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Meindl K, Issler N, Afonso S, Cebrian-Serrano A, Müller K, Sterner C, Othmen H, Tegtmeier I, Witzgall R, Klootwijk E, Davies B, Kleta R, Warth R. A missense mutation in Ehd1 associated with defective spermatogenesis and male infertility. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1240558. [PMID: 37900275 PMCID: PMC10600459 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1240558] [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] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2023] [Accepted: 09/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Normal function of the C-terminal Eps15 homology domain-containing protein 1 (EHD1) has previously been associated with endocytic vesicle trafficking, shaping of intracellular membranes, and ciliogenesis. We recently identified an autosomal recessive missense mutation c.1192C>T (p.R398W) of EHD1 in patients who had low molecular weight proteinuria (0.7-2.1 g/d) and high-frequency hearing loss. It was already known from Ehd1 knockout mice that inactivation of Ehd1 can lead to male infertility. However, the exact role of the EHD1 protein and its p.R398W mutant during spermatogenesis remained still unclear. Here, we report the testicular phenotype of a knockin mouse model carrying the p.R398W mutation in the EHD1 protein. Male homozygous knockin mice were infertile, whereas the mutation had no effect on female fertility. Testes and epididymes were significantly reduced in size and weight. The testicular epithelium appeared profoundly damaged and had a disorganized architecture. The composition of developing cell types was altered. Malformed acrosomes covered underdeveloped and misshaped sperm heads. In the sperm tail, midpieces were largely missing indicating disturbed assembly of the sperm tail. Defective structures, i.e., nuclei, acrosomes, and sperm tail midpieces, were observed in large vacuoles scattered throughout the epithelium. Interestingly, cilia formation itself did not appear to be affected, as the axoneme and other parts of the sperm tails except the midpieces appeared to be intact. In wildtype mice, EHD1 co-localized with acrosomal granules on round spermatids, suggesting a role of the EHD1 protein during acrosomal development. Wildtype EHD1 also co-localized with the VPS35 component of the retromer complex, whereas the p.R398W mutant did not. The testicular pathologies appeared very early during the first spermatogenic wave in young mice (starting at 14 dpp) and tubular destruction worsened with age. Taken together, EHD1 plays an important and probably multifaceted role in spermatogenesis in mice. Therefore, EHD1 may also be a hitherto underestimated infertility gene in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Katrin Meindl
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Naomi Issler
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
- Pediatric Nephrology Unit and Research Lab, Hadassah Medical Center and Faculty of Medicine, Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Jerusalem, Israel
| | - Sara Afonso
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Alberto Cebrian-Serrano
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Helmholtz Zentrum München, Institute of Diabetes and Obesity, Munich, Germany
- German Center for Diabetes Research (DZD), Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Karin Müller
- Leibniz Institute for Zoo- und Wildlife Research, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Helga Othmen
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
- Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ines Tegtmeier
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ralph Witzgall
- Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Enriko Klootwijk
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Davies
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
- Genetic Modification Service, The Francis Crick Institute, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Kleta
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Richard Warth
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Heinl ES, Lorenz S, Schmidt B, Nasser M Laqtom N, Mazzulli JR, Francelle L, Yu TW, Greenberg B, Storch S, Tegtmeier I, Othmen H, Maurer K, Steinfurth M, Witzgall R, Milenkovic V, Wetzel CH, Reichold M. CLN7/MFSD8 may be an important factor for SARS-CoV-2 cell entry. iScience 2022; 25:105082. [PMID: 36093380 PMCID: PMC9444308 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105082] [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] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2021] [Revised: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 08/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 virus has triggered a worldwide pandemic. According to the BioGrid database, CLN7 (MFSD8) is thought to interact with several viral proteins. The aim of this work was to investigate a possible involvement of CLN7 in the infection process. Experiments on a CLN7-deficient HEK293T cell line exhibited a 90% reduced viral load compared to wild-type cells. This observation may be linked to the finding that CLN7 ko cells have a significantly reduced GM1 content in their cell membrane. GM1 is found highly enriched in lipid rafts, which are thought to play an important role in SARS-CoV-2 infection. In contrast, overexpression of CLN7 led to an increase in viral load. This study provides evidence that CLN7 is involved in SARS-CoV-2 infection. This makes it a potential pharmacological target for drug development against COVID-19. Furthermore, it provides insights into the physiological function of CLN7 where still only little is known about.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena-Sofia Heinl
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Lorenz
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Barbara Schmidt
- Institute of Clinical Microbiology and Hygiene, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Nouf Nasser M Laqtom
- Departments of Chemical Engineering and Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Joseph R. Mazzulli
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Laetitia Francelle
- The Ken and Ruth Davee Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Timothy W. Yu
- Division of Genetics and Genomics, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Benjamin Greenberg
- Department of Neurology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, USA
| | - Stephan Storch
- Children’s Hospital Biochemistry, University Medical Center Hamburg Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ines Tegtmeier
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Helga Othmen
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Katja Maurer
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Malin Steinfurth
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ralph Witzgall
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Vladimir Milenkovic
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christian H. Wetzel
- Department of Psychiatry and Psychotherapy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Markus Reichold
- Medical Cell Biology, University Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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Issler N, Afonso S, Weissman I, Jordan K, Cebrian-Serrano A, Meindl K, Dahlke E, Tziridis K, Yan G, Robles-López JM, Tabernero L, Patel V, Kesselheim A, Klootwijk ED, Stanescu HC, Dumitriu S, Iancu D, Tekman M, Mozere M, Jaureguiberry G, Outtandy P, Russell C, Forst AL, Sterner C, Heinl ES, Othmen H, Tegtmeier I, Reichold M, Schiessl IM, Limm K, Oefner P, Witzgall R, Fu L, Theilig F, Schilling A, Shuster Biton E, Kalfon L, Fedida A, Arnon-Sheleg E, Ben Izhak O, Magen D, Anikster Y, Schulze H, Ziegler C, Lowe M, Davies B, Böckenhauer D, Kleta R, Falik Zaccai TC, Warth R. A Founder Mutation in EHD1 Presents with Tubular Proteinuria and Deafness. J Am Soc Nephrol 2022; 33:732-745. [PMID: 35149593 PMCID: PMC8970462 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2021101312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [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: 10/06/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The endocytic reabsorption of proteins in the proximal tubule requires a complex machinery and defects can lead to tubular proteinuria. The precise mechanisms of endocytosis and processing of receptors and cargo are incompletely understood. EHD1 belongs to a family of proteins presumably involved in the scission of intracellular vesicles and in ciliogenesis. However, the relevance of EHD1 in human tissues, in particular in the kidney, was unknown. METHODS Genetic techniques were used in patients with tubular proteinuria and deafness to identify the disease-causing gene. Diagnostic and functional studies were performed in patients and disease models to investigate the pathophysiology. RESULTS We identified six individuals (5-33 years) with proteinuria and a high-frequency hearing deficit associated with the homozygous missense variant c.1192C>T (p.R398W) in EHD1. Proteinuria (0.7-2.1 g/d) consisted predominantly of low molecular weight proteins, reflecting impaired renal proximal tubular endocytosis of filtered proteins. Ehd1 knockout and Ehd1R398W/R398W knockin mice also showed a high-frequency hearing deficit and impaired receptor-mediated endocytosis in proximal tubules, and a zebrafish model showed impaired ability to reabsorb low molecular weight dextran. Interestingly, ciliogenesis appeared unaffected in patients and mouse models. In silico structural analysis predicted a destabilizing effect of the R398W variant and possible inference with nucleotide binding leading to impaired EHD1 oligomerization and membrane remodeling ability. CONCLUSIONS A homozygous missense variant of EHD1 causes a previously unrecognized autosomal recessive disorder characterized by sensorineural deafness and tubular proteinuria. Recessive EHD1 variants should be considered in individuals with hearing impairment, especially if tubular proteinuria is noted.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naomi Issler
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Sara Afonso
- Medical Cell Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Irith Weissman
- Pediatric Nephrology, Galilee Medical Center, Nahraia, Israel
| | - Katrin Jordan
- Medical Cell Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Katrin Meindl
- Medical Cell Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Eileen Dahlke
- Institute of Anatomy, University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Konstantin Tziridis
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | - Guanhua Yan
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - José M. Robles-López
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Lydia Tabernero
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Vaksha Patel
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anne Kesselheim
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Enriko D. Klootwijk
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Horia C. Stanescu
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Simona Dumitriu
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Daniela Iancu
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Mehmet Tekman
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Monika Mozere
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Priya Outtandy
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Anna-Lena Forst
- Medical Cell Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Helga Othmen
- Medical Cell Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ines Tegtmeier
- Medical Cell Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Markus Reichold
- Medical Cell Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Katharina Limm
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Peter Oefner
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ralph Witzgall
- Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Lifei Fu
- Structural Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | | | - Achim Schilling
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Limor Kalfon
- Institute of Human Genetics, Galilee Medical Center, Nahraia, Israel
| | - Ayalla Fedida
- Institute of Human Genetics, Galilee Medical Center, Nahraia, Israel
| | | | - Ofer Ben Izhak
- Department of Pathology, Rambam Health Care Campus, Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
| | - Daniella Magen
- Pediatric Nephrology Institute, Rambam Health Care Campus, Technion Faculty of Medicine, Haifa, Israel
| | | | - Holger Schulze
- Ear, Nose, and Throat Clinic, University Hospital Erlangen, Erlangen, Germany
| | | | - Martin Lowe
- Division of Molecular and Cellular Function, University of Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Benjamin Davies
- Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Detlef Böckenhauer
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Robert Kleta
- Department of Renal Medicine, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Tzipora C. Falik Zaccai
- The Azrieli Faculty of Medicine, Bar Ilan, Safed, Israel
- Institute of Human Genetics, Galilee Medical Center, Nahraia, Israel
| | - Richard Warth
- Medical Cell Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
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Grosch M, Brunner K, Ilyaskin AV, Schober M, Staudner T, Schmied D, Stumpp T, Schmidt KN, Madej MG, Pessoa TD, Othmen H, Kubitza M, Osten L, de Vries U, Mair MM, Somlo S, Moser M, Kunzelmann K, Ziegler C, Haerteis S, Korbmacher C, Witzgall R. A polycystin-2 protein with modified channel properties leads to an increased diameter of renal tubules and to renal cysts. J Cell Sci 2021; 134:271186. [PMID: 34345895 PMCID: PMC8435292 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.259013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Mutations in the PKD2 gene cause autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease but the physiological role of polycystin-2, the protein product of PKD2, remains elusive. Polycystin-2 belongs to the transient receptor potential (TRP) family of non-selective cation channels. To test the hypothesis that altered ion channel properties of polycystin-2 compromise its putative role in a control circuit controlling lumen formation of renal tubular structures, we generated a mouse model in which we exchanged the pore loop of polycystin-2 with that of the closely related cation channel polycystin-2L1 (encoded by PKD2L1), thereby creating the protein polycystin-2poreL1. Functional characterization of this mutant channel in Xenopus laevis oocytes demonstrated that its electrophysiological properties differed from those of polycystin-2 and instead resembled the properties of polycystin-2L1, in particular regarding its permeability for Ca2+ ions. Homology modeling of the ion translocation pathway of polycystin-2poreL1 argues for a wider pore in polycystin-2poreL1 than in polycystin-2. In Pkd2poreL1 knock-in mice in which the endogenous polycystin-2 protein was replaced by polycystin-2poreL1 the diameter of collecting ducts was increased and collecting duct cysts developed in a strain-dependent fashion. Summary: Replacement of the pore region of polycystin-2 with that of polycystin-2L1 results in wider renal tubules and polycystic kidney disease, thus demonstrating the essential function of its ion channel properties.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melanie Grosch
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Katrin Brunner
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Alexandr V Ilyaskin
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Michael Schober
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tobias Staudner
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Denise Schmied
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Tina Stumpp
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Kerstin N Schmidt
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - M Gregor Madej
- Department of Biophysics, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Thaissa D Pessoa
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Helga Othmen
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Marion Kubitza
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Larissa Osten
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Uwe de Vries
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Magdalena M Mair
- Faculty of Biology and Preclinical Medicine, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Somlo
- Departments of Medicine and Genetics, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Markus Moser
- Institute of Experimental Hematology, Technical University of Munich, 81675 Munich, Germany
| | - Karl Kunzelmann
- Department of Physiology, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christine Ziegler
- Department of Biophysics, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Silke Haerteis
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Christoph Korbmacher
- Institute of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Ralph Witzgall
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
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