title: Targeted gene expression analysis in hemimegalencephaly: activation of beta-catenin signaling.
abstract: Hemimegalencephaly (HMEG) is a developmental brain malformation characterized by unilateral hemispheric enlargement, cytoarchitectural abnormalities, and an association with epilepsy. To define the developmental pathogenesis of HMEG, the expression of 200 cell signaling, growth, angiogenic, and transcription factor genes was assayed in HMEG samples (n=8) with targeted cDNA arrays. Differential expression of 31 mRNAs across the 4 gene families was identified in HMEG compared with control cortex. Increases in growth and transcription factor genes included JNK-1, cyclic AMP response element binding protein (CREB), and tuberin mRNAs and decreases included insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), transforming growth factor beta-3 (TGF-beta3), and NFkB mRNAs. Increased expression of cyclin D1, c-myc, and WISP-1 mRNAs in HMEG suggested activation of the Wnt-1/beta-catenin cascade. Western analysis demonstrated increased levels of non-phosphorylated beta-catenin, which transcriptionally activates cyclin D7 and c-myc genes, but reduced levels of Ser33/Ser37/Thr41 phospho-beta-catenin, which is essential for beta-catenin-inactivation, in HMEG. Altered expression of 31 mRNAs from 4 gene families in human HMEG may lead to aberrant cell growth and hemispheric enlargement during brain development. Enhanced cyclin D1 and c-myc transcription likely reflects increased transcriptionally active beta-catenin due to decreased Ser33/Ser37/Thr41 phospho-beta-catenin and suggests activation of the Wnt-1/beta-catenin cascade in HMEG.
authors.affiliation: PENN Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, University of Pennsylvania Medical Center, Philadelphia 19104, USA.
authors.forename: Jia
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Marianna
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Baybis
authors.forename: Allana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.forename: Guy
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: McKhann
authors.forename: Diane
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chugani
authors.forename: William J
authors.initials: WJ
authors.lastname: Kupsky
authors.forename: Eleonora
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Aronica
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Crino
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001483:Base Sequence; D015153:Blotting, Western; D001921:Brain / Q000002:abnormalities* / Q000473:pathology; D001927:Brain Diseases / Q000151:congenital / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D004827:Epilepsy / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D015870:Gene Expression; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D016133:Polymerase Chain Reaction; D015534:Trans-Activators / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D051176:beta Catenin
chemical_list: C495270:CTNNB1 protein, human; D003598:Cytoskeletal Proteins; D015534:Trans-Activators; D051176:beta Catenin