Identification of sonic hedgehog-regulated genes and biological processes in the cranial neural crest mesenchyme by comparative transcriptomics

Abstract Background The evolutionarily conserved Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is essential for embryogenesis and orofacial development. SHH ligand secreted from the surface ectoderm activates pathway activity in the underlying cranial neural crest cell (cNCC)-derived mesenchyme of the deve...

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Main Authors: Joshua L. Everson, Dustin M. Fink, Hannah M. Chung, Miranda R. Sun, Robert J. Lipinski
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2018-06-01
Series:BMC Genomics
Subjects:
Online Access:http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-018-4885-5
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author Joshua L. Everson
Dustin M. Fink
Hannah M. Chung
Miranda R. Sun
Robert J. Lipinski
author_facet Joshua L. Everson
Dustin M. Fink
Hannah M. Chung
Miranda R. Sun
Robert J. Lipinski
author_sort Joshua L. Everson
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background The evolutionarily conserved Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is essential for embryogenesis and orofacial development. SHH ligand secreted from the surface ectoderm activates pathway activity in the underlying cranial neural crest cell (cNCC)-derived mesenchyme of the developing upper lip and palate. Disruption of Shh signaling causes orofacial clefts, but the biological action of Shh signaling and the full set of Shh target genes that mediate normal and abnormal orofacial morphogenesis have not been described. Results Using comparative transcriptional profiling, we have defined the Shh-regulated genes of the cNCC-derived mesenchyme. Enrichment analysis demonstrated that in cultured cNCCs, Shh-regulated genes are involved in smooth muscle and chondrocyte differentiation, as well as regulation of the Forkhead family of transcription factors, G1/S cell cycle transition, and angiogenesis. Next, this gene set from Shh-activated cNCCs in vitro was compared to the set of genes dysregulated in the facial primordia in vivo during the initial pathogenesis of Shh pathway inhibitor-induced orofacial clefting. Functional gene annotation enrichment analysis of the 112 Shh-regulated genes with concordant expression changes linked Shh signaling to interdependent and unique biological processes including mesenchyme development, cell adhesion, cell proliferation, cell migration, angiogenesis, perivascular cell markers, and orofacial clefting. Conclusions We defined the Shh-regulated transcriptome of the cNCC-derived mesenchyme by comparing the expression signatures of Shh-activated cNCCs in vitro to primordial midfacial tissues exposed to the Shh pathway inhibitor in vivo. In addition to improving our understanding of cNCC biology by determining the identity and possible roles of cNCC-specific Shh target genes, this study presents novel candidate genes whose examination in the context of human orofacial clefting etiology is warranted.
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spelling doaj.art-115bfc797eab4171b305fc43de2ce4a52022-12-21T18:29:15ZengBMCBMC Genomics1471-21642018-06-0119111110.1186/s12864-018-4885-5Identification of sonic hedgehog-regulated genes and biological processes in the cranial neural crest mesenchyme by comparative transcriptomicsJoshua L. Everson0Dustin M. Fink1Hannah M. Chung2Miranda R. Sun3Robert J. Lipinski4Department of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDepartment of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDepartment of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDepartment of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-MadisonDepartment of Comparative Biosciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Wisconsin-MadisonAbstract Background The evolutionarily conserved Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway is essential for embryogenesis and orofacial development. SHH ligand secreted from the surface ectoderm activates pathway activity in the underlying cranial neural crest cell (cNCC)-derived mesenchyme of the developing upper lip and palate. Disruption of Shh signaling causes orofacial clefts, but the biological action of Shh signaling and the full set of Shh target genes that mediate normal and abnormal orofacial morphogenesis have not been described. Results Using comparative transcriptional profiling, we have defined the Shh-regulated genes of the cNCC-derived mesenchyme. Enrichment analysis demonstrated that in cultured cNCCs, Shh-regulated genes are involved in smooth muscle and chondrocyte differentiation, as well as regulation of the Forkhead family of transcription factors, G1/S cell cycle transition, and angiogenesis. Next, this gene set from Shh-activated cNCCs in vitro was compared to the set of genes dysregulated in the facial primordia in vivo during the initial pathogenesis of Shh pathway inhibitor-induced orofacial clefting. Functional gene annotation enrichment analysis of the 112 Shh-regulated genes with concordant expression changes linked Shh signaling to interdependent and unique biological processes including mesenchyme development, cell adhesion, cell proliferation, cell migration, angiogenesis, perivascular cell markers, and orofacial clefting. Conclusions We defined the Shh-regulated transcriptome of the cNCC-derived mesenchyme by comparing the expression signatures of Shh-activated cNCCs in vitro to primordial midfacial tissues exposed to the Shh pathway inhibitor in vivo. In addition to improving our understanding of cNCC biology by determining the identity and possible roles of cNCC-specific Shh target genes, this study presents novel candidate genes whose examination in the context of human orofacial clefting etiology is warranted.http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-018-4885-5Sonic hedgehogHedgehog target geneCranial neural crest cellFrontonasal prominenceMedial nasal processOrofacial development
spellingShingle Joshua L. Everson
Dustin M. Fink
Hannah M. Chung
Miranda R. Sun
Robert J. Lipinski
Identification of sonic hedgehog-regulated genes and biological processes in the cranial neural crest mesenchyme by comparative transcriptomics
BMC Genomics
Sonic hedgehog
Hedgehog target gene
Cranial neural crest cell
Frontonasal prominence
Medial nasal process
Orofacial development
title Identification of sonic hedgehog-regulated genes and biological processes in the cranial neural crest mesenchyme by comparative transcriptomics
title_full Identification of sonic hedgehog-regulated genes and biological processes in the cranial neural crest mesenchyme by comparative transcriptomics
title_fullStr Identification of sonic hedgehog-regulated genes and biological processes in the cranial neural crest mesenchyme by comparative transcriptomics
title_full_unstemmed Identification of sonic hedgehog-regulated genes and biological processes in the cranial neural crest mesenchyme by comparative transcriptomics
title_short Identification of sonic hedgehog-regulated genes and biological processes in the cranial neural crest mesenchyme by comparative transcriptomics
title_sort identification of sonic hedgehog regulated genes and biological processes in the cranial neural crest mesenchyme by comparative transcriptomics
topic Sonic hedgehog
Hedgehog target gene
Cranial neural crest cell
Frontonasal prominence
Medial nasal process
Orofacial development
url http://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s12864-018-4885-5
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