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Dun XP, Carr L, Woodley PK, Barry RW, Drake LK, Mindos T, Roberts SL, Lloyd AC, Parkinson DB. Retraction Notice to: Macrophage-Derived Slit3 Controls Cell Migration and Axon Pathfinding in the Peripheral Nerve Bridge. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112517. [PMID: 37148243 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023] Open
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2
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Laraba L, Hillson L, de Guibert JG, Hewitt A, Jaques MR, Tang TT, Post L, Ercolano E, Rai G, Yang SM, Jagger DJ, Woznica W, Edwards P, Shivane AG, Hanemann CO, Parkinson DB. Inhibition of YAP/TAZ-driven TEAD activity prevents growth of NF2-null schwannoma and meningioma. Brain 2022; 146:1697-1713. [PMID: 36148553 PMCID: PMC10115179 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awac342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2022] [Revised: 08/19/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Schwannoma tumours typically arise on the 8th cranial nerve and are mostly caused by loss of the tumour suppressor Merlin (NF2). There are no approved chemotherapies for these tumours and the surgical removal of the tumour carries a high risk of damage to the 8th or other close cranial nerve tissue. New treatments for schwannoma and other NF2-null tumours such as meningioma are urgently required. Using a combination of human primary tumour cells and mouse models of schwannoma, we have examined the role of the Hippo signalling pathway in driving tumour cell growth. Using both genetic ablation of the Hippo effectors YAP and TAZ as well as novel TEAD palmitoylation inhibitors, we show that Hippo signalling may be successfully targeted in vitro and in vivo to both block and, remarkably, regress schwannoma tumour growth. In particular, successful use of TEAD palmitoylation inhibitors in a pre-clinical mouse model of schwannoma points to their potential future clinical use. We also identify the cancer stem cell marker aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (ALDH1A1) as a Hippo signalling target, driven by the TAZ protein in human and mouse NF2-null schwannoma cells, as well as in NF2-null meningioma cells, and examine the potential future role of this new target in halting schwannoma and meningioma tumour growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyam Laraba
- Faculty of Heath: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Derriford Research Facility, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Lily Hillson
- Faculty of Heath: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Derriford Research Facility, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Julio Grimm de Guibert
- Faculty of Heath: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Derriford Research Facility, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Amy Hewitt
- Faculty of Heath: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Derriford Research Facility, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BU, UK
| | | | - Tracy T Tang
- Vivace Therapeutics Inc., San Mateo, CA 94403, USA
| | - Leonard Post
- Vivace Therapeutics Inc., San Mateo, CA 94403, USA
| | - Emanuela Ercolano
- Faculty of Heath: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Derriford Research Facility, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Ganesha Rai
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA
| | - Shyh Ming Yang
- National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, 9800 Medical Center Drive, Rockville, Maryland 20850, USA
| | - Daniel J Jagger
- UCL Ear Institute, University College London, London, WC1X 8EE, UK
| | - Waldemar Woznica
- Faculty of Heath: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Derriford Research Facility, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Philip Edwards
- Department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8DH, UK
| | - Aditya G Shivane
- Department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology, University Hospitals Plymouth NHS Trust, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8DH, UK
| | - C Oliver Hanemann
- Faculty of Heath: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Derriford Research Facility, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BU, UK
| | - David B Parkinson
- Faculty of Heath: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Derriford Research Facility, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BU, UK
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3
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Maze EA, Agit B, Reeves S, Hilton DA, Parkinson DB, Laraba L, Ercolano E, Kurian KM, Hanemann CO, Belshaw RD, Ammoun S. Human endogenous retrovirus type K promotes proliferation and confers sensitivity to anti-retroviral drugs in Merlin-negative schwannoma and meningioma. Cancer Res 2021; 82:235-247. [PMID: 34853069 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-3857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2020] [Revised: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Deficiency of the tumour suppressor Merlin causes development of schwannoma, meningioma, and ependymoma tumours, which can occur spontaneously or in the hereditary disease neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). Merlin mutations are also relevant in a variety of other tumours. Surgery and radiotherapy are current first-line treatments; however, tumours frequently recur with limited treatment options. Here, we use human Merlin-negative schwannoma and meningioma primary cells to investigate the involvement of the endogenous retrovirus HERV-K in tumour development. HERV-K proteins previously implicated in tumorigenesis were overexpressed in schwannoma and all meningioma grades, and disease-associated CRL4DCAF1 and YAP/TEAD pathways were implicated in this overexpression. In normal Schwann cells, ectopic overexpression of HERV-K Env increased proliferation and upregulated expression of c-Jun and pERK1/2, which are key components of known tumorigenic pathways in schwannoma, JNK/c-Jun and RAS/RAF/MEK/ERK. Furthermore, FDA-approved retroviral protease inhibitors ritonavir, atazanavir, and lopinavir reduced proliferation of schwannoma and grade I meningioma cells. These results identify HERV-K as a critical regulator of progression in Merlin-deficient tumours and offer potential strategies for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emmanuel A Maze
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Health Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University
| | - Bora Agit
- Faculty of Health Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University
| | - Shona Reeves
- Faculty of Health Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University
| | - David A Hilton
- Faculty of Health Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University
| | - David B Parkinson
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
| | - Liyam Laraba
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
| | | | - Kathreena M Kurian
- Department of Neuropathology, Brain Tumour Research Group, Frenchay Hospital, University of Bristol
| | - C Oliver Hanemann
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry
| | | | - Sylwia Ammoun
- Faculty of Health Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University
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4
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Li M, Banton MC, Min Q, Parkinson DB, Dun X. Meta-Analysis Reveals Transcription Factor Upregulation in Cells of Injured Mouse Sciatic Nerve. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:688243. [PMID: 34744629 PMCID: PMC8567084 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.688243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 09/30/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Following peripheral nerve injury, transcription factors upregulated in the distal nerve play essential roles in Schwann cell reprogramming, fibroblast activation and immune cell function to create a permissive distal nerve environment for axonal regrowth. In this report, we first analysed four microarray data sets to identify transcription factors that have at least twofold upregulation in the mouse distal nerve stump at day 3 and day 7 post-injury. Next, we compared their relative mRNA levels through the analysis of an available bulk mRNA sequencing data set at day 5 post-injury. We then investigated the expression of identified TFs in analysed single-cell RNA sequencing data sets for the distal nerve at day 3 and day 9 post-injury. These analyses identified 55 transcription factors that have at least twofold upregulation in the distal nerve following mouse sciatic nerve injury. Expression profile for the identified 55 transcription factors in cells of the distal nerve stump was further analysed on the scRNA-seq data. Transcription factor network and functional analysis were performed in Schwann cells. We also validated the expression pattern of Jun, Junb, Runx1, Runx2, and Sox2 in the mouse distal nerve stump by immunostaining. The findings from our study not only could be used to understand the function of key transcription factors in peripheral nerve regeneration but also could be used to facilitate experimental design for future studies to investigate the function of individual TFs in peripheral nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingchao Li
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Matthew C Banton
- School of Biomedical Science, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Qing Min
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - David B Parkinson
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Xinpeng Dun
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China.,The Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
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5
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Lespade C, Laraba L, Woodhouse E, Srotyr M, Lloyd AC, Parkinson DB. Activation of Raf signalling in NF2-null Schwann cells leads to sustained proliferation; an investigation of a new and inducible model for human schwannoma. Neuro Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab195.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Aims
The NF2 gene encodes the tumour suppressor Merlin, which is deleted in 100% of patients with the familial tumour predisposition syndrome neurofibromatosis type 2 but also in 70% of those who develop sporadic schwannomas. The Raf-TR mouse model uses a tamoxifen-inducible Raf-kinase/ oestrogen receptor fusion protein (Raf-TR) expressed in myelinating Schwann cells to mimic a nerve injury response in Schwann cell by activating Raf/MEK/ERK signalling in the absence of peripheral nerve injury.
We will assess whether Raf/MEK/ERK activation on an NF2 null background leads to tumourigenesis within the vestibular nerves and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs), two tumour sites identified in the Periostin-Cre mouse model in which schwannoma formation is spontaneous, with a view to generating an inducible NF2 null schwannoma mouse model.
Method
Mice with a Schwann cell specific loss of Merlin were crossed with mice carrying a tamoxifen-inducible Raf-TR gene to generate Raf-TR+/-; P0-Cre+/-; NF2fl/fl (Cre+) mice which were NF2 null and compared to Raf-TR+/-; P0-Cre-/-; NF2fl/fl (Cre-) littermate controls. Mice were injected with tamoxifen or vehicle for five consecutive days and their vestibular nerves and dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) were analysed at various timepoints . An EdU proliferation assay was used to quantify the proliferation in the vestibular ganglia, as well as the DRGs. Rates of proliferation were compared to Cre- age-matched littermate controls treated with tamoxifen or vehicle.
Results
In the Periostin-Cre NF2 null schwannoma model, tumours form spontaneously in the DRGs and vestibular ganglia. In our new model, we see a clear increase in proliferation at 21 d post-injection in the NF2 null (Cre+) tamoxifen-treated mice compared to control (Cre-) tamoxifen-treated controls in both DRGs and vestibular ganglia. Cre- tamoxifen-treated mice do not show increased proliferation compared to Cre- vehicle controls. Taken together, this shows that activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway in Schwann cells only causes a sustained proliferation response on an NF2 null background in the DRGs and vestibular ganglia. We are assessing later timepoints to further characterise tumour development in these mice.
Conclusion
Combining the Raf-TR mouse model to create a demyelinating phenotype with an NF2 null background leads to vastly increased rates of proliferation at the sites of schwannoma tumourigenesis within the peripheral nervous system: the DRGs and the vestibular ganglia. The high proliferation in the vestibular ganglia in particular is similar to the development of vestibular schwannomas in patients with Neurofibromatosis type 2. The new mouse model used in this study shows potential to be very useful as an inducible schwannoma tumour model, in which we can study the early events of tumour formation.
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Srotyr M, Laraba L, Harper GM, Lespade C, Woodhouse E, Lloyd AC, Parkinson DB. Use of a new mouse schwannoma tumour model to monitor changes in peripheral nerve morphology in Merlin null Schwann cells. Neuro Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab195.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Aims
Our lab is interested in signals that trigger schwannoma tumour formation and we have previously shown that peripheral nerve injury triggers tumour formation in nerves with Schwann cell-specific loss of the Merlin (NF2) tumour suppressor. The Ras/Raf/MAPK/ERK pathway activity in myelinating Schwann cells is involved in nerve regeneration, causing demyelination and recruitment of inflammatory cells in areas of nerve damage, as well as dedifferentiation of myelinating Schwann cells into a repair-competent state. We have used a mouse model expressing a tamoxifen-inducible Raf-Kinase estrogen receptor fusion protein (Raf-TR) in myelinating Schwann cells of the PNS in either a control wild-type Merlin or Merlin-null background. This allows us to determine the effects of an injury-like signal in Schwann cells and its role in generating schwannoma tumour development. We present here a detailed analysis of the proliferation of Schwann cells within the nerve and morphological changes in PNS structure following Raf-TR activation.
Method
The P0-promotor driving the Raf-TR transgene is active in myelinating Schwann cells but inactive in the non-myelinating population, allowing specific targeting of the myelinating Schwann cell population. In addition to the Raf-TR gene, the mice exhibit a separate P0-promotor controlled Cre floxed NF2 gene which undergoes Cre-mediated recombinase at embryonic day 13.5 causing NF2 knockout in all developing Schwann cells. Mice aged between 4-6 weeks received intraperitoneal injections of either 2mg Tamoxifen or oil vehicle for 5 consecutive days and were then studied at either 10 or 21 days post-first injection. The peripheral nervous system of the mice was studied with fluorescent immuno-histochemistry staining, semithin sections and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on sciatic nerves and dorsal root ganglia (DRG).
Results
Activation of the Ras/Raf/MAPK/ERK pathway in NF2 null Schwann cells led to higher rates of proliferation within sciatic nerves at 10d post-tamoxifen injections. At both 10d and 21d Raf-TR+ NF2-null mice sciatic nerve fascicles were visibly larger with significantly more cell bodies present than controls, however at 21d the rate of proliferation had reduced. In the DRG, proliferation was higher in Raf-TR+ NF2-null mice compared to controls, with proliferation remaining high at 21 days. Quantitative imaging of peripheral nerve semi-thins analysed to date showed no significant difference in the number of myelin rings present in the fascicles between different genotypes. Additionally, dual immuno-histochemistry staining with Myelin Basic Protein and EdU, markers for myelin and proliferation respectively, appeared to show proliferation in the non-myelinating Schwann cell population. Results from staining with other cell markers will also be presented, as well as a detailed analysis of nerve structure using TEM.
Conclusion
While developmental myelination of Merlin-null Schwann cells appears largely normal, the reaction of Merlin-null Schwann cells in the nerve to an injury signal (activation of the Raf-TR) is remarkably different from those of control nerves. The high levels of proliferation in Merlin-null Schwann cells may be indicative of a higher tumorigenesis potential. While the proliferation of Merlin-null cells does reduce over time in the sciatic nerve, further experiments are now testing whether there may be ongoing tumour growth at other locations in the nervous system that are associated with NF2 tumours in human patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie Srotyr
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Liyam Laraba
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Glenn M Harper
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Charlotte Lespade
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | - Evyn Woodhouse
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
| | | | - David B Parkinson
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
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7
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Woodhouse E, Laraba L, Lespade C, Srotyr M, Lloyd AC, Parkinson DB. Activation of MAPK/ERK signalling in Merlin-null Schwann cells leads to increased and sustained immune cell infiltration in the peripheral nervous system. Neuro Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noab195.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Abstract
Aims
Previous work has shown that increased numbers of macrophages are associated with more rapid schwannoma tumour growth and we are interested in signals that control entry of macrophages and other immune cells into these tumours. Activation of the Raf-kinase domain and the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway within Schwann cells has been observed to induce an inflammatory response in peripheral nerves in the absence of injury. Activation of an inducible Raf-kinase transgene in Schwann cells allows modelling of acute demyelination of peripheral nerves without nerve injury. This Raf-oestrogen receptor fusion protein (Raf-TR) is activated by the oestrogen analogue Tamoxifen and so allows targeted, controlled activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK pathway within the Schwann cells.
Here, in order to understand drivers of tumour formation, we assess the effect of MAPK activation in Merlin-null Schwann cells upon immune cell infiltration within the PNS.
Method
RafTR-P0CRE-NF2fl/fl mice of 4-6 weeks age were injected daily (IP) with 2mg of 4-hydroxy-tamoxifen or vehicle (corn oil) control for 5 consecutive days. RafTR was activated on either a Merlin (NF2) wild-type (NF2 fl/fl, P0-CRE-) or NF2 null (NF2 fl/fl, P0-CRE+) background and effects on immune cell infiltration studied in each condition.
Immunofluorescence was performed in the dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) and sciatic nerves of mice to identify various immune cell infiltrates at various timepoints. These will include neutrophils, mast cells, T-Cells and macrophages using the cell markers Csf3r, C-kit, CD3 and IBA1 respectively.
Results
At 21 days post treatment, a significantly increased infiltration of macrophages within the sciatic nerve and dorsal root ganglia was observed in mice treated with Tamoxifen when compared to vehicle controls. Loss of NF2 led to a massive increase in the number of macrophages recruited to peripheral nerves in tamoxifen-treated mice compared to Cre- mice and Cre+ treated with vehicle alone. Further assessment of other immune cell infiltration including neutrophils, mast cells and T cells are ongoing.
Conclusion
Raf/MEK/ERK signalling, in the absence of tumour suppressor Merlin, significantly increases the infiltration of inflammatory cells such as macrophages into peripheral nerves even in the absence of injury. As this effect is enhanced in NF2 null mice, this suggests that Merlin plays an important role in inhibiting the inflammatory response in peripheral nerves. It also suggests that Merlin could be involved in maintaining the blood nerve barrier (BNB), as in its absence the greater influx of immune cells into the nerves and DRGs suggests a more complete loss of BNB function than just activation of the Raf/MEK/ERK cascade alone.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - David B Parkinson
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, UK
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8
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Chen B, Banton MC, Singh L, Parkinson DB, Dun XP. Single Cell Transcriptome Data Analysis Defines the Heterogeneity of Peripheral Nerve Cells in Homeostasis and Regeneration. Front Cell Neurosci 2021; 15:624826. [PMID: 33828460 PMCID: PMC8019921 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2021.624826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The advances in single-cell RNA sequencing technologies and the development of bioinformatics pipelines enable us to more accurately define the heterogeneity of cell types in a selected tissue. In this report, we re-analyzed recently published single-cell RNA sequencing data sets and provide a rationale to redefine the heterogeneity of cells in both intact and injured mouse peripheral nerves. Our analysis showed that, in both intact and injured peripheral nerves, cells could be functionally classified into four categories: Schwann cells, nerve fibroblasts, immune cells, and cells associated with blood vessels. Nerve fibroblasts could be sub-clustered into epineurial, perineurial, and endoneurial fibroblasts. Identified immune cell clusters include macrophages, mast cells, natural killer cells, T and B lymphocytes as well as an unreported cluster of neutrophils. Cells associated with blood vessels include endothelial cells, vascular smooth muscle cells, and pericytes. We show that endothelial cells in the intact mouse sciatic nerve have three sub-types: epineurial, endoneurial, and lymphatic endothelial cells. Analysis of cell type-specific gene changes revealed that Schwann cells and endoneurial fibroblasts are the two most important cell types promoting peripheral nerve regeneration. Analysis of communication between these cells identified potential signals for early blood vessel regeneration, neutrophil recruitment of macrophages, and macrophages activating Schwann cells. Through this analysis, we also report appropriate marker genes for future single cell transcriptome data analysis to identify cell types in intact and injured peripheral nerves. The findings from our analysis could facilitate a better understanding of cell biology of peripheral nerves in homeostasis, regeneration, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Huai'an No. 1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Matthew C Banton
- Faculty of Health, School of Biomedical Science, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Lolita Singh
- Faculty of Health, Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - David B Parkinson
- Faculty of Health, Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Xin-Peng Dun
- Faculty of Health, Peninsula Medical School, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom.,School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
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9
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Palomo-Irigoyen M, Pérez-Andrés E, Iruarrizaga-Lejarreta M, Barreira-Manrique A, Tamayo-Caro M, Vila-Vecilla L, Moreno-Cugnon L, Beitia N, Medrano D, Fernández-Ramos D, Lozano JJ, Okawa S, Lavín JL, Martín-Martín N, Sutherland JD, de Juan VG, Gonzalez-Lopez M, Macías-Cámara N, Mosén-Ansorena D, Laraba L, Hanemann CO, Ercolano E, Parkinson DB, Schultz CW, Araúzo-Bravo MJ, Ascensión AM, Gerovska D, Iribar H, Izeta A, Pytel P, Krastel P, Provenzani A, Seneci P, Carrasco RD, Del Sol A, Martinez-Chantar ML, Barrio R, Serra E, Lazaro C, Flanagan AM, Gorospe M, Ratner N, Aransay AM, Carracedo A, Varela-Rey M, Woodhoo A. HuR/ELAVL1 drives malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor growth and metastasis. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:3848-3864. [PMID: 32315290 PMCID: PMC7324187 DOI: 10.1172/jci130379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer cells can develop a strong addiction to discrete molecular regulators, which control the aberrant gene expression programs that drive and maintain the cancer phenotype. Here, we report the identification of the RNA-binding protein HuR/ELAVL1 as a central oncogenic driver for malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs), which are highly aggressive sarcomas that originate from cells of the Schwann cell lineage. HuR was found to be highly elevated and bound to a multitude of cancer-associated transcripts in human MPNST samples. Accordingly, genetic and pharmacological inhibition of HuR had potent cytostatic and cytotoxic effects on tumor growth, and strongly suppressed metastatic capacity in vivo. Importantly, we linked the profound tumorigenic function of HuR to its ability to simultaneously regulate multiple essential oncogenic pathways in MPNST cells, including the Wnt/β-catenin, YAP/TAZ, RB/E2F, and BET pathways, which converge on key transcriptional networks. Given the exceptional dependency of MPNST cells on HuR for survival, proliferation, and dissemination, we propose that HuR represents a promising therapeutic target for MPNST treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Palomo-Irigoyen
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Encarni Pérez-Andrés
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Marta Iruarrizaga-Lejarreta
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Adrián Barreira-Manrique
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Miguel Tamayo-Caro
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Laura Vila-Vecilla
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Leire Moreno-Cugnon
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Nagore Beitia
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Daniela Medrano
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - David Fernández-Ramos
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Juan José Lozano
- Bioinformatic Platform, CIBERehd, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Satoshi Okawa
- Computational Biology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg.,Integrated BioBank of Luxembourg, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - José L Lavín
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Natalia Martín-Martín
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - James D Sutherland
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Virginia Guitiérez de Juan
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Monika Gonzalez-Lopez
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Nuria Macías-Cámara
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Mosén-Ansorena
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Liyam Laraba
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Derriford Research Facility, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - C Oliver Hanemann
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Derriford Research Facility, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - Emanuela Ercolano
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Derriford Research Facility, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - David B Parkinson
- Institute of Translational and Stratified Medicine, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Derriford Research Facility, Devon, United Kingdom
| | | | - Marcos J Araúzo-Bravo
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
| | - Alex M Ascensión
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Daniela Gerovska
- Computational Biology and Systems Biomedicine, Biodonostia Health Research Institute, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Haizea Iribar
- Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Bioengineering Area, Instituto Biodonostia, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Ander Izeta
- Tissue Engineering Laboratory, Bioengineering Area, Instituto Biodonostia, San Sebastián, Spain
| | - Peter Pytel
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Philipp Krastel
- Novartis Institutes for Biomedical Research, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Alessandro Provenzani
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | | | - Ruben D Carrasco
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Antonio Del Sol
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.,Computational Biology Group, Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine (LCSB), University of Luxembourg, Belvaux, Luxembourg.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.,Moscow Institute of Physics and Technology, Dolgoprudny, Russia
| | - María Luz Martinez-Chantar
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Rosa Barrio
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain
| | - Eduard Serra
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Hereditary Cancer Group, Institute for Health Science Research Germans Trias I Pujol (IGTP) and Program of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (PMPPC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Conxi Lazaro
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,Hereditary Cancer Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, and.,Program in Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology (Oncobell), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrienne M Flanagan
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, Stanmore, United Kingdom.,UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Myriam Gorospe
- Laboratory of Genetics and Genomics, National Institute on Aging-Intramural Research Program, NIH, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nancy Ratner
- Division of Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Ana M Aransay
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Arkaitz Carracedo
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain.,Biochemistry and Molecular Biology Department, University of the Basque Country (UPV/EHU), Bilbao, Spain
| | - Marta Varela-Rey
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas (CIBERehd), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ashwin Woodhoo
- Center for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Derio, Spain.,IKERBASQUE, Basque Foundation for Science, Bilbao, Spain
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10
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Rafipay A, Dun X, Parkinson DB, Erskine L, Vargesson N. Knockdown of slit signaling during limb development leads to a reduction in humerus length. Dev Dyn 2021; 250:1340-1357. [DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.284] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/16/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra Rafipay
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | - Xin‐Peng Dun
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health University of Plymouth Plymouth UK
| | - David B Parkinson
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health University of Plymouth Plymouth UK
| | - Lynda Erskine
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
| | - Neil Vargesson
- Institute of Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Medical Sciences and Nutrition University of Aberdeen Aberdeen UK
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11
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Laraba L, de Guibert JG, Tang TT, Post L, Parkinson DB. Abstract 6384: TEAD inhibition reduces tumor proliferation in Merlin null meningioma and schwannoma. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2020-6384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Introduction:
Meningiomas are the most common intracranial tumor and arise from the arachnoidal cell layer of the meninges. Schwannomas develop from Schwann cells which provide myelin and trophic support in the peripheral nerves. The tumor suppressor Merlin is deleted in approximately 50-60% of meningiomas and 70% of schwannomas. Loss of Merlin results in dysregulation of the Hippo pathway and consequent aberrant activation of the transcriptional coactivators YAP and TAZ. Nuclear localisation of YAP and TAZ has been shown to drive tumor phenotypes in many cancers. The TEAD family of transcription factors are major targets of YAP and TAZ-dependent signaling. TEAD family members undergo autopalmitoylation and this modification is required for transcriptional activation by YAP or TAZ. Vivace therapeutics have identified small molecule inhibitors of autopalmitoylation that block the interaction of TEAD family members with YAP and TAZ. This study seeks to establish the efficacy of small molecule inhibitors of TEAD activity in meningioma and schwannoma tumor cells.
Experimental Procedures:
Meningioma cell lines, primary human meningioma and schwannoma cells, as well as a schwannoma mouse model (PerisotinCRE /NF2 fl/fl) were treated with Vivace inhibitors to assess their effects upon tumor cell proliferation and TEAD driven transcription.
Results:
TEAD inhibition significantly reduced the proliferation of the BenMen-1 meningioma cell line, as well as in primary human meningioma cells. In schwannoma, inhibitors reduced proliferation and also reduced the expression of CTGF, a target of TEAD activation in both primary human meningioma and schwannoma cells. These novel inhibitors are also currently being tested in the Periostin CRE-NF2fl/fl schwannoma mouse model to evaluate their efficacy in vivo.
Conclusions:
The use of these novel compounds to inhibit TEAD function shows great potential as an effective treatment for reducing the rate of cell proliferation in meningioma and schwannoma, two clinically important tumor types.
Citation Format: Liyam Laraba, Julio Grimm de Guibert, Tracy T. Tang, Leonard Post, David B. Parkinson. TEAD inhibition reduces tumor proliferation in Merlin null meningioma and schwannoma [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 6384.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liyam Laraba
- 1University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
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12
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Hillson L, Laraba L, Shivane AG, Edwards P, Bantukallu G, Simeonov A, Martinez NJ, Yang SM, Parkinson DB. Abstract 5957: Roles for the cancer stem cell marker Aldh1A1 in Merlin null nervous system tumors. Cancer Res 2020. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2020-5957] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
Our lab is interested in the development and growth of schwannoma and meningioma tumors of the nervous system. Approximately 70% of these tumors arise due to loss of the tumor suppressor Merlin. In a mouse model of schwannoma (P0-CRE NF2fl/fl), we observed increased mRNA levels of the cancer stem cell marker Aldehyde dehydrogenase 1A1 (Aldh1A1) in Merlin-null Schwann cells. Immunostaining showed elevated levels of Aldh1A1 protein in this mouse model and in another mouse model (Postn-CRE NF2fl/fl), in which schwannoma tumors arise spontaneously within the vestibulocochlear nerve and dorsal root ganglia of the nervous system. Similarly, staining of human schwannoma samples also showed a strong elevation of Aldh1A1 protein in all tumor cells. Parallel analysis of meningioma tumor samples, in which Merlin loss also occurs, also showed a strong increase of Aldh1A1 protein levels. Western blotting enabled identification of the mechanism by which Merlin loss regulates Aldh1A1. Merlin/TAZ double knockout, but not Merlin/YAP double knockout, sciatic nerves show reduced Aldh1A1 expression. This implicates Hippo signalling through the TAZ effector as the mechanism of Aldh1A1 upregulation both in vitro and in vivo in both tumor types. Chemical inhibition with Aldh1a1-specific inhibitor (NCT-505) or shRNA knockdown of Aldh1A1 in Merlin-null schwannoma and meningioma cells in culture attenuated tumor cell growth, proving Aldh1A1 has a role in tumor cell proliferation; studies using Aldh1A1 null mice to test this in vivo are ongoing. A major target of Aldh1A1 signalling is the regulation of retinoic acid (RA) signalling. We are examining expression and activation of components of RA signalling in both schwannoma and meningioma tumor cells to identify whether this may be of therapeutic use in the future for these two tumor types. In conclusion, the TAZ-dependent upregulation of Aldh1A1 in Merlin-null schwannoma and meningioma tumor cells has a functional role in driving cell proliferation in these two clinically important tumor types. Further work will seek to identify the mechanism by which Aldh1A1 activity contributes to tumor growth.
Citation Format: Lily Hillson, Liyam Laraba, Aditya G. Shivane, Philip Edwards, Ganesha Bantukallu, Anton Simeonov, Natalia J. Martinez, Shyh-Ming Yang, David B. Parkinson. Roles for the cancer stem cell marker Aldh1A1 in Merlin null nervous system tumors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research 2020; 2020 Apr 27-28 and Jun 22-24. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(16 Suppl):Abstract nr 5957.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | - Ganesha Bantukallu
- 3NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD
| | - Anton Simeonov
- 3NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD
| | | | - Shyh-Ming Yang
- 3NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, Rockville, MD
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13
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Abstract
The fibroblast growth factor (FGF) family polypeptides play key roles in promoting tissue regeneration and repair. FGF5 is strongly up-regulated in Schwann cells of the peripheral nervous system following injury; however, a role for FGF5 in peripheral nerve regeneration has not been shown up to now. In this report, we examined the expression of FGF5 and its receptors FGFR1-4 in Schwann cells of the mouse sciatic nerve following injury, and then measured the effects of FGF5 treatment upon cultured primary rat Schwann cells. By microarray and mRNA sequencing data analysis, RT-PCR, qPCR, western blotting and immunostaining, we show that FGF5 is highly up-regulated in Schwann cells of the mouse distal sciatic nerve following injury, and FGFR1 and FGFR2 are highly expressed in Schwann cells of the peripheral nerve both before and following injury. Using cultured primary rat Schwann cells, we show that FGF5 inhibits ERK1/2 MAP kinase activity but promotes rapid Schwann cell migration and adhesion via the upregulation of N-cadherin. Thus, FGF5 is an autocrine regulator of Schwann cells to regulate Schwann cell migration and adhesion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Rong Hu
- School of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Southern Medical School, Guangzhou, China
| | - Qing Min
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Yankun Li
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - David B Parkinson
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Xin-Peng Dun
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China.,Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, University of Plymouth, Plymouth, United Kingdom.,The Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
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14
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Min Q, Parkinson DB, Dun XP. Migrating Schwann cells direct axon regeneration within the peripheral nerve bridge. Glia 2020; 69:235-254. [PMID: 32697392 DOI: 10.1002/glia.23892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 07/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Schwann cells within the peripheral nervous system possess a remarkable regenerative potential. Current research shows that peripheral nerve-associated Schwann cells possess the capacity to promote repair of multiple tissues including peripheral nerve gap bridging, skin wound healing, digit tip repair as well as tooth regeneration. One of the key features of the specialized repair Schwann cells is that they become highly motile. They not only migrate into the area of damaged tissue and become a key component of regenerating tissue but also secrete signaling molecules to attract macrophages, support neuronal survival, promote axonal regrowth, activate local mesenchymal stem cells, and interact with other cell types. Currently, the importance of migratory Schwann cells in tissue regeneration is most evident in the case of a peripheral nerve transection injury. Following nerve transection, Schwann cells from both proximal and distal nerve stumps migrate into the nerve bridge and form Schwann cell cords to guide axon regeneration. The formation of Schwann cell cords in the nerve bridge is key to successful peripheral nerve repair following transection injury. In this review, we first examine nerve bridge formation and the behavior of Schwann cell migration in the nerve bridge, and then discuss how migrating Schwann cells direct regenerating axons into the distal nerve. We also review the current understanding of signals that could activate Schwann cell migration and signals that Schwann cells utilize to direct axon regeneration. Understanding the molecular mechanism of Schwann cell migration could potentially offer new therapeutic strategies for peripheral nerve repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing Min
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
| | - David B Parkinson
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Xin-Peng Dun
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, People's Republic of China
- Peninsula Medical School, Faculty of Health, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon, UK
- The Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province, People's Republic of China
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15
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Abstract
The peripheral nervous system has an astonishing ability to regenerate following a compression or crush injury; however, the potential for full repair following a transection injury is much less. Currently, the major clinical challenge for peripheral nerve repair come from long gaps between the proximal and distal nerve stumps, which prevent regenerating axons reaching the distal nerve. Precise axon targeting during nervous system development is controlled by families of axon guidance molecules including Netrins, Slits, Ephrins and Semaphorins. Several recent studies have indicated key roles of Netrin1, Slit3 and EphrinB2 signalling in controlling the formation of new nerve bridge tissue and precise axon regeneration after peripheral nerve transection injury. Inside the nerve bridge, nerve fibroblasts express EphrinB2 while migrating Schwann cells express the receptor EphB2. EphrinB2/EphB2 signalling between nerve fibroblasts and migrating Schwann cells is required for Sox2 upregulation in Schwann cells and the formation of Schwann cell cords within the nerve bridge to allow directional axon growth to the distal nerve stump. Macrophages in the outermost layer of the nerve bridge express Slit3 while migrating Schwann cells and regenerating axons express the receptor Robo1; within Schwann cells, Robo1 expression is also Sox2-dependent. Slit3/Robo1 signalling is required to keep migrating Schwann cells and regenerating axons inside the nerve bridge. In addition to the Slit3/Robo1 signalling system, migrating Schwann cells also express Netrin1 and regenerating axons express the DCC receptor. It appears that migrating Schwann cells could also use Netrin1 as a guidance cue to direct regenerating axons across the peripheral nerve gap. Engineered neural tissues have been suggested as promising alternatives for the repair of large peripheral nerve gaps. Therefore, understanding the function of classic axon guidance molecules in nerve bridge formation and their roles in axon regeneration could be highly beneficial in developing engineered neural tissue for more effective peripheral nerve repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Peng Dun
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon, UK; The Co-Innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, Jiangsu Province; School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, Hubei Province, China
| | - David B Parkinson
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon, UK
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16
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Woodley PK, Min Q, Li Y, Mulvey NF, Parkinson DB, Dun XP. Distinct VIP and PACAP Functions in the Distal Nerve Stump During Peripheral Nerve Regeneration. Front Neurosci 2019; 13:1326. [PMID: 31920495 PMCID: PMC6920234 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2019.01326] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide (VIP) and Pituitary Adenylyl Cyclase Activating Peptide (PACAP) are regeneration-associated neuropeptides, which are up-regulated by neurons following peripheral nerve injury. So far, they have only been studied for their roles as autocrine signals for both neuronal survival and axon outgrowth during peripheral nerve regeneration. In this report, we examined VIP and PACAP's paracrine effects on Schwann cells and macrophages in the distal nerve stump during peripheral nerve regeneration. We show that VPAC1, VPAC2, and PAC1 are all up-regulated in the mouse distal nerve following peripheral nerve injury and are highly expressed in Schwann cells and macrophages within the distal sciatic nerve. We further investigated the effect of VIP and PACAP on cultured rat Schwann cells, and found that VIP and PACAP can not only promote myelin gene expression in Schwann cells but can also inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines by Schwann cells. Furthermore, we show that VIP and PACAP inhibit the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and enhance anti-inflammatory cytokine expression in sciatic nerve explants. Our results provide evidence that VIP and PACAP could have important functions in the distal nerve stump following injury to promote remyelination and regulate the inflammatory response. Thus, VIP and PACAP receptors appear as important targets to promote peripheral nerve repair following injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia K Woodley
- Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Qing Min
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Yankun Li
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China
| | - Nina F Mulvey
- Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - David B Parkinson
- Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Xin-Peng Dun
- Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth, United Kingdom.,School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning, China.,Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China
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17
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Chen B, Chen Q, Parkinson DB, Dun XP. Analysis of Schwann Cell Migration and Axon Regeneration Following Nerve Injury in the Sciatic Nerve Bridge. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:308. [PMID: 31920539 PMCID: PMC6914761 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 11/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
While it is proposed that interaction between Schwann cells and axons is key for successful nerve regeneration, the behavior of Schwann cells migrating into a nerve gap following a transection injury and how migrating Schwann cells interact with regenerating axons within the nerve bridge has not been studied in detail. In this study, we combine the use of our whole-mount sciatic nerve staining with the use of a proteolipid protein-green fluorescent protein (PLP-GFP) mouse model to mark Schwann cells and have examined the behavior of migrating Schwann cells and regenerating axons in the sciatic nerve gap following a nerve transection injury. We show here that Schwann cell migration from both nerve stumps starts later than the regrowth of axons from the proximal nerve stump. The first migrating Schwann cells are only observed 4 days following mouse sciatic nerve transection injury. Schwann cells migrating from the proximal nerve stump overtake regenerating axons on day 5 and form Schwann cell cords within the nerve bridge by 7 days post-transection injury. Regenerating axons begin to attach to migrating Schwann cells on day 6 and then follow their trajectory navigating across the nerve gap. We also observe that Schwann cell cords in the nerve bridge are not wide enough to guide all the regenerating axons across the nerve bridge, resulting in regenerating axons growing along the outside of both proximal and distal nerve stumps. From this analysis, we demonstrate that Schwann cells play a crucial role in controlling the directionality and speed of axon regeneration across the nerve gap. We also demonstrate that the use of the PLP-GFP mouse model labeling Schwann cells together with the whole sciatic nerve axon staining technique is a useful research model to study the process of peripheral nerve regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bing Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - Quan Chen
- Department of Neurology, The Affiliated Huai'an No.1 People's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Huai'an, China
| | - David B Parkinson
- Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University, Plymouth, United Kingdom
| | - Xin-Peng Dun
- Faculty of Health: Medicine, Dentistry and Human Sciences, Plymouth University, Plymouth, United Kingdom
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18
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Dun XP, Carr L, Woodley PK, Barry RW, Drake LK, Mindos T, Roberts SL, Lloyd AC, Parkinson DB. Macrophage-Derived Slit3 Controls Cell Migration and Axon Pathfinding in the Peripheral Nerve Bridge. Cell Rep 2019; 26:1458-1472.e4. [PMID: 30726731 PMCID: PMC6367597 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.12.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 06/26/2018] [Accepted: 12/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Slit-Robo signaling has been characterized as a repulsive signal for precise axon pathfinding and cell migration during embryonic development. Here, we describe a role for Sox2 in the regulation of Robo1 in Schwann cells and for Slit3-Robo1 signaling in controlling axon guidance within the newly formed nerve bridge following peripheral nerve transection injury. In particular, we show that macrophages form the outermost layer of the nerve bridge and secrete high levels of Slit3, while migratory Schwann cells and fibroblasts inside the nerve bridge express the Robo1 receptor. In line with this pattern of Slit3 and Robo1 expression, we observed multiple axon regeneration and cell migration defects in the nerve bridge of Sox2-, Slit3-, and Robo1-mutant mice. Our findings have revealed important functions for macrophages in the peripheral nervous system, utilizing Slit3-Robo1 signaling to control correct peripheral nerve bridge formation and precise axon targeting to the distal nerve stump following injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Peng Dun
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon, UK; School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xian-Ning City, Hubei, China; The Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Jiangsu Province, China.
| | - Lauren Carr
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Patricia K Woodley
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | | | | | - Thomas Mindos
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Sheridan L Roberts
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Alison C Lloyd
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London, UK
| | - David B Parkinson
- Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon, UK
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19
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Abstract
Injury to the peripheral nervous system triggers a series of well-defined events within both neurons and the Schwann cells to allow efficient axonal regeneration, remyelination, and functional repair. The study of these events has previously been done using sections of nerve material to analyze axonal regrowth, cell migration, and immune cell infiltration following injury. This approach, however, has the obvious disadvantage that it is not possible to follow, for instance, the path of regenerating axons in three dimensions within the nerve trunk or the nerve bridge. In order to provide a fuller picture of such events, we have developed a whole mount staining procedure to visualize blood vessel regeneration, Schwann cell migration, axonal regrowth, and remyelination in models of nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Peng Dun
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, Devon, UK.
| | - David B Parkinson
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, Devon, UK
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20
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Abstract
Injury to the peripheral nervous system begins a well-characterized process within both neurons and Schwann cells to allow axonal regrowth, remyelination, and functional repair. Models of peripheral nerve injury have been widely used to study the behavior of Schwann cells, neurons, and other cell types such as macrophages as the events of Wallerian degeneration and regeneration take place. The most commonly used approaches in rodent models to model nerve injury in human patients are sciatic nerve transection and nerve crush, and both have well established time courses of demyelination, immune cell influx, axonal regrowth, and remyelination. We describe the techniques of sciatic nerve surgery for transection and crush injury, together with methods for the analysis of events within peripheral nerve repair in these two models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Peng Dun
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - David B Parkinson
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, Devon, UK.
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21
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Roberts SL, Dun XP, Doddrell RDS, Mindos T, Drake LK, Onaitis MW, Florio F, Quattrini A, Lloyd AC, D'Antonio M, Parkinson DB. Sox2 expression in Schwann cells inhibits myelination in vivo and induces influx of macrophages to the nerve. J Cell Sci 2017. [DOI: 10.1242/jcs.210351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
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Roberts SL, Dun XP, Doddrell RDS, Mindos T, Drake LK, Onaitis MW, Florio F, Quattrini A, Lloyd AC, D'Antonio M, Parkinson DB. Sox2 expression in Schwann cells inhibits myelination in vivo and induces influx of macrophages to the nerve. Development 2017; 144:3114-3125. [PMID: 28743796 PMCID: PMC5611958 DOI: 10.1242/dev.150656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Correct myelination is crucial for the function of the peripheral nervous system. Both positive and negative regulators within the axon and Schwann cell function to ensure the correct onset and progression of myelination during both development and following peripheral nerve injury and repair. The Sox2 transcription factor is well known for its roles in the development and maintenance of progenitor and stem cell populations, but has also been proposed in vitro as a negative regulator of myelination in Schwann cells. We wished to test fully whether Sox2 regulates myelination in vivo and show here that, in mice, sustained Sox2 expression in vivo blocks myelination in the peripheral nerves and maintains Schwann cells in a proliferative non-differentiated state, which is also associated with increased inflammation within the nerve. The plasticity of Schwann cells allows them to re-myelinate regenerated axons following injury and we show that re-myelination is also blocked by Sox2 expression in Schwann cells. These findings identify Sox2 as a physiological regulator of Schwann cell myelination in vivo and its potential to play a role in disorders of myelination in the peripheral nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheridan L Roberts
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, John Bull Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Xin-Peng Dun
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, John Bull Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Robin D S Doddrell
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, John Bull Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK
| | - Thomas Mindos
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, John Bull Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK
| | | | - Mark W Onaitis
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, University of California, San Diego, CA 92103, USA
| | - Francesca Florio
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, DIBIT, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Angelo Quattrini
- Division of Neuroscience, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, DIBIT, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - Alison C Lloyd
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Maurizio D'Antonio
- Division of Genetics and Cell Biology, San Raffaele Scientific Institute, DIBIT, 20132 Milan, Italy
| | - David B Parkinson
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, John Bull Building, Plymouth Science Park, Plymouth PL6 8BU, UK
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Carr L, Parkinson DB, Dun XP. Expression patterns of Slit and Robo family members in adult mouse spinal cord and peripheral nervous system. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172736. [PMID: 28234971 PMCID: PMC5325304 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172736] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 02/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The secreted glycoproteins, Slit1-3, are classic axon guidance molecules that act as repulsive cues through their well characterised receptors Robo1-2 to allow precise axon pathfinding and neuronal migration. The expression patterns of Slit1-3 and Robo1-2 have been most characterized in the rodent developing nervous system and the adult brain, but little is known about their expression patterns in the adult rodent peripheral nervous system. Here, we report a detailed expression analysis of Slit1-3 and Robo1-2 in the adult mouse sciatic nerve as well as their expression in the nerve cell bodies within the ventral spinal cord (motor neurons) and dorsal root ganglion (sensory neurons). Our results show that, in the adult mouse peripheral nervous system, Slit1-3 and Robo1-2 are expressed in the cell bodies and axons of both motor and sensory neurons. While Slit1 and Robo2 are only expressed in peripheral axons and their cell bodies, Slit2, Slit3 and Robo1 are also expressed in satellite cells of the dorsal root ganglion, Schwann cells and fibroblasts of peripheral nerves. In addition to these expression patterns, we also demonstrate the expression of Robo1 in blood vessels of the peripheral nerves. Our work gives important new data on the expression patterns of Slit and Robo family members within the peripheral nervous system that may relate both to nerve homeostasis and the reaction of the peripheral nerves to injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren Carr
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - David B. Parkinson
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
| | - Xin-peng Dun
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
- Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xian-Ning City, Hubei, China
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24
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Abstract
Netrin-1 was the first axon guidance molecule to be discovered in vertebrates and has a strong chemotropic function for axonal guidance, cell migration, morphogenesis and angiogenesis. It is a secreted axon guidance cue that can trigger attraction by binding to its canonical receptors Deleted in Colorectal Cancer (DCC) and Neogenin or repulsion through binding the DCC/Uncoordinated (Unc5) A–D receptor complex. The crystal structures of Netrin-1/receptor complexes have recently been revealed. These studies have provided a structure based explanation of Netrin-1 bi-functionality. Netrin-1 and its receptor are continuously expressed in the adult nervous system and are differentially regulated after nerve injury. In the adult spinal cord and optic nerve, Netrin-1 has been considered as an inhibitor that contributes to axon regeneration failure after injury. In the peripheral nervous system, Netrin-1 receptors are expressed in Schwann cells, the cell bodies of sensory neurons and the axons of both motor and sensory neurons. Netrin-1 is expressed in Schwann cells and its expression is up-regulated after peripheral nerve transection injury. Recent studies indicated that Netrin-1 plays a positive role in promoting peripheral nerve regeneration, Schwann cell proliferation and migration. Targeting of the Netrin-1 signaling pathway could develop novel therapeutic strategies to promote peripheral nerve regeneration and functional recovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin-Peng Dun
- Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon PL6 8BU, UK.
- School of Pharmacy, Hubei University of Science and Technology, Xianning 437100, China.
| | - David B Parkinson
- Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth University, Plymouth, Devon PL6 8BU, UK.
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Mindos T, Dun XP, North K, Doddrell RDS, Schulz A, Edwards P, Russell J, Gray B, Roberts SL, Shivane A, Mortimer G, Pirie M, Zhang N, Pan D, Morrison H, Parkinson DB. Merlin controls the repair capacity of Schwann cells after injury by regulating Hippo/YAP activity. J Cell Biol 2017; 216:495-510. [PMID: 28137778 PMCID: PMC5294779 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201606052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2016] [Revised: 10/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/27/2016] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The regenerative capacity of Schwann cells in the PNS underlies functional repair after injury. In this study, Mindos et al. show a new function for the tumor suppressor Merlin and Hippo/YAP signaling in the generation of repair-competent Schwann cells after injury. Loss of the Merlin tumor suppressor and activation of the Hippo signaling pathway play major roles in the control of cell proliferation and tumorigenesis. We have identified completely novel roles for Merlin and the Hippo pathway effector Yes-associated protein (YAP) in the control of Schwann cell (SC) plasticity and peripheral nerve repair after injury. Injury to the peripheral nervous system (PNS) causes a dramatic shift in SC molecular phenotype and the generation of repair-competent SCs, which direct functional repair. We find that loss of Merlin in these cells causes a catastrophic failure of axonal regeneration and remyelination in the PNS. This effect is mediated by activation of YAP expression in Merlin-null SCs, and loss of YAP restores axonal regrowth and functional repair. This work identifies new mechanisms that control the regenerative potential of SCs and gives new insight into understanding the correct control of functional nerve repair in the PNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Mindos
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth PL6 8BU, England, UK
| | - Xin-Peng Dun
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth PL6 8BU, England, UK
| | - Katherine North
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth PL6 8BU, England, UK.,University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, England, UK
| | - Robin D S Doddrell
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth PL6 8BU, England, UK
| | - Alexander Schulz
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute Jena, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - Philip Edwards
- Department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH, England, UK
| | - James Russell
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth PL6 8BU, England, UK
| | - Bethany Gray
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth PL6 8BU, England, UK.,University of Bath, Bath BA2 7AY, England, UK
| | - Sheridan L Roberts
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth PL6 8BU, England, UK
| | - Aditya Shivane
- Department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth PL6 8DH, England, UK
| | - Georgina Mortimer
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth PL6 8BU, England, UK
| | - Melissa Pirie
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth PL6 8BU, England, UK
| | - Nailing Zhang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Duojia Pan
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD 21205
| | - Helen Morrison
- Leibniz Institute for Age Research - Fritz Lipmann Institute Jena, D-07745 Jena, Germany
| | - David B Parkinson
- Plymouth University Peninsula Schools of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth PL6 8BU, England, UK
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26
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Roberts SL, Dun XP, Dee G, Gray B, Mindos T, Parkinson DB. The role of p38alpha in Schwann cells in regulating peripheral nerve myelination and repair. J Neurochem 2017; 141:37-47. [PMID: 27973735 DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13929] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2016] [Revised: 11/22/2016] [Accepted: 11/29/2016] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Myelination in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) is controlled by both positive and negative regulators within Schwann cells to ensure timely onset and correct myelin thickness for saltatory conduction by neurons. Transcription factors such as Sox10, octamer-binding transcription factor 6 (Oct6) and Krox20 form a positive regulatory network, whereas negative regulators such as cJun and Sox2 oppose myelination in Schwann cells. The role of the p38 MAPK pathway has been studied in PNS myelination, but its precise function remains unclear, with both positive and negative effects of p38 activity reported upon both myelination and processes of nerve repair. To clarify the role of p38 MAPK in the PNS, we have analysed mice with a Schwann cell-specific ablation of the major p38 isoform, p38alpha. In line with previous findings of an inhibitory role for p38 MAPK, we observe acceleration of post-natal myelination in p38alpha null nerves, a delay in myelin down-regulation following injury, together with a small increase in levels of re-myelination following injury. Finally we explored roles for p38alpha in controlling axonal regeneration and functional repair following PNS injury and observe that loss of p38alpha function in Schwann cells does not appear to affect these processes as previously reported. These studies therefore provide further proof for a role of p38 MAPK signalling in the control of myelination by Schwann cells in the PNS, but do not show an apparent role for signalling by this MAP kinase in Schwann cells controlling other elements of Wallerian degeneration and functional repair following injury. Cover Image for this issue: doi: 10.1111/jnc.13793.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sheridan L Roberts
- Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Xin-Peng Dun
- Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Gemma Dee
- Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Bethany Gray
- Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - Thomas Mindos
- Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, UK
| | - David B Parkinson
- Plymouth University Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, Derriford, Plymouth, Devon, UK
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27
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Schulz A, Büttner R, Hagel C, Baader SL, Kluwe L, Salamon J, Mautner VF, Mindos T, Parkinson DB, Gehlhausen JR, Clapp DW, Morrison H. The importance of nerve microenvironment for schwannoma development. Acta Neuropathol 2016; 132:289-307. [PMID: 27236462 PMCID: PMC4947119 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-016-1583-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2015] [Revised: 05/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/21/2016] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Schwannomas are predominantly benign nerve sheath neoplasms caused by Nf2 gene inactivation. Presently, treatment options are mainly limited to surgical tumor resection due to the lack of effective pharmacological drugs. Although the mechanistic understanding of Nf2 gene function has advanced, it has so far been primarily restricted to Schwann cell-intrinsic events. Extracellular cues determining Schwann cell behavior with regard to schwannoma development remain unknown. Here we show pro-tumourigenic microenvironmental effects on Schwann cells where an altered axonal microenvironment in cooperation with injury signals contribute to a persistent regenerative Schwann cell response promoting schwannoma development. Specifically in genetically engineered mice following crush injuries on sciatic nerves, we found macroscopic nerve swellings in mice with homozygous nf2 gene deletion in Schwann cells and in animals with heterozygous nf2 knockout in both Schwann cells and axons. However, patient-mimicking schwannomas could only be provoked in animals with combined heterozygous nf2 knockout in Schwann cells and axons. We identified a severe re-myelination defect and sustained macrophage presence in the tumor tissue as major abnormalities. Strikingly, treatment of tumor-developing mice after nerve crush injury with medium-dose aspirin significantly decreased schwannoma progression in this disease model. Our results suggest a multifactorial concept for schwannoma formation—emphasizing axonal factors and mechanical nerve irritation as predilection site for schwannoma development. Furthermore, we provide evidence supporting the potential efficacy of anti-inflammatory drugs in the treatment of schwannomas.
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28
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Plotkin SR, Albers AC, Babovic-Vuksanovic D, Blakeley JO, Breakefield XO, Dunn CM, Evans DG, Fisher MJ, Friedman JM, Giovannini M, Gutmann DH, Kalamarides M, McClatchey AI, Messiaen L, Morrison H, Parkinson DB, Stemmer-Rachamimov AO, Van Raamsdonk CD, Riccardi VM, Rosser T, Schindeler A, Smith MJ, Stevenson DA, Ullrich NJ, van der Vaart T, Weiss B, Widemann BC, Zhu Y, Bakker AC, Lloyd AC. Update from the 2013 International Neurofibromatosis Conference. Am J Med Genet A 2014; 164A:2969-78. [PMID: 25255738 PMCID: PMC4236251 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.36754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2014] [Accepted: 08/14/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Scott R. Plotkin
- Department of Neurology and Cancer Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Anne C. Albers
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | | | | | - Xandra O. Breakefield
- Neuroscience Center, Center for Molecular Imaging and Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Courtney M. Dunn
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | - D. Gareth Evans
- Center for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, UK
| | - Michael J. Fisher
- Division of Oncology, Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jan M. Friedman
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
| | - Marco Giovannini
- Center for Neural Tumor Research, House Research Institute, Los Angeles, CA
| | - David H. Gutmann
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO
| | | | - Andrea I. McClatchey
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital/Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Ludwine Messiaen
- Department of Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL
| | | | - David B. Parkinson
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Plymouth, Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, UK
| | | | | | | | - Tena Rosser
- Department of Neurology, Children's Hospital, Los Angeles, University of Southern California
| | - Aaron Schindeler
- Kids' Research Institute, The Children's Hospital at Westmead, University of Sydney, Westmead, Australia
| | - Miriam J. Smith
- Center for Genomic Medicine, St Mary's Hospital, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, University of Manchester, UK
| | - David A. Stevenson
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT
| | - Nicole J. Ullrich
- Departments of Neurology and Pediatric Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | | | - Brian Weiss
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | | | - Yuan Zhu
- Gilbert Neurofibromatosis Institute, Children's National Medical Center, Washington, DC
| | | | - Alison C. Lloyd
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology, University College London, UK
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29
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Abstract
Repair in the peripheral nervous system (PNS) depends upon the plasticity of the myelinating cells, Schwann cells, and their ability to dedifferentiate, direct axonal regrowth, remyelinate, and allow functional recovery. The ability of such an exquisitely specialized myelinating cell to revert to an immature dedifferentiated cell that can direct repair is remarkable, making Schwann cells one of the very few regenerative cell types in our bodies. However, the idea that the PNS always repairs after injury, in contrast to the central nervous system, is not true. Repair in patients after nerve trauma can be incredibly variable, depending on the site and type of injury, and only a relatively small number of axons may fully regrow and reinnervate their targets. Recent research has shown that it is an active process that drives Schwann cells back to an immature state after injury and that this requires activity of the p38 and extracellular-regulated kinase 1/2 mitogen-activated protein kinases, as well as the transcription factor cJun. Analysis of the events after peripheral nerve transection has shown how signaling from nerve fibroblasts forms Schwann cells into cords in the newly generated nerve bridge, via Sox2 induction, to allow the regenerating axons to cross the gap. Understanding these pathways and identifying additional mechanisms involved in these processes raises the possibility of both boosting repair after PNS trauma and even, possibly, blocking the inappropriate demyelination seen in some disorders of the peripheral nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haesun A Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, Rutgers University, Newark, NJ, USA
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30
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Doddrell RDS, Dun XP, Shivane A, Feltri ML, Wrabetz L, Wegner M, Sock E, Hanemann CO, Parkinson DB. Loss of SOX10 function contributes to the phenotype of human Merlin-null schwannoma cells. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 136:549-63. [PMID: 23413263 PMCID: PMC3572932 DOI: 10.1093/brain/aws353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/14/2022]
Abstract
Loss of the Merlin tumour suppressor causes abnormal de-differentiation and proliferation of Schwann cells and formation of schwannoma tumours in patients with neurofibromatosis type 2. Within the mature peripheral nerve the normal development, differentiation and maintenance of myelinating and non-myelinating Schwann cells is regulated by a network of transcription factors that include SOX10, OCT6 (now known as POU3F1), NFATC4 and KROX20 (also known as Egr2). We have examined for the first time how their regulation of Schwann cell development is disrupted in primary human schwannoma cells. We find that induction of both KROX20 and OCT6 is impaired, whereas enforced expression of KROX20 drives both myelin gene expression and cell cycle arrest in Merlin-null cells. Importantly, we show that human schwannoma cells have reduced expression of SOX10 protein and messenger RNA. Analysis of mouse SOX10-null Schwann cells shows they display many of the characteristics of human schwannoma cells, including increased expression of platelet derived growth factor receptor beta (PDGFRB) messenger RNA and protein, enhanced proliferation, increased focal adhesions and schwannoma-like morphology. Correspondingly, reintroduction of SOX10 into human Merlin-null cells restores the ability of these cells to induce KROX20 and myelin protein zero (MPZ), localizes NFATC4 to the nucleus, reduces cell proliferation and suppresses PDGFRB expression. Thus, we propose that loss of the SOX10 protein, which is vital for normal Schwann cell development, is also key to the pathology of Merlin-null schwannoma tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin D S Doddrell
- Peninsula School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Plymouth, Devon, PL6 8BU, UK
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31
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Shivane A, Parkinson DB, Ammoun S, Hanemann CO. Expression of c-Jun and Sox-2 in human schwannomas and traumatic neuromas. Histopathology 2013; 62:651-6. [PMID: 23362975 DOI: 10.1111/his.12062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2012] [Accepted: 11/04/2012] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
AIMS Schwann cells myelinate axons of the peripheral nervous system. This process of myelination is regulated by various transcription factors. c-Jun and Sox-2 are negative regulators of myelination and control Schwann cell differentiation and plasticity. Schwannoma cells within tumours no longer express myelin markers, and show increased proliferation and decreased apoptosis. We have shown previously that several signalling pathways are activated in schwannoma cells in situ, in particular the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) pathway. Both in vitro and in vivo we have demonstrated that c-Jun and Sox-2 are co-regulated in Schwann cells and evidence shows that both these proteins regulate myelination negatively. In this study, we aimed to characterize the expression of c-Jun and Sox-2 in schwannoma and traumatic neuroma. METHODS AND RESULTS Immunohistochemistry using antibodies to c-Jun and Sox-2 was applied to six schwannomas, and the results were compared with those seen in traumatic neuroma and normal nerve. Increased expression of c-Jun and Sox-2 was seen in schwannoma. CONCLUSIONS We have demonstrated increased expression of c-Jun and Sox-2 in schwannoma compared to traumatic neuroma. There was no expression of c-Jun and Sox-2 in a histologically normal peripheral nerve.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditya Shivane
- Department of Cellular and Anatomical Pathology, Derriford Hospital, Plymouth, UK.
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32
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Doddrell RDS, Dun XP, Moate RM, Jessen KR, Mirsky R, Parkinson DB. Regulation of Schwann cell differentiation and proliferation by the Pax-3 transcription factor. Glia 2012; 60:1269-78. [PMID: 22532290 DOI: 10.1002/glia.22346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2011] [Accepted: 03/30/2012] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pax-3 is a paired domain transcription factor that plays many roles during vertebrate development. In the Schwann cell lineage, Pax-3 is expressed at an early stage in Schwann cells precursors of the embryonic nerve, is maintained in the nonmyelinating cells of the adult nerve, and is upregulated in Schwann cells after peripheral nerve injury. Consistent with this expression pattern, Pax-3 has previously been shown to play a role in repressing the expression of the myelin basic protein gene in Schwann cells. We have studied the role of Pax-3 in Schwann cells and have found that it controls not only the regulation of cell differentiation but also the survival and proliferation of Schwann cells. Pax-3 expression blocks both the induction of Oct-6 and Krox-20 (K20) by cyclic AMP and completely inhibits the ability of K20, the physiological regulator of myelination in the peripheral nervous system, to induce myelin gene expression in Schwann cells. In contrast to other inhibitors of myelination, we find that Pax-3 represses myelin gene expression in a c-Jun-independent manner. In addition to this, we find that Pax-3 expression alone is sufficient to inhibit the induction of apoptosis by TGFβ1 in Schwann cells. Expression of Pax-3 is also sufficient to induce the proliferation of Schwann cells in the absence of added growth factors and to reverse K20-induced exit from the cell cycle. These findings indicate new roles for the Pax-3 transcription factor in controlling the differentiation and proliferation of Schwann cells during development and after peripheral nerve injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robin D S Doddrell
- Peninsula College of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Exeter, Plymouth, Devon, United Kingdom
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33
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Arthur-Farraj P, Wanek K, Hantke J, Davis CM, Jayakar A, Parkinson DB, Mirsky R, Jessen KR. Mouse schwann cells need both NRG1 and cyclic AMP to myelinate. Glia 2011; 59:720-33. [PMID: 21322058 DOI: 10.1002/glia.21144] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2010] [Accepted: 12/20/2010] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Genetically modified mice have been a major source of information about the molecular control of Schwann-cell myelin formation, and the role of β-neuregulin 1 (NRG1) in this process in vivo. In vitro, on the other hand, Schwann cells from rats have been used in most analyses of the signaling pathways involved in myelination. To correlate more effectively in vivo and in vitro data, we used purified cultures of mouse Schwann cells in addition to rat Schwann cells to examine two important myelin-related signals, cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP), and NRG1 and to determine whether they interact to control myelin differentiation. We find that in mouse Schwann cells, neither cAMP nor NRG1, when used separately, induced markers of myelin differentiation. When combined, however, they induced strong protein expression of the myelin markers, Krox-20 and P(0) . Importantly, the level of cAMP signaling was crucial in switching NRG1 from a proliferative signal to a myelin differentiation signal. Also in cultured rat Schwann cells, NRG1 promoted cAMP-induced Krox-20 and P(0) expression. Finally, we found that cAMP/NRG1-induced Schwann-cell differentiation required the activity of the cAMP response element binding family of transcription factors in both mouse and rat cells. These observations reconcile observations in vivo and on neuron-Schwann-cell cultures with studies on purified Schwann cells. They demonstrate unambiguously the promyelin effects of NRG1 in purified cells, and they show that the cAMP pathway determines whether NRG1 drives proliferation or induces myelin differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Arthur-Farraj
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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34
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Parrinello S, Napoli I, Ribeiro S, Wingfield Digby P, Fedorova M, Parkinson DB, Doddrell RDS, Nakayama M, Adams RH, Lloyd AC. EphB signaling directs peripheral nerve regeneration through Sox2-dependent Schwann cell sorting. Cell 2010; 143:145-55. [PMID: 20869108 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2010.08.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 364] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2010] [Revised: 07/15/2010] [Accepted: 08/09/2010] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
The peripheral nervous system has astonishing regenerative capabilities in that cut nerves are able to reconnect and re-establish their function. Schwann cells are important players in this process, during which they dedifferentiate to a progenitor/stem cell and promote axonal regrowth. Here, we report that fibroblasts also play a key role. Upon nerve cut, ephrin-B/EphB2 signaling between fibroblasts and Schwann cells results in cell sorting, followed by directional collective cell migration of Schwann cells out of the nerve stumps to guide regrowing axons across the wound. Mechanistically, we find that cell-sorting downstream of EphB2 is mediated by the stemness factor Sox2 through N-cadherin relocalization to Schwann cell-cell contacts. In vivo, loss of EphB2 signaling impaired organized migration of Schwann cells, resulting in misdirected axonal regrowth. Our results identify a link between Ephs and Sox proteins, providing a mechanism by which progenitor cells can translate environmental cues to orchestrate the formation of new tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Parrinello
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and the UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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Whiteman M, Li L, Rose P, Tan CH, Parkinson DB, Moore PK. The effect of hydrogen sulfide donors on lipopolysaccharide-induced formation of inflammatory mediators in macrophages. Antioxid Redox Signal 2010; 12:1147-54. [PMID: 19769459 PMCID: PMC2875982 DOI: 10.1089/ars.2009.2899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 277] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The role of hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) in inflammation is controversial, with both pro- and antiinflammatory effects documented. Many studies have used simple sulfide salts as the source of H(2)S, which give a rapid bolus of H(2)S in aqueous solutions and thus do not accurately reflect the enzymatic generation of H(2)S. We therefore compared the effects of sodium hydrosulfide and a novel slow-releasing H(2)S donor (GYY4137) on the release of pro- and antiinflammatory mediators in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-treated murine RAW264.7 macrophages. For the first time, we show that GYY4137 significantly and concentration-dependently inhibits LPS-induced release of proinflammatory mediators such as IL-1beta, IL-6, TNF-alpha, nitric oxide (*NO), and PGE(2) but increased the synthesis of the antiinflammatory chemokine IL-10 through NF-kappaB/ATF-2/HSP-27-dependent pathways. In contrast, NaHS elicited a biphasic effect on proinflammatory mediators and, at high concentrations, increased the synthesis of IL-1beta, IL-6, NO, PGE(2) and TNF-alpha. This study clearly shows that the effects of H(2)S on the inflammatory process are complex and dependent not only on H(2)S concentration but also on the rate of H(2)S generation. This study may also explain some of the apparent discrepancies in the literature regarding the pro- versus antiinflammatory role of H(2)S.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Whiteman
- Peninsula Medical School, University of Exeter, St. Luke's Campus, Exeter, Devon, England
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Mirsky R, Woodhoo A, Parkinson DB, Arthur-Farraj P, Bhaskaran A, Jessen KR. Novel signals controlling embryonic Schwann cell development, myelination and dedifferentiation. J Peripher Nerv Syst 2008; 13:122-35. [PMID: 18601657 DOI: 10.1111/j.1529-8027.2008.00168.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 147] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Immature Schwann cells found in perinatal rodent nerves are generated from Schwann cell precursors (SCPs) that originate from the neural crest. Immature Schwann cells generate the myelinating and non-myelinating Schwann cells of adult nerves. When axons degenerate following injury, Schwann cells demyelinate, proliferate and dedifferentiate to assume a molecular phenotype similar to that of immature cells, a process essential for successful nerve regeneration. Increasing evidence indicates that Schwann cell dedifferentiation involves activation of specific receptors, intracellular signalling pathways and transcription factors in a manner analogous to myelination. We have investigated the roles of Notch and the transcription factor c-Jun in development and after nerve transection. In vivo, Notch signalling regulates the transition from SCP to Schwann cell, times Schwann cell generation, controls Schwann cell proliferation and acts as a brake on myelination. Notch is elevated in injured nerves where it accelerates the rate of dedifferentiation. Likewise, the transcription factor c-Jun is required for Schwann cell proliferation and death and is down-regulated by Krox-20 on myelination. Forced expression of c-Jun in Schwann cells prevents myelination, and in injured nerves, c-Jun is required for appropriate dedifferentiation, the re-emergence of the immature Schwann cell state and nerve regeneration. Thus, both Notch and c-Jun are negative regulators of myelination. The growing realisation that myelination is subject to negative as well as positive controls and progress in molecular identification of negative regulators is likely to impact on our understanding of demyelinating disease and mechanisms that control nerve repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rhona Mirsky
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London, London, UK.
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Flaiz C, Utermark T, Parkinson DB, Poetsch A, Hanemann CO. Impaired intercellular adhesion and immature adherens junctions in merlin-deficient human primary schwannoma cells. Glia 2008; 56:506-15. [PMID: 18240308 DOI: 10.1002/glia.20629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Schwannomas that occur spontaneously or in patients with neurofibromatosis Type 2, lack both alleles for the tumor suppressor and plasma membrane-cytoskeleton linker merlin. We have shown that human primary schwannoma cells display activation of the RhoGTPases Rac1 and Cdc42 which results in highly dynamic and ongoing protrusive activity like ruffling. Ruffling is an initial and temporally limited step in the formation of intercellular contacts like adherens junctions that are based on the cadherin-catenin system. We tested if there is a connection between Rac1-induced ongoing ruffling and the maintenance, stabilization and functionality of adherens junctions and if this is of relevance in human, merlin-deficient schwannoma cells. We show intense ongoing ruffling is not limited to membranes of single human primary schwannoma cells, but occurs also in membranes of contacting cells, even when confluent. Live cell imaging shows that newly formed contacts are released after a short time, suggesting disturbed formation or stabilization of adherens junctions. Morphology, high phospho-tyrosine levels and cortactin staining indicate that adherens junctions are immature in human primary schwannoma cells, whereas they display characteristics of mature adherens junctions in human primary Schwann cells. When merlin is reintroduced, human primary schwannoma cells show only initial ruffling in contacting cells and adherens junctions appear more mature. We therefore propose that ongoing Rac-induced ruffling causes immature adherens junctions and leads to impaired, nonfunctional intercellular adhesion in aggregation assays in merlin-deficient schwannoma cells that could be an explanation for increased proliferation rates due to loss of contact inhibition or tumor development in general.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Flaiz
- Department of Clinical Neurobiology, Institute of Biomedical and Clinical Science, Peninsula College for Medicine and Dentistry, Plymouth, UK
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Parkinson DB, Bhaskaran A, Arthur-Farraj P, Noon LA, Woodhoo A, Lloyd AC, Feltri ML, Wrabetz L, Behrens A, Mirsky R, Jessen KR. c-Jun is a negative regulator of myelination. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2008; 181:625-37. [PMID: 18490512 PMCID: PMC2386103 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200803013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 293] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Schwann cell myelination depends on Krox-20/Egr2 and other promyelin transcription factors that are activated by axonal signals and control the generation of myelin-forming cells. Myelin-forming cells remain remarkably plastic and can revert to the immature phenotype, a process which is seen in injured nerves and demyelinating neuropathies. We report that c-Jun is an important regulator of this plasticity. At physiological levels, c-Jun inhibits myelin gene activation by Krox-20 or cyclic adenosine monophosphate. c-Jun also drives myelinating cells back to the immature state in transected nerves in vivo. Enforced c-Jun expression inhibits myelination in cocultures. Furthermore, c-Jun and Krox-20 show a cross-antagonistic functional relationship. c-Jun therefore negatively regulates the myelinating Schwann cell phenotype, representing a signal that functionally stands in opposition to the promyelin transcription factors. Negative regulation of myelination is likely to have significant implications for three areas of Schwann cell biology: the molecular analysis of plasticity, demyelinating pathologies, and the response of peripheral nerves to injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Parkinson
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, England, UK
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Arthur-Farraj P, Mirsky R, Parkinson DB, Jessen KR. A double point mutation in the DNA-binding region of Egr2 switches its function from inhibition to induction of proliferation: A potential contribution to the development of congenital hypomyelinating neuropathy. Neurobiol Dis 2006; 24:159-69. [PMID: 16872830 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2006.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2006] [Revised: 05/16/2006] [Accepted: 06/05/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the DNA-binding domain of EGR2 are associated with severe autosomal dominant forms of peripheral neuropathy. In this study, we show that one such Egr2 mutant (S382R, D383Y), when expressed in Schwann cells in vitro, is not transcriptionally inactive but retains residual wild-type Egr2 functions, including inhibition of transforming growth factor-beta-induced Schwann cell death and an ability to induce the cytoskeletal protein periaxin. More importantly, this mutant Egr2 has aberrant effects in Schwann cells, enhancing DNA synthesis both in the presence and absence of the putative axonal mitogen, beta-neuregulin 1. This is in stark contrast to wild-type Egr2, which causes withdrawal from the cell cycle. Furthermore, mutant Egr2 upregulates cyclin D1 and reduces levels of the cell cycle inhibitor, p27. These observations add significant new evidence to explain how this mutation leads to congenital hypomyelinating neuropathy in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Arthur-Farraj
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
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Parkinson DB, Bhaskaran A, Droggiti A, Dickinson S, D'Antonio M, Mirsky R, Jessen KR. Krox-20 inhibits Jun-NH2-terminal kinase/c-Jun to control Schwann cell proliferation and death. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2004; 164:385-94. [PMID: 14757751 PMCID: PMC2172235 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.200307132] [Citation(s) in RCA: 181] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor Krox-20 controls Schwann cell myelination. Schwann cells in Krox-20 null mice fail to myelinate, and unlike myelinating Schwann cells, continue to proliferate and are susceptible to death. We find that enforced Krox-20 expression in Schwann cells cell-autonomously inactivates the proliferative response of Schwann cells to the major axonal mitogen β–neuregulin-1 and the death response to TGFβ or serum deprivation. Even in 3T3 fibroblasts, Krox-20 not only blocks proliferation and death but also activates the myelin genes periaxin and protein zero, showing properties in common with master regulatory genes in other cell types. Significantly, a major function of Krox-20 is to suppress the c-Jun NH2-terminal protein kinase (JNK)–c-Jun pathway, activation of which is required for both proliferation and death. Thus, Krox-20 can coordinately control suppression of mitogenic and death responses. Krox-20 also up-regulates the scaffold protein JNK-interacting protein 1 (JIP-1). We propose this as a possible component of the mechanism by which Krox-20 regulates JNK activity during Schwann cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Parkinson
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, London, WC1E 6BT UK.
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Harrisingh MC, Perez-Nadales E, Parkinson DB, Malcolm DS, Mudge AW, Lloyd AC. The Ras/Raf/ERK signalling pathway drives Schwann cell dedifferentiation. EMBO J 2004; 23:3061-71. [PMID: 15241478 PMCID: PMC514926 DOI: 10.1038/sj.emboj.7600309] [Citation(s) in RCA: 250] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2004] [Accepted: 06/14/2004] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Schwann cells are a regenerative cell type. Following nerve injury, a differentiated myelinating Schwann cell can dedifferentiate and regain the potential to proliferate. These cells then redifferentiate during the repair process. This behaviour is important for successful axonal repair, but the signalling pathways mediating the switch between the two differentiation states remain unclear. Sustained activation of the Ras/Raf/ERK cascade in primary cells results in a cell cycle arrest and has been implicated in the differentiation of certain cell types, in many cases acting to promote differentiation. We therefore investigated its effects on the differentiation state of Schwann cells. Surprisingly, we found that Ras/Raf/ERK signalling drives the dedifferentiation of Schwann cells even in the presence of normal axonal signalling. Furthermore, nerve wounding in vivo results in sustained ERK signalling in associated Schwann cells. Elevated Ras signalling is thought to be important in the development of Schwann cell-derived tumours in neurofibromatosis type 1 patients. Our results suggest that the effects of Ras signalling on the differentiation state of Schwann cells may be important in the pathogenesis of these tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie C Harrisingh
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Biochemistry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Elena Perez-Nadales
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Biochemistry, University College London, London, UK
| | | | - Denise S Malcolm
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Biochemistry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Anne W Mudge
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Biochemistry, University College London, London, UK
| | - Alison C Lloyd
- MRC Laboratory for Molecular Cell Biology and Department of Biochemistry, University College London, London, UK
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Parkinson DB, Dickinson S, Bhaskaran A, Kinsella MT, Brophy PJ, Sherman DL, Sharghi-Namini S, Duran Alonso MB, Mirsky R, Jessen KR. Regulation of the myelin gene periaxin provides evidence for Krox-20-independent myelin-related signalling in Schwann cells. Mol Cell Neurosci 2003; 23:13-27. [PMID: 12799134 DOI: 10.1016/s1044-7431(03)00024-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
We investigated the role of Krox-20 (Egr2), a transcription factor that regulates myelination, in controlling the myelin-associated protein periaxin. In developing Schwann cells, periaxin immunoreactivity appeared at least 2 days before Krox-20-immunopositive nuclei. Consistent with this, in Krox-20 null mice periaxin was upregulated on schedule, albeit to a lower level. In culture Krox-20 and periaxin were upregulated by cAMP as expected for myelin genes. Only those cells with the highest periaxin levels also expressed Krox-20, while other periaxin-positive cells remained Krox-20-negative. Furthermore, cAMP elevated periaxin even in Krox-20 null cells. We also found that in culture enforced Krox-20 expression induced expression of periaxin mRNA and protein in the absence of cAMP elevating agents, and that this induction was inhibited by the co-repressor NAB2. These findings reveal a dual mechanism for periaxin regulation and suggest that the role of Krox-20 is to amplify an earlier Krox-20-independent activation of the periaxin gene. Thus the axonal signals responsible for myelination are only partially transduced in Schwann cells by mechanisms that depend on Krox-20.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Parkinson
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, UK
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43
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Parkinson DB, Langner K, Namini SS, Jessen KR, Mirsky R. beta-Neuregulin and autocrine mediated survival of Schwann cells requires activity of Ets family transcription factors. Mol Cell Neurosci 2002; 20:154-67. [PMID: 12056846 DOI: 10.1006/mcne.2002.1109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the Ets transcription factor family function in many biological processes. We show the presence of Ets transcription factors, most prominently Net, in neonatal rat Schwann cells, and demonstrate Ets-dependent transcription under conditions where the cells are exposed to autocrine signals or autocrine signals plus beta-neuregulin. Using the potent MAPK kinase inhibitor U0126 we also confirm that the MAP kinase pathway, an activator of Ets transcription, is involved in beta-neuregulin mediated Schwann cell survival. Furthermore, we find that expression of dominant negative Ets1 (N70-Ets1) inhibits both the beta-neuregulin and autocrine survival of Schwann cells. In contrast, the survival of Schwann cells mediated by lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is unaffected by expression of a dominant negative Ets molecule. These data demonstrate that distinct autocrine and beta-neuregulin survival signals converge in their requirement for Ets dependent transcription in Schwann cell survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- David B Parkinson
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, United Kingdom
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Parkinson DB, Dong Z, Bunting H, Whitfield J, Meier C, Marie H, Mirsky R, Jessen KR. Transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta) mediates Schwann cell death in vitro and in vivo: examination of c-Jun activation, interactions with survival signals, and the relationship of TGFbeta-mediated death to Schwann cell differentiation. J Neurosci 2001; 21:8572-85. [PMID: 11606645 PMCID: PMC6762809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/21/2023] Open
Abstract
In some situations, cell death in the nervous system is controlled by an interplay between survival factors and negative survival signals that actively induce apoptosis. The present work indicates that the survival of Schwann cells is regulated by such a dual mechanism involving the negative survival signal transforming growth factor beta (TGFbeta), a family of growth factors that is present in the Schwann cells themselves. We analyze the interactions between this putative autocrine death signal and previously defined paracrine and autocrine survival signals and show that expression of a dominant negative c-Jun inhibits TGFbeta-induced apoptosis. This and other findings pinpoint activation of c-Jun as a key downstream event in TGFbeta-induced Schwann cell death. The ability of TGFbeta to kill Schwann cells, like normal Schwann cell death in vivo, is under a strong developmental regulation, and we show that the decreasing ability of TGFbeta to kill older cells is attributable to a decreasing ability of TGFbeta to phosphorylate c-Jun in more differentiated cells.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Animals, Newborn
- Antibodies, Blocking/pharmacology
- Apoptosis/drug effects
- Apoptosis/physiology
- Autocrine Communication/physiology
- Axotomy
- Cell Count
- Cell Differentiation/drug effects
- Cell Differentiation/physiology
- Cell Survival/drug effects
- Cell Survival/physiology
- Cells, Cultured
- Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- JNK Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases
- Laminin/pharmacology
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases/metabolism
- Neuregulin-1/metabolism
- Peptides/pharmacology
- Phosphorylation/drug effects
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Rats
- Rats, Sprague-Dawley
- Receptors, Growth Factor/genetics
- Receptors, Growth Factor/metabolism
- Schwann Cells/cytology
- Schwann Cells/drug effects
- Schwann Cells/metabolism
- Sciatic Nerve/drug effects
- Sciatic Nerve/physiology
- Signal Transduction/drug effects
- Signal Transduction/physiology
- Transcription, Genetic/drug effects
- Transfection
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/genetics
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism
- Transforming Growth Factor beta/pharmacology
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Parkinson
- Department of Anatomy, University College London, London WC1E 6BT, United Kingdom
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Mirsky R, Parkinson DB, Dong Z, Meier C, Calle E, Brennan A, Topilko P, Harris BS, Stewart HJ, Jessen KR. Regulation of genes involved in Schwann cell development and differentiation. Prog Brain Res 2001; 132:3-11. [PMID: 11544997 DOI: 10.1016/s0079-6123(01)32060-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R Mirsky
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, University College London, Gower Street, WC1E 6BT London, UK.
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Parkinson DB, Shaw NJ, Himsworth RL, Thakker RV. Parathyroid hormone gene analysis in autosomal hypoparathyroidism using an intragenic tetranucleotide (AAAT)n polymorphism. Hum Genet 1993; 91:281-4. [PMID: 8478012 DOI: 10.1007/bf00218273] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
We have identified a polymorphic tetranucleotide consisting of (AAAT)n within the first intron of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene, and have used this to investigate the segregation of the PTH gene and idiopathic hypoparathyroidism in 7 affected and 21 unaffected members from three families. An association between the PTH locus and autosomal dominant idiopathic hypoparathyroidism in one family was excluded by observing recombination between the two loci. In the remaining two families with autosomal recessive idiopathic hypoparathyroidism, the PTH locus was not similarly excluded. We had previously demonstrated a donor splice site mutation of the PTH gene in one of these families, and PTH gene abnormalities were therefore sought in the second of these families. DNA sequence analysis of the three exons, together with 4 exon-intron boundaries and the promoter region of the PTH gene revealed no abnormalities, thereby indicating molecular pathology at another locus. Thus, our analysis of idiopathic hypoparathyroidism reveals genetic heterogeneity for this disorder. In addition, our identification of a microsatellite polymorphism of the PTH gene should help further segregation studies of this locus in families with parathyroid disorders.
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Bilous RW, Murty G, Parkinson DB, Thakker RV, Coulthard MG, Burn J, Mathias D, Kendall-Taylor P. Brief report: autosomal dominant familial hypoparathyroidism, sensorineural deafness, and renal dysplasia. N Engl J Med 1992; 327:1069-74. [PMID: 1522843 DOI: 10.1056/nejm199210083271506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- R W Bilous
- Department of Medicine, University of Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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48
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Abstract
Investigation of one kindred with autosomal recessive isolated hypoparathyroidism, which had resulted from a consanguineous marriage, has identified a g to c substitution in the first nucleotide of intron 2 of the parathyroid hormone (PTH) gene. This donor splice mutation could be detected by restriction enzyme cleavage with Ddel, and this revealed that the patients were homozygous for the mutant alleles, the unaffected relatives were heterozygous, and unrelated normals were homozygous for the wild type alleles. Defects in messenger RNA splicing were investigated by the detection of illegitimate transcription of the PTH gene in lymphoblastoid cells. The mutation resulted in exon skipping with a loss of exon 2, which encodes the initiation codon and the signal peptide, thereby causing parathyroid hormone deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- D B Parkinson
- Division of Molecular Medicine, MRC Clinical Research Centre, Harrow, Middlesex, UK
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49
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50
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Abstract
This paper describes a surgical training system for teaching and practicing the necessary skills to perform phacoemulsification, endocapsular phacoemulsification, and small incision intraocular lens insertion techniques. The surgical system includes head, bilateral globes, removable corneas, and replaceable synthetic cataracts of varying density. This synthetic system simulates ocular surgery more closely than previously used animal eyes and allows the surgeon to practice new techniques in laboratory courses and in the operating facility.
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Affiliation(s)
- W F Maloney
- Eye Surgery Associates, Vista, California 92083
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