PUBLICATION

ptk7 mutant zebrafish models of congenital and idiopathic scoliosis implicate dysregulated Wnt signalling in disease

Authors
Hayes, M., Gao, X., Yu, L.X., Paria, N., Henkelman, R.M., Wise, C.A., Ciruna, B.
ID
ZDB-PUB-140904-9
Date
2014
Source
Nature communications   5: 4777 (Journal)
Registered Authors
Ciruna, Brian, Hayes, Madeline
Keywords
none
MeSH Terms
  • Adolescent
  • Animals
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules/genetics*
  • Cell Adhesion Molecules/metabolism
  • Disease Models, Animal*
  • Embryo, Nonmammalian
  • Female
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental
  • Humans
  • Inheritance Patterns
  • Male
  • Mutation
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/genetics*
  • Receptor Protein-Tyrosine Kinases/metabolism
  • Scoliosis/congenital
  • Scoliosis/genetics*
  • Scoliosis/metabolism
  • Scoliosis/pathology
  • Signal Transduction
  • Spine/growth & development
  • Spine/metabolism
  • Spine/pathology
  • Wnt Proteins/genetics
  • Wnt Proteins/metabolism
  • Zebrafish/genetics*
  • Zebrafish/growth & development
  • Zebrafish/metabolism
PubMed
25182715 Full text @ Nat. Commun.
Abstract
Scoliosis is a complex genetic disorder of the musculoskeletal system, characterized by three-dimensional rotation of the spine. Curvatures caused by malformed vertebrae (congenital scoliosis (CS)) are apparent at birth. Spinal curvatures with no underlying vertebral abnormality (idiopathic scoliosis (IS)) most commonly manifest during adolescence. The genetic and biological mechanisms responsible for IS remain poorly understood due largely to limited experimental models. Here we describe zygotic ptk7 (Zptk7) mutant zebrafish, deficient in a critical regulator of Wnt signalling, as the first genetically defined developmental model of IS. We identify a novel sequence variant within a single IS patient that disrupts PTK7 function, consistent with a role for dysregulated Wnt activity in disease pathogenesis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that embryonic loss-of-gene function in maternal-zygotic ptk7 mutants (MZptk7) leads to vertebral anomalies associated with CS. Our data suggest novel molecular origins of, and genetic links between, congenital and idiopathic forms of disease.
Genes / Markers
Figures
Show all Figures
Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping