Animal Model Of Human Trisomy Research Articles

Knockdown of Myo-Inositol Transporter SMIT1 Normalizes Cholinergic and Glutamatergic Function in an Immortalized Cell Line Established from the Cerebral Cortex of a Trisomy 16 Fetal Mouse, an Animal Model of Human Trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome).

The Na+/myo-inositol cotransporter (SMIT1) is overexpressed in human Down syndrome (DS) and in trisomy 16 fetal mice (Ts16), an animal model of the human condition. SMIT1 overexpression determines increased levels of intracellular myo-inositol, a precursor of phophoinositide synthesis. SMIT1 is overexpressed in CTb cells, an immortalized cell line established from the cerebral cortex of a Ts16 mouse fetus. CTb cells exhibit impaired cytosolic Ca2+ signals in response to glutamatergic and cholinergic stimuli (increased amplitude and delayed time-dependent kinetics in the decay post-stimulation), compared to our CNh cell line, derived from the cerebral cortex of a euploid animal. Considering the role of myo-inositol in intracellular signaling, we normalized SMIT1 expression in CTb cells using specific mRNA antisenses. Forty-eight hours post-transfection, SMIT1 levels in CTb cells reached values comparable to those of CNh cells. At this time, decay kinetics of Ca2+ signals induced by either glutamate, nicotine, or muscarine were accelerated in transfected CTb cells, to values similar to those of CNh cells. The amplitude of glutamate-induced cytosolic Ca2+ signals in CTb cells was also normalized. The results suggest that SMIT1 overexpression contributes to abnormal cholinergic and glutamatergic Ca2+ signals in the trisomic condition, and knockdown of DS-related genes in our Ts16-derived cell line could constitute a relevant tool to study DS-related neuronal dysfunction.

Endosomal abnormalities related to amyloid precursor protein in cholesterol treated cerebral cortex neuronal cells derived from trisomy 16 mice, an animal model of Down syndrome

The CNh and CTb cell lines are derived from the cerebral cortex of normal and trisomy 16 mice, an animal model of human trisomy 21, Down syndrome (DS), and represent in vitro models to study cellular events associated with the human condition. Amyloid precursor protein (APP) plays an important role in the development of neuropathology associated with DS and cholesterol in the amyloidogenic processing of APP. There is also increasing evidence of alterations in the recycling pathway of the early endosome compartment in nervous tissue from DS. In the present study, we report endosomal abnormalities related to amyloid precursor protein in cholesterol-treated CTb cells. Colocalization studies revealed the presence of APP-derived products in early endosomal compartments in both cell lines. Using internalization and immunoprecipitation techniques, differential effects were observed between the normal and trisomic cell lines when treated with cholesterol. Internalization experiments showed that the CTb cell line accumulates internalized APP in intracellular compartments for longer periods of time when compared to the CNh cell line. Immunoprecipitation revealed a differential interaction between the trafficking-related protein Rab4 and APP in the neuronal cell lines CNh and CTb. The present study suggests a putative mechanism by which overexpressed APP accumulates in intracellular compartments related to the endosomal trafficking pathway in individuals with DS, and highlights the usefulness of the CTb cell line as a model to study altered APP metabolism related to this genetic condition.

Nuchal Edema and Venous-Lymphatic Phenotype Disturbance in Human Fetuses and Mouse Embryos With Aneuploidy

Nuchal edema (NE) is a clinical indicator for aneuploidy, cardiovascular anomalies, and several genetic syndromes. Its etiology, however, is unknown. In the nuchal area, the endothelium of the jugular lymphatic sacs (JLS) develops by budding from the blood vascular endothelium of the cardinal veins. Abnormal distension of the jugular sacs is associated with NE. We hypothesize that a disturbed lymphatic endothelial differentiation and sac formation causes NE. We investigated endothelial differentiation of the jugular lymphatic system in human and mouse species with NE. Aneuploid human fetuses (trisomy 21; trisomy 18) were compared with euploid controls (gestational age 12 to 18 weeks). Trisomy 16 mouse embryos were compared with wild type controls (embryonic day 10 to 18). Trisomy 16 mice are considered an animal model for human trisomy 21. Endothelial differentiation was investigated by immunohistochemistry using lymphatic markers (prox-1, podoplanin, lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor [LYVE]-1) and en blood vessel markers (neuropilin [NP]-1 and ligand vascular endothelial growth factor [VEGF]-A). Smooth muscle actin (SMA) was included as a smooth muscle cell marker. We report a disturbed venous-lymphatic phenotype in aneuploid human fetuses and mouse embryos with enlarged jugular sacs and NE. Our results show absent or diminished expression of the lymphatic markers Prox-1 and podoplanin in the enlarged jugular sac, while LYVE-1 expression was normal. Additionally, the enlarged JLS showed blood vessel characteristics, including increased NP-1 and VEGF-A expression. The lumen contained blood cells and smooth muscle cells lined the wall. A loss of lymphatic identity seems to be the underlying cause for clinical NE. Also, abnormal endothelial differentiation provides a link to the cardiovascular anomalies associated with NE.

Altered calcium currents in cultured sensory neurons of normal and trisomy 16 mouse fetuses, an animal model for human trisomy 21 (Down Syndrome)

Down syndrome is determined by the presence of an extra copy of autosome 21 and is expressed by multiple abnormalities, with mental retardation being the most striking feature. The condition results in altered electrical membrane properties of fetal dorsal root ganglia (DRG) neurons, as in the trisomy 16 fetal mouse, an animal model of the human condition. Cultured trisomic DRG neurons from human and mouse fetuses present faster rates of depolarization and repolarization in the action potential compared to normal controls and a shorter spike duration. Also, trisomy 16 brain and spinal cord tissue exhibit reduced acetylcholine secretion. Therefore, we decided to study Ca2+ currents in cultured DRG neurons from trisomy 16 and age-matched control mice, using the whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Trisomic neurons exhibited a 62% reduction in Ca2+ current amplitude and reduced voltage dependence of current activation at -30 and -20 mV levels. Also, trisomic neurons showed slower activation kinetics for Ca2+ currents, with up to 80% increase in time constant values. Kinetics of the inactivation phase were similar in both conditions. The results indicate that murine trisomy 16 alter Ca2+ currents, which may contribute to impaired cell function, including neurotransmitter release. These abnormalities also may alter neural development.

Increased expression of NR2A subunit does not alter NMDA-evoked responses in cultured fetal trisomy 16 mouse hippocampal neurons.

The trisomy 16 (Ts16) mouse is an animal model for human trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome). The gene encoding the NR2A subunit of the NMDA receptor has been localized to mouse chromosome 16. In the present study, western blot analysis revealed a 2.5-fold increase of NR2A expression in cultured Ts16 embryonic hippocampal neurons. However, this increase did not affect the properties of NMDA-evoked currents in response to various modulators. The sensitivity of NMDA receptors to transient applications of NMDA, spermine, and Zn(2+) was investigated in murine Ts16 and control diploid cultured embryonic hippocampal neurons. Peak and steady-state currents evoked by NMDA were potentiated by spermine at concentrations < 1 mM, and inhibited by Zn(2+) in a dose-dependent and voltage-independent manner. No marked difference was observed between Ts16 and control diploid neurons for any of these modulators with regard to IC(50) and EC(50) values or voltage dependency. Additionally, inhibition by the NR2B selective inhibitor, ifenprodil, was similar. These results demonstrate that NMDA-evoked currents are not altered in cultured embryonic Ts16 neurons and suggest that Ts16 neurons contain similar functional properties of NMDA receptors as diploid control neurons despite an increased level of NR2A expression.

Calcium signals in cell lines derived from the cerebral cortex of normal and trisomy 16 mice.

We established two immortalized cell lines from cerebral cortex of normal (CNh) and trisomy 16 (CTb) mouse fetuses, an animal model of human trisomy 21. Those cells loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+ dyes, Indo-1 and Fluo-3, exhibited increments of intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) in response to external glutamate, NMDA, AMPA and kainate. CTb cells exhibited higher basal Ca2+ concentrations and had higher amplitude and slower time-dependent kinetics in the decay than CNh cells, suggesting an impaired Ca2+ buffering capacity in the trisomy 16-derived cell line. Nicotine also induced increments of [Ca2+]i. The CTb cell line could represent a model for studying cellular alterations related to Down syndrome.

Regional alteration of cholinergic function in central neurons of trisomy 16 mouse fetuses, an animal model of human trisomy 21 (Down syndrome)

The trisomy-16 (TS16) mouse is considered to be a model of human trisomy 21 (Down syndrome) because of genetic homology between mouse chromosome 16 and human chromosome 21. We examined cholinergic function of brain and spinal cord tissue and in cultured neurons from TS16 mouse compared with that of age matched controls. Mean acetylcholinesterase activity in both tissue types did not differ between trisomic and control conditions. Acetylcholine (ACh) synthesis, measured as choline O-acetyltratransferase (acetyl-CoA) activity, was reduced to 67% of control in TS16 brain but not in TS16 spinal cord. Steady-state accumulation of ACh precursor, [ 3H]choline, was measured in primary cell cultures. Steady-state choline uptake was reduced to 35% and to 61% in neurons of TS16 brain and spinal cord, respectively, when compared with controls. Kinetics experiments in TS16 brain cells showed a 50% reduction of the maximal velocity of choline uptake when compared to controls. Further, the ACh release induced by KCl depolarization in TS16 spinal cord neurons did not differ from control neurons but was reduced in TS16 brain neurons. This effect cannot be explained solely by a reduction in ACh synthesis. The results indicate that the TS16 condition in mice significantly modified the cholinergic function in brain, and to a lesser degree in spinal cord, suggesting that the higher gene dosage inherent to the trisomic condition affects cholinergic neurons in different regions of the central nervous system in a differential fashion.

Histochemically demonstrable catecholamines in the sympathetic nervous system of trisomic 16 and normal fetal mice

The formaldehyde-induced fluorescence (FIF) and micro-spectrofluorometric techniques were used to study catecholamines in the sympathetic nervous system of normal and trisomy 16 fetal mice with a gestation age of 15 days, an animal model for human trisomy 21 (Down's syndrome). FIF intensity in the stellate sympathetic ganglion of trisomic embryos did not differ from that of controls, whereas in the adrenal medulla the FIF intensity was 38% less in trisomic than in control embryos. When adrenal medullary cells from embryos with a gestational age of 15 days were maintained in culture for 7–10 days, a difference in FIF intensity between groups was still evident. The rate of noradrenaline uptake in cultured adrenal medullary cells also was significantly less in trisomic than in control fetal mice. The results suggest that the development of adrenal medulla is slowed in trisomic 16 mice and that uptake of noradrenaline by trisomic adrenal medullary cells is impaired.

Defects of skeletal morphology, density, and structure in mouse fetuses with trisomy 16.

Skeletal anomalies present in trisomy 16 in the mouse--an animal model of human trisomy 21--are described. Altogether 27 fetuses with trisomy 16 and 118 chromosomally balanced siblings were examined radiographically and by alizarin staining on day 20 of gestation; the radiographs were analyzed by computer-aided densitometry and structural differentiation. Extensive asymmetry or abnormal fusion of the vertebral centers and alterations of the vertebral arches were observed along with rib malformations (rib-vertebra syndrome). The skull primarily exhibited anomalies of the occipital bone. Ossification of the humerus, femur, and tibia was characterized by reduced mineralization. Typical, fracture-like alterations affecting only the tibia were also observed. Measurement of the lengths of the humeri of fetuses of comparable weight revealed a growth retardation not correlatable with the degree of mineralization. The significance of these skeletal abnormalities with regard to the trisomy 21 syndrome is discussed.

Delayed thymocyte maturation in the trisomy 16 mouse fetus.

Abstract Mouse fetuses with trisomy 16, an animal model for human trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), have severe defects in several hematopoietic stem cell populations and a marked reduction in thymocyte number. To determine whether there are other defects in the development of the trisomic thymus, the ontogeny of the cell surface antigenic determinants, Thy-1, Ly-1, CD3, CD4, CD8, and TCR v beta, was investigated. The trisomy 16 thymocytes were able to express all of determinants either during fetal life (days 14 to 19 of gestation) or in cultures of intact thymus lobes. However, in all instances (except for Thy-1, which already had a high proportion of expressing thymocytes by day 14), there was a delay in the time at which the determinants were first expressed, as manifested by reduced numbers of positively staining cells. Furthermore, there was also a delay in the rate at which the positively staining cells attained maximal Ag densities. Overall, there was an approximate 2 day lag in development of the fetal trisomic thymocytes. This lag permitted the identification of a large population of CD4-8+ cells prior to the appearance of CD4+8+ thymocytes. These findings are consistent with the identification of CD4-8+ as an intermediate stage between CD4-8- and CD4+8+ in fetal thymocyte ontogeny.

Electrophysiological properties of cultured dorsal root ganglion and spinal cord neurons of normal and trisomy 16 fetal mice

Dorsal root ganglion (DRG) and spinal cord neurons from normal and trisomy 16 fetal mice, an animal model for human trisomy 21 (Down syndrome), were maintained in primary culture and their electrical membrane properties were compared with intracellular recording techniques. After 3–4 weeks in culture, trisomic DRG neurons had a higher mean resting potential (+10%), a higher specific membrane resistance (+50%) and higher excitability (+17%), a shorter action potential (−22%), higher maximal rates of depolarization (+39%) and of two phases of repolarization (+20% and +10%) and a lower duration (−42%) of the afterhyperpolarization, than did control DRG neurons ( P < 0.05). The duration of the action potential was 2× greater than in control neurons, when external calcium was elevated from 1.2 to 10 mM. Differences in the electrical parameters like those observed in DRG neurons also were found in cultured spinal cord neurons. These results indicate that trisomy 16 in fetal mice alters passive and active electrical membrane properties in DRG and spinal cord neurons, and suggest that some differences are related to differences in calcium currents.

Developmental genetics.

Of particular concern to the human geneticist are the effects of genetic abnormalities on development. To gain an understanding of these effects it is necessary to engage in a reciprocal process of using knowledge of normal developmental events to elucidate the mechanisms operative in abnormal situations and then of using what is learned about these abnormal situations to expand our understanding of the normal. True developmental genes have not been described in man, although it is likely that they exist, but many developmental abnormalities are ascribable to mutations in genes coding for enzymes and structural proteins. Some of these even produce multiple malformation syndromes with dysmorphic features. These situations provide a precedent for asserting that not only monogenic developmental abnormalities, but also abnormalities resulting from chromosome imbalance must ultimately be explicable in molecular terms. However, the major problem confronted by the investigator interested in the pathogenesis of any of the chromosome anomaly syndromes is to understand how the presence of an extra set of normal genes or the loss of one of two sets of genes has an adverse effect on development. Several molecular mechanisms for which limited precedents exist may be considered on theoretical grounds. Because of the difficulties in studying developmental disorders in man, a variety of experimental systems have been employed. Particularly useful has been the mouse, which provides models for both monogenic and aneuploidy produced abnormalities of development. An example of the former is the mutation oligosyndactylism which in the heterozygous state causes oligosyndactyly and in the homozygous state causes early embryonic mitotic arrest. All whole arm trisomies and monosomies of the mouse can be produced experimentally, and of special interest is mouse trisomy 16 which has been developed as an animal model of human trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). In the long run, the most direct approach to elucidating the genetic problems of human development will involve not only the study of man himself but also of the appropriate experimental models in other species.

1308 DEVELOPMENT OF THE HIPPOCAMPAL FORMATION IN TRISOMY 16 MICE

Studies of the neuroanatomic features of murine trisomy 16 (Ts16), an animal model for human trisomy 21 (Ts 21, Down Syndrome), have focussed upon the structural and ultrastructural characteristics of germinative cells within the hippocampal formation. We prepared 5 micron plastic section serial reconstructions of the hippocampal formation of Ts16 and normal littermates from days 12 through 18 gestation.

Comparative Study of Phenotypic Expression of Mice Trisomy 16 by Different Female Strains: Attempt at an Animal Model for Human Trisomy 21

ABSTRACT Mouse trisomy 16, which was induced by mating males of Rb(16.17)7 Bnr/Rb(9.16)9Rma with three different strains of female, C57BL/6, C57BL/10 and C3H/He, was examined in fetuses and newborns in terms of incidence of occurrence, malformations and sex ratio. The incidence of trisomies tended to be higher in C3H/He than in C57BL/6 and C57BL/10. Trisomies could not survive beyond term in C57BL/6, which was most thoroughly examined in the three strains. Trisomy‐associated generalized edema, beginning to appear on day 14 of pregnancy on fetus's back, reached the maximum on day 16 in all strains. On cardiovascular anomalies, persistent common atrioventricular canal was observed in virtually all trisomies from C57BL/10 and C57BL/6, while in about 80% from C3H/He. In conotruncal region, all trisomies from former two crossing exhibited double outlet right ventricle or persistent truncus arteriosus. In addition to these anomalies, riding aorta was found in C3H/He. Hydroureter and hydronephrosis developed from day 17 of pregnancy in trisomies other than those in C57BL/10. The histological study of gonads revealed that trisomy 16 tended to be predominant in males of each crossing. The anomalies encountered in mouse trisomy 16, such as edema, persistent common atrioventricular canal, and hydroureter and hydronephrosis appeared to be in common with human trisomy 21 embryos and fetuses. The tendency of predominance of mouse trisomies in males may provide further homology to human trisomy 21. It is supposed that genetic background by different female strains may affect phenotypic expression of malformations. The extremely high incidence of cardiovascular anomalies is regarded as suitable material for elucidation of pathogenesis.

Mouse trisomy 16 as an animal model of human trisomy 21 (Down syndrome): Production of viable trisomy 16 ↔ diploid mouse chimeras

We have previously proposed that mice trisomic for chromosome 16 will provide an animal model of human trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). However, the value of this model is limited to some extent because trisomy 16 mouse fetuses do not survive as live-born animals. Therefore, in an effort to produce viable mice with cells trisomic for chromosome 16, we have used an aggregation technique to generate trisomy 16 ↔ diploid (Ts 16 ↔ 2n) chimeras. A total of 79 chimeric mice were produced, 11 of which were Ts 16 ↔ 2n chimeras. Seven of these Ts 16 ↔ 2n mice were analyzed as fetuses, just prior to birth, and 4 were analyzed as live-born animals. Unlike nonchimeric Ts 16 mouse fetuses which die shortly before birth with edema, congenital heart disease, and thymic and splenic hypoplasia, all but 1 of the Ts 16 ↔ 2n animals were viable and phenotypically normal. The oldest of the live-born Ts 16 ↔ 2n chimeras was 12 months old at the time of necropsy. Ts 16 cells, identified by coat color, enzyme marker, and/or karyotype analyses, comprised 50–60% of the brain, heart, lung, liver, and kidney in the 7 Ts 16 ↔ 2n chimeric fetuses and 30–40% of these organs in the 4 live-born Ts 16 ↔ 2n animals. Ts 16 cells comprised an average of 40% of the thymus and 80% of the spleen in the Ts 16 ↔ 2n chimeras analyzed as fetuses, with no evidence of thymic or splenic hypoplasia. However, we observed a marked deficiency to Ts 16 cells in the blood, spleen, thymus, and bone marrow of live-born Ts 16 ↔ 2n chimeras as compared to 2n ↔ 2n controls. These results demonstrate that although the Ts 16 ↔ 2n chimeras were, with one exception, viable and phenotypically normal, each animal contained a significant proportion of trisomic cells in a variety of tissues, including the brain. Furthermore, our results suggest that although the abnormal development of Ts 16 thymus and spleen cells observed in Ts 16 fetuses is largely corrected in Ts 16 ↔ 2n fetuses, Ts 16 erythroid and lymphoid cells have a severe proliferative disadvantage as compared to diploid cells in older live-born Ts 16 ↔ 2n chimeras. Ts 16 ↔ 2n chimeric mice will provide a valuable tool for studying the functional consequences of aneuploidy and may provide insight into the mechanisms by which trisomy 21 leads to developmental abnormalities in man.

Observation of abnormal fetal development of mouse trisomy 16-as an animal model of human trisomy 21.

Observation of abnormal fetal development of mouse trisomy 16-as an animal model of human trisomy 21.

Trisomy 16 in the mouse fetus associated with generalized edema and cardiovascular and urinary tract anomalies.

Murine trisomy (Ts) 16 occurs in the fetal and neonatal progeny of males doubly heterozygous for the Robertsonian metacentric chromosomes Rb(16.17)7Bnr/Rb(9.16)9Rma and "all acrocentric" females. The developmental aspects of this trisomy were studied between day 12 of gestation and birth. So far, postnatal survival longer than a few hours after birth has not been observed. The frequency of Ts 16 among all implants decreased from more than 20% on day 14 to values between 4% and 7% shortly before term. Main features of Ts 16 are moderate general hypoplasia, slight developmental retardation, and cardiovascular anomalies. These latter were found in 96% of the trisomies, the great majority belonging to the transposition type, i.e., riding aorta, double outlet right ventricle (DORV) and transposition of the great arteries (TGA). Association with common atrio ventricular (AV)-canal was frequent. Other anomalies as "open eyelid", hydronephrosis, and hydroureter seem to be attributable to the effects of retardation. Generalized transient edema was frequent in the later gestational stages of Ts 16. Severe cardiovascular malformation is possible one of the factors responsible for late fetal or neonatal death in some cases. Another factor probably contributing to Ts 16 fetal mortality is insufficiency of placental function due to hypoplasia of the fetal vasculature of this organ. The teratological study of Ts 16 demands interest since evidence has been forwarded to consider this trisomy as an animal model of human trisomy 21.