1
|
Pérez-Sisqués L, Bhatt SU, Matuleviciute R, Gileadi TE, Kramar E, Graham A, Garcia FG, Keiser A, Matheos DP, Cain JA, Pittman AM, Andreae LC, Fernandes C, Wood MA, Giese KP, Basson MA. The Intellectual Disability Risk Gene Kdm5b Regulates Long-Term Memory Consolidation in the Hippocampus. J Neurosci 2024; 44:e1544232024. [PMID: 38575342 PMCID: PMC11079963 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1544-23.2024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 03/21/2024] [Accepted: 03/30/2024] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
The histone lysine demethylase KDM5B is implicated in recessive intellectual disability disorders, and heterozygous, protein-truncating variants in KDM5B are associated with reduced cognitive function in the population. The KDM5 family of lysine demethylases has developmental and homeostatic functions in the brain, some of which appear to be independent of lysine demethylase activity. To determine the functions of KDM5B in hippocampus-dependent learning and memory, we first studied male and female mice homozygous for a Kdm5b Δ ARID allele that lacks demethylase activity. Kdm5b Δ ARID/ Δ ARID mice exhibited hyperactivity and long-term memory deficits in hippocampus-dependent learning tasks. The expression of immediate early, activity-dependent genes was downregulated in these mice and hyperactivated upon a learning stimulus compared with wild-type (WT) mice. A number of other learning-associated genes were also significantly dysregulated in the Kdm5b Δ ARID/ Δ ARID hippocampus. Next, we knocked down Kdm5b specifically in the adult, WT mouse hippocampus with shRNA. Kdm5b knockdown resulted in spontaneous seizures, hyperactivity, and hippocampus-dependent long-term memory and long-term potentiation deficits. These findings identify KDM5B as a critical regulator of gene expression and synaptic plasticity in the adult hippocampus and suggest that at least some of the cognitive phenotypes associated with KDM5B gene variants are caused by direct effects on memory consolidation mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Leticia Pérez-Sisqués
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Shail U Bhatt
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Rugile Matuleviciute
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Talia E Gileadi
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Eniko Kramar
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, California 92697
| | - Andrew Graham
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Franklin G Garcia
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, California 92697
| | - Ashley Keiser
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, California 92697
| | - Dina P Matheos
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, California 92697
| | - James A Cain
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Alan M Pittman
- St. George's University of London, London SW17 0RE, United Kingdom
| | - Laura C Andreae
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 8AB, United Kingdom
| | - Marcelo A Wood
- Department of Neurobiology and Behavior, School of Biological Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, California 92697
| | - K Peter Giese
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, Maurice Wohl Clinical Neuroscience Institute, London SE5 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, United Kingdom
- Department of Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Hatherly Laboratories, Exeter EX4 4PS, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ellingford R, Tojo M, Basson MA, Andreae LC. Male-Dominant Effects of Chd8 Haploinsufficiency on Synaptic Phenotypes during Development in Mouse Prefrontal Cortex. ACS Chem Neurosci 2024; 15:1635-1642. [PMID: 38557009 PMCID: PMC11027092 DOI: 10.1021/acschemneuro.3c00690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2023] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
CHD8 is a high penetrance, high confidence risk gene for autism spectrum disorder (ASD), a neurodevelopmental disorder that is substantially more prevalent among males than among females. Recent studies have demonstrated variable sex differences in the behaviors and synaptic phenotypes of mice carrying different heterozygous ASD-associated mutations in Chd8. We examined functional and structural cellular phenotypes linked to synaptic transmission in deep layer pyramidal neurons of the prefrontal cortex in male and female mice carrying a heterozygous, loss-of-function Chd8 mutation in the C57BL/6J strain across development from postnatal day 2 to adulthood. Notably, excitatory neurotransmission was decreased only in Chd8+/- males with no differences in Chd8+/- females, and the majority of alterations in inhibitory transmission were found in males. Similarly, analysis of cellular morphology showed male-specific effects of reduced Chd8 expression. Both functional and structural phenotypes were most prominent at postnatal days 14-20, a stage approximately corresponding to childhood. Our findings suggest that the effects of Chd8 mutation are predominantly seen in males and are maximal during childhood.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert
A. Ellingford
- Centre
for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology
& Neuroscience, King’s College
London, London SE1 1UL, U.K.
- Centre
for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, U.K.
| | - Mizuki Tojo
- Centre
for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology
& Neuroscience, King’s College
London, London SE1 1UL, U.K.
| | - M. Albert Basson
- Centre
for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, U.K.
- MRC
Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, U.K.
| | - Laura C. Andreae
- Centre
for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology
& Neuroscience, King’s College
London, London SE1 1UL, U.K.
- MRC
Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, U.K.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Basson MA. Neurodevelopmental functions of CHD8: new insights and questions. Biochem Soc Trans 2024; 52:15-27. [PMID: 38288845 PMCID: PMC10903457 DOI: 10.1042/bst20220926] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 01/03/2024] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
Heterozygous, de novo, loss-of-function variants of the CHD8 gene are associated with a high penetrance of autism and other neurodevelopmental phenotypes. Identifying the neurodevelopmental functions of high-confidence autism risk genes like CHD8 may improve our understanding of the neurodevelopmental mechanisms that underlie autism spectrum disorders. Over the last decade, a complex picture of pleiotropic CHD8 functions and mechanisms of action has emerged. Multiple brain and non-brain cell types and progenitors appear to be affected by CHD8 haploinsufficiency. Behavioural, cellular and synaptic phenotypes are dependent on the nature of the gene mutation and are modified by sex and genetic background. Here, I review some of the CHD8-interacting proteins and molecular mechanisms identified to date, as well as the impacts of CHD8 deficiency on cellular processes relevant to neurodevelopment. I endeavour to highlight some of the critical questions that still require careful and concerted attention over the next decade to bring us closer to the goal of understanding the salient mechanisms whereby CHD8 deficiency causes neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M. Albert Basson
- Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Hatherly Laboratories, Exeter EX4 4PS, U.K
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, U.K
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Hu XL, Xiao W, Lei Y, Green A, Lee X, Maradana MR, Gao Y, Xie X, Wang R, Chennell G, Basson MA, Kille P, Maret W, Bewick GA, Zhou Y, Hogstrand C. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor utilises cellular zinc signals to maintain the gut epithelial barrier. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5431. [PMID: 37669965 PMCID: PMC10480478 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41168-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2023] [Indexed: 09/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc and plant-derived ligands of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) are dietary components affecting intestinal epithelial barrier function. Here, we explore whether zinc and the AHR pathway are linked. We show that dietary supplementation with an AHR pre-ligand offers protection against inflammatory bowel disease in a mouse model while protection fails in mice lacking AHR in the intestinal epithelium. AHR agonist treatment is also ineffective in mice fed zinc depleted diet. In human ileum organoids and Caco-2 cells, AHR activation increases total cellular zinc and cytosolic free Zn2+ concentrations through transcription of genes for zinc importers. Tight junction proteins are upregulated through zinc inhibition of nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer and calpain activity. Our data show that AHR activation by plant-derived dietary ligands improves gut barrier function at least partly via zinc-dependent cellular pathways, suggesting that combined dietary supplementation with AHR ligands and zinc might be effective in preventing inflammatory gut disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Xiuchuan Lucas Hu
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Wenfeng Xiao
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuxian Lei
- Department of Diabetes, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Adam Green
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Xinyi Lee
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Yajing Gao
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xueru Xie
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - George Chennell
- Clinical Neuroscience Department, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
- Clinical and Biomedical Sciences, University of Exeter Medical School, Exeter, UK
| | - Pete Kille
- School of Biosciences, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
| | - Wolfgang Maret
- Department of Nutritional Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Gavin A Bewick
- Department of Diabetes, Cardiovascular and Metabolic Medicine & Sciences, Faculty of Life Science and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Yufeng Zhou
- Institute of Pediatrics, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, and the Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Epigenetics, International Co-laboratory of Medical Epigenetics and Metabolism, Ministry of Science and Technology, Institutes of Biomedical Sciences, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
- National Health Commission (NHC) Key Laboratory of Neonatal Diseases, Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
| | | |
Collapse
|
5
|
Donovan APA, Rosko L, Ellegood J, Redhead Y, Green JBA, Lerch JP, Huang JK, Basson MA. Pervasive cortical and white matter anomalies in a mouse model for CHARGE syndrome. J Anat 2023; 243:51-65. [PMID: 36914558 PMCID: PMC10273342 DOI: 10.1111/joa.13856] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2022] [Revised: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2023] [Indexed: 03/16/2023] Open
Abstract
CHARGE (Coloboma of the eye, Heart defects, Atresia of the choanae, Retardation of growth, Genital anomalies and Ear abnormalities) syndrome is a disorder caused by mutations in the gene encoding CHD7, an ATP dependent chromatin remodelling factor, and is characterised by a diverse array of congenital anomalies. These include a range of neuroanatomical comorbidities which likely underlie the varied neurodevelopmental disorders associated with CHARGE syndrome, which include intellectual disability, motor coordination deficits, executive dysfunction, and autism spectrum disorder. Cranial imaging studies are challenging in CHARGE syndrome patients, but high-throughput magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques in mouse models allow for the unbiased identification of neuroanatomical defects. Here, we present a comprehensive neuroanatomical survey of a Chd7 haploinsufficient mouse model of CHARGE syndrome. Our study uncovered widespread brain hypoplasia and reductions in white matter volume across the brain. The severity of hypoplasia appeared more pronounced in posterior areas of the neocortex compared to anterior regions. We also perform the first assessment of white matter tract integrity in this model through diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) to assess the potential functional consequences of widespread reductions in myelin, which suggested the presence of white matter integrity defects. To determine if white matter alterations correspond to cellular changes, we quantified oligodendrocyte lineage cells in the postnatal corpus callosum, uncovering reduced numbers of mature oligodendrocytes. Together, these results present a range of promising avenues of focus for future cranial imaging studies in CHARGE syndrome patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex P. A. Donovan
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative BiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Lauren Rosko
- Department of BiologyGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
- Interdisciplinary Program in NeuroscienceGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging CentreThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
| | - Yushi Redhead
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative BiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Jeremy B. A. Green
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative BiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
| | - Jason P. Lerch
- Mouse Imaging CentreThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Medical BiophysicsThe University of TorontoTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Neurosciences and Mental HealthThe Hospital for Sick ChildrenTorontoOntarioCanada
- Department of Preclinical Imaging, Wellcome Centre for Integrative NeuroimagingUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Jeffrey K. Huang
- Department of BiologyGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
- Interdisciplinary Program in NeuroscienceGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
- Centre for Cell ReprogrammingGeorgetown UniversityWashingtonDCUSA
| | - M. Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative BiologyKing's College LondonLondonUK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental DisordersKing's College LondonLondonUK
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Zerbi V, Pagani M, Markicevic M, Matteoli M, Pozzi D, Fagiolini M, Bozzi Y, Galbusera A, Scattoni ML, Provenzano G, Banerjee A, Helmchen F, Basson MA, Ellegood J, Lerch JP, Rudin M, Gozzi A, Wenderoth N. Correction: Brain mapping across 16 autism mouse models reveals a spectrum of functional connectivity subtypes. Mol Psychiatry 2022; 27:3920-3921. [PMID: 35322201 PMCID: PMC9708546 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-022-01510-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- V Zerbi
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Pagani
- Functional Neuroimaging Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Rovereto, Italy
| | - M Markicevic
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Matteoli
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Pathology, Neurocenter, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Mi, Italy
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Milano, Italy
| | - D Pozzi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Pathology, Neurocenter, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Mi, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - M Fagiolini
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Y Bozzi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - A Galbusera
- Functional Neuroimaging Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Rovereto, Italy
| | - M L Scattoni
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - G Provenzano
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology. (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - A Banerjee
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - F Helmchen
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M A Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College, London, London, UK
| | - J Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Ctr., Hosp. For Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J P Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Ctr., Hosp. For Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - M Rudin
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Gozzi
- Functional Neuroimaging Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Rovereto, Italy.
| | - N Wenderoth
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Badodi S, Pomella N, Zhang X, Zabet NR, Basson MA, Marino S. MEDB-23. Targeting epigenetic dysregulation in medulloblastoma with poor prognosis. Neuro Oncol 2022. [PMCID: PMC9165212 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac079.397] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common paediatric malignant brain tumour and is classified into four distinct molecular subgroups (WNT, SHH, G3 and G4), each of them further subdivided into subtypes with different prognosis and responses to therapy. Deregulation of chromatin modifier genes play an essential role in MB, particularly in the G4 subgroup. A BMI1High;CHD7Low molecular signature identifies patients with poor survival within this subgroup. We show that BMI1High;CHD7Low sustains MB growth through regulation of MAPK/ERK signalling and via a novel epigenetic regulation of inositol metabolism in both G4 MB cells and patients. These tumours display over-activation of MAPK/ERK signalling, sustaining tumour proliferation, and of AKT/mTOR pathway which leads to energetic rewiring characterised by enhanced glycolytic capacity and reduced mitochondrial function. We demonstrate that inositol administration counteracts this metabolic alteration, impairs proliferation and significantly extends survival in a pre-clinical model. Moreover, inositol synergises with cisplatin, a chemotherapy agent currently used in MB treatment, enhancing its therapeutic effect in vivo. Additionally, we identify a synergistic vulnerability of BMI1High;CHD7Low MB to a combination treatment with BMI1 and MAPK/ERK inhibitors that overcomes acquired resistance to single-drug therapy. Mechanistically, we observe a CHD7-dependent binding of BMI1 to MAPK-regulated genes underpinning the CHD7-BMI1-MAPK regulatory axis that is critical for the anti-tumour effect of the inhibitors in vitro and in a pre-clinical model. Moreover, we demonstrate that the BMI1High;CHD7Low molecular signature defines G4 MB patients with an enhanced ERK1-ERK2 phosphorylation activity. Importantly, cerebellar neural stem cells modelling the BMI1High;CHD7Low signature are not affected by BMI1 and MAPK/ERK inhibitors and do not show metabolic adaptation hence are resistant to the proposed treatments. In summary, we have identified two actionable vulnerabilities in a pre-clinical setting modelling a molecularly defined group of MB patients, paving the way for the design of signature-matched clinical trials.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London , London , United Kingdom
| | - Nicola Pomella
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London , London , United Kingdom
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London , London , United Kingdom
| | - Nicolae Radu Zabet
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London , London , United Kingdom
| | - M Albert Basson
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London , London , United Kingdom
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London , London , United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Whittaker DE, Oleari R, Gregory LC, Le Quesne-Stabej P, Williams HJ, Torpiano JG, Formosa N, Cachia MJ, Field D, Lettieri A, Ocaka LA, Paganoni AJ, Rajabali SH, Riegman KL, De Martini LB, Chaya T, Robinson IC, Furukawa T, Cariboni A, Basson MA, Dattani MT. A recessive PRDM13 mutation results in congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism and cerebellar hypoplasia. J Clin Invest 2021; 131:e141587. [PMID: 34730112 PMCID: PMC8670848 DOI: 10.1172/jci141587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
The positive regulatory (PR) domain containing 13 (PRDM13) putative chromatin modifier and transcriptional regulator functions downstream of the transcription factor PTF1A, which controls GABAergic fate in the spinal cord and neurogenesis in the hypothalamus. Here, we report a recessive syndrome associated with PRDM13 mutation. Patients exhibited intellectual disability, ataxia with cerebellar hypoplasia, scoliosis, and delayed puberty with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (CHH). Expression studies revealed Prdm13/PRDM13 transcripts in the developing hypothalamus and cerebellum in mouse and human. An analysis of hypothalamus and cerebellum development in mice homozygous for a Prdm13 mutant allele revealed a significant reduction in the number of Kisspeptin (Kiss1) neurons in the hypothalamus and PAX2+ progenitors emerging from the cerebellar ventricular zone. The latter was accompanied by ectopic expression of the glutamatergic lineage marker TLX3. Prdm13-deficient mice displayed cerebellar hypoplasia and normal gonadal structure, but delayed pubertal onset. Together, these findings identify PRDM13 as a critical regulator of GABAergic cell fate in the cerebellum and of hypothalamic kisspeptin neuron development, providing a mechanistic explanation for the cooccurrence of CHH and cerebellar hypoplasia in this syndrome. To our knowledge, this is the first evidence linking disrupted PRDM13-mediated regulation of Kiss1 neurons to CHH in humans.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E. Whittaker
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Roberto Oleari
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Louise C. Gregory
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Polona Le Quesne-Stabej
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Hywel J. Williams
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - GOSgene
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
- GOSgene is detailed in Supplemental Acknowledgments
| | - John G. Torpiano
- Department of Paediatrics and
- Adult Endocrinology Service, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
| | | | - Mario J. Cachia
- Adult Endocrinology Service, Mater Dei Hospital, Msida, Malta
| | - Daniel Field
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Antonella Lettieri
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Louise A. Ocaka
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alyssa J.J. Paganoni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Sakina H. Rajabali
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Kimberley L.H. Riegman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Lisa B. De Martini
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - Taro Chaya
- Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | | | - Takahisa Furukawa
- Laboratory for Molecular and Developmental Biology, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Anna Cariboni
- Department of Pharmacological and Biomolecular Sciences, University of Milan, Milan, Italy
| | - M. Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mehul T. Dattani
- Section of Molecular Basis of Rare Disease, Genetics and Genomic Medicine Research and Teaching Department, UCL Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Zerbi V, Pagani M, Markicevic M, Matteoli M, Pozzi D, Fagiolini M, Bozzi Y, Galbusera A, Scattoni ML, Provenzano G, Banerjee A, Helmchen F, Basson MA, Ellegood J, Lerch JP, Rudin M, Gozzi A, Wenderoth N. Brain mapping across 16 autism mouse models reveals a spectrum of functional connectivity subtypes. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:7610-7620. [PMID: 34381171 PMCID: PMC8873017 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01245-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2020] [Revised: 06/30/2021] [Accepted: 07/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) is characterized by substantial, yet highly heterogeneous abnormalities in functional brain connectivity. However, the origin and significance of this phenomenon remain unclear. To unravel ASD connectopathy and relate it to underlying etiological heterogeneity, we carried out a bi-center cross-etiological investigation of fMRI-based connectivity in the mouse, in which specific ASD-relevant mutations can be isolated and modeled minimizing environmental contributions. By performing brain-wide connectivity mapping across 16 mouse mutants, we show that different ASD-associated etiologies cause a broad spectrum of connectional abnormalities in which diverse, often diverging, connectivity signatures are recognizable. Despite this heterogeneity, the identified connectivity alterations could be classified into four subtypes characterized by discrete signatures of network dysfunction. Our findings show that etiological variability is a key determinant of connectivity heterogeneity in ASD, hence reconciling conflicting findings in clinical populations. The identification of etiologically-relevant connectivity subtypes could improve diagnostic label accuracy in the non-syndromic ASD population and paves the way for personalized treatment approaches.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- V Zerbi
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Pagani
- Functional Neuroimaging Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Rovereto, Italy
| | - M Markicevic
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M Matteoli
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Pathology, Neurocenter, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Mi, Italy
- CNR Institute of Neuroscience, Milano, Italy
| | - D Pozzi
- Laboratory of Pharmacology and Brain Pathology, Neurocenter, Humanitas Clinical and Research Center - IRCCS, Rozzano, Mi, Italy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Humanitas University, Pieve Emanuele, Milan, Italy
| | - M Fagiolini
- F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Department, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Y Bozzi
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto, Italy
| | - A Galbusera
- Functional Neuroimaging Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Rovereto, Italy
| | - M L Scattoni
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - G Provenzano
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology. (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - A Banerjee
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Biosciences Institute, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - F Helmchen
- Brain Research Institute, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - M A Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College, London, London, UK
| | - J Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Ctr., Hosp. For Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - J P Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Ctr., Hosp. For Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - M Rudin
- Institute for Biomedical Engineering, University and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - A Gozzi
- Functional Neuroimaging Lab, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems, Rovereto, Italy.
| | - N Wenderoth
- Neural Control of Movement Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Ahmed M, Moon R, Prajapati RS, James E, Basson MA, Streit A. The chromatin remodelling factor Chd7 protects auditory neurons and sensory hair cells from stress-induced degeneration. Commun Biol 2021; 4:1260. [PMID: 34732824 PMCID: PMC8566505 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02788-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Accepted: 10/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
Neurons and sensory cells are particularly vulnerable to oxidative stress due to their high oxygen demand during stimulus perception and transmission. The mechanisms that protect them from stress-induced death and degeneration remain elusive. Here we show that embryonic deletion of the chromodomain helicase DNA-binding protein 7 (CHD7) in auditory neurons or hair cells leads to sensorineural hearing loss due to postnatal degeneration of both cell types. Mechanistically, we demonstrate that CHD7 controls the expression of major stress pathway components. In its absence, hair cells are hypersensitive, dying rapidly after brief exposure to stress inducers, suggesting that sound at the onset of hearing triggers their degeneration. In humans, CHD7 haploinsufficiency causes CHARGE syndrome, a disorder affecting multiple organs including the ear. Our findings suggest that CHD7 mutations cause developmentally silent phenotypes that predispose cells to postnatal degeneration due to a failure of protective mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohi Ahmed
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Floor 27 Tower Wing, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
| | - Ruth Moon
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Floor 27 Tower Wing, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Ravindra Singh Prajapati
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Floor 27 Tower Wing, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
- Leukaemia and Stem Cell Biology Group, School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Elysia James
- Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Floor 27 Tower Wing, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, SE1 1UL, UK
| | - Andrea Streit
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, Floor 27 Tower Wing, Guy's Hospital, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Oates S, Absoud M, Goyal S, Bayley S, Baulcomb J, Sims A, Riddett A, Allis K, Brasch-Andersen C, Balasubramanian M, Bai R, Callewaert B, Hüffmeier U, Le Duc D, Radtke M, Korff C, Kennedy J, Low K, Møller RS, Nielsen JEK, Popp B, Quteineh L, Rønde G, Schönewolf-Greulich B, Shillington A, Taylor MR, Todd E, Torring PM, Tümer Z, Vasileiou G, Yates TM, Zweier C, Rosch R, Basson MA, Pal DK. ZMYND11 variants are a novel cause of centrotemporal and generalised epilepsies with neurodevelopmental disorder. Clin Genet 2021; 100:412-429. [PMID: 34216016 DOI: 10.1111/cge.14023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
ZMYND11 is the critical gene in chromosome 10p15.3 microdeletion syndrome, a syndromic cause of intellectual disability. The phenotype of ZMYND11 variants has recently been extended to autism and seizures. We expand on the epilepsy phenotype of 20 individuals with pathogenic variants in ZMYND11. We obtained clinical descriptions of 16 new and nine published individuals, plus detailed case history of two children. New individuals were identified through GeneMatcher, ClinVar and the European Network for Therapies in Rare Epilepsy (NETRE). Genetic evaluation was performed using gene panels or exome sequencing; variants were classified using American College of Medical Genetics (ACMG) criteria. Individuals with ZMYND11 associated epilepsy fell into three groups: (i) atypical benign partial epilepsy or idiopathic focal epilepsy (n = 8); (ii) generalised epilepsies/infantile epileptic encephalopathy (n = 4); (iii) unclassified (n = 8). Seizure prognosis ranged from spontaneous remission to drug resistant. Neurodevelopmental deficits were invariable. Dysmorphic features were variable. Variants were distributed across the gene and mostly de novo with no precise genotype-phenotype correlation. ZMYND11 is one of a small group of chromatin reader genes associated in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, and specifically ABPE. More detailed epilepsy descriptions of larger cohorts and functional studies might reveal genotype-phenotype correlation. The epileptogenic mechanism may be linked to interaction with histone H3.3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Oates
- Department of Paediatric Neuroscience, King's College Hospital, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Michael Absoud
- Newcomen Children's Neurosciences Centre, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK
- Department of Women and Children's Health, Faculty of Life Sciences and Medicine, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Sushma Goyal
- Newcomen Children's Neurosciences Centre, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Sophie Bayley
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
| | - Jennifer Baulcomb
- Newcomen Children's Neurosciences Centre, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Annemarie Sims
- Newcomen Children's Neurosciences Centre, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Amy Riddett
- Newcomen Children's Neurosciences Centre, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Katrina Allis
- Genetic Counselor, Mitochondrial and Metabolic Genetics, GeneDx, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Charlotte Brasch-Andersen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
- Human Genetics, Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Meena Balasubramanian
- Sheffield Clinical Genetics Service, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Academic Unit of Child Health, Department of Oncology & Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Renkui Bai
- Genetic Counselor, Mitochondrial and Metabolic Genetics, GeneDx, Gaithersburg, Maryland, USA
| | - Bert Callewaert
- Centre for Medical Genetics, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Ulrike Hüffmeier
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander Universitat of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Diana Le Duc
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Leipzig Medical Centre, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Maximilian Radtke
- Institute of Human Genetics, University of Leipzig Medical Centre, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Christian Korff
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Joanna Kennedy
- Department of Genetics, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Karen Low
- Department of Genetics, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
| | - Rikke S Møller
- Department of Epilepsy Genetics and Personalized Treatment, The Danish Epilepsy Centre, Dianalund, Denmark
- Department of Regional Health Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
| | - Jens Erik Klint Nielsen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Bernt Popp
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander Universitat of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Lina Quteineh
- Pediatric Neurology Unit, University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Service of Genetic Medicine, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Gitte Rønde
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Copenhagen University Hospital - Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | | | - Matthew Rg Taylor
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Adult Medical Genetics Program, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Emily Todd
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Adult Medical Genetics Program, Aurora, Colorado, USA
| | - Pernille M Torring
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark
| | - Zeynep Tümer
- Department of Genetics, University Hospitals Bristol and Weston NHS Foundation Trust, Bristol, UK
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Georgia Vasileiou
- Institute of Human Genetics, Friedrich-Alexander Universitat of Erlangen-Nurnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - T Michael Yates
- Sheffield Clinical Genetics Service, Sheffield Children's NHS Foundation Trust, Sheffield, UK
- Academic Unit of Child Health, Department of Oncology & Metabolism, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, UK
| | - Christiane Zweier
- Department of Clinical Medicine, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Richard Rosch
- Department of Human Genetics, Inselspital, Bern University Hospital, University of Bern, Bern, Switzerland
| | - M Albert Basson
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Deb K Pal
- Department of Paediatric Neuroscience, King's College Hospital, London, UK
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neurosciences, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, Kings College London, London, UK
- Newcomen Children's Neurosciences Centre, Evelina London Children's Hospital, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Ellingford RA, Panasiuk MJ, de Meritens ER, Shaunak R, Naybour L, Browne L, Basson MA, Andreae LC. Cell-type-specific synaptic imbalance and disrupted homeostatic plasticity in cortical circuits of ASD-associated Chd8 haploinsufficient mice. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:3614-3624. [PMID: 33837267 PMCID: PMC8505247 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-021-01070-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 02/28/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Heterozygous mutation of chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 8 (CHD8) is strongly associated with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and results in dysregulated expression of neurodevelopmental and synaptic genes during brain development. To reveal how these changes affect ASD-associated cortical circuits, we studied synaptic transmission in the prefrontal cortex of a haploinsufficient Chd8 mouse model. We report profound alterations to both excitatory and inhibitory synaptic transmission onto deep layer projection neurons, resulting in a reduced excitatory:inhibitory balance, which were found to vary dynamically across neurodevelopment and result from distinct effects of reduced Chd8 expression within individual neuronal subtypes. These changes were associated with disrupted regulation of homeostatic plasticity mechanisms operating via spontaneous neurotransmission. These findings therefore directly implicate CHD8 mutation in the disruption of ASD-relevant circuits in the cortex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert A Ellingford
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Martyna J Panasiuk
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Emilie Rabesahala de Meritens
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Raghav Shaunak
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Liam Naybour
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Lorcan Browne
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial & Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
| | - Laura C Andreae
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Gileadi TE, Swamy AK, Hore Z, Horswell S, Ellegood J, Mohan C, Mizuno K, Lundebye AK, Giese KP, Stockinger B, Hogstrand C, Lerch JP, Fernandes C, Basson MA. Effects of Low-Dose Gestational TCDD Exposure on Behavior and on Hippocampal Neuron Morphology and Gene Expression in Mice. Environ Health Perspect 2021; 129:57002. [PMID: 33956508 PMCID: PMC8101924 DOI: 10.1289/ehp7352] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2020] [Revised: 02/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) is a persistent and toxic environmental pollutant. Gestational exposure to TCDD has been linked to cognitive and motor deficits, and increased incidence of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) traits in children. Most animal studies of these neurodevelopmental effects involve acute TCDD exposure, which does not model typical exposure in humans. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to establish a dietary low-dose gestational TCDD exposure protocol and performed an initial characterization of the effects on offspring behavior, neurodevelopmental phenotypes, and gene expression. METHODS Throughout gestation, pregnant C57BL/6J mice were fed a diet containing a low dose of TCDD (9 ng TCDD/kg body weight per day) or a control diet. The offspring were tested in a battery of behavioral tests, and structural brain alterations were investigated by magnetic resonance imaging. The dendritic morphology of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal Cornu Ammonis (CA)1 area was analyzed. RNA sequencing was performed on hippocampi of postnatal day 14 TCDD-exposed and control offspring. RESULTS TCDD-exposed females displayed subtle deficits in motor coordination and reversal learning. Volumetric difference between diet groups were observed in regions of the hippocampal formation, mammillary bodies, and cerebellum, alongside higher dendritic arborization of pyramidal neurons in the hippocampal CA1 region of TCDD-exposed females. RNA-seq analysis identified 405 differentially expressed genes in the hippocampus, enriched for genes with functions in regulation of microtubules, axon guidance, extracellular matrix, and genes regulated by SMAD3. DISCUSSION Exposure to 9 ng TCDD/kg body weight per day throughout gestation was sufficient to cause specific behavioral and structural brain phenotypes in offspring. Our data suggest that alterations in SMAD3-regulated microtubule polymerization in the developing postnatal hippocampus may lead to an abnormal morphology of neuronal dendrites that persists into adulthood. These findings show that environmental low-dose gestational exposure to TCDD can have significant, long-term impacts on brain development and function. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP7352.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Talia E. Gileadi
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Abhyuday K. Swamy
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Zoe Hore
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Stuart Horswell
- Department of Bioinformatics and Biostatistics, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Conor Mohan
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Keiko Mizuno
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | - K. Peter Giese
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
| | | | | | - Jason P. Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre (MICe), Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - M. Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King’s College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Badodi S, Pomella N, Zhang X, Rosser G, Whittingham J, Niklison-Chirou MV, Lim YM, Brandner S, Morrison G, Pollard SM, Bennett CD, Clifford SC, Peet A, Basson MA, Marino S. Inositol treatment inhibits medulloblastoma through suppression of epigenetic-driven metabolic adaptation. Nat Commun 2021; 12:2148. [PMID: 33846320 PMCID: PMC8042111 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-021-22379-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Deregulation of chromatin modifiers plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma, the most common paediatric malignant brain tumour. Here, we identify a BMI1-dependent sensitivity to deregulation of inositol metabolism in a proportion of medulloblastoma. We demonstrate mTOR pathway activation and metabolic adaptation specifically in medulloblastoma of the molecular subgroup G4 characterised by a BMI1High;CHD7Low signature and show this can be counteracted by IP6 treatment. Finally, we demonstrate that IP6 synergises with cisplatin to enhance its cytotoxicity in vitro and extends survival in a pre-clinical BMI1High;CHD7Low xenograft model.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Nicola Pomella
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Gabriel Rosser
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - John Whittingham
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Victoria Niklison-Chirou
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
- Centre for Therapeutic Innovation (CTI-Bath), Department of Pharmacy & Pharmacology, University of Bath, Bath, UK
| | - Yau Mun Lim
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Sebastian Brandner
- UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Gillian Morrison
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Steven M Pollard
- Centre for Regenerative Medicine & Cancer Research UK Edinburgh Centre, The University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | - Christopher D Bennett
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - Steven C Clifford
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Andrew Peet
- Institute of Cancer and Genomic Sciences, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
- Birmingham Women and Children's Hospital, Birmingham, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
Hurley S, Mohan C, Suetterlin P, Ellingford R, Riegman KLH, Ellegood J, Caruso A, Michetti C, Brock O, Evans R, Rudari F, Delogu A, Scattoni ML, Lerch JP, Fernandes C, Basson MA. Distinct, dosage-sensitive requirements for the autism-associated factor CHD8 during cortical development. Mol Autism 2021; 12:16. [PMID: 33627187 PMCID: PMC7905672 DOI: 10.1186/s13229-020-00409-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND CHD8 haploinsufficiency causes autism and macrocephaly with high penetrance in the human population. Chd8 heterozygous mice exhibit relatively subtle brain overgrowth and little gene expression changes in the embryonic neocortex. The purpose of this study was to generate new, sub-haploinsufficient Chd8 mouse models to allow us to identify and study the functions of CHD8 during embryonic cortical development. METHODS To examine the possibility that certain phenotypes may only appear at sub-heterozygous Chd8 levels in the mouse, we created an allelic series of Chd8-deficient mice to reduce CHD8 protein levels to approximately 35% (mild hypomorph), 10% (severe hypomorph) and 0% (neural-specific conditional knockout) of wildtype levels. We used RNA sequencing to compare transcriptional dysregulation, structural MRI and brain weight to investigate effects on brain size, and cell proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis markers in immunostaining assays to quantify changes in neural progenitor fate. RESULTS Mild Chd8 hypomorphs displayed significant postnatal lethality, with surviving animals exhibiting more pronounced brain hyperplasia than heterozygotes. Over 2000 genes were dysregulated in mild hypomorphs, including autism-associated neurodevelopmental and cell cycle genes. We identify increased proliferation of non-ventricular zone TBR2+ intermediate progenitors as one potential cause of brain hyperplasia in these mutants. Severe Chd8 hypomorphs displayed even greater transcriptional dysregulation, including evidence for p53 pathway upregulation. In contrast to mild hypomorphs, these mice displayed reduced brain size and increased apoptosis in the embryonic neocortex. Homozygous, conditional deletion of Chd8 in early neuronal progenitors resulted in pronounced brain hypoplasia, partly caused by p53 target gene derepression and apoptosis in the embryonic neocortex. Limitations Our findings identify an important role for the autism-associated factor CHD8 in controlling the proliferation of intermediate progenitors in the mouse neocortex. We propose that CHD8 has a similar function in human brain development, but studies on human cells are required to confirm this. Because many of our mouse mutants with reduced CHD8 function die shortly after birth, it is not possible to fully determine to what extent reduced CHD8 function results in autism-associated behaviours in mice. CONCLUSIONS Together, these findings identify important, dosage-sensitive functions for CHD8 in p53 pathway repression, neurodevelopmental gene expression and neural progenitor fate in the embryonic neocortex. We conclude that brain development is acutely sensitive to reduced CHD8 expression and that the varying sensitivities of different progenitor populations and cellular processes to CHD8 dosage result in non-linear effects on gene transcription and brain growth. Shaun Hurley, Conor Mohan and Philipp Suetterlin have contributed equally to this work.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shaun Hurley
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Conor Mohan
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Philipp Suetterlin
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Robert Ellingford
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | - Jacob Ellegood
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Angela Caruso
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Neurotoxicology and Neuroendocrinology Section, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- Department of Psychology, School of Behavioural Neuroscience, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Caterina Michetti
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Neurotoxicology and Neuroendocrinology Section, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
- Centre for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano Di Tecnologia, Genova, Italy
| | - Olivier Brock
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Romy Evans
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Fabrizio Rudari
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Alessio Delogu
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Neurotoxicology and Neuroendocrinology Section, Istituto Superiore Di Sanità, Rome, Italy
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Department of Medical Biophysics, Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- MRC Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Kelly E, Meng F, Fujita H, Morgado F, Kazemi Y, Rice LC, Ren C, Escamilla CO, Gibson JM, Sajadi S, Pendry RJ, Tan T, Ellegood J, Basson MA, Blakely RD, Dindot SV, Golzio C, Hahn MK, Katsanis N, Robins DM, Silverman JL, Singh KK, Wevrick R, Taylor MJ, Hammill C, Anagnostou E, Pfeiffer BE, Stoodley CJ, Lerch JP, du Lac S, Tsai PT. Regulation of autism-relevant behaviors by cerebellar-prefrontal cortical circuits. Nat Neurosci 2020; 23:1102-1110. [PMID: 32661395 PMCID: PMC7483861 DOI: 10.1038/s41593-020-0665-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Cerebellar dysfunction has been demonstrated in autism spectrum disorders (ASDs); however, the circuits underlying cerebellar contributions to ASD-relevant behaviors remain unknown. In this study, we demonstrated functional connectivity between the cerebellum and the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) in mice; showed that the mPFC mediates cerebellum-regulated social and repetitive/inflexible behaviors; and showed disruptions in connectivity between these regions in multiple mouse models of ASD-linked genes and in individuals with ASD. We delineated a circuit from cerebellar cortical areas Right crus 1 (Rcrus1) and posterior vermis through the cerebellar nuclei and ventromedial thalamus and culminating in the mPFC. Modulation of this circuit induced social deficits and repetitive behaviors, whereas activation of Purkinje cells (PCs) in Rcrus1 and posterior vermis improved social preference impairments and repetitive/inflexible behaviors, respectively, in male PC-Tsc1 mutant mice. These data raise the possibility that these circuits might provide neuromodulatory targets for the treatment of ASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elyza Kelly
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Fantao Meng
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Hirofumi Fujita
- Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Felipe Morgado
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yasaman Kazemi
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Laura C Rice
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Chongyu Ren
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Christine Ochoa Escamilla
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jennifer M Gibson
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Sanaz Sajadi
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Robert J Pendry
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Tommy Tan
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Randy D Blakely
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Scott V Dindot
- Department of Veterinary Pathobiology, College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, USA
| | - Christelle Golzio
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire; Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale; Université de Strasbourg, Illkirch, France
| | - Maureen K Hahn
- Department of Biomedical Science, Charles E. Schmidt College of Medicine and Brain Institute, Florida Atlantic University, Jupiter, Florida, USA
| | - Nicholas Katsanis
- ACT-GeM, Department of Human Genetics at Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute; Department of Pediatrics and Cellular and Molecular Biology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Diane M Robins
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jill L Silverman
- MIND Institute and Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of California, Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Karun K Singh
- Department of Biochemistry and Biomedical Sciences, McMaster University, Hamilton, ON, Canada
| | - Rachel Wevrick
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, Canada
| | - Margot J Taylor
- Department of Medical Imaging and Psychology, University of Toronto; Diagnostic Imaging, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, USA
| | - Christopher Hammill
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Evdokia Anagnostou
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Toronto, Holland Bloorview Kids Rehabilitation Hospital, Toronto, ON, USA
| | - Brad E Pfeiffer
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Catherine J Stoodley
- Department of Neuroscience, Center for Behavioral Neuroscience, American University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Toronto Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Wellcome Centre for Integrative Neuroimaging, FMRIB, Nuffield Department of Clinical Neuroscience, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Sascha du Lac
- Departments of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Neurology and Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - Peter T Tsai
- Department of Neurology and Neurotherapeutics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
- Departments of Psychiatry and Pediatrics, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
Sarić N, Selby M, Ramaswamy V, Kool M, Stockinger B, Hogstrand C, Williamson D, Marino S, Taylor MD, Clifford SC, Basson MA. The AHR pathway represses TGFβ-SMAD3 signalling and has a potent tumour suppressive role in SHH medulloblastoma. Sci Rep 2020; 10:148. [PMID: 31924815 PMCID: PMC6954114 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56876-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2019] [Accepted: 12/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastomas are brain tumours that arise in the posterior fossa. Cancer-propagating cells (CPCs) provide a reservoir of cells capable of tumour regeneration and relapse post-treatment. Understanding and targeting the mechanisms by which CPCs are maintained and expanded in SHH medulloblastoma could present novel therapeutic opportunities. We identified the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) pathway as a potent tumour suppressor in a SHH medulloblastoma mouse model. Ahr-deficient tumours and CPCs grown in vitro, showed elevated activation of the TGFβ mediator, SMAD3. Pharmacological inhibition of the TGFβ/SMAD3 signalling axis was sufficient to inhibit the proliferation and promote the differentiation of Ahr-deficient CPCs. Human SHH medulloblastomas with high expression of the AHR repressor (AHRR) exhibited a significantly worse prognosis compared to AHRRlow tumours in two independent patient cohorts. Together, these findings suggest that reduced AHR pathway activity promotes SHH medulloblastoma progression, consistent with a tumour suppressive role for AHR. We propose that TGFβ/SMAD3 inhibition may represent an actionable therapeutic approach for a subset of aggressive SHH medulloblastomas characterised by reduced AHR pathway activity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nemanja Sarić
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Matthew Selby
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Vijay Ramaswamy
- Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Departments of Medical Biophysics and Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ), Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Christer Hogstrand
- Diabetes & Nutritional Sciences Division, King's College London, 3.85 Franklin-Wilkins Building, London, SE1 9NH, UK
| | - Daniel Williamson
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Divisions of Hematology/Oncology and Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Departments of Medical Biophysics and Paediatrics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Steven C Clifford
- Wolfson Childhood Cancer Research Centre, Northern Institute for Cancer Research, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, NE1 7RU, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, 4th floor, New Hunt's House, London, SE1 1UL, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
18
|
Suetterlin P, Hurley S, Mohan C, Riegman KLH, Pagani M, Caruso A, Ellegood J, Galbusera A, Crespo-Enriquez I, Michetti C, Yee Y, Ellingford R, Brock O, Delogu A, Francis-West P, Lerch JP, Scattoni ML, Gozzi A, Fernandes C, Basson MA. Altered Neocortical Gene Expression, Brain Overgrowth and Functional Over-Connectivity in Chd8 Haploinsufficient Mice. Cereb Cortex 2019; 28:2192-2206. [PMID: 29668850 PMCID: PMC6018918 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhy058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Truncating CHD8 mutations are amongst the highest confidence risk factors for autism spectrum disorder (ASD) identified to date. Here, we report that Chd8 heterozygous mice display increased brain size, motor delay, hypertelorism, pronounced hypoactivity, and anomalous responses to social stimuli. Whereas gene expression in the neocortex is only mildly affected at midgestation, over 600 genes are differentially expressed in the early postnatal neocortex. Genes involved in cell adhesion and axon guidance are particularly prominent amongst the downregulated transcripts. Resting-state functional MRI identified increased synchronized activity in cortico-hippocampal and auditory-parietal networks in Chd8 heterozygous mutant mice, implicating altered connectivity as a potential mechanism underlying the behavioral phenotypes. Together, these data suggest that altered brain growth and diminished expression of important neurodevelopmental genes that regulate long-range brain wiring are followed by distinctive anomalies in functional brain connectivity in Chd8+/- mice. Human imaging studies have reported altered functional connectivity in ASD patients, with long-range under-connectivity seemingly more frequent. Our data suggest that CHD8 haploinsufficiency represents a specific subtype of ASD where neuropsychiatric symptoms are underpinned by long-range over-connectivity.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Philipp Suetterlin
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Shaun Hurley
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Conor Mohan
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Kimberley L H Riegman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Marco Pagani
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @ UniTn, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Angela Caruso
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 3H7
| | - Alberto Galbusera
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @ UniTn, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Ivan Crespo-Enriquez
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Caterina Michetti
- Center for Synaptic Neuroscience and Technology, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 16132 Genova, Italy
| | - Yohan Yee
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 3H7
| | - Robert Ellingford
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Olivier Brock
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Alessio Delogu
- Department of Basic and Clinical Neuroscience, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London SE5 9NU, UK
| | - Philippa Francis-West
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 3H7
| | - Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Research Coordination and Support Service, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Gozzi
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @ UniTn, 38068 Rovereto, TN, Italy
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, PO82, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London SE5 8AF, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 1UL, UK
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Gutierrez-Barragan D, Basson MA, Panzeri S, Gozzi A. Infraslow State Fluctuations Govern Spontaneous fMRI Network Dynamics. Curr Biol 2019; 29:2295-2306.e5. [PMID: 31303490 PMCID: PMC6657681 DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2019.06.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 04/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
Spontaneous brain activity as assessed with resting-state fMRI exhibits rich spatiotemporal structure. However, the principles by which brain-wide patterns of spontaneous fMRI activity reconfigure and interact with each other remain unclear. We used a framewise clustering approach to map spatiotemporal dynamics of spontaneous fMRI activity with voxel resolution in the resting mouse brain. We show that brain-wide patterns of fMRI co-activation can be reliably mapped at the group and subject level, defining a restricted set of recurring brain states characterized by rich network structure. Importantly, we document that the identified fMRI states exhibit contrasting patterns of functional activity and coupled infraslow network dynamics, with each network state occurring at specific phases of global fMRI signal fluctuations. Finally, we show that autism-associated genetic alterations entail the engagement of atypical functional states and altered infraslow network dynamics. Our results reveal a novel set of fundamental principles guiding the spatiotemporal organization of resting-state fMRI activity and its disruption in brain disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Gutierrez-Barragan
- Neural Computation Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @ UniTn, 38068 Rovereto (TN), Italy; Center for Mind/Brain Sciences, University of Trento, 38068 Rovereto (TN), Italy; Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @ UniTn, 38068 Rovereto (TN), Italy
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Stefano Panzeri
- Neural Computation Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @ UniTn, 38068 Rovereto (TN), Italy.
| | - Alessandro Gozzi
- Functional Neuroimaging Laboratory, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, Center for Neuroscience and Cognitive Systems @ UniTn, 38068 Rovereto (TN), Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Vaquero M, Cuesta S, Anerillas C, Altés G, Ribera J, Basson MA, Licht JD, Egea J, Encinas M. Sprouty1 Controls Genitourinary Development via its N-Terminal Tyrosine. J Am Soc Nephrol 2019; 30:1398-1411. [PMID: 31300484 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2018111085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Studies in mice suggest that perturbations of the GDNF-Ret signaling pathway are a major genetic cause of congenital anomalies of the kidney and urinary tract (CAKUT). Mutations in Sprouty1, an intracellular Ret inhibitor, results in supernumerary kidneys, megaureters, and hydronephrosis in mice. But the underlying molecular mechanisms involved and which structural domains are essential for Sprouty1 function are a matter of controversy, partly because studies have so far relied on ectopic overexpression of the gene in cell lines. A conserved N-terminal tyrosine has been frequently, but not always, identified as critical for the function of Sprouty1 in vitro. METHODS We generated Sprouty1 knockin mice bearing a tyrosine-to-alanine substitution in position 53, corresponding to the conserved N-terminal tyrosine of Sprouty1. We characterized the development of the genitourinary systems in these mice via different methods, including the use of reporter mice expressing EGFP from the Ret locus, and whole-mount cytokeratin staining. RESULTS Mice lacking this tyrosine grow ectopic ureteric buds that will ultimately form supernumerary kidneys, a phenotype indistinguishable to that of Sprouty1 knockout mice. Sprouty1 knockin mice also present megaureters and vesicoureteral reflux, caused by failure of ureters to separate from Wolffian ducts and migrate to their definitive position. CONCLUSIONS Tyrosine 53 is absolutely necessary for Sprouty1 function during genitourinary development in mice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK; and
| | - Jonathan D Licht
- The University of Florida Health Cancer Center, The University of Florida Cancer/Genetics Research Complex, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Joaquim Egea
- Basic Medical Sciences, Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | | |
Collapse
|
21
|
Kasah S, Oddy C, Basson MA. Autism-linked CHD gene expression patterns during development predict multi-organ disease phenotypes. J Anat 2018; 233:755-769. [PMID: 30277262 DOI: 10.1111/joa.12889] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent large-scale exome sequencing studies have identified mutations in several members of the CHD (Chromodomain Helicase DNA-binding protein) gene family in neurodevelopmental disorders. Mutations in the CHD2 gene have been linked to developmental delay, intellectual disability, autism and seizures, CHD8 mutations to autism and intellectual disability, whereas haploinsufficiency of CHD7 is associated with executive dysfunction and intellectual disability. In addition to these neurodevelopmental features, a wide range of other developmental defects are associated with mutants of these genes, especially with regards to CHD7 haploinsufficiency, which is the primary cause of CHARGE syndrome. Whilst the developmental expression of CHD7 has been reported previously, limited information on the expression of CHD2 and CHD8 during development is available. Here, we compare the expression patterns of all three genes during mouse development directly. We find high, widespread expression of these genes at early stages of development that gradually becomes restricted during later developmental stages. Chd2 and Chd8 are widely expressed in the developing central nervous system (CNS) at all stages of development, with moderate expression remaining in the neocortex, hippocampus, olfactory bulb and cerebellum of the postnatal brain. Similarly, Chd7 expression is seen throughout the CNS during late embryogenesis and early postnatal development, with strong enrichment in the cerebellum, but displays low expression in the cortex and neurogenic niches in early life. In addition to expression in the brain, novel sites of Chd2 and Chd8 expression are reported. These findings suggest additional roles for these genes in organogenesis and predict that mutation of these genes may predispose individuals to a range of other, non-neurological developmental defects.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sahrunizam Kasah
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Christopher Oddy
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
22
|
Affiliation(s)
- Laura C Andreae
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
- Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK.
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
23
|
Badodi S, Dubuc A, Zhang X, Rosser G, Da Cunha Jaeger M, Kameda-Smith MM, Morrissy AS, Guilhamon P, Suetterlin P, Li XN, Guglielmi L, Merve A, Farooq H, Lupien M, Singh SK, Basson MA, Taylor MD, Marino S. Convergence of BMI1 and CHD7 on ERK Signaling in Medulloblastoma. Cell Rep 2017; 21:2772-2784. [PMID: 29212025 PMCID: PMC5732319 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.11.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2016] [Revised: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 11/03/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
We describe molecular convergence between BMI1 and CHD7 in the initiation of medulloblastoma. Identified in a functional genomic screen in mouse models, a BMI1High;CHD7Low expression signature within medulloblastoma characterizes patients with poor overall survival. We show that BMI1-mediated repression of the ERK1/2 pathway leads to increased proliferation and tumor burden in primary human MB cells and in a xenograft model, respectively. We provide evidence that repression of the ERK inhibitor DUSP4 by BMI1 is dependent on a more accessible chromatin configuration in G4 MB cells with low CHD7 expression. These findings extend current knowledge of the role of BMI1 and CHD7 in medulloblastoma pathogenesis, and they raise the possibility that pharmacological targeting of BMI1 or ERK may be particularly indicated in a subgroup of MB with low expression levels of CHD7.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sara Badodi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Adrian Dubuc
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 101 College Street, TMDT-11-401M, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Xinyu Zhang
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Gabriel Rosser
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Mariane Da Cunha Jaeger
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Michelle M Kameda-Smith
- Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster Children's Hospital and McMaster Stem Cell & Cancer Research Institute, MDCL 5027, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - Anca Sorana Morrissy
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 101 College Street, TMDT-11-401M, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Paul Guilhamon
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Philipp Suetterlin
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College London, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Xiao-Nan Li
- Texas Children's Cancer Centre, Texas Children's Hospital, Baylor College of Medicine, 6621 Fannin Street, MC-3-3320, Houston, TX 77479, USA
| | - Loredana Guglielmi
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Ashirwad Merve
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK
| | - Hamza Farooq
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 101 College Street, TMDT-11-401M, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Mathieu Lupien
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sheila K Singh
- Pediatric Neurosurgery, Department of Surgery, McMaster Children's Hospital and McMaster Stem Cell & Cancer Research Institute, MDCL 5027, 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4K1, Canada
| | - M Albert Basson
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College London, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, 101 College Street, TMDT-11-401M, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Silvia Marino
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, 4 Newark Street, London E1 2AT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Whittaker DE, Kasah S, Donovan APA, Ellegood J, Riegman KLH, Volk HA, McGonnell I, Lerch JP, Basson MA. Distinct cerebellar foliation anomalies in a CHD7 haploinsufficient mouse model of CHARGE syndrome. Am J Med Genet C Semin Med Genet 2017; 175. [PMID: 29168327 PMCID: PMC5765394 DOI: 10.1002/ajmg.c.31595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 09/22/2017] [Accepted: 09/24/2017] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in the gene encoding the ATP dependent chromatin‐remodeling factor, CHD7 are the major cause of CHARGE (Coloboma, Heart defects, Atresia of the choanae, Retarded growth and development, Genital‐urinary anomalies, and Ear defects) syndrome. Neurodevelopmental defects and a range of neurological signs have been identified in individuals with CHARGE syndrome, including developmental delay, lack of coordination, intellectual disability, and autistic traits. We previously identified cerebellar vermis hypoplasia and abnormal cerebellar foliation in individuals with CHARGE syndrome. Here, we report mild cerebellar hypoplasia and distinct cerebellar foliation anomalies in a Chd7 haploinsufficient mouse model. We describe specific alterations in the precise spatio‐temporal sequence of fissure formation during perinatal cerebellar development responsible for these foliation anomalies. The altered cerebellar foliation pattern in Chd7 haploinsufficient mice show some similarities to those reported in mice with altered Engrailed, Fgf8 or Zic1 gene expression and we propose that mutations or polymorphisms in these genes may modify the cerebellar phenotype in CHARGE syndrome. Our findings in a mouse model of CHARGE syndrome indicate that a careful analysis of cerebellar foliation may be warranted in patients with CHARGE syndrome, particularly in patients with cerebellar hypoplasia and developmental delay.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E Whittaker
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sahrunizam Kasah
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Alex P A Donovan
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kimberley L H Riegman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Holger A Volk
- Department of Clinical Science and Services, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Imelda McGonnell
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Donovan APA, Yu T, Ellegood J, Riegman KLH, de Geus C, van Ravenswaaij-Arts C, Fernandes C, Lerch JP, Basson MA. Cerebellar Vermis and Midbrain Hypoplasia Upon Conditional Deletion of Chd7 from the Embryonic Mid-Hindbrain Region. Front Neuroanat 2017; 11:86. [PMID: 29046629 PMCID: PMC5632662 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2017.00086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2017] [Accepted: 09/14/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Reduced fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling from the mid-hindbrain or isthmus organizer (IsO) during early embryonic development results in hypoplasia of the midbrain and cerebellar vermis. We previously reported evidence for reduced Fgf8 expression and FGF signaling in the mid-hindbrain region of embryos heterozygous for Chd7, the gene mutated in CHARGE (Coloboma, Heart defects, choanal Atresia, Retarded growth and development, Genitourinary anomalies and Ear defects) syndrome. However, Chd7+/- animals only exhibit mild cerebellar vermis anomalies. As homozygous deletion of Chd7 is embryonic lethal, we conditionally deleted Chd7 from the early embryonic mid-hindbrain region to identify the function of CHD7 in mid-hindbrain development. Using a combination of high resolution structural MRI and histology, we report striking midbrain and cerebellar vermis hypoplasia in the homozygous conditional mutants. We show that cerebellar vermis hypoplasia is associated with reduced embryonic Fgf8 expression and an expanded roof plate in rhombomere 1 (r1). These findings identify an essential role for Chd7 in regulating mid-hindbrain development via Fgf8.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex P A Donovan
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tian Yu
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jacob Ellegood
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Kimberley L H Riegman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Christa de Geus
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Conny van Ravenswaaij-Arts
- Department of Genetics, University of Groningen, University Medical Center Groningen, Groningen, Netherlands
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Jason P Lerch
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Mouse Imaging Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - M Albert Basson
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom.,MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Ahmed MU, Maurya AK, Cheng L, Jorge EC, Schubert FR, Maire P, Basson MA, Ingham PW, Dietrich S. Engrailed controls epaxial-hypaxial muscle innervation and the establishment of vertebrate three-dimensional mobility. Dev Biol 2017; 430:90-104. [PMID: 28807781 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2017.08.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 08/08/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Chordates are characterised by contractile muscle on either side of the body that promotes movement by side-to-side undulation. In the lineage leading to modern jawed vertebrates (crown group gnathostomes), this system was refined: body muscle became segregated into distinct dorsal (epaxial) and ventral (hypaxial) components that are separately innervated by the medial and hypaxial motors column, respectively, via the dorsal and ventral ramus of the spinal nerves. This allows full three-dimensional mobility, which in turn was a key factor in their evolutionary success. How the new gnathostome system is established during embryogenesis and how it may have evolved in the ancestors of modern vertebrates is not known. Vertebrate Engrailed genes have a peculiar expression pattern as they temporarily demarcate a central domain of the developing musculature at the epaxial-hypaxial boundary. Moreover, they are the only genes known with this particular expression pattern. The aim of this study was to investigate whether Engrailed genes control epaxial-hypaxial muscle development and innervation. Investigating chick, mouse and zebrafish as major gnathostome model organisms, we found that the Engrailed expression domain was associated with the establishment of the epaxial-hypaxial boundary of muscle in all three species. Moreover, the outgrowing epaxial and hypaxial nerves orientated themselves with respect to this Engrailed domain. In the chicken, loss and gain of Engrailed function changed epaxial-hypaxial somite patterning. Importantly, in all animals studied, loss and gain of Engrailed function severely disrupted the pathfinding of the spinal motor axons, suggesting that Engrailed plays an evolutionarily conserved role in the separate innervation of vertebrate epaxial-hypaxial muscle.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohi U Ahmed
- King's College London, Dept. of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Ashish K Maurya
- Institute of Molecular&Cell Biology, Proteos, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore
| | - Louise Cheng
- King's College London, Dept. of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London SE1 9RT, UK; Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, East Melbourne, Victoria 3002, Australia
| | - Erika C Jorge
- King's College London, Dept. of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London SE1 9RT, UK; Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais - Departamento de Morfologia, Av Antônio Carlos, 6627, Belo Horizonte, MG 31270-901, Brazil
| | - Frank R Schubert
- Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science, School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2DY, UK
| | - Pascal Maire
- Institut Cochin, INSERM U567, CNRS UMR 8104, Univ. Paris Descartes, Département Génétique et Développement, Equipegénétique et développement du systèmeneuromusculaire, 24 Rue du Fg St Jacques, 75014 Paris, France
| | - M Albert Basson
- King's College London, Dept. of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Philip W Ingham
- Institute of Molecular&Cell Biology, Proteos, 61 Biopolis Drive, Singapore 138673, Republic of Singapore; Dept. of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117543, Republic of Singapore
| | - Susanne Dietrich
- King's College London, Dept. of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Floor 27, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London SE1 9RT, UK; Institute of Biomedical and Biomolecular Science, School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth PO1 2DT, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Whittaker DE, Riegman KL, Kasah S, Mohan C, Yu T, Sala BP, Hebaishi H, Caruso A, Marques AC, Michetti C, Smachetti MES, Shah A, Sabbioni M, Kulhanci O, Tee WW, Reinberg D, Scattoni ML, Volk H, McGonnell I, Wardle FC, Fernandes C, Basson MA. The chromatin remodeling factor CHD7 controls cerebellar development by regulating reelin expression. J Clin Invest 2017; 127:874-887. [PMID: 28165338 PMCID: PMC5330721 DOI: 10.1172/jci83408] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2015] [Accepted: 12/12/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The mechanisms underlying the neurodevelopmental deficits associated with CHARGE syndrome, which include cerebellar hypoplasia, developmental delay, coordination problems, and autistic features, have not been identified. CHARGE syndrome has been associated with mutations in the gene encoding the ATP-dependent chromatin remodeler CHD7. CHD7 is expressed in neural stem and progenitor cells, but its role in neurogenesis during brain development remains unknown. Here we have shown that deletion of Chd7 from cerebellar granule cell progenitors (GCps) results in reduced GCp proliferation, cerebellar hypoplasia, developmental delay, and motor deficits in mice. Genome-wide expression profiling revealed downregulated expression of the gene encoding the glycoprotein reelin (Reln) in Chd7-deficient GCps. Recessive RELN mutations have been associated with severe cerebellar hypoplasia in humans. We found molecular and genetic evidence that reductions in Reln expression contribute to GCp proliferative defects and cerebellar hypoplasia in GCp-specific Chd7 mouse mutants. Finally, we showed that CHD7 is necessary for maintaining an open, accessible chromatin state at the Reln locus. Taken together, this study shows that Reln gene expression is regulated by chromatin remodeling, identifies CHD7 as a previously unrecognized upstream regulator of Reln, and provides direct in vivo evidence that a mammalian CHD protein can control brain development by modulating chromatin accessibility in neuronal progenitors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle E. Whittaker
- King’s College London, Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Guy’s Hospital Tower Wing
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, and
| | - Kimberley L.H. Riegman
- King’s College London, Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Guy’s Hospital Tower Wing
| | - Sahrunizam Kasah
- King’s College London, Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Guy’s Hospital Tower Wing
| | - Conor Mohan
- King’s College London, Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Guy’s Hospital Tower Wing
| | - Tian Yu
- King’s College London, Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Guy’s Hospital Tower Wing
| | - Blanca Pijuan Sala
- King’s College London, Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Guy’s Hospital Tower Wing
| | - Husam Hebaishi
- King’s College London, Randall Division, New Hunt’s House, London, United Kingdom
| | - Angela Caruso
- Neurotoxicology and Neuroendocrinology Section, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, and
- School of Behavioural Neuroscience, Department of Psychology, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Ana Claudia Marques
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Caterina Michetti
- Neurotoxicology and Neuroendocrinology Section, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, and
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology “V. Erspamer,” Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Apar Shah
- King’s College London, Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Guy’s Hospital Tower Wing
| | - Mara Sabbioni
- Neurotoxicology and Neuroendocrinology Section, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, and
| | - Omer Kulhanci
- MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Wee-Wei Tee
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biochemistry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Danny Reinberg
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Molecular Pharmacology and Biochemistry, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Maria Luisa Scattoni
- Neurotoxicology and Neuroendocrinology Section, Department of Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, and
| | - Holger Volk
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, and
| | - Imelda McGonnell
- Department of Comparative Biomedical Sciences, Royal Veterinary College, and
| | - Fiona C. Wardle
- King’s College London, Randall Division, New Hunt’s House, London, United Kingdom
| | - Cathy Fernandes
- MRC Social, Genetic & Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience, King’s College London, London, United Kingdom
- King’s College London, MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, New Hunt’s House, London, United Kingdom
| | - M. Albert Basson
- King’s College London, Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Guy’s Hospital Tower Wing
- King’s College London, MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, New Hunt’s House, London, United Kingdom
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Janecka M, Mill J, Basson MA, Goriely A, Spiers H, Reichenberg A, Schalkwyk L, Fernandes C. Advanced paternal age effects in neurodevelopmental disorders-review of potential underlying mechanisms. Transl Psychiatry 2017; 7:e1019. [PMID: 28140401 PMCID: PMC5299396 DOI: 10.1038/tp.2016.294] [Citation(s) in RCA: 81] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Revised: 11/23/2016] [Accepted: 12/15/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Multiple epidemiological studies suggest a relationship between advanced paternal age (APA) at conception and adverse neurodevelopmental outcomes in offspring, particularly with regard to increased risk for autism and schizophrenia. Conclusive evidence about how age-related changes in paternal gametes, or age-independent behavioral traits affect neural development is still lacking. Recent evidence suggests that the origins of APA effects are likely to be multidimensional, involving both inherited predisposition and de novo events. Here we provide a review of the epidemiological and molecular findings to date. Focusing on the latter, we present the evidence for genetic and epigenetic mechanisms underpinning the association between late fatherhood and disorder in offspring. We also discuss the limitations of the APA literature. We propose that different hypotheses relating to the origins of the APA effects are not mutually exclusive. Instead, multiple mechanisms likely contribute, reflecting the etiological complexity of neurodevelopmental disorders.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Janecka
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - J Mill
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - M A Basson
- Department of Craniofacial and Stem Cell Biology, MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - A Goriely
- Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - H Spiers
- University of Exeter Medical School, University of Exeter, Exeter, UK
| | - A Reichenberg
- Department of Psychiatry, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, USA
| | - L Schalkwyk
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Essex, Colchester, UK
| | - C Fernandes
- Social, Genetic and Developmental Psychiatry Centre, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Abstract
Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASDs) are a heterogeneous group of neurodevelopmental disorders that are diagnosed solely on the basis of behaviour. A large body of work has reported neuroanatomical differences between individuals with ASD and neurotypical controls. Despite the huge clinical and genetic heterogeneity that typifies autism, some of these anatomical features appear to be either present in most cases or so dramatically altered in some that their presence is now reasonably well replicated in a number of studies. One such finding is the tendency towards overgrowth of the frontal cortex during the early postnatal period. Although these reports have been focused primarily on the presumed pathological anatomy, they are providing us with important insights into normal brain anatomy and are stimulating new ideas and hypotheses about the normal trajectory of brain development and the function of specific anatomical brain structures. The use of model systems that include genetic model organisms such as the mouse and, more recently, human induced pluripotent stem cell‐derived brain organoids to model normal and pathological human cortical development, is proving particularly informative. Here we review some of the neuroanatomical alterations reported in autism, with a particular focus on well‐validated findings and recent advances in the field, and ask what these observations can tell us about normal and abnormal brain development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Alex P A Donovan
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| | - M Albert Basson
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, and MRC Centre for Neurodevelopmental Disorders, King's College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Jones KM, Sarić N, Russell JP, Andoniadou CL, Scambler PJ, Basson MA. CHD7 maintains neural stem cell quiescence and prevents premature stem cell depletion in the adult hippocampus. Stem Cells 2015; 33:196-210. [PMID: 25183173 PMCID: PMC5952591 DOI: 10.1002/stem.1822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2014] [Accepted: 07/19/2014] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Neural stem/progenitor cells (NSCs) in the hippocampus produce new neurons throughout adult life. NSCs are maintained in a state of reversible quiescence and the failure to maintain the quiescent state can result in the premature depletion of the stem cell pool. The epigenetic mechanisms that maintain this quiescent state have not been identified. Using an inducible knockout mouse model, we show that the chromatin remodeling factor chromodomain-helicase-DNA-binding protein 7 (CHD7) is essential for maintaining NSC quiescence. CHD7 inactivation in adult NSCs results in a loss of stem cell quiescence in the hippocampus, a transient increase in cell divisions, followed by a significant decline in neurogenesis. This loss of NSC quiescence is associated with the premature loss of NSCs in middle-aged mice. We find that CHD7 represses the transcription of several positive regulators of cell cycle progression and is required for full induction of the Notch target gene Hes5 in quiescent NSCs. These findings directly link CHD7 to pathways involved in NSC quiescence and identify the first chromatin-remodeling factor with a role in NSC quiescence and maintenance. As CHD7 haplo-insufficiency is associated with a range of cognitive disabilities in CHARGE syndrome, our observations may have implications for understanding the basis of these deficits.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Kieran M Jones
- King's College London, Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, Guy's Hospital Tower Wing, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
31
|
Jackson A, Kasah S, Mansour SL, Morrow B, Basson MA. Endoderm-specific deletion of Tbx1 reveals an FGF-independent role for Tbx1 in pharyngeal apparatus morphogenesis. Dev Dyn 2014; 243:1143-51. [PMID: 24812002 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2013] [Revised: 04/01/2014] [Accepted: 04/20/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The T-box transcription factor Tbx1, is essential for the normal development of multiple organ systems in the embryo. One of the most striking phenotypes in Tbx1-/- embryos is the failure of the caudal pharyngeal pouches to evaginate from the foregut endoderm. Despite considerable interest in the role of Tbx1 in development, the mechanisms whereby Tbx1 controls caudal pouch formation have remained elusive. In particular, the question as to how Tbx1 expression in the pharyngeal endoderm regulates pharyngeal pouch morphogenesis in the mouse embryo is not known. RESULTS To address this question, we produced mouse embryos in which Tbx1 was specifically deleted from the pharyngeal endoderm and, as expected, embryos failed to form caudal pharyngeal pouches. To determine the molecular mechanism, we examined expression of Fgf3 and Fgf8 ligands and downstream effectors. Although Fgf8 expression is greatly reduced in Tbx1-deficient endoderm, FGF signaling levels are unaffected. Furthermore, pouch morphogenesis is only partially perturbed by the loss of both Fgf3 and Fgf8 from the endoderm, indicating that neither are required for pouch formation. CONCLUSIONS Tbx1 deletion from the pharyngeal endoderm is sufficient to cause caudal pharyngeal arch segmentation defects by FGF-independent effectors that remain to be identified.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Abigail Jackson
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
32
|
Basson MA. Epistatic interactions between Chd7 and Fgf8 during cerebellar development: Implications for CHARGE syndrome. Rare Dis 2014; 2:e28688. [PMID: 25054096 PMCID: PMC4091603 DOI: 10.4161/rdis.28688] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2014] [Revised: 03/20/2014] [Accepted: 03/27/2014] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
CHARGE syndrome is a rare, autosomal dominant condition caused by mutations in the CHD7 gene. Although central nervous system defects have been reported, the detailed description and analysis of these anomalies in CHARGE syndrome patients lag far behind the description of other, more easily observed defects. We recently described cerebellar abnormalities in CHARGE syndrome patients and used mouse models to identify the underlying causes. Our studies identified altered expression of the homeobox genes Otx2 and Gbx2 in the developing neural tube of Chd7−/− embryos. Furthermore, we showed that the expression of Fgf8 is sensitive to Chd7 gene dosage and demonstrated an epistatic relationship between these genes during cerebellar vermis development. These findings provided, for the first time, an example of cerebellar vermis hypoplasia in a human syndrome that can be linked to deregulated FGF signaling. I discuss some of these observations and their implications for CHARGE syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Albert Basson
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology; King's College London; Guy's Hospital Tower Wing; London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Yu T, Meiners LC, Danielsen K, Wong MT, Bowler T, Reinberg D, Scambler PJ, van Ravenswaaij-Arts CM, Basson MA. Deregulated FGF and homeotic gene expression underlies cerebellar vermis hypoplasia in CHARGE syndrome. eLife 2013; 2:e01305. [PMID: 24368733 PMCID: PMC3870572 DOI: 10.7554/elife.01305] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Mutations in CHD7 are the major cause of CHARGE syndrome, an autosomal dominant disorder with an estimated prevalence of 1/15,000. We have little understanding of the disruptions in the developmental programme that underpin brain defects associated with this syndrome. Using mouse models, we show that Chd7 haploinsufficiency results in reduced Fgf8 expression in the isthmus organiser (IsO), an embryonic signalling centre that directs early cerebellar development. Consistent with this observation, Chd7 and Fgf8 loss-of-function alleles interact during cerebellar development. CHD7 associates with Otx2 and Gbx2 regulatory elements and altered expression of these homeobox genes implicates CHD7 in the maintenance of cerebellar identity during embryogenesis. Finally, we report cerebellar vermis hypoplasia in 35% of CHARGE syndrome patients with a proven CHD7 mutation. These observations provide key insights into the molecular aetiology of cerebellar defects in CHARGE syndrome and link reduced FGF signalling to cerebellar vermis hypoplasia in a human syndrome. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01305.001 CHARGE syndrome is a rare genetic condition that causes various developmental abnormalities, including heart defects, deafness and neurological defects. In most cases, it is caused by mutations in a human gene called CHD7. CHD7 is known to control the expression of other genes during embryonic development, but the molecular mechanisms by which mutations in CHD7 lead to the neural defects found in CHARGE syndrome are unclear. During embryonic development, the neural tube—the precursor to the nervous system—is divided into segments, which give rise to different neural structures. The r1 segment, for example, forms the cerebellum, and the secretion of a protein called FGF8 (short for fibroblast growth factor 8) by a nearby structure called the isthmus organiser has an important role in this process. Since a reduction in FGF8 causes defects similar to those found in CHARGE syndrome, Yu et al. decided to investigate if the FGF signalling pathway was involved in this syndrome. Mice should have two working copies of the Chd7 gene, and mice that lack one of these suffer from symptoms similar to those of humans with CHARGE syndrome. Yu et al. examined the embryos of these mice and found that the isthmus organiser produced less FGF8. Embryos with no working copies of the gene completely lost the r1 segment. The loss of this segment appeared to be caused by changes in the expression of homeobox genes (the genes that determine the identity of brain segments). Embryos that did not have any working copies of the Chd7 gene died early in development, which made further studies impossible. However, embryos that had one working copy of the Chd7 gene survived, and Yu et al. took advantage of this to study the effects of reduced FGF8 expression on these mice. These experiments showed that mice with just one working copy of the Fgf8 gene and one working copy of the Chd7 gene had a small cerebellar vermis. This part of the cerebellum is known to be very sensitive to changes in FGF8 signalling. Yu et al. then used an MRI scanner to look at the cerebellar vermis in patients with CHARGE syndrome, and found that more than half of the patients had abnormal cerebella. In addition to confirming that studies on mouse embryos can provide insights into human disease, the work of Yu et al. add defects in the cerebellar vermis to the list of developmental abnormalities associated with CHARGE syndrome. The next step will be to test if any mutations in the human FGF8 gene can contribute to cerebellar defects in CHARGE syndrome, and to investigate if any other developmental defects in CHARGE syndrome are associated with abnormal FGF8 levels. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.01305.002
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Yu
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
34
|
Ching ST, Cunha GR, Baskin LS, Basson MA, Klein OD. Coordinated activity of Spry1 and Spry2 is required for normal development of the external genitalia. Dev Biol 2013; 386:1-11. [PMID: 24361260 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.12.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2013] [Revised: 12/05/2013] [Accepted: 12/10/2013] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Development of the mammalian external genitalia is controlled by a network of signaling molecules and transcription factors. Because FGF signaling plays a central role in this complicated morphogenetic process, we investigated the role of Sprouty genes, which are important intracellular modulators of FGF signaling, during embryonic development of the external genitalia in mice. We found that Sprouty genes are expressed by the urethral epithelium during embryogenesis, and that they have a critical function during urethral canalization and fusion. Development of the genital tubercle (GT), the anlage of the prepuce and glans penis in males and glans clitoris in females, was severely affected in male embryos carrying null alleles of both Spry1 and Spry2. In Spry1(-/-);Spry2(-/-) embryos, the internal tubular urethra was absent, and urothelial morphology and organization was abnormal. These effects were due, in part, to elevated levels of epithelial cell proliferation in Spry1(-/-);Spry2(-/-) embryos. Despite changes in overall organization, terminal differentiation of the urothelium was not significantly affected. Characterization of the molecular pathways that regulate normal GT development confirmed that deletion of Sprouty genes leads to elevated FGF signaling, whereas levels of signaling in other cascades were largely preserved. Together, these results show that levels of FGF signaling must be tightly regulated during embryonic development of the external genitalia in mice, and that this regulation is mediated in part through the activity of Sprouty gene products.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Saunders T Ching
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, United States
| | - Gerald R Cunha
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, United States
| | - Laurence S Baskin
- Department of Urology, University of California, San Francisco, United States
| | - M Albert Basson
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College, London, UK
| | - Ophir D Klein
- Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Program in Craniofacial and Mesenchymal Biology, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, United States; Department of Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, United States.
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Dyer C, Blanc E, Hanisch A, Roehl H, Otto GW, Yu T, Basson MA, Knight R. A bi-modal function of Wnt signalling directs an FGF activity gradient to spatially regulate neuronal differentiation in the midbrain. Development 2013; 141:63-72. [PMID: 24284206 DOI: 10.1242/dev.099507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
FGFs and Wnts are important morphogens during midbrain development, but their importance and potential interactions during neurogenesis are poorly understood. We have employed a combination of genetic and pharmacological manipulations in zebrafish to show that during neurogenesis FGF activity occurs as a gradient along the anterior-posterior axis of the dorsal midbrain and directs spatially dynamic expression of the Hairy gene her5. As FGF activity diminishes during development, Her5 is lost and differentiation of neuronal progenitors occurs in an anterior-posterior manner. We generated mathematical models to explain how Wnt and FGFs direct the spatial differentiation of neurons in the midbrain through Wnt regulation of FGF signalling. These models suggested that a negative-feedback loop controlled by Wnt is crucial for regulating FGF activity. We tested Sprouty genes as mediators of this regulatory loop using conditional mouse knockouts and pharmacological manipulations in zebrafish. These reveal that Sprouty genes direct the positioning of early midbrain neurons and are Wnt responsive in the midbrain. We propose a model in which Wnt regulates FGF activity at the isthmus by driving both FGF and Sprouty gene expression. This controls a dynamic, posteriorly retracting expression of her5 that directs neuronal differentiation in a precise spatiotemporal manner in the midbrain.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carlene Dyer
- Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
36
|
Basson MA, Wingate RJ. Congenital hypoplasia of the cerebellum: developmental causes and behavioral consequences. Front Neuroanat 2013; 7:29. [PMID: 24027500 PMCID: PMC3759752 DOI: 10.3389/fnana.2013.00029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 08/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last 60 years, the spotlight of research has periodically returned to the cerebellum as new techniques and insights have emerged. Because of its simple homogeneous structure, limited diversity of cell types and characteristic behavioral pathologies, the cerebellum is a natural home for studies of cell specification, patterning, and neuronal migration. However, recent evidence has extended the traditional range of perceived cerebellar function to include modulation of cognitive processes and implicated cerebellar hypoplasia and Purkinje neuron hypo-cellularity with autistic spectrum disorder. In the light of this emerging frontier, we review the key stages and genetic mechanisms behind cerebellum development. In particular, we discuss the role of the midbrain hindbrain isthmic organizer in the development of the cerebellar vermis and the specification and differentiation of Purkinje cells and granule neurons. These developmental processes are then considered in relation to recent insights into selected human developmental cerebellar defects: Joubert syndrome, Dandy–Walker malformation, and pontocerebellar hypoplasia. Finally, we review current research that opens up the possibility of using the mouse as a genetic model to study the role of the cerebellum in cognitive function.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Albert Basson
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College London London, UK ; Medical Research Council Centre for Developmental Neurobiology, King's College London London, UK
| | | |
Collapse
|
37
|
Gardiner JR, Jackson AL, Gordon J, Lickert H, Manley NR, Basson MA. Localised inhibition of FGF signalling in the third pharyngeal pouch is required for normal thymus and parathyroid organogenesis. Development 2012; 139:3456-66. [PMID: 22912418 DOI: 10.1242/dev.079400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The thymus and parathyroid glands are derived from the third pharyngeal pouch endoderm. The mechanisms that establish distinct molecular domains in the third pouch and control the subsequent separation of these organ primordia from the pharynx are poorly understood. Here, we report that mouse embryos that lack two FGF feedback antagonists, Spry1 and Spry2, display parathyroid and thymus hypoplasia and a failure of these organ primordia to completely separate from the pharynx. We show that FGF ligands and downstream reporter genes are expressed in highly regionalised patterns in the third pouch and that sprouty gene deletion results in upregulated FGF signalling throughout the pouch endoderm. As a consequence, the initiation of markers of parathyroid and thymus fate is altered. In addition, a normal apoptotic programme that is associated with the separation of the primordia from the pharynx is disrupted, resulting in the maintenance of a thymus-pharynx attachment and a subsequent inability of the thymus to migrate to its appropriate position above the heart. We demonstrate that the sprouty genes function in the pharyngeal endoderm itself to control these processes and that the defects in sprouty-deficient mutants are, at least in part, due to hyper-responsiveness to Fgf8. Finally, we provide evidence to suggest that parathyroid hypoplasia in these mutants is due to early gene expression defects in the third pouch, whereas thymus hypoplasia is caused by reduced proliferation of thymic epithelial cells in the thymus primordium.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer R Gardiner
- Department of Craniofacial Development, King's College London, 27th floor, Guy's Tower, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
38
|
Pitera JE, Woolf AS, Basson MA, Scambler PJ. Sprouty1 haploinsufficiency prevents renal agenesis in a model of Fraser syndrome. J Am Soc Nephrol 2012; 23:1790-6. [PMID: 23064016 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2012020146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Deficiency of the extracellular matrix molecule FRAS1, normally expressed by the ureteric bud, leads to bilateral renal agenesis in humans with Fraser syndrome and blebbed (Fras1(bl/bl)) mice. The metanephric mesenchyme of these mutants fails to express sufficient Gdnf, which activates receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signalling, contributing to the phenotype. To determine whether modulating RTK signalling may overcome the abnormal nephrogenesis characteristic of Fraser syndrome, we introduced a single null Sprouty1 allele into Fras1(bl/bl) mice, thereby reducing the ureteric bud's expression of this anti-branching molecule and antagonist of RTK signalling. This prevented renal agenesis in Fras1(bl/bl) mice, permitting kidney development and postnatal survival. We found that fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling contributed to this genetic rescue, and exogenous FGF10 rescued defects in Fras1(bl/bl) rudiments in vitro. Whereas wild-type metanephroi expressed FRAS1 and the related proteins FREM1 and FREM2, FRAS1 was absent and the other proteins were downregulated in rescued kidneys, consistent with a reciprocally stabilized FRAS1/FREM1/FREM2 complex. In addition to contributing to knowledge regarding events during nephrogenesis, the demonstrated rescue of renal agenesis in a model of a human genetic disease raises the possibility that enhancing growth factor signaling might be a therapeutic approach to ameliorate this devastating malformation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jolanta E Pitera
- Molecular Medicine Unit, UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
39
|
Magnani D, Hasenpusch-Theil K, Benadiba C, Yu T, Basson MA, Price DJ, Lebrand C, Theil T. Gli3 controls corpus callosum formation by positioning midline guideposts during telencephalic patterning. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2012; 24:186-98. [PMID: 23042737 DOI: 10.1093/cercor/bhs303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
The corpus callosum (CC) represents the major forebrain commissure connecting the 2 cerebral hemispheres. Midline crossing of callosal axons is controlled by several glial and neuronal guideposts specifically located along the callosal path, but it remains unknown how these cells acquire their position. Here, we show that the Gli3 hypomorphic mouse mutant Polydactyly Nagoya (Pdn) displays agenesis of the CC and mislocation of the glial and neuronal guidepost cells. Using transplantation experiments, we demonstrate that agenesis of the CC is primarily caused by midline defects. These defects originate during telencephalic patterning and involve an up-regulation of Slit2 expression and altered Fgf and Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Mutations in sprouty1/2 which mimic the changes in these signaling pathways cause a disorganization of midline guideposts and CC agenesis. Moreover, a partial recovery of midline abnormalities in Pdn/Pdn;Slit2(-/-) embryos mutants confirms the functional importance of correct Slit2 expression levels for callosal development. Hence, Gli3 controlled restriction of Fgf and Wnt/β-catenin signaling and of Slit2 expression is crucial for positioning midline guideposts and callosal development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dario Magnani
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
40
|
Macià A, Gallel P, Vaquero M, Gou-Fabregas M, Santacana M, Maliszewska A, Robledo M, Gardiner JR, Basson MA, Matias-Guiu X, Encinas M. Sprouty1 is a candidate tumor-suppressor gene in medullary thyroid carcinoma. Oncogene 2012; 31:3961-72. [PMID: 22158037 PMCID: PMC3378485 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2011.556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2011] [Revised: 10/07/2011] [Accepted: 10/31/2011] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC) is a malignancy derived from the calcitonin-producing C-cells of the thyroid gland. Oncogenic mutations of the Ret proto-oncogene are found in all heritable forms of MTC and roughly one half of the sporadic cases. However, several lines of evidence argue for the existence of additional genetic lesions necessary for the development of MTC. Sprouty (Spry) family of genes is composed of four members in mammals (Spry1-4). Some Spry family members have been proposed as candidate tumor-suppressor genes in a variety of cancerous pathologies. In this work, we show that targeted deletion of Spry1 causes C-cell hyperplasia, a precancerous lesion preceding MTC, in young adult mice. Expression of Spry1 restrains proliferation of the MTC-derived cell line, TT. Finally, we found that the Spry1 promoter is frequently methylated in MTC and that Spry1 expression is consequently decreased. These findings identify Spry1 as a candidate tumor-suppressor gene in MTC.
Collapse
MESH Headings
- Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
- Animals
- Carcinoma, Medullary/genetics
- Carcinoma, Medullary/pathology
- Carcinoma, Neuroendocrine
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Proliferation
- DNA Methylation
- Female
- Genes, Tumor Suppressor
- Humans
- Hyperplasia
- Membrane Proteins/genetics
- Membrane Proteins/metabolism
- Mice
- Mice, Knockout
- Mice, SCID
- Phosphoproteins/genetics
- Phosphoproteins/metabolism
- Precancerous Conditions/pathology
- Promoter Regions, Genetic
- Proto-Oncogene Mas
- Proto-Oncogene Proteins c-ret/genetics
- RNA Interference
- RNA, Small Interfering
- Sequence Deletion
- Thyroid Gland/metabolism
- Thyroid Gland/pathology
- Thyroid Neoplasms/genetics
- Thyroid Neoplasms/pathology
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Anna Macià
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Pilar Gallel
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Genetics, Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Marta Vaquero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Myriam Gou-Fabregas
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Maria Santacana
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Genetics, Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Agnieszka Maliszewska
- Hereditary Endocrine Cancer Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mercedes Robledo
- Hereditary Endocrine Cancer Group, Spanish National Cancer Research Centre (CNIO), Madrid, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), Madrid, Spain
| | | | - M. Albert Basson
- Department of Craniofacial Development, King’s College London, UK
| | - Xavier Matias-Guiu
- Department of Pathology and Molecular Genetics, Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| | - Mario Encinas
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Universitat de Lleida/Institut de Recerca Biomèdica de Lleida, Lleida, Spain
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Shin EHH, Basson MA, Robinson ML, McAvoy JW, Lovicu FJ. Sprouty is a negative regulator of transforming growth factor β-induced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and cataract. Mol Med 2012; 18:861-73. [PMID: 22517312 DOI: 10.2119/molmed.2012.00111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/10/2012] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrosis affects an extensive range of organs and is increasingly acknowledged as a major component of many chronic disorders. It is now well accepted that the elevated expression of certain inflammatory cell-derived cytokines, especially transforming growth factor β (TGFβ), is involved in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) leading to the pathogenesis of a diverse range of fibrotic diseases. In lens, aberrant TGFβ signaling has been shown to induce EMT leading to cataract formation. Sproutys (Sprys) are negative feedback regulators of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK)-signaling pathways in many vertebrate systems, and in this study we showed that they are important in the murine lens for promoting the lens epithelial cell phenotype. Conditional deletion of Spry1 and Spry2 specifically from the lens leads to an aberrant increase in RTK-mediated extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 phosphorylation and, surprisingly, elevated TGFβ-related signaling in lens epithelial cells, leading to an EMT and subsequent cataract formation. Conversely, increased Spry overexpression in lens cells can suppress not only TGFβ-induced signaling, but also the accompanying EMT and cataract formation. On the basis of these findings, we propose that a better understanding of the relationship between Spry and TGFβ signaling will not only elucidate the etiology of lens pathology, but will also lead to the development of treatments for other fibrotic-related diseases associated with TGFβ-induced EMT.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Eun Hye H Shin
- Anatomy and Histology, Bosch Institute & Save Sight Institute, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
42
|
Simrick S, Szumska D, Gardiner JR, Jones K, Sagar K, Morrow B, Bhattacharya S, Basson MA. Biallelic expression of Tbx1 protects the embryo from developmental defects caused by increased receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. Dev Dyn 2012; 241:1310-24. [PMID: 22674535 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.23812] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/13/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND 22q11.2 deletion syndrome (22q11DS) is the most common microdeletion syndrome in humans, characterized by cardiovascular defects such as interrupted aortic arch, outflow tract defects, thymus and parathyroid hypo- or aplasia, and cleft palate. Heterozygosity of Tbx1, the mouse homolog of the candidate TBX1 gene, results in mild defects dependent on genetic background, whereas complete inactivation results in severe malformations in multiple tissues. RESULTS The loss of function of two Sprouty genes, which encode feedback antagonists of receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) signaling, phenocopy many defects associated with 22q11DS in the mouse. The stepwise reduction of Sprouty gene dosage resulted in different phenotypes emerging at specific steps, suggesting that the threshold up to which a given developmental process can tolerate increased RTK signaling is different. Tbx1 heterozygosity significantly exacerbated the severity of all these defects, which correlated with a substantial increase in RTK signaling. CONCLUSIONS Our findings suggest that TBX1 functions as an essential component of a mechanism that protects the embryo against perturbations in RTK signaling that may lead to developmental defects characteristic of 22q11DS. We propose that genetic factors that enhance RTK signaling ought to be considered as potential genetic modifiers of this syndrome.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Subreena Simrick
- Department of Craniofacial Development and Stem Cell Biology, King's College London, Guy's Tower, London, United Kingdom
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
43
|
Abstract
All the information to make a complete, fully functional living organism is encoded within the genome of the fertilized oocyte. How is this genetic code translated into the vast array of cellular behaviors that unfold during the course of embryonic development, as the zygote slowly morphs into a new organism? Studies over the last 30 years or so have shown that many of these cellular processes are driven by secreted or membrane-bound signaling molecules. Elucidating how the genetic code is translated into instructions or signals during embryogenesis, how signals are generated at the correct time and place and at the appropriate level, and finally, how these instructions are interpreted and put into action, are some of the central questions of developmental biology. Our understanding of the causes of congenital malformations and disease has improved substantially with the rapid advances in our knowledge of signaling pathways and their regulation during development. In this article, I review some of the signaling pathways that play essential roles during embryonic development. These examples show some of the mechanisms used by cells to receive and interpret developmental signals. I also discuss how signaling pathways downstream from these signals are regulated and how they induce specific cellular responses that ultimately affect cell fate and morphogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- M Albert Basson
- Department of Craniofacial Development, King's College London, United Kingdom.
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Economou AD, Ohazama A, Porntaveetus T, Sharpe PT, Kondo S, Basson MA, Gritli-Linde A, Cobourne MT, Green JBA. Periodic stripe formation by a Turing mechanism operating at growth zones in the mammalian palate. Nat Genet 2012; 44:348-51. [PMID: 22344222 PMCID: PMC3303118 DOI: 10.1038/ng.1090] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2011] [Accepted: 12/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
We present direct evidence of an activator-inhibitor system in the generation of the regularly spaced transverse ridges of the palate. We show that new ridges, or rugae, marked by stripes of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) expression, appear at two growth zones where the space between previously laid-down rugae increases. However, inter-rugal growth is not absolutely required: new stripes still appear when growth is inhibited. Furthermore, when a ruga is excised new Shh expression appears, not at the cut edge but as bifurcating stripes branching from the neighbouring Shh stripe, diagnostic of a Turing-type reaction-diffusion mechanism. Genetic and inhibitor experiments identify Fibroblast Growth Factor (FGF) and Shh as an activator-inhibitor pair in this system. These findings demonstrate a reaction-diffusion mechanism likely to be widely relevant in vertebrate development.
Collapse
|
45
|
Yu T, Yaguchi Y, Echevarria D, Martinez S, Basson MA. Sprouty genes prevent excessive FGF signalling in multiple cell types throughout development of the cerebellum. Development 2011; 138:2957-68. [PMID: 21693512 DOI: 10.1242/dev.063784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and regulators of the FGF signalling pathway are expressed in several cell types within the cerebellum throughout its development. Although much is known about the function of this pathway during the establishment of the cerebellar territory during early embryogenesis, the role of this pathway during later developmental stages is still poorly understood. Here, we investigated the function of sprouty genes (Spry1, Spry2 and Spry4), which encode feedback antagonists of FGF signalling, during cerebellar development in the mouse. Simultaneous deletion of more than one of these genes resulted in a number of defects, including mediolateral expansion of the cerebellar vermis, reduced thickness of the granule cell layer and abnormal foliation. Analysis of cerebellar development revealed that the anterior cerebellar neuroepithelium in the early embryonic cerebellum was expanded and that granule cell proliferation during late embryogenesis and early postnatal development was reduced. We show that the granule cell proliferation deficit correlated with reduced sonic hedgehog (SHH) expression and signalling. A reduction in Fgfr1 dosage during development rescued these defects, confirming that the abnormalities are due to excess FGF signalling. Our data indicate that sprouty acts both cell autonomously in granule cell precursors and non-cell autonomously to regulate granule cell number. Taken together, our data demonstrate that FGF signalling levels have to be tightly controlled throughout cerebellar development in order to maintain the normal development of multiple cell types.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tian Yu
- Department of Craniofacial Development, King's College London, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Simrick S, Lickert H, Basson MA. Sprouty genes are essential for the normal development of epibranchial ganglia in the mouse embryo. Dev Biol 2011; 358:147-55. [PMID: 21806979 PMCID: PMC3368431 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2011.07.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2011] [Revised: 07/13/2011] [Accepted: 07/15/2011] [Indexed: 12/04/2022]
Abstract
Fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signalling has important roles in the development of the embryonic pharyngeal (branchial) arches, but its effects on innervation of the arches and associated structures have not been studied extensively. We investigated the consequences of deleting two receptor tyrosine kinase (RTK) antagonists of the Sprouty (Spry) gene family on the early development of the branchial nerves. The morphology of the facial, glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves are abnormal in Spry1−/−;Spry2−/− embryos. We identify specific defects in the epibranchial placodes and neural crest, which contribute sensory neurons and glia to these nerves. A dissection of the tissue-specific roles of these genes in branchial nerve development shows that Sprouty gene deletion in the pharyngeal epithelia can affect both placode formation and neural crest fate. However, epithelial-specific gene deletion only results in defects in the facial nerve and not the glossopharyngeal and vagus nerves, suggesting that the facial nerve is most sensitive to perturbations in RTK signalling. Reducing the Fgf8 gene dosage only partially rescued defects in the glossopharyngeal nerve and was not sufficient to rescue facial nerve defects, suggesting that FGF8 is functionally redundant with other RTK ligands during facial nerve development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Subreena Simrick
- Department of Craniofacial Development, King's College London, Floor 27, Guy's Tower, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Mao Y, Mulvaney J, Zakaria S, Yu T, Morgan KM, Allen S, Basson MA, Francis-West P, Irvine KD. Characterization of a Dchs1 mutant mouse reveals requirements for Dchs1-Fat4 signaling during mammalian development. Development 2011; 138:947-57. [PMID: 21303848 DOI: 10.1242/dev.057166] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
The Drosophila Dachsous and Fat proteins function as ligand and receptor, respectively, for an intercellular signaling pathway that regulates Hippo signaling and planar cell polarity. Although gene-targeted mutations in two mammalian Fat genes have been described, whether mammals have a Fat signaling pathway equivalent to that in Drosophila, and what its biological functions might be, have remained unclear. Here, we describe a gene-targeted mutation in a murine Dachsous homolog, Dchs1. Analysis of the phenotypes of Dchs1 mutant mice and comparisons with Fat4 mutant mice identify requirements for these genes in multiple organs, including the ear, kidney, skeleton, intestine, heart and lung. Dchs1 and Fat4 single mutants and Dchs1 Fat4 double mutants have similar phenotypes throughout the body. In some cases, these phenotypes suggest that Dchs1-Fat4 signaling influences planar cell polarity. In addition to the appearance of cysts in newborn kidneys, we also identify and characterize a requirement for Dchs1 and Fat4 in growth, branching and cell survival during early kidney development. Dchs1 and Fat4 are predominantly expressed in mesenchymal cells in multiple organs, and mutation of either gene increases protein staining for the other. Our analysis implies that Dchs1 and Fat4 function as a ligand-receptor pair during murine development, and identifies novel requirements for Dchs1-Fat4 signaling in multiple organs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yaopan Mao
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Waksman Institute and Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ 08854, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
48
|
Porntaveetus T, Otsuka-Tanaka Y, Basson MA, Moon AM, Sharpe PT, Ohazama A. Expression of fibroblast growth factors (Fgfs) in murine tooth development. J Anat 2011; 218:534-43. [PMID: 21332717 DOI: 10.1111/j.1469-7580.2011.01352.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Fgf signalling is known to play critical roles in tooth development. Twenty-two Fgf ligands have been identified in mammals, but expression of only 10 in molars and three in the incisor loop stem cell region have been documented in murine tooth development. Our understanding of Fgf signalling in tooth development thus remains incomplete and we therefore carried out comparative in situ hybridisation analysis of unexamined Fgf ligands (eight in molars and 15 in cervical loops of incisors; Fgf11-Fgf14 were excluded from this analysis because they are not secreted and do not activate Fgf receptors) during tooth development. To identify where Fgf signalling is activated, we also examined the expression of Etv4 and Etv5, considered to be transcriptional targets of the Fgf signalling pathway. In molar tooth development, the expression of Fgf15 and Fgf20 was restricted to the primary enamel knots, whereas Etv4 and Etv5 were expressed in cells surrounding the primary enamel knots. Fgf20 expression was observed in the secondary enamel knots, whereas Fgf15 showed localised expression in the adjacent mesenchyme. Fgf16, Etv4 and Etv5 were strongly expressed in the ameloblasts of molars. In the incisor cervical loop stem cell region, Fgf17, Fgf18, Etv4 and Etv5 showed a restricted expression pattern. These molecules thus show dynamic temporo-spatial expression in murine tooth development. We also analysed teeth in Fgf15(-/-) and Fgf15(-/-) ;Fgf8(+/-) mutant mice. Neither mutant showed significant abnormalities in tooth development, indicating likely functional redundancy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thantrira Porntaveetus
- Department of Craniofacial Development, Dental Institute, King's College London, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Akbulut S, Reddi AL, Aggarwal P, Ambardekar C, Canciani B, Kim MKH, Hix L, Vilimas T, Mason J, Basson MA, Lovatt M, Powell J, Collins S, Quatela S, Phillips M, Licht JD. Sprouty proteins inhibit receptor-mediated activation of phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C. Mol Biol Cell 2010; 21:3487-96. [PMID: 20719962 PMCID: PMC2947483 DOI: 10.1091/mbc.e10-02-0123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
PLCγ03B3 binds Spry1 and Spry2. Overexpression of Spry decreased PLCγ03B3 activity and IP3 and DAG production, whereas Spry-deficient cells yielded more IP3. Spry overexpression inhibited T-cell receptor signaling and Spry1 null T-cells hyperproliferated with TCR ligation. Through action of PLCγ03B3, Spry may influence signaling through multiple receptors. Sprouty (Spry) proteins are negative regulators of receptor tyrosine kinase signaling; however, their exact mechanism of action remains incompletely understood. We identified phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PLC)-γ as a partner of the Spry1 and Spry2 proteins. Spry–PLCγ interaction was dependent on the Src homology 2 domain of PLCγ and a conserved N-terminal tyrosine residue in Spry1 and Spry2. Overexpression of Spry1 and Spry2 was associated with decreased PLCγ phosphorylation and decreased PLCγ activity as measured by production of inositol (1,4,5)-triphosphate (IP3) and diacylglycerol, whereas cells deficient for Spry1 or Spry1, -2, and -4 showed increased production of IP3 at baseline and further increased in response to growth factor signals. Overexpression of Spry 1 or Spry2 or small-interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of PLCγ1 or PLCγ2 abrogated the activity of a calcium-dependent reporter gene, suggesting that Spry inhibited calcium-mediated signaling downstream of PLCγ. Furthermore, Spry overexpression in T-cells, which are highly dependent on PLCγ activity and calcium signaling, blocked T-cell receptor-mediated calcium release. Accordingly, cultured T-cells from Spry1 gene knockout mice showed increased proliferation in response to T-cell receptor stimulation. These data highlight an important action of Spry, which may allow these proteins to influence signaling through multiple receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Simge Akbulut
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Yaguchi Y, Gardiner J, Yu T, Shim K, Morrow B, Basson MA. The control of inner ear morphogenesis by Sprouty and Tbx1 genes in mouse models of 22q11.2 deletion syndrome. Dev Biol 2010. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2010.05.131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
|