1
|
Cheng X, Shi J, Jia Z, Ha P, Soo C, Ting K, James AW, Shi B, Zhang X. NELL-1 in Genome-Wide Association Studies across Human Diseases. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2022; 192:395-405. [PMID: 34890556 PMCID: PMC8895422 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2021] [Revised: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Neural epidermal growth factor-like (EGFL)-like protein (NELL)-1 is a potent and key osteogenic factor in the development and regeneration of skeletal tissues. Intriguingly, accumulative data from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have started unveiling potential broader roles of NELL-1 beyond its functions in bone and cartilage. With exploration of the genetic variants of the entire genome in large-scale disease cohorts, GWASs have been used for establishing the connection between specific single-nucleotide polymorphisms of NELL1, in addition to osteoporosis, metabolic diseases, inflammatory conditions, neuropsychiatric diseases, neurodegenerative disorders, and malignant tumors. This review summarizes the findings from GWASs on the manifestation, significance level, implications on function, and correlation of specific NELL1 single-nucleotide polymorphisms in various disorders in humans. By offering a unique and comprehensive correlation between genetic variants and plausible functions of NELL1 in GWASs, this review illustrates the wide range of potential effects of a single gene on the pathogenesis of multiple disorders in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xu Cheng
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Oral Diseases, and the Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China,Section of Orthodontics, Division of Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Jiayu Shi
- Section of Orthodontics, Division of Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Zhonglin Jia
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Oral Diseases, and the Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China
| | - Pin Ha
- Section of Orthodontics, Division of Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Chia Soo
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, University of California–Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California
| | - Kang Ting
- Forsyth Institute, affiliate of the Harvard School of Dental Medicine, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Aaron W. James
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Bing Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases, National Clinical Research Centre for Oral Diseases, and the Department of Cleft Lip and Palate, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
| | - Xinli Zhang
- Section of Orthodontics, Division of Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, University of California-Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li C, Zhang X, Zheng Z, Nguyen A, Ting K, Soo C. Nell-1 Is a Key Functional Modulator in Osteochondrogenesis and Beyond. J Dent Res 2019; 98:1458-1468. [PMID: 31610747 DOI: 10.1177/0022034519882000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Neural EGFL-like 1 (Nell-1) is a well-studied osteogenic factor that has comparable osteogenic potency with the Food and Drug Administration-approved bone morphogenic protein 2 (BMP-2). In this review, which aims to summarize the advanced Nell-1 research in the past 10 y, we start with the correlation of structural and functional relevance of the Nell-1 protein with the identification of a specific receptor of Nell-1, contactin-associated protein-like 4 (Cntnap4), for osteogenesis. The indispensable role of Nell-1 in normal craniofacial and appendicular skeletal development and growth was also defined by using the newly developed tissue-specific Nell-1 knockout mouse lines in addition to the existing transgenic mouse models. With the achievements on Nell-1's osteogenic therapeutic evaluations from multiple preclinical animal models for local and systemic bone regeneration, the synergistic effect of Nell-1 with BMP-2 on osteogenesis, as well as the advantages of Nell-1 as an osteogenic protein with antiadipogenic, anti-inflammatory, and provascularized characteristics over BMP-2 in bone tissue engineering, is highlighted, which lays the groundwork for the clinical trial approval of Nell-1. At the molecular level, besides the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway, we emphasize the significant involvement of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway as well as the key regulatory molecules Runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2) in Nell-1-induced osteogenesis. In addition, the involvement of Nell-1 in chondrogenesis and its relevant pathologies have been revealed with the participation of the nuclear factor of activated T cells 1 (Nfatc1), Runx3, and Indian hedgehog (Ihh) signaling pathways, although the mechanistic insights of Nell-1's osteochondrogenic property will be continuously evolving. With this perspective, we elucidate some emerging and novel functional properties of Nell-1 in oral-dental and neural tissues that will be the frontiers of future Nell-1 studies beyond the context of bone and cartilage. As such, the therapeutic potential of Nell-1 continues to evolve and grow with continuous pursuit.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- C Li
- Division of Growth and Development, Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - X Zhang
- Division of Growth and Development, Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Z Zheng
- Division of Growth and Development, Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - A Nguyen
- Division of Growth and Development, Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - K Ting
- Division of Growth and Development, Section of Orthodontics, School of Dentistry, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - C Soo
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Hospital Research Center, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu M, Wang Q, Tang R, Cao R, Wang X. Nel-like Molecule 1 Contributes to the Odontoblastic Differentiation of Human Dental Pulp Cells. J Endod 2016; 42:95-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.joen.2015.08.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2015] [Revised: 08/16/2015] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
|
4
|
Liu J, Chen W, Zhao Z, Xu HH. Effect of NELL1 gene overexpression in iPSC-MSCs seeded on calcium phosphate cement. Acta Biomater 2014; 10:5128-5138. [PMID: 25220281 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2014.08.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2014] [Revised: 08/05/2014] [Accepted: 08/15/2014] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem cells (iPSC-MSCs) are a promising source of patient-specific stem cells with great regenerative potential. There has been no report on NEL-like protein 1 (NELL1) gene modification of iPSC-MSCs. The objectives of this study were to genetically modify iPSC-MSCs with NELL1 overexpression for bone tissue engineering, and investigate the osteogenic differentiation of NELL1 gene-modified iPSC-MSCs seeded on Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD)-grafted calcium phosphate cement (CPC) scaffold. Cells were transduced with red fluorescence protein (RFP-iPSC-MSCs) or NELL1 (NELL1-iPSC-MSCs) by a lentiviral vector. Cell proliferation on RGD-grafted CPC scaffold, osteogenic differentiation and bone mineral synthesis were evaluated. RFP-iPSC-MSCs stably expressed high levels of RFP. Both the NELL1 gene and NELL1 protein levels were confirmed higher in NELL1-iPSC-MSCs than in RFP-iPSC-MSCs using RT-PCR and Western blot (P<0.05). Alkaline phosphatase activity was increased by 130% by NELL1 overexpression at 14days (P<0.05), indicating that NELL1 promoted iPSC-MSC osteogenic differentiation. When seeded on RGD-grafted CPC, NELL1-iPSC-MSCs attached and expanded similarly well to RFP-iPSC-MSCs. At 14days, the runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2) gene level of NELL1-iPSC-MSCs was 2.0-fold that of RFP-iPSC-MSCs. The osteocalcin (OC) level of NELL1-iPSC-MSCs was 3.1-fold that of RFP-iPSC-MSCs (P<0.05). The collagen type I alpha 1 (COL1A1) gene level of NELL1-iPSC-MSCs was 1.7-fold that of RFP-iPSC-MSCs at 7days (P<0.05). Mineral synthesis was increased by 81% in NELL1-iPSC-MSCs at 21days. In conclusion, NELL1 overexpression greatly enhanced the osteogenic differentiation and mineral synthesis of iPSC-MSCs on RGD-grafted CPC scaffold for the first time. The novel NELL1-iPSC-MSC seeded RGD-CPC construct is promising for enhancing bone engineering.
Collapse
|
5
|
Fortino VR, Chen RS, Pelaez D, Cheung HS. Neurogenesis of neural crest-derived periodontal ligament stem cells by EGF and bFGF. J Cell Physiol 2014; 229:479-88. [PMID: 24105823 PMCID: PMC4292882 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.24468] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2013] [Accepted: 09/06/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Neuroregenerative medicine is an ever-growing field in which regeneration of lost cells/tissues due to a neurodegenerative disease is the ultimate goal. With the scarcity of available replacement alternatives, stem cells provide an attractive source for regenerating neural tissue. While many stem cell sources exist, including: mesenchymal stem cells, embryonic stem cells, and induced pluripotent stem cells, the limited cellular potency, technical difficulties, and ethical considerations associated with these make finding alternate sources a desirable goal. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) derived from the neural crest were induced into neural-like cells using a combination of epidermal growth factor, and basic fibroblast growth factor. Morphological changes were evident in our treated group, seen under both light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. A statistically significant increase in the expression of neuron-specific β-tubulin III and the neural stem/progenitor cell marker nestin, along with positive immunohistochemical staining for glial fibrillary acidic protein, demonstrated the success of our treatment in inducing both neuronal and glial phenotypes. Positive staining for synaptophysin demonstrated neural connections and electrophysiological recordings indicated that when subjected to whole-cell patch clamping, our treated cells displayed inward currents conducted through voltage-gated sodium (Na(+) ) channels. Taken together, our results indicate the success of our treatment in inducing PDLSCs to neural-like cells. The ease of sourcing and expansion, their embryologic neural crest origin, and the lack of ethical implications in their use make PDLSCs an attractive source for use in neuroregenerative medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Veronica R. Fortino
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami; Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA
| | - Ren-Shiang Chen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami; Miami, FL, 33125, USA
- Department of Life Science, Tunghai University; Taichung, 40704, Taiwan
| | - Daniel Pelaez
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC); Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, 33125, USA
| | - Herman S. Cheung
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, University of Miami; Coral Gables, FL, 33146, USA
- Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center (GRECC); Miami Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Miami, FL, 33125, USA
| |
Collapse
|