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Hoffmann S, Roeth R, Diebold S, Gogel J, Hassel D, Just S, Rappold GA. Identification and Tissue-Specific Characterization of Novel SHOX-Regulated Genes in Zebrafish Highlights SOX Family Members Among Other Genes. Front Genet 2021; 12:688808. [PMID: 34122528 PMCID: PMC8191631 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.688808] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/27/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
SHOX deficiency causes a spectrum of clinical phenotypes related to skeletal dysplasia and short stature, including Léri-Weill dyschondrosteosis, Langer mesomelic dysplasia, Turner syndrome, and idiopathic short stature. SHOX controls chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, bone maturation, and cellular growth arrest and apoptosis via transcriptional regulation of its direct target genes NPPB, FGFR3, and CTGF. However, our understanding of SHOX-related pathways is still incomplete. To elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms and to better understand the broad phenotypic spectrum of SHOX deficiency, we aimed to identify novel SHOX targets. We analyzed differentially expressed genes in SHOX-overexpressing human fibroblasts (NHDF), and confirmed the known SHOX target genes NPPB and FGFR among the most strongly regulated genes, together with 143 novel candidates. Altogether, 23 genes were selected for further validation, first by whole-body characterization in developing shox-deficient zebrafish embryos, followed by tissue-specific expression analysis in three shox-expressing zebrafish tissues: head (including brain, pharyngeal arches, eye, and olfactory epithelium), heart, and pectoral fins. Most genes were physiologically relevant in the pectoral fins, while only few genes were also significantly regulated in head and heart tissue. Interestingly, multiple sox family members (sox5, sox6, sox8, and sox18) were significantly dysregulated in shox-deficient pectoral fins together with other genes (nppa, nppc, cdkn1a, cdkn1ca, cyp26b1, and cy26c1), highlighting an important role for these genes in shox-related growth disorders. Network-based analysis integrating data from the Ingenuity pathways revealed that most of these genes act in a common network. Our results provide novel insights into the genetic pathways and molecular events leading to the clinical manifestation of SHOX deficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandra Hoffmann
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Ralph Roeth
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,nCounter Core Facility, Institute of Human Genetics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Sabrina Diebold
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II - Molecular Cardiology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Jasmin Gogel
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Hassel
- Department of Internal Medicine III - Cardiology, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steffen Just
- Clinic for Internal Medicine II - Molecular Cardiology, University Hospital Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Gudrun A Rappold
- Department of Human Molecular Genetics, Institute of Human Genetics, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,DZHK (German Centre for Cardiovascular Research), Partner Site Heidelberg/Mannheim, Heidelberg, Germany
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