Eukaryotic Initiation Factor 2B (eIF2B) GEF Activity as a Diagnostic Tool for EIF2B-Related Disorders

BACKGROUND:In recent years, the phenotypes of leukodystrophies linked to mutations in the eukaryotic initiation factor 2B genes have been extended, classically called CACH/VWM (Childhood ataxia with cntral hypomyélination/vanishing white matter disorder). The large clinical spectrum observed from the more severe antenatal forms responsible for fetal death to milder adult forms with an onset after 16 years old and restricted to slow cognitive impairment have lead to the concept of eIF2B-related disorders. The typical MRI pattern with a diffuse CSF-like aspect of the cerebral white matter can lack particularly in the adult forms whereas an increasing number of patients with clinical and MRI criteria for CACH/VWM disease but without eIF2B mutations are found. Then we propose the use of biochemical markers to help in this difficult diagnosis. The biochemical diagnosis of eIF2B-related disorder is difficult as no marker, except the recently described asialotransferrin/transferrin ratio measured in cerebrospinal fluid, has been proposed and validated until now. Decreased eIF2B GEF activity has been previously reported in lymphoblastoid cell lines from 30 eIF2B-mutated patients. Our objective was to evaluate further the utility of this marker and to validate eIF2B GEF activity in a larger cohort as a specific diagnostic test for eIF2B-related disorders. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS:We performed eIF2B GEF activity assays in cells from 63 patients presenting with different clinical forms and eIF2B mutations in comparison to controls but also to patients with defined leukodystrophies or CACH/VWM-like diseases without eIF2B mutations. We found a significant decrease of GEF activity in cells from eIF2B-mutated patients with 100% specificity and 89% sensitivity when the activity threshold was set at < or =77.5%. CONCLUSION:These results validate the measurement of eIF2B GEF activity in patients' transformed-lymphocytes as an important tool for the diagnosis of eIF2B-related disorders

Sox9 Inhibits Cochlear Hair Cell Fate by Upregulating Hey1 and HeyL Antagonists of Atoh1.

peer reviewedIt is widely accepted that cell fate determination in the cochlea is tightly controlled by different transcription factors (TFs) that remain to be fully defined. Here, we show that Sox9, initially expressed in the entire sensory epithelium of the cochlea, progressively disappears from differentiating hair cells (HCs) and is finally restricted to supporting cells (SCs). By performing ex vivo electroporation of E13.5-E14.5 cochleae, we demonstrate that maintenance of Sox9 expression in the progenitors committed to HC fate blocks their differentiation, even if co-expressed with Atoh1, a transcription factor necessary and sufficient to form HC. Sox9 inhibits Atoh1 transcriptional activity by upregulating Hey1 and HeyL antagonists, and genetic ablation of these genes induces extra HCs along the cochlea. Although Sox9 suppression from sensory progenitors ex vivo leads to a modest increase in the number of HCs, it is not sufficient in vivo to induce supernumerary HC production in an inducible Sox9 knockout model. Taken together, these data show that Sox9 is downregulated from nascent HCs to allow the unfolding of their differentiation program. This may be critical for future strategies to promote fully mature HC formation in regeneration approaches

Evaluation of the endoplasmic reticulum-stress response in eIF2B-mutated lymphocytes and lymphoblasts from CACH/VWM patients

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2B (eIF2B), a guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) and a key regulator of translation initiation under normal and stress conditions, causes an autosomal recessive leukodystrophy of a wide clinical spectrum. EBV-immortalised lymphocytes (EIL) from eIF2B-mutated patients exhibit a decrease in eIF2B GEF activity. eIF2B-mutated primary fibroblasts have a hyper-induction of activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4) which is involved in the protective unfolded protein response (UPR), also known as the ER-stress response. We tested the hypothesis that EIL from eIF2B-mutated patients also exhibit a heightened ER-stress response.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We used thapsigargin as an ER-stress agent and looked at polysomal profiles, rate of protein synthesis, translational activation of <it>ATF4</it>, and transcriptional induction of stress-specific mRNAs (<it>ATF4, CHOP, ASNS, GRP78</it>) in normal and eIF2B-mutated EIL. We also compared the level of stress-specific mRNAs between EIL and primary lymphocytes (PL).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Despite the low eIF2B GEF activity in the 12 eIF2B-mutated EIL cell lines tested (range 40-70% of normal), these cell lines did not differ from normal EIL in their ATF4-mediated ER-stress response. The absence of hyper-induction of ATF4-mediated ER-stress response in eIF2B-mutated EIL in contrast to primary fibroblasts is not related to their transformation by EBV. Indeed, PL exhibited a higher induction of the stress-specific mRNAs in comparison to EIL, but no hyper-induction of the UPR was noticed in the eIF2B-mutated cell lines in comparison to controls.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Taken together with work of others, our results demonstrate the absence of a major difference in ER-stress response between controls and eIF2B-mutated cells. Therefore, components of the ER-stress response cannot be used as discriminantory markers in eIF2B-related disorders.</p

Developmental Splicing Deregulation in Leukodystrophies Related to EIF2B Mutations

Leukodystrophies (LD) are rare inherited disorders that primarily affect the white matter (WM) of the central nervous system. The large heterogeneity of LD results from the diversity of the genetically determined defects that interfere with glial cells functions. Astrocytes have been identified as the primary target of LD with cystic myelin breakdown including those related to mutations in the ubiquitous translation initiation factor eIF2B. EIF2B is involved in global protein synthesis and its regulation under normal and stress conditions. Little is known about how eIF2B mutations have a major effect on WM. We performed a transcriptomic analysis using fibroblasts of 10 eIF2B-mutated patients with a severe phenotype and 10 age matched patients with other types of LD in comparison to control fibroblasts. ANOVA was used to identify genes that were statistically significantly differentially expressed at basal state and after ER-stress. The pattern of differentially expressed genes between basal state and ER-stress did not differ significantly among each of the three conditions. However, 70 genes were specifically differentially expressed in eIF2B-mutated fibroblasts whatever the stress conditions tested compared to controls, 96% being under-expressed. Most of these genes were involved in mRNA regulation and mitochondrial metabolism. The 13 most representative genes, including genes belonging to the Heterogeneous Nuclear Ribonucleoprotein (HNRNP) family, described as regulators of splicing events and stability of mRNA, were dysregulated during the development of eIF2B-mutated brains. HNRNPH1, F and C mRNA were over-expressed in foetus but under-expressed in children and adult brains. The abnormal regulation of HNRNP expression in the brain of eIF2B-mutated patients was concomitant with splicing dysregulation of the main genes involved in glial maturation such as PLP1 for oligodendrocytes and GFAP in astrocytes. These findings demonstrate a developmental deregulation of splicing events in glial cells that is related to abnormal production of HNRNP, in eIF2B-mutated brains

Study of the functional consequences of eIF2B mutations on glial maturation

Les eIF2B-pathies représentent un groupe de leucodystrophies de transmission autosomique récessive du à des mutations du facteur ubiquitaire eIF2B. Celui-ci intervient dans l’initiation de la traduction et ses régulations, particulièrement en cas de stress cellulaires, grâce à son activité d’échange de guanine (GEF). Un large spectre clinique et mutationnel a été décrit pour cette pathologie.La diminution de l’activité GEF a pu être validée comme marqueur diagnostique spécifique des eIF2B-pathies dans les lymphoblastes de patients atteints avec un seuil d’activité à 77,5% pour une spécificité de 100% et une sensibilité de 89%.La compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires en cause a ensuite été recherchée selon trois approches :- une première focalisée sur l’étude de la réponse au stress du réticulum endoplasmique (RE) dans les lymphoblastes de patients eIF2B-mutés. L’hyper-activation transcriptionnelle et traductionnelle des gènes de la réponse au stress du RE, observée dans d’autres études et sur d’autres types cellulaires n’a pas été retrouvée dans cette étude.- une approche globale d’étude transcriptomique différentielle dans des fibroblastes primaires de patients eIF2B-mutés soumis ou non à un stress cellulaire. La comparaison du transcriptome avec celui de contrôles sains et de patients porteurs d’une autre leucodystrophie n’a pas permis de mettre en évidence un effet spécifique du stress dans les fibroblastes eIF2B-mutés. En revanche, il a pu être montré une dérégulation de l’expression de 70 gènes spécifiquement dans ces fibroblastes ainsi que l’implication de voies métaboliques telles que l’épissage et la stabilité des ARNm, importantes au cours du développement du système nerveux central. Ces gènes trouvés dérégulés dans les fibroblastes, appartenant notamment à la famille des hnRNP, ont été ensuite validés dans les cerveaux de patients eIF2B-mutés et une anomalie d’épissage de certains transcrits importants pour les cellules gliales a également été identifiée.- enfin, pour valider l’hypothèse d’une anomalie développementale des cellules gliales, le modèle des cellules souches embryonnaires (ESC) a été utilisé et un défaut génétique a été introduit dans ces cellules afin de mimer les mutations eIF2B. Une anomalie de différentiation de ces ESC en cellules gliales a pu être mise en évidence dans ce modèle qui pourrait alors constituer un outil de choix pour tester des molécules pouvant potentiellement améliorer la différenciation de ces cellules, principales en cause dans cette pathologie.EIF2B-related disorders are an autosomal recessive leukodystrophy caused by mutations in the ubiquitary eIF2B factor. This one is involved in the translation initiation step and its regulation, particularly upon cellular stresses, thanks to its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity. A wide continuum clinical and mutational spectrum has been described for this pathology.The decrease of eIF2B GEF activity has been validated as an eIF2B-pathies specific biomarker in affected patients’ lymphoblasts with 100% specificity and 89% sensibility using a threshold at 77.5%.Functional molecular mechanisms involved in the physiopathology of eIF2B-related disorders have been searched by three approaches:- the first one focalized on the study of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response in lymphoblasts from eIF2B-mutated patients. The translational hyper-induction of specific genes involved in the unfolded protein response, identified in other cell types, was not observed in this study.- a global approach using a differential transcriptomic study of primary fibroblasts from eIF2B-mutated patients submitted or not to a cellular stress. The comparison with the transcriptomic profile of fibroblasts from healthy controls and patients presenting with other types of leukodystrophies not allowed us to identify a specific stress effect in eIF2B-mutated fibroblasts. On the other hand, it has been shown 70 genes specifically differentially deregulated in eIF2B-mutated fibroblasts as well as metabolic pathways implication, like splicing and mRNA stability, that are critical during the central nervous system development. We then validated that these genes, belonging the the hnRNP family, were also deregulated in brains from eIF2B-mutated patients and a splice abnormality of genes implicated in glial cells network has also been identified.- finally, in order to validate the hypothesis of an abnormal glial cell development, the embryonic stem cells (ESC) model has been used and a genetic default has been introduced in these cells to mimic eIF2B mutations. We identified an abnormal differentiation of these ESC into glial cells. Therefore, this model would provide a unique tool to search therapeutic agents that would improve glial cell differentiation, the major cells implicated in this pathology

Etude des conséquences fonctionnelles des mutations du facteur eIF2B sur la maturation gliale

EIF2B-related disorders are an autosomal recessive leukodystrophy caused by mutations in the ubiquitary eIF2B factor. This one is involved in the translation initiation step and its regulation, particularly upon cellular stresses, thanks to its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity. A wide continuum clinical and mutational spectrum has been described for this pathology.The decrease of eIF2B GEF activity has been validated as an eIF2B-pathies specific biomarker in affected patients’ lymphoblasts with 100% specificity and 89% sensibility using a threshold at 77.5%.Functional molecular mechanisms involved in the physiopathology of eIF2B-related disorders have been searched by three approaches:- the first one focalized on the study of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response in lymphoblasts from eIF2B-mutated patients. The translational hyper-induction of specific genes involved in the unfolded protein response, identified in other cell types, was not observed in this study.- a global approach using a differential transcriptomic study of primary fibroblasts from eIF2B-mutated patients submitted or not to a cellular stress. The comparison with the transcriptomic profile of fibroblasts from healthy controls and patients presenting with other types of leukodystrophies not allowed us to identify a specific stress effect in eIF2B-mutated fibroblasts. On the other hand, it has been shown 70 genes specifically differentially deregulated in eIF2B-mutated fibroblasts as well as metabolic pathways implication, like splicing and mRNA stability, that are critical during the central nervous system development. We then validated that these genes, belonging the the hnRNP family, were also deregulated in brains from eIF2B-mutated patients and a splice abnormality of genes implicated in glial cells network has also been identified.- finally, in order to validate the hypothesis of an abnormal glial cell development, the embryonic stem cells (ESC) model has been used and a genetic default has been introduced in these cells to mimic eIF2B mutations. We identified an abnormal differentiation of these ESC into glial cells. Therefore, this model would provide a unique tool to search therapeutic agents that would improve glial cell differentiation, the major cells implicated in this pathology.Les eIF2B-pathies représentent un groupe de leucodystrophies de transmission autosomique récessive du à des mutations du facteur ubiquitaire eIF2B. Celui-ci intervient dans l’initiation de la traduction et ses régulations, particulièrement en cas de stress cellulaires, grâce à son activité d’échange de guanine (GEF). Un large spectre clinique et mutationnel a été décrit pour cette pathologie.La diminution de l’activité GEF a pu être validée comme marqueur diagnostique spécifique des eIF2B-pathies dans les lymphoblastes de patients atteints avec un seuil d’activité à 77,5% pour une spécificité de 100% et une sensibilité de 89%.La compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires en cause a ensuite été recherchée selon trois approches :- une première focalisée sur l’étude de la réponse au stress du réticulum endoplasmique (RE) dans les lymphoblastes de patients eIF2B-mutés. L’hyper-activation transcriptionnelle et traductionnelle des gènes de la réponse au stress du RE, observée dans d’autres études et sur d’autres types cellulaires n’a pas été retrouvée dans cette étude.- une approche globale d’étude transcriptomique différentielle dans des fibroblastes primaires de patients eIF2B-mutés soumis ou non à un stress cellulaire. La comparaison du transcriptome avec celui de contrôles sains et de patients porteurs d’une autre leucodystrophie n’a pas permis de mettre en évidence un effet spécifique du stress dans les fibroblastes eIF2B-mutés. En revanche, il a pu être montré une dérégulation de l’expression de 70 gènes spécifiquement dans ces fibroblastes ainsi que l’implication de voies métaboliques telles que l’épissage et la stabilité des ARNm, importantes au cours du développement du système nerveux central. Ces gènes trouvés dérégulés dans les fibroblastes, appartenant notamment à la famille des hnRNP, ont été ensuite validés dans les cerveaux de patients eIF2B-mutés et une anomalie d’épissage de certains transcrits importants pour les cellules gliales a également été identifiée.- enfin, pour valider l’hypothèse d’une anomalie développementale des cellules gliales, le modèle des cellules souches embryonnaires (ESC) a été utilisé et un défaut génétique a été introduit dans ces cellules afin de mimer les mutations eIF2B. Une anomalie de différentiation de ces ESC en cellules gliales a pu être mise en évidence dans ce modèle qui pourrait alors constituer un outil de choix pour tester des molécules pouvant potentiellement améliorer la différenciation de ces cellules, principales en cause dans cette pathologie

Etude des conséquences fonctionnelles des mutations du facteur eIF2B sur la maturation gliale

Les eIF2B-pathies représentent un groupe de leucodystrophies de transmission autosomique récessive du à des mutations du facteur ubiquitaire eIF2B. Celui-ci intervient dans l initiation de la traduction et ses régulations, particulièrement en cas de stress cellulaires, grâce à son activité d échange de guanine (GEF). Un large spectre clinique et mutationnel a été décrit pour cette pathologie.La diminution de l activité GEF a pu être validée comme marqueur diagnostique spécifique des eIF2B-pathies dans les lymphoblastes de patients atteints avec un seuil d activité à 77,5% pour une spécificité de 100% et une sensibilité de 89%.La compréhension des mécanismes moléculaires en cause a ensuite été recherchée selon trois approches :- une première focalisée sur l étude de la réponse au stress du réticulum endoplasmique (RE) dans les lymphoblastes de patients eIF2B-mutés. L hyper-activation transcriptionnelle et traductionnelle des gènes de la réponse au stress du RE, observée dans d autres études et sur d autres types cellulaires n a pas été retrouvée dans cette étude.- une approche globale d étude transcriptomique différentielle dans des fibroblastes primaires de patients eIF2B-mutés soumis ou non à un stress cellulaire. La comparaison du transcriptome avec celui de contrôles sains et de patients porteurs d une autre leucodystrophie n a pas permis de mettre en évidence un effet spécifique du stress dans les fibroblastes eIF2B-mutés. En revanche, il a pu être montré une dérégulation de l expression de 70 gènes spécifiquement dans ces fibroblastes ainsi que l implication de voies métaboliques telles que l épissage et la stabilité des ARNm, importantes au cours du développement du système nerveux central. Ces gènes trouvés dérégulés dans les fibroblastes, appartenant notamment à la famille des hnRNP, ont été ensuite validés dans les cerveaux de patients eIF2B-mutés et une anomalie d épissage de certains transcrits importants pour les cellules gliales a également été identifiée.- enfin, pour valider l hypothèse d une anomalie développementale des cellules gliales, le modèle des cellules souches embryonnaires (ESC) a été utilisé et un défaut génétique a été introduit dans ces cellules afin de mimer les mutations eIF2B. Une anomalie de différentiation de ces ESC en cellules gliales a pu être mise en évidence dans ce modèle qui pourrait alors constituer un outil de choix pour tester des molécules pouvant potentiellement améliorer la différenciation de ces cellules, principales en cause dans cette pathologie.EIF2B-related disorders are an autosomal recessive leukodystrophy caused by mutations in the ubiquitary eIF2B factor. This one is involved in the translation initiation step and its regulation, particularly upon cellular stresses, thanks to its guanine nucleotide exchange factor (GEF) activity. A wide continuum clinical and mutational spectrum has been described for this pathology.The decrease of eIF2B GEF activity has been validated as an eIF2B-pathies specific biomarker in affected patients lymphoblasts with 100% specificity and 89% sensibility using a threshold at 77.5%.Functional molecular mechanisms involved in the physiopathology of eIF2B-related disorders have been searched by three approaches:- the first one focalized on the study of the endoplasmic reticulum stress response in lymphoblasts from eIF2B-mutated patients. The translational hyper-induction of specific genes involved in the unfolded protein response, identified in other cell types, was not observed in this study.- a global approach using a differential transcriptomic study of primary fibroblasts from eIF2B-mutated patients submitted or not to a cellular stress. The comparison with the transcriptomic profile of fibroblasts from healthy controls and patients presenting with other types of leukodystrophies not allowed us to identify a specific stress effect in eIF2B-mutated fibroblasts. On the other hand, it has been shown 70 genes specifically differentially deregulated in eIF2B-mutated fibroblasts as well as metabolic pathways implication, like splicing and mRNA stability, that are critical during the central nervous system development. We then validated that these genes, belonging the the hnRNP family, were also deregulated in brains from eIF2B-mutated patients and a splice abnormality of genes implicated in glial cells network has also been identified.- finally, in order to validate the hypothesis of an abnormal glial cell development, the embryonic stem cells (ESC) model has been used and a genetic default has been introduced in these cells to mimic eIF2B mutations. We identified an abnormal differentiation of these ESC into glial cells. Therefore, this model would provide a unique tool to search therapeutic agents that would improve glial cell differentiation, the major cells implicated in this pathology.CLERMONT FD-Bib.électronique (631139902) / SudocSudocFranceF

ROC (Receiver Operating Characteristic) curve of eIF2B GEF activity regarding the diagnosis of eIF2B-related disorders.

<p>The ROC curve analysis was performed to determine the optimal threshold of GEF activity which best discriminates between eIF2B-mutated (n = 63) and eIF2B-unrelated leukodystrophic patients (n = 38). The ≤77.5% threshold achieves 100% specificity (95% CL = 90.7–100%) and 88.9% sensitivity (95% CL = 78.4–95.4%). The area under the ROC curve (AUC)  = 0.955; standard error  = 0.0244; 95% confidence interval: 0.894 to 0.986; test for the: AUC  = 0.5, p = 0.0001.</p