Journal
HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS
Volume 26, Issue 23, Pages 4715-4727Publisher
OXFORD UNIV PRESS
DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddx354
Keywords
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Funding
- Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan [LS004]
- Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, AMED [16eK0109021h0003]
- Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) KAKENHI [26293241, 16K15522]
- JSPS KAKENHI [15K19598]
- Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research [15K19598, 26253016, 16K15522, 17K10045, 26293241, 16K18389] Funding Source: KAKEN
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Germline mutations in BRAF are a major cause of cardio-facio-cutaneous (CFC) syndrome, which is characterized by heart defects, characteristic craniofacial dysmorphology and dermatologic abnormalities. Patients with CFC syndrome also commonly show gastrointestinal dysfunction, including feeding and swallowing difficulties and gastroesophageal reflux. We have previously found that knock-in mice expressing a Braf Q241R mutation exhibit CFC syndrome-related phenotypes, such as growth retardation, craniofacial dysmorphisms, congenital heart defects and learning deficits. However, it remains unclear whether Braf(Q241R/+) mice exhibit gastrointestinal dysfunction. Here, we report that Braf(Q241R/+) mice have neonatal feeding difficulties and esophageal dilation. The esophagus tissues from Braf(Q241R/+) mice displayed incomplete replacement of smooth muscle with skeletal muscle and decreased contraction. Furthermore, the Braf(Q241R/+) mice showed hyperkeratosis and a thickened muscle layer in the forestomach. Treatment with MEK inhibitors ameliorated the growth retardation, esophageal dilation, hyperkeratosis and thickened muscle layer in the forestomach in Braf(Q241R/+) mice. The esophageal dilation with aberrant skeletal-smooth muscle boundary in Braf(Q241R/+) mice were recovered after treatment with the histone H3K27 demethylase inhibitor GSK-J4. Our results provide clues to elucidate the pathogenesis and possible treatment of gastrointestinal dysfunction and failure to thrive in patients with CFC syndrome.
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