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Liu T, Xia S. The Proteostasis of Thymic Stromal Cells in Health and Diseases. Protein J 2024; 43:447-463. [PMID: 38622349 DOI: 10.1007/s10930-024-10197-x] [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] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
The thymus is the key immune organ for the development of T cells. Different populations of thymic stromal cells interact with T cells, thereby controlling the dynamic development of T cells through their differentiation and function. Proteostasis represents a balance between protein expression, folding, and modification and protein clearance, and its fluctuation usually depends at least partially on related protein regulatory systems for further survival and effects. However, in terms of the substantial requirement for self-antigens and their processing burden, increasing evidence highlights that protein regulation contributes to the physiological effects of thymic stromal cells. Impaired proteostasis may expedite the progression of thymic involution and dysfunction, accompanied by the development of autoimmune diseases or thymoma. Hence, in this review, we summarize the regulation of proteostasis within different types of thymic stromal cells under physiological and pathological conditions to identify potential targets for thymic regeneration and immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Liu
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China
| | - Sheng Xia
- Department of Immunology, School of Medicine, Jiangsu University, 301, Xuefu Road, Zhenjiang, Jiangsu, 212013, China.
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2
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Ramirez A, Vyzas CA, Zhao H, Eng K, Degenhardt K, Astrof S. Buffering Mechanism in Aortic Arch Artery Formation and Congenital Heart Disease. Circ Res 2024; 134:e112-e132. [PMID: 38618720 PMCID: PMC11081845 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.322767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The resiliency of embryonic development to genetic and environmental perturbations has been long appreciated; however, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the robustness of developmental processes. Aberrations resulting in neonatal lethality are exemplified by congenital heart disease arising from defective morphogenesis of pharyngeal arch arteries (PAAs) and their derivatives. METHODS Mouse genetics, lineage tracing, confocal microscopy, and quantitative image analyses were used to investigate mechanisms of PAA formation and repair. RESULTS The second heart field (SHF) gives rise to the PAA endothelium. Here, we show that the number of SHF-derived endothelial cells (ECs) is regulated by VEGFR2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2) and Tbx1. Remarkably, when the SHF-derived EC number is decreased, PAA development can be rescued by the compensatory endothelium. Blocking such compensatory response leads to embryonic demise. To determine the source of compensating ECs and mechanisms regulating their recruitment, we investigated 3-dimensional EC connectivity, EC fate, and gene expression. Our studies demonstrate that the expression of VEGFR2 by the SHF is required for the differentiation of SHF-derived cells into PAA ECs. The deletion of 1 VEGFR2 allele (VEGFR2SHF-HET) reduces SHF contribution to the PAA endothelium, while the deletion of both alleles (VEGFR2SHF-KO) abolishes it. The decrease in SHF-derived ECs in VEGFR2SHF-HET and VEGFR2SHF-KO embryos is complemented by the recruitment of ECs from the nearby veins. Compensatory ECs contribute to PAA derivatives, giving rise to the endothelium of the aortic arch and the ductus in VEGFR2SHF-KO mutants. Blocking the compensatory response in VEGFR2SHF-KO mutants results in embryonic lethality shortly after mid-gestation. The compensatory ECs are absent in Tbx1+/- embryos, a model for 22q11 deletion syndrome, leading to unpredictable arch artery morphogenesis and congenital heart disease. Tbx1 regulates the recruitment of the compensatory endothelium in an SHF-non-cell-autonomous manner. CONCLUSIONS Our studies uncover a novel buffering mechanism underlying the resiliency of PAA development and remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- AnnJosette Ramirez
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
- Multidisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences: Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology Track, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
| | - Christina A. Vyzas
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
- Multidisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences: Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology Track, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
| | - Huaning Zhao
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
| | - Kevin Eng
- Department of Statistics, Rutgers University, School of Arts and Sciences, Piscataway, NJ 08854
| | - Karl Degenhardt
- Children's Hospital of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19107
| | - Sophie Astrof
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
- Multidisciplinary Ph.D. Program in Biomedical Sciences: Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology Track, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences, Newark, NJ, 07103
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3
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Miao D, Ren J, Jia Y, Jia Y, Li Y, Huang H, Gao R. PAX1 represses canonical Wnt signaling pathway and plays dual roles during endoderm differentiation. Cell Commun Signal 2024; 22:242. [PMID: 38664733 PMCID: PMC11046865 DOI: 10.1186/s12964-024-01629-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Paired box 1 (PAX1) is a transcription factor and essential for the development of pharyngeal pouches-derived tissues, including thymus. PAX1 mutations are identified in Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID) patients with Otofaciocervical Syndrome Type 2 (OTFCS2). However, despite the critical roles of PAX1 in embryonic development and diseases, detailed insights into its molecular mode of action are critically missing. METHODS The repressing roles of PAX1 and SCID associated mutants on Wnt signaling pathway were investigated by luciferase reporter assays, qRT-PCR and in situ hybridization in HEK293FT, HCT116 cells and zebrafish embryos, respectively. Co-immunoprecipitation (co-IP) and western blotting assays were carried out to identify the molecular mechanisms underlying PAX1's role on Wnt signaling pathway. hESC based endoderm differentiation, flow cytometry, high-throughput sequencing data analysis, and qRT-PCR assays were utilized to determine the roles of PAX1 during endoderm differentiation. RESULTS Here, we show that PAX1 represses canonical Wnt signaling pathway in vertebrate cells. Mechanically, PAX1 competes with SUMO E3 ligase PIASy to bind to TCF7L2, thus perturbing TCF7L2 SUMOylation level, further reducing its transcriptional activity and protein stability. Moreover, we reveal that PAX1 plays dual roles in hESC-derived definitive and foregut/pharyngeal endoderm cells, which give rise to the thymus epithelium, by inhibiting Wnt signaling. Importantly, our data show PAX1 mutations found in SCID patients significantly compromise the suppressing ability of PAX1 on Wnt signaling. CONCLUSIONS Our study presents a novel molecular mode of action of PAX1 in regulation of canonical Wnt signaling and endoderm differentiation, thus providing insights for the molecular basis of PAX1 associated SCID, offering better understanding of the behavior of PAX1 in embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danxiu Miao
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
- Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150000, China
| | - Jie Ren
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Yanhan Jia
- Sichuan Cancer Hospital and Institute, Sichuan Cancer Center, School of Medicine, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, 610000, China
| | - Yihui Jia
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China
| | - Yanshu Li
- Department of Toxicology, College of Public Health, Harbin Medical University, Harbin, 150000, China
- College of Public Health, Shantou University, Shantou, 515063, China
| | - Huizhe Huang
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, 400010, China
| | - Rui Gao
- Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Xiamen Cardiovascular Hospital, School of medicine, Xiamen University, Xiamen, 361000, China.
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Takeshita N, Sakaki S, Saba R, Inoue S, Nishikawa K, Ueyama A, Nakajima Y, Matsuo K, Shigeta M, Kobayashi D, Yamazaki H, Yamada K, Iehara T, Yashiro K. Acto3D: an open-source user-friendly volume rendering software for high-resolution 3D fluorescence imaging in biology. Development 2024; 151:dev202550. [PMID: 38657972 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202550] [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: 11/16/2023] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
Advances in fluorescence microscopy and tissue-clearing have revolutionised 3D imaging of fluorescently labelled tissues, organs and embryos. However, the complexity and high cost of existing software and computing solutions limit their widespread adoption, especially by researchers with limited resources. Here, we present Acto3D, an open-source software, designed to streamline the generation and analysis of high-resolution 3D images of targets labelled with multiple fluorescent probes. Acto3D provides an intuitive interface for easy 3D data import and visualisation. Although Acto3D offers straightforward 3D viewing, it performs all computations explicitly, giving users detailed control over the displayed images. Leveraging an integrated graphics processing unit, Acto3D deploys all pixel data to system memory, reducing visualisation latency. This approach facilitates accurate image reconstruction and efficient data processing in 3D, eliminating the need for expensive high-performance computers and dedicated graphics processing units. We have also introduced a method for efficiently extracting lumen structures in 3D. We have validated Acto3D by imaging mouse embryonic structures and by performing 3D reconstruction of pharyngeal arch arteries while preserving fluorescence information. Acto3D is a cost-effective and efficient platform for biological research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naoki Takeshita
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Shinichiro Sakaki
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, 113-8655, Japan
| | - Rie Saba
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Satoshi Inoue
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Kosuke Nishikawa
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Atsuko Ueyama
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Yoshiro Nakajima
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Matsuo
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Masaki Shigeta
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kobayashi
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Hideya Yamazaki
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Kei Yamada
- Department of Radiology, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Tomoko Iehara
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
| | - Kenta Yashiro
- Division of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Department of Anatomy, Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto Prefectural University of Medicine, Kyoto, 602-8566, Japan
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Ramirez A, Vyzas CA, Zhao H, Eng K, Degenhardt K, Astrof S. Identification of novel buffering mechanisms in aortic arch artery development and congenital heart disease. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.03.02.530833. [PMID: 38370627 PMCID: PMC10871175 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.02.530833] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
Rationale The resiliency of embryonic development to genetic and environmental perturbations has been long appreciated; however, little is known about the mechanisms underlying the robustness of developmental processes. Aberrations resulting in neonatal lethality are exemplified by congenital heart disease (CHD) arising from defective morphogenesis of pharyngeal arch arteries (PAA) and their derivatives. Objective To uncover mechanisms underlying the robustness of PAA morphogenesis. Methods and Results The second heart field (SHF) gives rise to the PAA endothelium. Here, we show that the number of SHF-derived ECs is regulated by VEGFR2 and Tbx1 . Remarkably, when SHF-derived EC number is decreased, PAA development can be rescued by the compensatory endothelium. Blocking such compensatory response leads to embryonic demise. To determine the source of compensating ECs and mechanisms regulating their recruitment, we investigated three-dimensional EC connectivity, EC fate, and gene expression. Our studies demonstrate that the expression of VEGFR2 by the SHF is required for the differentiation of SHF-derived cells into PAA ECs. The deletion of one VEGFR2 allele (VEGFR2 SHF-HET ) reduces SHF contribution to the PAA endothelium, while the deletion of both alleles (VEGFR2 SHF-KO ) abolishes it. The decrease in SHF-derived ECs in VEGFR2 SHF-HET and VEGFR2 SHF-KO embryos is complemented by the recruitment of ECs from the nearby veins. Compensatory ECs contribute to PAA derivatives, giving rise to the endothelium of the aortic arch and the ductus in VEGFR2 SHF-KO mutants. Blocking the compensatory response in VEGFR2 SHF-KO mutants results in embryonic lethality shortly after mid-gestation. The compensatory ECs are absent in Tbx1 +/- embryos, a model for 22q11 deletion syndrome, leading to unpredictable arch artery morphogenesis and CHD. Tbx1 regulates the recruitment of the compensatory endothelium in an SHF-non-cell-autonomous manner. Conclusions Our studies uncover a novel buffering mechanism underlying the resiliency of PAA development and remodeling. Nonstandard Abbreviations and Acronyms in Alphabetical Order CHD - congenital heart disease; ECs - endothelial cells; IAA-B - interrupted aortic arch type B; PAA - pharyngeal arch arteries; RERSA - retro-esophageal right subclavian artery; SHF - second heart field; VEGFR2 - Vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2.
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6
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Graham A, Hikspoors JPJM, Lamers WH, Anderson RH, Bamforth SD. Morphogenetic processes in the development and evolution of the arteries of the pharyngeal arches: their relations to congenital cardiovascular malformations. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1259175. [PMID: 37900278 PMCID: PMC10602722 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1259175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
The heart and aortic arch arteries in amniotes form a double circulation, taking oxygenated blood from the heart to the body and deoxygenated blood to the lungs. These major vessels are formed in embryonic development from a series of paired and symmetrical arteries that undergo a complex remodelling process to form the asymmetric arch arteries in the adult. These embryonic arteries form in the pharyngeal arches, which are symmetrical bulges on the lateral surface of the head. The pharyngeal arches, and their associated arteries, are found in all classes of vertebrates, but the number varies, typically with the number of arches reducing through evolution. For example, jawed vertebrates have six pairs of pharyngeal arch arteries but amniotes, a clade of tetrapod vertebrates, have five pairs. This had led to the unusual numbering system attributed to each of the pharyngeal arch arteries in amniotes (1, 2, 3, 4, and 6). We, therefore, propose that these instead be given names to reflect the vessel: mandibular (1st), hyoid (2nd), carotid (3rd), aortic (4th) and pulmonary (most caudal). Aberrant arch artery formation or remodelling leads to life-threatening congenital cardiovascular malformations, such as interruption of the aortic arch, cervical origin of arteries, and vascular rings. We discuss why an alleged fifth arch artery has erroneously been used to interpret congenital cardiac lesions, which are better explained as abnormal collateral channels, or remodelling of the aortic sac.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony Graham
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Wouter H. Lamers
- Department of Anatomy and Embryology, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Robert H. Anderson
- Centre for Life, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Simon D. Bamforth
- Centre for Life, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, United Kingdom
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7
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De Bono C, Liu Y, Ferrena A, Valentine A, Zheng D, Morrow BE. Single-cell transcriptomics uncovers a non-autonomous Tbx1-dependent genetic program controlling cardiac neural crest cell development. Nat Commun 2023; 14:1551. [PMID: 36941249 PMCID: PMC10027855 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37015-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Disruption of cardiac neural crest cells (CNCCs) results in congenital heart disease, yet we do not understand the cell fate dynamics as these cells differentiate to vascular smooth muscle cells. Here we performed single-cell RNA-sequencing of NCCs from the pharyngeal apparatus with the heart in control mouse embryos and when Tbx1, the gene for 22q11.2 deletion syndrome, is inactivated. We uncover three dynamic transitions of pharyngeal NCCs expressing Tbx2 and Tbx3 through differentiated CNCCs expressing cardiac transcription factors with smooth muscle genes. These transitions are altered non-autonomously by loss of Tbx1. Further, inactivation of Tbx2 and Tbx3 in early CNCCs results in aortic arch branching defects due to failed smooth muscle differentiation. Loss of Tbx1 interrupts mesoderm to CNCC cell-cell communication with upregulation and premature activation of BMP signaling and reduced MAPK signaling, as well as alteration of other signaling, and failed dynamic transitions of CNCCs leading to disruption of aortic arch artery formation and cardiac outflow tract septation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher De Bono
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
| | - Yang Liu
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Alexander Ferrena
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Aneesa Valentine
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Deyou Zheng
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Neurology, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA
| | - Bernice E Morrow
- Department of Genetics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
- Departments of Obstetrics and Gynecology; and Pediatrics, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, NY, USA.
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Holroyd NA, Walsh C, Gourmet L, Walker-Samuel S. Quantitative Image Processing for Three-Dimensional Episcopic Images of Biological Structures: Current State and Future Directions. Biomedicines 2023; 11:909. [PMID: 36979887 PMCID: PMC10045950 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines11030909] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2023] [Revised: 03/03/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Episcopic imaging using techniques such as High Resolution Episcopic Microscopy (HREM) and its variants, allows biological samples to be visualized in three dimensions over a large field of view. Quantitative analysis of episcopic image data is undertaken using a range of methods. In this systematic review, we look at trends in quantitative analysis of episcopic images and discuss avenues for further research. Papers published between 2011 and 2022 were analyzed for details about quantitative analysis approaches, methods of image annotation and choice of image processing software. It is shown that quantitative processing is becoming more common in episcopic microscopy and that manual annotation is the predominant method of image analysis. Our meta-analysis highlights where tools and methods require further development in this field, and we discuss what this means for the future of quantitative episcopic imaging, as well as how annotation and quantification may be automated and standardized across the field.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Claire Walsh
- Centre for Computational Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, University College London, London WC1E 7JE, UK
| | - Lucie Gourmet
- Centre for Computational Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
| | - Simon Walker-Samuel
- Centre for Computational Medicine, University College London, London WC1E 6DD, UK
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Steele RE, Sanders R, Phillips HM, Bamforth SD. PAX Genes in Cardiovascular Development. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:7713. [PMID: 35887061 PMCID: PMC9324344 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23147713] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2022] [Revised: 07/07/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
The mammalian heart is a four-chambered organ with systemic and pulmonary circulations to deliver oxygenated blood to the body, and a tightly regulated genetic network exists to shape normal development of the heart and its associated major arteries. A key process during cardiovascular morphogenesis is the septation of the outflow tract which initially forms as a single vessel before separating into the aorta and pulmonary trunk. The outflow tract connects to the aortic arch arteries which are derived from the pharyngeal arch arteries. Congenital heart defects are a major cause of death and morbidity and are frequently associated with a failure to deliver oxygenated blood to the body. The Pax transcription factor family is characterised through their highly conserved paired box and DNA binding domains and are crucial in organogenesis, regulating the development of a wide range of cells, organs and tissues including the cardiovascular system. Studies altering the expression of these genes in murine models, notably Pax3 and Pax9, have found a range of cardiovascular patterning abnormalities such as interruption of the aortic arch and common arterial trunk. This suggests that these Pax genes play a crucial role in the regulatory networks governing cardiovascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Simon D. Bamforth
- Bioscience Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Centre for Life, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK; (R.E.S.); (R.S.); (H.M.P.)
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10
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Chen X, Li Y, Paiboonrungruang C, Li Y, Peters H, Kist R, Xiong Z. PAX9 in Cancer Development. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:5589. [PMID: 35628401 PMCID: PMC9147292 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23105589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2022] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Paired box 9 (PAX9) is a transcription factor of the PAX family functioning as both a transcriptional activator and repressor. Its functional roles in the embryonic development of various tissues and organs have been well studied. However, its roles and molecular mechanisms in cancer development are largely unknown. Here, we review the current understanding of PAX9 expression, upstream regulation of PAX9, and PAX9 downstream events in cancer development. Promoter hypermethylation, promoter SNP, microRNA, and inhibition of upstream pathways (e.g., NOTCH) result in PAX9 silencing or downregulation, whereas gene amplification and an epigenetic axis upregulate PAX9 expression. PAX9 may contribute to carcinogenesis through dysregulation of its transcriptional targets and related molecular pathways. In summary, extensive studies on PAX9 in its cellular and tissue contexts are warranted in various cancers, in particular, HNSCC, ESCC, lung cancer, and cervical SCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoxin Chen
- Cancer Research Program, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, 700 George Street, Durham, NC 27707, USA; (X.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yahui Li
- Cancer Research Program, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, 700 George Street, Durham, NC 27707, USA; (X.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (Y.L.)
| | - Chorlada Paiboonrungruang
- Cancer Research Program, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, 700 George Street, Durham, NC 27707, USA; (X.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (Y.L.)
| | - Yong Li
- Cancer Research Program, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, 700 George Street, Durham, NC 27707, USA; (X.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (Y.L.)
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, National Cancer Center, Cancer Hospital of Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, 17 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Heiko Peters
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW, UK;
| | - Ralf Kist
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW, UK;
- School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne NE2 4BW, UK
| | - Zhaohui Xiong
- Cancer Research Program, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, 700 George Street, Durham, NC 27707, USA; (X.C.); (Y.L.); (C.P.); (Y.L.)
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11
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Anderson RH, Bamforth SD. Morphogenesis of the Mammalian Aortic Arch Arteries. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:892900. [PMID: 35620058 PMCID: PMC9127140 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.892900] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The major vessels in mammals that take blood away from the heart and deliver it to the arms and the head take their origin from the aortic arch and are derived from the arteries formed within the embryonic pharyngeal arches. These pharyngeal arch arteries, initially symmetrical, form in a cranial to caudal sequence within the pharyngeal mesenchyme. They then undergo a complex process of remodeling to produce the asymmetrical brachiocephalic arteries as seen in the adult. A complex interaction between the tissues of the pharyngeal arches and the genes they express is required to ensure that arterial formation and remodeling is able to proceed normally. If this process is disrupted, life-threatening congenital cardiovascular malformations can occur, such as interruption of the aortic arch, isolation of individual arteries, or so-called vascular rings. Here, using state-of-the-art imaging techniques, we describe the morphogenesis of the arteries in humans and mice and the cardiovascular defects in the Tbx1 mutant mouse model. We provide details of the process of remodeling, clarifying also the morphogenesis of the external carotid artery and the so-called "migration" of the left subclavian artery.
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Ioannou E, Ruhrberg C. Whole-Mount Immunofluorescence Protocol for 3D Imaging, Reconstruction, and Quantification of Fourth Pharyngeal Arch Artery Formation. METHODS IN MOLECULAR BIOLOGY (CLIFTON, N.J.) 2022; 2441:41-62. [PMID: 35099727 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-2059-5_4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
Pharyngeal arch arteries (PAA) are formed early during mouse embryogenesis and remodel soon thereafter into the aortic arch arteries. Failure of these vessels to form or remodel results in congenital heart defects. This protocol is designed to study the formation of the PAA using whole-mount immunofluorescence staining, followed by tissue clearing with benzyl alcohol/benzyl benzoate (BAAB) and imaging by confocal microscopy. The fine cellular resolution obtained with this technique allows the embryonic vasculature of the pharyngeal arch artery endothelium to be visualized by surface rendering and quantitatively analyzed by counting the number of endothelial cells in both the PAA and the vascular plexus surrounding them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena Ioannou
- UCL Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London, London, UK
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13
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Magaletta ME, Lobo M, Kernfeld EM, Aliee H, Huey JD, Parsons TJ, Theis FJ, Maehr R. Integration of single-cell transcriptomes and chromatin landscapes reveals regulatory programs driving pharyngeal organ development. Nat Commun 2022; 13:457. [PMID: 35075189 PMCID: PMC8786836 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-28067-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Maldevelopment of the pharyngeal endoderm, an embryonic tissue critical for patterning of the pharyngeal region and ensuing organogenesis, ultimately contributes to several classes of human developmental syndromes and disorders. Such syndromes are characterized by a spectrum of phenotypes that currently cannot be fully explained by known mutations or genetic variants due to gaps in characterization of critical drivers of normal and dysfunctional development. Despite the disease-relevance of pharyngeal endoderm, we still lack a comprehensive and integrative view of the molecular basis and gene regulatory networks driving pharyngeal endoderm development. To close this gap, we apply transcriptomic and chromatin accessibility single-cell sequencing technologies to generate a multi-omic developmental resource spanning pharyngeal endoderm patterning to the emergence of organ-specific epithelia in the developing mouse embryo. We identify cell-type specific gene regulation, distill GRN models that define developing organ domains, and characterize the role of an immunodeficiency-associated forkhead box transcription factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Margaret E Magaletta
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Macrina Lobo
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Eric M Kernfeld
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Hananeh Aliee
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Jack D Huey
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Teagan J Parsons
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Fabian J Theis
- Institute of Computational Biology, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
- Department of Mathematics, Technische Universität München, Munich, Germany
- School of Life Sciences Weihenstephan, Technische Universität München, Freising, Germany
| | - René Maehr
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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14
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Farrar EJ, Hiriart E, Mahmut A, Jagla B, Peal DS, Milan DJ, Butcher JT, Puceat M. OCT4-mediated inflammation induces cell reprogramming at the origin of cardiac valve development and calcification. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabf7910. [PMID: 34739324 PMCID: PMC8570594 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf7910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Cell plasticity plays a key role in embryos by maintaining the differentiation potential of progenitors. Whether postnatal somatic cells revert to an embryonic-like naïve state regaining plasticity and redifferentiate into a cell type leading to a disease remains intriguing. Using genetic lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, we reveal that Oct4 is induced by nuclear factor κB (NFκB) at embyronic day 9.5 in a subset of mouse endocardial cells originating from the anterior heart forming field at the onset of endocardial-to-mesenchymal transition. These cells acquired a chondro-osteogenic fate. OCT4 in adult valvular aortic cells leads to calcification of mouse and human valves. These calcifying cells originate from the Oct4 embryonic lineage. Genetic deletion of Pou5f1 (Pit-Oct-Unc, OCT4) in the endocardial cell lineage prevents aortic stenosis and calcification of ApoE−/− mouse valve. We established previously unidentified self-cell reprogramming NFκB- and OCT4-mediated inflammatory pathway triggering a dose-dependent mechanism of valve calcification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Farrar
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Emilye Hiriart
- INSERM U1251, Aix-Marseille University, MMG, Marseille, France
| | - Ablajan Mahmut
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Bernd Jagla
- Pasteur Institute, Cytometry and Biomarkers Unit of Technology and Service, C2RT, & Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique–Département Biologie Computationnelle, Paris, France
| | - David S. Peal
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - David J. Milan
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jonathan T. Butcher
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Corresponding author. (M.P.); (J.B.)
| | - Michel Puceat
- INSERM U1251, Aix-Marseille University, MMG, Marseille, France
- Corresponding author. (M.P.); (J.B.)
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15
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Khasawneh RR, Kist R, Queen R, Hussain R, Coxhead J, Schneider JE, Mohun TJ, Zaffran S, Peters H, Phillips HM, Bamforth SD. Msx1 haploinsufficiency modifies the Pax9-deficient cardiovascular phenotype. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2021; 21:14. [PMID: 34615475 PMCID: PMC8493722 DOI: 10.1186/s12861-021-00245-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Successful embryogenesis relies on the coordinated interaction between genes and tissues. The transcription factors Pax9 and Msx1 genetically interact during mouse craniofacial morphogenesis, and mice deficient for either gene display abnormal tooth and palate development. Pax9 is expressed specifically in the pharyngeal endoderm at mid-embryogenesis, and mice deficient for Pax9 on a C57Bl/6 genetic background also have cardiovascular defects affecting the outflow tract and aortic arch arteries giving double-outlet right ventricle, absent common carotid arteries and interruption of the aortic arch. RESULTS In this study we have investigated both the effect of a different genetic background and Msx1 haploinsufficiency on the presentation of the Pax9-deficient cardiovascular phenotype. Compared to mice on a C57Bl/6 background, congenic CD1-Pax9-/- mice displayed a significantly reduced incidence of outflow tract defects but aortic arch defects were unchanged. Pax9-/- mice with Msx1 haploinsufficiency, however, have a reduced incidence of interrupted aortic arch, but more cases with cervical origins of the right subclavian artery and aortic arch, than seen in Pax9-/- mice. This alteration in arch artery defects was accompanied by a rescue in third pharyngeal arch neural crest cell migration and smooth muscle cell coverage of the third pharyngeal arch arteries. Although this change in phenotype could theoretically be compatible with post-natal survival, using tissue-specific inactivation of Pax9 to maintain correct palate development whilst inducing the cardiovascular defects was unable to prevent postnatal death in the mutant mice. Hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage formation were abnormal in Pax9-/- mice. CONCLUSIONS Msx1 haploinsufficiency mitigates the arch artery defects in Pax9-/- mice, potentially by maintaining the survival of the 3rd arch artery through unimpaired migration of neural crest cells to the third pharyngeal arches. With the neural crest cell derived hyoid bone and thyroid cartilage also being defective in Pax9-/- mice, we speculate that the pharyngeal endoderm is a key signalling centre that impacts on neural crest cell behaviour highlighting the ability of cells in different tissues to act synergistically or antagonistically during embryo development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ramada R. Khasawneh
- grid.419328.50000 0000 9225 6820Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ UK ,grid.14440.350000 0004 0622 5497Present Address: Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, Yarmouk University, Irbid, Jordan
| | - Ralf Kist
- grid.419328.50000 0000 9225 6820Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ UK ,grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212School of Dental Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE2 4BW UK
| | - Rachel Queen
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212Bioinformatics Support Unit, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ UK
| | - Rafiqul Hussain
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212Genomics Core Facility, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ UK
| | - Jonathan Coxhead
- grid.1006.70000 0001 0462 7212Genomics Core Facility, Newcastle University, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ UK
| | - Jürgen E. Schneider
- grid.9909.90000 0004 1936 8403Biomedical Imaging, University of Leeds, Leeds, LS2 9JT UK
| | - Timothy J. Mohun
- grid.451388.30000 0004 1795 1830The Francis Crick Institute, London, NW1 1AT UK
| | - Stéphane Zaffran
- grid.5399.60000 0001 2176 4817INSERM, Marseille Medical Genetics, U1251, Aix Marseille University, Marseille, France
| | - Heiko Peters
- grid.419328.50000 0000 9225 6820Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ UK
| | - Helen M. Phillips
- grid.419328.50000 0000 9225 6820Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ UK
| | - Simon D. Bamforth
- grid.419328.50000 0000 9225 6820Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle, NE1 3BZ UK
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16
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Jiang X, Li T, Liu S, Fu Q, Li F, Chen S, Sun K, Xu R, Xu Y. Variants in a cis-regulatory element of TBX1 in conotruncal heart defect patients impair GATA6-mediated transactivation. Orphanet J Rare Dis 2021; 16:334. [PMID: 34332615 PMCID: PMC8325851 DOI: 10.1186/s13023-021-01981-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 07/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background TBX1 (T-box transcription factor 1) is a major candidate gene that likely contributes to the etiology of velo-cardio-facial syndrome/DiGeorge syndrome (VCFS/DGS). Although the haploinsufficiency of TBX1 in both mice and humans results in congenital cardiac malformations, little has been elucidated about its upstream regulation. We aimed to explore the transcriptional regulation and dysregulation of TBX1. Methods Different TBX1 promoter reporters were constructed. Luciferase assays and electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) were used to identify a cis-regulatory element within the TBX1 promoter region and its trans-acting factor. The expression of proteins was identified by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescence. Variants in the cis-regulatory element were screened in conotruncal defect (CTD) patients. In vitro functional assays were performed to show the effects of the variants found in CTD patients on the transactivation of TBX1. Results We identified a cis-regulatory element within intron 1 of TBX1 that was found to be responsive to GATA6 (GATA binding protein 6), a transcription factor crucial for cardiogenesis. The expression patterns of GATA6 and TBX1 overlapped in the pharyngeal arches of human embryos. Transfection experiments and EMSA indicated that GATA6 could activate the transcription of TBX1 by directly binding with its GATA cis-regulatory element in vitro. Furthermore, sequencing analyses of 195 sporadic CTD patients without the 22q11.2 deletion or duplication identified 3 variants (NC_000022.11:g.19756832C > G, NC_000022.11:g.19756845C > T, and NC_000022.11:g. 19756902G > T) in the non-coding cis-regulatory element of TBX1. Luciferase assays showed that all 3 variants led to reduced transcription of TBX1 when incubated with GATA6. Conclusions Our findings showed that TBX1 might be a direct transcriptional target of GATA6, and variants in the non-coding cis-regulatory element of TBX1 disrupted GATA6-mediated transactivation. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13023-021-01981-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuechao Jiang
- Scientific Research Center, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Tingting Li
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Sijie Liu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Qihua Fu
- Medical Laboratory, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine , Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Fen Li
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Shanghai Children's Medical Center, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Sun Chen
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Kun Sun
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Rang Xu
- Scientific Research Center, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Yuejuan Xu
- Department of Pediatric Cardiology, Xinhua Hospital, Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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17
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Kalisch-Smith JI, Ved N, Szumska D, Munro J, Troup M, Harris SE, Rodriguez-Caro H, Jacquemot A, Miller JJ, Stuart EM, Wolna M, Hardman E, Prin F, Lana-Elola E, Aoidi R, Fisher EMC, Tybulewicz VLJ, Mohun TJ, Lakhal-Littleton S, De Val S, Giannoulatou E, Sparrow DB. Maternal iron deficiency perturbs embryonic cardiovascular development in mice. Nat Commun 2021; 12:3447. [PMID: 34103494 PMCID: PMC8187484 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-23660-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Congenital heart disease (CHD) is the most common class of human birth defects, with a prevalence of 0.9% of births. However, two-thirds of cases have an unknown cause, and many of these are thought to be caused by in utero exposure to environmental teratogens. Here we identify a potential teratogen causing CHD in mice: maternal iron deficiency (ID). We show that maternal ID in mice causes severe cardiovascular defects in the offspring. These defects likely arise from increased retinoic acid signalling in ID embryos. The defects can be prevented by iron administration in early pregnancy. It has also been proposed that teratogen exposure may potentiate the effects of genetic predisposition to CHD through gene-environment interaction. Here we show that maternal ID increases the severity of heart and craniofacial defects in a mouse model of Down syndrome. It will be important to understand if the effects of maternal ID seen here in mice may have clinical implications for women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacinta I Kalisch-Smith
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Nikita Ved
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Dorota Szumska
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jacob Munro
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Molecular, Structural and Computational Biology Division, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Michael Troup
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Molecular, Structural and Computational Biology Division, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Shelley E Harris
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Institute of Developmental Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Helena Rodriguez-Caro
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Aimée Jacquemot
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Ealing Hospital, London, UK
| | - Jack J Miller
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Physics, Clarendon Laboratory, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Oxford Centre for Clinical Magnetic Resonance Research, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford, UK
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Eleanor M Stuart
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Magda Wolna
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Emily Hardman
- Heart Development Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, University of Manchester, Manchester, UK
| | - Fabrice Prin
- Heart Development Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Advanced Light Microscopy Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Eva Lana-Elola
- Immune Cell Biology and Down Syndrome Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Rifdat Aoidi
- Immune Cell Biology and Down Syndrome Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | | | - Victor L J Tybulewicz
- Immune Cell Biology and Down Syndrome Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Imperial College London, London, UK
| | - Timothy J Mohun
- Heart Development Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Samira Lakhal-Littleton
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sarah De Val
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research Limited, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Eleni Giannoulatou
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute, Molecular, Structural and Computational Biology Division, Sydney, NSW, Australia
- St Vincent's Clinical School, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Duncan B Sparrow
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, BHF Centre of Research Excellence, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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18
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert G Kelly
- Aix Marseille University, CNRS UMR 7288, IBDM, Marseille, France
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19
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Farley-Barnes KI, Deniz E, Overton MM, Khokha MK, Baserga SJ. Paired Box 9 (PAX9), the RNA polymerase II transcription factor, regulates human ribosome biogenesis and craniofacial development. PLoS Genet 2020; 16:e1008967. [PMID: 32813698 PMCID: PMC7437866 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1008967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulation of ribosome production can lead to a number of developmental disorders called ribosomopathies. Despite the ubiquitous requirement for these cellular machines used in protein synthesis, ribosomopathies manifest in a tissue-specific manner, with many affecting the development of the face. Here we reveal yet another connection between craniofacial development and making ribosomes through the protein Paired Box 9 (PAX9). PAX9 functions as an RNA Polymerase II transcription factor to regulate the expression of proteins required for craniofacial and tooth development in humans. We now expand this function of PAX9 by demonstrating that PAX9 acts outside of the cell nucleolus to regulate the levels of proteins critical for building the small subunit of the ribosome. This function of PAX9 is conserved to the organism Xenopus tropicalis, an established model for human ribosomopathies. Depletion of pax9 leads to craniofacial defects due to abnormalities in neural crest development, a result consistent with that found for depletion of other ribosome biogenesis factors. This work highlights an unexpected layer of how the making of ribosomes is regulated in human cells and during embryonic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katherine I. Farley-Barnes
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Engin Deniz
- Pediatric Genomics Discovery Program, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Maya M. Overton
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Mustafa K. Khokha
- Pediatric Genomics Discovery Program, Department of Pediatrics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
| | - Susan J. Baserga
- Department of Molecular Biophysics & Biochemistry, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Genetics, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- Department of Therapeutic Radiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Johnson AL, Schneider JE, Mohun TJ, Williams T, Bhattacharya S, Henderson DJ, Phillips HM, Bamforth SD. Early Embryonic Expression of AP-2α Is Critical for Cardiovascular Development. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2020; 7:jcdd7030027. [PMID: 32717817 PMCID: PMC7570199 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd7030027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Revised: 07/16/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital cardiovascular malformation is a common birth defect incorporating abnormalities of the outflow tract and aortic arch arteries, and mice deficient in the transcription factor AP-2α (Tcfap2a) present with complex defects affecting these structures. AP-2α is expressed in the pharyngeal surface ectoderm and neural crest at mid-embryogenesis in the mouse, but the precise tissue compartment in which AP-2α is required for cardiovascular development has not been identified. In this study we describe the fully penetrant AP-2α deficient cardiovascular phenotype on a C57Bl/6J genetic background and show that this is associated with increased apoptosis in the pharyngeal ectoderm. Neural crest cell migration into the pharyngeal arches was not affected. Cre-expressing transgenic mice were used in conjunction with an AP-2α conditional allele to examine the effect of deleting AP-2α from the pharyngeal surface ectoderm and the neural crest, either individually or in combination, as well as the second heart field. This, surprisingly, was unable to fully recapitulate the global AP-2α deficient cardiovascular phenotype. The outflow tract and arch artery phenotype was, however, recapitulated through early embryonic Cre-mediated recombination. These findings indicate that AP-2α has a complex influence on cardiovascular development either being required very early in embryogenesis and/or having a redundant function in many tissue layers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy-Leigh Johnson
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK; (A.-L.J.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | | | | | - Trevor Williams
- Department of Craniofacial Biology, University of Colorado Anshutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA;
| | - Shoumo Bhattacharya
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, University of Oxford, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK;
| | - Deborah J. Henderson
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK; (A.-L.J.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | - Helen M. Phillips
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK; (A.-L.J.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | - Simon D. Bamforth
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle NE1 3BZ, UK; (A.-L.J.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-191-241-8764
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21
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Stothard CA, Mazzotta S, Vyas A, Schneider JE, Mohun TJ, Henderson DJ, Phillips HM, Bamforth SD. Pax9 and Gbx2 Interact in the Pharyngeal Endoderm to Control Cardiovascular Development. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2020; 7:jcdd7020020. [PMID: 32466118 PMCID: PMC7344924 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd7020020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The correct formation of the aortic arch arteries depends on a coordinated and regulated gene expression profile within the tissues of the pharyngeal arches. Perturbation of the gene regulatory networks in these tissues results in congenital heart defects affecting the arch arteries and the outflow tract of the heart. Aberrant development of these structures leads to interruption of the aortic arch and double outlet right ventricle, abnormalities that are a leading cause of morbidity in 22q11 Deletion Syndrome (DS) patients. We have recently shown that Pax9 functionally interacts with the 22q11DS gene Tbx1 in the pharyngeal endoderm for 4th pharyngeal arch artery morphogenesis, with double heterozygous mice dying at birth with interrupted aortic arch. Mice lacking Pax9 die perinatally with complex cardiovascular defects and in this study we sought to validate further potential genetic interacting partners of Pax9, focussing on Gbx2 which is down-regulated in the pharyngeal endoderm of Pax9-null embryos. Here, we describe the Gbx2-null cardiovascular phenotype and demonstrate a genetic interaction between Gbx2 and Pax9 in the pharyngeal endoderm during cardiovascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine A. Stothard
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK; (C.A.S.); (S.M.); (A.V.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | - Silvia Mazzotta
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK; (C.A.S.); (S.M.); (A.V.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | - Arjun Vyas
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK; (C.A.S.); (S.M.); (A.V.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | | | | | - Deborah J. Henderson
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK; (C.A.S.); (S.M.); (A.V.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | - Helen M. Phillips
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK; (C.A.S.); (S.M.); (A.V.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
| | - Simon D. Bamforth
- Newcastle University Biosciences Institute, Centre for Life, Newcastle-upon-Tyne NE1 3BZ, UK; (C.A.S.); (S.M.); (A.V.); (D.J.H.); (H.M.P.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +44-191-241-8764
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22
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Ramirez A, Astrof S. Visualization and Analysis of Pharyngeal Arch Arteries using Whole-mount Immunohistochemistry and 3D Reconstruction. J Vis Exp 2020. [PMID: 32310236 DOI: 10.3791/60797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Improper formation or remodeling of the pharyngeal arch arteries (PAAs) 3, 4, and 6 contribute to some of the most severe forms of congenital heart disease. To study the formation of PAAs, we developed a protocol using whole-mount immunofluorescence coupled with benzyl alcohol/benzyl benzoate (BABB) tissue clearing, and confocal microscopy. This allows for the visualization of the pharyngeal arch endothelium at a fine cellular resolution as well as the 3D connectivity of the vasculature. Using software, we have established a protocol to quantify the number of endothelial cells (ECs) in PAAs, as well as the number of ECs within the vascular plexus surrounding the PAAs within pharyngeal arches 3, 4, and 6. When applied to the whole embryo, this methodology provides a comprehensive visualization and quantitative analysis of embryonic vasculature.
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Affiliation(s)
- AnnJosette Ramirez
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences; Multidisciplinary PhD Program in Biomedical Sciences: Cell Biology, Neuroscience and Physiology Track, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences
| | - Sophie Astrof
- Department of Cell Biology and Molecular Medicine, New Jersey Medical School, Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences;
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