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Wang W, Ji Y, Dong Z, Liu Z, Chen S, Dai L, Su X, Jiang Q, Deng H. Characterizing neuroinflammation and identifying prenatal diagnostic markers for neural tube defects through integrated multi-omics analysis. J Transl Med 2024; 22:257. [PMID: 38461288 PMCID: PMC10924416 DOI: 10.1186/s12967-024-05051-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 03/11/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neural Tube Defects (NTDs) are congenital malformations of the central nervous system resulting from the incomplete closure of the neural tube during early embryonic development. Neuroinflammation refers to the inflammatory response in the nervous system, typically resulting from damage to neural tissue. Immune-related processes have been identified in NTDs, however, the detailed relationship and underlying mechanisms between neuroinflammation and NTDs remain largely unclear. In this study, we utilized integrated multi-omics analysis to explore the role of neuroinflammation in NTDs and identify potential prenatal diagnostic markers using a murine model. METHODS Nine public datasets from Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) and ArrayExpress were mined using integrated multi-omics analysis to characterize the molecular landscape associated with neuroinflammation in NTDs. Special attention was given to the involvement of macrophages in neuroinflammation within amniotic fluid, as well as the dynamics of macrophage polarization and their interactions with neural cells at single-cell resolution. We also used qPCR assay to validate the key TFs and candidate prenatal diagnostic genes identified through the integrated analysis in a retinoic acid-induced NTDs mouse model. RESULTS Our analysis indicated that neuroinflammation is a critical pathological feature of NTDs, regulated both transcriptionally and epigenetically within central nervous system tissues. Key alterations in gene expression and pathways highlighted the crucial role of STATs molecules in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway in regulating NTDs-associated neuroinflammation. Furthermore, single-cell resolution analysis revealed significant polarization of macrophages and their interaction with neural cells in amniotic fluid, underscoring their central role in mediating neuroinflammation associated with NTDs. Finally, we identified a set of six potential prenatal diagnostic genes, including FABP7, CRMP1, SCG3, SLC16A10, RNASE6 and RNASE1, which were subsequently validated in a murine NTDs model, indicating their promise as prospective markers for prenatal diagnosis of NTDs. CONCLUSIONS Our study emphasizes the pivotal role of neuroinflammation in the progression of NTDs and underlines the potential of specific inflammatory and neural markers as novel prenatal diagnostic tools. These findings provide important clues for further understanding the underlying mechanisms between neuroinflammation and NTDs, and offer valuable insights for the future development of prenatal diagnostics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenshuang Wang
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Yanhong Ji
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zhexu Dong
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Zheran Liu
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Shuang Chen
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Lei Dai
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaolan Su
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Qingyuan Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics, Sichuan Provincial Hospital for Women and Children, Chengdu, China.
| | - Hongxin Deng
- Department of Biotherapy, Cancer Center and State Key Laboratory of Biotherapy, West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
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Edri T, Cohen D, Shabtai Y, Fainsod A. Alcohol induces neural tube defects by reducing retinoic acid signaling and promoting neural plate expansion. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1282273. [PMID: 38116205 PMCID: PMC10728305 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1282273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 12/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Introduction: Neural tube defects (NTDs) are among the most debilitating and common developmental defects in humans. The induction of NTDs has been attributed to abnormal folic acid (vitamin B9) metabolism, Wnt and BMP signaling, excess retinoic acid (RA), dietary components, environmental factors, and many others. In the present study we show that reduced RA signaling, including alcohol exposure, induces NTDs. Methods: Xenopus embryos were exposed to pharmacological RA biosynthesis inhibitors to study the induction of NTDs. Embryos were treated with DEAB, citral, or ethanol, all of which inhibit the biosynthesis of RA, or injected to overexpress Cyp26a1 to reduce RA. NTD induction was studied using neural plate and notochord markers together with morphological analysis. Expression of the neuroectodermal regulatory network and cell proliferation were analyzed to understand the morphological malformations of the neural plate. Results: Reducing RA signaling levels using retinaldehyde dehydrogenase inhibitors (ethanol, DEAB, and citral) or Cyp26a1-driven degradation efficiently induce NTDs. These NTDs can be rescued by providing precursors of RA. We mapped this RA requirement to early gastrula stages during the induction of neural plate precursors. This reduced RA signaling results in abnormal expression of neural network genes, including the neural plate stem cell maintenance genes, geminin, and foxd4l1.1. This abnormal expression of neural network genes results in increased proliferation of neural precursors giving rise to an expanded neural plate. Conclusion: We show that RA signaling is required for neural tube closure during embryogenesis. RA signaling plays a very early role in the regulation of proliferation and differentiation of the neural plate soon after the induction of neural progenitors during gastrulation. RA signaling disruption leads to the induction of NTDs through the mis regulation of the early neuroectodermal network, leading to increased proliferation resulting in the expansion of the neural plate. Ethanol exposure induces NTDs through this mechanism involving reduced RA levels.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Abraham Fainsod
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research Israel-Canada, Faculty of Medicine, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
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Oria M, Pathak B, Li Z, Bakri K, Gouwens K, Varela MF, Lampe K, Murphy KP, Lin CY, Peiro JL. Premature Neural Progenitor Cell Differentiation Into Astrocytes in Retinoic Acid-Induced Spina Bifida Rat Model. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:888351. [PMID: 35782393 PMCID: PMC9249056 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.888351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 05/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
During embryonic spinal cord development, neural progenitor cells (NPCs) generate three major cell lines: neurons, oligodendrocytes, and astrocytes at precise times and locations within the spinal cord. Recent studies demonstrate early astrogenesis in animal models of spina bifida, which may play a role in neuronal dysfunction associated with this condition. However, to date, the pathophysiological mechanisms related to this early astrocytic response in spina bifida are poorly understood. This study aimed to characterize the development of early astrogliosis over time from Pax6+, Olig2+, or Nkx2.2+ NPCs using a retinoic acid-induced spina bifida rat model. At three gestational ages (E15, E17, and E20), spinal cords from fetuses with retinoic acid-induced spina bifida, their healthy sibling controls, or fetuses treated with the vehicle control were analyzed. Results indicated that premature astrogliosis and astrocytic activation were associated with an altered presence of Pax6+, Olig2+, and Nkx2.2+ NPCs in the lesion compared to the controls. Finally, this response correlated with an elevation in genes involved in the Notch-BMP signaling pathway. Taken together, changes in NPC patterning factor expression with Notch-BMP signaling upregulation may be responsible for the altered astrogenesis patterns observed in the spinal cord in a retinoic acid-induced spina bifida model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marc Oria
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH, United States,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States,*Correspondence: Marc Oria,
| | - Bedika Pathak
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Zhen Li
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Kenan Bakri
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Kara Gouwens
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Maria Florencia Varela
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Kristin Lampe
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Kendall P. Murphy
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH, United States,Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Chia-Ying Lin
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
| | - Jose L. Peiro
- Center for Fetal and Placental Research, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center (CCHMC), Cincinnati, OH, United States,Department of Surgery, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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