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- Title
Deficiency of MFSD7c results in microcephaly-associated vasculopathy in Fowler syndrome.
- Authors
Kalailingam, Pazhanichamy; Kai Qi Wang; Xiu Ru Toh; Nguyen, Toan Q.; Chandrakanthan, Madhuvanthi; Hasan, Zafrul; Habib, Clair; Schif, Aharon; Radio, Francesca Clementina; Dallapiccola, Bruno; Weiss, Karin; Nguyen, Long N.; Wang, Kai Qi; Toh, Xiu Ru
- Abstract
Several missense mutations in the orphan transporter FLVCR2 have been reported in Fowler syndrome. Affected subjects exhibit signs of severe neurological defects. We identified the mouse ortholog Mfsd7c as a gene expressed in the blood-brain barrier. Here, we report the characterizations of Mfsd7c-KO mice and compare these characterizations to phenotypic findings in humans with biallelic FLVCR2 mutations. Global KO of Mfsd7c in mice resulted in late-gestation lethality, likely due to CNS phenotypes. We found that the angiogenic growth of CNS blood vessels in the brain of Mfsd7c-KO embryos was inhibited in cortical ventricular zones and ganglionic eminences. Vascular tips were dilated and fused, resulting in glomeruloid vessels. Nonetheless, CNS blood vessels were intact, without hemorrhage. Both embryos and humans with biallelic FLVCR2 mutations exhibited reduced cerebral cortical layers, enlargement of the cerebral ventricles, and microcephaly. Transcriptomic analysis of Mfsd7cK-KO embryonic brains revealed upregulation of genes involved in glycolysis and angiogenesis. The Mfsd7c-KO brain exhibited hypoxia and neuronal cell death. Our results indicate that MFSD7c is required for the normal growth of CNS blood vessels and that ablation of this gene results in microcephaly-associated vasculopathy in mice and humans.
- Subjects
CEREBRAL ventricles; HUMAN embryos; BLOOD vessels; CEREBRAL anoxia; BLOOD-brain barrier; BIOLOGICAL models; RESEARCH; SYNDROMES; NEOVASCULARIZATION; CRANIOFACIAL abnormalities; ANIMAL experimentation; RESEARCH methodology; EVALUATION research; MEDICAL cooperation; COMPARATIVE studies; GENES; MEMBRANE proteins; CEREBRAL cortex; MICE; GLYCOLYSIS
- Publication
Journal of Clinical Investigation, 2020, Vol 130, Issue 8, p4081
- ISSN
0021-9738
- Publication type
journal article
- DOI
10.1172/JCI136727