A mouse model for human short-stature syndromes identifies Shox2 as an upstream regulator of Runx2 during long-bone development.
Deficiencies or mutations in the human pseudoautosomal SHOX gene are associated with a series of short-stature conditions, including Turner syndrome, Leri-Weill dyschondrosteosis, and Langer mesomelic dysplasia. Although this gene is absent from the mouse genome, the closely related paralogous gene Shox2 displays a similar expression pattern in developing limbs. Here, we report that the conditional inactivation of Shox2 in developing appendages leads to a strong phenotype, similar to the human conditions, although it affects a different proximodistal limb segment. Furthermore, using this mouse model, we establish the cellular etiology of these defects and show that Shox2 acts upstream the Runx2 gene, a key regulator of chondrogenesis.
Department of Zoology and Animal Biology and National Research Center Frontiers in Genetics, Sciences III, University of Geneva, Quai Ernest Ansermet 30, 1211 Geneva 4, Switzerland.
John
J
Cobb
Andrée
A
Dierich
Yolande
Y
Huss-Garcia
Denis
D
Duboule
D000818:Animals; D001846:Bone Development / Q000235:genetics; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000002:abnormalities; D019902:Chondrocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000378:metabolism; D020219:Chondrogenesis / Q000235:genetics*; D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit / Q000032:analysis / Q000235:genetics*; D004195:Disease Models, Animal; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental; D006130:Growth Disorders / Q000235:genetics* / Q000473:pathology; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D017880:Limb Deformities, Congenital / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology; D051379:Mice / Q000235:genetics*; D008817:Mice, Mutant Strains; D010641:Phenotype; D017384:Sequence Deletion; D013577:Syndrome
D050659:Core Binding Factor Alpha 1 Subunit; D018398:Homeodomain Proteins; C493716:Runx2 protein, mouse; C484663:Shox2 protein, mouse