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Ferguson CA, Firulli BA, Zoia M, Osterwalder M, Firulli AB. Identification and characterization of Hand2 upstream genomic enhancers active in developing stomach and limbs. Dev Dyn 2024; 253:215-232. [PMID: 37551791 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.646] [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: 05/02/2023] [Revised: 07/20/2023] [Accepted: 07/25/2023] [Indexed: 08/09/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The bHLH transcription factor HAND2 plays important roles in the development of the embryonic heart, face, limbs, and sympathetic and enteric nervous systems. To define how and when HAND2 regulates these developmental systems, requires understanding the transcriptional regulation of Hand2. RESULTS Remarkably, Hand2 is flanked by an extensive upstream gene desert containing a potentially diverse enhancer landscape. Here, we screened the regulatory interval 200 kb proximal to Hand2 for putative enhancers using evolutionary conservation and histone marks in Hand2-expressing tissues. H3K27ac signatures across embryonic tissues pointed to only two putative enhancer regions showing deep sequence conservation. Assessment of the transcriptional enhancer potential of these elements using transgenic reporter lines uncovered distinct in vivo enhancer activities in embryonic stomach and limb mesenchyme, respectively. Activity of the identified stomach enhancer was restricted to the developing antrum and showed expression within the smooth muscle and enteric neurons. Surprisingly, the activity pattern of the limb enhancer did not overlap Hand2 mRNA but consistently yielded a defined subectodermal anterior expression pattern within multiple transgenic lines. CONCLUSIONS Together, these results start to uncover the diverse regulatory potential inherent to the Hand2 upstream regulatory interval.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chloe A Ferguson
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Beth A Firulli
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
| | - Matteo Zoia
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Marco Osterwalder
- Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
- Department of Cardiology, Bern University Hospital, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Anthony B Firulli
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA
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2
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Van Haver S, Fan Y, Bekaert SL, Everaert C, Van Loocke W, Zanzani V, Deschildre J, Maestre IF, Amaro A, Vermeirssen V, De Preter K, Zhou T, Kentsis A, Studer L, Speleman F, Roberts SS. Human iPSC modeling recapitulates in vivo sympathoadrenal development and reveals an aberrant developmental subpopulation in familial neuroblastoma. iScience 2024; 27:108096. [PMID: 38222111 PMCID: PMC10784699 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108096] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/26/2023] [Indexed: 01/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies defining normal and disrupted human neural crest cell development have been challenging given its early timing and intricacy of development. Consequently, insight into the early disruptive events causing a neural crest related disease such as pediatric cancer neuroblastoma is limited. To overcome this problem, we developed an in vitro differentiation model to recapitulate the normal in vivo developmental process of the sympathoadrenal lineage which gives rise to neuroblastoma. We used human in vitro pluripotent stem cells and single-cell RNA sequencing to recapitulate the molecular events during sympathoadrenal development. We provide a detailed map of dynamically regulated transcriptomes during sympathoblast formation and illustrate the power of this model to study early events of the development of human neuroblastoma, identifying a distinct subpopulation of cell marked by SOX2 expression in developing sympathoblast obtained from patient derived iPSC cells harboring a germline activating mutation in the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stéphane Van Haver
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Yujie Fan
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Weill Graduate School of Medical Sciences of Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Sarah-Lee Bekaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Celine Everaert
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Wouter Van Loocke
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Vittorio Zanzani
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Lab for Computational Biology, Integromics and Gene Regulation (CBIGR), Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Joke Deschildre
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Lab for Computational Biology, Integromics and Gene Regulation (CBIGR), Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Inés Fernandez Maestre
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
- Louis V. Gerstner Jr Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adrianna Amaro
- Department of Pediatrics, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Vanessa Vermeirssen
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Lab for Computational Biology, Integromics and Gene Regulation (CBIGR), Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Katleen De Preter
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ting Zhou
- The SKI Stem Cell Research Facility, The Center for Stem Cell Biology and Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Alex Kentsis
- Department of Pediatrics, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Molecular Pharmacology Program, MSKCC, New York, NY, USA
- Tow Center for Developmental Oncology, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
- Departments of Pediatrics, Pharmacology and Physiology & Biophysics, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Cornell University, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Lorenz Studer
- The Center for Stem Cell Biology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, NY, USA
- Developmental Biology Program, MSKCC, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Frank Speleman
- Department of Biomolecular Medicine, Ghent University, 9000 Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), 9000 Ghent, Belgium
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3
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Liu S, Xiang K, Yuan F, Xiang M. Generation of self-organized autonomic ganglion organoids from fibroblasts. iScience 2023; 26:106241. [PMID: 36922996 PMCID: PMC10009094 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.106241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Revised: 01/16/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural organoids have been shown to serve as powerful tools for studying the mechanism of neural development and diseases as well as for screening drugs and developing cell-based therapeutics. Somatic cells have previously been reprogrammed into scattered autonomic ganglion (AG) neurons but not AG organoids. Here we have identified a combination of triple transcription factors (TFs) Ascl1, Phox2a/b, and Hand2 (APH) capable of efficiently reprogramming mouse fibroblasts into self-organized and networked induced AG (iAG) organoids, and characterized them by immunostaining, qRT-PCR, patch-clamping, and scRNA-seq approaches. The iAG neurons exhibit molecular properties, subtype diversity, and electrophysiological characteristics of autonomic neurons. Moreover, they can integrate into the superior cervical ganglia following transplantation and innervate and control the beating rate of co-cultured ventricular myocytes. Thus, iAG organoids may provide a valuable tool to study the pathogenesis of autonomic nervous system diseases and screen for drugs, as well as a source for cell-based therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuting Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Kangjian Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Fa Yuan
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China
| | - Mengqing Xiang
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongshan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology and Visual Science, Guangzhou 510060, China.,Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Brain Function and Disease, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
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4
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Liu B, Liu W, Zhao S, Ma L, Zang T, Huang C, Shu K, Gao H, Tang X. Transcriptome sequencing of facial adipose tissue reveals alterations in mRNAs of hemifacial microsomia. Front Pediatr 2023; 11:1099841. [PMID: 36861077 PMCID: PMC9968928 DOI: 10.3389/fped.2023.1099841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 02/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hemifacial microsomia (HFM) is a common congenital malformation of the craniofacial region, including mandibular hypoplasia, microtia, facial palsy and soft tissue deficiencies. However, it remains unclear which specific genes are involved in the pathogenesis of HFM. By identifying differentially expressed genes (DEGs) in deficient facial adipose tissue from HFM patients, we hope to provide a new insight into disease mechanisms from the transcriptome perspective. RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) was performed with 10 facial adipose tissues from patients of HFM and healthy controls. Differentially expressed genes in HFM were validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qPCR). Functional annotations of the DEGs were analyzed with DESeq2 R package (1.20.0). A total of 1,244 genes were identified as DEGs between HFM patients and matched controls. Bioinformatic analysis predicted that the increased expression of HOXB2 and HAND2 were associated with facial deformity of HFM. Knockdown and overexpression of HOXB2 were achieved with lentiviral vectors. Cell proliferation, migration, and invasion assay was performed with adipose-derived stem cells (ADSC) to confirm the phenotype of HOXB2. We also found that PI3K-Akt signaling pathway and human papillomavirus infection were activated in HFM. In conclusion, we discovered potential genes, pathways and networks in HFM facial adipose tissue, which contributes to a better understanding of the pathogenesis of HFM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bingyang Liu
- Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Liu
- Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Shanbaga Zhao
- Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Lunkun Ma
- Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Tianying Zang
- Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Changjin Huang
- Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Kaiyi Shu
- Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Hengbin Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Crop Biology, College of Life Sciences, Shandong Agricultural University, Tai'an, China
| | - Xiaojun Tang
- Department of Craniomaxillofacial Surgery, Plastic Surgery Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
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5
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Abstract
Breathing (or respiration) is a complex motor behavior that originates in the brainstem. In minimalistic terms, breathing can be divided into two phases: inspiration (uptake of oxygen, O2) and expiration (release of carbon dioxide, CO2). The neurons that discharge in synchrony with these phases are arranged in three major groups along the brainstem: (i) pontine, (ii) dorsal medullary, and (iii) ventral medullary. These groups are formed by diverse neuron types that coalesce into heterogeneous nuclei or complexes, among which the preBötzinger complex in the ventral medullary group contains cells that generate the respiratory rhythm (Chapter 1). The respiratory rhythm is not rigid, but instead highly adaptable to the physic demands of the organism. In order to generate the appropriate respiratory rhythm, the preBötzinger complex receives direct and indirect chemosensory information from other brainstem respiratory nuclei (Chapter 2) and peripheral organs (Chapter 3). Even though breathing is a hard-wired unconscious behavior, it can be temporarily altered at will by other higher-order brain structures (Chapter 6), and by emotional states (Chapter 7). In this chapter, we focus on the development of brainstem respiratory groups and highlight the cell lineages that contribute to central and peripheral chemoreflexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eser Göksu Isik
- Brainstem Group, Institute for Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Luis R Hernandez-Miranda
- Brainstem Group, Institute for Cell Biology and Neurobiology, Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany.
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6
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Joyce W, Perry SF. Hif-1α is not required for the development of cardiac adrenergic control in zebrafish (Danio rerio). JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL ZOOLOGY PART 2021; 335:623-631. [PMID: 34288573 DOI: 10.1002/jez.2507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 07/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Adrenergic regulation, acting via the sympathetic nervous system, provides a major mechanism to control cardiac function. It has recently been shown that hypoxia inducible factor-1α (Hif-1α) is necessary for normal development of sympathetic innervation and control of cardiac function in the mouse. To investigate whether this may represent a fundamental trait shared across vertebrates, we assessed adrenergic regulation of the heart in wild-type and Hif-1α knockout (hif-1α -/- ) zebrafish (Danio rerio). Wild-type and hif-1α -/- zebrafish larvae (aged 4 and 7 days postfertilisation) exhibited similar routine heart rates within a given age group, and β-adrenergic receptor blockade with propranolol universally reduced heart rate to comparable levels, indicating similar adrenergic tone in both genotypes. In adult fish, in vivo heart rate measured during anaesthesia was identical between genotypes. Treatment of spontaneously beating hearts in vitro with adrenaline revealed a similar positive chronotropic effect and similar maximum heart rates in both genotypes. Tyrosine hydroxylase immunohistochemistry with confocal microscopy demonstrated that the bulbus arteriosus (outflow tract of the teleost heart) of adult fish was particularly well innervated by sympathetic nerves, and nerve density (as a percentage of bulbus arteriosus area) was similar between wild-types and hif-1α -/- mutants. In summary, we did not find any evidence that adrenergic cardiac control was perturbed in larval or adult zebrafish lacking Hif-1α. We conclude that Hif-1α is not essential for the normal development of cardiovascular control or adult sympathetic cardiac innervation in zebrafish, although it is possible that it plays a redundant or auxiliary role.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Joyce
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Biology-Zoophysiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus C, Denmark
| | - Steve F Perry
- Department of Biology, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
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7
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Cui K, Yang F, Tufan T, Raza MU, Zhan Y, Fan Y, Zeng F, Brown RW, Price JB, Jones TC, Miller GW, Zhu MY. Restoration of Noradrenergic Function in Parkinson's Disease Model Mice. ASN Neuro 2021; 13:17590914211009730. [PMID: 33940943 PMCID: PMC8114769 DOI: 10.1177/17590914211009730] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysfunction of the central noradrenergic and dopaminergic systems is the primary neurobiological characteristic of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Importantly, neuronal loss in the locus coeruleus (LC) that occurs in early stages of PD may accelerate progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons. Therefore, restoring the activity and function of the deficient noradrenergic system may be an important therapeutic strategy for early PD. In the present study, the lentiviral constructions of transcription factors Phox2a/2b, Hand2 and Gata3, either alone or in combination, were microinjected into the LC region of the PD model VMAT2 Lo mice at 12 and 18 month age. Biochemical analysis showed that microinjection of lentiviral expression cassettes into the LC significantly increased mRNA levels of Phox2a, and Phox2b, which were accompanied by parallel increases of mRNA and proteins of dopamine β-hydroxylase (DBH) and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) in the LC. Furthermore, there was considerable enhancement of DBH protein levels in the frontal cortex and hippocampus, as well as enhanced TH protein levels in the striatum and substantia nigra. Moreover, these manipulations profoundly increased norepinephrine and dopamine concentrations in the striatum, which was followed by a remarkable improvement of the spatial memory and locomotor behavior. These results reveal that over-expression of these transcription factors in the LC improves noradrenergic and dopaminergic activities and functions in this rodent model of PD. It provides the necessary groundwork for the development of gene therapies of PD, and expands our understanding of the link between the LC-norepinephrine and dopamine systems during the progression of PD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kui Cui
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States.,Hong Kong Institute, Asia Metropolitan University, Hong Kong, China
| | - Turan Tufan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States
| | - Muhammad U Raza
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States
| | - Yanqiang Zhan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States.,Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of the Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yan Fan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States.,Department of Biochemistry, Nantong University College of Medicine, Nantong, China
| | - Fei Zeng
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States.,Department of Neurology, Renmin Hospital of the Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Russell W Brown
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States
| | - Jennifer B Price
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences; East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States
| | - Thomas C Jones
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Arts and Sciences; East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States
| | - Gary W Miller
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Mailmen School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, New York, United States
| | - Meng-Yang Zhu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Quillen College of Medicine, East Tennessee State University, Johnson City, United States
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8
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Vincentz JW, Firulli BA, Toolan KP, Osterwalder M, Pennacchio LA, Firulli AB. HAND transcription factors cooperatively specify the aorta and pulmonary trunk. Dev Biol 2021; 476:1-10. [PMID: 33757801 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.03.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Congenital heart defects (CHDs) affecting the cardiac outflow tract (OFT) constitute a significant cause of morbidity and mortality. The OFT develops from migratory cell populations which include the cardiac neural crest cells (cNCCs) and secondary heart field (SHF) derived myocardium and endocardium. The related transcription factors HAND1 and HAND2 have been implicated in human CHDs involving the OFT. Although Hand1 is expressed within the OFT, Hand1 NCC-specific conditional knockout mice (H1CKOs) are viable. Here we show that these H1CKOs present a low penetrance of OFT phenotypes, whereas SHF-specific Hand1 ablation does not reveal any cardiac phenotypes. Further, HAND1 and HAND2 appear functionally redundant within the cNCCs, as a reduction/ablation of Hand2 on an NCC-specific H1CKO background causes pronounced OFT defects. Double conditional Hand1 and Hand2 NCC knockouts exhibit persistent truncus arteriosus (PTA) with 100% penetrance. NCC lineage-tracing and Sema3c in situ mRNA expression reveal that Sema3c-expressing cells are mis-localized, resulting in a malformed septal bridge within the OFTs of H1CKO;H2CKO embryos. Interestingly, Hand1 and Hand2 also genetically interact within the SHF, as SHF H1CKOs on a heterozygous Hand2 background exhibit Ventricular Septal Defects (VSDs) with incomplete penetrance. Previously, we identified a BMP, HAND2, and GATA-dependent Hand1 OFT enhancer sufficient to drive reporter gene expression within the nascent OFT and aorta. Using these transcription inputs as a probe, we identify a novel Hand2 OFT enhancer, suggesting that a conserved BMP-GATA dependent mechanism transcriptionally regulates both HAND factors. These findings support the hypothesis that HAND factors interpret BMP signaling within the cNCCs to cooperatively coordinate OFT morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W Vincentz
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5225, USA.
| | - Beth A Firulli
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5225, USA
| | - Kevin P Toolan
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5225, USA
| | - Marco Osterwalder
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Department for BioMedical Research (DBMR), University of Bern, Murtenstrasse 35, 3008, Bern, Switzerland
| | - Len A Pennacchio
- Environmental Genomics and Systems Biology Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; U.S. Department of Energy Joint Genome Institute, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA; Comparative Biochemistry Program, University of California, Berkeley, CA, 94720, USA
| | - Anthony B Firulli
- Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research Department of Pediatrics, Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Medical and Molecular Genetics, Indiana University School of Medicine, 1044 W. Walnut St., Indianapolis, IN, 46202-5225, USA.
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9
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Kastriti ME, Kameneva P, Adameyko I. Stem cells, evolutionary aspects and pathology of the adrenal medulla: A new developmental paradigm. Mol Cell Endocrinol 2020; 518:110998. [PMID: 32818585 DOI: 10.1016/j.mce.2020.110998] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Revised: 07/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The mammalian adrenal gland is composed of two main components; the catecholaminergic neural crest-derived medulla, found in the center of the gland, and the mesoderm-derived cortex producing steroidogenic hormones. The medulla is composed of neuroendocrine chromaffin cells with oxygen-sensing properties and is dependent on tissue interactions with the overlying cortex, both during development and in adulthood. Other relevant organs include the Zuckerkandl organ containing extra-adrenal chromaffin cells, and carotid oxygen-sensing bodies containing glomus cells. Chromaffin and glomus cells reveal a number of important similarities and are derived from the multipotent nerve-associated descendants of the neural crest, or Schwann cell precursors. Abnormalities in complex developmental processes during differentiation of nerve-associated and other progenitors into chromaffin and oxygen-sensing populations may result in different subtypes of paraganglioma, neuroblastoma and pheochromocytoma. Here, we summarize recent findings explaining the development of chromaffin and oxygen-sensing cells, as well as the potential mechanisms driving neuroendocrine tumor initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Eleni Kastriti
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden; Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Polina Kameneva
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden; National Scientific Center of Marine Biology, Far Eastern Branch, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vladivostok, Russia
| | - Igor Adameyko
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, Solna, Sweden; Department of Molecular Neurosciences, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria; Department of Neuroimmunology, Center for Brain Research, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria.
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10
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The diversity of neuronal phenotypes in rodent and human autonomic ganglia. Cell Tissue Res 2020; 382:201-231. [PMID: 32930881 PMCID: PMC7584561 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-020-03279-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Selective sympathetic and parasympathetic pathways that act on target organs represent the terminal actors in the neurobiology of homeostasis and often become compromised during a range of neurodegenerative and traumatic disorders. Here, we delineate several neurotransmitter and neuromodulator phenotypes found in diverse parasympathetic and sympathetic ganglia in humans and rodent species. The comparative approach reveals evolutionarily conserved and non-conserved phenotypic marker constellations. A developmental analysis examining the acquisition of selected neurotransmitter properties has provided a detailed, but still incomplete, understanding of the origins of a set of noradrenergic and cholinergic sympathetic neuron populations, found in the cervical and trunk region. A corresponding analysis examining cholinergic and nitrergic parasympathetic neurons in the head, and a range of pelvic neuron populations, with noradrenergic, cholinergic, nitrergic, and mixed transmitter phenotypes, remains open. Of particular interest are the molecular mechanisms and nuclear processes that are responsible for the correlated expression of the various genes required to achieve the noradrenergic phenotype, the segregation of cholinergic locus gene expression, and the regulation of genes that are necessary to generate a nitrergic phenotype. Unraveling the neuron population-specific expression of adhesion molecules, which are involved in axonal outgrowth, pathway selection, and synaptic organization, will advance the study of target-selective autonomic pathway generation.
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11
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Li BB, Wang B, Zhu CM, Tang D, Pang J, Zhao J, Sun CH, Qiu MJ, Qian ZR. Cyclin-dependent kinase 7 inhibitor THZ1 in cancer therapy. Chronic Dis Transl Med 2019; 5:155-169. [PMID: 31891127 PMCID: PMC6926117 DOI: 10.1016/j.cdtm.2019.08.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Current cancer therapies have encountered adverse response due to poor therapeutic efficiency, severe side effects and acquired resistance to multiple drugs. Thus, there are urgent needs for finding new cancer-targeted pharmacological strategies. In this review, we summarized the current understanding with THZ1, a covalent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7), which demonstrated promising anti-tumor activity against different cancer types. By introducing the anti-tumor behaviors and the potential targets for different cancers, this review aims to provide more effective approaches to CDK7 inhibitor-based therapeutic agents and deeper insight into the diverse tumor proliferation mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin-Bin Li
- School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, Singapore
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Cheng-Ming Zhu
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Di Tang
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Jun Pang
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Jing Zhao
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Chun-Hui Sun
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
- Equipe Communication Intercellulaire et Infections Microbiennes, Centre de Recherche Interdisciplinaire en Biologie (CIRB), College de France, Paris 75005, France
| | - Miao-Juan Qiu
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
| | - Zhi-Rong Qian
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518107, China
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12
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Johnsen JI, Dyberg C, Wickström M. Neuroblastoma-A Neural Crest Derived Embryonal Malignancy. Front Mol Neurosci 2019; 12:9. [PMID: 30760980 PMCID: PMC6361784 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2019.00009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 129] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a neural crest derived malignancy of the peripheral nervous system and is the most common and deadliest tumor of infancy. It is characterized by clinical heterogeneity with a disease spectrum ranging from spontaneous regression without any medical intervention to treatment resistant tumors with metastatic spread and poor patient survival. The events that lead to the development of neuroblastoma from the neural crest have not been fully elucidated. Here we discuss factors and processes within the neural crest that when dysregulated have the potential to be initiators or drivers of neuroblastoma development. A more precise biological understanding of neuroblastoma causes and cell of origin is highly warranted. This will give valuable information for the development of medicines that specifically target molecules within neuroblastoma cells and also give hint about the mechanisms behind treatment resistance that is frequently seen in neuroblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Inge Johnsen
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet (KI), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Cecilia Dyberg
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet (KI), Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Malin Wickström
- Childhood Cancer Research Unit, Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet (KI), Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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TBX2 is a neuroblastoma core regulatory circuitry component enhancing MYCN/FOXM1 reactivation of DREAM targets. Nat Commun 2018; 9:4866. [PMID: 30451831 PMCID: PMC6242972 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-06699-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromosome 17q gains are almost invariably present in high-risk neuroblastoma cases. Here, we perform an integrative epigenomics search for dosage-sensitive transcription factors on 17q marked by H3K27ac defined super-enhancers and identify TBX2 as top candidate gene. We show that TBX2 is a constituent of the recently established core regulatory circuitry in neuroblastoma with features of a cell identity transcription factor, driving proliferation through activation of p21-DREAM repressed FOXM1 target genes. Combined MYCN/TBX2 knockdown enforces cell growth arrest suggesting that TBX2 enhances MYCN sustained activation of FOXM1 targets. Targeting transcriptional addiction by combined CDK7 and BET bromodomain inhibition shows synergistic effects on cell viability with strong repressive effects on CRC gene expression and p53 pathway response as well as several genes implicated in transcriptional regulation. In conclusion, we provide insight into the role of the TBX2 CRC gene in transcriptional dependency of neuroblastoma cells warranting clinical trials using BET and CDK7 inhibitors. In high-risk neuroblastoma cases, gains in chromosome 17q are common. Here, the authors investigate the epigenomics and transcriptomics of neuroblastoma, identifying TBX2 as a core regulatory circuitry component enhancing the reactivation of DREAM targets by MYCN/FOXM1.
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14
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Differentiation of Human Embryonic Stem Cells to Sympathetic Neurons: A Potential Model for Understanding Neuroblastoma Pathogenesis. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:4391641. [PMID: 30515222 PMCID: PMC6236576 DOI: 10.1155/2018/4391641] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2018] [Revised: 08/17/2018] [Accepted: 09/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background and Aims Previous studies modelling human neural crest differentiation from stem cells have resulted in a low yield of sympathetic neurons. Our aim was to optimise a method for the differentiation of human embryonic stem cells (hESCs) to sympathetic neuron-like cells (SN) to model normal human SNS development. Results Using stromal-derived inducing activity (SDIA) of PA6 cells plus BMP4 and B27 supplements, the H9 hESC line was differentiated to neural crest stem-like cells and SN-like cells. After 7 days of PA6 cell coculture, mRNA expression of SNAIL and SOX-9 neural crest specifier genes and the neural marker peripherin (PRPH) increased. Expression of the pluripotency marker OCT 4 decreased, whereas TP53 and LIN28B expression remained high at levels similar to SHSY5Y and IMR32 neuroblastoma cell lines. A 5-fold increase in the expression of the catecholaminergic marker tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and the noradrenergic marker dopamine betahydroxylase (DBH) was observed by day 7 of differentiation. Fluorescence-activated cell sorting for the neural crest marker p75, enriched for cells expressing p75, DBH, TH, and PRPH, was more specific than p75 neural crest stem cell (NCSC) microbeads. On day 28 post p75 sorting, dual immunofluorescence identified sympathetic neurons by PRPH and TH copositivity cells in 20% of the cell population. Noradrenergic sympathetic neurons, identified by copositivity for both PHOX2B and DBH, were present in 9.4% ± 5.5% of cells. Conclusions We have optimised a method for noradrenergic SNS development using the H9 hESC line to improve our understanding of normal human SNS development and, in a future work, the pathogenesis of neuroblastoma.
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15
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Ernsberger U, Rohrer H. Sympathetic tales: subdivisons of the autonomic nervous system and the impact of developmental studies. Neural Dev 2018; 13:20. [PMID: 30213267 PMCID: PMC6137933 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-018-0117-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2018] [Accepted: 08/12/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Remarkable progress in a range of biomedical disciplines has promoted the understanding of the cellular components of the autonomic nervous system and their differentiation during development to a critical level. Characterization of the gene expression fingerprints of individual neurons and identification of the key regulators of autonomic neuron differentiation enables us to comprehend the development of different sets of autonomic neurons. Their individual functional properties emerge as a consequence of differential gene expression initiated by the action of specific developmental regulators. In this review, we delineate the anatomical and physiological observations that led to the subdivision into sympathetic and parasympathetic domains and analyze how the recent molecular insights melt into and challenge the classical description of the autonomic nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- Uwe Ernsberger
- Institute for Clinical Neuroanatomy, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Hermann Rohrer
- Institute for Clinical Neuroanatomy, Goethe University, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, 60590 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
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16
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Kholodenko IV, Kalinovsky DV, Doronin II, Deyev SM, Kholodenko RV. Neuroblastoma Origin and Therapeutic Targets for Immunotherapy. J Immunol Res 2018; 2018:7394268. [PMID: 30116755 PMCID: PMC6079467 DOI: 10.1155/2018/7394268] [Citation(s) in RCA: 89] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2018] [Accepted: 05/27/2018] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a pediatric solid cancer of heterogeneous clinical behavior. The unique features of this type of cancer frequently hamper the process of determining clinical presentation and predicting therapy effectiveness. The tumor can spontaneously regress without treatment or actively develop and give rise to metastases despite aggressive multimodal therapy. In recent years, immunotherapy has become one of the most promising approaches to the treatment of neuroblastoma. Still, only one drug for targeted immunotherapy of neuroblastoma, chimeric monoclonal GD2-specific antibodies, is used in the clinic today, and its application has significant limitations. In this regard, the development of effective and safe GD2-targeted immunotherapies and analysis of other potential molecular targets for the treatment of neuroblastoma represents an important and topical task. The review summarizes biological characteristics of the origin and development of neuroblastoma and outlines molecular markers of neuroblastoma and modern immunotherapy approaches directed towards these markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irina V. Kholodenko
- Orekhovich Institute of Biomedical Chemistry, 10 Pogodinskaya St., Moscow 119121, Russia
| | - Daniel V. Kalinovsky
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Igor I. Doronin
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia
- Real Target LLC, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia
| | - Sergey M. Deyev
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia
- Institute of Engineering Physics for Biomedicine (PhysBio), National Research Nuclear University “MEPhI”, Moscow 115409, Russia
| | - Roman V. Kholodenko
- Shemyakin-Ovchinnikov Institute of Bioorganic Chemistry, Russian Academy of Sciences, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia
- Real Target LLC, 16/10 Miklukho-Maklaya St., Moscow 117997, Russia
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17
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Hockman D, Adameyko I, Kaucka M, Barraud P, Otani T, Hunt A, Hartwig AC, Sock E, Waithe D, Franck MCM, Ernfors P, Ehinger S, Howard MJ, Brown N, Reese J, Baker CVH. Striking parallels between carotid body glomus cell and adrenal chromaffin cell development. Dev Biol 2018; 444 Suppl 1:S308-S324. [PMID: 29807017 PMCID: PMC6453021 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2018.05.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 05/20/2018] [Accepted: 05/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Carotid body glomus cells mediate essential reflex responses to arterial blood hypoxia. They are dopaminergic and secrete growth factors that support dopaminergic neurons, making the carotid body a potential source of patient-specific cells for Parkinson's disease therapy. Like adrenal chromaffin cells, which are also hypoxia-sensitive, glomus cells are neural crest-derived and require the transcription factors Ascl1 and Phox2b; otherwise, their development is little understood at the molecular level. Here, analysis in chicken and mouse reveals further striking molecular parallels, though also some differences, between glomus and adrenal chromaffin cell development. Moreover, histology has long suggested that glomus cell precursors are ‘émigrés’ from neighbouring ganglia/nerves, while multipotent nerve-associated glial cells are now known to make a significant contribution to the adrenal chromaffin cell population in the mouse. We present conditional genetic lineage-tracing data from mice supporting the hypothesis that progenitors expressing the glial marker proteolipid protein 1, presumably located in adjacent ganglia/nerves, also contribute to glomus cells. Finally, we resolve a paradox for the ‘émigré’ hypothesis in the chicken - where the nearest ganglion to the carotid body is the nodose, in which the satellite glia are neural crest-derived, but the neurons are almost entirely placode-derived - by fate-mapping putative nodose neuronal 'émigrés' to the neural crest. Glomus cell precursors express the neuron-specific marker Elavl3/4 (HuC/D). Developing glomus cells express multiple ‘sympathoadrenal' genes. Glomus cell development requires Hand2 and Sox4/11, but not Ret or Tfap2b. Multipotent progenitors with a glial phenotype contribute to glomus cells. Fate-mapping resolves a paradox for the ganglionic 'émigré' hypothesis in birds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dorit Hockman
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Anatomy Building, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, United Kingdom; Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DS, United Kingdom; Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Igor Adameyko
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden; Center for Brain Research, Medical University Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Marketa Kaucka
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Karolinska Institute, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Perrine Barraud
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Anatomy Building, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, United Kingdom
| | - Tomoki Otani
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Anatomy Building, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, United Kingdom
| | - Adam Hunt
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Anatomy Building, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, United Kingdom
| | - Anna C Hartwig
- Institut für Biochemie, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Fahrstrasse 17, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Elisabeth Sock
- Institut für Biochemie, Emil-Fischer-Zentrum, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Fahrstrasse 17, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Dominic Waithe
- Wolfson Imaging Centre, Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, John Radcliffe Hospital, Headley Way, Oxford OX3 9DS, United Kingdom
| | - Marina C M Franck
- Unit of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Patrik Ernfors
- Unit of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institute, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Sean Ehinger
- Department of Neurosciences and Program in Neurosciences and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toledo Health Sciences Campus, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Marthe J Howard
- Department of Neurosciences and Program in Neurosciences and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Toledo Health Sciences Campus, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Naoko Brown
- Depts. of Pediatrics, Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2215 B Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Jeffrey Reese
- Depts. of Pediatrics, Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, 2215 B Garland Avenue, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - Clare V H Baker
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Anatomy Building, Downing Street, Cambridge CB2 3DY, United Kingdom.
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18
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Origin and initiation mechanisms of neuroblastoma. Cell Tissue Res 2018; 372:211-221. [PMID: 29445860 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-018-2796-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 01/16/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is an embryonal malignancy that affects normal development of the adrenal medulla and paravertebral sympathetic ganglia in early childhood. Extensive studies have revealed the molecular characteristics of human neuroblastomas, including abnormalities at genome, epigenome and transcriptome levels. However, neuroblastoma initiation mechanisms and even its origin are long-standing mysteries. In this review article, we summarize the current knowledge about normal development of putative neuroblastoma sources, namely sympathoadrenal lineage of neural crest cells and Schwann cell precursors that were recently identified as the source of adrenal chromaffin cells. A plausible origin of enigmatic stage 4S neuroblastoma is also discussed. With regard to the initiation mechanisms, we review genetic abnormalities in neuroblastomas and their possible association to initiation mechanisms. We also summarize evidences of neuroblastoma initiation observed in genetically engineered animal models, in which epigenetic alterations were involved, including transcriptomic upregulation by N-Myc and downregulation by polycomb repressive complex 2. Finally, several in vitro experimental methods are proposed that hopefully will accelerate our comprehension of neuroblastoma initiation. Thus, this review summarizes the state-of-the-art knowledge about the mechanisms of neuroblastoma initiation, which is critical for developing new strategies to cure children with neuroblastoma.
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19
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Tomolonis JA, Agarwal S, Shohet JM. Neuroblastoma pathogenesis: deregulation of embryonic neural crest development. Cell Tissue Res 2017; 372:245-262. [PMID: 29222693 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2747-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) is an aggressive pediatric cancer that originates from neural crest tissues of the sympathetic nervous system. NB is highly heterogeneous both from a clinical and a molecular perspective. Clinically, this cancer represents a wide range of phenotypes ranging from spontaneous regression of 4S disease to unremitting treatment-refractory progression and death of high-risk metastatic disease. At a cellular level, the heterogeneous behavior of NB likely arises from an arrest and deregulation of normal neural crest development. In the present review, we summarize our current knowledge of neural crest development as it relates to pathways promoting 'stemness' and how deregulation may contribute to the development of tumor-initiating CSCs. There is an emerging consensus that such tumor subpopulations contribute to the evolution of drug resistance, metastasis and relapse in other equally aggressive malignancies. As relapsed, refractory disease remains the primary cause of death for neuroblastoma, the identification and targeting of CSCs or other primary drivers of tumor progression remains a critical, clinically significant goal for neuroblastoma. We will critically review recent and past evidence in the literature supporting the concept of CSCs as drivers of neuroblastoma pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie A Tomolonis
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP), Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Translational Biology & Molecular Medicine (TBMM) Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Saurabh Agarwal
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.,Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA
| | - Jason M Shohet
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA. .,Neuroblastoma Research Program, Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, 77030, USA.
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20
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Chan WH, Anderson CR, Gonsalvez DG. From proliferation to target innervation: signaling molecules that direct sympathetic nervous system development. Cell Tissue Res 2017; 372:171-193. [PMID: 28971249 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-017-2693-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2017] [Accepted: 08/30/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system includes a variety of cells including neurons, endocrine cells and glial cells. A recent study (Furlan et al. 2017) has revised thinking about the developmental origin of these cells. It now appears that sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla do not have an immediate common ancestor in the form a "sympathoadrenal cell", as has been long believed. Instead, chromaffin cells arise from Schwann cell precursors. This review integrates the new findings with the expanding body of knowledge on the signalling pathways and transcription factors that regulate the origin of cells of the sympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system.
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Affiliation(s)
- W H Chan
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - C R Anderson
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia
| | - David G Gonsalvez
- Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, School of Biomedical Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, 3010, Australia.
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21
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Martik ML, Bronner ME. Regulatory Logic Underlying Diversification of the Neural Crest. Trends Genet 2017; 33:715-727. [PMID: 28851604 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2017.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 115] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2017] [Revised: 07/24/2017] [Accepted: 07/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest is a transient, multipotent population of cells that arises at the border of the developing nervous system. After closure of the neural tube, these cells undergo an epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) to delaminate and migrate, often to distant locations in the embryo. Neural crest cells give rise to a diverse array of derivatives including neurons and glia of the peripheral nervous system, melanocytes, and bone and cartilage of the face. A gene regulatory network (GRN) controls the specification, delamination, migration, and differentiation of this fascinating cell type. With increasing technological advances, direct linkages within the neural crest GRN are being uncovered. The underlying circuitry is useful for understanding important topics such as reprogramming, evolution, and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan L Martik
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA
| | - Marianne E Bronner
- Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA 91125, USA.
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22
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Zage PE, Whittle SB, Shohet JM. CD114: A New Member of the Neural Crest-Derived Cancer Stem Cell Marker Family. J Cell Biochem 2016; 118:221-231. [PMID: 27428599 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.25656] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The neural crest is a population of cells in the vertebrate embryo that gives rise to a wide range of tissues and cell types, including components of the peripheral nervous system and the craniofacial skeleton as well as melanocytes and the adrenal medulla. Aberrations in neural crest development can lead to numerous diseases, including cancers such as melanoma and neuroblastoma. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been identified in these neural crest-derived tumors, and these CSCs demonstrate resistance to treatment and are likely key contributors to disease relapse. Patients with neural crest-derived tumors often have poor outcomes due to frequent relapses, likely due to the continued presence of residual treatment-resistant CSCs, and therapies directed against these CSCs are likely to improve patient outcomes. CSCs share many of the same genetic and biologic features of primordial neural crest cells, and therefore a better understanding of neural crest development will likely lead to the development of effective therapies directed against these CSCs. Signaling through STAT3 has been shown to be required for neural crest development, and granulocyte colony stimulating factor (GCSF)-mediated activation of STAT3 has been shown to play a role in the pathogenesis of neural crest-derived tumors. Expression of the cell surface marker CD114 (the receptor for GCSF) has been identified as a potential marker for CSCs in neural crest-derived tumors, suggesting that CD114 expression and function may contribute to disease relapse and poor patient outcomes. Here we review the processes of neural crest development and tumorigenesis and we discuss the previously identified markers for CSC subpopulations identified in neural crest tumors and their role in neural crest tumor biology. We also discuss the potential for CD114 and downstream intracellular signaling pathways as potential targets for CSC-directed therapy. J. Cell. Biochem. 118: 221-231, 2017. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter E Zage
- Division of Hematology-Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Rady Children's Hospital, San Diego, California
| | - Sarah B Whittle
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jason M Shohet
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Hematology-Oncology, Children's Cancer Center, Houston, Texas.,Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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23
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Young JJ, Kjolby RAS, Wu G, Wong D, Hsu SW, Harland RM. Noggin is required for first pharyngeal arch differentiation in the frog Xenopus tropicalis. Dev Biol 2016; 426:245-254. [PMID: 27364468 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2016.06.034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2016] [Revised: 06/18/2016] [Accepted: 06/24/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The dorsal ventral axis of vertebrates requires high BMP activity for ventral development and inhibition of BMP activity for dorsal development. Presumptive dorsal regions of the embryo are protected from the ventralizing activity of BMPs by the secretion of BMP antagonists from the mesoderm. Noggin, one such antagonist, binds BMP ligands and prevents them from binding their receptors, however, a unique role for Noggin in amphibian development has remained unclear. Previously, we used zinc-finger nucleases to mutagenize the noggin locus in Xenopus tropicalis. Here, we report on the phenotype of noggin mutant frogs as a result of breeding null mutations to homozygosity. Early homozygous noggin mutant embryos are indistinguishable from wildtype siblings, with normal neural induction and neural tube closure. However, in late tadpole stages mutants present severe ventral craniofacial defects, notably a fusion of Meckel's cartilage to the palatoquadrate cartilage. Consistent with a noggin loss-of-function, mutants show expansions of BMP target gene expression and the mutant phenotype can be rescued with transient BMP inhibition. These results demonstrate that in amphibians, Noggin is dispensable for early embryonic patterning but is critical for cranial skeletogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- John J Young
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Rachel A S Kjolby
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Gloria Wu
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Daniel Wong
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Shu-Wei Hsu
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
| | - Richard M Harland
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, United States
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24
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Exclusion of Dlx5/6 expression from the distal-most mandibular arches enables BMP-mediated specification of the distal cap. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2016; 113:7563-8. [PMID: 27335460 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1603930113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cranial neural crest cells (crNCCs) migrate from the neural tube to the pharyngeal arches (PAs) of the developing embryo and, subsequently, differentiate into bone and connective tissue to form the mandible. Within the PAs, crNCCs respond to local signaling cues to partition into the proximo-distally oriented subdomains that convey positional information to these developing tissues. Here, we show that the distal-most of these subdomains, the distal cap, is marked by expression of the transcription factor Hand1 (H1) and gives rise to the ectomesenchymal derivatives of the lower incisors. We uncover a H1 enhancer sufficient to drive reporter gene expression within the crNCCs of the distal cap. We show that bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signaling and the transcription factor HAND2 (H2) synergistically regulate H1 distal cap expression. Furthermore, the homeodomain proteins distal-less homeobox 5 (DLX5) and DLX6 reciprocally inhibit BMP/H2-mediated H1 enhancer regulation. These findings provide insights into how multiple signaling pathways direct transcriptional outcomes that pattern the developing jaw.
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Morrison MA, Zimmerman MW, Look AT, Stewart RA. Studying the peripheral sympathetic nervous system and neuroblastoma in zebrafish. Methods Cell Biol 2016; 134:97-138. [PMID: 27312492 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mcb.2015.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The zebrafish serves as an excellent model to study vertebrate development and disease. Optically clear embryos, combined with tissue-specific fluorescent reporters, permit direct visualization and measurement of peripheral nervous system formation in real time. Additionally, the model is amenable to rapid cellular, molecular, and genetic approaches to determine how developmental mechanisms contribute to disease states, such as cancer. In this chapter, we describe the development of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system (PSNS) in general, and our current understanding of genetic pathways important in zebrafish PSNS development specifically. We also illustrate how zebrafish genetics is used to identify new mechanisms controlling PSNS development and methods for interrogating the potential role of PSNS developmental pathways in neuroblastoma pathogenesis in vivo using the zebrafish MYCN-driven neuroblastoma model.
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Affiliation(s)
- M A Morrison
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
| | | | - A T Look
- Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States
| | - R A Stewart
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, United States
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Stanzel S, Stubbusch J, Pataskar A, Howard MJ, Deller T, Ernsberger U, Tiwari VK, Rohrer H, Tsarovina K. Distinct roles of hand2 in developing and adult autonomic neurons. Dev Neurobiol 2016; 76:1111-24. [PMID: 26818017 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Revised: 01/05/2016] [Accepted: 01/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The bHLH transcription factor Hand2 is essential for the acquisition and maintenance of noradrenergic properties of embryonic sympathetic neurons and controls neuroblast proliferation. Hand2 is also expressed in embryonic and postnatal parasympathetic ganglia and remains expressed in sympathetic neurons up to the adult stage. Here, we address its function in developing parasympathetic and adult sympathetic neurons. We conditionally deleted Hand2 in the parasympathetic sphenopalatine ganglion by crossing a line of floxed Hand2 mice with DbhiCre transgenic mice, taking advantage of the transient Dbh expression in parasympathetic ganglia. Hand2 elimination does not affect Dbh expression and sphenopalatine ganglion size at E12.5 and E16.5, in contrast to sympathetic ganglia. These findings demonstrate different functions for Hand2 in the parasympathetic and sympathetic lineage. Our previous Hand2 knockdown in postmitotic, differentiated chick sympathetic neurons resulted in decreased expression of noradrenergic marker genes but it was unclear whether Hand2 is required for maintaining noradrenergic neuron identity in adult animals. We now show that Hand2 elimination in adult Dbh-expressing sympathetic neurons does not decrease the expression of Th and Dbh, in contrast to the situation during development. However, gene expression profiling of adult sympathetic neurons identified 75 Hand2-dependent target genes. Interestingly, a notable proportion of down-regulated genes (15%) encode for proteins with synaptic and neurotransmission functions. These results demonstrate a change in Hand2 target genes during maturation of sympathetic neurons. Whereas Hand2 controls genes regulating noradrenergic differentiation during development, Hand2 seems to be involved in the regulation of genes controlling neurotransmission in adult sympathetic neurons. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 76: 1111-1124, 2016.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Stanzel
- Developmental Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Max-von-Laue-Str. 4, Frankfurt/M, 60438, Germany
| | - Jutta Stubbusch
- Developmental Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Max-von-Laue-Str. 4, Frankfurt/M, 60438, Germany
| | - Abhijeet Pataskar
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation, Ackermannweg 4, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Marthe J Howard
- Department of Neurosciences and Program in Neurosciences and Neurological Disorders, University of Toledo Health Sciences Campus, Toledo, Ohio, 43614
| | - Thomas Deller
- Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Goethe University Frankfurt/M, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt/M, 60590, Germany
| | - Uwe Ernsberger
- Developmental Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Max-von-Laue-Str. 4, Frankfurt/M, 60438, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Goethe University Frankfurt/M, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt/M, 60590, Germany.,Ernst-Strüngmann-Institute, Deutschordenstr. 46, Frankfurt/M, 60528, Germany
| | - Vijay K Tiwari
- Institute of Molecular Biology (IMB) Boehringer Ingelheim Foundation, Ackermannweg 4, Mainz, 55128, Germany
| | - Hermann Rohrer
- Developmental Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Max-von-Laue-Str. 4, Frankfurt/M, 60438, Germany.,Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Goethe University Frankfurt/M, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt/M, 60590, Germany.,Ernst-Strüngmann-Institute, Deutschordenstr. 46, Frankfurt/M, 60528, Germany
| | - Konstantina Tsarovina
- Developmental Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Max-von-Laue-Str. 4, Frankfurt/M, 60438, Germany
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Zhu S, Thomas Look A. Neuroblastoma and Its Zebrafish Model. ADVANCES IN EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE AND BIOLOGY 2016; 916:451-78. [PMID: 27165366 DOI: 10.1007/978-3-319-30654-4_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma, an important developmental tumor arising in the peripheral sympathetic nervous system (PSNS), accounts for approximately 10 % of all cancer-related deaths in children. Recent genomic analyses have identified a spectrum of genetic alterations in this tumor. Amplification of the MYCN oncogene is found in 20 % of cases and is often accompanied by mutational activation of the ALK (anaplastic lymphoma kinase) gene, suggesting their cooperation in tumor initiation and spread. Understanding how complex genetic changes function together in oncogenesis has been a continuing and daunting task in cancer research. This challenge was addressed in neuroblastoma by generating a transgenic zebrafish model that overexpresses human MYCN and activated ALK in the PSNS, leading to tumors that closely resemble human neuroblastoma and new opportunities to probe the mechanisms that underlie the pathogenesis of this tumor. For example, coexpression of activated ALK with MYCN in this model triples the penetrance of neuroblastoma and markedly accelerates tumor onset, demonstrating the interaction of these modified genes in tumor development. Further, MYCN overexpression induces adrenal sympathetic neuroblast hyperplasia, blocks chromaffin cell differentiation, and ultimately triggers a developmentally-timed apoptotic response in the hyperplastic sympathoadrenal cells. In the context of MYCN overexpression, activated ALK provides prosurvival signals that block this apoptotic response, allowing continued expansion and oncogenic transformation of hyperplastic neuroblasts, thus promoting progression to neuroblastoma. This application of the zebrafish model illustrates its value in rational assessment of the multigenic changes that define neuroblastoma pathogenesis and points the way to future studies to identify novel targets for therapeutic intervention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shizhen Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cancer Center and Center for Individualized Medicine, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN, 55902, USA.
| | - A Thomas Look
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
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Hallier B, Hoffmann J, Roeder T, Tögel M, Meyer H, Paululat A. The bHLH Transcription Factor Hand Regulates the Expression of Genes Critical to Heart and Muscle Function in Drosophila melanogaster. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0134204. [PMID: 26252215 PMCID: PMC4529270 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2013] [Accepted: 07/08/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Hand proteins belong to the highly conserved family of basic Helix-Loop-Helix transcription factors and are critical to distinct developmental processes, including cardiogenesis and neurogenesis in vertebrates. In Drosophila melanogaster a single orthologous hand gene is expressed with absence of the respective protein causing semilethality during early larval instars. Surviving adult animals suffer from shortened lifespan associated with a disorganized myofibrillar structure being apparent in the dorsal vessel, the wing hearts and in midgut tissue. Based on these data, the major biological significance of Hand seems to be related to muscle development, maintenance or function; however, up to now the physiological basis for Hand functionality remains elusive. Thus, the identification of genes whose expression is, directly or indirectly, regulated by Hand has considerable relevance with respect to understanding its biological functionality in flies and vertebrates. Beneficially, hand mutants are viable and exhibit affected tissues, which renders Drosophila an ideal model to investigate up- or downregulated target genes by a comparative microarray approach focusing on the respective tissues from mutant specimens. Our present work reveals for the first time that Drosophila Hand regulates the expression of numerous genes of diverse physiological relevancy, including distinct factors required for proper muscle development and function such as Zasp52 or Msp-300. These results relate Hand activity to muscle integrity and functionality and may thus be highly beneficial to the evaluation of corresponding hand phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benjamin Hallier
- Department of Zoology/Developmental Biology, University of Osnabrück, 49069 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Julia Hoffmann
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Thomas Roeder
- Department of Animal Physiology, University of Kiel, 24098 Kiel, Germany
| | - Markus Tögel
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, OX3 9DS Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Heiko Meyer
- Department of Zoology/Developmental Biology, University of Osnabrück, 49069 Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Achim Paululat
- Department of Zoology/Developmental Biology, University of Osnabrück, 49069 Osnabrück, Germany
- * E-mail:
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Fortuna V, Pardanaud L, Brunet I, Ola R, Ristori E, Santoro MM, Nicoli S, Eichmann A. Vascular Mural Cells Promote Noradrenergic Differentiation of Embryonic Sympathetic Neurons. Cell Rep 2015; 11:1786-96. [PMID: 26074079 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.05.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2014] [Revised: 04/14/2015] [Accepted: 05/13/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
The sympathetic nervous system controls smooth muscle tone and heart rate in the cardiovascular system. Postganglionic sympathetic neurons (SNs) develop in close proximity to the dorsal aorta (DA) and innervate visceral smooth muscle targets. Here, we use the zebrafish embryo to ask whether the DA is required for SN development. We show that noradrenergic (NA) differentiation of SN precursors temporally coincides with vascular mural cell (VMC) recruitment to the DA and vascular maturation. Blocking vascular maturation inhibits VMC recruitment and blocks NA differentiation of SN precursors. Inhibition of platelet-derived growth factor receptor (PDGFR) signaling prevents VMC differentiation and also blocks NA differentiation of SN precursors. NA differentiation is normal in cloche mutants that are devoid of endothelial cells but have VMCs. Thus, PDGFR-mediated mural cell recruitment mediates neurovascular interactions between the aorta and sympathetic precursors and promotes their noradrenergic differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vitor Fortuna
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Health Science Institute, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador 40110-902, Brazil
| | - Luc Pardanaud
- CNRS UMR7241, INSERM U1050, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, Paris 75005, France
| | - Isabelle Brunet
- CNRS UMR7241, INSERM U1050, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, Paris 75005, France
| | - Roxana Ola
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Emma Ristori
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Massimo M Santoro
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Torino, 10126 Torino, Italy; VIB Vesalius Research Center, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Stefania Nicoli
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
| | - Anne Eichmann
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; CNRS UMR7241, INSERM U1050, Center for Interdisciplinary Research in Biology (CIRB), Collège de France, Paris 75005, France; Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA.
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30
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Stubbusch J, Narasimhan P, Hennchen M, Huber K, Unsicker K, Ernsberger U, Rohrer H. Lineage and stage specific requirement for Dicer1 in sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla formation and maintenance. Dev Biol 2015; 400:210-23. [PMID: 25661788 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.01.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 01/23/2015] [Accepted: 01/24/2015] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The development of sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells is differentially controlled at distinct stages by various extrinsic and intrinsic signals. Here we use conditional deletion of Dicer1 in neural crest cells and noradrenergic neuroblasts to identify stage specific functions in sympathoadrenal lineages. Conditional Dicer1 knockout in neural crest cells of Dicer1(Wnt1Cre) mice results in a rapid reduction in the size of developing sympathetic ganglia and adrenal medulla. In contrast, Dicer1 elimination in noradrenergic neuroblasts of Dicer1(DbhiCre) animals affects sympathetic neuron survival starting at late embryonic stages and chromaffin cells persist at least until postnatal week 1. A differential function of Dicer1 signaling for the development of embryonic noradrenergic and cholinergic sympathetic neurons is demonstrated by the selective increase in the expression of Tlx3 and the cholinergic marker genes VAChT and ChAT at E16.5. The number of Dbh, Th and TrkA expressing noradrenergic neurons is strongly decreased in Dicer1-deficient sympathetic ganglia at birth, whereas Tlx3(+)/ Ret(+) cholinergic neurons cells are spared from cell death. The postnatal death of chromaffin cells is preceded by the loss of Ascl1, mir-375 and Pnmt and an increase in the markers Ret and NF-M, which suggests that Dicer1 is required for the maintenance of chromaffin cell differentiation and survival. Taken together, these findings demonstrate distinct stage and lineage specific functions of Dicer1 signaling in differentiation and survival of sympathetic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jutta Stubbusch
- Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Research Group Developmental Neurobiology, Max-von-Laue-Street 4, 60438 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Priyanka Narasimhan
- Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Institute of Anatomy& Cell Biology, Albert-Street 17, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Hennchen
- Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Research Group Developmental Neurobiology, Max-von-Laue-Street 4, 60438 Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Katrin Huber
- Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Institute of Anatomy& Cell Biology, Albert-Street 17, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Klaus Unsicker
- Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Institute of Anatomy& Cell Biology, Albert-Street 17, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Uwe Ernsberger
- Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Research Group Developmental Neurobiology, Max-von-Laue-Street 4, 60438 Frankfurt/Main, Germany; Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
| | - Hermann Rohrer
- Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, Research Group Developmental Neurobiology, Max-von-Laue-Street 4, 60438 Frankfurt/Main, Germany; Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, Goethe-University Frankfurt, Theodor-Stern-Kai 7, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
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31
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Chipumuro E, Marco E, Christensen CL, Kwiatkowski N, Zhang T, Hatheway CM, Abraham BJ, Sharma B, Yeung C, Altabef A, Perez-Atayde A, Wong KK, Yuan GC, Gray NS, Young RA, George RE. CDK7 inhibition suppresses super-enhancer-linked oncogenic transcription in MYCN-driven cancer. Cell 2014; 159:1126-1139. [PMID: 25416950 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2014.10.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 449] [Impact Index Per Article: 44.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2014] [Revised: 08/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/24/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The MYC oncoproteins are thought to stimulate tumor cell growth and proliferation through amplification of gene transcription, a mechanism that has thwarted most efforts to inhibit MYC function as potential cancer therapy. Using a covalent inhibitor of cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) to disrupt the transcription of amplified MYCN in neuroblastoma cells, we demonstrate downregulation of the oncoprotein with consequent massive suppression of MYCN-driven global transcriptional amplification. This response translated to significant tumor regression in a mouse model of high-risk neuroblastoma, without the introduction of systemic toxicity. The striking treatment selectivity of MYCN-overexpressing cells correlated with preferential downregulation of super-enhancer-associated genes, including MYCN and other known oncogenic drivers in neuroblastoma. These results indicate that CDK7 inhibition, by selectively targeting the mechanisms that promote global transcriptional amplification in tumor cells, may be useful therapy for cancers that are driven by MYC family oncoproteins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Edmond Chipumuro
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Eugenio Marco
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | | | - Nicholas Kwiatkowski
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Tinghu Zhang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Clark M Hatheway
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Brian J Abraham
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Bandana Sharma
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Caleb Yeung
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Abigail Altabef
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | | | - Kwok-Kin Wong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Guo-Cheng Yuan
- Department of Biostatistics and Computational Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Nathanael S Gray
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Richard A Young
- Whitehead Institute for Biomedical Research and Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Rani E George
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute and Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Alexander C, Piloto S, Le Pabic P, Schilling TF. Wnt signaling interacts with bmp and edn1 to regulate dorsal-ventral patterning and growth of the craniofacial skeleton. PLoS Genet 2014; 10:e1004479. [PMID: 25058015 PMCID: PMC4109847 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1004479] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 05/16/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Craniofacial development requires signals from epithelia to pattern skeletogenic neural crest (NC) cells, such as the subdivision of each pharyngeal arch into distinct dorsal (D) and ventral (V) elements. Wnt signaling has been implicated in many aspects of NC and craniofacial development, but its roles in D-V arch patterning remain unclear. To address this we blocked Wnt signaling in zebrafish embryos in a temporally-controlled manner, using transgenics to overexpress a dominant negative Tcf3, (dntcf3), (Tg(hsp70I:tcf3-GFP), or the canonical Wnt inhibitor dickkopf1 (dkk1), (Tg(hsp70i:dkk1-GFP) after NC migration. In dntcf3 transgenics, NC cells in the ventral arches of heat-shocked embryos show reduced proliferation, expression of ventral patterning genes (hand2, dlx3b, dlx5a, msxe), and ventral cartilage differentiation (e.g. lower jaws). These D-V patterning defects resemble the phenotypes of zebrafish embryos lacking Bmp or Edn1 signaling, and overexpression of dntcf3 dramatically reduces expression of a subset of Bmp receptors in the arches. Addition of ectopic BMP (or EDN1) protein partially rescues ventral development and expression of dlx3b, dlx5a, and msxe in Wnt signaling-deficient embryos, but surprisingly does not rescue hand2 expression. Thus Wnt signaling provides ventralizing patterning cues to arch NC cells, in part through regulation of Bmp and Edn1 signaling, but independently regulates hand2. Similarly, heat-shocked dkk1+ embryos exhibit ventral arch reductions, but also have mandibular clefts at the ventral midline not seen in dntcf3+ embryos. Dkk1 is expressed in pharyngeal endoderm, and cell transplantation experiments reveal that dntcf3 must be overexpressed in pharyngeal endoderm to disrupt D-V arch patterning, suggesting that distinct endodermal roles for Wnts and Wnt antagonists pattern the developing skeleton. Craniofacial abnormalities are among the most common birth defects. Understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying craniofacial disorders is crucial for developing treatment strategies. Much of the craniofacial skeleton arises from specialized embryonic structures known as pharyngeal arches. Patterning of these arches requires precise spatial and temporal expression of multiple genes, which is coordinated between tissues by secreted signals. Wnts are secreted ligands expressed throughout the pharyngeal arches yet their role in craniofacial patterning remains unclear. In this study we examine the role of Wnts in craniofacial patterning using transgenic zebrafish to inhibit downstream Wnt signaling. We show that Wnt signaling deficient embryos have lower jaw specific defects, which strongly resembles loss-of-function phenotypes in both the Bmp and Edn1 signaling pathways. Through rescue experiments we find that Wnts are upstream regulators of both Bmp and Edn1 signaling. We thus have uncovered a crucial requirement for Wnt signaling in craniofacial patterning.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Alexander
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Sarah Piloto
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Pierre Le Pabic
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Thomas F. Schilling
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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33
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Segregation of neuronal and neuroendocrine differentiation in the sympathoadrenal lineage. Cell Tissue Res 2014; 359:333-41. [PMID: 25038743 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-014-1947-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 06/06/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Neuronal and neuroendocrine cells possess the capacity for Ca(2+)-regulated discharge of messenger molecules, which they release into synapses or the blood stream, respectively. The neural-crest-derived sympathoadrenal lineage gives rise to the sympathetic neurons of the autonomic nervous system and the neuroendocrine chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. These cells provide an excellent model system for studying common and distinct developmental mechanisms underlying the acquisition of neuroendocrine and neuronal properties. As catecholaminergic cells, they possess common markers related to noradrenaline synthesis, storage and release, but they also display diverging gene expression patterns and are morphologically and functionally different. The precise mechanisms that underlie the diversification of sympathoadrenal cells into neurons and neuroendocrine cells are not fully understood. However, in the past we could show that the establishment of a chromaffin phenotype does not depend on signals from the adrenal cortex and that chromaffin cells and sympathetic neurons apparently differ from the onset of their catecholaminergic differentiation. Nevertheless, the cues that specifically induce neuroendocrine features remain elusive. The early development of the progenitors of chromaffin cells and sympathetic neurons depends on a common set of transcription factors with overlapping but distinct influences on their development. In addition to the well-defined role of transcription factors as developmental regulators, our understanding of post-transcriptional gene regulation by microRNAs has substantially increased within the last few decades. This review highlights the major similarities and differences between chromaffin cells and sympathetic neurons, summarizes our current knowledge of the roles of selected transcription factors, microRNAs and environmental signals for the neuroendocrine differentiation of sympathoadrenal cells, and draws comparisons with the development of other endocrine and neuronal cells.
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Directed Bmp4 expression in neural crest cells generates a genetic model for the rare human bony syngnathia birth defect. Dev Biol 2014; 391:170-81. [PMID: 24785830 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2014.04.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2013] [Revised: 04/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Congenital bony syngnathia, a rare but severe human birth defect, is characterized by bony fusion of the mandible to the maxilla. However, the genetic mechanisms underlying this birth defect are poorly understood, largely due to limitation of available animal models. Here we present evidence that transgenic expression of Bmp4 in neural crest cells causes a series of craniofacial malformations in mice, including a bony fusion between the maxilla and hypoplastic mandible, resembling the bony syngnathia syndrome in humans. In addition, the anterior portion of the palatal shelves emerged from the mandibular arch instead of the maxilla in the mutants. Gene expression assays showed an altered expression of several facial patterning genes, including Hand2, Dlx2, Msx1, Barx1, Foxc2 and Fgf8, in the maxillary and mandibular processes of the mutants, indicating mis-patterned cranial neural crest (CNC) derived cells in the facial region. However, despite of formation of cleft palate and ectopic cartilage, forced expression of a constitutively active form of BMP receptor-Ia (caBmprIa) in CNC lineage did not produce the syngnathia phenotype, suggesting a non-cell autonomous effect of the augmented BMP4 signaling. Our studies demonstrate that aberrant BMP4-mediated signaling in CNC cells leads to mis-patterned facial skeleton and congenital bony syngnathia, and suggest an implication of mutations in BMP signaling pathway in human bony syngnathia.
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Kameda Y. Signaling molecules and transcription factors involved in the development of the sympathetic nervous system, with special emphasis on the superior cervical ganglion. Cell Tissue Res 2014; 357:527-48. [PMID: 24770894 DOI: 10.1007/s00441-014-1847-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2013] [Accepted: 02/12/2014] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The cells that constitute the sympathetic nervous system originate from the neural crest. This review addresses the current understanding of sympathetic ganglion development viewed from molecular and morphological perspectives. Development of the sympathetic nervous system is categorized into three main steps, as follows: (1) differentiation and migration of cells in the neural crest lineage for formation of the primary sympathetic chain, (2) differentiation of sympathetic progenitors, and (3) growth and survival of sympathetic ganglia. The signaling molecules and transcription factors involved in each of these developmental stages are elaborated mostly on the basis of the results of targeted mutation of respective genes. Analyses in mutant mice revealed differences between the superior cervical ganglion (SCG) and the other posterior sympathetic ganglia. This review provides a summary of the similarities and differences in the development of the SCG and other posterior sympathetic ganglia. Relevant to the development of sympathetic ganglia is the demonstration that neuroendocrine cells, such as adrenal chromaffin cells and carotid body glomus cells, share a common origin with the sympathetic ganglia. Neural crest cells at the trunk level give rise to common sympathoadrenal progenitors of sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells, while progenitors segregated from the SCG give rise to glomus cells. After separation from the sympathetic primordium, the progenitors of both chromaffin cells and glomus cells colonize the anlage of the adrenal gland and carotid body, respectively. This review highlights the biological properties of chromaffin cells and glomus cells, because, although both cell types are derivatives of sympathetic primordium, they are distinct in many respects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoko Kameda
- Department of Anatomy, Kitasato University School of Medicine, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, 252-0374, Japan,
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SHP-2 deletion in postmigratory neural crest cells results in impaired cardiac sympathetic innervation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2014; 111:E1374-82. [PMID: 24706815 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1319208111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Autonomic innervation is an essential component of cardiovascular regulation that is first established from the neural crest (NC) lineage in utero and continues developing postnatally. Although in vitro studies have indicated that SH2-containing protein tyrosine phosphatase 2 (SHP-2) is a signaling factor critical for regulating sympathetic neuron differentiation, this has yet to be shown in the complex in vivo environment of cardiac autonomic innervation. Targeting SHP-2 within postmigratory NC lineages resulted in a fully penetrant mouse model of diminished sympathetic cardiac innervation and concomitant bradycardia. Immunohistochemistry of the sympathetic nerve marker tyrosine hydroxylase revealed a progressive loss of adrenergic ganglionic neurons and reduction of cardiac sympathetic axon density in Shp2 cKOs. Molecularly, Shp2 cKOs exhibit lineage-specific suppression of activated phospo-ERK1/2 signaling but not of other downstream targets of SHP-2 such as pAKT. Genetic restoration of the phosphorylated-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (pERK) deficiency via lineage-specific expression of constitutively active MEK1 was sufficient to rescue the sympathetic innervation deficit and its physiological consequences. These data indicate that SHP-2 signaling specifically through pERK in postmigratory NC lineages is essential for development and maintenance of sympathetic cardiac innervation postnatally.
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The bHLH transcription factor hand is required for proper wing heart formation in Drosophila. Dev Biol 2013; 381:446-59. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.05.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2012] [Revised: 05/16/2013] [Accepted: 05/27/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Shtukmaster S, Schier MC, Huber K, Krispin S, Kalcheim C, Unsicker K. Sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells share a common progenitor in the neural crest in vivo. Neural Dev 2013; 8:12. [PMID: 23777568 PMCID: PMC3693940 DOI: 10.1186/1749-8104-8-12] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2012] [Accepted: 05/17/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The neural crest (NC) is a transient embryonic structure unique to vertebrates, which generates peripheral sensory and autonomic neurons, glia, neuroendocrine chromaffin and thyroid C-cells, melanocytes, and mesenchymal derivatives such as parts of the skull, heart, and meninges. The sympathoadrenal (SA) cell lineage is one major sub-lineage of the NC that gives rise to sympathetic neurons, chromaffin cells, and the intermediate small intensely fluorescent (SIF) cells. A key question is when during NC ontogeny do multipotent progenitors segregate into the different NC-derived lineages. Recent evidence suggested that sympathetic, sensory, and melanocyte progenitors delaminate from the thoracic neural tube (NT) in successive, largely non-overlapping waves and that at least certain NC progenitors are already fate-restricted within the NT. Whether sympathetic neurons and chromaffin cells, suggested by cell culture studies to share a common progenitor, are also fate segregated in ovo prior to emigration, is not known. RESULTS We have conducted single cell electroporations of a GFP-encoding plasmid into the dorsal midline of E2 chick NTs at the adrenomedullary level of the NC. Analysis of their derivatives, performed at E6, revealed that in most cases, labelled progeny was detected in both sympathetic ganglia and adrenal glands, where cells co-expressed characteristic marker combinations. CONCLUSIONS Our results show that sympathetic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells share a common progenitor in the NT. Together with previous findings we suggest that phenotypic diversification of these sublineages is likely to occur after delamination from the NT and prior to target encounter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stella Shtukmaster
- Department of Molecular Embryology, Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology University of Freiburg, Albertstr, 17, Freiburg D-79104, Germany
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Distinct neuroblastoma-associated alterations of PHOX2B impair sympathetic neuronal differentiation in zebrafish models. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003533. [PMID: 23754957 PMCID: PMC3675015 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2012] [Accepted: 04/14/2013] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Heterozygous germline mutations and deletions in PHOX2B, a key regulator of autonomic neuron development, predispose to neuroblastoma, a tumor of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system. To gain insight into the oncogenic mechanisms engaged by these changes, we used zebrafish models to study the functional consequences of aberrant PHOX2B expression in the cells of the developing sympathetic nervous system. Allelic deficiency, modeled by phox2b morpholino knockdown, led to a decrease in the terminal differentiation markers th and dbh in sympathetic ganglion cells. The same effect was seen on overexpression of two distinct neuroblastoma-associated frameshift mutations, 676delG and K155X - but not the R100L missense mutation - in the presence of endogenous Phox2b, pointing to their dominant-negative effects. We demonstrate that Phox2b is capable of regulating itself as well as ascl1, and that phox2b deficiency uncouples this autoregulatory mechanism, leading to inhibition of sympathetic neuron differentiation. This effect on terminal differentiation is associated with an increased number of phox2b+, ascl1+, elavl3− cells that respond poorly to retinoic acid. These findings suggest that a reduced dosage of PHOX2B during development, through either a heterozygous deletion or dominant-negative mutation, imposes a block in the differentiation of sympathetic neuronal precursors, resulting in a cell population that is likely to be susceptible to secondary transforming events. Neuroblastoma, a tumor of the peripheral sympathetic nervous system, is the most common cancer diagnosed in infancy. Although most cases arise sporadically, familial predisposition also occurs in association with mutations in a single copy of the PHOX2B gene, a “master regulator” of sympathetic neuronal development. The exact mechanisms by which these mutations increase susceptibility to neuroblastoma are unclear, primarily because of the paucity of optimal models in which to study very early development of the sympathetic nervous system. We took advantage of the ex vivo development and transparent nature of zebrafish embryos to study the roles of both normal and mutated PHOX2B in development of the sympathetic nervous system. We present data indicating that aberrant PHOX2B expression causes an arrest in the normal maturation of sympathetic neurons, leading to immature cells that are resistant to drug-induced differentiation. Indeed, we demonstrate that phox2b gene “dosage” is important for normal differentiation of sympathetic neurons in the zebrafish and suggest that the population of immature cells resulting from a decreased dosage of this pivotal factor may be susceptible to secondary mutations that could ultimately lead to neuroblastoma.
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Vincentz JW, Firulli BA, Lin A, Spicer DB, Howard MJ, Firulli AB. Twist1 controls a cell-specification switch governing cell fate decisions within the cardiac neural crest. PLoS Genet 2013; 9:e1003405. [PMID: 23555309 PMCID: PMC3605159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1003405] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2012] [Accepted: 02/07/2013] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Neural crest cells are multipotent progenitor cells that can generate both ectodermal cell types, such as neurons, and mesodermal cell types, such as smooth muscle. The mechanisms controlling this cell fate choice are not known. The basic Helix-loop-Helix (bHLH) transcription factor Twist1 is expressed throughout the migratory and post-migratory cardiac neural crest. Twist1 ablation or mutation of the Twist-box causes differentiation of ectopic neuronal cells, which molecularly resemble sympathetic ganglia, in the cardiac outflow tract. Twist1 interacts with the pro-neural factor Sox10 via its Twist-box domain and binds to the Phox2b promoter to repress transcriptional activity. Mesodermal cardiac neural crest trans-differentiation into ectodermal sympathetic ganglia-like neurons is dependent upon Phox2b function. Ectopic Twist1 expression in neural crest precursors disrupts sympathetic neurogenesis. These data demonstrate that Twist1 functions in post-migratory neural crest cells to repress pro-neural factors and thereby regulate cell fate determination between ectodermal and mesodermal lineages. During vertebrate development, a unique population of cells, termed neural crest cells, migrates throughout the developing embryo, generating various cell types, for example, the smooth muscle that divides the aorta and pulmonary artery where they connect to the heart, and the autonomic neurons, which coordinate organ function. The distinctions between neural crest cells that will form smooth muscle and those that will become neurons are thought to occur prior to migration. Here, we show that, in mice with mutations of the transcription factor Twist1, a subpopulation of presumptive smooth muscle cells, following migration to the heart, instead mis-specify to resemble autonomic neurons. Twist1 represses transcription of the pro-neural factor Phox2b both through antagonism of its upstream effector, Sox10, and through direct binding to its promoter. Phox2b is absolutely required for autonomic neuron development, and indeed, the aberrant neurons in Twist1 mutants disappear when Phox2b is also mutated. Ectopic Twist1 expression within all neural crest cells disrupts the specification of normal autonomic neurons. Collectively, these data reveal that neural crest cells can alter their cell fate from mesoderm to ectoderm after they have migrated and that Twist1 functions to maintain neural crest cell potency during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua W Vincentz
- Riley Heart Research Center, Herman B Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Division of Pediatrics Cardiology, Departments of Anatomy, Indiana University Medical School, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
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Unsicker K, Huber K, Schober A, Kalcheim C. Resolved and open issues in chromaffin cell development. Mech Dev 2012; 130:324-9. [PMID: 23220335 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2012.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2012] [Revised: 11/14/2012] [Accepted: 11/16/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Ten years of research within the DFG-funded Collaborative Research Grant SFB 488 at the University of Heidelberg have added many new facets to our understanding of chromaffin cell development. Glucocorticoid signaling is no longer the key for understanding the determination of the chromaffin phenotype, yet a novel role has been attributed to glucocorticoids: they are essential for the postnatal maintenance of adrenal and extra-adrenal chromaffin cells. Transcription factors, as, e.g. MASH1 and Phox2B, have similar, but also distinct functions in chromaffin and sympathetic neuronal development, and BMP-4 not only induces sympathoadrenal (SA) cells at the dorsal aorta and within the adrenal gland, but also promotes chromaffin cell maturation. Chromaffin cells and sympathetic neurons share a common progenitor in the dorsal neural tube (NT) in vivo, as revealed by single cell electroporations into the dorsal NT. Thus, specification of chromaffin cells is likely to occur after cell emigration either during migration or close to colonization of the target regions. Mechanisms underlying the specification of chromaffin cells vs. sympathetic neurons are currently being explored.
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Affiliation(s)
- Klaus Unsicker
- Dept. of Molecular Embryology, University of Freiburg, Albertstr. 17, D-79104 Freiburg, Germany.
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42
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Vincentz JW, Rubart M, Firulli AB. Ontogeny of cardiac sympathetic innervation and its implications for cardiac disease. Pediatr Cardiol 2012; 33:923-8. [PMID: 22395650 PMCID: PMC3391355 DOI: 10.1007/s00246-012-0248-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2012] [Accepted: 02/15/2012] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The vertebrate heart is innervated by the sympathetic and parasympathetic components of the peripheral autonomic nervous system, which regulates its contractile rate and force. Understanding the mechanisms that control sympathetic neuronal growth, differentiation, and innervation of the heart may provide insight into the etiology of cardiac arrhythmogenesis. This review provides an overview of the cell signaling pathways and transcriptional effectors that regulate both the noradrenergic gene program during sympathetic neurogenesis and regional nerve density during cardiac innervation. Recent studies exploring transcriptional regulation of the bHLH transcription factor Hand1 in developing sympathetic neurons are explored, and how the Hand1 sympathetic neuron-specific cis-regulatory element may be used further to assess the contribution of altered sympathetic innervation to human cardiac disease is discussed.
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Abstract
Autonomic neuron development is controlled by a network of transcription factors, which is induced by bone morphogenetic protein signalling in neural crest progenitor cells. This network intersects with a transcriptional program in migratory neural crest cells that pre-specifies autonomic neuron precursor cells. Recent findings demonstrate that the transcription factors acting in the initial specification and differentiation of sympathetic neurons are also important for the proliferation of progenitors and immature neurons during neurogenesis. Elimination of Phox2b, Hand2 and Gata3 in differentiated neurons affects the expression of subtype-specific and/or generic neuronal properties or neuron survival. Taken together, transcription factors previously shown to act in initial neuron specification and differentiation display a much broader spectrum of functions, including control of neurogenesis and the maintenance of subtype characteristics and survival of mature neurons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hermann Rohrer
- Research Group Developmental Neurobiology, Max-Planck-Institute for Brain Research, 60528 Frankfurt/Main, Germany.
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44
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Huber L, Ferdin M, Holzmann J, Stubbusch J, Rohrer H. HoxB8 in noradrenergic specification and differentiation of the autonomic nervous system. Dev Biol 2011; 363:219-33. [PMID: 22236961 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.12.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/22/2011] [Revised: 12/14/2011] [Accepted: 12/15/2011] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Different prespecification of mesencephalic and trunk neural crest cells determines their response to environmental differentiation signals and contributes to the generation of different autonomic neuron subtypes, parasympathetic ciliary neurons in the head and trunk noradrenergic sympathetic neurons. The differentiation of ciliary and sympathetic neurons shares many features, including the initial BMP-induced expression of noradrenergic characteristics that is, however, subsequently lost in ciliary but maintained in sympathetic neurons. The molecular basis of specific prespecification and differentiation patterns has remained unclear. We show here that HoxB gene expression in trunk neural crest is maintained in sympathetic neurons. Ectopic expression of a single HoxB gene, HoxB8, in mesencephalic neural crest results in a strongly increased expression of sympathetic neuron characteristics like the transcription factor Hand2, tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) and dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) in ciliary neurons. Other subtype-specific properties like RGS4 and RCad are not induced. HoxB8 has only minor effects in postmitotic ciliary neurons and is unable to induce TH and DBH in the enteric nervous system. Thus, we conclude that HoxB8 acts by maintaining noradrenergic properties transiently expressed in ciliary neuron progenitors during normal development. HoxC8, HoxB9, HoxB1 and HoxD10 elicit either small and transient or no effects on noradrenergic differentiation, suggesting a selective effect of HoxB8. These results implicate that Hox genes contribute to the differential development of autonomic neuron precursors by maintaining noradrenergic properties in the trunk sympathetic neuron lineage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leslie Huber
- Research Group Developmental Neurobiology, Max Planck Institute for Brain Research, Frankfurt/Main, Germany
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45
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Alexander C, Zuniga E, Blitz IL, Wada N, Le Pabic P, Javidan Y, Zhang T, Cho KW, Crump JG, Schilling TF. Combinatorial roles for BMPs and Endothelin 1 in patterning the dorsal-ventral axis of the craniofacial skeleton. Development 2011; 138:5135-46. [PMID: 22031543 DOI: 10.1242/dev.067801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) play crucial roles in craniofacial development but little is known about their interactions with other signals, such as Endothelin 1 (Edn1) and Jagged/Notch, which pattern the dorsal-ventral (DV) axis of the pharyngeal arches. Here, we use transgenic zebrafish to monitor and perturb BMP signaling during arch formation. With a BMP-responsive transgene, Tg(Bre:GFP), we show active BMP signaling in neural crest (NC)-derived skeletal precursors of the ventral arches, and in surrounding epithelia. Loss-of-function studies using a heat shock-inducible, dominant-negative BMP receptor 1a [Tg(hs70I:dnBmpr1a-GFP)] to bypass early roles show that BMP signaling is required for ventral arch development just after NC migration, the same stages at which we detect Tg(Bre:GFP). Inhibition of BMP signaling at these stages reduces expression of the ventral signal Edn1, as well as ventral-specific genes such as hand2 and dlx6a in the arches, and expands expression of the dorsal signal jag1b. This results in a loss or reduction of ventral and intermediate skeletal elements and a mis-shapen dorsal arch skeleton. Conversely, ectopic BMP causes dorsal expansion of ventral-specific gene expression and corresponding reductions/transformations of dorsal cartilages. Soon after NC migration, BMP is required to induce Edn1 and overexpression of either signal partially rescues ventral skeletal defects in embryos deficient for the other. However, once arch primordia are established the effects of BMPs become restricted to more ventral and anterior (palate) domains, which do not depend on Edn1. This suggests that BMPs act upstream and in parallel to Edn1 to promote ventral fates in the arches during early DV patterning, but later acquire distinct roles that further subdivide the identities of NC cells to pattern the craniofacial skeleton.
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Affiliation(s)
- Courtney Alexander
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
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46
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Mohlin SA, Wigerup C, Påhlman S. Neuroblastoma aggressiveness in relation to sympathetic neuronal differentiation stage. Semin Cancer Biol 2011; 21:276-82. [PMID: 21945591 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2011.09.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2011] [Accepted: 09/08/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma is a childhood malignancy of the sympathetic neuronal lineage. It is a rare disease, but since it is frequently diagnosed during infancy, neuroblastoma causes life-long medical follow up of those children that survive the disease. It was early recognized that a high tumor cell differentiation stage correlates to favorable clinical stage and positive clinical outcome. Today, highly differentiated tumors are surgically removed and not further treated. Cells of many established human neuroblastoma cell lines have the capacity to differentiate when stimulated properly, and these cell lines have been used as models for studying and understanding central concepts of tumor cell differentiation. One recent aspect of this issue is the observation that tumor cells can dedifferentiate and gain a stem cell-like phenotype during hypoxic conditions, which was first shown in neuroblastoma. Aberrant or blocked differentiation is a central aspect of neuroblastoma genesis. In this review we summarize known genetic and non-genetic events in neuroblastoma that might be coupled to an aberrant sympathetic neuronal differentiation and thereby indirectly influencing tumorigenesis and/or aggressive neuroblastoma behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofie A Mohlin
- Center for Molecular Pathology, Department of Laboratory Medicine, CREATE Health, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
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47
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Schmidt M, Huber L, Majdazari A, Schütz G, Williams T, Rohrer H. The transcription factors AP-2β and AP-2α are required for survival of sympathetic progenitors and differentiated sympathetic neurons. Dev Biol 2011; 355:89-100. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.04.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2011] [Revised: 04/13/2011] [Accepted: 04/14/2011] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Jiang M, Stanke J, Lahti JM. The connections between neural crest development and neuroblastoma. Curr Top Dev Biol 2011; 94:77-127. [PMID: 21295685 DOI: 10.1016/b978-0-12-380916-2.00004-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB), the most common extracranial solid tumor in childhood, is an extremely heterogeneous disease both biologically and clinically. Although significant progress has been made in identifying molecular and genetic markers for NB, this disease remains an enigmatic challenge. Since NB is thought to be an embryonal tumor that is derived from precursor cells of the peripheral (sympathetic) nervous system, understanding the development of normal sympathetic nervous system may highlight abnormal events that contribute to NB initiation. Therefore, this review focuses on the development of the peripheral trunk neural crest, the current understanding of how developmental factors may contribute to NB and on recent advances in the identification of important genetic lesions and signaling pathways involved in NB tumorigenesis and metastasis. Finally, we discuss how future advances in identification of molecular alterations in NB may lead to more effective, less toxic therapies, and improve the prognosis for NB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manrong Jiang
- Department of Genetics and Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
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49
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Cytokines inhibit norepinephrine transporter expression by decreasing Hand2. Mol Cell Neurosci 2011; 46:671-80. [PMID: 21241805 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2011.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2010] [Revised: 12/16/2010] [Accepted: 01/08/2011] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Functional noradrenergic transmission requires the coordinate expression of enzymes involved in norepinephrine (NE) synthesis, as well as the norepinephrine transporter (NET) which removes NE from the synapse. Inflammatory cytokines acting through gp130 can suppress the noradrenergic phenotype in sympathetic neurons. This occurs in a subset of sympathetic neurons during development and also occurs in adult neurons after injury. For example, cytokines suppress noradrenergic function in sympathetic neurons after axotomy and during heart failure. The molecular basis for suppression of noradrenergic genes is not well understood, but previous studies implicated a reduction of Phox2a in cytokine suppression of dopamine beta hydroxylase. We used sympathetic neurons and neuroblastoma cells to investigate the role of Phox2a in cytokine suppression of NET transcription. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments revealed that Phox2a did not bind the NET promoter, and overexpression of Phox2a did not prevent cytokine suppression of NET transcription. Hand2 and Gata3 are transcription factors that induce noradrenergic genes during development and are present in mature sympathetic neurons. Both Hand2 and Gata3 were decreased by cytokines in sympathetic neurons and neuroblastoma cells. Overexpression of either Hand2 or Gata3 was sufficient to rescue NET transcription following suppression by cytokines. We examined expression of these genes following axotomy to determine if their expression was altered following nerve injury. NET and Hand2 mRNAs decreased significantly in sympathetic neurons 48 h after axotomy, but Gata3 mRNA was unchanged. These data suggest that cytokines can inhibit NET expression through downregulation of Hand2 or Gata3 in cultured sympathetic neurons, but axotomy in adult animals selectively suppresses Hand2 expression.
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Yin C, Kikuchi K, Hochgreb T, Poss KD, Stainier DYR. Hand2 regulates extracellular matrix remodeling essential for gut-looping morphogenesis in zebrafish. Dev Cell 2010; 18:973-84. [PMID: 20627079 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2010.05.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2009] [Revised: 02/19/2010] [Accepted: 03/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling is critical for organogenesis, yet its molecular regulation is poorly understood. In zebrafish, asymmetric migration of the epithelial lateral plate mesoderm (LPM) displaces the gut leftward, allowing correct placement of the liver and pancreas. To observe LPM migration at cellular resolution, we transgenically expressed EGFP under the control of the regulatory sequences of the bHLH transcription factor gene hand2. We found that laminin is distributed along the LPM/gut boundary during gut looping, and that it appears to become diminished by the migrating hand2-expressing cells. Laminin diminishment is necessary for LPM migration and is dependent on matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) activity. Loss of Hand2 function causes reduced MMP activity and prolonged laminin deposition at the LPM/gut boundary, leading to failed asymmetric LPM migration and gut looping. Our study reveals an unexpected role for Hand2, a key regulator of cell specification and differentiation, in modulating ECM remodeling during organogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunyue Yin
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, Programs in Developmental Biology, Genetics, and Human Genetics, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Liver Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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