Embryonic mesodermal defects in alpha 5 integrin-deficient mice

Development ◽  
1993 ◽  
Vol 119 (4) ◽  
pp. 1093-1105 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.T. Yang ◽  
H. Rayburn ◽  
R.O. Hynes

A loss of function mutation of the murine alpha 5 integrin gene generated by gene targeting in embryonic stem cells is a recessive embryonic lethal. The mutant embryos start to show observable defects by day 9 of gestation and die around day 10–11. The alpha 5-null embryos have pronounced defects in posterior trunk and yolk sac mesodermal structures, suggesting a role for alpha 5 beta 1 integrin in mesoderm formation, movement or function. However, the embryos progress significantly further than embryos null for fibronectin, for which alpha 5 beta 1 integrin is a receptor, suggesting the involvement of other fibronectin receptors. In vitro studies on cells derived from the alpha 5-null embryos confirm that the alpha 5 beta 1 integrin is not expressed on mutant cells and show that the mutant cells are able to assemble fibronectin matrix, form focal contacts, and migrate on fibronectin despite the complete absence of the alpha 5 beta 1 fibronectin receptor integrin. All these functions have previously been thought to involve or require alpha 5 beta 1. The results presented show that these cellular functions involving fibronectin can proceed using other receptors.

Blood ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 89 (3) ◽  
pp. 1058-1067 ◽  
Author(s):  
P.J. Nielsen ◽  
B. Lorenz ◽  
A.M. Müller ◽  
R.H. Wenger ◽  
F. Brombacher ◽  
...  

Abstract The heat stable antigen (HSA, or murine CD24) is a glycosyl phosphatidylinositol-linked surface glycoprotein expressed on immature cells of most, if not all, major hematopoietic lineages, as well as in developing neural and epithelial cells. It has been widely used to stage the maturation of B and T lymphocytes because it is strongly induced and then repressed again during their maturation. Terminally differentiated lymphocytes, as well as most myeloid lineages, are negative for HSA. Erythrocytes are an exception in that they maintain high levels of HSA expression. HSA on naive B cells has been shown to mediate cell-cell adhesion, while HSA on antigen-presenting cells has been shown to mediate a costimulatory signal important for activating T lymphocytes during an immune response. Here, we characterize mice that lack a functional HSA gene, constructed by homologous recombination in embryonic stem cells. While T-cell and myeloid development appears normal, these mice show a leaky block in B-cell development with a reduction in late pre-B and immature B-cell populations in the bone marrow. Nevertheless, peripheral B-cell numbers are normal and no impairment of immune function could be detected in these mice in a variety of immunization and infection models. We also observed that erythrocytes are altered in HSA-deficient mice. They show a higher tendency to aggregate and are more susceptible to hypotonic lysis in vitro. In vivo, the mean half-life of HSA-deficient erythrocytes was reduced. When infected with the malarial parasite Plasmodium chabaudi chabaudi, the levels of parasite-bearing erythrocytes in HSA-deficient mice were also significantly elevated, but the mice were able to clear the infection with kinetics similar to wild-type mice and were immune to a second challenge. Thus, apart from alterations in erythrocytes and a mild block in B-cell development, the regulated expression of HSA appears to be dispensable for the maturation and functioning of those cell lineages that normally express it.


2002 ◽  
Vol 22 (10) ◽  
pp. 3509-3517 ◽  
Author(s):  
Hitoshi Okada ◽  
Woong-Kyung Suh ◽  
Jianping Jin ◽  
Minna Woo ◽  
Chunying Du ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT The mitochondrial proapoptotic protein Smac/DIABLO has recently been shown to potentiate apoptosis by counteracting the antiapoptotic function of the inhibitor of apoptosis proteins (IAPs). In response to apoptotic stimuli, Smac is released into the cytosol and promotes caspase activation by binding to IAPs, thereby blocking their function. These observations have suggested that Smac is a new regulator of apoptosis. To better understand the physiological function of Smac in normal cells, we generated Smac-deficient (Smac−/− ) mice by using homologous recombination in embryonic stem (ES) cells. Smac−/− mice were viable, grew, and matured normally and did not show any histological abnormalities. Although the cleavage in vitro of procaspase-3 was inhibited in lysates of Smac−/− cells, all types of cultured Smac−/− cells tested responded normally to all apoptotic stimuli applied. There were also no detectable differences in Fas-mediated apoptosis in the liver in vivo. Our data strongly suggest the existence of a redundant molecule or molecules capable of compensating for a loss of Smac function.


1997 ◽  
Vol 186 (12) ◽  
pp. 2051-2056 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark M. Wurfel ◽  
Brian G. Monks ◽  
Robin R. Ingalls ◽  
Russell L. Dedrick ◽  
Russell Delude ◽  
...  

Gram-negative bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates phagocytic leukocytes by interacting with the cell surface protein CD14. Cellular responses to LPS are markedly potentiated by the LPS-binding protein (LBP), a lipid-transfer protein that binds LPS aggregates and transfers LPS monomers to CD14. LBP also transfers LPS to lipoproteins, thereby promoting the neutralization of LPS. LBP present in normal plasma has been shown to enhance the LPS responsiveness of cells in vitro. The role of LBP in promoting LPS responsiveness in vivo was tested in LBP-deficient mice produced by gene targeting in embryonic stem cells. Whole blood from LBP-deficient animals was 1,000-fold less responsive to LPS as assessed by the release of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α. Blood from gene-targeted mice was devoid of immunoreactive LBP, essentially incapable of transferring LPS to CD14 in vitro, and failed to support cellular responses to LPS. These activities were restored by the addition of exogenous recombinant murine LBP to the plasma. Despite these striking in vitro findings, no significant differences in TNF-α levels were observed in plasma from wild-type and LBP-deficient mice injected with LPS. These data suggest the presence of an LBP-independent mechanism for responding to LPS. These LBP knockout mice may provide a tool for discovering the nature of the presumed second mechanism for transferring LPS to responsive cells.


Blood ◽  
1998 ◽  
Vol 91 (3) ◽  
pp. 798-805
Author(s):  
Hideo Harigae ◽  
Naruyoshi Suwabe ◽  
Peter H. Weinstock ◽  
Mayumi Nagai ◽  
Hiroyoshi Fujita ◽  
...  

The erythroid-specific isoform of δ-aminolevulinate synthase (ALAS-E) catalyzes the first step of heme biosynthesis in erythroid cells, and ALAS-E gene mutations are known to be responsible for x-linked sideroblastic anemia. To study the role of ALAS-E in erythroid development, we prepared mouse embryonic stem (ES) cells carrying a disrupted ALAS-E gene and examined the effect of the lack of ALAS-E gene expression on erythroid differentiation. We found that mRNAs for erythroid transcription factors and TER119-positive cells were increased similarly both in the wild-type and mutant cells. In contrast, heme content, the number of benzidine-positive cells, adult globin protein, and mRNA for β-major globin were significantly decreased in the mutant cells. These results were confirmed using another ES differentiation system in vitro and suggest that ALAS-E expression, hence heme supply, is critical for the late stage of erythroid cell differentiation, which involves hemoglobin synthesis.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lucia F Cardo ◽  
Meng Li

Disruptions of SETBP1 (SET binding protein 1) on 18q12.3 by heterozygous gene deletion or loss-of-function variants cause SETBP1 disorder. Clinical features are frequently associated with moderate to severe intellectual disability, autistic traits and speech and motor delays. Despite SETBP1 association with neurodevelopmental disorders, little is known about its role in brain development. Using CRISPR/CAS9 genome editing technology, we generated a SETBP1 deletion model in human embryonic stem cells (hESCs), and examined the effects of SETBP1-deficiency in in vitro derived neural progenitors (NPCs) and neurons using a battery of cellular assays, genome wide transcriptomic profiling and drug-based phenotypic rescue. SETBP1-deficient NPCs exhibit protracted proliferation and distorted layer-specific neuronal differentiation with overall decrease in neurogenesis. Genome wide transcriptome profiling and protein biochemical analysis showed that SETBP1 deletion led to enhanced activation of WNT/B-catenin signaling. Crucially, treatment of the SETBP1-deficient NPCs with a small molecule WNT inhibitor XAV939 restored hyper canonical B-catenin activity and rescued cortical neuronal differentiation. Our study establishes a novel regulatory link between SETBP1 and WNT/B-catenin signaling during human cortical neurogenesis and provides mechanistic insights into structural abnormalities and potential therapeutic avenues for SETBP1 disorder.


Development ◽  
1997 ◽  
Vol 124 (3) ◽  
pp. 721-729 ◽  
Author(s):  
N. Core ◽  
S. Bel ◽  
S.J. Gaunt ◽  
M. Aurrand-Lions ◽  
J. Pearce ◽  
...  

In Drosophila, the trithorax-group and the Polycomb-group genes are necessary to maintain the expression of the homeobox genes in the appropriate segments. Loss-of-function mutations in those groups of genes lead to misexpression of the homeotic genes resulting in segmental homeotic transformations. Recently, mouse homologues of the Polycomb-group genes were identified including M33, the murine counterpart of Polycomb. In this report, M33 was targeted in mice by homologous recombination in embryonic stem (ES) cells to assess its function during development. Homozygous M33 (−/−) mice show greatly retarded growth, homeotic transformations of the axial skeleton, sternal and limb malformations and a failure to expand in vitro of several cell types including lymphocytes and fibroblasts. In addition, M33 null mutant mice show an aggravation of the skeletal malformations when treated to RA at embryonic day 7.5, leading to the hypothesis that, during development, the M33 gene might play a role in defining access to retinoic acid response elements localised in the regulatory regions of several Hox genes.


2019 ◽  
Vol 30 (12) ◽  
pp. 2338-2353 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lina L. Kampf ◽  
Ronen Schneider ◽  
Lea Gerstner ◽  
Roland Thünauer ◽  
Mengmeng Chen ◽  
...  

BackgroundMutations in about 50 genes have been identified as monogenic causes of nephrotic syndrome, a frequent cause of CKD. These genes delineated the pathogenetic pathways and rendered significant insight into podocyte biology.MethodsWe used whole-exome sequencing to identify novel monogenic causes of steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS). We analyzed the functional significance of an SRNS-associated gene in vitro and in podocyte-like Drosophila nephrocytes.ResultsWe identified hemizygous missense mutations in the gene TBC1D8B in five families with nephrotic syndrome. Coimmunoprecipitation assays indicated interactions between TBC1D8B and active forms of RAB11. Silencing TBC1D8B in HEK293T cells increased basal autophagy and exocytosis, two cellular functions that are independently regulated by RAB11. This suggests that TBC1D8B plays a regulatory role by inhibiting endogenous RAB11. Coimmunoprecipitation assays showed TBC1D8B also interacts with the slit diaphragm protein nephrin, and colocalizes with it in immortalized cell lines. Overexpressed murine Tbc1d8b with patient-derived mutations had lower affinity for endogenous RAB11 and nephrin compared with wild-type Tbc1d8b protein. Knockdown of Tbc1d8b in Drosophila impaired function of the podocyte-like nephrocytes, and caused mistrafficking of Sns, the Drosophila ortholog of nephrin. Expression of Rab11 RNAi in nephrocytes entailed defective delivery of slit diaphragm protein to the membrane, whereas RAB11 overexpression revealed a partial phenotypic overlap to Tbc1d8b loss of function.ConclusionsNovel mutations in TBC1D8B are monogenic causes of SRNS. This gene inhibits RAB11. Our findings suggest that RAB11-dependent vesicular nephrin trafficking plays a role in the pathogenesis of nephrotic syndrome.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthias S. Leisegang ◽  
Jasleen Kaur Bains ◽  
Sandra Seredinski ◽  
James A. Oo ◽  
Nina M. Krause ◽  
...  

DNA:DNA:RNA triplexes that are formed through Hoogsteen base-pairing have been observed in vitro, but the extent to which these interactions occur in cells and how they impact cellular functions remains elusive. Using a combination of bioinformatic techniques, RNA/DNA pulldown and biophysical studies, we set out to identify functionally important DNA:DNA:RNA triplex-forming long non-coding RNAs (lncRNA) in human endothelial cells. The lncRNA HIF1α-AS1 was retrieved as a top hit. Endogenous HIF1α-AS1 reduced the expression of numerous genes, including EPH Receptor A2 and Adrenomedullin through DNA:DNA:RNA triplex formation by acting as an adapter for the repressive human silencing hub complex (HUSH). Moreover, the oxygen-sensitive HIF1α-AS1 was down-regulated in pulmonary hypertension and loss-of-function approaches not only resulted in gene de-repression but also enhanced angiogenic capacity. As exemplified here with HIF1α-AS1, DNA:DNA:RNA triplex formation is a functionally important mechanism of trans-acting gene expression control.


Angiogenesis ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna Gualandris ◽  
Alessio Noghero ◽  
Davide Cora’ ◽  
Elena Astanina ◽  
Marco Arese ◽  
...  

AbstractEmbryonic stem cells (ES) are a valuable source of endothelial cells. By co-culturing ES cells with the stromal PA6 cells, the endothelial commitment can be achieved by adding exogenous FGF2 or BMP4. In this work, the molecular pathways that direct the differentiation of ES cells toward endothelium in response to FGF2 are evaluated and compared to those activated by BMP4. To this purpose the genes expression profiles of both ES/PA6 co-cultures and of pure cultures of PA6 cells were obtained by microarray technique at different time points. The bioinformatics processing of the data indicated TGFβ1 as the most represented upstream regulator in FGF2-induced endothelial commitment while WNT pathway as the most represented in BMP4-activated endothelial differentiation. Loss of function experiments were performed to validate the importance of TGFβ1 and WNT6 respectively in FGF2 and BMP4-induced endothelial differentiation. The loss of TGFβ1 expression significantly impaired the accomplishment of the endothelial commitment unless exogenous recombinant TGFβ1 was added to the culture medium. Similarly, silencing WNT6 expression partially affected the endothelial differentiation of the ES cells upon BMP4 stimulation. Such dysfunction was recovered by the addition of recombinant WNT6 to the culture medium. The ES/PA6 co-culture system recreates an in vitro complete microenvironment in which endothelial commitment is accomplished in response to alternative signals through different mechanisms. Given the importance of WNT and TGFβ1 in mediating the crosstalk between tumor and stromal cells this work adds new insights in the mechanism of tumor angiogenesis and of its possible inhibition.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document