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Pasqui A, Cicaloni V, Tinti L, Guiotto A, Tinti C, Mori A, Bruttini M, Hayek J, Pecorelli A, Salvini L, Valacchi G. A proteomic approach to investigate the role of the MECP2 gene mutation in Rett syndrome redox regulatory pathways. Arch Biochem Biophys 2024; 752:109860. [PMID: 38110111 DOI: 10.1016/j.abb.2023.109860] [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: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/11/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Mutations in the X-linked methyl-CpG-binding 2 (MECP2) gene lead to Rett Syndrome (RTT; OMIM 312750), a devasting neurodevelopmental disorder. RTT clinical manifestations are complex and with different degrees of severity, going from autistic-like behavior to loss of acquired speech, motor skills and cardiac problems. Furthermore, the correlation between the type of MECP2 mutation and the clinical phenotype is still not fully understood. Contextually, different genotypes can differently affect the patient's phenotype and omics methodologies such as proteomics could be an important tool for a molecular characterization of genotype/phenotype correlation. The aim of our study was focused on evaluating RTT oxidative stress (OS) responses related to specific MECP2 gene mutations by using proteomics and bioinformatics approaches. Primary fibroblasts isolated from patients affected by R133C and R255× mutations were compared to healthy controls (HC). After clustering primary dermal fibroblasts based on their specific MECP2 mutations, fibroblast-derived protein samples were qualitative and quantitative analyzed, using a label free quantification (LFQ) analysis by mass spectrometry (MS), achieving a preliminary correlation for RTT genotype/phenotype. Among the identified proteins involved in redox regulation pathways, NAD(P)H:quinone acceptor oxidoreductase 1 (NQO1) was found to be absent in R255× cells, while it was present in R133C and in HC fibroblasts. Moreover, NQO1 aberrant gene regulation was also confirmed when cells were challenged with 100 μM hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In conclusion, by employing a multidisciplinary approach encompassing proteomics and bioinformatics analyses, as well as molecular biology assays, the study uncovered phenotypic responses linked to specific MECP2 gene mutations. These findings contribute to a better understanding of the complexity of RTT molecular pathways, confirming the high heterogeneity among the patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arianna Pasqui
- Toscana Life Science Foundation, Siena, Italy; Department of Biotechnology, Chemistry and Pharmacy, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy
| | | | - Laura Tinti
- Toscana Life Science Foundation, Siena, Italy
| | - Anna Guiotto
- Plants for Human Health Institute, Animal Science Department, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy
| | | | - Alessia Mori
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena Italy; Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, Siena, Italy; Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), Siena 53100, Italy
| | - Marco Bruttini
- Diabetes Unit, Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neurosciences, University of Siena Italy; Fondazione Umberto Di Mario ONLUS c/o Toscana Life Science, Siena, Italy; Tuscany Centre for Precision Medicine (CReMeP), Siena 53100, Italy
| | | | - Alessandra Pecorelli
- Plants for Human Health Institute, Animal Science Department, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy.
| | | | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Plants for Human Health Institute, Animal Science Department, North Carolina State University, North Carolina Research Campus, Kannapolis, NC 28081, USA; Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; Department of Food and Nutrition, Kyung Hee University, Seoul 02447, Republic of Korea.
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Caffarelli C, Al Refaie A, Mondillo C, De Vita M, Baldassini L, Valacchi G, Gonnelli S. Bone Fracture in Rett Syndrome: Mechanisms and Prevention Strategies. CHILDREN (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 10:1861. [PMID: 38136063 PMCID: PMC10741854 DOI: 10.3390/children10121861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2023] [Revised: 11/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/24/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The present study aimed to evaluate the burden and management of fragility fractures in subjects with Rett syndrome. We searched all relevant medical literature from 1 January 1986 to 30 June 2023 for studies under the search term "Rett syndrome and fracture". The fracture frequency ranges from a minimum of 13.9% to a maximum of 36.1%. The majority of such fractures occur in lower limb bones and are associated with low bone mineral density. Anticonvulsant use, joint contractures, immobilization, low physical activity, poor nutrition, the genotype, and lower calcium and vitamin D intakes all significantly impair skeletal maturation and bone mass accrual in Rett syndrome patients, making them more susceptible to fragility fractures. This review summarizes the knowledge on risk factors for fragility fracture in patients with Rett syndrome and suggests a possible diagnostic and therapeutic care pathway for improving low bone mineral density and reducing the risk of fragility fractures. The optimization of physical activity, along with adequate nutrition and the intake of calcium and vitamin D supplements, should be recommended. In addition, subjects with Rett syndrome and a history of fracture should consider using bisphosphonates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carla Caffarelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.A.R.); (C.M.); (M.D.V.); (L.B.); (S.G.)
| | - Antonella Al Refaie
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.A.R.); (C.M.); (M.D.V.); (L.B.); (S.G.)
| | - Caterina Mondillo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.A.R.); (C.M.); (M.D.V.); (L.B.); (S.G.)
| | - Michela De Vita
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.A.R.); (C.M.); (M.D.V.); (L.B.); (S.G.)
| | - Leonardo Baldassini
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.A.R.); (C.M.); (M.D.V.); (L.B.); (S.G.)
| | - Giuseppe Valacchi
- Department of Biomedical and Specialist Surgical Sciences, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy;
- Animal Science Department, Plants for Human Health Institute, North Carolina Research Campus, North Carolina State University, Kannapolis, NC 27695, USA
| | - Stefano Gonnelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Neuroscience, University of Siena, 53100 Siena, Italy; (A.A.R.); (C.M.); (M.D.V.); (L.B.); (S.G.)
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Pascual-Alonso A, Xiol C, Smirnov D, Kopajtich R, Prokisch H, Armstrong J. Identification of molecular signatures and pathways involved in Rett syndrome using a multi-omics approach. Hum Genomics 2023; 17:85. [PMID: 37710353 PMCID: PMC10503149 DOI: 10.1186/s40246-023-00532-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2023] [Accepted: 09/03/2023] [Indexed: 09/16/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Rett syndrome (RTT) is a neurodevelopmental disorder mainly caused by mutations in the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 gene (MECP2). MeCP2 is a multi-functional protein involved in many cellular processes, but the mechanisms by which its dysfunction causes disease are not fully understood. The duplication of the MECP2 gene causes a distinct disorder called MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS), highlighting the importance of tightly regulating its dosage for proper cellular function. Additionally, some patients with mutations in genes other than MECP2 exhibit phenotypic similarities with RTT, indicating that these genes may also play a role in similar cellular functions. The purpose of this study was to characterise the molecular alterations in patients with RTT in order to identify potential biomarkers or therapeutic targets for this disorder. METHODS We used a combination of transcriptomics (RNAseq) and proteomics (TMT mass spectrometry) to characterise the expression patterns in fibroblast cell lines from 22 patients with RTT and detected mutation in MECP2, 15 patients with MDS, 12 patients with RTT-like phenotypes and 13 healthy controls. Transcriptomics and proteomics data were used to identify differentially expressed genes at both RNA and protein levels, which were further inspected via enrichment and upstream regulator analyses and compared to find shared features in patients with RTT. RESULTS We identified molecular alterations in cellular functions and pathways that may contribute to the disease phenotype in patients with RTT, such as deregulated cytoskeletal components, vesicular transport elements, ribosomal subunits and mRNA processing machinery. We also compared RTT expression profiles with those of MDS seeking changes in opposite directions that could lead to the identification of MeCP2 direct targets. Some of the deregulated transcripts and proteins were consistently affected in patients with RTT-like phenotypes, revealing potentially relevant molecular processes in patients with overlapping traits and different genetic aetiology. CONCLUSIONS The integration of data in a multi-omics analysis has helped to interpret the molecular consequences of MECP2 dysfunction, contributing to the characterisation of the molecular landscape in patients with RTT. The comparison with MDS provides knowledge of MeCP2 direct targets, whilst the correlation with RTT-like phenotypes highlights processes potentially contributing to the pathomechanism leading these disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ainhoa Pascual-Alonso
- Fundació Per La Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Clara Xiol
- Fundació Per La Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain
| | - Dmitrii Smirnov
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Neurogenomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Robert Kopajtich
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Neurogenomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Holger Prokisch
- Institute of Human Genetics, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
- Institute of Neurogenomics, Helmholtz Zentrum München, Munich, Germany
| | - Judith Armstrong
- Institut de Recerca Sant Joan de Déu, Esplugues de Llobregat, Spain.
- CIBER-ER (Biomedical Network Research Center for Rare Diseases), Instituto de Salud Carlos III (ISCIII), Madrid, Spain.
- Genomic Unit, Molecular and Genetic Medicine Section, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain.
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Giuliani A, Sabbatinelli J, Amatori S, Graciotti L, Silvestrini A, Matacchione G, Ramini D, Mensà E, Prattichizzo F, Babini L, Mattiucci D, Busilacchi EM, Bacalini MG, Espinosa E, Lattanzio F, Procopio AD, Olivieri F, Poloni A, Fanelli M, Rippo MR. MiR-422a promotes adipogenesis via MeCP2 downregulation in human bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells. Cell Mol Life Sci 2023; 80:75. [PMID: 36847916 PMCID: PMC9971129 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-023-04719-6] [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: 04/14/2022] [Revised: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/22/2023] [Indexed: 03/01/2023]
Abstract
Methyl-CpG binding protein 2 (MeCP2) is a ubiquitous transcriptional regulator. The study of this protein has been mainly focused on the central nervous system because alterations of its expression are associated with neurological disorders such as Rett syndrome. However, young patients with Rett syndrome also suffer from osteoporosis, suggesting a role of MeCP2 in the differentiation of human bone marrow mesenchymal stromal cells (hBMSCs), the precursors of osteoblasts and adipocytes. Here, we report an in vitro downregulation of MeCP2 in hBMSCs undergoing adipogenic differentiation (AD) and in adipocytes of human and rat bone marrow tissue samples. This modulation does not depend on MeCP2 DNA methylation nor on mRNA levels but on differentially expressed miRNAs during AD. MiRNA profiling revealed that miR-422a and miR-483-5p are upregulated in hBMSC-derived adipocytes compared to their precursors. MiR-483-5p, but not miR-422a, is also up-regulated in hBMSC-derived osteoblasts, suggesting a specific role of the latter in the adipogenic process. Experimental modulation of intracellular levels of miR-422a and miR-483-5p affected MeCP2 expression through direct interaction with its 3' UTR elements, and the adipogenic process. Accordingly, the knockdown of MeCP2 in hBMSCs through MeCP2-targeting shRNA lentiviral vectors increased the levels of adipogenesis-related genes. Finally, since adipocytes released a higher amount of miR-422a in culture medium compared to hBMSCs we analyzed the levels of circulating miR-422a in patients with osteoporosis-a condition characterized by increased marrow adiposity-demonstrating that its levels are negatively correlated with T- and Z-scores. Overall, our findings suggest that miR-422a has a role in hBMSC adipogenesis by downregulating MeCP2 and its circulating levels are associated with bone mass loss in primary osteoporosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angelica Giuliani
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.
| | - Jacopo Sabbatinelli
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.,SOD Medicina di Laboratorio, Azienda Ospedaliero Universitaria delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Stefano Amatori
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Molecular Pathology Laboratory "PaoLa", University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Fano, PU, Italy
| | - Laura Graciotti
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.,Department of Biomedical Sciences and Public Health, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Andrea Silvestrini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy
| | - Giulia Matacchione
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy
| | - Deborah Ramini
- Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Emanuela Mensà
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy
| | | | - Lucia Babini
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy
| | - Domenico Mattiucci
- Section of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Elena Marinelli Busilacchi
- Section of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Maria Giulia Bacalini
- IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Laboratorio Brain Aging, Bologna, Italy
| | - Emma Espinosa
- Geriatrics, Santa Croce Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera Ospedali Riuniti Marche Nord, Fano, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Domenico Procopio
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.,Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Fabiola Olivieri
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.,Clinic of Laboratory and Precision Medicine, IRCCS INRCA, Ancona, Italy
| | - Antonella Poloni
- Section of Hematology, Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Ancona, Italy
| | - Mirco Fanelli
- Department of Biomolecular Sciences, Molecular Pathology Laboratory "PaoLa", University of Urbino Carlo Bo, Fano, PU, Italy
| | - Maria Rita Rippo
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Sciences, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Via Tronto 10/A, Ancona, Italy.
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