in the xenograft mouse model (p<0.05). The inhibition also decreased the expression of target genes of Wnt signaling in these tumors. Conclusions We demonstrated an activation of Wnt-2 signaling via the Frizzled-8 receptor in NSCLC cells. A novel dnhWnt-2 construct significantly inhibits Wnt-2 signaling, reduces colony formation of NSCLC cells in vitro and tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model. The dnhWnt-2 construct may provide a new therapeutic avenue for targeting the Wnt pathway in lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dawn T Bravo
- Department of Surgery, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, CA 94115, USA
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Soares I, Belsky J, Mesquita AR, Osório A, Sampaio A. Why Do Only Some Institutionalized Children Become Indiscriminately Friendly? Insights From the Study of Williams Syndrome. CHILD DEVELOPMENT PERSPECTIVES 2013. [DOI: 10.1111/cdep.12036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Haas BW, Barnea-Goraly N, Sheau KE, Yamagata B, Ullas S, Reiss AL. Altered microstructure within social-cognitive brain networks during childhood in Williams syndrome. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 24:2796-806. [PMID: 23709644 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bht135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Williams syndrome (WS) is a neurodevelopmental condition caused by a hemizygous deletion of ∼26-28 genes on chromosome 7q11.23. WS is associated with a distinctive pattern of social cognition. Accordingly, neuroimaging studies show that WS is associated with structural alterations of key brain regions involved in social cognition during adulthood. However, very little is currently known regarding the neuroanatomical structure of social cognitive brain networks during childhood in WS. This study used diffusion tensor imaging to investigate the structural integrity of a specific set of white matter pathways (inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus [IFOF] and uncinate fasciculus [UF]) and associated brain regions [fusiform gyrus (FG), amygdala, hippocampus, medial orbitofrontal gyrus (MOG)] known to be involved in social cognition in children with WS and a typically developing (TD) control group. Children with WS exhibited higher fractional anisotropy (FA) and axial diffusivity values and lower radial diffusivity and apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values within the IFOF and UF, higher FA values within the FG, amygdala, and hippocampus and lower ADC values within the FG and MOG compared to controls. These findings provide evidence that the WS genetic deletion affects the development of key white matter pathways and brain regions important for social cognition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brian W Haas
- Department of Psychology, University of Georgia, Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Naama Barnea-Goraly
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Kristen E Sheau
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Bun Yamagata
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR), Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Shruti Ullas
- Department of Psychology, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Allan L Reiss
- Center for Interdisciplinary Brain Sciences Research (CIBSR), Department of Radiology, and Department of Pediatrics, Stanford University School of Medicine, 401 Quarry Rd. Palo Alto, CA 94305-5795, USA
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Wang S, Guan Y, Chen Y, Li X, Zhang C, Yu L, Zhou F, Wang X. Role of Wnt1 and Fzd1 in the spinal cord pathogenesis of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis-transgenic mice. Biotechnol Lett 2013; 35:1199-207. [PMID: 23553522 DOI: 10.1007/s10529-013-1199-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2012] [Accepted: 03/28/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal neurodegenerative disease characterized by chronic progressive degeneration of motor neurons resulting in muscular atrophy, paralysis, and ultimately death. We have investigated the expression of Wnt1 and Fzd1 in the spinal cords of SOD1G93A ALS transgenic mice, SOD1G93A-transfected N2a cells, and primary cultured astrocytes from SOD1G93A transgenic mice. In addition, we provided further insight into the role of Wnt1 and Fzd1 in the pathogenesis of ALS transgenic mice and discuss the mechanisms underlying the Wnt signal pathway which may be useful in the treatment of ALS. The results indicate the involvement of Wnt1 and Fzd1 in the pathogenesis and development of ALS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanshan Wang
- Department of Histology and Embryology, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, People's Republic China
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Maguschak KA, Ressler KJ. A role for WNT/β-catenin signaling in the neural mechanisms of behavior. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2012; 7:763-73. [PMID: 22415718 PMCID: PMC3749067 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-012-9350-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2011] [Accepted: 02/19/2012] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Wnt signaling pathways play a role in a variety of cellular processes including development, cell proliferation, cell fate, and motility. The Wnt/β-catenin pathway is among the most studied of the Wnt pathways and is highly conserved throughout evolution. Recent in vitro and slice physiology experiments have shown that this pathway also functions in synaptic transmission and activity-dependent synaptic plasticity. Since it has now been shown that many components of this signaling pathway are found in the adult brain, Wnt/β-catenin signaling may be important for maintaining and protecting neural connections throughout the lifespan. Here we summarize the role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in the postnatal brain and discuss recent studies suggesting that deregulated Wnt signaling can result in altered behavior and cognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Kerry J. Ressler
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Chevy Chase, MA, USA. Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Yerkes National Primate Research Center, Emory University School of Medicine, 954 Gatewood Dr, Atlanta, GA 30329, USA
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45
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Kalkman HO. A review of the evidence for the canonical Wnt pathway in autism spectrum disorders. Mol Autism 2012; 3:10. [PMID: 23083465 PMCID: PMC3492093 DOI: 10.1186/2040-2392-3-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 95] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2012] [Accepted: 10/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Microdeletion and microduplication copy number variations are found in patients with autism spectrum disorder and in a number of cases they include genes that are involved in the canonical Wnt signaling pathway (for example, FZD9, BCL9 or CDH8). Association studies investigating WNT2, DISC1, MET, DOCK4 or AHI1 also provide evidence that the canonical Wnt pathway might be affected in autism. Prenatal medication with sodium-valproate or antidepressant drugs increases autism risk. In animal studies, it has been found that these medications promote Wnt signaling, including among others an increase in Wnt2 gene expression. Notably, the available genetic information indicates that not only canonical Wnt pathway activation, but also inhibition seems to increase autism risk. The canonical Wnt pathway plays a role in dendrite growth and suboptimal activity negatively affects the dendritic arbor. In principle, this provides a logical explanation as to why both hypo- and hyperactivity may generate a similar set of behavioral and cognitive symptoms. However, without a validated biomarker to stratify for deviant canonical Wnt pathway activity, it is probably too dangerous to treat patients with compounds that modify pathway activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hans Otto Kalkman
- Neuroscience Department, Novartis Institute of Biomedical Research, Building 386-14,22,15, Basel, CH 4002, Switzerland.
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46
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Park M, Shen K. WNTs in synapse formation and neuronal circuitry. EMBO J 2012; 31:2697-704. [PMID: 22617419 DOI: 10.1038/emboj.2012.145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2012] [Accepted: 04/20/2012] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt proteins play important roles in wiring neural circuits. Wnts regulate many aspects of neural circuit generation through their receptors and distinct signalling pathways. In this review, we discuss recent findings on the functions of Wnts in various aspects of neural circuit formation, including neuronal polarity, axon guidance, synapse formation, and synaptic plasticity in vertebrate and invertebrate nervous systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mikyoung Park
- Center for Functional Connectomics, Brain Science Institute, Seoul, Korea.
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47
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Varela-Nallar L, Ramirez VT, Gonzalez-Billault C, Inestrosa NC. Frizzled receptors in neurons: from growth cones to the synapse. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2012; 69:528-34. [PMID: 22407911 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2011] [Revised: 01/26/2012] [Accepted: 02/21/2012] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway has been implicated in several different aspects of neural development and function, including dendrite morphogenesis, axonal growth and guidance, synaptogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Here, we studied several Frizzled Wnt receptors and determined their differential expression during hippocampal development. In cultured hippocampal neurons, the cellular distributions of Frizzleds vary greatly, some of them being localized at neurites, growth cones or synaptic sites. These findings suggest that the Wnt signaling pathway might be temporally and spatially fine tuned during the development of neuronal circuits through specific Frizzled receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena Varela-Nallar
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración, Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, P. Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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Early natural stimulation through environmental enrichment accelerates neuronal development in the mouse dentate gyrus. PLoS One 2012; 7:e30803. [PMID: 22295110 PMCID: PMC3266290 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0030803] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2011] [Accepted: 12/21/2011] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The dentate gyrus is the primary afferent into the hippocampal formation, with important functions in learning and memory. Granule cells, the principle neuronal type in the dentate gyrus, are mostly formed postnatally, in a process that continues into adulthood. External stimuli, including environmental enrichment, voluntary exercise and learning, have been shown to significantly accelerate the generation and maturation of dentate granule cells in adult rodents. Whether, and to what extent, such environmental stimuli regulate the development and maturation of dentate granule cells during early postnatal development is largely unknown. Furthermore, whether natural stimuli affect the synaptic properties of granule cells had been investigated neither in newborn neurons of the adult nor during early development. To examine the effect of natural sensory stimulation on the dentate gyrus, we reared newborn mice in an enriched environment (EE). Using immunohistochemistry, we showed that dentate granule cells from EE-reared mice exhibited earlier morphological maturation, manifested as faster peaking of doublecortin expression and elevated expression of mature neuronal markers (including NeuN, calbindin and MAP2) at the end of the second postnatal week. Also at the end of the second postnatal week, we found increased density of dendritic spines across the entire dentate gyrus, together with elevated levels of postsynaptic scaffold (post-synaptic density 95) and receptor proteins (GluR2 and GABAARγ2) of excitatory and inhibitory synapses. Furthermore, dentate granule cells of P14 EE-reared mice had lower input resistances and increased glutamatergic and GABAergic synaptic inputs. Together, our results demonstrate that EE-rearing promotes morphological and electrophysiological maturation of dentate granule cells, underscoring the importance of natural environmental stimulation on development of the dentate gyrus.
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Capitão L, Sampaio A, Sampaio C, Vasconcelos C, Férnandez M, Garayzábal E, Shenton ME, Gonçalves OF. MRI amygdala volume in Williams Syndrome. RESEARCH IN DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES 2011; 32:2767-2772. [PMID: 21752593 DOI: 10.1016/j.ridd.2011.05.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2011] [Accepted: 05/27/2011] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
One of the most intriguing characteristics of Williams Syndrome individuals is their hypersociability. The amygdala has been consistently implicated in the etiology of this social profile, particularly given its role in emotional and social behavior. This study examined amygdala volume and symmetry in WS individuals and in age and sex matched controls. Magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained on a GE 1.5-T magnet with 1.5-mm contiguous slices and were used to measure whole gray matter, white matter and cerebrospinal fluid volumes, as well as amygdala volume (right and left). Results revealed significantly reduced intracranial volume in individuals with WS, compared with controls. There were no differences between groups in absolute amygdalae volume, although there was a relative increase in amygdalae volumes, when adjusted for total intracranial content. There were no inter-hemispheric differences in amygdalae volumes in both groups. These results suggest a relative increase in amygdala volume in WS compared with healthy controls that likely reflects abnormal neurodevelopmental processes of midline brain structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Capitão
- Neuropsychophysiology Lab, CIPsi, School of Psychology, University of Minho, 4710-057 Braga, Portugal
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50
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Arlinghaus LR, Thornton-Wells TA, Dykens EM, Anderson AW. Alterations in diffusion properties of white matter in Williams syndrome. Magn Reson Imaging 2011; 29:1165-74. [PMID: 21907520 DOI: 10.1016/j.mri.2011.07.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2011] [Revised: 06/01/2011] [Accepted: 07/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) was used to investigate the involvement of brain white matter in Williams syndrome (WS), a genetic neurodevelopmental disorder. Whole-brain DTIs were obtained from 16 young adults with WS and 16 normal controls. A voxel-based analysis was performed to compare fractional anisotropy (FA) values between the two groups. A tract-based analysis was also performed to compare FA values between the two groups along two major white matter tracts that pass through the external capsule: the uncinate and inferior fronto-occipital fasciculi. Several regions of both increased and decreased FA were found within major white matter tracts that connect functional regions that have previously been implicated in the cognitive and neurological symptoms of the syndrome. The tract-based analysis provided additional insight into the involvement of specific white matter tracts implicated in the voxel-based analysis within the external capsule. The results from this study support previously reported changes in white matter diffusion properties in WS and demonstrate the potential usefulness for tract-based analysis in future studies of the disorder.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lori R Arlinghaus
- Institute of Imaging Science, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA.
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