Mesoderm-specific Stat3 deletion affects expression of Sox9 yielding Sox9-dependent phenotypes.

To date, mutations within the coding region and translocations around the SOX9 gene both constitute the majority of genetic lesions underpinning human campomelic dysplasia (CD). While pathological coding-region mutations typically result in a non-functional SOX9 protein, little is known about what m...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Michael D Hall, Caroline A Murray, Michael J Valdez, Alan O Perantoni
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2017-02-01
Series:PLoS Genetics
Online Access:https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1006610&type=printable
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
_version_ 1850232154100858880
author Michael D Hall
Caroline A Murray
Michael J Valdez
Alan O Perantoni
author_facet Michael D Hall
Caroline A Murray
Michael J Valdez
Alan O Perantoni
author_sort Michael D Hall
collection DOAJ
description To date, mutations within the coding region and translocations around the SOX9 gene both constitute the majority of genetic lesions underpinning human campomelic dysplasia (CD). While pathological coding-region mutations typically result in a non-functional SOX9 protein, little is known about what mechanism(s) controls normal SOX9 expression, and subsequently, which signaling pathways may be interrupted by alterations occurring around the SOX9 gene. Here, we report the identification of Stat3 as a key modulator of Sox9 expression in nascent cartilage and developing chondrocytes. Stat3 expression is predominant in tissues of mesodermal origin, and its conditional ablation using mesoderm-specific TCre, in vivo, causes dwarfism and skeletal defects characteristic of CD. Specifically, Stat3 loss results in the expansion of growth plate hypertrophic chondrocytes and deregulation of normal endochondral ossification in all bones examined. Conditional deletion of Stat3 with a Sox9Cre driver produces palate and tracheal irregularities similar to those described in Sox9+/- mice. Furthermore, mesodermal deletion of Stat3 causes global embryonic down regulation of Sox9 expression and function in vivo. Mechanistic experiments ex vivo suggest Stat3 can directly activate the expression of Sox9 by binding to its proximal promoter following activation. These findings illuminate a novel role for Stat3 in chondrocytes during skeletal development through modulation of a critical factor, Sox9. Importantly, they further provide the first evidence for the modulation of a gene product other than Sox9 itself which is capable of modeling pathological aspects of CD and underscore a potentially valuable therapeutic target for patients with the disorder.
format Article
id doaj-art-a8d0fb3697ae406ba3ce59eb50139be3
institution OA Journals
issn 1553-7390
1553-7404
language English
publishDate 2017-02-01
publisher Public Library of Science (PLoS)
record_format Article
series PLoS Genetics
spelling doaj-art-a8d0fb3697ae406ba3ce59eb50139be32025-08-20T02:03:16ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS Genetics1553-73901553-74042017-02-01132e100661010.1371/journal.pgen.1006610Mesoderm-specific Stat3 deletion affects expression of Sox9 yielding Sox9-dependent phenotypes.Michael D HallCaroline A MurrayMichael J ValdezAlan O PerantoniTo date, mutations within the coding region and translocations around the SOX9 gene both constitute the majority of genetic lesions underpinning human campomelic dysplasia (CD). While pathological coding-region mutations typically result in a non-functional SOX9 protein, little is known about what mechanism(s) controls normal SOX9 expression, and subsequently, which signaling pathways may be interrupted by alterations occurring around the SOX9 gene. Here, we report the identification of Stat3 as a key modulator of Sox9 expression in nascent cartilage and developing chondrocytes. Stat3 expression is predominant in tissues of mesodermal origin, and its conditional ablation using mesoderm-specific TCre, in vivo, causes dwarfism and skeletal defects characteristic of CD. Specifically, Stat3 loss results in the expansion of growth plate hypertrophic chondrocytes and deregulation of normal endochondral ossification in all bones examined. Conditional deletion of Stat3 with a Sox9Cre driver produces palate and tracheal irregularities similar to those described in Sox9+/- mice. Furthermore, mesodermal deletion of Stat3 causes global embryonic down regulation of Sox9 expression and function in vivo. Mechanistic experiments ex vivo suggest Stat3 can directly activate the expression of Sox9 by binding to its proximal promoter following activation. These findings illuminate a novel role for Stat3 in chondrocytes during skeletal development through modulation of a critical factor, Sox9. Importantly, they further provide the first evidence for the modulation of a gene product other than Sox9 itself which is capable of modeling pathological aspects of CD and underscore a potentially valuable therapeutic target for patients with the disorder.https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1006610&type=printable
spellingShingle Michael D Hall
Caroline A Murray
Michael J Valdez
Alan O Perantoni
Mesoderm-specific Stat3 deletion affects expression of Sox9 yielding Sox9-dependent phenotypes.
PLoS Genetics
title Mesoderm-specific Stat3 deletion affects expression of Sox9 yielding Sox9-dependent phenotypes.
title_full Mesoderm-specific Stat3 deletion affects expression of Sox9 yielding Sox9-dependent phenotypes.
title_fullStr Mesoderm-specific Stat3 deletion affects expression of Sox9 yielding Sox9-dependent phenotypes.
title_full_unstemmed Mesoderm-specific Stat3 deletion affects expression of Sox9 yielding Sox9-dependent phenotypes.
title_short Mesoderm-specific Stat3 deletion affects expression of Sox9 yielding Sox9-dependent phenotypes.
title_sort mesoderm specific stat3 deletion affects expression of sox9 yielding sox9 dependent phenotypes
url https://journals.plos.org/plosgenetics/article/file?id=10.1371/journal.pgen.1006610&type=printable
work_keys_str_mv AT michaeldhall mesodermspecificstat3deletionaffectsexpressionofsox9yieldingsox9dependentphenotypes
AT carolineamurray mesodermspecificstat3deletionaffectsexpressionofsox9yieldingsox9dependentphenotypes
AT michaeljvaldez mesodermspecificstat3deletionaffectsexpressionofsox9yieldingsox9dependentphenotypes
AT alanoperantoni mesodermspecificstat3deletionaffectsexpressionofsox9yieldingsox9dependentphenotypes