1
|
Eachus H, Oberski L, Paveley J, Bacila I, Ashton JP, Esposito U, Seifuddin F, Pirooznia M, Elhaik E, Placzek M, Krone NP, Cunliffe VT. Glucocorticoid receptor regulates protein chaperone, circadian clock and affective disorder genes in the zebrafish brain. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050141. [PMID: 37525888 PMCID: PMC10565112 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050141] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Glucocorticoid resistance is commonly observed in depression, and has been linked to reduced expression and/or function of the glucocorticoid receptor (NR3C1 in human, hereafter referred to as GR). Previous studies have shown that GR-mutant zebrafish exhibit behavioural abnormalities that are indicative of an affective disorder, suggesting that GR plays a role in brain function. We compared the brain methylomes and brain transcriptomes of adult wild-type and GR-mutant zebrafish, and identified 249 differentially methylated regions (DMRs) that are regulated by GR. These include a cluster of CpG sites within the first intron of fkbp5, the gene encoding the glucocorticoid-inducible heat shock protein co-chaperone Fkbp5. RNA-sequencing analysis revealed that genes associated with chaperone-mediated protein folding, the regulation of circadian rhythm and the regulation of metabolism are particularly sensitive to loss of GR function. In addition, we identified subsets of genes exhibiting GR-regulated transcription that are known to regulate behaviour, and are linked to unipolar depression and anxiety. Taken together, our results identify key biological processes and novel molecular mechanisms through which the GR is likely to mediate responses to stress in the adult zebrafish brain, and they provide further support for the zebrafish GR mutant as a model for the study of affective disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eachus
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Lara Oberski
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Jack Paveley
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - Irina Bacila
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
| | - John-Paul Ashton
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Umberto Esposito
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Fayaz Seifuddin
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 12, 12 South Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Mehdi Pirooznia
- Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 12, 12 South Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Eran Elhaik
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Marysia Placzek
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Nils P. Krone
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, Medical School, University of Sheffield, Beech Hill Road, Sheffield S10 2RX, UK
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, 01307 Dresden, Germany
| | - Vincent T. Cunliffe
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Jubber I, Morhardt DR, Griffin J, Cumberbatch M, Glover M, Zheng Y, Rehman I, Loynes C, Hussain SA, Renshaw SA, Leach SD, Cunliffe VT, Catto JWF. Analysis of the distal urinary tract in larval and adult zebrafish reveals homology to the human system. Dis Model Mech 2023:316638. [PMID: 37293698 PMCID: PMC10387350 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050110] [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] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2023] [Indexed: 06/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known about the distal excretory component of the urinary tract in Danio rerio (zebrafish). This component is affected by many human diseases and disorders of development. Here, we undertook multi-level analyses to determine the structure and composition of the distal urinary tract in the zebrafish. In silico searches identified uroplakin 1a, 2-like and 3-like genes in the zebrafish genome (orthologues to genes that encode urothelium-specific proteins in humans). In situ hybridization demonstrated uroplakin-1a expression in the zebrafish pronephros and cloaca from 96 hours post-fertilisation. H&E sectioning of adult zebrafish demonstrated two mesonephric ducts uniting into a urinary bladder which leads to a distinct urethral opening. Immunohistochemistry identified Uroplakin 1a and 2 expression and Gata3 expression in zebrafish urinary bladder cell layers that match human urothelial expression. Fluorescent dye injections demonstrated zebrafish urinary bladder function, including urine storage, intermittent micturition, and a urethral orifice separate from the larger anal canal and rectum. Our findings reveal homology between the urinary tracts of zebrafish and humans and offer the former as a model system to study disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ibrahim Jubber
- Department of Oncology and Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Urology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Duncan R Morhardt
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Jonathan Griffin
- Department of Oncology and Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Histopathology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Healthy Lifespan and Neuroscience Institute, Department of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Marcus Cumberbatch
- Department of Oncology and Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Urology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Maggie Glover
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Yang Zheng
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Ishtiaq Rehman
- Department of Oncology and Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Catherine Loynes
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Syed A Hussain
- Department of Oncology and Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Medical Oncology, Weston Park Hospital, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| | - Stephen A Renshaw
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Steven D Leach
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology, Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth, Hanover, NH, USA
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- The Bateson Centre and Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- School of Biosciences, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - James W F Catto
- Department of Oncology and Human Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Urology, Sheffield Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Abstract
In this article we aim to provide an overview of the zebrafish interrenal development and function, as well as a review of its contribution to basic and translational research. A search of the PubMed database identified 41 relevant papers published over the last 20 years. Based on the common themes identified, we discuss the organogenesis of the interrenal gland and its functional development and we review what is known about the genes involved in zebrafish steroidogenesis. We also outline the consequences of specific defects in steroid biosynthesis, as revealed by evidence from genetically engineered zebrafish models, including cyp11a2, cyp21a2, hsd3b1, cyp11c1 and fdx1b deficiency. Finally, we summarise the impact of different chemicals and environmental factors on steroidogenesis. Our review highlights the utility of zebrafish as a research model for exploring important areas of basic science and human disease, especially in the current context of rapid technological progress in the field of Molecular Biology.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Irina Bacila
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; The Bateson Centre, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- The Bateson Centre, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom; Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Nils P Krone
- Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom; The Bateson Centre, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom; Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Oakes JA, Barnard L, Storbeck KH, Cunliffe VT, Krone NP. 11β-Hydroxylase loss disrupts steroidogenesis and reproductive function in zebrafish. J Endocrinol 2020; 247:197-212. [PMID: 32805708 DOI: 10.1530/joe-20-0160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 08/14/2020] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The roles of androgens in male reproductive development and function in zebrafish are poorly understood. To investigate this topic, we employed CRISPR/Cas9 to generate cyp11c1 (11β-hydroxylase) mutant zebrafish lines. Our study confirms recently published findings from a different cyp11c1-/- mutant zebrafish line, and also reports novel aspects of the phenotype caused by loss of Cyp11c1 function. We report that Cyp11c1-deficient zebrafish display predominantly female secondary sex characteristics, but may possess either ovaries or testes. Moreover, we observed that cyp11c1-/- mutant male zebrafish are profoundly androgen- and cortisol-deficient. These results provide further evidence that androgens are dispensable for testis formation in zebrafish, as has been demonstrated previously in androgen-deficient and androgen-resistant zebrafish. Herein, we show that the testes of cyp11c1-/- mutant zebrafish exhibit a disorganised tubular structure; and for the first time demonstrate that the spermatic ducts, which connect the testes to the urogenital orifice, are severely hypoplastic in androgen-deficient zebrafish. Furthermore, we show that spermatogenesis and characteristic breeding behaviours are impaired in cyp11c1-/- mutant zebrafish. Expression of nanos2, a type A spermatogonia marker, was significantly increased in the testes of Cyp11c1-deficient zebrafish, whereas expression of markers for later stages of spermatogenesis was significantly decreased. These observations indicate that in zebrafish, production of type A spermatogonia is androgen-independent, but differentiation of type A spermatogonia is an androgen-dependent process. Overall, our results demonstrate that whilst androgens are not required for testis formation, they play important roles in determining secondary sexual characteristics, proper organisation of seminiferous tubules, and differentiation of male germ cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James A Oakes
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Lise Barnard
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Karl-Heinz Storbeck
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Nils P Krone
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Jones A, Barker-Haliski M, Ilie AS, Herd MB, Baxendale S, Holdsworth CJ, Ashton JP, Placzek M, Jayasekera BAP, Cowie CJA, Lambert JJ, Trevelyan AJ, Steve White H, Marson AG, Cunliffe VT, Sills GJ, Morgan A. A multiorganism pipeline for antiseizure drug discovery: Identification of chlorothymol as a novel γ-aminobutyric acidergic anticonvulsant. Epilepsia 2020; 61:2106-2118. [PMID: 32797628 PMCID: PMC10756143 DOI: 10.1111/epi.16644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [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: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 07/21/2020] [Accepted: 07/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Current medicines are ineffective in approximately one-third of people with epilepsy. Therefore, new antiseizure drugs are urgently needed to address this problem of pharmacoresistance. However, traditional rodent seizure and epilepsy models are poorly suited to high-throughput compound screening. Furthermore, testing in a single species increases the chance that therapeutic compounds act on molecular targets that may not be conserved in humans. To address these issues, we developed a pipeline approach using four different organisms. METHODS We sequentially employed compound library screening in the zebrafish, Danio rerio, chemical genetics in the worm, Caenorhabditis elegans, electrophysiological analysis in mouse and human brain slices, and preclinical validation in mouse seizure models to identify novel antiseizure drugs and their molecular mechanism of action. RESULTS Initially, a library of 1690 compounds was screened in an acute pentylenetetrazol seizure model using D rerio. From this screen, the compound chlorothymol was identified as an effective anticonvulsant not only in fish, but also in worms. A subsequent genetic screen in C elegans revealed the molecular target of chlorothymol to be LGC-37, a worm γ-aminobutyric acid type A (GABAA ) receptor subunit. This GABAergic effect was confirmed using in vitro brain slice preparations from both mice and humans, as chlorothymol was shown to enhance tonic and phasic inhibition and this action was reversed by the GABAA receptor antagonist, bicuculline. Finally, chlorothymol exhibited in vivo anticonvulsant efficacy in several mouse seizure assays, including the 6-Hz 44-mA model of pharmacoresistant seizures. SIGNIFICANCE These findings establish a multiorganism approach that can identify compounds with evolutionarily conserved molecular targets and translational potential, and so may be useful in drug discovery for epilepsy and possibly other conditions.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alistair Jones
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Andrei S. Ilie
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, UK
| | - Murray B. Herd
- Neuroscience, Division of Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | - Sarah Baxendale
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | | | - John-Paul Ashton
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Marysia Placzek
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Bodiabaduge A. P. Jayasekera
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, UK
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, UK
| | - Christopher J. A. Cowie
- Institute of Neuroscience, University of Newcastle, Newcastle, UK
- Department of Neurosurgery, Royal Victoria Infirmary, Newcastle, UK
| | - Jeremy J. Lambert
- Neuroscience, Division of Systems Medicine, Ninewells Hospital and Medical School, University of Dundee, Dundee, UK
| | | | - H. Steve White
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Washington, Seattle
| | - Anthony G. Marson
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| | | | - Graeme J. Sills
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
- School of Life Sciences, University of Glasgow, Glasgow, UK
| | - Alan Morgan
- Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Marchi D, Santhakumar K, Markham E, Li N, Storbeck KH, Krone N, Cunliffe VT, van Eeden FJM. Bidirectional crosstalk between Hypoxia-Inducible Factor and glucocorticoid signalling in zebrafish larvae. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008757. [PMID: 32379754 PMCID: PMC7237044 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 04/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In the last decades in vitro studies highlighted the potential for crosstalk between Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-(HIF) and glucocorticoid-(GC) signalling pathways. However, how this interplay precisely occurs in vivo is still debated. Here, we use zebrafish larvae (Danio rerio) to elucidate how and to what degree hypoxic signalling affects the endogenous glucocorticoid pathway and vice versa, in vivo. Firstly, our results demonstrate that in the presence of upregulated HIF signalling, both glucocorticoid receptor (Gr) responsiveness and endogenous cortisol levels are repressed in 5 days post fertilisation larvae. In addition, despite HIF activity being low at normoxia, our data show that it already impedes both glucocorticoid activity and levels. Secondly, we further analysed the in vivo contribution of glucocorticoids to HIF activity. Interestingly, our results show that both glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) play a key role in enhancing it. Finally, we found indications that glucocorticoids promote HIF signalling via multiple routes. Cumulatively, our findings allowed us to suggest a model for how this crosstalk occurs in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Davide Marchi
- The Bateson Centre & Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (DM); (FJMv)
| | - Kirankumar Santhakumar
- Department of Genetic Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology Kattankulathur, India
| | - Eleanor Markham
- The Bateson Centre & Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Nan Li
- The Bateson Centre & Department of Oncology and Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Karl-Heinz Storbeck
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Nils Krone
- The Bateson Centre & Department of Oncology and Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| | - Vincent T. Cunliffe
- The Bateson Centre & Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Fredericus J. M. van Eeden
- The Bateson Centre & Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- * E-mail: (DM); (FJMv)
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chhabria K, Plant K, Bandmann O, Wilkinson RN, Martin C, Kugler E, Armitage PA, Santoscoy PL, Cunliffe VT, Huisken J, McGown A, Ramesh T, Chico TJ, Howarth C. The effect of hyperglycemia on neurovascular coupling and cerebrovascular patterning in zebrafish. J Cereb Blood Flow Metab 2020; 40:298-313. [PMID: 30398083 PMCID: PMC6985997 DOI: 10.1177/0271678x18810615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Neurovascular coupling (through which local cerebral blood flow changes in response to neural activation are mediated) is impaired in many diseases including diabetes. Current preclinical rodent models of neurovascular coupling rely on invasive surgery and instrumentation, but transgenic zebrafish coupled with advances in imaging techniques allow non-invasive quantification of cerebrovascular anatomy, neural activation, and cerebral vessel haemodynamics. We therefore established a novel non-invasive, non-anaesthetised zebrafish larval model of neurovascular coupling, in which visual stimulus evokes neuronal activation in the optic tectum that is associated with a specific increase in red blood cell speed in tectal blood vessels. We applied this model to the examination of the effect of glucose exposure on cerebrovascular patterning and neurovascular coupling. We found that chronic exposure of zebrafish to glucose impaired tectal blood vessel patterning and neurovascular coupling. The nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside rescued all these adverse effects of glucose exposure on cerebrovascular patterning and function. Our results establish the first non-mammalian model of neurovascular coupling, offering the potential to perform more rapid genetic modifications and high-throughput screening than is currently possible using rodents. Furthermore, using this zebrafish model, we reveal a potential strategy to ameliorate the effects of hyperglycemia on cerebrovascular function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karishma Chhabria
- Neuroimaging in Cardiovascular Disease (NICAD) Network, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK.,The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Karen Plant
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK.,The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Oliver Bandmann
- The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Robert N Wilkinson
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK.,The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Chris Martin
- Neuroimaging in Cardiovascular Disease (NICAD) Network, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Elisabeth Kugler
- Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK.,The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Paul A Armitage
- Neuroimaging in Cardiovascular Disease (NICAD) Network, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Paola Lm Santoscoy
- The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Jan Huisken
- Morgridge Institute for Research, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Alexander McGown
- The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Tennore Ramesh
- The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK
| | - Tim Ja Chico
- Neuroimaging in Cardiovascular Disease (NICAD) Network, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Infection, Immunity and Cardiovascular Disease, University of Sheffield Medical School, Sheffield, UK.,The Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Clare Howarth
- Neuroimaging in Cardiovascular Disease (NICAD) Network, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.,Department of Psychology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Li N, Oakes JA, Storbeck KH, Cunliffe VT, Krone NP. The P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme Cyp11a2 facilitates steroidogenesis in zebrafish. J Endocrinol 2020; 244:309-321. [PMID: 31693487 DOI: 10.1530/joe-19-0384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 11/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme, encoded by the CYP11A1 gene, catalyzes the first and rate-limiting step of steroid hormone biosynthesis. Previous morpholino-knockdown studies in zebrafish suggested cyp11a2 is a functional equivalent of human CYP11A1 and is essential for interrenal steroidogenesis in zebrafish larvae. The role of Cyp11a2 in adult zebrafish, particularly in gonadal steroidogenesis, remains elusive. To explore the role of Cyp11a2 in adults, we developed zebrafish mutant lines by creating deletions in cyp11a2 using the CRISPR/Cas9 genomic engineering approach. Homozygous cyp11a2 mutant zebrafish larvae showed an upregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal axis. Furthermore, these Cyp11a2-deficient zebrafish demonstrated profound glucocorticoid and androgen deficiencies. Cyp11a2 homozygotes only developed into males with feminized secondary sex characteristics. Adult cyp11a2 -/- mutant fish showed a lack of natural breeding behaviors. Histological characterization revealed disorganized testicular structure and significantly decreased numbers of mature spermatozoa. These findings are further supported by the downregulation of the expression of several pro-male genes in the testes of cyp11a2 homozygous zebrafish, including sox9a, dmrt1 and amh. Moreover, the spermatogonia markers nanos2 and piwil1 were upregulated, while the spermatocytes marker sycp3 and spermatids marker odf3b were downregulated in the testes of cyp11a2 homozygous mutants. Our expression analysis is consistent with our histological studies, suggesting that spermatogonia are the predominant cell types in the testes of cyp11a2 homozygous mutants. Our work thus demonstrates the crucial role of Cyp11a2 in interrenal and gonadal steroidogenesis in zebrafish larvae and adults.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nan Li
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- The Bateson Centre, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - James A Oakes
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- The Bateson Centre, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Karl-Heinz Storbeck
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- The Bateson Centre, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Nils P Krone
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
- The Bateson Centre, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Oakes JA, Li N, Wistow BRC, Griffin A, Barnard L, Storbeck KH, Cunliffe VT, Krone NP. Ferredoxin 1b Deficiency Leads to Testis Disorganization, Impaired Spermatogenesis, and Feminization in Zebrafish. Endocrinology 2019; 160:2401-2416. [PMID: 31322700 DOI: 10.1210/en.2019-00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/13/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The roles of steroids in zebrafish sex differentiation, gonadal development, and function of the adult gonad are poorly understood. Herein, we used ferredoxin 1b (fdx1b) mutant zebrafish to explore such processes. Fdx1b is an essential electron-providing cofactor to mitochondrial steroidogenic enzymes, which are crucial for glucocorticoid and androgen production in vertebrates. Fdx1b-/- zebrafish mutants develop into viable adults in which concentrations of androgens and cortisol are significantly reduced. Adult fdx1b-/- mutant zebrafish display predominantly female secondary sex characteristics but may possess either ovaries or testes, confirming that androgen signaling is dispensable for testicular differentiation in this species, as previously demonstrated in androgen receptor mutant zebrafish. Adult male fdx1b-/- mutant zebrafish exhibit reduced characteristic breeding behaviors and impaired sperm production, resulting in infertility in standard breeding scenarios. However, eggs collected from wild-type females can be fertilized by the sperm of fdx1b-/- mutant males by in vitro fertilization. The testes of fdx1b-/- mutant males are disorganized and lack defined seminiferous tubule structure. Expression of several promale and spermatogenic genes is decreased in the testes of fdx1b-/- mutant males, including promale transcription factor sox9a and spermatogenic genes igf3 and insl3. This study establishes an androgen- and cortisol-deficient fdx1b zebrafish mutant as a model for understanding the effects of steroid deficiency on sex development and reproductive function. This model will be particularly useful for further investigation of the roles of steroids in spermatogenesis, gonadal development, and regulation of reproductive behavior, thus enabling further elucidation of the physiological consequences of endocrine disruption in vertebrates.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- James A Oakes
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Nan Li
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Belinda R C Wistow
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Aliesha Griffin
- Epilepsy Research Laboratory and Weill Institute for Neuroscience, Department of Neurologic Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California
| | - Lise Barnard
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Karl-Heinz Storbeck
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Matieland, South Africa
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - Nils P Krone
- Department of Oncology & Metabolism, School of Medicine, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
- Department of Medicine III, University Hospital Carl Gustav Carus, Technische Universität Dresden, Dresden, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Wu X, Scott H, Carlsson SV, Sjoberg DD, Cerundolo L, Lilja H, Prevo R, Rieunier G, Macaulay V, Higgins GS, Verrill CL, Lamb AD, Cunliffe VT, Bountra C, Hamdy FC, Bryant RJ. Increased EZH2 expression in prostate cancer is associated with metastatic recurrence following external beam radiotherapy. Prostate 2019; 79:1079-1089. [PMID: 31104332 PMCID: PMC6563086 DOI: 10.1002/pros.23817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Enhancer of zeste 2 (EZH2) promotes prostate cancer progression. We hypothesized that increased EZH2 expression is associated with postradiotherapy metastatic disease recurrence, and may promote radioresistance. METHODS EZH2 expression was investigated using immunohistochemistry in diagnostic prostate biopsies of 113 prostate cancer patients treated with radiotherapy with curative intent. Associations between EZH2 expression in malignant and benign tissue in prostate biopsy cores and outcomes were investigated using univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses. LNCaP and PC3 cell radiosensitivity was investigated using colony formation and γH2AX assays following UNC1999 chemical probe-mediated EZH2 inhibition. RESULTS While there was no significant association between EZH2 expression and biochemical recurrence following radiotherapy, univariate analysis revealed that prostate cancer cytoplasmic and total EZH2 expression were significantly associated with metastasis development postradiotherapy (P = 0.034 and P = 0.003, respectively). On multivariate analysis, the prostate cancer total EZH2 expression score remained statistically significant (P = 0.003), while cytoplasmic EZH2 expression did not reach statistical significance (P = 0.053). No association was observed between normal adjacent prostate EZH2 expression and biochemical recurrence or metastasis. LNCaP and PC3 cell treatment with UNC1999 reduced histone H3 lysine 27 tri-methylation levels. Irradiation of LNCaP or PC3 cells with a single 2 Gy fraction with UNC1999-mediated EZH2 inhibition resulted in a statistically significant, though modest, reduction in cell colony number for both cell lines. Increased γH2AX foci were observed 24 hours after ionizing irradiation in LNCaP cells, but not in PC3, following UNC1999-mediated EZH2 inhibition vs controls. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, these results reveal that high pretreatment EZH2 expression in prostate cancer in diagnostic biopsies is associated with an increased risk of postradiotherapy metastatic disease recurrence, but EZH2 function may only at most play a modest role in promoting prostate cancer cell radioresistance.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoning Wu
- Department of Oncology, CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation OncologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Helen Scott
- Department of Oncology, CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation OncologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Surgical SciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Sigrid V. Carlsson
- Department of Epidemiology & BiostatisticsMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNew York
- Urology Service at the Department of SurgeryMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNew York
- Department of UrologyInstitute of Clinical Sciences, Sahlgrenska Academy at Gothenburg UniversityGothenburgSweden
| | - Daniel D. Sjoberg
- Department of Epidemiology & BiostatisticsMemorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNew York
| | - Lucia Cerundolo
- Nuffield Department of Surgical SciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Hans Lilja
- Nuffield Department of Surgical SciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Department of Laboratory Medicine, Surgery (Urology), and Medicine (GU‐Oncology)Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer CenterNew YorkNew York
- Department of Translational MedicineLund UniversityMalmöSweden
| | - Remko Prevo
- Department of Oncology, CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation OncologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | | | | | - Geoffrey S. Higgins
- Department of Oncology, CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation OncologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Clare L. Verrill
- Nuffield Department of Surgical SciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Oxford NIHR Biomedical Research CentreUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Alastair D. Lamb
- Nuffield Department of Surgical SciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Vincent T. Cunliffe
- Department of Biomedical ScienceUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUnited Kingdom
| | - Chas Bountra
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, Structural Genomics ConsortiumUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Freddie C. Hamdy
- Nuffield Department of Surgical SciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| | - Richard J. Bryant
- Department of Oncology, CRUK/MRC Oxford Institute for Radiation OncologyUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
- Nuffield Department of Surgical SciencesUniversity of OxfordOxfordUnited Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Wong SQ, Jones A, Dodd S, Grimes D, Barclay JW, Marson AG, Cunliffe VT, Burgoyne RD, Sills GJ, Morgan A. A Caenorhabditis elegans assay of seizure-like activity optimised for identifying antiepileptic drugs and their mechanisms of action. J Neurosci Methods 2018; 309:132-142. [PMID: 30189284 PMCID: PMC6200019 DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2018.09.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [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: 05/28/2018] [Revised: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/02/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Worms with mutant GABAA receptors exhibit convulsions upon exposure to pentylenetetrazol. Convulsions are prevented by the approved anti-epileptic drug, ethosuximide. C. elegans model is a higher throughput, ethical alternative to rodent seizure models.
Background Epilepsy affects around 1% of people, but existing antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) only offer symptomatic relief and are ineffective in approximately 30% of patients. Hence, new AEDs are sorely needed. However, a major bottleneck is the low-throughput nature of early-stage AED screens in conventional rodent models. This process could potentially be expedited by using simpler invertebrate systems, such as the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. New method Head-bobbing convulsions were previously reported to be inducible by pentylenetetrazol (PTZ) in C. elegans with loss-of-function mutations in unc-49, which encodes a GABAA receptor. Given that epilepsy-linked mutations in human GABAA receptors are well documented, this could represent a clinically-relevant system for early-stage AED screens. However, the original agar plate-based assay is unsuited to large-scale screening and has not been validated for identifying AEDs. Therefore, we established an alternative streamlined, higher-throughput approach whereby mutants were treated with PTZ and AEDs via liquid-based incubation. Results Convulsions induced within minutes of PTZ exposure in unc-49 mutants were strongly inhibited by the established AED ethosuximide. This protective activity was independent of ethosuximide’s suggested target, the T-type calcium channel, as a null mutation in the worm cca-1 ortholog did not affect ethosuximide’s anticonvulsant action. Comparison with existing method Our streamlined assay is AED-validated, feasible for higher throughput compound screens, and can facilitate insights into AED mechanisms of action. Conclusions Based on an epilepsy-associated genetic background, this C. elegans unc-49 model of seizure-like activity presents an ethical, higher throughput alternative to conventional rodent seizure models for initial AED screens.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shi Quan Wong
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Alistair Jones
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Steven Dodd
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Douglas Grimes
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Jeff W Barclay
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Anthony G Marson
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK.
| | - Robert D Burgoyne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Graeme J Sills
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Pharmacology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| | - Alan Morgan
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Eachus H, Zaucker A, Oakes JA, Griffin A, Weger M, Güran T, Taylor A, Harris A, Greenfield A, Quanson JL, Storbeck KH, Cunliffe VT, Müller F, Krone N. Genetic Disruption of 21-Hydroxylase in Zebrafish Causes Interrenal Hyperplasia. Endocrinology 2017; 158:4165-4173. [PMID: 28938470 PMCID: PMC5711382 DOI: 10.1210/en.2017-00549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Congenital adrenal hyperplasia is a group of common inherited disorders leading to glucocorticoid deficiency. Most cases are caused by 21-hydroxylase deficiency (21OHD). The systemic consequences of imbalanced steroid hormone biosynthesis due to severe 21OHD remains poorly understood. Therefore, we developed a zebrafish model for 21OHD, which focuses on the impairment of glucocorticoid biosynthesis. A single 21-hydroxylase gene (cyp21a2) is annotated in the zebrafish genome based on sequence homology. Our in silico analysis of the 21-hydroxylase (Cyp21a2) protein sequence suggests a sufficient degree of similarity for the usage of zebrafish cyp21a2 to model aspects of human 21OHD in vivo. We determined the spatiotemporal expression patterns of cyp21a2 by whole-mount in situ hybridization and reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction throughout early development. Early cyp21a2 expression is restricted to the interrenal gland (zebrafish adrenal counterpart) and the brain. To further explore the in vivo consequences of 21OHD we created several cyp21a2 null-allele zebrafish lines by using a transcription activator-like effector nuclease genomic engineering strategy. Homozygous mutant zebrafish larvae showed an upregulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis and interrenal hyperplasia. Furthermore, Cyp21a2-deficient larvae had a typical steroid profile, with reduced concentrations of cortisol and increased concentrations of 17-hydroxyprogesterone and 21-deoxycortisol. Affected larvae showed an upregulation of the HPI axis and interrenal hyperplasia. Downregulation of the glucocorticoid-responsive genes pck1 and fkbp5 indicated systemic glucocorticoid deficiency. Our work demonstrates the crucial role of Cyp21a2 in glucocorticoid biosynthesis in zebrafish larvae and establishes an in vivo model allowing studies of systemic consequences of altered steroid hormone synthesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eachus
- Department of Biomedical Science, The Bateson Centre, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Zaucker
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - James A. Oakes
- Department of Biomedical Science, The Bateson Centre, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
- Academic Unit of Child Health, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TG, United Kingdom
| | - Aliesha Griffin
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Meltem Weger
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Tülay Güran
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Taylor
- Centre for Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail Harris
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Andy Greenfield
- Mammalian Genetics Unit, Medical Research Council, Harwell Institute, Oxfordshire OX11 0RD, United Kingdom
| | - Jonathan L. Quanson
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Karl-Heinz Storbeck
- Department of Biochemistry, Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, Matieland 7602, South Africa
| | - Vincent T. Cunliffe
- Department of Biomedical Science, The Bateson Centre, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | - Ferenc Müller
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, College of Medical and Dental Sciences, Birmingham B15 2TT, United Kingdom
| | - Nils Krone
- Department of Biomedical Science, The Bateson Centre, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
- Academic Unit of Child Health, Department of Oncology and Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TG, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Eachus H, Bright C, Cunliffe VT, Placzek M, Wood JD, Watt PJ. Disrupted-in-Schizophrenia-1 is essential for normal hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis function. Hum Mol Genet 2017; 26:1992-2005. [PMID: 28334933 PMCID: PMC5437527 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx076] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [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: 01/03/2017] [Accepted: 02/23/2017] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Psychiatric disorders arise due to an interplay of genetic and environmental factors, including stress. Studies in rodents have shown that mutants for Disrupted-In-Schizophrenia-1 (DISC1), a well-accepted genetic risk factor for mental illness, display abnormal behaviours in response to stress, but the mechanisms through which DISC1 affects stress responses remain poorly understood. Using two lines of zebrafish homozygous mutant for disc1, we investigated behaviour and functioning of the hypothalamic-pituitary-interrenal (HPI) axis, the fish equivalent of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis. Here, we show that the role of DISC1 in stress responses is evolutionarily conserved and that DISC1 is essential for normal functioning of the HPI axis. Adult zebrafish homozygous mutant for disc1 show aberrant behavioural responses to stress. Our studies reveal that in the embryo, disc1 is expressed in neural progenitor cells of the hypothalamus, a conserved region of the vertebrate brain that centrally controls responses to environmental stressors. In disc1 mutant embryos, proliferating rx3+ hypothalamic progenitors are not maintained normally and neuronal differentiation is compromised: rx3-derived ff1b+ neurons, implicated in anxiety-related behaviours, and corticotrophin releasing hormone (crh) neurons, key regulators of the stress axis, develop abnormally, and rx3-derived pomc+ neurons are disorganised. Abnormal hypothalamic development is associated with dysfunctional behavioural and neuroendocrine stress responses. In contrast to wild type siblings, disc1 mutant larvae show altered crh levels, fail to upregulate cortisol levels when under stress and do not modulate shoal cohesion, indicative of abnormal social behaviour. These data indicate that disc1 is essential for normal development of the hypothalamus and for the correct functioning of the HPA/HPI axis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Helen Eachus
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.,The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Charlotte Bright
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Marysia Placzek
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Jonathan D Wood
- The Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.,Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK
| | - Penelope J Watt
- Department of Animal and Plant Sciences, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Vineis P, Chatziioannou A, Cunliffe VT, Flanagan JM, Hanson M, Kirsch-Volders M, Kyrtopoulos S. Epigenetic memory in response to environmental stressors. FASEB J 2017; 31:2241-2251. [PMID: 28280003 DOI: 10.1096/fj.201601059rr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [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: 09/22/2016] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to environmental stressors, toxicants, and nutrient deficiencies can affect DNA in several ways. Some exposures cause damage and alter the structure of DNA, but there is increasing evidence that the same or other environmental exposures, including those that occur during fetal development in utero, can cause epigenetic effects that modulate DNA function and gene expression. Some epigenetic changes to DNA that affect gene transcription are at least partially reversible (i.e., they can be enzymatically reversed after cessation of exposure to environmental agents), but some epigenetic modifications seem to persist, even for decades. To explain the effects of early life experiences (such as famine and exposures to other stressors) on the long-term persistence of specific patterns of epigenetic modifications, such as DNA methylation, we propose an analogy with immune memory. We propose that an epigenetic memory can be established and maintained in self-renewing stem cell compartments. We suggest that the observations on early life effects on adult diseases and the persistence of methylation changes in smokers support our hypothesis, for which a mechanistic basis, however, needs to be further clarified. We outline a new model based on methylation changes. Although these changes seem to be mainly adaptive, they are also implicated in the pathogenesis and onset of diseases, depending on individual genotypic background and types of subsequent exposures. Elucidating the relationships between the adaptive and maladaptive consequences of the epigenetic modifications that result from complex environmental exposures is a major challenge for current and future research in epigenetics.-Vineis, P., Chatziioannou, A., Cunliffe, V. T., Flanagan, J. M., Hanson, M., Kirsch-Volders, M., Kyrtopoulos, S. Epigenetic memory in response to environmental stressors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Vineis
- Medical Research Council-Public Health England Center for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom;
| | - Aristotelis Chatziioannou
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | - James M Flanagan
- Epigenetics Unit, Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mark Hanson
- Institute of Developmental Sciences, University Hospital Southampton, University of Southampton, United Kingdom
| | | | - Soterios Kyrtopoulos
- Institute of Biology, Medicinal Chemistry, and Biotechnology, National Hellenic Research Foundation, Athens, Greece
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms are implicated in the processes through which social stressors erode health in humans and other animals. Here I review progress in elucidating the biological pathways underlying the social gradient in health, with particular emphasis on how behavioral stresses influence epigenomic variation linked to health. The evidence that epigenetic changes are involved in embedding of social status-linked chronic stress is reviewed in the context of current knowledge about behavior within animal dominance hierarchies and the impacts of social position on behaviors that affect health. The roles of epigenetic mechanisms in responses to trauma and the evidence for their involvement in intergenerational transmission of the biological impacts of traumatic stress are also considered. Taken together, the emerging insights have important implications for development of strategies to improve societal health and well-being.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent T Cunliffe
- Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Pickering J, Cunliffe VT, Van Eeden F, Borycki AG. Hedgehog signalling acts upstream of Laminin alpha1 transcription in the zebrafish paraxial mesoderm. Matrix Biol 2016; 62:58-74. [PMID: 27856309 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2016.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [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: 09/27/2016] [Revised: 11/01/2016] [Accepted: 11/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Laminin-111 (α1β1γ1) is a member of the Laminin family of extra-cellular matrix proteins that comprises 16 members, components of basement membranes. Laminin-111, one of the first Laminin proteins synthesised during embryogenesis, is required for basement membrane deposition and has essential roles in tissue morphogenesis and patterning. Yet, the mechanisms controlling Laminin-111 expression are poorly understood. We generated a zebrafish transgenic reporter line that reproduces faithfully the expression pattern of lama1, the gene encoding Laminin α1, and we used this reporter line to investigate lama1 transcriptional regulation. Our findings established that lama1 expression is controlled by intronic enhancers, including an enhancer directing expression in the paraxial mesoderm, anterior spinal cord and hindbrain, located in intron 1. We show that Hedgehog signalling is necessary and sufficient for lama1 transcription in the paraxial mesoderm and identify putative Gli/Zic binding sites that may mediate this control. These findings uncover a conserved role for Hedgehog signalling in the control of basement membrane assembly via its transcriptional regulation of lama1, and provide a mechanism to coordinate muscle cell fate specification in the zebrafish embryo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Joseph Pickering
- Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Freek Van Eeden
- Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Anne-Gaëlle Borycki
- Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Abstract
Reversible covalent histone modifications are known to influence spatiotemporal patterns of gene transcription during development. Here I review recent advances in the development and use of methods to analyze the distribution and functions of histone modifications in zebrafish chromatin. I discuss the roles of dynamic histone modification patterns at the promoters and enhancers of genes during the process of zygotic gene activation at blastula stages and the interplay between the molecular machinery responsible for histone modifications, chromatin remodeling and DNA methylation. Interactions are also described between developmentally regulated enhancer sequences and modified histones. A detailed method for chromatin immunoprecipitation using antibodies is provided, and I describe the use of high-throughput whole genome sequencing technology to generate DNA sequence data from chromatin immunoprecipitates. I also discuss computational approaches to integrating DNA sequence data obtained from chromatin immunoprecipitates with annotated reference genome sequences, transcriptome and methylome sequence data, transcription factor binding motif databases, and gene ontologies and describe the types of software tools currently available for visualizing the results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V T Cunliffe
- University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Cunliffe VT. Building a zebrafish toolkit for investigating the pathobiology of epilepsy and identifying new treatments for epileptic seizures. J Neurosci Methods 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jneumeth.2015.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
|
19
|
Abstract
DISRUPTED-IN-SCHIZOPHRENIA (DISC1) has been one of the most intensively studied genetic risk factors for mental illness since it was discovered through positional mapping of a translocation breakpoint in a large Scottish family where a balanced chromosomal translocation was found to segregate with schizophrenia and affective disorders. While the evidence for it being central to disease pathogenesis in the original Scottish family is compelling, recent genome-wide association studies have not found evidence for common variants at the DISC1 locus being associated with schizophrenia in the wider population. It may therefore be the case that DISC1 provides an indication of biological pathways that are central to mental health issues and functional studies have shown that it functions in multiple signalling pathways. However, there is little information regarding factors that function upstream of DISC1 to regulate its expression and function. We herein demonstrate that Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signalling promotes expression of disc1 in the zebrafish brain. Expression of disc1 is lost in smoothened mutants that have a complete loss of Shh signal transduction, and elevated in patched mutants which have constitutive activation of Shh signalling. We previously demonstrated that disc1 knockdown has a dramatic effect on the specification of oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPC) in the hindbrain and Shh signalling is known to be essential for the specification of these cells. We show that disc1 is prominently expressed in olig2-positive midline progenitor cells that are absent in smo mutants, while cyclopamine treatment blocks disc1 expression in these cells and mimics the effect of disc1 knock down on OPC specification. Various features of a number of psychiatric conditions could potentially arise through aberrant Hedgehog signalling. We therefore suggest that altered Shh signalling may be an important neurodevelopmental factor in the pathobiology of mental illness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Penelope J Boyd
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, 138673, Singapore Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Sudipto Roy
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, 61 Biopolis Drive, 138673, Singapore Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, 117543, Singapore Department of Pediatrics, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 1E Kent Ridge Road, 119288, Singapore
| | - Jonathan D Wood
- Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience, Department of Neuroscience, University of Sheffield, 385a Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2HQ, UK Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Cunliffe VT. Experience-sensitive epigenetic mechanisms, developmental plasticity, and the biological embedding of chronic disease risk. WIREs Syst Biol Med 2015; 7:53-71. [DOI: 10.1002/wsbm.1291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Revised: 12/22/2014] [Accepted: 01/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent T. Cunliffe
- Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science; University of Sheffield; Sheffield UK
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Jackson HE, Ono Y, Wang X, Elworthy S, Cunliffe VT, Ingham PW. The role of Sox6 in zebrafish muscle fiber type specification. Skelet Muscle 2015; 5:2. [PMID: 25671076 PMCID: PMC4323260 DOI: 10.1186/s13395-014-0026-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [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: 09/22/2014] [Accepted: 12/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The transcription factor Sox6 has been implicated in regulating muscle fiber type-specific gene expression in mammals. In zebrafish, loss of function of the transcription factor Prdm1a results in a slow to fast-twitch fiber type transformation presaged by ectopic expression of sox6 in slow-twitch progenitors. Morpholino-mediated Sox6 knockdown can suppress this transformation but causes ectopic expression of only one of three slow-twitch specific genes assayed. Here, we use gain and loss of function analysis to analyse further the role of Sox6 in zebrafish muscle fiber type specification. Methods The GAL4 binary misexpression system was used to express Sox6 ectopically in zebrafish embryos. Cis-regulatory elements were characterized using transgenic fish. Zinc finger nuclease mediated targeted mutagenesis was used to analyse the effects of loss of Sox6 function in embryonic, larval and adult zebrafish. Zebrafish transgenic for the GCaMP3 Calcium reporter were used to assay Ca2+ transients in wild-type and mutant muscle fibres. Results Ectopic Sox6 expression is sufficient to downregulate slow-twitch specific gene expression in zebrafish embryos. Cis-regulatory elements upstream of the slow myosin heavy chain 1 (smyhc1) and slow troponin c (tnnc1b) genes contain putative Sox6 binding sites required for repression of the former but not the latter. Embryos homozygous for sox6 null alleles expressed tnnc1b throughout the fast-twitch muscle whereas other slow-specific muscle genes, including smyhc1, were expressed ectopically in only a subset of fast-twitch fibers. Ca2+ transients in sox6 mutant fast-twitch fibers were intermediate in their speed and amplitude between those of wild-type slow- and fast-twitch fibers. sox6 homozygotes survived to adulthood and exhibited continued misexpression of tnnc1b as well as smaller slow-twitch fibers. They also exhibited a striking curvature of the spine. Conclusions The Sox6 transcription factor is a key regulator of fast-twitch muscle fiber differentiation in the zebrafish, a role similar to that ascribed to its murine ortholog. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13395-014-0026-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Harriet E Jackson
- ASTAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Proteos, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673 Republic of Singapore ; Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN UK
| | - Yosuke Ono
- ASTAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Proteos, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673 Republic of Singapore
| | - Xingang Wang
- ASTAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Proteos, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673 Republic of Singapore
| | - Stone Elworthy
- Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN UK
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN UK
| | - Philip W Ingham
- ASTAR Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Proteos, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673 Republic of Singapore ; Lee Kong Chian School of Medicine, Nanyang Technological University, Proteos, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore, 138673 Republic of Singapore ; Department of Medicine, Imperial College, South Kensington Campus, London, SW7 2AZ UK
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Johnson MR, Behmoaras J, Bottolo L, Krishnan ML, Pernhorst K, Santoscoy PLM, Rossetti T, Speed D, Srivastava PK, Chadeau-Hyam M, Hajji N, Dabrowska A, Rotival M, Razzaghi B, Kovac S, Wanisch K, Grillo FW, Slaviero A, Langley SR, Shkura K, Roncon P, De T, Mattheisen M, Niehusmann P, O'Brien TJ, Petrovski S, von Lehe M, Hoffmann P, Eriksson J, Coffey AJ, Cichon S, Walker M, Simonato M, Danis B, Mazzuferi M, Foerch P, Schoch S, De Paola V, Kaminski RM, Cunliffe VT, Becker AJ, Petretto E. Systems genetics identifies Sestrin 3 as a regulator of a proconvulsant gene network in human epileptic hippocampus. Nat Commun 2015; 6:6031. [PMID: 25615886 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms7031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 133] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2014] [Accepted: 12/04/2014] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Gene-regulatory network analysis is a powerful approach to elucidate the molecular processes and pathways underlying complex disease. Here we employ systems genetics approaches to characterize the genetic regulation of pathophysiological pathways in human temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). Using surgically acquired hippocampi from 129 TLE patients, we identify a gene-regulatory network genetically associated with epilepsy that contains a specialized, highly expressed transcriptional module encoding proconvulsive cytokines and Toll-like receptor signalling genes. RNA sequencing analysis in a mouse model of TLE using 100 epileptic and 100 control hippocampi shows the proconvulsive module is preserved across-species, specific to the epileptic hippocampus and upregulated in chronic epilepsy. In the TLE patients, we map the trans-acting genetic control of this proconvulsive module to Sestrin 3 (SESN3), and demonstrate that SESN3 positively regulates the module in macrophages, microglia and neurons. Morpholino-mediated Sesn3 knockdown in zebrafish confirms the regulation of the transcriptional module, and attenuates chemically induced behavioural seizures in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R Johnson
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Jacques Behmoaras
- Centre for Complement and Inflammation Research, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Leonardo Bottolo
- Department of Mathematics, Imperial College London, 180 Queen's Gate, London SW7 2AZ, UK
| | - Michelle L Krishnan
- Centre for the Developing Brain, Department of Perinatal Imaging and Health, St Thomas' Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 7EH, UK
| | - Katharina Pernhorst
- Section of Translational Epileptology, Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Street 25, Bonn D-53127, Germany
| | - Paola L Meza Santoscoy
- Department of Biomedical Science, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Tiziana Rossetti
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Doug Speed
- UCL Genetics Institute, University College London, Gower Street, London WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Prashant K Srivastava
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building, London W12 0NN, UK.,Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Marc Chadeau-Hyam
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, MRC/PHE Centre for Environment and Health, Imperial College London, St Mary's Hospital, Norfolk Place, W21PG London, UK
| | - Nabil Hajji
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Aleksandra Dabrowska
- Department of Medicine, Centre for Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Imperial College London, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Maxime Rotival
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Banafsheh Razzaghi
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Stjepana Kovac
- Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Klaus Wanisch
- Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Federico W Grillo
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Anna Slaviero
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Sarah R Langley
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building, London W12 0NN, UK.,Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Kirill Shkura
- Division of Brain Sciences, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital Campus, Burlington Danes Building, London W12 0NN, UK.,Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Paolo Roncon
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.,National Institute of Neuroscience, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Tisham De
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Manuel Mattheisen
- Department of Genomics, Life and Brain Center, University of Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.,Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany.,Institute for Genomic Mathematics, University of Bonn, D-53127 Bonn, Germany
| | - Pitt Niehusmann
- Section of Translational Epileptology, Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Street 25, Bonn D-53127, Germany
| | - Terence J O'Brien
- Department of Medicine, RMH, University of Melbourne, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Royal Parade, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Slave Petrovski
- Department of Neurology, Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria 3050, Australia
| | - Marec von Lehe
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Bonn Medical Center, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53105 Bonn, Germany
| | - Per Hoffmann
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Johan Eriksson
- Folkhälsan Research Centre, Topeliusgatan 20, 00250 Helsinki, Finland.,Helsinki University Central Hospital, Unit of General Practice, Haartmaninkatu 4, Helsinki 00290, Finland.,Department of General Practice and Primary Health Care, University of Helsinki, 407, PO Box 20, Tukholmankatu 8 B, Helsinki 00014, Finland
| | - Alison J Coffey
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Wellcome Trust Genome Campus, Hinxton CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Sven Cichon
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Bonn, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, 53127 Bonn, Germany.,Department of Biomedicine, University of Basel, Hebelstrasse 20, 4056 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Matthew Walker
- Institute of Neurology, University College London, London WC1N 3BG, UK
| | - Michele Simonato
- Department of Medical Sciences, Section of Pharmacology and Neuroscience Center, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.,National Institute of Neuroscience, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.,Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | - Bénédicte Danis
- Neuroscience TA, UCB Biopharma SPRL, Avenue de l'industrie, R9, B-1420 Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Manuela Mazzuferi
- Neuroscience TA, UCB Biopharma SPRL, Avenue de l'industrie, R9, B-1420 Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Patrik Foerch
- Neuroscience TA, UCB Biopharma SPRL, Avenue de l'industrie, R9, B-1420 Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Susanne Schoch
- Section of Translational Epileptology, Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Street 25, Bonn D-53127, Germany.,Department of Epileptology, University of Bonn Medical Center, Sigmund-Freud-Strasse 25, Bonn D-53127, Germany
| | - Vincenzo De Paola
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Rafal M Kaminski
- Neuroscience TA, UCB Biopharma SPRL, Avenue de l'industrie, R9, B-1420 Braine l'Alleud, Belgium
| | - Vincent T Cunliffe
- Department of Biomedical Science, Bateson Centre, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | - Albert J Becker
- Section of Translational Epileptology, Department of Neuropathology, University of Bonn, Sigmund Freud Street 25, Bonn D-53127, Germany
| | - Enrico Petretto
- Medical Research Council (MRC) Clinical Sciences Centre, Imperial College London, Hammersmith Hospital, Du Cane Road, London W12 0NN, UK.,Duke-NUS Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Cunliffe VT, Baines RA, Giachello CNG, Lin WH, Morgan A, Reuber M, Russell C, Walker MC, Williams RSB. Epilepsy research methods update: Understanding the causes of epileptic seizures and identifying new treatments using non-mammalian model organisms. Seizure 2014; 24:44-51. [PMID: 25457452 DOI: 10.1016/j.seizure.2014.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 09/08/2014] [Accepted: 09/23/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
This narrative review is intended to introduce clinicians treating epilepsy and researchers familiar with mammalian models of epilepsy to experimentally tractable, non-mammalian research models used in epilepsy research, ranging from unicellular eukaryotes to more complex multicellular organisms. The review focuses on four model organisms: the social amoeba Dictyostelium discoideum, the roundworm Caenorhabditis elegans, the fruit fly Drosophila melanogaster and the zebrafish Danio rerio. We consider recent discoveries made with each model organism and discuss the importance of these advances for the understanding and treatment of epilepsy in humans. The relative ease with which mutations in genes of interest can be produced and studied quickly and cheaply in these organisms, together with their anatomical and physiological simplicity in comparison to mammalian species, are major advantages when researchers are trying to unravel complex disease mechanisms. The short generation times of most of these model organisms also mean that they lend themselves particularly conveniently to the investigation of drug effects or epileptogenic processes across the lifecourse.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent T Cunliffe
- Bateson Centre, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom.
| | - Richard A Baines
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom.
| | - Carlo N G Giachello
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Wei-Hsiang Lin
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, AV Hill Building, Oxford Road, Manchester M13 9PT, United Kingdom
| | - Alan Morgan
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Institute of Translational Medicine, University of Liverpool, Crown Street, Liverpool L69 3BX, United Kingdom.
| | - Markus Reuber
- Academic Neurology Unit, University of Sheffield, Royal Hallamshire Hospital, Glossop Road, Sheffield S10 2JF, United Kingdom.
| | - Claire Russell
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, Royal College Street, London NW1 0TU, United Kingdom.
| | - Matthew C Walker
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Epilepsy, Institute of Neurology, University College London, Queen Square, London WC1N 3BG, United Kingdom.
| | - Robin S B Williams
- School of Biological Sciences, Royal Holloway College, University of London, Egham Hill, Egham, Surrey TW20 0EX, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Baxendale S, Holdsworth CJ, Meza Santoscoy PL, Harrison MRM, Fox J, Parkin CA, Ingham PW, Cunliffe VT. Identification of compounds with anti-convulsant properties in a zebrafish model of epileptic seizures. Dis Model Mech 2012; 5:773-84. [PMID: 22730455 PMCID: PMC3484860 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.010090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 97] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2012] [Accepted: 06/16/2012] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The availability of animal models of epileptic seizures provides opportunities to identify novel anticonvulsants for the treatment of people with epilepsy. We found that exposure of 2-day-old zebrafish embryos to the convulsant agent pentylenetetrazole (PTZ) rapidly induces the expression of synaptic-activity-regulated genes in the CNS, and elicited vigorous episodes of calcium (Ca(2+)) flux in muscle cells as well as intense locomotor activity. We then screened a library of ∼2000 known bioactive small molecules and identified 46 compounds that suppressed PTZ-inducedtranscription of the synaptic-activity-regulated gene fos in 2-day-old (2 dpf) zebrafish embryos. Further analysis of a subset of these compounds, which included compounds with known and newly identified anticonvulsant properties, revealed that they exhibited concentration-dependent inhibition of both locomotor activity and PTZ-induced fos transcription, confirming their anticonvulsant characteristics. We conclude that this in situ hybridisation assay for fos transcription in the zebrafish embryonic CNS is a robust, high-throughput in vivo indicator of the neural response to convulsant treatment and lends itself well to chemical screening applications. Moreover, our results demonstrate that suppression of PTZ-induced fos expression provides a sensitive means of identifying compounds with anticonvulsant activities.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Baxendale
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Celia J. Holdsworth
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Paola L. Meza Santoscoy
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Michael R. M. Harrison
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - James Fox
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Caroline A. Parkin
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Philip W. Ingham
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | - Vincent T. Cunliffe
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Harrison MRM, Georgiou AS, Spaink HP, Cunliffe VT. The epigenetic regulator Histone Deacetylase 1 promotes transcription of a core neurogenic programme in zebrafish embryos. BMC Genomics 2011; 12:24. [PMID: 21226904 PMCID: PMC3032698 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2164-12-24] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [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: 08/13/2010] [Accepted: 01/12/2011] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The epigenetic regulator Histone Deacetylase 1 (Hdac1) is required for specification and patterning of neurones and myelinating glia during development of the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS). This co-ordinating function for Hdac1 is evolutionarily conserved in zebrafish and mouse, but the mechanism of action of Hdac1 in the developing CNS is not well-understood. Results A genome-wide comparative analysis of the transcriptomes of Hdac1-deficient and wild-type zebrafish embryos was performed, which identified an extensive programme of gene expression that is regulated by Hdac1 in the developing embryo. Using time-resolved expression profiling of embryos, we then identified a small subset of 54 genes within the Hdac1-regulated transcriptome that specifically exhibit robust and sustained Hdac1-dependent expression from early neurogenesis onwards. 18 of these 54 stringently Hdac1-regulated genes encode DNA-binding transcription factors that are implicated in promoting neuronal specification and CNS patterning, including the proneural bHLH proteins Ascl1a and Ascl1b, as well as Neurod4 and Neurod. Relatively few genes are strongly repressed by Hdac1 but expression of the Notch target gene her6 is attenuated by Hdac1 in specific sub-regions of the developing CNS, from early stages of neurogenesis onwards. Selected members of the stringently Hdac1-regulated group of genes were tested for Hdac1 binding to their promoter-proximal cis-regulatory elements. Surprisingly, we found that Hdac1 is specifically and stably associated with DNA sequences within the promoter region of ascl1b during neurogenesis, and that this Hdac1-ascl1b interaction is abolished in hdac1 mutant embryos. Conclusions We conclude that Hdac1 regulates histone acetylation and methylation in the developing zebrafish embryo and promotes the sustained, co-ordinate transcription of a small set of transcription factor genes that control expansion and diversification of cell fates within the developing CNS. Our in vivo chromatin immunoprecipitation results also suggest a specific function for Hdac1 in directly regulating transcription of a key member of this group of genes, ascl1b, from the beginning of neurogenesis onwards. Taken together, our observations indicate a novel role for Hdac1 as a positive regulator of gene transcription during development of the vertebrate CNS, in addition to its more well-established function in transcriptional repression.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael R M Harrison
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
26
|
Lightman EG, Harrison MR, Cunliffe VT. Opposing actions of histone deacetylase 1 and Notch signalling restrict expression of erm and fgf20a to hindbrain rhombomere centres during zebrafish neurogenesis. Int J Dev Biol 2011; 55:597-602. [DOI: 10.1387/ijdb.113315el] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
|
27
|
Butler R, Wood JD, Landers JA, Cunliffe VT. Genetic and chemical modulation of spastin-dependent axon outgrowth in zebrafish embryos indicates a role for impaired microtubule dynamics in hereditary spastic paraplegia. Dis Model Mech 2010; 3:743-51. [PMID: 20829563 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.004002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the SPAST (SPG4) gene, which encodes the microtubule-severing protein spastin, are the most common cause of autosomal dominant hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP). Following on from previous work in our laboratory showing that spastin is required for axon outgrowth, we report here that the related microtubule-severing protein katanin is also required for axon outgrowth in vivo. Using confocal time-lapse imaging, we have identified requirements for spastin and katanin in maintaining normal axonal microtubule dynamics and growth cone motility in vivo, supporting a model in which microtubule severing is required for concerted growth of neuronal microtubules. Simultaneous knockdown of spastin and katanin caused a more severe phenotype than did individual knockdown of either gene, suggesting that they have different but related functions in supporting axon outgrowth. In addition, the microtubule-destabilising drug nocodazole abolished microtubule dynamics and growth cone motility, and enhanced phenotypic severity in spast-knockdown zebrafish embryos. Thus, disruption of microtubule dynamics might underlie neuronal dysfunction in this model, and this system could be used to identify compounds that modulate microtubule dynamics, some of which might have therapeutic potential in HSP.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Richard Butler
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, S10 2TN, UK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
28
|
Harrison MR, Georgiou AS, Lightman EG, Buckle AJ, Spaink HP, Cunliffe VT. Neurodevelopmental functions of the epigenetic machinery in the zebrafish embryo: Histone Deacetylase 1 regulates transformation of neural progenitors into neurons and glia. Dev Biol 2009. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.05.082] [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: 11/27/2022]
|
29
|
Abstract
We describe a method to produce antibody-captured ligand gradients over biologically relevant distances (hundreds of micrometers) whereby the ligand density and gradient shape may be tailored. Separation of the ligand from the solid-phase surface ensures that the biological activity of the ligand remains unaffected by immobilization. Our method involves the use of a plasma-masking method to generate a surface chemical gradient on a glass substrate to which the 9E10 antibody is covalently coupled. This antibody captures myc-tagged biomolecules. In our example, the antibody is then used to immobilize a gradient of the intercellular signaling molecule delta-like-1 (Dll1). To visualize the gradient of Dll1, we have used the multistep approach of binding with rabbit anti-Dll1 primary antibody and then adding colloidal-gold-conjugated secondary antibody.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Walker
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
30
|
Wood JD, Bonath F, Kumar S, Ross CA, Cunliffe VT. Disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 and neuregulin 1 are required for the specification of oligodendrocytes and neurones in the zebrafish brain. Hum Mol Genet 2008; 18:391-404. [DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddn361] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
|
31
|
Cunliffe VT. Eloquent silence: developmental functions of Class I histone deacetylases. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2008; 18:404-10. [PMID: 18929655 PMCID: PMC2671034 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2008.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2008] [Revised: 09/16/2008] [Accepted: 10/02/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Histone deacetylases (HDACs) are essential catalytic components of the transcription silencing machinery and they play important roles in the programming of multicellular development. HDACs are present within multisubunit protein complexes, other components of which govern HDAC target gene specificity by controlling interactions with sequence-specific DNA-binding proteins. Here, I review the different developmental roles of the Sin3, NuRD, CoREST and NCoR/SMRT Class I HDAC complexes. With their distinct subunit composition, these versatile molecular devices function in many different settings, to promote axis specification and tissue patterning, to maintain stem cell pluripotency, facilitate self-renewal, guide lineage commitment and drive cell differentiation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent T Cunliffe
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics and Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Prajsnar TK, Cunliffe VT, Foster SJ, Renshaw SA. A novel vertebrate model of Staphylococcus aureus infection reveals phagocyte-dependent resistance of zebrafish to non-host specialized pathogens. Cell Microbiol 2008; 10:2312-25. [PMID: 18715285 DOI: 10.1111/j.1462-5822.2008.01213.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
With the emergence of multiply resistant Staphylococcus aureus, there is an urgent need to better understand the molecular determinants of S. aureus pathogenesis. A model of staphylococcal pathogenesis in zebrafish embryos has been established, in which host phagocytes are able to mount an effective immune response, preventing overwhelming infection from small inocula. Myeloid cell depletion, by pu.1 morpholino-modified antisense injection, removes this immune protection. Macrophages and neutrophils are both implicated in this immune response, phagocytosing circulating bacteria. In addition, in vivo phagocyte/bacteria interactions can be visualized within transparent embryos. A preliminary screen for bacterial pathogenesis determinants has shown that strains bearing mutations in perR, pheP and saeR are attenuated. perR and pheP mutants are deficient in growth in vivo, and their virulence is not fully restored by myeloid cell depletion. On the other hand, saeR mutants are able to grow in vivo, and are completely restored to virulence by myeloid cell depletion. Thus specific pathogen gene function can be matched with particular facets of host response. Zebrafish are a new addition to the tools available for the study of S. aureus pathogenesis, and may provide insights into the interactions of bacterial and host genomes in determining the outcome of infection.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz K Prajsnar
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield S102TN, UK
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
33
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Polycomb Group protein EZH2 is implicated in prostate cancer progression. EZH2 promotes prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness. We describe a link between EZH2 function and actin polymerization in prostate cancer cells. METHODS Nuclear and cytoplasmic EZH2 expression in benign and malignant prostate tissue samples was assessed. An association between EZH2 function and actin polymerization in prostate cancer cells was investigated using siRNA-mediated knock-down of EZH2. Effects of EZH2 knock-down on actin polymerization dynamics were analyzed biochemically using immunoblot analysis of cell lysate fractions, and morphologically using immunocytochemistry. RESULTS Cytoplasmic EZH2 is expressed at low levels in benign prostate epithelial cells and over-expressed in prostate cancer cells. Cytoplasmic EZH2 expression levels correlate with nuclear EZH2 expression in prostate cancer samples. Knock-down of EZH2 in PC3 prostate cancer cells increases the amount of F-actin polymerization, cell size, and formation of actin-rich filaments. CONCLUSIONS Cytoplasmic EZH2 is over-expressed in prostate cancer cells. EZH2 function promotes a reduction in the pool of insoluble F-actin in invasive prostate cancer cells. EZH2 may regulate actin polymerization dynamics and thereby promote prostate cancer cell motility and invasiveness.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R J Bryant
- MRC Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Abstract
BACKGROUND The transcriptional repressor EZH2 is implicated in control of cell proliferation in embryonic, immortalized and transformed cells. EZH2 expression in prostate cancer correlates with progression to hormone-refractory and metastatic disease, but it is unknown whether EZH2 plays a specific role in the acquisition of an advanced prostate cancer phenotype. METHODS Using siRNA knockdown, we investigated the role of EZH2 in maintenance of prostate cancer cell proliferation and invasiveness. Using LNCaP cells with inducible EZH2 overexpression, we investigated whether EZH2 upregulation promotes an aggressive phenotype. RESULTS Knockdown of endogenous EZH2 reduced proliferation of androgen-responsive and androgen-independent prostate cancer cells. EZH2 knockdown also inhibited prostate cancer cell invasion. However, overexpression of EZH2 in androgen-responsive cancer cells did not appreciably affect either proliferation or invasiveness. CONCLUSIONS EZH2 promotes proliferation and invasion of prostate cancer cells, which can account for the correlation between EZH2 expression levels and an adverse prostate cancer prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- R J Bryant
- MRC Centre Development for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
35
|
Wood JD, Landers JA, Bingley M, McDermott CJ, Thomas-McArthur V, Gleadall LJ, Shaw PJ, Cunliffe VT. The microtubule-severing protein Spastin is essential for axon outgrowth in the zebrafish embryo. Hum Mol Genet 2006; 15:2763-71. [PMID: 16893913 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddl212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 119] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [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: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) is a collection of neurological disorders characterized by developmental failure or degeneration of motor axons in the corticospinal tract and progressive lower limb spasticity. SPG4 mutations are the most common cause of autosomal dominant HSP and Spastin (the SPG4 gene product) is a microtubule severing protein that shares homology with katanin, the microtubule severing activity of which promotes axon growth in cultured neurons. Given the sequence and functional similarity between spastin and katanin, we hypothesized that spastin promotes the dynamic disassembly and remodelling of microtubules required for robust, properly directed motor axon outgrowth. To investigate this hypothesis, we cloned the zebrafish spg4 orthologue and used morpholino antisense oligonucleotides directed against the translation start site and the intron 7-8 splice donor site to knock down spastin function in the developing zebrafish embryo. Reduced spg4 function caused dramatic defects in motor axon outgrowth without affecting the events driving the initial specification of motor neurones. Other neuronal subtypes also exhibited a requirement for spg4 function, since spg4 knock down caused both widespread defects in neuronal connectivity and extensive CNS-specific apoptosis. Our results reveal a critical requirement for spastin to promote axonal outgrowth during embryonic development, and they validate the zebrafish embryo as a novel model system to dissect the pathogenetic mechanisms underlying HSP. Taken together with other recent studies, our findings suggest that axon outgrowth defects may be a common feature of childhood SPG3A and SPG4 cases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan D Wood
- MRC Centre Development for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, Department of Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Cunliffe VT, Casaccia-Bonnefil P. Histone deacetylase 1 is essential for oligodendrocyte specification in the zebrafish CNS. Mech Dev 2006; 123:24-30. [PMID: 16324829 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2005.10.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 92] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [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: 08/01/2005] [Revised: 10/17/2005] [Accepted: 10/19/2005] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Histone deacetylases are critical components of transcriptional silencing mechanisms that regulate embryonic development. Recent work has shown that histone deacetylase 1 (hdac1) is required for neuronal specification during zebrafish CNS development. We show here that specification of oligodendrocytes, the myelinating cells of the CNS, also fails to occur in the hdac1 mutant hindbrain, but persistence of neural progenitors in the hindbrain ventricular zone, which express pax6a and sox2, is independent of hdac1 activity. Commitment of ventral neural progenitors to the oligodendrocyte fate is thought to require co-ordinate, hedgehog-dependent expression of olig2 and nkx2.2a in these cells, leading to expression of sox10 and subsequent differentiation of oligodendrocytes. Remarkably, transcription of olig2 is extinguished in ventral neural progenitors of the hdac1 mutant hindbrain, whereas expression of nkx2.2a is up-regulated in these cells, and sox10 expression is suppressed. Our results identify hdac1 as a novel, essential component of the mechanism that allocates neural progenitors to the oligodendrocyte fate, by attenuating expression of a subset of neural progenitor genes and rendering olig2 expression responsive to Hedgehog signalling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent T Cunliffe
- Department of Biomedical Science, Centre for Developmental and Biomedical Genetics, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, South Yorks, S10 2TN, UK.
| | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Abstract
The mouse nude mutation inactivates the gene encoding the Foxn1 transcription factor, causing defective hair morphogenesis. Here, we show for the first time that Foxn1 is required for proper assembly of the hair medulla, and we identify Foxn1-regulated genes by transcript profiling. One such gene encodes the desmosomal cadherin, Dsc2. Significantly, Foxn1-dependent Dsc2 expression is restricted to the hair medulla, and within these cells, Dsc2 protein is predominantly localized to specialized adhesion junctions between the cortex and the medulla. Our results reveal Foxn1 as an essential regulator of tissue assembly in the growing hair shaft and implicate Dsc2 as a downstream effector of this activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sarah A Johns
- Centre for Developmental Genetics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield, S10 2TN, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Cunliffe VT. Histone deacetylase 1 is required to repress Notch target gene expression during zebrafish neurogenesis and to maintain the production of motoneurones in response to hedgehog signalling. Development 2004; 131:2983-95. [PMID: 15169759 DOI: 10.1242/dev.01166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [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: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Histone deacetylases (Hdacs) are widely implicated as key components of transcriptional silencing mechanisms. Here, I show that hdac1 is specifically required in the zebrafish embryonic CNS to maintain neurogenesis. In hdac1 mutant embryos, the Notch-responsive E(spl)-related neurogenic gene her6 is ectopically expressed at distinct sites within the developing CNS and proneural gene expression is correspondingly reduced or eliminated. Using an hdac1-specific morpholino, I show that this requirement for hdac1 is epistatic to the requirement for Notch signalling. Consequently, hdac1-deficient embryos exhibit several defects of neuronal specification and patterning, including a dramatic deficit of hedgehog-dependent branchiomotor neurones that is refractory to elevated levels of hedgehog signalling. Thus, in the zebrafish embryo, hdac1 is an essential component of the transcriptional silencing machinery that supports the formation and subsequent differentiation of neuronal precursors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent T Cunliffe
- Centre for Developmental Genetics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Abstract
Multicellular development is programmed by regulated interactions between transcription factors and target genes. Target genes function as nucleosomal arrays whose higher order structure, composition and accessibility to transcription machinery are strictly and dynamically controlled. Several classes of chromatin-associated proteins generate or remove localized, covalent chromatin modifications that signify gene expression status, whereas others modulate nucleosome organization and so regulate template availability for transcription. In vertebrates, covalent modification of the DNA template itself also has dramatic impacts on gene expression and development. Here I review recent discoveries that improve our understanding of the influence of chromatin structure on gene expression and I discuss their relevance to mechanisms of vertebrate development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent T Cunliffe
- Centre for Developmental Genetics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Abstract
The extra sex combs (esc) gene of Drosophila and its mammalian homologue embryonic ectoderm development (eed) play pivotal roles in establishing Polycomb-group (Pc-G) mediated transcriptional silencing of regulatory genes during early development. We have carried out a two-hybrid screen in yeast to identify maternally expressed proteins that interact directly with the product of the Xenopus eed homologue, Xeed. Xeed-interacting proteins that were recovered in this screen included a maternal Xenopus histone deacetylase (HDACm), the Xeed protein itself, and a Xenopus homologue of Enhancer of zeste (XEZ) - a second member of the Pc-G that is closely related by sequence similarity to histone methyltransferases. We have also identified a novel interaction between Xeed and a component of the Xenopus basal transcription machinery, TAF(II)32. We show for the first time that each of these proteins interacts with the Xeed polypeptide, both in the yeast two-hybrid assay and in vitro using purified recombinant proteins. XEZ, HDACm and TAF(II)32 mRNAs are all strongly co-expressed with Xeed mRNA in the fertilized egg, further suggesting that their encoded proteins could interact with Xeed during early embryonic development. Our observations support a multi-step model for the onset of transcriptional silencing in which Xeed binds to and inhibits the function of the transcription initiation complex and also recruits proteins that mediate the acquisition by associated chromatin of epigenetically heritable, post-translational modifications.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Amino Acid Sequence
- Animals
- Blotting, Northern
- DNA, Complementary/genetics
- DNA, Complementary/isolation & purification
- Embryo, Nonmammalian/metabolism
- Embryonic Development
- Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 Protein
- Female
- Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
- Histone Deacetylases/genetics
- Histone Deacetylases/metabolism
- Molecular Sequence Data
- Nuclear Proteins/genetics
- Nuclear Proteins/metabolism
- Polycomb Repressive Complex 2
- Polycomb-Group Proteins
- Protein Binding
- RNA, Messenger/genetics
- RNA, Messenger/metabolism
- Repressor Proteins/genetics
- Repressor Proteins/metabolism
- Saccharomyces cerevisiae/genetics
- Sequence Homology, Amino Acid
- TATA-Binding Protein Associated Factors
- Transcription Factor TFIID
- Transcription Factors, TFII/genetics
- Transcription Factors, TFII/metabolism
- Two-Hybrid System Techniques
- Xenopus Proteins
- Xenopus laevis/genetics
- Xenopus laevis/metabolism
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Showell
- Centre for Developmental Genetics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
41
|
Cunliffe VT, Furley AJW, Keenan D. Complete rescue of the nude mutant phenotype by a wild-type Foxn1 transgene. Mamm Genome 2002; 13:245-52. [PMID: 12016512 DOI: 10.1007/s00335-001-3079-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [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] [Received: 11/14/2001] [Accepted: 01/18/2002] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
In this paper we describe the production and analysis of mice carrying a 110-kb transgene that encompasses the wild-type Foxn1 genomic locus. Mutations in Foxn1 cause the nude phenotype. We show that in the hair follicles, transgenic mice with increased Foxn1 gene dosage exhibited increased Foxn1 expression that was restricted correctly to the nascent, post-mitotic cells of the differentiating hair cortex and hair cuticle lineages. We also demonstrate for the first time that a Foxn1 transgene rescues completely both the hair follicle and the thymus defects in animals that are also homozygous for the nude mutation at the endogenous Foxn1 locus, causing the development of a full coat of hair and a normal population of peripheral blood T lymphocytes. We conclude that sufficient cis-acting regulatory information resides within this 110-kb transgene to direct reliable and appropriate tissue-specific expression of the Foxn1 gene.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vincent T Cunliffe
- Centre for Developmental Genetics, School of Medicine and Biomedical Science, University of Sheffield, Firth Court, Western Bank, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK.
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Affiliation(s)
- V T Cunliffe
- Developmental Genetics Programme, University of Sheffield, Sheffield S10 2TN, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|