The lipodystrophic hotspot lamin A p.R482W mutation deregulates the mesodermal inducer T/Brachyury and early vascular differentiation gene networks

Hum Mol Genet. 2018 Apr 15;27(8):1447-1459. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddy055.

Abstract

The p.R482W hotspot mutation in A-type nuclear lamins causes familial partial lipodystrophy of Dunnigan-type (FPLD2), a lipodystrophic syndrome complicated by early onset atherosclerosis. Molecular mechanisms underlying endothelial cell dysfunction conferred by the lamin A mutation remain elusive. However, lamin A regulates epigenetic developmental pathways and mutations could perturb these functions. Here, we demonstrate that lamin A R482W elicits endothelial differentiation defects in a developmental model of FPLD2. Genome modeling in fibroblasts from patients with FPLD2 caused by the lamin A R482W mutation reveals repositioning of the mesodermal regulator T/Brachyury locus towards the nuclear center relative to normal fibroblasts, suggesting enhanced activation propensity of the locus in a developmental model of FPLD2. Addressing this issue, we report phenotypic and transcriptional alterations in mesodermal and endothelial differentiation of induced pluripotent stem cells we generated from a patient with R482W-associated FPLD2. Correction of the LMNA mutation ameliorates R482W-associated phenotypes and gene expression. Transcriptomics links endothelial differentiation defects to decreased Polycomb-mediated repression of the T/Brachyury locus and over-activation of T target genes. Binding of the Polycomb repressor complex 2 to T/Brachyury is impaired by the mutated lamin A network, which is unable to properly associate with the locus. This leads to a deregulation of vascular gene expression over time. By connecting a lipodystrophic hotspot lamin A mutation to a disruption of early mesodermal gene expression and defective endothelial differentiation, we propose that the mutation rewires the fate of several lineages, resulting in multi-tissue pathogenic phenotypes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Cell Differentiation / genetics
  • Cell Lineage / genetics
  • Endothelial Cells / metabolism*
  • Endothelial Cells / pathology
  • Female
  • Fetal Proteins / genetics*
  • Fetal Proteins / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / pathology
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental*
  • Gene Regulatory Networks
  • Humans
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / metabolism
  • Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells / pathology
  • Lamin Type A / genetics*
  • Lamin Type A / metabolism
  • Lipodystrophy, Familial Partial / genetics*
  • Lipodystrophy, Familial Partial / metabolism
  • Lipodystrophy, Familial Partial / pathology
  • Male
  • Mesoderm / metabolism
  • Mesoderm / pathology
  • Middle Aged
  • Mutation
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins / genetics*
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins / metabolism
  • Primary Cell Culture
  • Protein Binding
  • Signal Transduction
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / genetics*
  • T-Box Domain Proteins / metabolism

Substances

  • Fetal Proteins
  • LMNA protein, human
  • Lamin Type A
  • Polycomb-Group Proteins
  • T-Box Domain Proteins
  • Brachyury protein