1
|
Drake DM, Afsharian K, Or B, Shapiro AM, Lai ML, Miller L, Wells PG. BRCA1 protein dose-dependent risk for embryonic oxidative DNA damage, embryopathies and neurodevelopmental disorders with and without ethanol exposure. Redox Biol 2024; 70:103070. [PMID: 38359745 PMCID: PMC10877410 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2024.103070] [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] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 01/30/2024] [Indexed: 02/17/2024] Open
Abstract
Although widely known as a tumor suppressor, the breast cancer 1 susceptibility protein (BRCA1) is also important in development, where it regulates fetal DNA repair pathways that protect against DNA damage caused by physiological and drug-enhanced levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS). We previously showed that conditional heterozygous (+/-) knockout (cKO) mouse embryos with a minor 28% BRCA1 deficiency developed normally in culture, but when exposed to the ROS-initiating drug, alcohol (ethanol, EtOH), exhibited embryopathies not evident in wild-type (+/+) littermates. Herein, we characterized a directBrca1 +/- knockout (KO) model with a 2-fold greater (58%) reduction in BRCA1 protein vs. the cKO model. We also characterized and compared learning & memory deficits in both the cKO and KO models. Even saline-exposed Brca1 +/- vs. +/+ KO progeny exhibited enhanced oxidative DNA damage and embryopathies in embryo culture and learning & memory deficits in females in vivo, which were not observed in the cKO model, revealing the potential pathogenicity of physiological ROS levels. The embryopathic EtOH concentration for cultured direct KO embryos was half that for cKO embryos, and EtOH affected Brca1 +/+ embryos only in the direct KO model. The spectrum and severity of EtOH embryopathies in culture were greater in both Brca1 +/- vs. +/+ embryos, and direct KO vs. cKO +/- embryos. Motor coordination deficits were evident in both male and female Brca1 +/- KO progeny exposed in utero to EtOH. The results in our direct KO model with a greater BRCA1 deficiency vs. cKO mice provide the first evidence for BRCA1 protein dose-dependent susceptibility to developmental disorders caused by physiological and drug-enhanced oxidative stress.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Drake
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kian Afsharian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin Or
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aaron M Shapiro
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michelle L Lai
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lutfiya Miller
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter G Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Drake DM, Zhen D, Kerrebijn I, Or B, Gao S, Afsharian K, Tran J, Bhatia S, Cheng A, Wells PG. Breast cancer 1 (BRCA1) protection in altered gene expression and neurodevelopmental disorders due to physiological and ethanol-enhanced reactive oxygen species formation. Free Radic Biol Med 2023; 208:272-284. [PMID: 37541454 DOI: 10.1016/j.freeradbiomed.2023.08.006] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 06/08/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/06/2023]
Abstract
The breast cancer 1 (Brca1) susceptibility gene regulates the repair of reactive oxygen species (ROS)-mediated DNA damage, which is implicated in neurodevelopmental disorders. Alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) exposure during pregnancy causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), including abnormal brain function, associated with enhanced ROS-initiated DNA damage. Herein, oxidative DNA damage in fetal brains and neurodevelopmental disorders were enhanced in saline-exposed +/- vs. +/+ Brca1 littermates. A single EtOH exposure during gestation further enhanced oxidative DNA damage, altered the expression of developmental/DNA damage response genes in fetal brains, and resulted in neurodevelopmental disorders, all of which were BRCA1-dependent. Pretreatment with the ROS inhibitor phenylbutylnitrone (PBN) blocked DNA damage and some neurodevelopmental disorders in both saline- and EtOH-exposed progeny, corroborating a ROS-dependent mechanism. Fetal BRCA1 protects against altered gene expression and neurodevelopmental disorders caused by both physiological and EtOH-enhanced levels of ROS formation. BRCA1 deficiencies may enhance the risk for FASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Drake
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Danlin Zhen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Isabel Kerrebijn
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Benjamin Or
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Sophie Gao
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Kian Afsharian
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Jason Tran
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Shama Bhatia
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ashley Cheng
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter G Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Drake DM, Wells PG. Novel mechanisms in alcohol neurodevelopmental disorders via BRCA1 depletion and BRCA1-dependent NADPH oxidase regulation. Redox Biol 2021; 48:102148. [PMID: 34736119 PMCID: PMC8577473 DOI: 10.1016/j.redox.2021.102148] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/11/2021] [Revised: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/20/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The breast cancer 1 protein (BRCA1) facilitates DNA repair, preventing embryolethality and protecting the fetus from reactive oxygen species (ROS)-induced developmental disorders mediated by oxidatively damaged DNA. Alcohol (ethanol, EtOH) exposure during pregnancy causes fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD), characterized by aberrant behaviour and enhanced ROS formation and proteasomal protein degradation. Herein, ROS-producing NADPH oxidase (NOX) activity was higher in Brca1 +/- vs. +/+ fetal and adult brains, and further enhanced by a single EtOH exposure. EtOH also enhanced catalase and proteasomal activities, while conversely reducing BRCA1 protein levels without affecting Brca1 gene expression. EtOH-initiated adaptive postnatal freezing behaviour was lost in Brca1 +/- progeny. Pretreatment with the free radical spin trap and ROS inhibitor phenylbutylnitrone blocked all EtOH effects, suggesting ROS-dependent mechanisms. This is the first in vivo evidence of NOX regulation by BRCA1, and of EtOH-induced, ROS-mediated depletion of BRCA1, revealing novel mechanisms of BRCA1 protection in FASD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Danielle M Drake
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Peter G Wells
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Centre for Pharmaceutical Oncology, Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada; Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|