Adverse effect of valproic acid on an in vitro gastrulation model entails activation of retinoic acid signaling.
Valproic acid (VPA), an antiepileptic drug, is a teratogen that causes neural tube and axial skeletal defects, although the mechanisms are not fully understood. We previously established a gastrulation model using mouse P19C5 stem cell embryoid bodies (EBs), which exhibits axial patterning and elongation morphogenesis in vitro. Here, we investigated the effects of VPA on the EB axial morphogenesis to gain insights into its teratogenic mechanisms. Axial elongation and patterning of EBs were inhibited by VPA at therapeutic concentrations. VPA elevated expression levels of various developmental regulators, including Cdx1 and Hoxa1, known transcriptional targets of retinoic acid (RA) signaling. Co-treatment of EBs with VPA and BMS493, an RA receptor antagonist, partially rescued axial elongation as well as gene expression profiles. These results suggest that VPA requires active RA signaling to interfere with EB morphogenesis.
University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Institute for Biogenesis Research, Developmental and Reproductive Biology Graduate Program, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA.
Aileen S W
AS
Li
University of Hawaii John A. Burns School of Medicine, Institute for Biogenesis Research, Developmental and Reproductive Biology Graduate Program, Honolulu, HI 96813, USA. Electronic address: marikawa@hawaii.edu.
Yusuke
Y
Marikawa
D000818:Animals; D000927:Anticonvulsants / Q000633:toxicity*; D001565:Benzoates / Q000494:pharmacology; D045744:Cell Line, Tumor; D058732:Embryoid Bodies / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D054262:Gastrulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D018507:Gene Expression Regulation, Developmental / Q000187:drug effects; D006655:Histone Deacetylases / Q000378:metabolism; D051379:Mice; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D013267:Stilbenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D013723:Teratogens / Q000633:toxicity*; D059467:Transcriptome / Q000187:drug effects; D014212:Tretinoin / Q000378:metabolism*; D014635:Valproic Acid / Q000633:toxicity*
C542472:4-(2-(5,6-dihydro-5,5-dimethyl-8-(2-phenylethynyl)naphthalen-2-yl)ethen-1-yl)benzoic acid; D000927:Anticonvulsants; D001565:Benzoates; D018168:Receptors, Retinoic Acid; D013267:Stilbenes; D013723:Teratogens; D014212:Tretinoin; D014635:Valproic Acid; D006655:Histone Deacetylases
Axial skeletal defect; Gastrulation; In vitro; Neural tube defect; Retinoic acid; Stem cell; Teratogen; Valproic acid