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Zhang YF, Zhang S, Ling Q, Chang W, Tan LL, Zhang J, Xiong YW, Zhu HL, Bian P, Wang H. Activation of lipophagy ameliorates cadmium-induced neural tube defects via reducing low density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in mouse placentas. Cell Biol Toxicol 2024; 40:35. [PMID: 38771546 PMCID: PMC11108957 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-024-09885-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/15/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024]
Abstract
Neural tube defects (NTDs) represent a prevalent and severe category of congenital anomalies in humans. Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental teratogen known to cause fetal NTDs. However, its underlying mechanisms remain elusive. This study aims to investigate the therapeutic potential of lipophagy in the treatment of NTDs, providing valuable insights for future strategies targeting lipophagy activation as a means to mitigate NTDs.We successfully modeled NTDs by Cd exposure during pregnancy. RNA sequencing was employed to investigate the transcriptomic alterations and functional enrichment of differentially expressed genes in NTD placental tissues. Subsequently, pharmacological/genetic (Atg5-/- placentas) experiments confirmed that inducing placental lipophagy can alleviate Cd induced-NTDs. We found that Cd exposure caused NTDs. Further analyzed transcriptomic data from the placentas with NTDs which revealed significant downregulation of low-density lipoprotein receptor associated protein 1(Lrp1) gene expression responsible for positive regulation of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) transport. Correspondingly, there was an increase in maternal serum/placenta/amniotic fluid LDL-C content. Subsequently, we have discovered that Cd exposure activated placental lipophagy. Pharmacological/genetic (Atg5-/- placentas) experiments confirmed that inducing placental lipophagy can alleviate Cd induced-NTDs. Furthermore, our findings demonstrate that activation of placental lipophagy effectively counteracts the Cd-induced elevation in LDL-C levels. Lipophagy serves to mitigate Cd-induced NTDs by reducing LDL-C levels within mouse placentas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Feng Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
- Teaching and Research Section of Nuclear Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Shuang Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
| | - Qing Ling
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
| | - Wei Chang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
| | - Lu-Lu Tan
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
| | - Jin Zhang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
| | - Yong-Wei Xiong
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
| | - Hua-Long Zhu
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China
| | - Po Bian
- Teaching and Research Section of Nuclear Medicine, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China
| | - Hua Wang
- Department of Toxicology, School of Public Health, Anhui Medical University, Hefei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Environmental Toxicology of Anhui Higher Education Institutes, Hefei, China.
- Key Laboratory of Population Health Across Life Cycle (Anhui Medical University), Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China, Hefei, China.
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Balashova OA, Panoutsopoulos AA, Visina O, Selhub J, Knoepfler PS, Borodinsky LN. Noncanonical function of folate through folate receptor 1 during neural tube formation. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1642. [PMID: 38388461 PMCID: PMC10883926 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45775-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 02/24/2024] Open
Abstract
Folate supplementation reduces the occurrence of neural tube defects (NTDs), birth defects consisting in the failure of the neural tube to form and close. The mechanisms underlying NTDs and their prevention by folate remain unclear. Here we show that folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) is necessary for the formation of neural tube-like structures in human-cell derived neural organoids. FOLR1 knockdown in neural organoids and in Xenopus laevis embryos leads to NTDs that are rescued by pteroate, a folate precursor that is unable to participate in metabolism. We demonstrate that FOLR1 interacts with and opposes the function of CD2-associated protein, molecule essential for apical endocytosis and turnover of C-cadherin in neural plate cells. In addition, folates increase Ca2+ transient frequency, suggesting that folate and FOLR1 signal intracellularly to regulate neural plate folding. This study identifies a mechanism of action of folate distinct from its vitamin function during neural tube formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olga A Balashova
- Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
| | - Alexios A Panoutsopoulos
- Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Olesya Visina
- Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Jacob Selhub
- Tufts-USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Paul S Knoepfler
- Department of Cell Biology & Human Anatomy, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA
| | - Laura N Borodinsky
- Department of Physiology & Membrane Biology, Shriners Hospitals for Children Northern California, University of California Davis, School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, 95817, USA.
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Saumweber E, Mzoughi S, Khadra A, Werberger A, Schumann S, Guccione E, Schmeisser MJ, Kühl SJ. Prdm15 acts upstream of Wnt4 signaling in anterior neural development of Xenopus laevis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1316048. [PMID: 38444828 PMCID: PMC10912572 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1316048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/07/2024] Open
Abstract
Mutations in PRDM15 lead to a syndromic form of holoprosencephaly (HPE) known as the Galloway-Mowat syndrome (GAMOS). While a connection between PRDM15, a zinc finger transcription factor, and WNT/PCP signaling has been established, there is a critical need to delve deeper into their contributions to early development and GAMOS pathogenesis. We used the South African clawed frog Xenopus laevis as the vertebrate model organism and observed that prdm15 was enriched in the tissues and organs affected in GAMOS. Furthermore, we generated a morpholino oligonucleotide-mediated prdm15 knockdown model showing that the depletion of Prdm15 leads to abnormal eye, head, and brain development, effectively recapitulating the anterior neural features in GAMOS. An analysis of the underlying molecular basis revealed a reduced expression of key genes associated with eye, head, and brain development. Notably, this reduction could be rescued by the introduction of wnt4 RNA, particularly during the induction of the respective tissues. Mechanistically, our data demonstrate that Prdm15 acts upstream of both canonical and non-canonical Wnt4 signaling during anterior neural development. Our findings describe severe ocular and anterior neural abnormalities upon Prdm15 depletion and elucidate the role of Prdm15 in canonical and non-canonical Wnt4 signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ernestine Saumweber
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Slim Mzoughi
- Center of OncoGenomics and Innovative Therapeutics (COGIT), Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New-York, NY, United States
| | - Arin Khadra
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Anja Werberger
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
| | - Sven Schumann
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Center of OncoGenomics and Innovative Therapeutics (COGIT), Department of Oncological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New-York, NY, United States
| | - Michael J. Schmeisser
- Institute of Anatomy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
- Focus Program Translational Neurosciences, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Susanne J. Kühl
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, Ulm, Germany
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Liang Y, Zhong G, Li Y, Ren M, Wang A, Ying M, Liu C, Guo Y, Zhang D. Comprehensive Analysis and Experimental Validation of the Parkinson's Disease Lysosomal Gene ACP2 and Pan-cancer. Biochem Genet 2024:10.1007/s10528-023-10652-x. [PMID: 38310198 DOI: 10.1007/s10528-023-10652-x] [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: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
The pivotal role of lysosomal function in preserving neuronal homeostasis is recognized, with its dysfunction being implicated in neurodegenerative processes, notably in Parkinson's disease (PD). Yet, the molecular underpinnings of lysosome-related genes (LRGs) in the context of PD remain partially elucidated. We collected RNA-seq data from the brain substantia nigra of 30 PD patients and 20 normal subjects from the GEO database. We obtained molecular classification clusters from the screened lysosomal expression patterns. The lysosome-related diagnostic model of Parkinson's disease was constructed by XGBoost and Random Forest. And we validated the expression patterns of signature LRGs in the diagnostic model by constructing a PD rat model. Finally, the linkage between PD and cancer through signature genes was explored. The expression patterns of the 33 LRGs screened can be divided into two groups of PD samples, enabling exploration of the variance in biological processes and immune elements. Cluster A had a higher disease severity. Subsequently, critical genes were sieved through the application of machine learning methodologies culminating in the identification of two intersecting feature genes (ACP2 and LRP2). A PD risk prediction model was constructed grounded on these signature genes. The model's validity was assessed through nomogram evaluation, which demonstrated robust confidence validity. Then we analyzed the correlation analysis, immune in-filtration, biological function, and rat expression validation of the two genes with common pathogenic genes in Parkinson's disease, indicating that these two genes play an important role in the pathogenesis of PD. We then selected ACP2, which had a significant immune infiltration correlation, as the entry gene for the pan-cancer analysis. The pan-cancer analysis revealed that ACP2 has profound associations with prognostic indicators, immune infiltration, and tumor-related regulatory processes across various neoplasms, suggesting its potential as a therapeutic target in a range of human diseases, including PD and cancers. Our study comprehensively analyzed the molecular grouping of LRGs expression patterns in Parkinson's disease, and the disease progression was more severe in cluster A. And the PD diagnosis model related to LRGs is constructed. Finally, ACP2 is a potential target for the relationship between Parkinson's disease and tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Liang
- School of Clinical Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233000, China
| | - Guangshang Zhong
- School of Clinical Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233000, China
| | - Yangyang Li
- School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233000, China
| | - Mingxin Ren
- School of Clinical Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233000, China
| | - Ao Wang
- School of Clinical Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233000, China
| | - Mengjiao Ying
- School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233000, China
| | - Changqing Liu
- School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233000, China.
| | - Yu Guo
- School of Clinical Medicine, School of Laboratory Medicine, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233000, China.
- School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233000, China.
| | - Ding Zhang
- School of Life Sciences, Bengbu Medical College, Bengbu, 233000, China.
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Paul A, Lawlor A, Cunanan K, Gaheer PS, Kalra A, Napoleone M, Lanktree MB, Bridgewater D. The Good and the Bad of SHROOM3 in Kidney Development and Disease: A Narrative Review. Can J Kidney Health Dis 2023; 10:20543581231212038. [PMID: 38107159 PMCID: PMC10722951 DOI: 10.1177/20543581231212038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2023] [Accepted: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose of review Multiple large-scale genome-wide association meta-analyses studies have reliably identified an association between genetic variants within the SHROOM3 gene and chronic kidney disease. This association extends to alterations in known markers of kidney disease including baseline estimated glomerular filtration rate, urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, and blood urea nitrogen. Yet, an understanding of the molecular mechanisms behind the association of SHROOM3 and kidney disease remains poorly communicated. We conducted a narrative review to summarize the current state of literature regarding the genetic and molecular relationships between SHROOM3 and kidney development and disease. Sources of information PubMed, PubMed Central, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases, as well as review of references from relevant studies and independent Google Scholar searches to fill gaps in knowledge. Methods A comprehensive narrative review was conducted to explore the molecular mechanisms underlying SHROOM3 and kidney development, function, and disease. Key findings SHROOM3 is a unique protein, as it is the only member of the SHROOM group of proteins that regulates actin dynamics through apical constriction and apicobasal cell elongation. It holds a dichotomous role in the kidney, as subtle alterations in SHROOM3 expression and function can be both pathological and protective toward kidney disease. Genome-wide association studies have identified genetic variants near the transcription start site of the SHROOM3 gene associated with chronic kidney disease. SHROOM3 also appears to protect the glomerular structure and function in conditions such as focal segmental glomerulosclerosis. However, little is known about the exact mechanisms by which this protection occurs, which is why SHROOM3 binding partners remain an opportunity for further investigation. Limitations Our search was limited to English articles. No structured assessment of study quality was performed, and selection bias of included articles may have occurred. As we discuss future directions and opportunities, this narrative review reflects the academic views of the authors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amy Paul
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Allison Lawlor
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Kristina Cunanan
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Pukhraj S. Gaheer
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Aditya Kalra
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Melody Napoleone
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Matthew B. Lanktree
- Department of Health Research Methods, Evidence, and Impact, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton, ON, Canada
- Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Darren Bridgewater
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
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6
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Keuls RA, Finnell RH, Parchem RJ. Maternal metabolism influences neural tube closure. Trends Endocrinol Metab 2023; 34:539-553. [PMID: 37468429 PMCID: PMC10529122 DOI: 10.1016/j.tem.2023.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 06/14/2023] [Accepted: 06/19/2023] [Indexed: 07/21/2023]
Abstract
Changes in maternal nutrient availability due to diet or disease significantly increase the risk of neural tube defects (NTDs). Because the incidence of metabolic disease continues to rise, it is urgent that we better understand how altered maternal nutrient levels can influence embryonic neural tube development. Furthermore, primary neurulation occurs before placental function during a period of histiotrophic nutrient exchange. In this review we detail how maternal metabolites are transported by the yolk sac to the developing embryo. We discuss recent advances in understanding how altered maternal levels of essential nutrients disrupt development of the neuroepithelium, and identify points of intersection between metabolic pathways that are crucial for NTD prevention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel A Keuls
- Development, Disease Models, and Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine. Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Richard H Finnell
- Departments of Molecular and Human Genetics and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Precision Environmental Health, Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology and Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ronald J Parchem
- Development, Disease Models, and Therapeutics Graduate Program, Baylor College of Medicine. Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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7
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Balashova OA, Panoutsopoulos AA, Visina O, Selhub J, Knoepfler PS, Borodinsky LN. Non-canonical function of folate/folate receptor 1 during neural tube formation. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.07.19.549718. [PMID: 37503108 PMCID: PMC10370062 DOI: 10.1101/2023.07.19.549718] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/29/2023]
Abstract
Folate supplementation reduces the occurrence of neural tube defects, one of the most common and serious birth defects, consisting in the failure of the neural tube to form and close early in pregnancy. The mechanisms underlying neural tube defects and folate action during neural tube formation remain unclear. Here we show that folate receptor 1 (FOLR1) is necessary for the formation of neural tube-like structures in human-cell derived neural organoids. Knockdown of FOLR1 in human neural organoids as well as in the Xenopus laevis in vivo model leads to neural tube defects that are rescued by pteroate, a folate precursor that binds to FOLR1 but is unable to participate in metabolic pathways. We demonstrate that FOLR1 interacts with and opposes the function of CD2-associated protein (CD2AP), a molecule that we find is essential for apical endocytosis and the spatiotemporal turnover of the cell adherens junction component C-cadherin in neural plate cells. The counteracting action of FOLR1 on these processes is mediated by regulating CD2AP protein level via a degradation-dependent mechanism. In addition, folate and pteroate increase Ca 2+ transient frequency in the neural plate in a FOLR1-dependent manner, suggesting that folate/FOLR1 signal intracellularly to regulate neural plate folding. This study identifies a mechanism of action of folate distinct from its vitamin function during neural tube formation.
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8
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Rasmussen MQ, Tindbæk G, Nielsen MM, Merrild C, Steiniche T, Pedersen JS, Moestrup SK, Degn SE, Madsen M. Epigenetic Silencing of LRP2 Is Associated with Dedifferentiation and Poor Survival in Multiple Solid Tumor Types. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15061830. [PMID: 36980716 PMCID: PMC10046670 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15061830] [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: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/30/2023] Open
Abstract
More than 80% of human cancers originate in epithelial tissues. Loss of epithelial cell characteristics are hallmarks of tumor development. Receptor-mediated endocytosis is a key function of absorptive epithelial cells with importance for cellular and organismal homeostasis. LRP2 (megalin) is the largest known endocytic membrane receptor and is essential for endocytosis of various ligands in specialized epithelia, including the proximal tubules of the kidney, the thyroid gland, and breast glandular epithelium. However, the role and regulation of LRP2 in cancers that arise from these tissues has not been delineated. Here, we examined the expression of LRP2 across 33 cancer types in The Cancer Genome Atlas. As expected, the highest levels of LRP2 were found in cancer types that arise from LRP2-expressing absorptive epithelial cells. However, in a subset of tumors from these cancer types, we observed epigenetic silencing of LRP2. LRP2 expression showed a strong inverse correlation to methylation of a specific CpG site (cg02361027) in the first intron of the LRP2 gene. Interestingly, low expression of LRP2 was associated with poor patient outcome in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, papillary renal cell carcinoma, mesothelioma, papillary thyroid carcinoma, and invasive breast carcinoma. Furthermore, loss of LRP2 expression was associated with dedifferentiated histological and molecular subtypes of these cancers. These observations now motivate further studies on the functional role of LRP2 in tumors of epithelial origin and the potential use of LRP2 as a cancer biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Gitte Tindbæk
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Horsens Regional Hospital, 8700 Horsens, Denmark
| | - Morten Muhlig Nielsen
- Department of Molecular Medicine (MOMA), Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Camilla Merrild
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Torben Steiniche
- Department of Pathology, Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Jakob Skou Pedersen
- Department of Molecular Medicine (MOMA), Aarhus University Hospital, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Aarhus University, 8200 Aarhus, Denmark
- Bioinformatics Research Center (BiRC), Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Søren K Moestrup
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark
| | - Søren E Degn
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Mette Madsen
- Department of Biomedicine, Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus, Denmark
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9
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Yoon J, Sun J, Lee M, Hwang YS, Daar IO. Wnt4 and ephrinB2 instruct apical constriction via Dishevelled and non-canonical signaling. Nat Commun 2023; 14:337. [PMID: 36670115 PMCID: PMC9860048 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35991-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Apical constriction is a cell shape change critical to vertebrate neural tube closure, and the contractile force required for this process is generated by actin-myosin networks. The signaling cue that instructs this process has remained elusive. Here, we identify Wnt4 and the transmembrane ephrinB2 protein as playing an instructive role in neural tube closure as members of a signaling complex we termed WERDS (Wnt4, EphrinB2, Ror2, Dishevelled (Dsh2), and Shroom3). Disruption of function or interaction among members of the WERDS complex results in defects of apical constriction and neural tube closure. The mechanism of action involves an interaction of ephrinB2 with the Dsh2 scaffold protein that enhances the formation of the WERDS complex, which in turn, activates Rho-associated kinase to induce apical constriction. Moreover, the ephrinB2/Dsh2 interaction promotes non-canonical Wnt signaling and shows how cross-talk between two major signal transduction pathways, Eph/ephrin and Wnt, coordinate morphogenesis of the neural tube.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaeho Yoon
- Cancer & Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA.
| | - Jian Sun
- Cancer & Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Moonsup Lee
- Cancer & Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Yoo-Seok Hwang
- Cancer & Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA
| | - Ira O Daar
- Cancer & Developmental Biology Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Frederick, MD, 21702, USA.
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10
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Sokac AM, Biel N, De Renzis S. Membrane-actin interactions in morphogenesis: Lessons learned from Drosophila cellularization. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2023; 133:107-122. [PMID: 35396167 PMCID: PMC9532467 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2022.03.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/21/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
During morphogenesis, changes in the shapes of individual cells are harnessed to mold an entire tissue. These changes in cell shapes require the coupled remodeling of the plasma membrane and underlying actin cytoskeleton. In this review, we highlight cellularization of the Drosophila embryo as a model system to uncover principles of how membrane and actin dynamics are co-regulated in space and time to drive morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Marie Sokac
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Graduate Program in Integrative and Molecular Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Natalie Biel
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, Urbana, IL 61801, USA; Graduate Program in Integrative and Molecular Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Stefano De Renzis
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory Heidelberg, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
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11
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Bertol JW, Johnston S, Ahmed R, Xie VK, Hubka KM, Cruz L, Nitschke L, Stetsiv M, Goering JP, Nistor P, Lowell S, Hoskens H, Claes P, Weinberg SM, Saadi I, Farach-Carson MC, Fakhouri WD. TWIST1 interacts with β/δ-catenins during neural tube development and regulates fate transition in cranial neural crest cells. Development 2022; 149:dev200068. [PMID: 35781329 PMCID: PMC9440756 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/30/2022] [Indexed: 08/10/2023]
Abstract
Cell fate determination is a necessary and tightly regulated process for producing different cell types and structures during development. Cranial neural crest cells (CNCCs) are unique to vertebrate embryos and emerge from the neural plate borders into multiple cell lineages that differentiate into bone, cartilage, neurons and glial cells. We have previously reported that Irf6 genetically interacts with Twist1 during CNCC-derived tissue formation. Here, we have investigated the mechanistic role of Twist1 and Irf6 at early stages of craniofacial development. Our data indicate that TWIST1 is expressed in endocytic vesicles at the apical surface and interacts with β/δ-catenins during neural tube closure, and Irf6 is involved in defining neural fold borders by restricting AP2α expression. Twist1 suppresses Irf6 and other epithelial genes in CNCCs during the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process and cell migration. Conversely, a loss of Twist1 leads to a sustained expression of epithelial and cell adhesion markers in migratory CNCCs. Disruption of TWIST1 phosphorylation in vivo leads to epidermal blebbing, edema, neural tube defects and CNCC-derived structural abnormalities. Altogether, this study describes a previously uncharacterized function of mammalian Twist1 and Irf6 in the neural tube and CNCCs, and provides new target genes for Twist1 that are involved in cytoskeletal remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica W. Bertol
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Shelby Johnston
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Rabia Ahmed
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Victoria K. Xie
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Kelsea M. Hubka
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Lissette Cruz
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
| | - Larissa Nitschke
- Department of Pathology and Immunology,Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Marta Stetsiv
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Jeremy P. Goering
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Paul Nistor
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Sally Lowell
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine, Institute for Stem Cell Research, School of Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh, Little France Drive, Edinburgh EH16 4UU, UK
| | - Hanne Hoskens
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
- Medical Imaging Research Center, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Peter Claes
- Department of Electrical Engineering, ESAT/PSI, KU Leuven, Leuven 3001, Belgium
- Medical Imaging Research Center, UZ Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
- Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, Leuven 3000, Belgium
| | - Seth M. Weinberg
- Center for Craniofacial and Dental Genetics, Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15219
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, PA 15260, USA
| | - Irfan Saadi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, The University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA
| | - Mary C. Farach-Carson
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University, Houston, TX 77005, USA
| | - Walid D. Fakhouri
- Center for Craniofacial Research, Department of Diagnostic and Biomedical Sciences, School of Dentistry, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77054, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, McGovern Medical School, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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12
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Zhong G, Ahimaz P, Edwards NA, Hagen JJ, Faure C, Lu Q, Kingma P, Middlesworth W, Khlevner J, El Fiky M, Schindel D, Fialkowski E, Kashyap A, Forlenza S, Kenny AP, Zorn AM, Shen Y, Chung WK. Identification and validation of candidate risk genes in endocytic vesicular trafficking associated with esophageal atresia and tracheoesophageal fistulas. HGG ADVANCES 2022; 3:100107. [PMID: 35519826 PMCID: PMC9065433 DOI: 10.1016/j.xhgg.2022.100107] [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: 08/24/2021] [Accepted: 04/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Esophageal atresias/tracheoesophageal fistulas (EA/TEF) are rare congenital anomalies caused by aberrant development of the foregut. Previous studies indicate that rare or de novo genetic variants significantly contribute to EA/TEF risk, and most individuals with EA/TEF do not have pathogenic genetic variants in established risk genes. To identify the genetic contributions to EA/TEF, we performed whole genome sequencing of 185 trios (probands and parents) with EA/TEF, including 59 isolated and 126 complex cases with additional congenital anomalies and/or neurodevelopmental disorders. There was a significant burden of protein-altering de novo coding variants in complex cases (p = 3.3 × 10-4), especially in genes that are intolerant of loss-of-function variants in the population. We performed simulation analysis of pathway enrichment based on background mutation rate and identified a number of pathways related to endocytosis and intracellular trafficking that as a group have a significant burden of protein-altering de novo variants. We assessed 18 variants for disease causality using CRISPR-Cas9 mutagenesis in Xenopus and confirmed 13 with tracheoesophageal phenotypes. Our results implicate disruption of endosome-mediated epithelial remodeling as a potential mechanism of foregut developmental defects. Our results suggest significant genetic heterogeneity of EA/TEF and may have implications for the mechanisms of other rare congenital anomalies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guojie Zhong
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Integrated Program in Cellular, Molecular, and Biomedical Studies, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Priyanka Ahimaz
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Nicole A. Edwards
- Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Jacob J. Hagen
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christophe Faure
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, CHU Sainte-Justine, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Qiao Lu
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Paul Kingma
- Division of Neonatology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - William Middlesworth
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Julie Khlevner
- Division of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mahmoud El Fiky
- Pediatric Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - David Schindel
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, UT Southwestern School of Medicine Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Elizabeth Fialkowski
- Division of Pediatric Surgery, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA
| | - Adhish Kashyap
- Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Sophia Forlenza
- Division of Neonatology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Alan P. Kenny
- Division of Neonatology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Division of Pulmonary Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Aaron M. Zorn
- Center for Stem Cell & Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Yufeng Shen
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Wendy K. Chung
- Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
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13
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Matsuda M, Chu CW, Sokol SY. Lmo7 recruits myosin II heavy chain to regulate actomyosin contractility and apical domain size in Xenopus ectoderm. Development 2022; 149:275389. [PMID: 35451459 PMCID: PMC9188752 DOI: 10.1242/dev.200236] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT
Apical constriction, or a reduction in size of the apical domain, underlies many morphogenetic events during development. Actomyosin complexes play an essential role in apical constriction; however, the detailed analysis of molecular mechanisms is still pending. Here, we show that Lim domain only protein 7 (Lmo7), a multidomain adaptor at apical junctions, promotes apical constriction in the Xenopus superficial ectoderm, whereas apical domain size increases in Lmo7-depleted cells. Lmo7 is primarily localized at apical junctions and promotes the formation of the dense circumferential actomyosin belt. Strikingly, Lmo7 binds non-muscle myosin II (NMII) and recruits it to apical junctions and the apical cortex. This NMII recruitment is essential for Lmo7-mediated apical constriction. Lmo7 knockdown decreases NMIIA localization at apical junctions and delays neural tube closure in Xenopus embryos. Our findings suggest that Lmo7 serves as a scaffold that regulates actomyosin contractility and apical domain size.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miho Matsuda
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Chih-Wen Chu
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Sergei Y. Sokol
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
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14
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Baldwin AT, Kim J, Seo H, Wallingford JB. Global analysis of cell behavior and protein localization dynamics reveals region-specific functions for Shroom3 and N-cadherin during neural tube closure. eLife 2022; 11:66704. [PMID: 35244026 PMCID: PMC9010020 DOI: 10.7554/elife.66704] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Failures of neural tube closure are common and serious birth defects, yet we have a poor understanding of the interaction of genetics and cell biology during neural tube closure. Additionally, mutations that cause neural tube defects (NTDs) tend to affect anterior or posterior regions of the neural tube but rarely both, indicating a regional specificity to NTD genetics. To better understand the regional specificity of cell behaviors during neural tube closure, we analyzed the dynamic localization of actin and N-cadherin via high-resolution tissue-level time-lapse microscopy during Xenopus neural tube closure. To investigate the regionality of gene function, we generated mosaic mutations in shroom3, a key regulator or neural tube closure. This new analytical approach elucidates several differences between cell behaviors during cranial/anterior and spinal/posterior neural tube closure, provides mechanistic insight into the function of shroom3, and demonstrates the ability of tissue-level imaging and analysis to generate cell biological mechanistic insights into neural tube closure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Austin T Baldwin
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States
| | - Juliana Kim
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States
| | - Hyemin Seo
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States
| | - John B Wallingford
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Texas at Austin, Austin, United States
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15
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Petzold J, Gentleman E. Intrinsic Mechanical Cues and Their Impact on Stem Cells and Embryogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:761871. [PMID: 34820380 PMCID: PMC8606660 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.761871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Although understanding how soluble cues direct cellular processes revolutionised the study of cell biology in the second half of the 20th century, over the last two decades, new insights into how mechanical cues similarly impact cell fate decisions has gained momentum. During development, extrinsic cues such as fluid flow, shear stress and compressive forces are essential for normal embryogenesis to proceed. Indeed, both adult and embryonic stem cells can respond to applied forces, but they can also detect intrinsic mechanical cues from their surrounding environment, such as the stiffness of the extracellular matrix, which impacts differentiation and morphogenesis. Cells can detect changes in their mechanical environment using cell surface receptors such as integrins and focal adhesions. Moreover, dynamic rearrangements of the cytoskeleton have been identified as a key means by which forces are transmitted from the extracellular matrix to the cell and vice versa. Although we have some understanding of the downstream mechanisms whereby mechanical cues are translated into changes in cell behaviour, many of the signalling pathways remain to be defined. This review discusses the importance of intrinsic mechanical cues on adult cell fate decisions, the emerging roles of cell surface mechano-sensors and the cytoskeleton in enabling cells to sense its microenvironment, and the role of intracellular signalling in translating mechanical cues into transcriptional outputs. In addition, the contribution of mechanical cues to fundamental processes during embryogenesis such as apical constriction and convergent extension is discussed. The continued development of tools to measure the biomechanical properties of soft tissues in vivo is likely to uncover currently underestimated contributions of these cues to adult stem cell fate decisions and embryogenesis, and may inform on regenerative strategies for tissue repair.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonna Petzold
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Eileen Gentleman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
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16
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Mechanics of neural tube morphogenesis. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 130:56-69. [PMID: 34561169 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2021] [Revised: 09/07/2021] [Accepted: 09/10/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The neural tube is an important model system of morphogenesis representing the developmental module of out-of-plane epithelial deformation. As the embryonic precursor of the central nervous system, the neural tube also holds keys to many defects and diseases. Recent advances begin to reveal how genetic, cellular and environmental mechanisms work in concert to ensure correct neural tube shape. A physical model is emerging where these factors converge at the regulation of the mechanical forces and properties within and around the tissue that drive tube formation towards completion. Here we review the dynamics and mechanics of neural tube morphogenesis and discuss the underlying cellular behaviours from the viewpoint of tissue mechanics. We will also highlight some of the conceptual and technical next steps.
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17
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Mecklenburg N, Kowalczyk I, Witte F, Görne J, Laier A, Mamo TM, Gonschior H, Lehmann M, Richter M, Sporbert A, Purfürst B, Hübner N, Hammes A. Identification of disease-relevant modulators of the SHH pathway in the developing brain. Development 2021; 148:272000. [PMID: 34463328 DOI: 10.1242/dev.199307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2020] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Pathogenic gene variants in humans that affect the sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway lead to severe brain malformations with variable penetrance due to unknown modifier genes. To identify such modifiers, we established novel congenic mouse models. LRP2-deficient C57BL/6N mice suffer from heart outflow tract defects and holoprosencephaly caused by impaired SHH activity. These defects are fully rescued on a FVB/N background, indicating a strong influence of modifier genes. Applying comparative transcriptomics, we identified Pttg1 and Ulk4 as candidate modifiers upregulated in the rescue strain. Functional analyses showed that ULK4 and PTTG1, both microtubule-associated proteins, are positive regulators of SHH signaling, rendering the pathway more resilient to disturbances. In addition, we characterized ULK4 and PTTG1 as previously unidentified components of primary cilia in the neuroepithelium. The identification of genes that powerfully modulate the penetrance of genetic disturbances affecting the brain and heart is likely relevant to understanding the variability in human congenital disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nora Mecklenburg
- Disorders of the Nervous System, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Izabela Kowalczyk
- Disorders of the Nervous System, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Franziska Witte
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jessica Görne
- Disorders of the Nervous System, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Alena Laier
- Disorders of the Nervous System, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Tamrat M Mamo
- Disorders of the Nervous System, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Hannes Gonschior
- Cellular Imaging, Light Microscopy, Leibniz-Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Martin Lehmann
- Cellular Imaging, Light Microscopy, Leibniz-Research Institute for Molecular Pharmacology (FMP), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Richter
- Advanced Light Microscopy Technology Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Anje Sporbert
- Advanced Light Microscopy Technology Platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Bettina Purfürst
- Electron microscopy technology platform, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Norbert Hübner
- Cardiovascular and Metabolic Sciences, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany.,German Center for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), Partner Site Berlin, 10785 Berlin, Germany.,Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, 10117 Berlin, Germany.,Berlin Institute of Health (BIH), 10178 Berlin, Germany
| | - Annette Hammes
- Disorders of the Nervous System, Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association (MDC), 13125 Berlin, Germany
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