1
|
Dong XS, Wen XJ, Zhang S, Wang DG, Xiong Y, Li ZM. Identification of compound heterozygous deletion of the WWOX gene in WOREE syndrome. BMC Med Genomics 2023; 16:291. [PMID: 37974179 PMCID: PMC10652538 DOI: 10.1186/s12920-023-01731-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Biallelic loss-of-function variants in WWOX cause WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy (WOREE syndrome), which has been reported in 60 affected individuals to date. In this study, we report on an affected individual with WOREE syndrome who presented with early-onset refractory seizures and global neurodevelopmental delay and died at the age of two and a half years. METHODS We present clinical and molecular findings in the affected individual, including biallelic pathogenic variants in the WWOX gene. We employed different molecular approaches, such as whole exome sequencing, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and whole-genome sequencing, to identify the genetic variants. The breakpoints were determined through gap PCR and Sanger sequencing. RESULT Whole exome sequencing revealed homozygous exon 6 deletion in the WWOX gene in the proband. Quantitative real-time PCR confirmed that the parents were heterozygous carriers of exon 6 deletion. However, using whole-genome sequencing, we identified three larger deletions (maternal allele with exon 6-8 deletion and paternal allele with two deletions in proximity one in intron 5 and the other in exon 6) involving the WWOX gene in the proband, with deletion sizes of 13,261 bp, 53,904 bp, and 177,200 bp. The exact breakpoints were confirmed through gap PCR and Sanger sequencing. We found that the proband inherited the discontinuous deletion of intron 5 and exon 6 from the father, and the exons 6-8 deletion from the mother using gap PCR. CONCLUSION Our findings extend the variant spectrum of WOREE syndrome and support the critical role of the WWOX gene in neural development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xing-Sheng Dong
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Zhongshan Boai Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Xiao-Jun Wen
- Reproductive Medicine Center, Zhongshan Boai Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Zhongshan Boai Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - De-Gang Wang
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Zhongshan Boai Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Yi Xiong
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Zhongshan Boai Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhi-Ming Li
- Prenatal Diagnosis Center, Zhongshan Boai Hospital Affiliated to Southern Medical University, Zhongshan, Guangdong, China.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Cheng HC, Huang PH, Lai FJ, Jan MS, Chen YL, Chen SY, Chen WL, Hsu CK, Huang W, Hsu LJ. Loss of fragile WWOX gene leads to senescence escape and genome instability. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:338. [PMID: 37897534 PMCID: PMC10613160 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04950-1] [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: 04/16/2023] [Revised: 08/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/04/2023] [Indexed: 10/30/2023]
Abstract
Induction of DNA damage response (DDR) to ensure accurate duplication of genetic information is crucial for maintaining genome integrity during DNA replication. Cellular senescence is a DDR mechanism that prevents the proliferation of cells with damaged DNA to avoid mitotic anomalies and inheritance of the damage over cell generations. Human WWOX gene resides within a common fragile site FRA16D that is preferentially prone to form breaks on metaphase chromosome upon replication stress. We report here that primary Wwox knockout (Wwox-/-) mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs) and WWOX-knockdown human dermal fibroblasts failed to undergo replication-induced cellular senescence after multiple passages in vitro. Strikingly, by greater than 20 passages, accelerated cell cycle progression and increased apoptosis occurred in these late-passage Wwox-/- MEFs. These cells exhibited γH2AX upregulation and microsatellite instability, indicating massive accumulation of nuclear DNA lesions. Ultraviolet radiation-induced premature senescence was also blocked by WWOX knockdown in human HEK293T cells. Mechanistically, overproduction of cytosolic reactive oxygen species caused p16Ink4a promoter hypermethylation, aberrant p53/p21Cip1/Waf1 signaling axis and accelerated p27Kip1 protein degradation, thereby leading to the failure of senescence induction in Wwox-deficient cells after serial passage in culture. We determined that significantly reduced protein stability or loss-of-function A135P/V213G mutations in the DNA-binding domain of p53 caused defective induction of p21Cip1/Waf1 in late-passage Wwox-/- MEFs. Treatment of N-acetyl-L-cysteine prevented downregulation of cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitors and induced senescence in Wwox-/- MEFs. Our findings support an important role for fragile WWOX gene in inducing cellular senescence for maintaining genome integrity during DDR through alleviating oxidative stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hui-Ching Cheng
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Po-Hsien Huang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Jie Lai
- Department of Dermatology, Chi Mei Medical Center, Tainan, 71004, Taiwan.
- Center for General Education, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, 71005, Taiwan.
| | - Ming-Shiou Jan
- Institute of Biochemistry, Microbiology and Immunology, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, 40201, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Lin Chen
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
- Molecular Diagnosis Laboratory, Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, 704302, Taiwan
| | - Szu-Ying Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Li Chen
- Molecular Diagnosis Laboratory, Department of Pathology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, 704302, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Kai Hsu
- Department of Dermatology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Wenya Huang
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan
| | - Li-Jin Hsu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan.
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan.
- Center of Infectious Disease and Signaling Research, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan.
- Research Center for Medical Laboratory Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, 70101, Taiwan.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Wang N, Xu S, Egli D. Replication stress in mammalian embryo development, differentiation, and reprogramming. Trends Cell Biol 2023; 33:872-886. [PMID: 37202286 DOI: 10.1016/j.tcb.2023.03.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2023] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
Duplicating a genome of 3 billion nucleotides is challenged by a variety of obstacles that can cause replication stress and affect the integrity of the genome. Recent studies show that replication fork slowing and stalling is prevalent in early mammalian development, resulting in genome instability and aneuploidy, and constituting a barrier to development in human reproduction. Genome instability resulting from DNA replication stress is a barrier to the cloning of animals and to the reprogramming of differentiated cells to induced pluripotent stem cells, as well as a barrier to cell transformation. Remarkably, the regions most impacted by replication stress are shared in these different cellular contexts, affecting long genes and flanking intergenic areas. In this review we integrate our knowledge of DNA replication stress in mammalian embryos, in programming, and in reprogramming, and we discuss a potential role for fragile sites in sensing replication stress and restricting cell cycle progression in health and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ning Wang
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Shuangyi Xu
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Dieter Egli
- Division of Molecular Genetics, Department of Pediatrics and Naomi Berrie Diabetes Center, Columbia Stem Cell Initiative, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Jalloh B, Lancaster CL, Rounds JC, Brown BE, Leung SW, Banerjee A, Morton DJ, Bienkowski RS, Fasken MB, Kremsky IJ, Tegowski M, Meyer K, Corbett A, Moberg K. The Drosophila Nab2 RNA binding protein inhibits m 6A methylation and male-specific splicing of Sex lethal transcript in female neuronal tissue. eLife 2023; 12:e64904. [PMID: 37458420 PMCID: PMC10351920 DOI: 10.7554/elife.64904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Accepted: 06/23/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
The Drosophila polyadenosine RNA binding protein Nab2, which is orthologous to a human protein lost in a form of inherited intellectual disability, controls adult locomotion, axon projection, dendritic arborization, and memory through a largely undefined set of target RNAs. Here, we show a specific role for Nab2 in regulating splicing of ~150 exons/introns in the head transcriptome and focus on retention of a male-specific exon in the sex determination factor Sex-lethal (Sxl) that is enriched in female neurons. Previous studies have revealed that this splicing event is regulated in females by N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification by the Mettl3 complex. At a molecular level, Nab2 associates with Sxl pre-mRNA in neurons and limits Sxl m6A methylation at specific sites. In parallel, reducing expression of the Mettl3, Mettl3 complex components, or the m6A reader Ythdc1 rescues mutant phenotypes in Nab2 flies. Overall, these data identify Nab2 as an inhibitor of m6A methylation and imply significant overlap between Nab2 and Mettl3 regulated RNAs in neuronal tissue.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Binta Jalloh
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
- Department of Cell Biology Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Carly L Lancaster
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
- Department of Cell Biology Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
- Graduate Program in Biochemistry, Cell and Developmental Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - J Christopher Rounds
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
- Department of Cell Biology Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Brianna E Brown
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
- Department of Cell Biology Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| | - Sara W Leung
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Ayan Banerjee
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Derrick J Morton
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
- Emory Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Award (IRACDA), Fellowships in Research and Science Teaching (FIRST) Postdoctoral FellowshipAtlantaUnited States
| | - Rick S Bienkowski
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
- Department of Cell Biology Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
- Graduate Program in Genetics and Molecular Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Milo B Fasken
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | | | - Matthew Tegowski
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
| | - Kate Meyer
- Department of Biochemistry, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
- Department of Neurobiology, Duke University School of MedicineDurhamUnited States
| | - Anita Corbett
- Department of Biology, Emory UniversityAtlantaUnited States
| | - Ken Moberg
- Department of Cell Biology Emory University School of MedicineAtlantaUnited States
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Oliver KL, Trivisano M, Mandelstam SA, De Dominicis A, Francis DI, Green TE, Muir AM, Chowdhary A, Hertzberg C, Goldhahn K, Metreau J, Prager C, Pinner J, Cardamone M, Myers KA, Leventer RJ, Lesca G, Bahlo M, Hildebrand MS, Mefford HC, Kaindl AM, Specchio N, Scheffer IE. WWOX developmental and epileptic encephalopathy: Understanding the epileptology and the mortality risk. Epilepsia 2023; 64:1351-1367. [PMID: 36779245 PMCID: PMC10952634 DOI: 10.1111/epi.17542] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE WWOX is an autosomal recessive cause of early infantile developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (WWOX-DEE), also known as WOREE (WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy). We analyzed the epileptology and imaging features of WWOX-DEE, and investigated genotype-phenotype correlations, particularly with regard to survival. METHODS We studied 13 patients from 12 families with WWOX-DEE. Information regarding seizure semiology, comorbidities, facial dysmorphisms, and disease outcome were collected. Electroencephalographic (EEG) and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data were analyzed. Pathogenic WWOX variants from our cohort and the literature were coded as either null or missense, allowing individuals to be classified into one of three genotype classes: (1) null/null, (2) null/missense, (3) missense/missense. Differences in survival outcome were estimated using the Kaplan-Meier method. RESULTS All patients experienced multiple seizure types (median onset = 5 weeks, range = 1 day-10 months), the most frequent being focal (85%), epileptic spasms (77%), and tonic seizures (69%). Ictal EEG recordings in six of 13 patients showed tonic (n = 5), myoclonic (n = 2), epileptic spasms (n = 2), focal (n = 1), and migrating focal (n = 1) seizures. Interictal EEGs demonstrated slow background activity with multifocal discharges, predominantly over frontal or temporo-occipital regions. Eleven of 13 patients had a movement disorder, most frequently dystonia. Brain MRIs revealed severe frontotemporal, hippocampal, and optic atrophy, thin corpus callosum, and white matter signal abnormalities. Pathogenic variants were located throughout WWOX and comprised both missense and null changes including five copy number variants (four deletions, one duplication). Survival analyses showed that patients with two null variants are at higher mortality risk (p-value = .0085, log-rank test). SIGNIFICANCE Biallelic WWOX pathogenic variants cause an early infantile developmental and epileptic encephalopathy syndrome. The most common seizure types are focal seizures and epileptic spasms. Mortality risk is associated with mutation type; patients with biallelic null WWOX pathogenic variants have significantly lower survival probability compared to those carrying at least one presumed hypomorphic missense pathogenic variant.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Karen L. Oliver
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of MedicineUniversity of Melbourne, Austin HealthHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
- Population Health and Immunity DivisionWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Marina Trivisano
- Rare and Complex Epilepsy Unit, Department of NeuroscienceBambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, full member of European Reference Network EpiCARERomeItaly
| | - Simone A. Mandelstam
- Department of PaediatricsUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Radiology, Royal Children's HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Angela De Dominicis
- Rare and Complex Epilepsy Unit, Department of NeuroscienceBambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, full member of European Reference Network EpiCARERomeItaly
- Department of Biomedicine and PreventionUniversity of Rome “Tor Vergata”RomeItaly
| | - David I. Francis
- Victorian Clinical Genetics ServicesMurdoch Children's Research Institute, Royal Children's HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Timothy E. Green
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of MedicineUniversity of Melbourne, Austin HealthHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
| | - Alison M. Muir
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Apoorva Chowdhary
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
| | - Christoph Hertzberg
- Zentrum für Sozialpädiatrie und Neuropädiatrie (DBZ)Vivantes Hospital NeukoellnBerlinGermany
| | - Klaus Goldhahn
- Department of Pediatrics and Neuropediatrics, DRK Klinikum WestendBerlinGermany
| | - Julia Metreau
- Department of Pediatric NeurologyHôpital Bicêtre, Assistance Publique Hopitaux de ParisLe Kremlin‐BicêtreFrance
| | - Christine Prager
- Center for Chronically Sick Children (SPZ)Charité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
- Department of Pediatric NeurologyCharité–Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Jason Pinner
- Sydney Children's HospitalRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Women's and Children's HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Michael Cardamone
- Sydney Children's HospitalRandwickNew South WalesAustralia
- School of Women's and Children's HealthUniversity of New South WalesSydneyNew South WalesAustralia
| | - Kenneth A. Myers
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of PediatricsMcGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health CentreMontrealQuebecCanada
- Department of Neurology and NeurosurgeryMontreal Children's Hospital, McGill UniversityMontrealQuebecCanada
| | - Richard J. Leventer
- Department of PaediatricsUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Department of NeurologyRoyal Children's HospitalMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Gaetan Lesca
- Department of Medical Genetics, Lyon University HospitalUniversité Claude Bernard Lyon 1, member of the European Reference Network EpiCARELyonFrance
| | - Melanie Bahlo
- Population Health and Immunity DivisionWalter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical ResearchParkvilleVictoriaAustralia
- Department of Medical BiologyUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Michael S. Hildebrand
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of MedicineUniversity of Melbourne, Austin HealthHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| | - Heather C. Mefford
- Department of PediatricsUniversity of WashingtonSeattleWashingtonUSA
- Center for Pediatric Neurological Disease ResearchSt. Jude Children's Research HospitalMemphisTennesseeUSA
| | - Angela M. Kaindl
- Center for Chronically Sick Children (SPZ)Charité‐Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
- Department of Pediatric NeurologyCharité–Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
- Institute of Cell Biology and NeurobiologyCharité–Universitätsmedizin BerlinBerlinGermany
| | - Nicola Specchio
- Rare and Complex Epilepsy Unit, Department of NeuroscienceBambino Gesù Children's Hospital IRCCS, full member of European Reference Network EpiCARERomeItaly
| | - Ingrid E. Scheffer
- Epilepsy Research Centre, Department of MedicineUniversity of Melbourne, Austin HealthHeidelbergVictoriaAustralia
- Department of PaediatricsUniversity of MelbourneMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Murdoch Children's Research InstituteMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
- Florey Institute of Neuroscience and Mental HealthMelbourneVictoriaAustralia
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Hussain T, Sanchez K, Crayton J, Saha D, Jeter C, Lu Y, Abba M, Seo R, Noebels JL, Fonken L, Aldaz CM. WWOX P47T partial loss-of-function mutation induces epilepsy, progressive neuroinflammation, and cerebellar degeneration in mice phenocopying human SCAR12. Prog Neurobiol 2023; 223:102425. [PMID: 36828035 PMCID: PMC10835625 DOI: 10.1016/j.pneurobio.2023.102425] [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: 10/19/2022] [Revised: 01/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 02/24/2023]
Abstract
WWOX gene loss-of-function (LoF) has been associated with neuropathologies resulting in developmental, epileptic, and ataxic phenotypes of varying severity based on the level of WWOX dysfunction. WWOX gene biallelic germline variant p.Pro47Thr (P47T) has been causally associated with a new form of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxia with epilepsy and intellectual disability (SCAR12, MIM:614322). This mutation affecting the WW1 protein binding domain of WWOX, impairs its interaction with canonical proline-proline-X-tyrosine motifs in partner proteins. We generated a mutant knock-in mouse model of Wwox P47T mutation that phenocopies human SCAR12. WwoxP47T/P47T mice displayed epilepsy, profound social behavior and cognition deficits, and poor motor coordination, and unlike KO models that survive only for 1 month, live beyond 1 year of age. These deficits progressed with age and mice became practically immobile, suggesting severe cerebellar dysfunction. WwoxP47T/P47T mice brains revealed signs of progressive neuroinflammation with elevated astro-microgliosis that increased with age. Cerebellar cortex displayed significantly reduced molecular and granular layer thickness and a strikingly reduced number of Purkinje cells with degenerated dendrites. Transcriptome profiling from various brain regions of WW domain LoF mice highlighted widespread changes in neuronal and glial pathways, enrichment of bioprocesses related to neuroinflammation, and severe cerebellar dysfunction. Our results show significant pathobiological effects and potential mechanisms through which WWOX partial LoF leads to epilepsy, cerebellar neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and ataxia. Additionally, the mouse model described here will be a useful tool to understand the role of WWOX in common neurodegenerative conditions in which this gene has been identified as a novel risk factor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tabish Hussain
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Kevin Sanchez
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - Jennifer Crayton
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Dhurjhoti Saha
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Collene Jeter
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Yue Lu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Martin Abba
- Centro de Investigaciones Inmunológicas Básicas y Aplicadas, School of Medicine, Universidad de La Plata, La Plata 1900, Argentina
| | - Ryan Seo
- Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Noebels
- Developmental Neurogenetics Laboratory, Department of Neurology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Laura Fonken
- Division of Pharmacology and Toxicology, College of Pharmacy, The University of Texas at Austin, Austin, TX 78712, USA
| | - C Marcelo Aldaz
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77054, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Chong SC, Cao Y, Fung ELW, Kleppe S, Gripp KW, Hertecant J, El-Hattab AW, Suleiman J, Clark G, von Allmen G, Rodziyevska O, Lewis RA, Rosenfeld JA, Dong J, Wang X, Miller MJ, Bi W, Liu P, Scaglia F. Expansion of the clinical and molecular spectrum of WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy. Am J Med Genet A 2023; 191:776-785. [PMID: 36537114 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.a.63074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2022] [Revised: 11/21/2022] [Accepted: 11/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/14/2023]
Abstract
WWOX biallelic loss-of-function pathogenic single nucleotide variants (SNVs) and copy number variants (CNVs) including exonic deletions and duplications cause WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy (WOREE) syndrome. This disorder is characterized by refractory epilepsy, axial hypotonia, peripheral hypertonia, progressive microcephaly, and premature death. Here we report five patients with WWOX biallelic predicted null variants identified by exome sequencing (ES), genome sequencing (GS), and/or chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA). SNVs and intragenic deletions of one or more exons were commonly reported in WOREE syndrome patients which made the genetic diagnosis challenging and required a combination of different diagnostic technologies. These patients presented with severe, developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEE), and other cardinal features consistent with WOREE syndrome. This report expands the clinical phenotype associated with this condition, including failure to thrive in most patients and epilepsy that responded to a ketogenic diet in three patients. Dysmorphic features and abnormal prenatal findings were not commonly observed. Additionally, recurrent pancreatitis and sensorineural hearing loss each were observed in single patients. In summary, these phenotypic features broaden the clinical spectrum of WOREE syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shuk Ching Chong
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Joint BCM-CUHK Center of Medical Genetics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Ye Cao
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Joint BCM-CUHK Center of Medical Genetics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Eva L W Fung
- Department of Paediatrics, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Soledad Kleppe
- Unidad de Metabolismo, Hospital de Niños Ricardo Gutiérrez, Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Karen W Gripp
- Division of Medical Genetics, A. I. du Pont Hospital for Children/Nemours, Wilmington, Delaware, USA
| | - Jozef Hertecant
- Division of Genetic and Metabolic Disorders, Departments of Pediatrics, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Ayman W El-Hattab
- Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Jehan Suleiman
- Division of Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, Tawam Hospital, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates.,Department of Pediatrics, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, United Arab Emirates University, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Gary Clark
- Neurology and Developmental Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Neurology Service, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Gretchen von Allmen
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Olga Rodziyevska
- Division of Child Neurology, Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Richard A Lewis
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Ophthalmology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jill A Rosenfeld
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Jie Dong
- Baylor Genetics, Houston, Texas, USA
| | | | - Xia Wang
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Baylor Genetics, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Marcus J Miller
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Baylor Genetics, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Weimin Bi
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Baylor Genetics, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Pengfei Liu
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Baylor Genetics, Houston, Texas, USA
| | - Fernando Scaglia
- Joint BCM-CUHK Center of Medical Genetics, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas, USA.,Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Carvalho C, Correia SC, Seiça R, Moreira PI. WWOX inhibition by Zfra1-31 restores mitochondrial homeostasis and viability of neuronal cells exposed to high glucose. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:487. [PMID: 35984507 PMCID: PMC11071800 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-022-04508-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
Abstract
Diabetes has been associated with an increased risk of cognitive decline and dementia. However, the mechanisms underlying this association remain unclear and no effective therapeutic interventions exist. Accumulating evidence demonstrates that mitochondrial defects are a key feature of diabetes contributing to neurodegenerative events. It has also been demonstrated that the putative tumor suppressor WW domain-containing oxidoreductase 1 (WWOX) can interact with mitochondria in several pathological conditions. However, its role in diabetes-associated neurodegeneration remains unknown. So, this study aimed to evaluate the role of WWOX activation in high glucose-induced neuronal damage and death. Our experiments were mainly performed in differentiated SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells exposed to high glucose and treated (or not) with Zfra1-31, the specific inhibitor of WWOX. Several parameters were analyzed namely cell viability, WWOX activation (tyrosine 33 residue phosphorylation), mitochondrial function, reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, biogenesis, and dynamics, autophagy and oxidative stress/damage. The levels of the neurotoxic proteins amyloid β (Aβ) and phosphorylated Tau (pTau) and of synaptic integrity markers were also evaluated. We observed that high glucose increased the levels of activated WWOX. Interestingly, brain cortical and hippocampal homogenates from young (6-month old) diabetic GK rats showed increased levels of activated WWOX compared to older GK rats (12-month old) suggesting that WWOX plays an early role in the diabetic brain. In neuronal cells, high glucose impaired mitochondrial respiration, dynamics and biogenesis, increased mitochondrial ROS production and decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and ATP production. More, high glucose augmented oxidative stress/damage and the levels of Aβ and pTau proteins and affected autophagy, contributing to the loss of synaptic integrity and cell death. Of note, the activation of WWOX preceded mitochondrial dysfunction and cell death. Importantly, the inhibition of WWOX with Zfra1-31 reversed, totally or partially, the alterations promoted by high glucose. Altogether our observations demonstrate that under high glucose conditions WWOX activation contributes to mitochondrial anomalies and neuronal damage and death, which suggests that WWOX is a potential therapeutic target for early interventions. Our findings also support the efficacy of Zfra1-31 in treating hyperglycemia/diabetes-associated neurodegeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Carvalho
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal.
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
| | - Sónia C Correia
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal
- Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute for Interdisciplinary Research, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Raquel Seiça
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Paula I Moreira
- Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3004-504, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Center for Innovation in Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), Coimbra, Portugal.
- Institute of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal.
- Laboratory of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-354, Coimbra, Portugal.
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Yang H, Yang X, Cai F, Gan S, Yang S, Wu L. Analysis of clinical phenotypic and genotypic spectra in 36 children patients with Epilepsy of Infancy with Migrating Focal Seizures. Sci Rep 2022; 12:10187. [PMID: 35715422 PMCID: PMC9205988 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13974-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2021] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Epilepsy of Infancy with Migrating Focal Seizures (EIMFS) is a rare developmental and epileptic encephalopathy (DEEs) with unknown etiology, and poor prognosis. In order to explore new genetic etiology of EIMFS and new precision medicine treatment strategies, 36 children with EIMFS were enrolled in this study. 17/36 cases had causative variants across 11 genes, including 6 novel EIMFS genes: PCDH19, ALDH7A1, DOCK6, PRRT2, ALG1 and ATP7A. 13/36 patients had ineffective seizure control, 14/36 patients had severe retardation and 6/36 patients died. Of them, the genes for ineffective seizure control, severe retardation or death include KCNT1, SCN2A, SCN1A, ALG1, ATP7A and WWOX. 17 patients had abnormal MRI, of which 8 had ineffective seizure control, 7 had severe retardation and 4 died. 13 patients had hypsarrhythmia, of which 6 had ineffective seizure control, 6 had severe retardation and 2 died. Also, 7 patients had burst suppression, of which 1 had ineffective seizure control, 3 had severe retardation and 3 died. This study is the first to report that ALDH7A1, ATP7A, DOCK6, PRRT2, ALG1, and PCDH19 mutations cause the phenotypic spectrum of EIMFS to expand the genotypic spectrum. The genes KCNT1, SCN2A, SCN1A, ALG1, ATP7A and WWOX may be associated with poor prognosis. The patients presenting with MRI abnormalities, hypsarrhythmia and burst suppression in EEG may be associated with poor prognosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Yang
- Department of Neurology, Hunan Children's Hospital, Ziyuan Road 86th, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaofan Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shangdong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Fang Cai
- Department of Neurology, Chenzhou No 1 People's Hospital, Chenzhou, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyi Gan
- Department of Neurology, Hunan Children's Hospital, Ziyuan Road 86th, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Sai Yang
- Department of Neurology, Hunan Children's Hospital, Ziyuan Road 86th, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, People's Republic of China
| | - Liwen Wu
- Department of Neurology, Hunan Children's Hospital, Ziyuan Road 86th, Changsha, 410007, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Rotem-Bamberger S, Fahoum J, Keinan-Adamsky K, Tsaban T, Avraham O, Shalev DE, Chill JH, Schueler-Furman O. Structural insights into the role of the WW2 domain on tandem WW/PPxY-motif interactions of oxidoreductase WWOX. J Biol Chem 2022; 298:102145. [PMID: 35716775 PMCID: PMC9293652 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2022.102145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2021] [Revised: 06/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Class I WW domains are present in many proteins of various functions and mediate protein interactions by binding to short linear PPxY motifs. Tandem WW domains often bind peptides with multiple PPxY motifs, but the interplay of WW–peptide interactions is not always intuitive. The WW domain–containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) harbors two WW domains: an unstable WW1 capable of PPxY binding and stable WW2 that cannot bind PPxY. The WW2 domain has been suggested to act as a WW1 domain chaperone, but the underlying mechanism of its chaperone activity remains to be revealed. Here, we combined NMR, isothermal calorimetry, and structural modeling to elucidate the roles of both WW domains in WWOX binding to its PPxY-containing substrate ErbB4. Using NMR, we identified an interaction surface between these two domains that supports a WWOX conformation compatible with peptide substrate binding. Isothermal calorimetry and NMR measurements also indicated that while binding affinity to a single PPxY motif is marginally increased in the presence of WW2, affinity to a dual-motif peptide increases 10-fold. Furthermore, we found WW2 can directly bind double-motif peptides using its canonical binding site. Finally, differential binding of peptides in mutagenesis experiments was consistent with a parallel N- to C-terminal PPxY tandem motif orientation in binding to the WW1–WW2 tandem domain, validating structural models of the interaction. Taken together, our results reveal the complex nature of tandem WW-domain organization and substrate binding, highlighting the contribution of WWOX WW2 to both protein stability and target binding.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shahar Rotem-Bamberger
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jamal Fahoum
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | | | - Tomer Tsaban
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Orly Avraham
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Deborah E Shalev
- Wolfson Centre for Applied Structural Biology, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel; Department of Pharmaceutical Engineering, Azrieli College of Engineering, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jordan H Chill
- Department of Chemistry, Bar Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel.
| | - Ora Schueler-Furman
- Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Medical Research Israel-Canada, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Sukkar G, Alzahrani RM, Altirkistani BA, Al lohaibi RS. Novel Mutation With Literature Review WW Domain-Containing Oxidoreductase (WWOX) Gene. Cureus 2022; 14:e25003. [PMID: 35712340 PMCID: PMC9193507 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.25003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic alterations in the WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene cause autosomal recessive developmental and epileptic encephalopathy, characterized by the onset of refractory seizures in infants, along with severe axial hypotonia and profoundly impaired psychomotor development. It has also been expanded to include metabolism and endocrine systems. Despite its function as a tumor suppressor gene, genetic alterations in WWOX have been found in several metabolic disorders and neural diseases related to brain development. Whole-exome sequencing (WES) was performed on the patient sample. Genomic DNA was fragmented, and the exons of known genes in the human genome, as well as the corresponding exon-intron boundaries,were enriched using Roche KAPA capture technology (KAPA hyperExome Library, WES identifying the homozygous variant c.406A>G in WWOX (OMIM:605131). This variant of WWOX was also observed in the prenatal WES data, indicating that both parents were heterozygous carriers and the detected variant was homozygous. This study highlighted the importance of the human WWOX gene in brain development and the association between WWOX gene mutations and developmental delay. We recommend performing WES as a primary screening before the final diagnosis, particularly in populations with high rates of consanguinity and in clinically challenging cases.
Collapse
|
12
|
Shi G, Xu J, Barnes SF, Farooqi MS, Luu HS, Gotway G, Park JY. Chromosomal Microarray Reinterpretation: Applications to Pediatric Practice. J Pediatr 2022; 243:219-223. [PMID: 34953820 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpeds.2021.12.036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 12/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
Chromosomal microarray analysis (CMA) frequently yields inconclusive results. We reexamined inconclusive CMA results from 33 previously tested patients and reached a definitive diagnosis in 3 (9.1%) and identified the need for additional testing in 4 (12.1%). Reinterpretation may resolve inconclusive CMA results.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guanglu Shi
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Jing Xu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Shirelle F Barnes
- Department of Pathology, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX; Department of Genetics, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX
| | - Midhat S Farooqi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Mercy Hospital, Kansas City, MO
| | - Hung S Luu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Department of Pathology, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX
| | - Garrett Gotway
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX
| | - Jason Y Park
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX; Department of Pathology, Children's Medical Center Dallas, Dallas, TX; Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Baryła I, Kośla K, Bednarek AK. WWOX and metabolic regulation in normal and pathological conditions. J Mol Med (Berl) 2022; 100:1691-1702. [PMID: 36271927 PMCID: PMC9691486 DOI: 10.1007/s00109-022-02265-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) spans the common fragile site FRA16D. There is evidence that translocations and deletions affecting WWOX accompanied by loss of expression are frequent in many cancers and often correlate with a worse prognosis. Additionally, WWOX germline mutations were also found to be the cause of pathologies of brain development. Because WWOX binds to some transcription factors, it is a modulator of many cellular processes, including metabolic processes. Recently, studies have linked WWOX to familial dyslipidemias, osteopenia, metabolic syndrome, and gestational diabetes, confirming its role as a regulator of steroid, cholesterol, glucose, and normal bone metabolism. The WW domain of WWOX is directly engaged in the control of the activity of transcription factors such as HIF1α and RUNX2; therefore, WWOX gene alterations are associated with some metabolic abnormalities. Presently, most interest is devoted to the associations between WWOX and glucose and basic energy metabolism disturbances. In particular, its involvement in the initiation of the Warburg effect in cancer or gestational diabetes and type II diabetes is of interest. This review is aimed at systematically and comprehensively presenting the current state of knowledge about the participation of WWOX in the metabolism of healthy and diseased organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Izabela Baryła
- grid.8267.b0000 0001 2165 3025Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Katarzyna Kośla
- grid.8267.b0000 0001 2165 3025Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| | - Andrzej K. Bednarek
- grid.8267.b0000 0001 2165 3025Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Lodz, Lodz, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Riva A, Nobile G, Giacomini T, Ognibene M, Scala M, Balagura G, Madia F, Accogli A, Romano F, Tortora D, Severino M, Scudieri P, Baldassari S, Musante I, Uva P, Salpietro V, Torella A, Nigro V, Capra V, Nobili L, Striano P, Mancardi MM, Zara F, Iacomino M. A Phenotypic-Driven Approach for the Diagnosis of WOREE Syndrome. Front Pediatr 2022; 10:847549. [PMID: 35573960 PMCID: PMC9100683 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2022.847549] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND WOREE syndrome is a rare neurodevelopmental disorder featuring drug-resistant epilepsy and global developmental delay. The disease, caused by biallelic pathogenic variants in the WWOX gene, usually leads to severe disability or death within the first years of life. Clinicians have become more confident with the phenotypic picture of WOREE syndrome, allowing earlier clinical diagnosis. We report a boy with a peculiar clinic-radiological pattern supporting the diagnosis of WOREE syndrome. METHODS DNA was extracted from blood samples of the proband and his parents and subjected to Exome Sequencing (ES). Agarose gel electrophoresis, real-time quantitative PCR (Q-PCR), and array-CGH 180K were also performed. RESULTS ES detected a pathogenic stop variant (c.790C > T, p.Arg264*) in one allele of WWOX in the proband and his unaffected mother. A 180K array-CGH analysis revealed a 84,828-bp (g.chr16:78,360,803-78,445,630) deletion encompassing exon 6. The Q-PCR product showed that the proband and his father harbored the same deleted fragment, fusing exons 5 and 7 of WWOX. CONCLUSIONS Genetic testing remains crucial in establishing the definitive diagnosis of WOREE syndrome and allows prenatal interventions/parental counseling. However, our findings suggest that targeted Next Generation Sequencing-based testing may occasionally show technical pitfalls, prompting further genetic investigation in selected cases with high clinical suspicion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Riva
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giulia Nobile
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Thea Giacomini
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry, Epilepsy Centre, Department of Medical and Surgical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marzia Ognibene
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcello Scala
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Paediatric Neurology and Muscular Disease Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ganna Balagura
- Department of Functional Genomics, Center for Neurogenomics and Cognitive Research (CNCR), Vrije Universiteit (VU) Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Francesca Madia
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Accogli
- Division of Medical Genetics, Department of Specialized Medicine, Montreal Children's Hospital, McGill University Health Centre (MUHC), Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Ferruccio Romano
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Domenico Tortora
- Neuroradiology Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | | | - Paolo Scudieri
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Simona Baldassari
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ilaria Musante
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Paolo Uva
- Bioinformatica Clinica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Salpietro
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Paediatric Neurology and Muscular Disease Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Annalaura Torella
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Nigro
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine, Pozzuoli, Italy
| | - Valeria Capra
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Lino Nobili
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry, Epilepsy Centre, Department of Medical and Surgical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Paediatric Neurology and Muscular Disease Unit, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Maria Margherita Mancardi
- Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Unit of Child Neuropsychiatry, Epilepsy Centre, Department of Medical and Surgical Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| | - Federico Zara
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Michele Iacomino
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy.,Bioinformatica Clinica, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Repudi S, Kustanovich I, Abu‐Swai S, Stern S, Aqeilan RI. Neonatal neuronal WWOX gene therapy rescues Wwox null phenotypes. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e14599. [PMID: 34747138 PMCID: PMC8649866 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202114599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2021] [Revised: 10/14/2021] [Accepted: 10/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) is an emerging neural gene-regulating homeostasis of the central nervous system. Germline biallelic mutations in WWOX cause WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy (WOREE) syndrome and spinocerebellar ataxia and autosomal recessive 12 (SCAR12), two devastating neurodevelopmental disorders with highly heterogenous clinical outcomes, the most common being severe epileptic encephalopathy and profound global developmental delay. We recently demonstrated that neuronal ablation of murine Wwox recapitulates phenotypes of Wwox-null mice leading to intractable epilepsy, hypomyelination, and postnatal lethality. Here, we designed and produced an adeno-associated viral vector (AAV9) harboring murine Wwox or human WWOX cDNA and driven by the human neuronal Synapsin I promoter (AAV-SynI-WWOX). Testing the efficacy of AAV-SynI-WWOX delivery in Wwox-null mice demonstrated that specific neuronal restoration of WWOX expression rescued brain hyperexcitability and seizures, hypoglycemia, myelination deficits, and the premature lethality and behavioral deficits of Wwox-null mice. These findings provide a proof-of-concept for WWOX gene therapy as a promising approach to curing children with WOREE and SCAR12.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasarao Repudi
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Immunology and Cancer Research‐IMRICHebrew University‐Hadassah Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
| | | | - Sara Abu‐Swai
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Immunology and Cancer Research‐IMRICHebrew University‐Hadassah Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
| | - Shani Stern
- Sagol Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of HaifaHaifaIsrael
| | - Rami I Aqeilan
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Immunology and Cancer Research‐IMRICHebrew University‐Hadassah Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Breton VL, Aquilino MS, Repudi S, Saleem A, Mylvaganam S, Abu-Swai S, Bardakjian BL, Aqeilan RI, Carlen PL. Altered neocortical oscillations and cellular excitability in an in vitro Wwox knockout mouse model of epileptic encephalopathy. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 160:105529. [PMID: 34634460 PMCID: PMC8609180 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Revised: 09/24/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss of function mutations of the WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene are associated with severe and fatal drug-resistant pediatric epileptic encephalopathy. Epileptic seizures are typically characterized by neuronal hyperexcitability; however, the specific contribution of WWOX to that hyperexcitability has yet to be investigated. Using a mouse model of neuronal Wwox-deletion that exhibit spontaneous seizures, in vitro whole-cell and field potential electrophysiological characterization identified spontaneous bursting activity in the neocortex, a marker of the underlying network hyperexcitability. Spectral analysis of the neocortical bursting events highlighted increased phase-amplitude coupling, and a propagation from layer II/III to layer V. These bursts were NMDAR and gap junction dependent. In layer II/III pyramidal neurons, Wwox knockout mice demonstrated elevated amplitude of excitatory post-synaptic currents, whereas the frequency and amplitude of inhibitory post-synaptic currents were reduced, as compared to heterozygote and wild-type littermate controls. Furthermore, these neurons were depolarized and demonstrated increased action potential frequency, sag current, and post-inhibitory rebound. These findings suggest WWOX plays an essential role in balancing neocortical excitability and provide insight towards developing therapeutics for those suffering from WWOX disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Vanessa L Breton
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada; Krembil Research Institute, Division of Fundamental Neurobiology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 0S8, Canada.
| | - Mark S Aquilino
- Krembil Research Institute, Division of Fundamental Neurobiology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 0S8, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada.
| | - Srinivasarao Repudi
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Afifa Saleem
- Krembil Research Institute, Division of Fundamental Neurobiology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 0S8, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada
| | - Shanthini Mylvaganam
- Krembil Research Institute, Division of Fundamental Neurobiology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 0S8, Canada
| | - Sara Abu-Swai
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Berj L Bardakjian
- Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada; Edward S. Rogers Sr. Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G4, Canada
| | - Rami I Aqeilan
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Peter L Carlen
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A8, Canada; Krembil Research Institute, Division of Fundamental Neurobiology, Toronto Western Hospital, Toronto, Ontario M5T 0S8, Canada; Institute of Biomedical Engineering, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 3G9, Canada; Department of Medicine (Neurology), University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2C4, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Steinberg DJ, Aqeilan RI. WWOX-Related Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Models and Future Perspectives. Cells 2021; 10:cells10113082. [PMID: 34831305 PMCID: PMC8623516 DOI: 10.3390/cells10113082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 10/28/2021] [Accepted: 11/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene was originally discovered as a putative tumor suppressor spanning the common fragile site FRA16D, but as time has progressed the extent of its pleiotropic function has become apparent. At present, WWOX is a major source of interest in the context of neurological disorders, and more specifically developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEEs). This review article aims to introduce the many model systems used through the years to study its function and roles in neuropathies. Similarities and fundamental differences between rodent and human models are discussed. Finally, future perspectives and promising research avenues are suggested.
Collapse
|
18
|
Steinberg DJ, Repudi S, Saleem A, Kustanovich I, Viukov S, Abudiab B, Banne E, Mahajnah M, Hanna JH, Stern S, Carlen PL, Aqeilan RI. Modeling genetic epileptic encephalopathies using brain organoids. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e13610. [PMID: 34268881 PMCID: PMC8350905 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202013610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Developmental and epileptic encephalopathies (DEE) are a group of disorders associated with intractable seizures, brain development, and functional abnormalities, and in some cases, premature death. Pathogenic human germline biallelic mutations in tumor suppressor WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) are associated with a relatively mild autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia-12 (SCAR12) and a more severe early infantile WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy (WOREE). In this study, we generated an in vitro model for DEEs, using the devastating WOREE syndrome as a prototype, by establishing brain organoids from CRISPR-engineered human ES cells and from patient-derived iPSCs. Using these models, we discovered dramatic cellular and molecular CNS abnormalities, including neural population changes, cortical differentiation malfunctions, and Wnt pathway and DNA damage response impairment. Furthermore, we provide a proof of concept that ectopic WWOX expression could potentially rescue these phenotypes. Our findings underscore the utility of modeling childhood epileptic encephalopathies using brain organoids and their use as a unique platform to test possible therapeutic intervention strategies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Steinberg
- The Concern Foundation LaboratoriesDepartment of Immunology and Cancer Research‐IMRICThe Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer ResearchHebrew University‐Hadassah Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
| | - Srinivasarao Repudi
- The Concern Foundation LaboratoriesDepartment of Immunology and Cancer Research‐IMRICThe Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer ResearchHebrew University‐Hadassah Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
| | - Afifa Saleem
- Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
- Krembil Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada
| | | | - Sergey Viukov
- Department of Molecular GeneticsWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Baraa Abudiab
- The Concern Foundation LaboratoriesDepartment of Immunology and Cancer Research‐IMRICThe Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer ResearchHebrew University‐Hadassah Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
| | - Ehud Banne
- Genetics InstituteKaplan Medical CenterHebrew University‐Hadassah Medical SchoolRehovotIsrael
- The Rina Mor Genetic InstituteWolfson Medical CenterHolonIsrael
| | - Muhammad Mahajnah
- Paediatric Neurology and Child Developmental CenterHillel Yaffe Medical CenterHaderaIsrael
- Rappaport Faculty of MedicineThe TechnionHaifaIsrael
| | - Jacob H Hanna
- Department of Molecular GeneticsWeizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Shani Stern
- Sagol Department of NeurobiologyUniversity of HaifaHaifaIsrael
| | - Peter L Carlen
- Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
- Krembil Research InstituteUniversity Health NetworkTorontoONCanada
- Departments of Medicine and PhysiologyUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Rami I Aqeilan
- The Concern Foundation LaboratoriesDepartment of Immunology and Cancer Research‐IMRICThe Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer ResearchHebrew University‐Hadassah Medical SchoolJerusalemIsrael
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Molecular Biology of the WWOX Gene That Spans Chromosomal Fragile Site FRA16D. Cells 2021; 10:cells10071637. [PMID: 34210081 PMCID: PMC8305172 DOI: 10.3390/cells10071637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Revised: 06/17/2021] [Accepted: 06/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
It is now more than 20 years since the FRA16D common chromosomal fragile site was characterised and the WWOX gene spanning this site was identified. In this time, much information has been discovered about its contribution to disease; however, the normal biological role of WWOX is not yet clear. Experiments leading to the identification of the WWOX gene are recounted, revealing enigmatic relationships between the fragile site, its gene and the encoded protein. We also highlight research mainly using the genetically tractable model organism Drosophila melanogaster that has shed light on the integral role of WWOX in metabolism. In addition to this role, there are some particularly outstanding questions that remain regarding WWOX, its gene and its chromosomal location. This review, therefore, also aims to highlight two unanswered questions. Firstly, what is the biological relationship between the WWOX gene and the FRA16D common chromosomal fragile site that is located within one of its very large introns? Secondly, what is the actual substrate and product of the WWOX enzyme activity? It is likely that understanding the normal role of WWOX and its relationship to chromosomal fragility are necessary in order to understand how the perturbation of these normal roles results in disease.
Collapse
|
20
|
Liu G, Peng J, Liao Z, Locascio JJ, Corvol JC, Zhu F, Dong X, Maple-Grødem J, Campbell MC, Elbaz A, Lesage S, Brice A, Mangone G, Growdon JH, Hung AY, Schwarzschild MA, Hayes MT, Wills AM, Herrington TM, Ravina B, Shoulson I, Taba P, Kõks S, Beach TG, Cormier-Dequaire F, Alves G, Tysnes OB, Perlmutter JS, Heutink P, Amr SS, van Hilten JJ, Kasten M, Mollenhauer B, Trenkwalder C, Klein C, Barker RA, Williams-Gray CH, Marinus J, Scherzer CR. Genome-wide survival study identifies a novel synaptic locus and polygenic score for cognitive progression in Parkinson's disease. Nat Genet 2021; 53:787-793. [PMID: 33958783 PMCID: PMC8459648 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-021-00847-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
A key driver of patients' well-being and clinical trials for Parkinson's disease (PD) is the course that the disease takes over time (progression and prognosis). To assess how genetic variation influences the progression of PD over time to dementia, a major determinant for quality of life, we performed a longitudinal genome-wide survival study of 11.2 million variants in 3,821 patients with PD over 31,053 visits. We discover RIMS2 as a progression locus and confirm this in a replicate population (hazard ratio (HR) = 4.77, P = 2.78 × 10-11), identify suggestive evidence for TMEM108 (HR = 2.86, P = 2.09 × 10-8) and WWOX (HR = 2.12, P = 2.37 × 10-8) as progression loci, and confirm associations for GBA (HR = 1.93, P = 0.0002) and APOE (HR = 1.48, P = 0.001). Polygenic progression scores exhibit a substantial aggregate association with dementia risk, while polygenic susceptibility scores are not predictive. This study identifies a novel synaptic locus and polygenic score for cognitive disease progression in PD and proposes diverging genetic architectures of progression and susceptibility.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ganqiang Liu
- Center for Advanced Parkinson Research, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Precision Neurology Program of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong, China
| | - Jiajie Peng
- Center for Advanced Parkinson Research, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Precision Neurology Program of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- School of Computer Science, Northwestern Polytechnical University, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China
| | - Zhixiang Liao
- Center for Advanced Parkinson Research, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Precision Neurology Program of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joseph J Locascio
- Center for Advanced Parkinson Research, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Precision Neurology Program of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jean-Christophe Corvol
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau - ICM, Institut National de Santé et en Recherche Médicale, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Département de Neurologie et de Génétique, Centre d'Investigation Clinique Neurosciences, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Frank Zhu
- Center for Advanced Parkinson Research, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Precision Neurology Program of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xianjun Dong
- Center for Advanced Parkinson Research, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Precision Neurology Program of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jodi Maple-Grødem
- The Norwegian Centre for Movement Disorders, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
- Department of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Engineering, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Meghan C Campbell
- Departments of Neurology and Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Alexis Elbaz
- Paris-Saclay University, Université de Versailles Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines (UVSQ), Inserm, Gustave Roussy, 'Exposome and heredity' team, Centre de researche en épidémiologie et santé des populations (CESP), Villejuif, France
| | - Suzanne Lesage
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau - ICM, Institut National de Santé et en Recherche Médicale, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Département de Neurologie et de Génétique, Centre d'Investigation Clinique Neurosciences, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Alexis Brice
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau - ICM, Institut National de Santé et en Recherche Médicale, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Département de Neurologie et de Génétique, Centre d'Investigation Clinique Neurosciences, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Graziella Mangone
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau - ICM, Institut National de Santé et en Recherche Médicale, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Département de Neurologie et de Génétique, Centre d'Investigation Clinique Neurosciences, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - John H Growdon
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Albert Y Hung
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael A Schwarzschild
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Michael T Hayes
- Center for Advanced Parkinson Research, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Anne-Marie Wills
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Todd M Herrington
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Ira Shoulson
- Department of Neurology, Center for Health + Technology, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY, USA
| | - Pille Taba
- Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, University of Tartu, Tartu, Estonia
| | - Sulev Kõks
- Centre for Molecular Medicine and Innovative Therapeutics, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
- Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Science, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | | | - Florence Cormier-Dequaire
- Sorbonne Université, Paris Brain Institute - Institut du Cerveau - ICM, Institut National de Santé et en Recherche Médicale, Centre National de Recherche Scientifique, Assistance Publique Hôpitaux de Paris, Département de Neurologie et de Génétique, Centre d'Investigation Clinique Neurosciences, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Guido Alves
- The Norwegian Centre for Movement Disorders, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
- Department of Chemistry, Bioscience and Environmental Engineering, University of Stavanger, Stavanger, Norway
- Department of Neurology, Stavanger University Hospital, Stavanger, Norway
| | - Ole-Bjørn Tysnes
- Department of Neurology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
| | - Joel S Perlmutter
- Departments of Neurology and Radiology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
- Program of Physical Therapy and Program of Occupational Therapy, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Peter Heutink
- German Center for Neurodegenerative diseases (DZNE), Tübingen, Germany
| | - Sami S Amr
- Translational Genomics Core of Partners HealthCare Personalized Medicine, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Jacobus J van Hilten
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Meike Kasten
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Brit Mollenhauer
- Department of Neurology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
- Paracelsus-Elena-Klinik, Kassel, Germany
| | - Claudia Trenkwalder
- Paracelsus-Elena-Klinik, Kassel, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christine Klein
- Institute of Neurogenetics, University of Lübeck, University Hospital of Schleswig-Holstein, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Roger A Barker
- John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
- Wellcome - MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Caroline H Williams-Gray
- John Van Geest Centre for Brain Repair, Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Johan Marinus
- Department of Neurology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, the Netherlands
| | - Clemens R Scherzer
- Center for Advanced Parkinson Research, Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
- Precision Neurology Program of Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.
- Department of Neurology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
Havali C, Ekici A, Dorum S, Görükmez Ö, Topak A. Recently defined epileptic encephalopathy related to WWOX gene mutation: six patients and new mutations. Neurol Res 2021; 43:744-750. [PMID: 34034642 DOI: 10.1080/01616412.2021.1932173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Purpose: Pathogenic variants of the WWOX gene have been linked to sexual differentiation disorders, spinocerebellar ataxia, and epileptic encephalopathy (EE). We evaluated the clinical and molecular data from six newly diagnosed patients with WWOX-related EE.Methods: Clinical and molecular findings in six patients with EE were investigated, and biallelic pathogenic variants in the WWOX gene were identified. Clinical exome sequencing and Sanger sequencing were performed.Results: Three variations, as well as two novel mutations, in the WWOX gene were detected.Conclusion: Pathogenic WWOX mutations are associated with early-onset EE. Here, we report the case of six children with WWOX-related EE.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Cengiz Havali
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Arzu Ekici
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Neurology, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Sevil Dorum
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Pediatric Metabolic Disorders, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Özlem Görükmez
- Department of Medical Genetics, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
| | - Ali Topak
- Department of Medical Genetics, Bursa Yuksek Ihtisas Training and Research Hospital, Bursa, Turkey
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Repudi S, Steinberg DJ, Elazar N, Breton VL, Aquilino MS, Saleem A, Abu-Swai S, Vainshtein A, Eshed-Eisenbach Y, Vijayaragavan B, Behar O, Hanna JJ, Peles E, Carlen PL, Aqeilan RI. Neuronal deletion of Wwox, associated with WOREE syndrome, causes epilepsy and myelin defects. Brain 2021; 144:3061-3077. [PMID: 33914858 DOI: 10.1093/brain/awab174] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2020] [Revised: 03/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
WOREE syndrome caused by human germline biallelic mutations in WWOX is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by intractable epilepsy, severe developmental delay, ataxia and premature death at the age of 2-4 years. The underlying mechanisms of WWOX actions are poorly understood. In the current study, we show that specific neuronal deletion of murine Wwox produces phenotypes typical of the Wwox-null mutation leading to brain hyperexcitability, intractable epilepsy, ataxia and postnatal lethality. A significant decrease in transcript levels of genes involved in myelination was observed in mouse cortex and hippocampus. Wwox-mutant mice exhibited reduced maturation of oligodendrocytes, reduced myelinated axons and impaired axonal conductivity. Brain hyperexcitability and hypomyelination were also revealed in human brain organoids with a WWOX deletion. These findings provide cellular and molecular evidence for myelination defects and hyperexcitability in the WOREE syndrome linked to neuronal function of WWOX.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Srinivasarao Repudi
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Daniel J Steinberg
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Nimrod Elazar
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Vanessa L Breton
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Mark S Aquilino
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Afifa Saleem
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sara Abu-Swai
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Anna Vainshtein
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Yael Eshed-Eisenbach
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Bharath Vijayaragavan
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Oded Behar
- Department of Developmental Biology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Jacob J Hanna
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Elior Peles
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Peter L Carlen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada
| | - Rami I Aqeilan
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Zebrafish Models of Autosomal Recessive Ataxias. Cells 2021; 10:cells10040836. [PMID: 33917666 PMCID: PMC8068028 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 04/01/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Autosomal recessive ataxias are much less well studied than autosomal dominant ataxias and there are no clearly defined systems to classify them. Autosomal recessive ataxias, which are characterized by neuronal and multisystemic features, have significant overlapping symptoms with other complex multisystemic recessive disorders. The generation of animal models of neurodegenerative disorders increases our knowledge of their cellular and molecular mechanisms and helps in the search for new therapies. Among animal models, the zebrafish, which shares 70% of its genome with humans, offer the advantages of being small in size and demonstrating rapid development, making them optimal for high throughput drug and genetic screening. Furthermore, embryo and larval transparency allows to visualize cellular processes and central nervous system development in vivo. In this review, we discuss the contributions of zebrafish models to the study of autosomal recessive ataxias characteristic phenotypes, behavior, and gene function, in addition to commenting on possible treatments found in these models. Most of the zebrafish models generated to date recapitulate the main features of recessive ataxias.
Collapse
|
24
|
Banne E, Abudiab B, Abu-Swai S, Repudi SR, Steinberg DJ, Shatleh D, Alshammery S, Lisowski L, Gold W, Carlen PL, Aqeilan RI. Neurological Disorders Associated with WWOX Germline Mutations-A Comprehensive Overview. Cells 2021; 10:824. [PMID: 33916893 PMCID: PMC8067556 DOI: 10.3390/cells10040824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcriptional regulator WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) is a key player in a number of cellular and biological processes including tumor suppression. Recent evidence has emerged associating WWOX with non-cancer disorders. Patients harboring pathogenic germline bi-allelic WWOX variants have been described with the rare devastating neurological syndromes autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia 12 (SCAR12) (6 patients) and WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy (DEE28 or WOREE syndrome) (56 patients). Individuals with these syndromes present with a highly heterogenous clinical spectrum, the most common clinical symptoms being severe epileptic encephalopathy and profound global developmental delay. Knowledge of the underlying pathophysiology of these syndromes, the range of variants of the WWOX gene and its genotype-phenotype correlations is limited, hampering therapeutic efforts. Therefore, there is a critical need to identify and consolidate all the reported variants in WWOX to distinguish between disease-causing alleles and their associated severity, and benign variants, with the aim of improving diagnosis and increasing therapeutic efforts. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of the literature on WWOX, and analyze the pathogenic variants from published and unpublished reports by collecting entries from the ClinVar, DECIPHER, VarSome, and PubMed databases to generate the largest dataset of WWOX pathogenic variants. We estimate the correlation between variant type and patient phenotype, and delineate the impact of each variant, and used GnomAD to cross reference these variants found in the general population. From these searches, we generated the largest published cohort of WWOX individuals. We conclude with a discussion on potential personalized medicine approaches to tackle the devastating disorders associated with WWOX mutations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ehud Banne
- The Genetic Institute, Kaplan Medical Center, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Rehovot 76100, Israel;
- The Rina Mor Genetic Institute, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon 58100, Israel
| | - Baraa Abudiab
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (B.A.); (S.A.-S.); (D.J.S.); (S.R.R.); (D.S.)
| | - Sara Abu-Swai
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (B.A.); (S.A.-S.); (D.J.S.); (S.R.R.); (D.S.)
| | - Srinivasa Rao Repudi
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (B.A.); (S.A.-S.); (D.J.S.); (S.R.R.); (D.S.)
| | - Daniel J. Steinberg
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (B.A.); (S.A.-S.); (D.J.S.); (S.R.R.); (D.S.)
| | - Diala Shatleh
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (B.A.); (S.A.-S.); (D.J.S.); (S.R.R.); (D.S.)
| | - Sarah Alshammery
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences and Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, NSW, Australia; (S.A.); (W.G.)
| | - Leszek Lisowski
- Translational Vectorology Research Unit, Children’s Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, NSW, Australia;
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology and Innovative Therapies, Military Institute of Medicine, 04-141 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Wendy Gold
- Faculty of Medicine and Health, School of Medical Sciences and Discipline of Child and Adolescent Health, The University of Sydney, Westmead 2145, NSW, Australia; (S.A.); (W.G.)
- Molecular Neurobiology Research Laboratory, Kids Research, Children’s Hospital at Westmead and The Children’s Medical Research Institute, Westmead 2145, NSW, Australia
- Kids Neuroscience Centre, Kids Research, Children’s Hospital at Westmead, Westmead 2145, NSW, Australia
| | - Peter L. Carlen
- Krembil Research Institute, University Health Network and Department of Medicine, Physiology and BME, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1M8, Canada;
| | - Rami I. Aqeilan
- The Concern Foundation Laboratories, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Department of Immunology and Cancer Research-IMRIC, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel; (B.A.); (S.A.-S.); (D.J.S.); (S.R.R.); (D.S.)
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Canet-Pons J, Sen NE, Arsović A, Almaguer-Mederos LE, Halbach MV, Key J, Döring C, Kerksiek A, Picchiarelli G, Cassel R, René F, Dieterlé S, Fuchs NV, König R, Dupuis L, Lütjohann D, Gispert S, Auburger G. Atxn2-CAG100-KnockIn mouse spinal cord shows progressive TDP43 pathology associated with cholesterol biosynthesis suppression. Neurobiol Dis 2021; 152:105289. [PMID: 33577922 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2021.105289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2020] [Revised: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 02/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Large polyglutamine expansions in Ataxin-2 (ATXN2) cause multi-system nervous atrophy in Spinocerebellar Ataxia type 2 (SCA2). Intermediate size expansions carry a risk for selective motor neuron degeneration, known as Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Conversely, the depletion of ATXN2 prevents disease progression in ALS. Although ATXN2 interacts directly with RNA, and in ALS pathogenesis there is a crucial role of RNA toxicity, the affected functional pathways remain ill defined. Here, we examined an authentic SCA2 mouse model with Atxn2-CAG100-KnockIn for a first definition of molecular mechanisms in spinal cord pathology. Neurophysiology of lower limbs detected sensory neuropathy rather than motor denervation. Triple immunofluorescence demonstrated cytosolic ATXN2 aggregates sequestrating TDP43 and TIA1 from the nucleus. In immunoblots, this was accompanied by elevated CASP3, RIPK1 and PQBP1 abundance. RT-qPCR showed increase of Grn, Tlr7 and Rnaset2 mRNA versus Eif5a2, Dcp2, Uhmk1 and Kif5a decrease. These SCA2 findings overlap well with known ALS features. Similar to other ataxias and dystonias, decreased mRNA levels for Unc80, Tacr1, Gnal, Ano3, Kcna2, Elovl5 and Cdr1 contrasted with Gpnmb increase. Preterminal stage tissue showed strongly activated microglia containing ATXN2 aggregates, with parallel astrogliosis. Global transcriptome profiles from stages of incipient motor deficit versus preterminal age identified molecules with progressive downregulation, where a cluster of cholesterol biosynthesis enzymes including Dhcr24, Msmo1, Idi1 and Hmgcs1 was prominent. Gas chromatography demonstrated a massive loss of crucial cholesterol precursor metabolites. Overall, the ATXN2 protein aggregation process affects diverse subcellular compartments, in particular stress granules, endoplasmic reticulum and receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. These findings identify new targets and potential biomarkers for neuroprotective therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Júlia Canet-Pons
- Experimental Neurology, Medical Faculty, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Nesli-Ece Sen
- Experimental Neurology, Medical Faculty, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Aleksandar Arsović
- Experimental Neurology, Medical Faculty, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Luis-Enrique Almaguer-Mederos
- Experimental Neurology, Medical Faculty, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Center for Investigation and Rehabilitation of Hereditary Ataxias (CIRAH), Holguín, Cuba
| | - Melanie V Halbach
- Experimental Neurology, Medical Faculty, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Jana Key
- Experimental Neurology, Medical Faculty, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany; Faculty of Biosciences, Goethe University, 60438 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Claudia Döring
- Dr. Senckenberg Institute of Pathology, Medical Faculty, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Anja Kerksiek
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| | - Gina Picchiarelli
- UMRS-1118 INSERM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Raphaelle Cassel
- UMRS-1118 INSERM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Frédérique René
- UMRS-1118 INSERM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Stéphane Dieterlé
- UMRS-1118 INSERM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Nina V Fuchs
- Host-Pathogen Interactions, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Renate König
- Host-Pathogen Interactions, Paul-Ehrlich-Institute, 63225 Langen, Germany
| | - Luc Dupuis
- UMRS-1118 INSERM, Faculty of Medicine, University of Strasbourg, 67000 Strasbourg, France
| | - Dieter Lütjohann
- Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Clinical Pharmacology, University Hospital Bonn, 53127 Bonn, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany
| | - Suzana Gispert
- Experimental Neurology, Medical Faculty, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany
| | - Georg Auburger
- Experimental Neurology, Medical Faculty, Goethe University, 60590 Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
WWOX Loss of Function in Neurodevelopmental and Neurodegenerative Disorders. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21238922. [PMID: 33255508 PMCID: PMC7727818 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21238922] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The WWOX gene was initially discovered as a putative tumor suppressor. More recently, its association with multiple central nervous system (CNS) pathologies has been recognized. WWOX biallelic germline pathogenic variants have been implicated in spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 (SCAR12; MIM:614322) and in early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE28; MIM:616211). WWOX germline copy number variants have also been associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). All identified germline genomic variants lead to partial or complete loss of WWOX function. Importantly, large-scale genome-wide association studies have also identified WWOX as a risk gene for common neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and multiple sclerosis (MS). Thus, the spectrum of CNS disorders associated with WWOX is broad and heterogeneous, and there is little understanding of potential mechanisms at play. Exploration of gene expression databases indicates that WWOX expression is comparatively higher in the human cerebellar cortex than in other CNS structures. However, RNA in-situ hybridization data from the Allen Mouse Brain Atlas show that specific regions of the basolateral amygdala (BLA), the medial entorhinal cortex (EC), and deep layers of the isocortex can be singled out as brain regions with specific higher levels of Wwox expression. These observations are in close agreement with single-cell RNA-seq data which indicate that neurons from the medial entorhinal cortex, Layer 5 from the frontal cortex as well as GABAergic basket cells and granule cells from cerebellar cortex are the specific neuronal subtypes that display the highest Wwox expression levels. Importantly, the brain regions and cell types in which WWOX is most abundantly expressed, such as the EC and BLA, are intimately linked to pathologies and syndromic conditions in turn associated with this gene, such as epilepsy, intellectual disability, ASD, and AD. Higher Wwox expression in interneurons and granule cells from cerebellum points to a direct link to the described cerebellar ataxia in cases of WWOX loss of function. We now know that total or partial impairment of WWOX function results in a wide and heterogeneous variety of neurodegenerative conditions for which the specific molecular mechanisms remain to be deciphered. Nevertheless, these observations indicate an important functional role for WWOX in normal development and function of the CNS. Evidence also indicates that disruption of WWOX expression at the gene or protein level in CNS has significant deleterious consequences.
Collapse
|
27
|
Chou YT, Lai FJ, Chang NS, Hsu LJ. Wwox Deficiency Causes Downregulation of Prosurvival ERK Signaling and Abnormal Homeostatic Responses in Mouse Skin. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:558432. [PMID: 33195192 PMCID: PMC7652735 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.558432] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Deficiency of tumor suppressor WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) in humans and animals leads to growth retardation and premature death during postnatal developmental stages. Skin integrity is essential for organism survival due to its protection against dehydration and hypothermia. Our previous report demonstrated that human epidermal suprabasal cells express WWOX protein, and the expression is gradually increased toward the superficial differentiated cells prior to cornification. Here, we investigated whether abnormal skin development and homeostasis occur under Wwox deficiency that may correlate with early death. We determined that keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation were decreased, while apoptosis was increased in Wwox–/– mouse epidermis and primary keratinocyte cultures and WWOX-knockdown human HaCaT cells. Without WWOX, progenitor cells in hair follicle junctional zone underwent massive proliferation in early postnatal developmental stages and the stem/progenitor cell pools were depleted at postnatal day 21. These events lead to significantly decreased epidermal thickness, dehydration state, and delayed hair development in Wwox–/– mouse skin, which is associated with downregulation of prosurvival MEK/ERK signaling in Wwox–/– keratinocytes. Moreover, Wwox depletion results in substantial downregulation of dermal collagen contents in mice. Notably, Wwox–/– mice exhibit severe loss of subcutaneous adipose tissue and significant hypothermia. Collectively, our knockout mouse model supports the validity of WWOX in assisting epidermal and adipose homeostasis, and the involvement of prosurvival ERK pathway in the homeostatic responses regulated by WWOX.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Tsen Chou
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Feng-Jie Lai
- Department of Dermatology, Chimei Medical Center, Tainan, Taiwan.,Center for General Education, Southern Taiwan University of Science and Technology, Tainan, Taiwan
| | - Nan-Shan Chang
- Institute of Molecular Medicine, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Li-Jin Hsu
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan.,Department of Medical Laboratory Science and Biotechnology, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Harich B, van der Voet M, Klein M, Čížek P, Fenckova M, Schenck A, Franke B. From Rare Copy Number Variants to Biological Processes in ADHD. Am J Psychiatry 2020; 177:855-866. [PMID: 32600152 DOI: 10.1176/appi.ajp.2020.19090923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a highly heritable psychiatric disorder. The objective of this study was to define ADHD-associated candidate genes and their associated molecular modules and biological themes, based on the analysis of rare genetic variants. METHODS The authors combined data from 11 published copy number variation studies in 6,176 individuals with ADHD and 25,026 control subjects and prioritized genes by applying an integrative strategy based on criteria including recurrence in individuals with ADHD, absence in control subjects, complete coverage in copy number gains, and presence in the minimal region common to overlapping copy number variants (CNVs), as well as on protein-protein interactions and information from cross-species genotype-phenotype annotation. RESULTS The authors localized 2,241 eligible genes in the 1,532 reported CNVs, of which they classified 432 as high-priority ADHD candidate genes. The high-priority ADHD candidate genes were significantly coexpressed in the brain. A network of 66 genes was supported by ADHD-relevant phenotypes in the cross-species database. Four significantly interconnected protein modules were found among the high-priority ADHD genes. A total of 26 genes were observed across all applied bioinformatic methods. Lookup in the latest genome-wide association study for ADHD showed that among those 26 genes, POLR3C and RBFOX1 were also supported by common genetic variants. CONCLUSIONS Integration of a stringent filtering procedure in CNV studies with suitable bioinformatics approaches can identify ADHD candidate genes at increased levels of credibility. The authors' analytic pipeline provides additional insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying ADHD and allows prioritization of genes for functional validation in validated model organisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Harich
- Department of Human Genetics (Harich, van der Voet, Klein, Fenckova, Schenck, Franke) and Department of Psychiatry (Franke), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; and Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (Čížek)
| | - Monique van der Voet
- Department of Human Genetics (Harich, van der Voet, Klein, Fenckova, Schenck, Franke) and Department of Psychiatry (Franke), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; and Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (Čížek)
| | - Marieke Klein
- Department of Human Genetics (Harich, van der Voet, Klein, Fenckova, Schenck, Franke) and Department of Psychiatry (Franke), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; and Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (Čížek)
| | - Pavel Čížek
- Department of Human Genetics (Harich, van der Voet, Klein, Fenckova, Schenck, Franke) and Department of Psychiatry (Franke), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; and Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (Čížek)
| | - Michaela Fenckova
- Department of Human Genetics (Harich, van der Voet, Klein, Fenckova, Schenck, Franke) and Department of Psychiatry (Franke), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; and Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (Čížek)
| | - Annette Schenck
- Department of Human Genetics (Harich, van der Voet, Klein, Fenckova, Schenck, Franke) and Department of Psychiatry (Franke), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; and Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (Čížek)
| | - Barbara Franke
- Department of Human Genetics (Harich, van der Voet, Klein, Fenckova, Schenck, Franke) and Department of Psychiatry (Franke), Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands; and Center for Molecular and Biomolecular Informatics, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, the Netherlands (Čížek)
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Iacomino M, Baldassari S, Tochigi Y, Kośla K, Buffelli F, Torella A, Severino M, Paladini D, Mandarà L, Riva A, Scala M, Balagura G, Accogli A, Nigro V, Minetti C, Fulcheri E, Zara F, Bednarek AK, Striano P, Suzuki H, Salpietro V. Loss of Wwox Perturbs Neuronal Migration and Impairs Early Cortical Development. Front Neurosci 2020; 14:644. [PMID: 32581702 PMCID: PMC7300205 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2020.00644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the WWOX gene cause a broad range of ultra-rare neurodevelopmental and brain degenerative disorders, associated with a high likelihood of premature death in animal models as well as in humans. The encoded Wwox protein is a WW domain-containing oxidoreductase that participates in crucial biological processes including tumor suppression, cell growth/differentiation and regulation of steroid metabolism, while its role in neural development is less understood. We analyzed the exomes of a family affected with multiple pre- and postnatal anomalies, including cerebellar vermis hypoplasia, severe neurodevelopmental impairment and refractory epilepsy, and identified a segregating homozygous WWOX mutation leading to a premature stop codon. Abnormal cerebral cortex development due to a defective architecture of granular and molecular cell layers was found in the developing brain of a WWOX-deficient human fetus from this family. A similar disorganization of cortical layers was identified in lde/lde rats (carrying a homozygous truncating mutation which disrupts the active Wwox C-terminal domain) investigated at perinatal stages. Transcriptomic analyses of Wwox-depleted human neural progenitor cells showed an impaired expression of a number of neuronal migration-related genes encoding for tubulins, kinesins and associated proteins. These findings indicate that loss of Wwox may affect different cytoskeleton components and alter prenatal cortical development, highlighting a regulatory role of the WWOX gene in migrating neurons across different species.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michele Iacomino
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy
| | - Simona Baldassari
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy
| | - Yuki Tochigi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashinoi, Japan
| | - Katarzyna Kośla
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Francesca Buffelli
- Fetal and Perinatal Pathology Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy
| | - Annalaura Torella
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | | | - Dario Paladini
- Fetal Medicine and Surgery Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy
| | - Luana Mandarà
- Medical Genetics Unit, Maria Paternò Arezzo Hospital, Ragusa, Italy
| | - Antonella Riva
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy
| | - Marcello Scala
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ganna Balagura
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrea Accogli
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Nigro
- Department of Precision Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Naples, Italy.,Telethon Institute of Genetics and Medicine (TIGEM), Naples, Italy
| | - Carlo Minetti
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Ezio Fulcheri
- Fetal and Perinatal Pathology Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy.,Department of Surgical Sciences and Integrated Diagnostics (DISC), Pathology Division of Anatomic Pathology, University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Federico Zara
- Unit of Medical Genetics, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Andrzej K Bednarek
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Pasquale Striano
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy
| | - Hiroetsu Suzuki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashinoi, Japan
| | - Vincenzo Salpietro
- Pediatric Neurology and Muscular Diseases Unit, IRCCS Istituto "Giannina Gaslini", Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetics, Maternal and Child Health (DiNOGMI), University of Genoa, Genoa, Italy.,Department of Neuromuscular Diseases, Queen Square Institute of Neurology, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Huang S, Hsu L, Chang N. Functional role of WW domain-containing proteins in tumor biology and diseases: Insight into the role in ubiquitin-proteasome system. FASEB Bioadv 2020; 2:234-253. [PMID: 32259050 PMCID: PMC7133736 DOI: 10.1096/fba.2019-00060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) governs the protein degradation process and balances proteostasis and cellular homeostasis. It is a well-controlled mechanism, in which removal of the damaged or excessive proteins is essential in driving signal pathways for cell survival or death. Accumulation of damaged proteins and failure in removal may contribute to disease initiation such as in cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. In this notion, specific protein-protein interaction is essential for the recognition of targeted proteins in UPS. WW domain plays an indispensable role in the protein-protein interactions during signaling. Among the 51 WW domain-containing proteins in the human proteomics, near one-quarter of them are involved in the UPS, suggesting that WW domains are crucial modules for driving the protein-protein binding and subsequent ubiquitination and degradation. In this review, we detail a broad spectrum of WW domains in protein-protein recognition, signal transduction, and relevance to diseases. New perspectives in dissecting the molecular interactions are provided.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shenq‐Shyang Huang
- Graduate Program of Biotechnology in MedicineInstitute of Molecular and Cellular BiologyNational Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchuTaiwan, ROC
| | - Li‐Jin Hsu
- Department of Medical Laboratory Science and BiotechnologyNational Cheng Kung University College of MedicineTainanTaiwan, ROC
| | - Nan‐Shan Chang
- Institute of Molecular MedicineNational Cheng Kung University College of MedicineTainanTaiwan, ROC
- Department of NeurochemistryNew York State Institute for Basic Research in Developmental DisabilitiesStaten IslandNYUSA
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical SciencesCollege of MedicineChina Medical UniversityTaichungTaiwan, ROC
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
First-line exome sequencing in Palestinian and Israeli Arabs with neurological disorders is efficient and facilitates disease gene discovery. Eur J Hum Genet 2020; 28:1034-1043. [PMID: 32214227 PMCID: PMC7382450 DOI: 10.1038/s41431-020-0609-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
A high rate of consanguinity leads to a high prevalence of autosomal recessive disorders in inbred populations. One example of inbred populations is the Arab communities in Israel and the Palestinian Authority. In the Palestinian Authority in particular, due to limited access to specialized medical care, most patients do not receive a genetic diagnosis and can therefore neither receive genetic counseling nor possibly specific treatment. We used whole-exome sequencing as a first-line diagnostic tool in 83 Palestinian and Israeli Arab families with suspected neurogenetic disorders and were able to establish a probable genetic diagnosis in 51% of the families (42 families). Pathogenic, likely pathogenic or highly suggestive candidate variants were found in the following genes extending and refining the mutational and phenotypic spectrum of these rare disorders: ACO2, ADAT3, ALS2, AMPD2, APTX, B4GALNT1, CAPN1, CLCN1, CNTNAP1, DNAJC6, GAMT, GPT2, KCNQ2, KIF11, LCA5, MCOLN1, MECP2, MFN2, MTMR2, NT5C2, NTRK1, PEX1, POLR3A, PRICKLE1, PRKN, PRX, SCAPER, SEPSECS, SGCG, SLC25A15, SPG11, SYNJ1, TMCO1, and TSEN54. Further, this cohort has proven to be ideal for prioritization of new disease genes. Two separately published candidate genes (WWOX and PAX7) were identified in this study. Analyzing the runs of homozygosity (ROHs) derived from the Exome sequencing data as a marker for the rate of inbreeding, revealed significantly longer ROHs in the included families compared with a German control cohort. The total length of ROHs correlated with the detection rate of recessive disease-causing variants. Identification of the disease-causing gene led to new therapeutic options in four families.
Collapse
|
32
|
Su T, Yan Y, Xu S, Zhang K, Xu S. Early onset epileptic encephalopathy caused by novel compound heterozygous mutation of WWOX gene. Int J Dev Neurosci 2020; 80:157-161. [PMID: 32037574 DOI: 10.1002/jdn.10013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The human WW domain containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene has been identified as a tumor suppressor gene. However, recent reports have demonstrated its dominant role in autosomal recessive disorders of the central nervous system, especially in early onset epileptic encephalopathy. Here, we report a Chinese case with novel compound heterozygous mutation of WWOX gene (c.229_230+2del mutation originated from her mother and c.1065dup (p.Ala356Serfs*173) variation from her father), and compare them to previously reported 59 WWOX-related epileptic encephalopathy (WOREE). Early onset and frequent epileptic seizures in the postnatal period, hypsarrhythmia patterns in EEG background and retarded development are the most important characteristics of WOREE in infants. Although the seizures in our case can be controlled by phenobarbital and topiramate, the prognosis of WOREE is poor.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tangfeng Su
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Yu Yan
- Department of Neurology, People's Hospital of Dongxihu District, Wuhan, China
| | - Shuang Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Ke Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Sanqing Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Alzheimer’s Disease Genetics: Review of Novel Loci Associated with Disease. CURRENT GENETIC MEDICINE REPORTS 2020. [DOI: 10.1007/s40142-020-00182-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
|
34
|
Cheng YY, Chou YT, Lai FJ, Jan MS, Chang TH, Jou IM, Chen PS, Lo JY, Huang SS, Chang NS, Liou YT, Hsu PC, Cheng HC, Lin YS, Hsu LJ. Wwox deficiency leads to neurodevelopmental and degenerative neuropathies and glycogen synthase kinase 3β-mediated epileptic seizure activity in mice. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2020; 8:6. [PMID: 32000863 PMCID: PMC6990504 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-020-0883-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Accepted: 01/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Human WWOX gene resides in the chromosomal common fragile site FRA16D and encodes a tumor suppressor WW domain-containing oxidoreductase. Loss-of-function mutations in both alleles of WWOX gene lead to autosomal recessive abnormalities in pediatric patients from consanguineous families, including microcephaly, cerebellar ataxia with epilepsy, mental retardation, retinal degeneration, developmental delay and early death. Here, we report that targeted disruption of Wwox gene in mice causes neurodevelopmental disorders, encompassing abnormal neuronal differentiation and migration in the brain. Cerebral malformations, such as microcephaly and incomplete separation of the hemispheres by a partial interhemispheric fissure, neuronal disorganization and heterotopia, and defective cerebellar midline fusion are observed in Wwox−/− mice. Degenerative alterations including severe hypomyelination in the central nervous system, optic nerve atrophy, Purkinje cell loss and granular cell apoptosis in the cerebellum, and peripheral nerve demyelination due to Schwann cell apoptosis correspond to reduced amplitudes and a latency prolongation of transcranial motor evoked potentials, motor deficits and gait ataxia in Wwox−/− mice. Wwox gene ablation leads to the occurrence of spontaneous epilepsy and increased susceptibility to pilocarpine- and pentylenetetrazol (PTZ)-induced seizures in preweaning mice. We determined that a significantly increased activation of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β) occurs in Wwox−/− mouse cerebral cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. Inhibition of GSK3β by lithium ion significantly abolishes the onset of PTZ-induced seizure in Wwox−/− mice. Together, our findings reveal that the neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative deficits in Wwox knockout mice strikingly recapitulate the key features of human neuropathies, and that targeting GSK3β with lithium ion ameliorates epilepsy.
Collapse
|
35
|
Beaudin M, Matilla-Dueñas A, Soong BW, Pedroso JL, Barsottini OG, Mitoma H, Tsuji S, Schmahmann JD, Manto M, Rouleau GA, Klein C, Dupre N. The Classification of Autosomal Recessive Cerebellar Ataxias: a Consensus Statement from the Society for Research on the Cerebellum and Ataxias Task Force. CEREBELLUM (LONDON, ENGLAND) 2019; 18:1098-1125. [PMID: 31267374 PMCID: PMC6867988 DOI: 10.1007/s12311-019-01052-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
There is currently no accepted classification of autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias, a group of disorders characterized by important genetic heterogeneity and complex phenotypes. The objective of this task force was to build a consensus on the classification of autosomal recessive ataxias in order to develop a general approach to a patient presenting with ataxia, organize disorders according to clinical presentation, and define this field of research by identifying common pathogenic molecular mechanisms in these disorders. The work of this task force was based on a previously published systematic scoping review of the literature that identified autosomal recessive disorders characterized primarily by cerebellar motor dysfunction and cerebellar degeneration. The task force regrouped 12 international ataxia experts who decided on general orientation and specific issues. We identified 59 disorders that are classified as primary autosomal recessive cerebellar ataxias. For each of these disorders, we present geographical and ethnical specificities along with distinctive clinical and imagery features. These primary recessive ataxias were organized in a clinical and a pathophysiological classification, and we present a general clinical approach to the patient presenting with ataxia. We also identified a list of 48 complex multisystem disorders that are associated with ataxia and should be included in the differential diagnosis of autosomal recessive ataxias. This classification is the result of a consensus among a panel of international experts, and it promotes a unified understanding of autosomal recessive cerebellar disorders for clinicians and researchers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marie Beaudin
- Axe Neurosciences, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada
| | - Antoni Matilla-Dueñas
- Department of Neuroscience, Health Sciences Research Institute Germans Trias i Pujol (IGTP), Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Badalona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Bing-Weng Soong
- Department of Neurology, Shuang Ho Hospital and Taipei Neuroscience Institute, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
- National Yang-Ming University School of Medicine, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, Republic of China
| | - Jose Luiz Pedroso
- Ataxia Unit, Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Orlando G Barsottini
- Ataxia Unit, Department of Neurology, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
| | - Hiroshi Mitoma
- Medical Education Promotion Center, Tokyo Medical University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shoji Tsuji
- The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- International University of Health and Welfare, Chiba, Japan
| | - Jeremy D Schmahmann
- Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mario Manto
- Service de Neurologie, Médiathèque Jean Jacquy, CHU-Charleroi, 6000, Charleroi, Belgium
- Service des Neurosciences, UMons, Mons, Belgium
| | | | | | - Nicolas Dupre
- Axe Neurosciences, CHU de Québec-Université Laval, Québec, QC, Canada.
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université Laval, Quebec City, QC, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Novel compound heterozygous mutations in the WWOX gene cause early infantile epileptic encephalopathy. Int J Dev Neurosci 2019; 79:45-48. [PMID: 31669195 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijdevneu.2019.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 10/08/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Defects of WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) has been associated with autosomal recessive spinocerebellar ataxia type 12 (SCAR12) and severe early-onset epileptic encephalopathy. The mutations in this gene can lead to global developmental delay, acquired microcephaly, and epilepsy. We report an infant with an autosomal recessive severe early-onset epileptic encephalopathy. Whole exome sequencing analysis was applied to the patient. Novel compound heterozygous mutations in the WWOX gene, c.173-2A > G and c.775 T > C (p.Ser259Pro), were identified. The present study expands our knowledge of WWOX mutations and related phenotypes, and provides new information on the genetic defects associated with this disease for clinical diagnosis.
Collapse
|
37
|
Kośla K, Płuciennik E, Styczeń-Binkowska E, Nowakowska M, Orzechowska M, Bednarek AK. The WWOX Gene Influences Cellular Pathways in the Neuronal Differentiation of Human Neural Progenitor Cells. Front Cell Neurosci 2019; 13:391. [PMID: 31543760 PMCID: PMC6730490 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2019.00391] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The brain is the most functionally organized structure of all organs. It manages behavior, perception and higher cognitive functions. The WWOX gene is non-classical tumor suppressor gene, which has been shown to have an impact on proliferation, apoptosis and migration processes. Moreover, genetic aberrations in WWOX induce severe neuropathological phenotypes in humans and rodents. The aim of the present study was to investigate in detail the impact of WWOX on human neural progenitor cell (hNPC) maintenance and how depletion of WWOX disturbs signaling pathways playing a pivotal role in neuronal differentiation and central nervous system (CNS) organogenesis. hNPC with a silenced WWOX gene exhibited lowered mitochondrial redox potential, enhanced adhesion to fibronectin and extracellular matrix protein mixture, downregulation of MMP2/9 expression and impaired 3D growth. Global transcriptome analysis using cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE) found that WWOX downregulation significantly changes the expression of multiple genes engaged in cytoskeleton organization, adhesion, cell signaling and chromatin remodeling. The massive changes in gene expression caused by WWOX silencing may strongly affect the differentiation and migration of neurons in organogenesis, brain injury, cancerogenesis or neurodifferentiation. WWOX gene appears to be an important regulator of neural tissue architecture and function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Katarzyna Kośla
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | - Elżbieta Płuciennik
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | | | - Magdalena Nowakowska
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| | | | - Andrzej K Bednarek
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Medical University of Łódź, Łódź, Poland
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Tochigi Y, Takamatsu Y, Nakane J, Nakai R, Katayama K, Suzuki H. Loss of Wwox Causes Defective Development of Cerebral Cortex with Hypomyelination in a Rat Model of Lethal Dwarfism with Epilepsy. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20143596. [PMID: 31340538 PMCID: PMC6678113 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20143596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 07/20/2019] [Accepted: 07/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (Wwox) is a putative tumor suppressor. Several germline mutations of Wwox have been associated with infant neurological disorders characterized by epilepsy, growth retardation, and early death. Less is known, however, about the pathological link between Wwox mutations and these disorders or the physiological role of Wwox in brain development. In this study, we examined age-related expression and histological localization of Wwox in forebrains as well as the effects of loss of function mutations in the Wwox gene in the immature cortex of a rat model of lethal dwarfism with epilepsy (lde/lde). Immunostaining revealed that Wwox is expressed in neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. lde/lde cortices were characterized by a reduction in neurite growth without a reduced number of neurons, severe reduction in myelination with a reduced number of mature oligodendrocytes, and a reduction in cell populations of astrocytes and microglia. These results indicate that Wwox is essential for normal development of neurons and glial cells in the cerebral cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Tochigi
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Yutaka Takamatsu
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Jun Nakane
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Rika Nakai
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Kentaro Katayama
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan
| | - Hiroetsu Suzuki
- Laboratory of Veterinary Physiology, School of Veterinary Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Science, Nippon Veterinary and Life Science University, Musashino-shi, Tokyo 180-8602, Japan.
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
McBride KM, Kil H, Mu Y, Plummer JB, Lee J, Zelazowski MJ, Sebastian M, Abba MC, Aldaz CM. Wwox Deletion in Mouse B Cells Leads to Genomic Instability, Neoplastic Transformation, and Monoclonal Gammopathies. Front Oncol 2019; 9:517. [PMID: 31275852 PMCID: PMC6593956 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00517] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
WWOX (WW domain containing oxidoreductase) expression loss is common in various cancers and characteristic of poor prognosis. Deletions, translocations, and loss of expression affecting the WWOX gene are a common feature of various B cell neoplasms such as certain B cell lymphomas and multiple myeloma. However, the role of this common abnormality in B cell tumor initiation and/or progression has not been defined. In this study, we conditionally deleted Wwox early in B cell development by means of breeding Cd19-Cre transgenic mice crossed to Wwox floxed mice (Cd19 Wwox KO). We observed a significant reduced survival in Cd19 Wwox KO mice and the development of B cell neoplasms including B cell lymphomas, plasma cell neoplasias characterized by increased numbers of CD138+ populations as well as monoclonal gammopathies detected by serum protein electrophoresis. To investigate whether Wwox loss could play a role in genomic instability, we analyzed DNA repair functions during immunoglobulin class switch joining between DNA segments in antibody genes. While class switch recombination (CSR) was only slightly impaired, Wwox deficiency resulted in a dramatic shift of double strand break (DSB) repair from normal classical-NHEJ toward the microhomology-mediated alternative-NHEJ pathway, a pathway associated with chromosome translocations and genome instability. Consistent with this, Wwox deficiency resulted in a marked increase of spontaneous translocations during CSR. This work defines for the first time a role for Wwox for maintaining B cell genome stability during a process that can promote neoplastic transformation and monoclonal gammopathies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kevin M McBride
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Hyunsuk Kil
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Yunxiang Mu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Joshua B Plummer
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Jaeho Lee
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Maciej J Zelazowski
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Manu Sebastian
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Martin C Abba
- School of Medicine, Center for Immunological Basic and Applied Research (CINIBA), National University of La Plata (UNLP), La Plata, Argentina
| | - C Marcelo Aldaz
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
40
|
Weisz-Hubshman M, Meirson H, Michaelson-Cohen R, Beeri R, Tzur S, Bormans C, Modai S, Shomron N, Shilon Y, Banne E, Orenstein N, Konen O, Marek-Yagel D, Veber A, Shalva N, Imagawa E, Matsumoto N, Lev D, Lerman Sagie T, Raas-Rothschild A, Ben-Zeev B, Basel-Salmon L, Behar DM, Heimer G. Novel WWOX deleterious variants cause early infantile epileptic encephalopathy, severe developmental delay and dysmorphism among Yemenite Jews. Eur J Paediatr Neurol 2019; 23:418-426. [PMID: 30853297 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejpn.2019.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2018] [Revised: 02/09/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The human WW Domain Containing Oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene was originally described as a tumor suppressor gene. However, recent reports have demonstrated its cardinal role in the pathogenesis of central nervous systems disorders such as epileptic encephalopathy, intellectual disability, and spinocerebellar ataxia. We report on six patients from three unrelated families of full or partial Yemenite Jewish ancestry exhibiting early infantile epileptic encephalopathy and profound developmental delay. Importantly, four patients demonstrated facial dysmorphism. Exome sequencing revealed that four of the patients were homozygous for a novel WWOX c.517-2A > G splice-site variant and two were compound heterozygous for this variant and a novel c.689A > C, p.Gln230Pro missense variant. Complementary DNA sequencing demonstrated that the WWOX c.517-2A > G splice-site variant causes skipping of exon six. A carrier rate of 1:177 was found among Yemenite Jews. We provide the first detailed description of patients harboring a splice-site variant in the WWOX gene and propose that the clinical synopsis of WWOX related epileptic encephalopathy should be broadened to include facial dysmorphism. The increased frequency of the c.517-2A > G splice-site variant among Yemenite Jews coupled with the severity of the phenotype makes it a candidate for inclusion in expanded preconception screening programs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Weisz-Hubshman
- Pediatric Genetics Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel; Raphael Recanati Genetic Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel.
| | - H Meirson
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Kaplan Medical Center Rehovot, Israel
| | - R Michaelson-Cohen
- Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University School of Medicine, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - R Beeri
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel
| | - S Tzur
- Laboratory of Molecular Medicine, Rambam Health Care Campus, Haifa, Israel; Genomic Research Department, Emedgene Technologies, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - C Bormans
- Gene by Gene, Genomic Research Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - S Modai
- Variantyx, Inc, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - N Shomron
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Variantyx, Inc, Framingham, MA, USA
| | - Y Shilon
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, Kaplan Medical Center Rehovot, Israel
| | - E Banne
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Kaplan Medical Center, Rehovot, Israel
| | - N Orenstein
- Pediatric Genetics Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel; Raphael Recanati Genetic Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - O Konen
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Radiology Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - D Marek-Yagel
- Metabolic Diseases Unit, Safra Children Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - A Veber
- Metabolic Diseases Unit, Safra Children Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - N Shalva
- Metabolic Diseases Unit, Safra Children Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - E Imagawa
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - N Matsumoto
- Department of Human Genetics, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
| | - D Lev
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Metabolic Neurogenetic Clinic, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel; Institute of Medical Genetics, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel
| | - T Lerman Sagie
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Metabolic Neurogenetic Clinic, Wolfson Medical Center, Holon, Israel
| | - A Raas-Rothschild
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Institute of Rare Diseases, The Danek Gertner Institute of Human Genetics, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - B Ben-Zeev
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Pediatric Neurology Unit, Safra Children Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel
| | - L Basel-Salmon
- Pediatric Genetics Unit, Schneider Children's Medical Center of Israel, Petach Tikva, Israel; Raphael Recanati Genetic Institute, Rabin Medical Center, Petach Tikva, Israel; Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Felsenstein Medical Research Center, Petach Tikva, Israel
| | - D M Behar
- Gene by Gene, Genomic Research Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - G Heimer
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel; Pediatric Neurology Unit, Safra Children Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel Hashomer, Israel; The Pinchas Borenstein Talpiot Medical Leadership Program, The Chaim Sheba Medical Center, 52621, Ramat Gan, Israel
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Peter B, Dinu V, Liu L, Huentelman M, Naymik M, Lancaster H, Vose C, Schrauwen I. Exome Sequencing of Two Siblings with Sporadic Autism Spectrum Disorder and Severe Speech Sound Disorder Suggests Pleiotropic and Complex Effects. Behav Genet 2019; 49:399-414. [DOI: 10.1007/s10519-019-09957-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
|
42
|
Sun MW, Gupta* A, Varma M, Paskov KM, Jung JY, Stockham NT, Wall DP. Coalitional Game Theory Facilitates Identification of Non-Coding Variants Associated With Autism. BIOMEDICAL INFORMATICS INSIGHTS 2019; 11:1178222619832859. [PMID: 30886520 PMCID: PMC6410388 DOI: 10.1177/1178222619832859] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Studies on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have amassed substantial evidence for the role of genetics in the disease's phenotypic manifestation. A large number of coding and non-coding variants with low penetrance likely act in a combinatorial manner to explain the variable forms of ASD. However, many of these combined interactions, both additive and epistatic, remain undefined. Coalitional game theory (CGT) is an approach that seeks to identify players (individual genetic variants or genes) who tend to improve the performance-association to a disease phenotype of interest-of any coalition (subset of co-occurring genetic variants) they join. This method has been previously applied to boost biologically informative signal from gene expression data and exome sequencing data but remains to be explored in the context of cooperativity among non-coding genomic regions. We describe our extension of previous work, highlighting non-coding chromosomal regions relevant to ASD using CGT on alteration data of 4595 fully sequenced genomes from 756 multiplex families. Genomes were encoded into binary matrices for three types of non-coding regions previously implicated in ASD and separated into ASD (case) and unaffected (control) samples. A player metric, the Shapley value, enabled determination of individual variant contributions in both sets of cohorts. A total of 30 non-coding positions were found to have significantly elevated player scores and likely represent significant contributors to the genetic coordination underlying ASD. Cross-study analyses revealed that a subset of mutated non-coding regions (all of which are in human accelerated regions (HARs)) and related genes are involved in biological pathways or behavioral outcomes known to be affected in autism, suggesting the importance of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) within HARs in ASD. These findings support the use of CGT in identifying hidden yet influential non-coding players from large-scale genomic data, to better understand the precise underpinnings of complex neurodevelopmental disorders such as autism.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Min Woo Sun
- Departments of Pediatrics (Division of Systems Medicine), Psychiatry (by courtesy), and Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Anika Gupta*
- Departments of Pediatrics (Division of Systems Medicine), Psychiatry (by courtesy), and Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Maya Varma
- Departments of Pediatrics (Division of Systems Medicine), Psychiatry (by courtesy), and Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Kelley M Paskov
- Departments of Pediatrics (Division of Systems Medicine), Psychiatry (by courtesy), and Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Jae-Yoon Jung
- Departments of Pediatrics (Division of Systems Medicine), Psychiatry (by courtesy), and Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Nate T Stockham
- Departments of Pediatrics (Division of Systems Medicine), Psychiatry (by courtesy), and Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| | - Dennis P Wall
- Departments of Pediatrics (Division of Systems Medicine), Psychiatry (by courtesy), and Biomedical Data Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Ehaideb SN, Al-Bu Ali MJ, Al-Obaid JJ, Aljassim KM, Alfadhel M. Novel Homozygous Mutation in the WWOX Gene Causes Seizures and Global Developmental Delay: Report and Review. Transl Neurosci 2018; 9:203-208. [PMID: 30746283 PMCID: PMC6368664 DOI: 10.1515/tnsci-2018-0029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/09/2018] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The WWOX gene has a WW domain containing oxidoreductase, which is located at the common fragile site FRA16D at chromosome 16q23. WWOX is a tumor suppressor gene that has been associated with several types of cancer such as hepatic, breast, lung, prostate, gastric, and ovarian. Recently WWOX has been implicated in epilepsy, where studies show homozygous loss-of-function mutation lead to early-infantile epileptic encephalopathy, spinocerebellar ataxia, intractable seizures and developmental delay, and early lethal microcephaly syndrome with epilepsy. Here we investigate two consanguineous Saudi families and we identified three probands with epileptic encephalopathy. Whole exome sequencing revealed a novel homozygous mutation in the WWOX gene in one proband. In addition, we identified a previously reported WWOX mutation in two probands. Later on these findings were confirmed with Sanger sequencing. The underlying mechanism on how WWOX mutations lead to seizure remains elusive. To date very few WWOX mutations have been associated with neurological disorder and our newly identified mutations support the notion that WWOX play an important role in neurons and will aid in better diagnosis and genetic counseling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Salleh N Ehaideb
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majed J Al-Bu Ali
- Medical Genetic Unit, Pediatrics department, Maternity Children Hospital, Al-hassa Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
| | | | - Kareemah M Aljassim
- Medical Genetic Unit, Pediatrics department, Maternity Children Hospital, Al-hassa Hofuf, Saudi Arabia
| | - Majid Alfadhel
- King Abdullah International Medical Research Centre (KAIMRC), King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.,Division of Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, King Abdulaziz Medical City, Ministry of National Guard-Health Affairs (MNGHA), Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Hussain T, Liu B, Shrock MS, Williams T, Aldaz CM. WWOX, the FRA16D gene: A target of and a contributor to genomic instability. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2018; 58:324-338. [PMID: 30350478 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2018] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
WWOX is one of the largest human genes spanning over 1.11 Mbp in length at chr16q23.1-q23.2 and containing FRA16D, the second most common chromosomal fragile site. FRA16D is a hot spot of genomic instability, prone to breakage and for causing germline and somatic copy number variations (CNVs). Consequentially WWOX is frequent target for deletions in cancer. Esophageal, stomach, colon, bladder, ovarian, and uterine cancers are those most commonly affected by WWOX deep focal deletions. WWOX deletions significantly correlate with various clinicopathological features in esophageal carcinoma. WWOX is also a common target for translocations in multiple myeloma. By mapping R-loop (RNA:DNA hybrid) forming sequences (RFLS) we observe this to be a consistent feature aligning with germline and somatic CNV break points at the edges and core of FRA16D spanning from introns 5 to 8 of WWOX. Germline CNV polymorphisms affecting WWOX are extremely common in humans across different ethnic groups. Importantly, structural variants datasets allowed us to identify a specific hot spot for germline duplications and deletions within intron 5 of WWOX coinciding with the 5' edge of the FRA16D core and various RFLS. Recently, multiple pathogenic CNVs spanning WWOX have been identified associated with neurological conditions such as autism spectrum disorder, infantile epileptic encephalopathies, and other developmental anomalies. Loss of WWOX function has recently been associated with DNA damage repair abnormalities, increased genomic instability, and resistance to chemoradiotherapy. The described observations place WWOX both as a target of and a contributor to genomic instability. Both of these aspects will be discussed in this review.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tabish Hussain
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas
| | - Bin Liu
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas
| | - Morgan S Shrock
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - Terence Williams
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, Ohio
| | - C Marcelo Aldaz
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, Texas
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Hussain T, Lee J, Abba MC, Chen J, Aldaz CM. Delineating WWOX Protein Interactome by Tandem Affinity Purification-Mass Spectrometry: Identification of Top Interactors and Key Metabolic Pathways Involved. Front Oncol 2018; 8:591. [PMID: 30619736 PMCID: PMC6300487 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Accepted: 11/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
It has become clear from multiple studies that WWOX (WW domain-containing oxidoreductase) operates as a "non-classical" tumor suppressor of significant relevance in cancer progression. Additionally, WWOX has been recognized for its role in a much wider array of human pathologies including metabolic conditions and central nervous system related syndromes. A myriad of putative functional roles has been attributed to WWOX mostly through the identification of various binding proteins. However, the reality is that much remains to be learned on the key relevant functions of WWOX in the normal cell. Here we employed a Tandem Affinity Purification-Mass Spectrometry (TAP-MS) approach in order to better define direct WWOX protein interactors and by extension interaction with multiprotein complexes under physiological conditions on a proteomic scale. This work led to the identification of both well-known, but more importantly novel high confidence WWOX interactors, suggesting the involvement of WWOX in specific biological and molecular processes while delineating a comprehensive portrait of WWOX protein interactome. Of particular relevance is WWOX interaction with key proteins from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), Golgi, late endosomes, protein transport, and lysosomes networks such as SEC23IP, SCAMP3, and VOPP1. These binding partners harbor specific PPXY motifs which directly interact with the amino-terminal WW1 domain of WWOX. Pathway analysis of WWOX interactors identified a significant enrichment of metabolic pathways associated with proteins, carbohydrates, and lipids breakdown. Thus, suggesting that WWOX likely plays relevant roles in glycolysis, fatty acid degradation and other pathways that converge primarily in Acetyl-CoA generation, a fundamental molecule not only as the entry point to the tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle for energy production, but also as the key building block for de novo synthesis of lipids and amino acids. Our results provide a significant lead on subsets of protein partners and enzymatic complexes with which full-length WWOX protein interacts with in order to carry out its metabolic and other biological functions while also becoming a valuable resource for further mechanistic studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tabish Hussain
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Jaeho Lee
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Martin C Abba
- Centro de Investigaciones Inmunológicas Básicas y Aplicadas, School of Medicine, Universidad de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Junjie Chen
- Department of Experimental Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, United States
| | - C Marcelo Aldaz
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| |
Collapse
|
46
|
Davids M, Markello T, Wolfe LA, Chepa-Lotrea X, Tifft CJ, Gahl WA, Malicdan MCV. Early infantile-onset epileptic encephalopathy 28 due to a homozygous microdeletion involving the WWOX gene in a region of uniparental disomy. Hum Mutat 2018; 40:42-47. [PMID: 30362252 DOI: 10.1002/humu.23675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2018] [Revised: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The genetic etiologies of many rare disorders, including early infantile epileptic encephalopathies, are largely undiagnosed. A 6-year-old girl was admitted to the National Institutes of Health Undiagnosed Diseases Program with profound intellectual disability, infantile-onset seizures, chronic respiratory failure, facial dysmorphisms, skeletal abnormalities, and atrial septum defect. A large region of homozygosity was discovered on chromosome 16, spanning 16q22.1-16q24.3' caused by uniparental disomy (UPD) that included a maternally inherited homozygous microdeletion covering exon 6 of WWOX (NM_016373.3). mRNA expression analysis revealed that the deletion led to nonsense-mediated decay of the NM_016373.3 transcript; the exon 6 of an alternative transcript (NM_130791.3), lacking the short-chain dehydrogenase, was utilized. The microdeletion in WWOX explains the seizures and intellectual disability, while pathogenic variants in another gene, HSPG2, are likely responsible for the patient's skeletal abnormalities. This report describes a rare autosomal recessive disorder with multiple genetic etiologies, one of which involves UPD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mariska Davids
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Thomas Markello
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,Office of the Clinical Director, NHGRI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lynne A Wolfe
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,Office of the Clinical Director, NHGRI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Xenia Chepa-Lotrea
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Cynthia J Tifft
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,Office of the Clinical Director, NHGRI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - William A Gahl
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,Office of the Clinical Director, NHGRI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - May Christine V Malicdan
- NIH Undiagnosed Diseases Program, Common Fund, Office of the Director, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,Office of the Clinical Director, NHGRI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| |
Collapse
|
47
|
The phenotypic spectrum of WWOX-related disorders: 20 additional cases of WOREE syndrome and review of the literature. Genet Med 2018; 21:1308-1318. [PMID: 30356099 PMCID: PMC6752669 DOI: 10.1038/s41436-018-0339-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/03/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Germline WWOX pathogenic variants
have been associated with disorder of sex differentiation (DSD), spinocerebellar
ataxia (SCA), and WWOX-related epileptic
encephalopathy (WOREE syndrome). We review clinical and molecular data on
WWOX-related disorders, further
describing WOREE syndrome and phenotype/genotype correlations. Methods We report clinical and molecular findings in 20 additional patients
from 18 unrelated families with WOREE syndrome and biallelic pathogenic variants
in the WWOX gene. Different molecular
screening approaches were used (quantitative polymerase chain reaction/multiplex
ligation-dependent probe amplification [qPCR/MLPA], array comparative genomic
hybridization [array-CGH], Sanger sequencing, epilepsy gene panel, exome
sequencing), genome sequencing. Results Two copy-number variations (CNVs) or two single-nucleotide
variations (SNVs) were found respectively in four and nine families, with
compound heterozygosity for one SNV and one CNV in five families. Eight novel
missense pathogenic variants have been described. By aggregating our patients
with all cases reported in the literature, 37 patients from 27 families with
WOREE syndrome are known. This review suggests WOREE syndrome is a very severe
epileptic encephalopathy characterized by absence of language development and
acquisition of walking, early-onset drug-resistant seizures, ophthalmological
involvement, and a high likelihood of premature death. The most severe clinical
presentation seems to be associated with null genotypes. Conclusion Germline pathogenic variants in WWOX are clearly associated with a severe early-onset epileptic
encephalopathy. We report here the largest cohort of individuals with WOREE
syndrome.
Collapse
|
48
|
Tanna M, Aqeilan RI. Modeling WWOX Loss of Function in vivo: What Have We Learned? Front Oncol 2018; 8:420. [PMID: 30370248 PMCID: PMC6194312 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2018] [Accepted: 09/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The WW domain–containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene encompasses a common fragile sites (CFS) known as FRA16D, and is implicated in cancer. WWOX encodes a 46kDa adaptor protein, which contains two N-terminal WW–domains and a catalytic domain at its C–terminus homologous to short–chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) family proteins. A high sequence conservation of WWOX orthologues from insects to rodents and ultimately humans suggest its significant role in physiology and homeostasis. Indeed, data obtained from several animal models including flies, fish, and rodents demonstrate WWOX in vivo requirement and that its deregulation results in severe pathological consequences including growth retardation, post–natal lethality, neuropathy, metabolic disorders, and tumorigenesis. Altogether, these findings set WWOX as an essential protein that is necessary to maintain normal cellular/physiological homeostasis. Here, we review and discuss lessons and outcomes learned from modeling loss of WWOX expression in vivo.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mayur Tanna
- Faculty of Medicine, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research, Israel-Canada (IMRIC), Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Rami I Aqeilan
- Faculty of Medicine, The Lautenberg Center for Immunology and Cancer Research, Institute for Medical Research, Israel-Canada (IMRIC), Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel.,Department of Cancer Biology & Genetics, Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, Columbus, OH, United States
| |
Collapse
|
49
|
Bonin F, Taouis K, Azorin P, Petitalot A, Tariq Z, Nola S, Bouteille N, Tury S, Vacher S, Bièche I, Rais KA, Pierron G, Fuhrmann L, Vincent-Salomon A, Formstecher E, Camonis J, Lidereau R, Lallemand F, Driouch K. VOPP1 promotes breast tumorigenesis by interacting with the tumor suppressor WWOX. BMC Biol 2018; 16:109. [PMID: 30285739 PMCID: PMC6169085 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-018-0576-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene, frequently altered in breast cancer, encodes a tumor suppressor whose function is mediated through its interactions with cancer-related proteins, such as the pro-apoptotic protein p73α. Results To better understand the involvement of WWOX in breast tumorigenesis, we performed a yeast two-hybrid screen and co-immunoprecipitation assays to identify novel partners of this protein. We characterized the vesicular overexpressed in cancer pro-survival protein 1 (VOPP1) as a new regulator of WWOX. In breast cancer cells, VOPP1 sequestrates WWOX in lysosomes, impairs its ability to associate with p73α, and inhibits WWOX-dependent apoptosis. Overexpressed VOPP1 potentiates cellular transformation and enhances the growth of transplanted tumors in vivo. VOPP1 is overexpressed in breast tumors, especially in tumors that retain WWOX. Moreover, increased expression of VOPP1 is associated with reduced survival of patients with WWOX-positive, but not with WWOX-negative, tumors. Conclusions These findings emphasize the importance of the sequestration of WWOX by VOPP1 in addition to WWOX loss in breast tumors and define VOPP1 as a novel oncogene promoting breast carcinogenesis by inhibiting the anti-tumoral effect of WWOX. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s12915-018-0576-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Florian Bonin
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Karim Taouis
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Paula Azorin
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Ambre Petitalot
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Zakia Tariq
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sebastien Nola
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France.,Present address: INSERM U950, Institut Jacques Monod, Université Paris Diderot, Sorbonne Paris Cité, 75013, Paris, France
| | - Nadège Bouteille
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sandrine Tury
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Sophie Vacher
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Ivan Bièche
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Khadija Ait Rais
- Somatic Genetics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Gaelle Pierron
- Somatic Genetics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - Laetitia Fuhrmann
- Pathology, Department of Tumor Biology, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | | | | | | | - Rosette Lidereau
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| | - François Lallemand
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France.
| | - Keltouma Driouch
- Pharmacogenomics Unit, Department of Genetics, Institut Curie, 75005, Paris, France
| |
Collapse
|
50
|
Hussain T, Kil H, Hattiangady B, Lee J, Kodali M, Shuai B, Attaluri S, Takata Y, Shen J, Abba MC, Shetty AK, Aldaz CM. Wwox deletion leads to reduced GABA-ergic inhibitory interneuron numbers and activation of microglia and astrocytes in mouse hippocampus. Neurobiol Dis 2018; 121:163-176. [PMID: 30290271 DOI: 10.1016/j.nbd.2018.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2018] [Revised: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 09/30/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The association of WW domain-containing oxidoreductase WWOX gene loss of function with central nervous system (CNS) related pathologies is well documented. These include spinocerebellar ataxia, epilepsy and mental retardation (SCAR12, OMIM: 614322) and early infantile epileptic encephalopathy (EIEE28, OMIM: 616211) syndromes. However, there is complete lack of understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms at play. In this study, using a Wwox knockout (Wwox KO) mouse model (2 weeks old, both sexes) and stereological studies we observe that Wwox deletion leads to a significant reduction in the number of hippocampal GABA-ergic (γ-aminobutyric acid) interneurons. Wwox KO mice displayed significantly reduced numbers of calcium-binding protein parvalbumin (PV) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) expressing interneurons in different subfields of the hippocampus in comparison to Wwox wild-type (WT) mice. We also detected decreased levels of Glutamic Acid Decarboxylase protein isoforms GAD65/67 expression in Wwox null hippocampi suggesting lower levels of GABA synthesis. In addition, Wwox deficiency was associated with signs of neuroinflammation such as evidence of activated microglia, astrogliosis, and overexpression of inflammatory cytokines Tnf-a and Il6. We also performed comparative transcriptome-wide expression analyses of neural stem cells grown as neurospheres from hippocampi of Wwox KO and WT mice thus identifying 283 genes significantly dysregulated in their expression. Functional annotation of transcriptome profiling differences identified 'neurological disease' and 'CNS development related functions' to be significantly enriched. Several epilepsy-related genes were found differentially expressed in Wwox KO neurospheres. This study provides the first genotype-phenotype observations as well as potential mechanistic clues associated with Wwox loss of function in the brain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tabish Hussain
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Hyunsuk Kil
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Bharathi Hattiangady
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple and College Station, TX, United States; Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, CTVHCS, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Jaeho Lee
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Maheedhar Kodali
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple and College Station, TX, United States; Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, CTVHCS, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Bing Shuai
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple and College Station, TX, United States; Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, CTVHCS, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Sahithi Attaluri
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple and College Station, TX, United States; Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, CTVHCS, Temple, TX, United States
| | - Yoko Takata
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Jianjun Shen
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States
| | - Martin C Abba
- CINIBA, School of Medicine, UNLP, La Plata, Argentina
| | - Ashok K Shetty
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Molecular and Cellular Medicine, Texas A&M Health Science Center College of Medicine, Temple and College Station, TX, United States; Research Service, Olin E. Teague Veterans' Medical Center, CTVHCS, Temple, TX, United States
| | - C Marcelo Aldaz
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX, United States.
| |
Collapse
|