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Jiang Y, Jia P, Feng X, Zhang D. Marfan syndrome: insights from animal models. Front Genet 2025; 15:1463318. [PMID: 39834548 PMCID: PMC11743488 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2024.1463318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2024] [Accepted: 12/13/2024] [Indexed: 01/22/2025] Open
Abstract
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an inherited disorder that affects the connective tissues and mainly presents in the bones, eyes, and cardiovascular system, etc. Aortic pathology is the leading cause of death in patients with Marfan syndrome. The fibrillin-1 gene (FBN1) is a major gene involved in the pathogenesis of MFS. It has been shown that the aortic pathogenesis of MFS is associated with the imbalances of the transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) signaling pathway. However, the exact molecular mechanism of MFS is unclear. Animal models may partially mimic MFS and are vital to the study of MFS. Several species of animals have been used for MFS studies, including chicks, cattle, mice, pigs, zebrafishes, Caenorhabditis elegans, and rabbits. These models were developed spontaneously or in combination with genetic engineering techniques. This review is to describe the TGF-β signaling pathway in MFS and the potential application of animal models to provide new therapeutic strategies for patients with MFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Jiang
- Marfan Research Group, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Ping Jia
- Department of Neurosurgery Nursing, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Xiaoying Feng
- College of Medical Technology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, China
| | - Dingding Zhang
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Genetic Disease, Sichuan Provincial People’s Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
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Tarraf SA, de Souza RB, Herrick A, Pereira LV, Bellini C. The Fbn1 gene variant governs passive ascending aortic mechanics in the mgΔ lpn mouse model of Marfan syndrome when superimposed to perlecan haploinsufficiency. Front Cardiovasc Med 2024; 11:1319164. [PMID: 38545339 PMCID: PMC10965555 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2024.1319164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 11/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Ascending thoracic aortic aneurysms arise from pathological tissue remodeling that leads to abnormal wall dilation and increases the risk of fatal dissection/rupture. Large variability in disease manifestations across family members who carry a causative genetic variant for thoracic aortic aneurysms suggests that genetic modifiers may exacerbate clinical outcomes. Decreased perlecan expression in the aorta of mgΔlpn mice with severe Marfan syndrome phenotype advocates for exploring perlecan-encoding Hspg2 as a candidate modifier gene. Methods To determine the effect of concurrent Hspg2 and Fbn1 mutations on the progression of thoracic aortopathy, we characterized the microstructure and passive mechanical response of the ascending thoracic aorta in female mice of four genetic backgrounds: wild-type, heterozygous with a mutation in the Fbn1 gene (mgΔlpn), heterozygous with a mutation in the Hspg2 gene (Hspg2+/-), and double mutants carrying both the Fbn1 and Hspg2 variants (dMut). Results Elastic fiber fragmentation and medial disarray progress from the internal elastic lamina outward as the ascending thoracic aorta dilates in mgΔlpn and dMut mice. Concurrent increase in total collagen content relative to elastin reduces energy storage capacity and cyclic distensibility of aortic tissues from mice that carry the Fbn1 variant. Inherent circumferential tissue stiffening strongly correlates with the severity of aortic dilatation in mgΔlpn and dMut mice. Perlecan haploinsufficiency superimposed to the mgΔlpn mutation curbs the viability of dMut mice, increases the occurrence of aortic enlargement, and reduces the axial stretch in aortic tissues. Discussion Overall, our findings show that dMut mice are more vulnerable than mgΔlpn mice without an Hspg2 mutation, yet later endpoints and additional structural and functional readouts are needed to identify causative mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samar A. Tarraf
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | | | - Ashley Herrick
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
| | - Lygia V. Pereira
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Chiara Bellini
- Department of Bioengineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA, United States
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Wu J, Li F, Zhang J, Hao XD. Genetic mutation and aqueous humor metabolites alterations in a family with Marfan syndrome. Heliyon 2024; 10:e23696. [PMID: 38187261 PMCID: PMC10770601 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2023.e23696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2023] [Revised: 10/26/2023] [Accepted: 12/09/2023] [Indexed: 01/09/2024] Open
Abstract
This study used four generations of a Chinese family to reveal the genetic etiology and ocular manifestation pathogenesis of Marfan syndrome (MFS) through whole genome sequencing (WGS) and metabolomics analysis. In the study, we explored the pathogenic gene variant and aqueous humor (AH) metabolites alterations of MFS. Using WGS, a novel heterozygous variant (NM_000138: c.G4192A, p.D1398 N) in the fibrilin-1 (FBN1) gene was identified. This variant was co-segregated with the phenotype and considered "deleterious" and highly conserved during evolution. The p.D1398 N variant is located in a cbEGF-like domain and predicted to lead to a new splice site, which might result in structural and functional changes to the FBN1 protein. FBN1 is highly expressed in the mouse cornea, conjunctiva and lens capsule, which highlights the important role of FBN1 in eyeball development. AH metabolomics analysis identified eight differentially expressed metabolites, including 3-hydroxyphenylacetic acid, 4-pyridoxic acid, aminoadipic acid, azelaic acid, chlordiazepoxide, niacinamide, ribose, 1,5-bisphosphate and se-methylselenocysteine, associated with relevant metabolic pathways likely involved in the pathogenesis of ocular symptoms in MFS. Our analysis extends the existing spectrum of disease-causing mutations and reveals metabolites information related to the ophthalmic features of MFS. This may provide a new sight and a basis for the diagnosis and mechanism of MFS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Wu
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, China
| | - Fei Li
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, China
| | - Jingjing Zhang
- Eye Institute of Shandong First Medical University, Eye Hospital of Shandong First Medical University (Shandong Eye Hospital), State Key Laboratory Cultivation Base, Shandong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, School of Ophthalmology, Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, 250021, China
| | - Xiao-dan Hao
- Institute for Translational Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Qingdao University, College of Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, 266021, China
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Summers KM. Genetic models of fibrillinopathies. Genetics 2024; 226:iyad189. [PMID: 37972149 PMCID: PMC11021029 DOI: 10.1093/genetics/iyad189] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The fibrillinopathies represent a group of diseases in which the 10-12 nm extracellular microfibrils are disrupted by genetic variants in one of the genes encoding fibrillin molecules, large glycoproteins of the extracellular matrix. The best-known fibrillinopathy is Marfan syndrome, an autosomal dominant condition affecting the cardiovascular, ocular, skeletal, and other systems, with a prevalence of around 1 in 3,000 across all ethnic groups. It is caused by variants of the FBN1 gene, encoding fibrillin-1, which interacts with elastin to provide strength and elasticity to connective tissues. A number of mouse models have been created in an attempt to replicate the human phenotype, although all have limitations. There are also natural bovine models and engineered models in pig and rabbit. Variants in FBN2 encoding fibrillin-2 cause congenital contractural arachnodactyly and mouse models for this condition have also been produced. In most animals, including birds, reptiles, and amphibians, there is a third fibrillin, fibrillin-3 (FBN3 gene) for which the creation of models has been difficult as the gene is degenerate and nonfunctional in mice and rats. Other eukaryotes such as the nematode C. elegans and zebrafish D. rerio have a gene with some homology to fibrillins and models have been used to discover more about the function of this family of proteins. This review looks at the phenotype, inheritance, and relevance of the various animal models for the different fibrillinopathies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kim M Summers
- Mater Research Institute-University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba QLD 4102, Australia
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de Souza RB, Lemes RB, Foresto-Neto O, Cassiano LL, Reinhardt DP, Meek KM, Koh IHJ, Lewis PN, Pereira LV. Extracellular matrix and vascular dynamics in the kidney of a murine model for Marfan syndrome. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0285418. [PMID: 37159453 PMCID: PMC10168582 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0285418] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/24/2023] [Indexed: 05/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrillin-1 is a pivotal structural component of the kidney's glomerulus and peritubular tissue. Mutations in the fibrillin-1 gene result in Marfan syndrome (MFS), an autosomal dominant disease of the connective tissue. Although the kidney is not considered a classically affected organ in MFS, several case reports describe glomerular disease in patients. Therefore, this study aimed to characterize the kidney in the mgΔlpn-mouse model of MFS. Affected animals presented a significant reduction of glomerulus, glomerulus-capillary, and urinary space, and a significant reduction of fibrillin-1 and fibronectin in the glomerulus. Transmission electron microscopy and 3D-ultrastructure analysis revealed decreased amounts of microfibrils which also appeared fragmented in the MFS mice. Increased collagen fibers types I and III, MMP-9, and α-actin were also observed in affected animals, suggesting a tissue-remodeling process in the kidney. Video microscopy analysis showed an increase of microvessel distribution coupled with reduction of blood-flow velocity, while ultrasound flow analysis revealed significantly lower blood flow in the kidney artery and vein of the MFS mice. The structural and hemodynamic changes of the kidney indicate the presence of kidney remodeling and vascular resistance in this MFS model. Both processes are associated with hypertension which is expected to worsen the cardiovascular phenotype in MFS.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Renan Barbosa Lemes
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Orestes Foresto-Neto
- Faculty of Medicine, Department of Clinical Medicine, Renal Division, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Dieter P Reinhardt
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology Dentistry and Faculty of Dental Medicine and Oral Health Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Keith M Meek
- Structural Biophysics Research Group, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Ivan Hong Jun Koh
- Department of Surgery, Federal University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Philip N Lewis
- Structural Biophysics Research Group, School of Optometry and Vision Sciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, United Kingdom
| | - Lygia V Pereira
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
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Souza RBD, Kawahara EI, Farinha-Arcieri LE, Gyuricza IG, Neofiti-Papi B, Miranda-Rodrigues M, Teixeira MBCG, Fernandes GR, Lemes RB, Reinhardt DP, Gouveia CH, Pereira LV. Hyperkyphosis is not dependent on bone mass and quality in the mouse model of Marfan syndrome. Bone 2021; 152:116073. [PMID: 34171513 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2021.116073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
Marfan syndrome (MFS) is an autosomal dominant disease affecting cardiovascular, ocular and skeletal systems. It is caused by mutations in the fibrillin-1 (FBN1) gene, leading to structural defects of connective tissue and increased activation of TGF-β. Angiotensin II (ang-II) is involved in TGF-β activity and in bone mass regulation. Inhibition of TGF-β signaling by blockage of the ang-II receptor 1 (AT1R) via losartan administration leads to improvement of cardiovascular and pulmonary phenotypes, but has no effect on skeletal phenotype in the haploinsufficient mouse model of MFS mgR, suggesting a distinct mechanism of pathogenesis in the skeletal system. Here we characterized the skeletal phenotypes of the dominant-negative model for MFS mgΔlpn and tested the effect of inhibition of ang-II signaling in improving those phenotypes. As previously shown, heterozygous mice present hyperkyphosis, however we now show that only males also present osteopenia. Inhibition of ang-II production by ramipril minimized the kyphotic deformity, but had no effect on bone microstructure in male mutant animals. Histological analysis revealed increased thickness of the anterior longitudinal ligament (ALL) of the spine in mutant animals (25.8 ± 6.3 vs. 29.7 ± 7.7 μm), coupled with a reduction in type I (164.1 ± 8.7 vs. 139.0 ± 4.4) and increase in type III (86.5 ± 10.2 vs. 140.4 ± 5.6) collagen in the extracellular matrix of this ligament. In addition, we identified in the MFS mice alterations in the erector spinae muscles which presented thinner muscle fibers (1035.0 ± 420.6 vs. 655.6 ± 239.5 μm2) surrounded by increased area of connective tissue (58.17 ± 6.52 vs. 105.0 ± 44.54 μm2). Interestingly, these phenotypes were ameliorated by ramipril treatment. Our results reveal a sex-dependency of bone phenotype in MFS, where females do not present alterations in bone microstructure. More importantly, they indicate that hyperkyphosis is not a result of osteopenia in the MFS mouse model, and suggest that incompetent spine ligaments and muscles are responsible for the development of that phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodrigo Barbosa de Souza
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Elisa Ito Kawahara
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Luis Ernesto Farinha-Arcieri
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Isabela Gerdes Gyuricza
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Bianca Neofiti-Papi
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Manuela Miranda-Rodrigues
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | | | - Gustavo Ribeiro Fernandes
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Renan Barbosa Lemes
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil
| | - Dieter P Reinhardt
- Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences and Faculty of Dentistry, McGill University, Montreal, Canada
| | - Cecília Helena Gouveia
- Department of Anatomy, Institute of Biomedical Sciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-000, Brazil
| | - Lygia V Pereira
- Department of Genetics and Evolutionary Biology, Institute of Biosciences, University of São Paulo, São Paulo, SP 05508-090, Brazil.
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