ADAMTS10-mediated tissue disruption in Weill-Marchesani Syndrome

Ewa Mularczyk, Mukti Singh, Alan Godwin, Francessco Galli, Neil Humphreys, Antony Adamson, Aleksandr Mironov, Stuart Cain, Gerhard Sengle, Raymond Boot-Handford, Giulio Cossu, Catherine Kielty, Clair Baldock

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

Fibrillin microfibrils are extracellular matrix assemblies that form the template for elastic fibres, endow blood vessels, skin, and other elastic tissues with extensible properties. They also regulate the bioavailability of potent growth factors of the TGF-β superfamily. A Disintegrin And Metalloproteinase with Thrombospondin Motifs (ADAMTS)10 is an essential factor in fibrillin microfibril function. Mutations in fibrillin-1 or ADAMTS10 cause Weill-Marchesani syndrome (WMS) characterised by short stature, eye defects, hypermuscularity and thickened skin. Despite its importance, there is poor understanding of the role of ADAMTS10 and its function in fibrillin microfibril assembly. We have generated an ADAMTS10 WMS mouse model using CRISPR-Cas9 to introduce a truncation mutation seen in WMS patients. Homozygous WMS mice are smaller and have shorter long bones with perturbation to the zones of the developing growth plate and changes in cell proliferation. Furthermore, there are abnormalities in the ciliary apparatus of the eye with decreased ciliary processes and abundant fibrillin-2 microfibrils suggesting perturbation of a developmental expression switch. WMS mice have increased skeletal muscle mass and more myofibres, which is likely a consequence of an altered skeletal myogenesis. These results correlated with expression data showing downregulation of GDF8 and BMP growth factor genes. In addition, the mitochondria in skeletal muscle are larger with irregular shape coupled with increased phospho-p38 MAPK suggesting muscle remodelling. Our data indicate that decreased SMAD1/5/8 and increased p38/MAPK signalling are associated with ADAMTS10–induced WMS. This model will allow further studies of the disease mechanism to facilitate the development of therapeutic interventions.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3675-3687
JournalHuman Molecular Genetics
Volume27
Issue number21
Early online date27 Jul 2018
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Nov 2018

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