Biology subjects

Levi, G.

Publications and source records attributed to Levi, G..

3 recordsLinked to original sources

bioRxiv2018

Posterior neural tube closure depends on Dlx5/Dlx6 expression at the neural plate border

Neural tube defects (NTDs), one of the most common birth defects in human, present a multifactorial etiology with a poorly defined genetic component. The Dlx5 and Dlx6 bigenic cluster encodes two evolutionary conserved homeodomain transcription factors, which are necessary for proper vertebrate development. It has been shown that Dlx5/6 genes are essential for anterior neural tube closure, however their role in the formation of the posterior structures has never been described. Here, we show that Dlx5/6 expression is required during vertebrate posterior axis formation. Dlx5 presents a similar expression pattern in neural plate border cells during posterior neurulation of zebrafish and mouse. Dlx5/6-inactivation in the mouse results in a phenotype reminiscent of NTDs characterized by open thoracic and lumbar vertebral arches and failure of epaxial muscle formation at the dorsal midline. The dlx5a/6a zebrafish morphants present posterior NTDs associated with abnormal delamination of neural crest cells showing altered expression of cell adhesion molecules and defects of motoneuronal development. Our findings provide new molecular leads to decipher the mechanisms of vertebrate posterior neurulation and might help to gather a better understanding of human congenital NTDs etiology.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Craniofacial traits determined by neural crest cells-restricted expression of Dlx5/6: probing the origin of matching functional jaws

Gnathostome jaws derive from the first pharyngeal arch (PA1), a complex structure constituted by Neural Crest Cells (NCCs), mesodermal, ectodermal and endodermal cells. Here, to determine the regionalized morphogenetic impact of Dlx5/6 expression, we specifically target their inactivation or overexpression to NCCs. NCC-specific Dlx5/6 inactivation (NCC{Delta}Dlx5/6) generates severely hypomorphic lower jaws that present typical maxillary traits. Therefore, differently from the symmetric jaws obtained after constitutive Dlx5/6 inactivation, NCC{Delta}Dlx5/6 embryos present a strikingly asymmetric mouth. Reciprocally, forced Dlx5 expression in maxillary NCCs provokes the appearance of distinct mandibular characters in the upper jaw. We conclude that: 1) Dlx5/6 activation in NCCs invariably determines lower jaw identity; 2) the morphogenetic processes that generate functional matching jaws depend on the harmonization of Dlx5/6 expression in NCCs and in distinct ectodermal territories. The co-evolution of synergistic opposing jaws requires the coordination of distinct regulatory pathways involving the same transcription factors in distant embryonic territories.

developmental biology↗

bioRxiv2018

Comparative analysis of molecular signatures suggests the use of gabapentin for the management of endometriosis-associated pain

CapsuleComparative analysis of gene expression signatures from endometriosis and mouse models shows that CACNA2{delta}s calcium-channel components involved in nociception are targets for the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain.\n\nContextDifferential gene expression analyses comparing endometriotic lesions to eutopic endometrium have shown that the transcription factors DLX5 and DLX6 are drastically down-regulated in the ectopic implants. These finding suggests that regulatory cascades involving DLX5/6 might be involved in the origin of endometriosis symptoms such as chronic pelvic pain. We have shown that mice in which Dlx5 and Dlx6 are selectively inactivated in the uterus present an endometrial phenotype reminiscent of endometriosis implants.\n\nObjectiveIdentify new targets for the treatment of endometriosis.\n\nDesignTo better focus the search for endometriosis targets we have compared the profile of genes deregulated in normal and ectopic women endometrium to those deregulated in the uterus of normal and Dlx5/Dlx6-null mice.\n\nSettingsAcademic research unit and University Hospital research laboratory\n\nAnimalsMice carrying a uterus-specific deletion of Dlx5/Dlx6.\n\nInterventionsAnalysis of archive sections from normal endometrium and endometriosis implants.\n\nMain OutcomeA novel endometriosis signature suggests that 2{delta}s subunits of voltage-gated calcium channel are targets for the management of endometriosis-associated pain.\n\nResultsWe identify a signature of 30 genes similarly deregulated in human endometriosis implants and in Dlx5/6-null mouse uteri reinforcing the notion that the down-regulation of Dlx5/6 is an early event in the progress of endometriosis. CACNA2D3, a component of the voltage-dependent calcium channel complex is strongly overexpressed both in endometriosis implants and in mutant mouse uteri; other members of the alfa2delta family, CACNA2D1 and CACNA2D2, are also overexpressed in endometriosis.\n\nConclusionCACNA2D1, CACNA2D2 and CACNA2D3 are directly involved in pain perception. In particular, CACNA2D3 has been associated to pain sensitization and heat nociception in animal models while, in patients, variants of this gene are associated to reduced sensitivity to acute noxious stimuli. As CACNA2Ds are targets of gabapentinoids analgesics, our results suggest to consider the use of these drugs for the treatment of endometriosis-associated pain. Indeed, recent small-scale clinical studies have shown that gabapentin can be effective in the treatment of women chronic pelvic pain. Our findings reinforce the need for a large definitive trial.

pharmacology and toxicology↗