Otto Hannes Vogel

All Publications

• Giant Prolactinoma Presenting with Neck Pain and Structural Compromise of the Occipital Condyles. Journal of neurological surgery reports Yecies, D., Ajlan, A., Ratliff, J., Ziskin, J., Hwang, P., Vogel, H., Katznelson, L., Harsh, G. 2015; 76 (2): e297-301

  Abstract

  Prolactinomas are the most common form of endocrinologically active pituitary adenoma; they account for ∼ 45% of pituitary adenomas encountered in clinical practice. Giant adenomas are those > 4 cm in diameter. Less than 0.5% of pituitary adenomas encountered in neurosurgical practice are giant prolactinomas. Patients with giant prolactinomas typically present with highly elevated prolactin levels, endocrinologic disturbances, and neurologic symptoms from mass-induced pressure. Described here is an unusual case of a giant prolactinoma presenting with neck pain and structural compromise of the occipital condyles. Transnasal biopsy of the nasopharyngeal portion of the mass obtained tissue consistent with an atypical prolactinoma with p53 reactivity and a high Ki-67 index of 5%. Despite the size and invasiveness of the tumor, the patient had resolution of his clinical symptoms, dramatic reduction of his hyperprolactinemia, and near-complete disappearance of his tumor following medical treatment.

  View details for DOI 10.1055/s-0035-1566124

  View details for PubMedID 26623246

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4648725

• Activated iron-containing microglia in the human hippocampus identified by magnetic resonance imaging in Alzheimer disease NEUROBIOLOGY OF AGING Zeineh, M. M., Chen, Y., Kitzler, H. H., Hammond, R., Vogel, H., Rutt, B. K. 2015; 36 (9): 2483-2500

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2015.05.022

  View details for Web of Science ID 000358803400005

• Pilomyxoid Astrocytoma (PMA) Shows Significant Differences in Gene Expression vs. Pilocytic Astrocytoma (PA) and Variable Tendency Toward Maturation to PA BRAIN PATHOLOGY Kleinschmidt-DeMasters, B. K., Donson, A. M., Vogel, H., Foreman, N. K. 2015; 25 (4): 429-440

  Abstract

  Pilomyxoid astrocytomas (PMAs) manifest a more aggressive clinical course than pilocytic astrocytomas (PAs). Development of effective therapies demands a better biological understanding of PMA. We first conducted gene expression microarray analysis of 9 PMA and 13 PA from infra- and supratentorial sites. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering analysis demonstrated that tumors are grouped according to anatomic site, not diagnosis. Gene expression profiles were then contrasted between eight PMAs and six PAs, all supratentorial/hypothalamic/chiasmal. Clinical outcome of PMAs varied, with four out of four patients with diencephalic syndrome succumbing to disease, one of whom showed bulky metastatic leptomeningeal spread at autopsy, with bimodal maturation to PA in some areas and de-differentiation to glioblastoma in others. A surviving child has undergone multiple surgical debulking, with progressive maturation to PA over time. Ontology-enrichment analysis identified overexpression in PMAs of extracellular matrix and mitosis-related genes. Genes overexpressed in PMA vs. PA, ranked according to fold-change, included developmental genes H19, DACT2, extracellular matrix collagens (COL2A1; COL1A1) and IGF2BP3 (IMP3), the latter previously identified as an adverse prognostic factor in PMA and PA.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/bpa.12239

  View details for Web of Science ID 000356679600006

  View details for PubMedID 25521223

• Neuronal Activity Promotes Glioma Growth through Neuroligin-3 Secretion CELL Venkatesh, H. S., Johung, T. B., Caretti, V., Noll, A., Tang, Y., Nagaraja, S., Gibson, E. M., Mount, C. W., Polepalli, J., Mitra, S. S., Woo, P. J., Malenka, R. C., Vogel, H., Bredel, M., Mallick, P., Monje, M. 2015; 161 (4): 803-816

  Abstract

  Active neurons exert a mitogenic effect on normal neural precursor and oligodendroglial precursor cells, the putative cellular origins of high-grade glioma (HGG). By using optogenetic control of cortical neuronal activity in a patient-derived pediatric glioblastoma xenograft model, we demonstrate that active neurons similarly promote HGG proliferation and growth in vivo. Conditioned medium from optogenetically stimulated cortical slices promoted proliferation of pediatric and adult patient-derived HGG cultures, indicating secretion of activity-regulated mitogen(s). The synaptic protein neuroligin-3 (NLGN3) was identified as the leading candidate mitogen, and soluble NLGN3 was sufficient and necessary to promote robust HGG cell proliferation. NLGN3 induced PI3K-mTOR pathway activity and feedforward expression of NLGN3 in glioma cells. NLGN3 expression levels in human HGG negatively correlated with patient overall survival. These findings indicate the important role of active neurons in the brain tumor microenvironment and identify secreted NLGN3 as an unexpected mechanism promoting neuronal activity-regulated cancer growth.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2015.04.012

  View details for Web of Science ID 000354175200014

  View details for PubMedID 25913192

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4447122

• Atypical and Rare Variants of Central Neurocytomas NEUROSURGERY CLINICS OF NORTH AMERICA Choudhri, O., Razavi, S., Vogel, H., Li, G. 2015; 26 (1): 91-?

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.nec.2014.09.003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000346620900012

  View details for PubMedID 25432187

• Inappropriate p53 activation during development induces features of CHARGE syndrome NATURE Van Nostrand, J. L., Brady, C. A., Jung, H., Fuentes, D. R., Kozak, M. M., Johnson, T. M., Lin, C., Lin, C., Swiderski, D. L., Vogel, H., Bernstein, J. A., Attie-Bitach, T., Chang, C., Wysocka, J., Martin, D. M., Attardi, L. D. 2014; 514 (7521): 228-?

  View details for DOI 10.1038/nature13585

  View details for Web of Science ID 000342663100042

• Evidence that Meningeal Mast Cells Can Worsen Stroke Pathology in Mice AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY Arac, A., Grimbaldeston, M. A., Nepomuceno, A. R., Olayiwola, O., Pereira, M. P., Nishiyama, Y., Tsykin, A., Goodall, G. J., Schlecht, U., Vogel, H., Tsai, M., Galli, S. J., Bliss, T. M., Steinbergtt, G. K. 2014; 184 (9): 2493-2504

  Abstract

  Stroke is the leading cause of adult disability and the fourth most common cause of death in the United States. Inflammation is thought to play an important role in stroke pathology, but the factors that promote inflammation in this setting remain to be fully defined. An understudied but important factor is the role of meningeal-located immune cells in modulating brain pathology. Although different immune cells traffic through meningeal vessels en route to the brain, mature mast cells do not circulate but are resident in the meninges. With the use of genetic and cell transfer approaches in mice, we identified evidence that meningeal mast cells can importantly contribute to the key features of stroke pathology, including infiltration of granulocytes and activated macrophages, brain swelling, and infarct size. We also obtained evidence that two mast cell-derived products, interleukin-6 and, to a lesser extent, chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 7, can contribute to stroke pathology. These findings indicate a novel role for mast cells in the meninges, the membranes that envelop the brain, as potential gatekeepers for modulating brain inflammation and pathology after stroke.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.ajpath.2014.06.003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000341283900014

  View details for PubMedID 25134760

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4188278

• Congenital muscular dystrophy and generalized epilepsy caused by GMPPB mutations. Brain research Raphael, A. R., Couthouis, J., Sakamuri, S., Siskind, C., Vogel, H., Day, J. W., Gitler, A. D. 2014; 1575: 66-71

  Abstract

  The alpha-dystroglycanopathies are genetically heterogeneous muscular dystrophies that result from hypoglycosylation of alpha-dystroglycan (α-DG). Alpha-dystroglycan is an essential link between the extracellular matrix and the muscle fiber sarcolemma, and proper glycosylation is critical for its ability to bind to ligands in the extracellular matrix. We sought to identify the genetic basis of alpha-dystroglycanopathy in a family wherein the affected individuals presented with congenital muscular dystrophy, brain abnormalities and generalized epilepsy. We performed whole exome sequencing and identified compound heterozygous GMPPB mutations in the affected children. GMPPB is an enzyme in the glycosylation pathway, and GMPPB mutations were recently linked to eight cases of alpha-dystroglycanopathy with a range of symptoms. We identified a novel mutation in GMPPB (p.I219T) as well as a previously published mutation (p.R287Q). Thus, our work further confirms a role for GMPPB defects in alpha-dystroglycanopathy, and suggests that glycosylation may play a role in the neuronal membrane channels or networks involved in the physiology of generalized epilepsy syndromes. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled RNA Metabolism 2013.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.brainres.2014.04.028

  View details for PubMedID 24780531

• Lineage-specific splicing of a brain-enriched alternative exon promotes glioblastoma progression JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION Ferrarese, R., Harsh, G. R., Yadav, A. K., Bug, E., Maticzka, D., Reichardt, W., Dombrowski, S. M., Miller, T. E., Masilamani, A. P., Dai, F., Kim, H., Hadler, M., Scholtens, D. M., Yu, I. L., Beck, J., Srinivasasainagendra, V., Costa, F., Baxan, N., Pfeifer, D., von Elverfeldt, D., Backofen, R., Weyerbrock, A., Duarte, C. W., He, X., Prinz, M., Chandler, J. P., Vogel, H., Chakravarti, A., Rich, J. N., Carro, M. S., Bredel, M. 2014; 124 (7): 2861-2876

  View details for DOI 10.1172/JCI68836

  View details for Web of Science ID 000338688400015

• Human pontine glioma cells can induce murine tumors. Acta neuropathologica Caretti, V., Sewing, A. C., Lagerweij, T., Schellen, P., Bugiani, M., Jansen, M. H., van Vuurden, D. G., Navis, A. C., Horsman, I., Vandertop, W. P., Noske, D. P., Wesseling, P., Kaspers, G. J., Nazarian, J., Vogel, H., Hulleman, E., Monje, M., Wurdinger, T. 2014; 127 (6): 897-909

  Abstract

  Diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG), with a median survival of only 9 months, is the leading cause of pediatric brain cancer mortality. Dearth of tumor tissue for research has limited progress in this disease until recently. New experimental models for DIPG research are now emerging. To develop preclinical models of DIPG, two different methods were adopted: cells obtained at autopsy (1) were directly xenografted orthotopically into the pons of immunodeficient mice without an intervening cell culture step or (2) were first cultured in vitro and, upon successful expansion, injected in vivo. Both strategies resulted in pontine tumors histopathologically similar to the original human DIPG tumors. However, following the direct transplantation method all tumors proved to be composed of murine and not of human cells. This is in contrast to the indirect method that included initial in vitro culture and resulted in xenografts comprising human cells. Of note, direct injection of cells obtained postmortem from the pons and frontal lobe of human brains not affected by cancer did not give rise to neoplasms. The murine pontine tumors exhibited an immunophenotype similar to human DIPG, but were also positive for microglia/macrophage markers, such as CD45, CD68 and CD11b. Serial orthotopic injection of these murine cells results in lethal tumors in recipient mice. Direct injection of human DIPG cells in vivo can give rise to malignant murine tumors. This represents an important caveat for xenotransplantation models of DIPG. In contrast, an initial in vitro culture step can allow establishment of human orthotopic xenografts. The mechanism underlying this phenomenon observed with direct xenotransplantation remains an open question.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00401-014-1272-4

  View details for PubMedID 24777482

• Neuronal Activity Promotes Oligodendrogenesis and Adaptive Myelination in the Mammalian Brain SCIENCE Gibson, E. M., Purger, D., Mount, C. W., Goldstein, A. K., Lin, G. L., Wood, L. S., Inema, I., Miller, S. E., Bieri, G., Zuchero, J. B., Barres, B. A., Woo, P. J., Vogel, H., Monje, M. 2014; 344 (6183): 487-?

  Abstract

  Myelination of the central nervous system requires the generation of functionally mature oligodendrocytes from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Electrically active neurons may influence OPC function and selectively instruct myelination of an active neural circuit. In this work, we use optogenetic stimulation of the premotor cortex in awake, behaving mice to demonstrate that neuronal activity elicits a mitogenic response of neural progenitor cells and OPCs, promotes oligodendrogenesis, and increases myelination within the deep layers of the premotor cortex and subcortical white matter. We further show that this neuronal activity-regulated oligodendrogenesis and myelination is associated with improved motor function of the corresponding limb. Oligodendrogenesis and myelination appear necessary for the observed functional improvement, as epigenetic blockade of oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin changes prevents the activity-regulated behavioral improvement.

  View details for DOI 10.1126/science.1252304

  View details for Web of Science ID 000335157700034

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4096908

• Neuronal activity promotes oligodendrogenesis and adaptive myelination in the mammalian brain. Science Gibson, E. M., Purger, D., Mount, C. W., Goldstein, A. K., Lin, G. L., Wood, L. S., Inema, I., Miller, S. E., Bieri, G., Zuchero, J. B., Barres, B. A., Woo, P. J., Vogel, H., Monje, M. 2014; 344 (6183): 1252304-?

  Abstract

  Myelination of the central nervous system requires the generation of functionally mature oligodendrocytes from oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). Electrically active neurons may influence OPC function and selectively instruct myelination of an active neural circuit. In this work, we use optogenetic stimulation of the premotor cortex in awake, behaving mice to demonstrate that neuronal activity elicits a mitogenic response of neural progenitor cells and OPCs, promotes oligodendrogenesis, and increases myelination within the deep layers of the premotor cortex and subcortical white matter. We further show that this neuronal activity-regulated oligodendrogenesis and myelination is associated with improved motor function of the corresponding limb. Oligodendrogenesis and myelination appear necessary for the observed functional improvement, as epigenetic blockade of oligodendrocyte differentiation and myelin changes prevents the activity-regulated behavioral improvement.

  View details for DOI 10.1126/science.1252304

  View details for PubMedID 24727982

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4096908

• Exome sequencing identifies a DNAJB6 mutation in a family with dominantly-inherited limb-girdle muscular dystrophy. Neuromuscular disorders Couthouis, J., Raphael, A. R., Siskind, C., Findlay, A. R., Buenrostro, J. D., Greenleaf, W. J., Vogel, H., Day, J. W., Flanigan, K. M., Gitler, A. D. 2014; 24 (5): 431-435

  Abstract

  Limb-girdle muscular dystrophy primarily affects the muscles of the hips and shoulders (the "limb-girdle" muscles), although it is a heterogeneous disorder that can present with varying symptoms. There is currently no cure. We sought to identify the genetic basis of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1 in an American family of Northern European descent using exome sequencing. Exome sequencing was performed on DNA samples from two affected siblings and one unaffected sibling and resulted in the identification of eleven candidate mutations that co-segregated with the disease. Notably, this list included a previously reported mutation in DNAJB6, p.Phe89Ile, which was recently identified as a cause of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1D. Additional family members were Sanger sequenced and the mutation in DNAJB6 was only found in affected individuals. Subsequent haplotype analysis indicated that this DNAJB6 p.Phe89Ile mutation likely arose independently of the previously reported mutation. Since other published mutations are located close by in the G/F domain of DNAJB6, this suggests that the area may represent a mutational hotspot. Exome sequencing provided an unbiased and effective method for identifying the genetic etiology of limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1 in a previously genetically uncharacterized family. This work further confirms the causative role of DNAJB6 mutations in limb-girdle muscular dystrophy type 1D.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.nmd.2014.01.014

  View details for PubMedID 24594375

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC4013999

• A positive feedback between p53 and miR-34 miRNAs mediates tumor suppression GENES & DEVELOPMENT Okada, N., Lin, C., Ribeiro, M. C., Biton, A., Lai, G., He, X., Bu, P., Vogel, H., Jablons, D. M., Keller, A. C., Wilkinson, J. E., He, B., Speed, T. P., He, L. 2014; 28 (5): 438-450

  Abstract

  As bona fide p53 transcriptional targets, miR-34 microRNAs (miRNAs) exhibit frequent alterations in many human tumor types and elicit multiple p53 downstream effects upon overexpression. Unexpectedly, miR-34 deletion alone fails to impair multiple p53-mediated tumor suppressor effects in mice, possibly due to the considerable redundancy in the p53 pathway. Here, we demonstrate that miR-34a represses HDM4, a potent negative regulator of p53, creating a positive feedback loop acting on p53. In a Kras-induced mouse lung cancer model, miR-34a deficiency alone does not exhibit a strong oncogenic effect. However, miR-34a deficiency strongly promotes tumorigenesis when p53 is haploinsufficient, suggesting that the defective p53-miR-34 feedback loop can enhance oncogenesis in a specific context. The importance of the p53/miR-34/HDM4 feedback loop is further confirmed by an inverse correlation between miR-34 and full-length HDM4 in human lung adenocarcinomas. In addition, human lung adenocarcinomas generate an elevated level of a short HDM4 isoform through alternative polyadenylation. This short HDM4 isoform lacks miR-34-binding sites in the 3' untranslated region (UTR), thereby evading miR-34 regulation to disable the p53-miR-34 positive feedback. Taken together, our results elucidated the intricate cross-talk between p53 and miR-34 miRNAs and revealed an important tumor suppressor effect generated by this positive feedback loop.

  View details for DOI 10.1101/gad.233585.113

  View details for Web of Science ID 000332475600003

  View details for PubMedID 24532687

• Composite pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma-epithelioid glioneuronal tumor with BRAF V600E mutation - report of three cases CLINICAL NEUROPATHOLOGY Aisner, D. L., Newell, K. L., Pollack, A. G., Kleinschmidt-Demasters, B. K., Steinberg, G. K., Smyth, L. T., Vogel, H. 2014; 33 (2): 112-121

  Abstract

  We report three examples of a composite pleomorphic xanthoastrocytoma-epithelioid glioneuronal tumor (PXAEGT) occurring in an adolescent male and two young women. All were superficial and two were located in proximity to the optic nerves. Previously reported composite PXA-gangliogliomas (PXA-GG), have been considered "collision tumors" since little intermingling of the two elements has been present. In contrast, we hypothesized that the two elements of the PXA-EGT might instead derive from a common origin. To test this, we sampled the separate regions of these biphasic tumors and assessed each component for the BRAF V600E mutation, a genetic feature seen in two-thirds of pure PXAs. The BRAF mutation was found in both tumor areas in all cases, suggesting a common origin for the components, rather than a collision tumor. These biphasic PXA-EGT cases represent a new histomorphological combination of neuroepithelial neoplastic elements. These cases further expand the range of glial neoplasia in which epithelioid morphology is encountered, and add to the growing list of biphasic tumors harboring the BRAF V600E mutation.

  View details for DOI 10.5414/NP300679

  View details for Web of Science ID 000333860500003

  View details for PubMedID 24321241

• Targeting a Glioblastoma Cancer Stem-Cell Population Defined by EGF Receptor Variant III. Cancer research Emlet, D. R., Gupta, P., Holgado-Madruga, M., Del Vecchio, C. A., Mitra, S. S., Han, S., Li, G., Jensen, K. C., Vogel, H., Xu, L. W., Skirboll, S. S., Wong, A. J. 2014; 74 (4): 1238-1249

  Abstract

  The relationship between mutated proteins and the cancer stem cell population is unclear. Glioblastoma tumors frequently express EGFRvIII, an EGFR variant that arises via gene rearrangement and amplification. However, expression of EGFRvIII is restricted despite the prevalence of the alteration. Here we show that EGFRvIII is highly co-expressed with CD133 and that EGFRvIII+/CD133+ defines the population of cancer stem cells with the highest degree of self-renewal and tumor initiating ability. EGFRvIII+ cells are associated with other stem/progenitor markers while markers of differentiation are found in EGFRvIII- cells. EGFRvIII expression is lost in standard cell culture but its expression is maintained in tumor sphere culture, and cultured cells also retain the EGFRvIII+/CD133+ co-expression and self-renewal and tumor initiating abilities. Elimination of the EGFRvIII+/CD133+ population using a bispecific antibody reduced tumorigenicity of implanted tumor cells better than any reagent directed against a single epitope. This work demonstrates that a mutated oncogene can have CSC specific expression and be used to specifically target this population.

  View details for DOI 10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-13-1407

  View details for PubMedID 24366881

• Relapse patterns in pediatric embryonal central nervous system tumors JOURNAL OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY Perreault, S., Lober, R. M., Carret, A., Zhang, G., Hershon, L., Decarie, J., Yeom, K., Vogel, H., Fisher, P. G., Partap, S. 2013; 115 (2): 209-215

  Abstract

  Embryonal tumors of the central nervous system (CNS) share histological features and were therefore initially grouped as primitive neuroectodermal tumors (PNET) and treated similarly. We sought to determine the relapse patterns of specific embryonal CNS tumors. We conducted a historical cohort study of children diagnosed with CNS embryonal tumors from January 2000 to December 2011 in two pediatric neuro-oncology centers. Patients of 21 years of age or younger at time of presentation with a diagnosis of medulloblastoma, supratentorial PNET, pineoblastoma or atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor (ATRT) and at least one surveillance MRI were included. A total of 133 patients met inclusion criteria and 49 (37 %) patients relapsed during the observation period. The majority (79 %) of sPNET relapses were local, whereas all (100 %) PB relapses were associated with diffuse leptomeningeal disease. Relapse patterns for MB were more diverse with local recurrence in 27 %, distant recurrence in 35 % and diffuse leptomeningeal disease in 38 %. The frequency of relapses involving the spine differed (p < 0.001) between tumor types (MB 28/55 [51 %], sPNET 3/33 [9 %], ATRT 3/7 [43 %] and PB 12/12 [100 %]). No sPNET patients had isolated spinal relapse (0/14). Embryonal tumors were found to have divergent patterns of recurrence. While medulloblastoma has variable relapse presentations, sPNET relapses locally and pineoblastoma recurs with diffuse leptomeningeal disease involving the spine. These results point toward possibly new upfront treatment stratification among embryonal tumors in accordance with relapse pattern.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11060-013-1213-4

  View details for Web of Science ID 000325821900009

  View details for PubMedID 23921420

• A Mutation in TGFB3 Associated With a Syndrome of Low Muscle Mass, Growth Retardation, Distal Arthrogryposis and Clinical Features Overlapping With Marfan and Loeys-Dietz Syndrome AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART A Rienhoff, H. Y., Yeo, C., Morissette, R., Khrebtukova, I., Melnick, J., Luo, S., Leng, N., Kim, Y., Schroth, G., Westwick, J., Vogel, H., McDonnell, N., Hall, J. G., Whitman, M. 2013; 161 (8): 2040-2046

  View details for DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.36056

  View details for Web of Science ID 000327789600031

• AG10 inhibits amyloidogenesis and cellular toxicity of the familial amyloid cardiomyopathy-associated V122I transthyretin PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Penchala, S. C., Connelly, S., Wang, Y., Park, M. S., Zhao, L., Baranczak, A., Rappley, I., Vogel, H., Liedtke, M., Witteles, R. M., Powers, E. T., Reixach, N., Chan, W. K., Wilson, I. A., Kelly, J. W., Graef, I. A., Alhamadsheh, M. M. 2013; 110 (24): 9992-9997

  Abstract

  The misassembly of soluble proteins into toxic aggregates, including amyloid fibrils, underlies a large number of human degenerative diseases. Cardiac amyloidoses, which are most commonly caused by aggregation of Ig light chains or transthyretin (TTR) in the cardiac interstitium and conducting system, represent an important and often underdiagnosed cause of heart failure. Two types of TTR-associated amyloid cardiomyopathies are clinically important. The Val122Ile (V122I) mutation, which alters the kinetic stability of TTR and affects 3% to 4% of African American subjects, can lead to development of familial amyloid cardiomyopathy. In addition, aggregation of WT TTR in individuals older than age 65 y causes senile systemic amyloidosis. TTR-mediated amyloid cardiomyopathies are chronic and progressive conditions that lead to arrhythmias, biventricular heart failure, and death. As no Food and Drug Administration-approved drugs are currently available for treatment of these diseases, the development of therapeutic agents that prevent TTR-mediated cardiotoxicity is desired. Here, we report the development of AG10, a potent and selective kinetic stabilizer of TTR. AG10 prevents dissociation of V122I-TTR in serum samples obtained from patients with familial amyloid cardiomyopathy. In contrast to other TTR stabilizers currently in clinical trials, AG10 stabilizes V122I- and WT-TTR equally well and also exceeds their efficacy to stabilize WT and mutant TTR in whole serum. Crystallographic studies of AG10 bound to V122I-TTR give valuable insights into how AG10 achieves such effective kinetic stabilization of TTR, which will also aid in designing better TTR stabilizers. The oral bioavailability of AG10, combined with additional desirable drug-like features, makes it a very promising candidate to treat TTR amyloid cardiomyopathy.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1300761110

  View details for Web of Science ID 000320930100085

  View details for PubMedID 23716704

• Central nervous system stem cell transplantation for children with neuronal ceroid lipofuscinosis JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY-PEDIATRICS Selden, N. R., Al-Uzri, A., Huhn, S. L., Koch, T. K., Sikora, D. M., Nguyen-Driver, M. D., Guillaume, D. J., Koh, J. L., Gultekin, S. H., Anderson, J. C., Vogel, H., Sutcliffe, T. L., Jacobs, Y., Steiner, R. D. 2013; 11 (6): 643-652

  Abstract

  Infantile and late-infantile neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses (NCLs) are invariably fatal lysosomal storage diseases associated with defects in lysosomal enzyme palmitoyl-protein thioesterase 1 (PPT-1) or tripeptidyl peptidase 1 (TPP1) activity. Previous preclinical studies have demonstrated that human CNS stem cells (HuCNS-SCs) produce both PPT-1 and TPP1 and result in donor cell engraftment and reduced accumulation of storage material in the brain when tested in an NCL mouse model.HuCNS-SC transplantation was tested in an open-label dose-escalation Phase I clinical trial as a potential treatment for infantile and late-infantile NCL. Study design included direct neurosurgical transplantation of allogeneic HuCNS-SCs into the cerebral hemispheres and lateral ventricles accompanied by 12 months of immunosuppression.Six children with either the infantile or late-infantile forms of NCL underwent low- (3 patients) and high- (3 patients) dose transplantation of HuCNS-SCs followed by immunosuppression. The surgery, immunosuppression, and cell transplantation were well tolerated. Adverse events following transplantation were consistent with the underlying disease, and none were directly attributed to the donor cells. Observations regarding efficacy of the intervention were limited by the enrollment criteria requiring that patients be in advanced stages of disease.This study represents the first-in-human clinical trial involving transplantation of a purified population of human neural stem cells for a neurodegenerative disorder. The feasibility of this approach and absence of transplantation-related serious adverse events support further exploration of HuCNS-SC transplantation as a potential treatment for select subtypes of NCL, and possibly for other neurodegenerative disorders.

  View details for DOI 10.3171/2013.3.PEDS12397

  View details for Web of Science ID 000319366900005

  View details for PubMedID 23581634

• EGFRvIII gene rearrangement is an early event in glioblastoma tumorigenesis and expression defines a hierarchy modulated by epigenetic mechanisms. Oncogene Del Vecchio, C. A., Giacomini, C. P., Vogel, H., Jensen, K. C., Florio, T., Merlo, A., Pollack, J. R., Wong, A. J. 2013; 32 (21): 2670-2681

  Abstract

  Amplification and rearrangements of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene are frequently found in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). The most common variant is EGFR variant III (EGFRvIII). Research suggests that EGFRvIII could be a marker for a cancer stem cell or tumor-initiating population. If amplification and rearrangement are early events in tumorigenesis, this implies that they should be preserved throughout the tumor. However, in primary GBM, EGFRvIII expression is focal and sporadic. Unexpectedly, we found EGFR amplification and rearrangement throughout the tumor, including regions with no EGFRvIII expression, suggesting that mechanisms exist to modulate EGFRvIII expression even in the presence of high gene amplification. To study this phenomenon, we characterized three GBM cell lines with endogenous EGFRvIII. EGFRvIII expression was heterogeneous, with both positive and negative populations maintaining the genetic alterations, akin to primary tumors. Furthermore, EGFRvIII defined a hierarchy where EGFRvIII-positive cells gave rise to additional positive and negative cells. Only cells that had recently lost EGFRvIII expression could re-express EGFRvIII, providing an important buffer for maintaining EGFRvIII-positive cell numbers. Epigenetic mechanisms had a role in maintaining heterogeneous EGFRvIII expression. Demethylation induced a 20-60% increase in the percentage of EGFRvIII-positive cells, indicating that some cells could re-express EGFRvIII. Surprisingly, inhibition of histone deacetylation resulted in a 50-80% reduction in EGFRvIII expression. Collectively, this data demonstrates that EGFR amplification and rearrangement are early events in tumorigenesis and EGFRvIII follows a model of hierarchical expression. Furthermore, EGFRvIII expression is restricted by epigenetic mechanisms, suggesting that drugs that modulate the epigenome might be used successfully in glioblastoma tumors.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/onc.2012.280

  View details for PubMedID 22797070

• Diffusion-weighted MRI: distinction of skull base chordoma from chondrosarcoma. AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology Yeom, K. W., Lober, R. M., Mobley, B. C., Harsh, G., Vogel, H., Allagio, R., Pearson, M., Edwards, M. S., Fischbein, N. J. 2013; 34 (5): 1056-?

  Abstract

  Chordoma and chondrosarcoma of the skull base are rare tumors with overlapping presentations and anatomic imaging features but different prognoses. We hypothesized that these tumors might be distinguished by using diffusion-weighted MR imaging.We retrospectively reviewed 19 patients with pathologically confirmed chordoma or chondrosarcoma who underwent both conventional and diffusion-weighted MR imaging. Differences in distributions of ADC were assessed by the Kruskal-Wallis test. Associations between histopathologic diagnosis and conventional MR imaging features (T2 signal intensity, contrast enhancement, and tumor location) were assessed with the Fisher exact test.Chondrosarcoma was associated with the highest mean ADC value (2051 ± 261 × 10(-6) mm(2)/s) and was significantly different from classic chordoma (1474 ± 117 × 10(-6) mm(2)/s) and poorly differentiated chordoma (875 ± 100 × 10(-6) mm(2)/s) (P < .001). Poorly differentiated chordoma was characterized by low T2 signal intensity (P = .001), but other conventional MR imaging features of enhancement and/or lesion location did not reliably distinguish these tumor types.Diffusion-weighted MR imaging may be useful in assessing clival tumors, particularly in differentiating chordoma from chondrosarcoma. A prospective study of a larger cohort will be required to determine the value of ADC in predicting histopathologic diagnosis.

  View details for DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A3333

  View details for PubMedID 23124635

• Chd5 requires PHD-mediated histone 3 binding for tumor suppression. Cell reports Paul, S., Kuo, A., Schalch, T., Vogel, H., Joshua-Tor, L., McCombie, W. R., Gozani, O., Hammell, M., Mills, A. A. 2013; 3 (1): 92-102

  Abstract

  Chromodomain Helicase DNA binding protein 5 (CHD5) is a tumor suppressor mapping to 1p36, a genomic region that is frequently deleted in human cancer. Although CHD5 belongs to the CHD family of chromatin-remodeling proteins, whether its tumor-suppressive role involves an interaction with chromatin is unknown. Here we report that Chd5 binds the unmodified N terminus of H3 through its tandem plant homeodomains (PHDs). Genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation studies reveal preferential binding of Chd5 to loci lacking the active mark H3K4me3 and also identify Chd5 targets implicated in cancer. Chd5 mutations that abrogate H3 binding are unable to inhibit proliferation or transcriptionally modulate target genes, which leads to tumorigenesis in vivo. Unlike wild-type Chd5, Chd5-PHD mutants are unable to induce differentiation or efficiently suppress the growth of human neuroblastoma in vivo. Our work defines Chd5 as an N-terminally unmodified H3-binding protein and provides functional evidence that this interaction orchestrates chromatin-mediated transcriptional programs critical for tumor suppression.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.celrep.2012.12.009

  View details for PubMedID 23318260

• Isocitrate dehydrogenase 1 R132H mutation is not detected in angiocentric glioma ANNALS OF DIAGNOSTIC PATHOLOGY Raghunathan, A., Olar, A., Vogel, H., Parker, J. R., Coventry, S. C., Debski, R., Albarracin, C. T., Aldape, K. D., Cahill, D. P., Powell, S. Z., Fuller, G. N. 2012; 16 (4): 255-259

  Abstract

  Mutations of isocitrate dehydrogenase-1 gene (IDH1), most commonly resulting in replacement of arginine at position 132 by histidine (R132H), have been described in World Health Organization grade II and III diffuse gliomas and secondary glioblastoma. Immunohistochemistry using a mouse monoclonal antibody has a high specificity and sensitivity for detecting IDH1 R132H mutant protein in sections from formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue. Angiocentric glioma (AG), a unique neoplasm with mixed phenotypic features of diffuse glioma and ependymoma, has recently been codified as a grade I neoplasm in the 2007 World Health Organization classification of central nervous system tumors. The present study was designed to evaluate IDH1 R132H protein in AG. Three cases of AG were collected, and the diagnoses were confirmed. Expression of mutant IDH1 R132H protein was determined by immunohistochemistry on representative formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded sections using the antihuman mouse monoclonal antibody IDH1 R132H (Dianova, Hamburg, Germany). Known IDH1 mutation-positive and IDH1 wild-type cases of grade II to IV glioma served as positive and negative controls. All 3 patients were male, aged 3, 5, and 15 years, with intra-axial tumors in the right posterior parietal-occipital lobe, right frontal lobe, and left frontal lobe, respectively. All 3 cases showed characteristic morphologic features of AG, including a monomorphous population of slender bipolar cells that diffusely infiltrated cortical parenchyma and ensheathed cortical blood vessels radially and longitudinally. All 3 cases were negative for the presence of IDH1 R132H mutant protein (0/3). All control cases showed appropriate reactivity. IDH1 R132H mutation has been described as a common molecular signature of grade II and III diffuse gliomas and secondary glioblastoma; however, AG, which exhibits some features of diffuse glioma, has not been evaluated. The absence of mutant IDH1 R132H protein expression in AG may help further distinguish this unique neoplasm from diffuse glioma.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.anndiagpath.2011.11.003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000306628200004

  View details for PubMedID 22445362

• Dosage-dependent phenotypes in models of 16p11.2 lesions found in autism PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Horev, G., Ellegood, J., Lerch, J. P., Son, Y. E., Muthuswamy, L., Vogel, H., Krieger, A. M., Buja, A., Henkelman, R. M., Wigler, M., Mills, A. A. 2011; 108 (41): 17076-17081

  Abstract

  Recurrent copy number variations (CNVs) of human 16p11.2 have been associated with a variety of developmental/neurocognitive syndromes. In particular, deletion of 16p11.2 is found in patients with autism, developmental delay, and obesity. Patients with deletions or duplications have a wide range of clinical features, and siblings carrying the same deletion often have diverse symptoms. To study the consequence of 16p11.2 CNVs in a systematic manner, we used chromosome engineering to generate mice harboring deletion of the chromosomal region corresponding to 16p11.2, as well as mice harboring the reciprocal duplication. These 16p11.2 CNV models have dosage-dependent changes in gene expression, viability, brain architecture, and behavior. For each phenotype, the consequence of the deletion is more severe than that of the duplication. Of particular note is that half of the 16p11.2 deletion mice die postnatally; those that survive to adulthood are healthy and fertile, but have alterations in the hypothalamus and exhibit a "behavior trap" phenotype-a specific behavior characteristic of rodents with lateral hypothalamic and nigrostriatal lesions. These findings indicate that 16p11.2 CNVs cause brain and behavioral anomalies, providing insight into human neurodevelopmental disorders.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1114042108

  View details for Web of Science ID 000295973800043

  View details for PubMedID 21969575

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3193230

• Hedgehog-responsive candidate cell of origin for diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Monje, M., Mitra, S. S., Freret, M. E., Raveh, T. B., Kim, J., Masek, M., Attema, J. L., Li, G., Haddix, T., Edwards, M. S., Fisher, P. G., Weissman, I. L., Rowitch, D. H., Vogel, H., Wong, A. J., Beachy, P. A. 2011; 108 (11): 4453-4458

  Abstract

  Diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) are highly aggressive tumors of childhood that are almost universally fatal. Our understanding of this devastating cancer is limited by a dearth of available tissue for study and by the lack of a faithful animal model. Intriguingly, DIPGs are restricted to the ventral pons and occur during a narrow window of middle childhood, suggesting dysregulation of a postnatal neurodevelopmental process. Here, we report the identification of a previously undescribed population of immunophenotypic neural precursor cells in the human and murine brainstem whose temporal and spatial distributions correlate closely with the incidence of DIPG and highlight a candidate cell of origin. Using early postmortem DIPG tumor tissue, we have established in vitro and xenograft models and find that the Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway implicated in many developmental and oncogenic processes is active in DIPG tumor cells. Modulation of Hh pathway activity has functional consequences for DIPG self-renewal capacity in neurosphere culture. The Hh pathway also appears to be active in normal ventral pontine precursor-like cells of the mouse, and unregulated pathway activity results in hypertrophy of the ventral pons. Together, these findings provide a foundation for understanding the cellular and molecular origins of DIPG, and suggest that the Hh pathway represents a potential therapeutic target in this devastating pediatric tumor.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.1101657108

  View details for Web of Science ID 000288450900040

  View details for PubMedID 21368213

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3060250

• NFKBIA Deletion in Glioblastomas. NEW ENGLAND JOURNAL OF MEDICINE Bredel, M., Scholtens, D. M., Yadav, A. K., Alvarez, A. A., Renfrow, J. J., Chandler, J. P., Yu, I. L., Carro, M. S., Dai, F., Tagge, M. J., Ferrarese, R., Bredel, C., Phillips, H. S., Lukac, P. J., Robe, P. A., Weyerbrock, A., Vogel, H., Dubner, S., Mobley, B., He, X., Scheck, A. C., Sikic, B. I., Aldape, K. D., Chakravarti, A., Harsh, G. R. 2011; 364 (7): 627-637

  Abstract

  Amplification and activating mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) oncogene are molecular hallmarks of glioblastomas. We hypothesized that deletion of NFKBIA (encoding nuclear factor of κ-light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells inhibitor-α), an inhibitor of the EGFR-signaling pathway, promotes tumorigenesis in glioblastomas that do not have alterations of EGFR.We analyzed 790 human glioblastomas for deletions, mutations, or expression of NFKBIA and EGFR. We studied the tumor-suppressor activity of NFKBIA in tumor-cell culture. We compared the molecular results with the outcome of glioblastoma in 570 affected persons.NFKBIA is often deleted but not mutated in glioblastomas; most deletions occur in nonclassical subtypes of the disease. Deletion of NFKBIA and amplification of EGFR show a pattern of mutual exclusivity. Restoration of the expression of NFKBIA attenuated the malignant phenotype and increased the vulnerability to chemotherapy of cells cultured from tumors with NFKBIA deletion; it also reduced the viability of cells with EGFR amplification but not of cells with normal gene dosages of both NFKBIA and EGFR. Deletion and low expression of NFKBIA were associated with unfavorable outcomes. Patients who had tumors with NFKBIA deletion had outcomes that were similar to those in patients with tumors harboring EGFR amplification. These outcomes were poor as compared with the outcomes in patients with tumors that had normal gene dosages of NFKBIA and EGFR. A two-gene model that was based on expression of NFKBIA and O(6)-methylguanine DNA methyltransferase was strongly associated with the clinical course of the disease.Deletion of NFKBIA has an effect that is similar to the effect of EGFR amplification in the pathogenesis of glioblastoma and is associated with comparatively short survival.

  View details for DOI 10.1056/NEJMoa1006312

  View details for Web of Science ID 000287406000008

  View details for PubMedID 21175304

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3652611

• Loss of SMARCB1/INI1 expression in poorly differentiated chordomas ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA Mobley, B. C., McKenney, J. K., Bangs, C. D., Callahan, K., Yeom, K. W., Schneppenheim, R., Hayden, M. G., Cherry, A. M., Gokden, M., Edwards, M. S., Fisher, P. G., Vogel, H. 2010; 120 (6): 745-753

  Abstract

  Chordomas are malignant neoplasms that typically arise in the axial spine and primarily affect adults. When chordomas arise in pediatric patients they are more likely to display unusual histological features and aggressive behavior. We noted the absence of SMARCB1/INI1 expression by immunohistochemistry in an index case of poorly differentiated chordoma of the sacrum, leading us to further examine SMARCB1/INI1 expression as well as that of brachyury, a highly specific marker of notochordal differentiation, in 3 additional poorly differentiated chordomas of the clivus, 10 typical chordomas, and 8 atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumors (AT/RTs). All 4 poorly differentiated chordomas and all AT/RTs lacked nuclear expression of SMARCB1/INI1, while the 10 typical chordomas maintained strong nuclear SMARCB1/INI1 immunoreactivity. All 10 typical and 4 poorly differentiated chordomas expressed brachyury; all 8 AT/RTs were brachyury immunonegative. Cytogenetic evaluation utilizing FISH probes near the SMARCB1/INI1 locus on chromosome 22q was also performed in all of the poorly differentiated chordomas in this series. Three of the four poorly differentiated chordomas had evidence for deletion of this region by FISH. Analysis of the SMARCB1/INI1 gene sequence was performed using formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue in all cases and no point mutations were observed. In summary, all poorly differentiated chordomas in this series showed the absence of SMARCB1/INI1 expression, and were reliably distinguished from AT/RTs, clinically by their characteristic primary sites of origin and pathologically by strong nuclear brachyury expression. Our findings reveal a likely role for SMARCB1/INI1 in a subset of chordomas with aggressive features.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00401-010-0767-x

  View details for Web of Science ID 000284593200005

  View details for PubMedID 21057957

• G1 arrest and differentiation can occur independently of Rb family function JOURNAL OF CELL BIOLOGY Wirt, S. E., Adler, A. S., Gebala, V., Weimann, J. M., Schaffer, B. E., Saddic, L. A., Viatour, P., Vogel, H., Chang, H. Y., Meissner, A., Sage, J. 2010; 191 (4): 809-825

  Abstract

  The ability of progenitor cells to exit the cell cycle is essential for proper embryonic development and homeostasis, but the mechanisms governing cell cycle exit are still not fully understood. Here, we tested the requirement for the retinoblastoma (Rb) protein and its family members p107 and p130 in G0/G1 arrest and differentiation in mammalian cells. We found that Rb family triple knockout (TKO) mouse embryos survive until days 9-11 of gestation. Strikingly, some TKO cells, including in epithelial and neural lineages, are able to exit the cell cycle in G0/G1 and differentiate in teratomas and in culture. This ability of TKO cells to arrest in G0/G1 is associated with the repression of key E2F target genes. Thus, G1 arrest is not always dependent on Rb family members, which illustrates the robustness of cell cycle regulatory networks during differentiation and allows for the identification of candidate pathways to inhibit the expansion of cancer cells with mutations in the Rb pathway.

  View details for DOI 10.1083/jcb.201003048

  View details for Web of Science ID 000284737200014

  View details for PubMedID 21059851

• End-Stage Cardiac Disease as an Initial Presentation of Systemic Myopathies: Case Series and Literature Review JOURNAL OF CHILD NEUROLOGY Katzberg, H., Karamchandani, J., So, Y. T., Vogel, H., Wang, C. H. 2010; 25 (11): 1382-1388

  Abstract

  Life-threatening cardiomyopathy is associated with certain systemic myopathies and usually presents as an end-stage progression of the disease. However, cardiac symptoms can sometimes precede muscle weakness. The authors reviewed medical records from 2003 to 2008 on patients attending their neuromuscular clinic and identified patients who initially presented with an end-stage cardiomyopathy and were later diagnosed with a specific muscle disease through muscle biopsy. They report 5 cases of children who initially presented with cardiomyopathies without neuromuscular symptoms. The cardiac symptoms were so severe that 4 of them required cardiac transplantation and 1 died prior to transplantation. Review of muscle pathology confirmed the diagnoses of Becker muscular dystrophy, myofibrillar myopathy, mitochondrial myopathy with cytochrome oxidase deficiency, Danon disease, and glycogen storage disease. The authors conclude that cardiomyopathy can be the initial presentation of a wide spectrum of systemic myopathies. Careful evaluation of neuromuscular systems should be carried out in patients presenting with end-stage cardiomyopathies.

  View details for DOI 10.1177/0883073810367683

  View details for Web of Science ID 000284155600012

  View details for PubMedID 20445193

• TAp63 induces senescence and suppresses tumorigenesis in vivo NATURE CELL BIOLOGY Guo, X., Keyes, W. M., Papazoglu, C., Zuber, J., Li, W., Lowe, S. W., Vogel, H., Mills, A. A. 2009; 11 (12): 1451-U150

  Abstract

  p63 is distinct from its homologue p53 in that its role as a tumour suppressor is controversial, an issue complicated by the existence of two classes of p63 isoforms. Here we show that TAp63 isoforms are robust mediators of senescence that inhibit tumorigenesis in vivo. Whereas gain of TAp63 induces senescence, loss of p63 enhances sarcoma development in mice lacking p53. Using a new TAp63-specific conditional mouse model, we demonstrate that TAp63 isoforms are essential for Ras-induced senescence, and that TAp63 deficiency increases proliferation and enhances Ras-mediated oncogenesis in the context of p53 deficiency in vivo. TAp63 induces senescence independently of p53, p19(Arf) and p16(Ink4a), but requires p21(Waf/Cip1) and Rb. TAp63-mediated senescence overrides Ras-driven transformation of p53-deficient cells, preventing tumour initiation, and doxycycline-regulated expression of TAp63 activates p21(Waf/Cip1), induces senescence and inhibits progression of established tumours in vivo. Our findings demonstrate that TAp63 isoforms function as tumour suppressors by regulating senescence through p53-independent pathways. The ability of TAp63 to trigger senescence and halt tumorigenesis irrespective of p53 status identifies TAp63 as a potential target of anti-cancer therapy for human malignancies with compromised p53.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/ncb1988

  View details for Web of Science ID 000272251300012

  View details for PubMedID 19898465

• Monosomy of Chromosome 10 Associated With Dysregulation of Epidermal Growth Factor Signaling in Glioblastomas JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Yadav, A. K., Renfrow, J. J., Scholtens, D. M., Xie, H., Duran, G. E., Bredel, C., Vogel, H., Chandler, J. P., Chakravarti, A., Robe, P. A., Das, S., Scheck, A. C., Kessler, J. A., Soares, M. B., Sikic, B. I., Harsh, G. R., Bredel, M. 2009; 302 (3): 276-289

  Abstract

  Glioblastomas--uniformly fatal brain tumors--often have both monosomy of chromosome 10 and gains of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene locus on chromosome 7, an association for which the mechanism is poorly understood.To assess whether coselection of EGFR gains on 7p12 and monosomy 10 in glioblastomas promotes tumorigenic epidermal growth factor (EGF) signaling through loss of the annexin A7 (ANXA7) gene on 10q21.1-q21.2 and whether ANXA7 acts as a tumor suppressor gene by regulating EGFR in glioblastomas.Multidimensional analysis of gene, coding sequence, promoter methylation, messenger RNA (mRNA) transcript, protein data for ANXA7 (and EGFR), and clinical patient data profiles of 543 high-grade gliomas from US medical centers and The Cancer Genome Atlas pilot project (made public 2006-2008; and unpublished, tumors collected 2001-2008). Functional analyses using LN229 and U87 glioblastoma cells.Associations among ANXA7 gene dosage, coding sequence, promoter methylation, mRNA transcript, and protein expression. Effect of ANXA7 haploinsufficiency on EGFR signaling and patient survival. Joint effects of loss of ANXA7 and gain of EGFR expression on tumorigenesis.Heterozygous ANXA7 gene deletion is associated with significant loss of ANXA7 mRNA transcript expression (P = 1 x 10(-15); linear regression) and a reduction (mean [SEM]) of 91.5% (2.3%) of ANXA7 protein expression compared with ANXA7 wild-type glioblastomas (P = .004; unpaired t test). ANXA7 loss of function stabilizes the EGFR protein (72%-744% increase in EGFR protein abundance) and augments EGFR transforming signaling in glioblastoma cells. ANXA7 haploinsufficiency doubles tumorigenic potential of glioblastoma cells, and combined ANXA7 knockdown and EGFR overexpression promotes tumorigenicity synergistically. The heterozygous loss of ANXA7 in approximately 75% of glioblastomas in the The Cancer Genome Atlas plus infrequency of ANXA7 mutation (approximately 6% of tumors) indicates its role as a haploinsufficiency gene. ANXA7 mRNA transcript expression, dichotomized at the median, associates with patient survival in 191 glioblastomas (log-rank P = .008; hazard ratio [HR], 0.667; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.493-0.902; 46.9 vs 74.8 deaths/100 person-years for high vs low ANXA7 mRNA expression) and with a separate group of 180 high-grade gliomas (log-rank P = .00003; HR, 0.476; 95% CI, 0.333-0.680; 21.8 vs 50.0 deaths/100 person-years for high vs low ANXA7 mRNA expression). Deletion of the ANXA7 gene associates with poor patient survival in 189 glioblastomas (log-rank P = .042; HR, 0.686; 95% CI, 0.476-0.989; 54.0 vs 80.1 deaths/100 person-years for wild-type ANXA7 vs ANXA7 deletion).Haploinsufficiency of the tumor suppressor ANXA7 due to monosomy of chromosome 10 provides a clinically relevant mechanism to augment EGFR signaling in glioblastomas beyond that resulting from amplification of the EGFR gene.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000267948100021

  View details for PubMedID 19602687

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3089898

• A Network Model of a Cooperative Genetic Landscape in Brain Tumors JAMA-JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION Bredel, M., Scholtens, D. M., Harsh, G. R., Bredel, C., Chandler, J. P., Renfrow, J. J., Yadav, A. K., Vogel, H., Scheck, A. C., Tibshirani, R., Sikic, B. I. 2009; 302 (3): 261-275

  Abstract

  Gliomas, particularly glioblastomas, are among the deadliest of human tumors. Gliomas emerge through the accumulation of recurrent chromosomal alterations, some of which target yet-to-be-discovered cancer genes. A persistent question concerns the biological basis for the coselection of these alterations during gliomagenesis.To describe a network model of a cooperative genetic landscape in gliomas and to evaluate its clinical relevance.Multidimensional genomic profiles and clinical profiles of 501 patients with gliomas (45 tumors in an initial discovery set collected between 2001 and 2004 and 456 tumors in validation sets made public between 2006 and 2008) from multiple academic centers in the United States and The Cancer Genome Atlas Pilot Project (TCGA).Identification of genes with coincident genetic alterations, correlated gene dosage and gene expression, and multiple functional interactions; association between those genes and patient survival.Gliomas select for a nonrandom genetic landscape-a consistent pattern of chromosomal alterations-that involves altered regions ("territories") on chromosomes 1p, 7, 8q, 9p, 10, 12q, 13q, 19q, 20, and 22q (false-discovery rate-corrected P<.05). A network model shows that these territories harbor genes with putative synergistic, tumor-promoting relationships. The coalteration of the most interactive of these genes in glioblastoma is associated with unfavorable patient survival. A multigene risk scoring model based on 7 landscape genes (POLD2, CYCS, MYC, AKR1C3, YME1L1, ANXA7, and PDCD4) is associated with the duration of overall survival in 189 glioblastoma samples from TCGA (global log-rank P = .02 comparing 3 survival curves for patients with 0-2, 3-4, and 5-7 dosage-altered genes). Groups of patients with 0 to 2 (low-risk group) and 5 to 7 (high-risk group) dosage-altered genes experienced 49.24 and 79.56 deaths per 100 person-years (hazard ratio [HR], 1.63; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.10-2.40; Cox regression model P = .02), respectively. These associations with survival are validated using gene expression data in 3 independent glioma studies, comprising 76 (global log-rank P = .003; 47.89 vs 15.13 deaths per 100 person-years for high risk vs low risk; Cox model HR, 3.04; 95% CI, 1.49-6.20; P = .002) and 70 (global log-rank P = .008; 83.43 vs 16.14 deaths per 100 person-years for high risk vs low risk; HR, 3.86; 95% CI, 1.59-9.35; P = .003) high-grade gliomas and 191 glioblastomas (global log-rank P = .002; 83.23 vs 34.16 deaths per 100 person-years for high risk vs low risk; HR, 2.27; 95% CI, 1.44-3.58; P<.001).The alteration of multiple networking genes by recurrent chromosomal aberrations in gliomas deregulates critical signaling pathways through multiple, cooperative mechanisms. These mutations, which are likely due to nonrandom selection of a distinct genetic landscape during gliomagenesis, are associated with patient prognosis.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000267948100020

  View details for PubMedID 19602686

• Impaired human hippocampal neurogenesis after treatment for central nervous system ANNALS OF NEUROLOGY Monje, M. L., Vogel, H., Masek, M., Ligon, K. L., Fisher, P. G., Palmer, T. D. 2007; 62 (5): 515-520

  Abstract

  The effects of cancer treatments such as cranial radiation and chemotherapy on human hippocampal neurogenesis remain unknown. In this study, we examine neuropathological markers of neurogenesis and inflammation in the human hippocampus after treatment for acute myelogenous leukemia or medulloblastoma. We demonstrate a persistent radiation-induced microglial inflammation that is accompanied by nearly complete inhibition of neurogenesis after cancer treatment. These findings are consistent with preclinical animal studies and suggest potential therapeutic strategies.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/ana.21214

  View details for Web of Science ID 000251383300012

  View details for PubMedID 17786983

• Atypical and rare variants of central neurocytomas. Neurosurgery clinics of North America Choudhri, O., Razavi, S., Vogel, H., Li, G. 2015; 26 (1): 91-98

  Abstract

  This article reviews the variation in imaging, histopathology, clinical course, and management seen with central neurocytomas (CNs). CNs have often been misdiagnosed as oligodendrogliomas and ependymomas; however, synaptophysin positivity can correctly diagnose these neurocytic neoplasms. Atypical CNs, an important variant first described in 1997, are marked by increased proliferative potential and associated with worse clinical outcomes in terms of long-term survival and local tumor control. Complete surgical resection is the cornerstone of therapy, and postoperative radiation is recommended in the setting of residual disease. Other less aggressive variants of central neurocytomas, including liponeurocytomas, ganglioneurocytomas, and pigmented neurocytomas, are also discussed.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.nec.2014.09.003

  View details for PubMedID 25432187

• Endoscopic resection of a giant intradural retroclival ecchordosis physaliphora: surgical technique and literature review. World neurosurgery Choudhri, O., Feroze, A., Hwang, P., Vogel, H., Ajlan, A., Harsh, G. 2014; 82 (5): 912 e21-6

  Abstract

  To report the first complete resection of a giant ecchordosis physaliphora using an endoscopic transclival approach and to provide a current review of the literature.This rare benign lesion, originating from embryonic notochordal remnants, was located in the prepontine cistern of a 63-year-old man presenting with progressive tremor and imbalance. Preoperative imaging demonstrated a 2.1-cm intradural lesion abutting the pons and basilar artery and extending through the dura mater.A gross total resection was successfully achieved endoscopically without neurovascular compromise or additional complications. Postoperative histopathologic examination was consistent with a diagnosis of giant ecchordosis physaliphora.An endoscopic endonasal transclival approach provided a direct, minimally invasive route for safe and complete resection of this rare prepontine tumor, as it has for similarly located skull base chordomas. Our experience highlights the utility of endoscopy in visualization of both pathologic entities and nearby critical neurovascular structures in the management of ecchordosis physaliphora and other cranial base neoplasms.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2014.06.019

  View details for PubMedID 24937599

• Endoscopic resection of a giant intradural retroclival ecchordosis physaliphora: surgical technique and literature review. World neurosurgery Choudhri, O., Feroze, A., Hwang, P., Vogel, H., Ajlan, A., Harsh, G. 2014; 82 (5): 912 e21-6

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2014.06.019

  View details for PubMedID 24937599

• Abnormal Hepatocellular Mitochondria in Methylmalonic Acidemia ULTRASTRUCTURAL PATHOLOGY Wilnai, Y., Enns, G. M., Niemi, A., Higgins, J., Vogel, H. 2014; 38 (5): 309-314

  Abstract

  Methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) is one of the most frequently encountered forms of branched-chain organic acidemias. Biochemical abnormalities seen in some MMA patients, such as lactic acidemia and increased tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediate excretion, suggest mitochondrial dysfunction. In order to investigate the possibility of mitochondrial involvement in MMA, we examined liver tissue for evidence of mitochondrial ultrastructural abnormalities. Five explanted livers obtained from MMA mut(0) patients undergoing liver transplantation were biopsied. All patients had previous episodes of metabolic acidosis, lactic acidemia, ketonuria, and hyperammonemia. All biopsies revealed a striking mitochondriopathy by electron microscopy. Mitochondria were markedly variable in size, shape, and conformation of cristae. The inner matrix appeared to be greatly expanded and the cristae were diminutive and disconnected. No crystalloid inclusions were noted. This series clearly documents extensive mitochondrial ultrastructure abnormalities in liver samples from MMA patients undergoing transplantation, providing pathological evidence for mitochondrial dysfunction in the pathophysiology of MMA mut(0). Considering the trend to abnormally large mitochondria, the metabolic effects of MMA may restrict mitochondrial fission or promote fusion. The correlation between mitochondrial dysfunction and morphological abnormalities in MMA may provide insights for better understanding and monitoring of optimized or novel therapeutic strategies.

  View details for DOI 10.3109/01913123.2014.921657

  View details for Web of Science ID 000345348700003

• MRI surrogates for molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma. AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology Perreault, S., Ramaswamy, V., Achrol, A. S., Chao, K., Liu, T. T., Shih, D., Remke, M., Schubert, S., Bouffet, E., Fisher, P. G., Partap, S., Vogel, H., Taylor, M. D., Cho, Y. J., Yeom, K. W. 2014; 35 (7): 1263-1269

  Abstract

  Recently identified molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma have shown potential for improved risk stratification. We hypothesized that distinct MR imaging features can predict these subgroups.All patients with a diagnosis of medulloblastoma at one institution, with both pretherapy MR imaging and surgical tissue, served as the discovery cohort (n = 47). MR imaging features were assessed by 3 blinded neuroradiologists. NanoString-based assay of tumor tissues was conducted to classify the tumors into the 4 established molecular subgroups (wingless, sonic hedgehog, group 3, and group 4). A second pediatric medulloblastoma cohort (n = 52) from an independent institution was used for validation of the MR imaging features predictive of the molecular subtypes.Logistic regression analysis within the discovery cohort revealed tumor location (P < .001) and enhancement pattern (P = .001) to be significant predictors of medulloblastoma subgroups. Stereospecific computational analyses confirmed that group 3 and 4 tumors predominated within the midline fourth ventricle (100%, P = .007), wingless tumors were localized to the cerebellar peduncle/cerebellopontine angle cistern with a positive predictive value of 100% (95% CI, 30%-100%), and sonic hedgehog tumors arose in the cerebellar hemispheres with a positive predictive value of 100% (95% CI, 59%-100%). Midline group 4 tumors presented with minimal/no enhancement with a positive predictive value of 91% (95% CI, 59%-98%). When we used the MR imaging feature-based regression model, 66% of medulloblastomas were correctly predicted in the discovery cohort, and 65%, in the validation cohort.Tumor location and enhancement pattern were predictive of molecular subgroups of pediatric medulloblastoma and may potentially serve as a surrogate for genomic testing.

  View details for DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A3990

  View details for PubMedID 24831600

• Diffusion-weighted MRI derived apparent diffusion coefficient identifies prognostically distinct subgroups of pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. Journal of neuro-oncology Lober, R. M., Cho, Y., Tang, Y., Barnes, P. D., Edwards, M. S., Vogel, H., Fisher, P. G., Monje, M., Yeom, K. W. 2014; 117 (1): 175-182

  Abstract

  While pediatric diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPG) remain fatal, recent data have shown subgroups with distinct molecular biology and clinical behavior. We hypothesized that diffusion-weighted MRI can be used as a prognostic marker to stratify DIPG subsets with distinct clinical behavior. Apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) values derived from diffusion-weighted MRI were computed in 20 consecutive children with treatment-naïve DIPG tumors. The median ADC for the cohort was used to stratify the tumors into low and high ADC groups. Survival, gender, therapy, and potential steroid effects were compared between the ADC groups. Median age at diagnosis was 6.6 (range 2.3-13.2) years, with median follow-up seven (range 1-36) months. There were 14 boys and six girls. Seventeen patients received radiotherapy, five received chemotherapy, and six underwent cerebrospinal fluid diversion. The median ADC of 1,295 × 10(-6) mm(2)/s for the cohort partitioned tumors into low or high diffusion groups, which had distinct median survivals of 3 and 13 months, respectively (log-rank p < 0.001). Low ADC tumors were found only in boys, whereas high ADC tumors were found in both boys and girls. Available tissue specimens in three low ADC tumors demonstrated high-grade histology, whereas one high ADC tumor demonstrated low-grade histology with a histone H3.1 K27M mutation and high-grade metastatic lesion at autopsy. ADC derived from diffusion-weighted MRI may identify prognostically distinct subgroups of pediatric DIPG.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11060-014-1375-8

  View details for PubMedID 24522717

• Tectal pineal cyst in a 1-year-old girl. Human pathology Plowey, E. D., Vogel, H., Yeom, K. W., Jung, H., Chao, K., Edwards, M. S. 2014; 45 (3): 653-656

  Abstract

  Glial cysts of the pineal gland can frequently be found in adults and children, but only rarely do they enlarge to become clinically relevant. We report a unique presentation of a pineal cyst in the midbrain tectum of a 16-month-old girl who initially presented with ptosis and strabismus. Preoperative imaging studies and intraoperative findings revealed no continuity between the tectal cyst and the pineal gland proper. We surmise that this tectal pineal cyst may have arisen from duplicated pineal gland tissue.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.humpath.2013.10.002

  View details for PubMedID 24411061

• A mutation in TGFB3 associated with a syndrome of low muscle mass, growth retardation, distal arthrogryposis and clinical features overlapping with Marfan and Loeys-Dietz syndrome. American journal of medical genetics. Part A Rienhoff, H. Y., Yeo, C., Morissette, R., Khrebtukova, I., Melnick, J., Luo, S., Leng, N., Kim, Y., Schroth, G., Westwick, J., Vogel, H., McDonnell, N., Hall, J. G., Whitman, M. 2013; 161A (8): 2040-2046

  Abstract

  The transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) family of growth factors are key regulators of mammalian development and their dysregulation is implicated in human disease, notably, heritable vasculopathies including Marfan (MFS, OMIM #154700) and Loeys-Dietz syndromes (LDS, OMIM #609192). We described a syndrome presenting at birth with distal arthrogryposis, hypotonia, bifid uvula, a failure of normal post-natal muscle development but no evidence of vascular disease; some of these features overlap with MFS and LDS. A de novo mutation in TGFB3 was identified by exome sequencing. Several lines of evidence indicate the mutation is hypomorphic suggesting that decreased TGF-β signaling from a loss of TGFB3 activity is likely responsible for the clinical phenotype. This is the first example of a mutation in the coding portion of TGFB3 implicated in a clinical syndrome suggesting TGFB3 is essential for both human palatogenesis and normal muscle growth.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.36056

  View details for PubMedID 23824657

• Spinal pilocytic astrocytoma in an elderly patient. World neurosurgery Harraher, C. D., Vogel, H., Steinberg, G. K. 2013; 79 (5-6): 799 E7-9

  Abstract

  Astrocytomas are the most common intramedullary spinal cord tumor in pediatric and adolescent patients and the incidence decreases with age. There are very few cases of spinal pilocytic astrocytomas (World Health Organization grade 1) reported after the fourth decade. We report the oldest known case of a pathologically confirmed spinal pilocytic astrocytoma.A 78-year-old woman presented with 12 months of bilateral lower extremity numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed cord edema extending from C6 to T4. There was a 12-mm enhancing intramedullary lesion at the C7-T1 level with an associated cyst. Several years prior, she had seen a neurologist for lower extremity numbness and was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy.She underwent C7-T1 laminectomy with partial resection of the spinal cord tumor and drainage of the cyst. Pathologic examination demonstrated a mildly cellular proliferation of astrocytes set in an eosinophilic fibrillar background. There were numerous Rosenthal fibers and prominent vasculature. There were no malignant features. The pathologic diagnosis was consistent with pilocytic astrocytoma, World Health Organization grade 1. The patient returned to her baseline function after several weeks and the imaging remained stable at the 4-month follow-up.Spinal pilocytic astrocytomas constitute 90% of intramedullary spinal cord tumors in patients younger than 10 years and 60% of those in adolescent patients. There are very few reported cases in patients older than 50 years. Our patient had an indolent course, cervical-thoracic location, imaging characteristics, and pathology that all support a diagnosis of pilocytic astrocytoma. This case highlights that low-grade lesions can occur in elderly patients and an aggressive approach may not be indicated.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2011.10.033

  View details for PubMedID 22120566

• Diffusion-Weighted MRI: Distinction of Skull Base Chordoma from Chondrosarcoma. AJNR. American journal of neuroradiology Yeom, K. W., Lober, R. M., Mobley, B. C., Harsh, G., Vogel, H., Allagio, R., Pearson, M., Edwards, M. S., Fischbein, N. J. 2013; 34 (5): 1056-1061

  View details for DOI 10.3174/ajnr.A3333

  View details for PubMedID 23124635

• Pituitary stalk Langerhans cell histiocytosis treated with CyberKnife radiosurgery. Clinical neurology and neurosurgery Hong, W., Murovic, J. A., Gibbs, I., Vogel, H., Chang, S. D. 2013; 115 (5): 573-577

  Abstract

  Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare idiopathic disease that is characterized by clonal proliferation of Langerhans histiocytes in various parts of the body. These atypical cells have been found to infiltrate single or multiple organs, including bone, lungs, liver, spleen, lymph nodes, and skin. Central nervous system invasion in LCH patients has rarely been reported, especially in the adult population.We describe three histopathologically confirmed cases of adult LCH that involves both the pituitary stalk and hypothalamus, and report our limited experience of such cases in this location that has been treated with CyberKnife radio surgery.The treatment goal of controlling lesion growth is achieved by CyberKnife radiosurgery in this case series. All patients tolerated the treatment well without obvious complications.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.clineuro.2012.07.004

  View details for PubMedID 22835714

• Spinal Pilocytic Astrocytoma in an Elderly Patient WORLD NEUROSURGERY Harraher, C. D., Vogel, H., Steinberg, G. K. 2013; 79 (5-6)

  Abstract

  Astrocytomas are the most common intramedullary spinal cord tumor in pediatric and adolescent patients and the incidence decreases with age. There are very few cases of spinal pilocytic astrocytomas (World Health Organization grade 1) reported after the fourth decade. We report the oldest known case of a pathologically confirmed spinal pilocytic astrocytoma.A 78-year-old woman presented with 12 months of bilateral lower extremity numbness. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed cord edema extending from C6 to T4. There was a 12-mm enhancing intramedullary lesion at the C7-T1 level with an associated cyst. Several years prior, she had seen a neurologist for lower extremity numbness and was diagnosed with peripheral neuropathy.She underwent C7-T1 laminectomy with partial resection of the spinal cord tumor and drainage of the cyst. Pathologic examination demonstrated a mildly cellular proliferation of astrocytes set in an eosinophilic fibrillar background. There were numerous Rosenthal fibers and prominent vasculature. There were no malignant features. The pathologic diagnosis was consistent with pilocytic astrocytoma, World Health Organization grade 1. The patient returned to her baseline function after several weeks and the imaging remained stable at the 4-month follow-up.Spinal pilocytic astrocytomas constitute 90% of intramedullary spinal cord tumors in patients younger than 10 years and 60% of those in adolescent patients. There are very few reported cases in patients older than 50 years. Our patient had an indolent course, cervical-thoracic location, imaging characteristics, and pathology that all support a diagnosis of pilocytic astrocytoma. This case highlights that low-grade lesions can occur in elderly patients and an aggressive approach may not be indicated.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.wneu.2011.10.033

  View details for Web of Science ID 000320923300051

  View details for PubMedID 22120566

• Distinctive MRI Features of Pediatric Medulloblastoma Subtypes AMERICAN JOURNAL OF ROENTGENOLOGY Yeom, K. W., Mobley, B. C., Lober, R. M., Andre, J. B., Partap, S., Vogel, H., Barnes, P. D. 2013; 200 (4): 895-903

  Abstract

  We hypothesized that the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and other MRI features can be used to predict medulloblastoma histologic subtypes, as defined by the World Health Organization (WHO) in WHO Classification of Tumours of the Central Nervous System.A retrospective review of pediatric patients with medulloblastoma between 1989 and 2011 identified 38 patients with both pretreatment MRI and original pathology slides. The mean and minimum tumor ADC values and conventional MRI features were compared among medulloblastoma histologic subtypes.The cohort of 38 patients included the following histologic subtypes: 24 classic medulloblastomas, nine large cell (LC) or anaplastic medulloblastomas, four desmoplastic medulloblastomas, and one medulloblastoma with extensive nodularity. The median age at diagnosis was 8 years (range, 1-21 years) and the median follow-up time was 33 months (range, 0-150 months). The mean ADC (× 10(-3) mm(2)/s) was lower in classic medulloblastoma (0.733 ± 0.046 [SD]) than in LC or anaplastic medulloblastoma (0.935 ± 0.127) (Mann-Whitney test, p = 0.004). Similarly, the minimum ADC was lower in classic medulloblastoma (average ± SD, 0.464 ± 0.056) than in LC or anaplastic medulloblastoma (0.630 ± 0.053) (p = 0.004). The MRI finding of focal cysts correlated with the classic and desmoplastic subtypes (Fisher exact test, p = 0.026). Leptomeningeal enhancement positively correlated with the LC or anaplastic medulloblastoma subtype and inversely correlated with the classic medulloblastoma and desmoplastic medulloblastoma subtypes (p = 0.04). Ring enhancement correlated with tumor necrosis (p = 0.022) and with the LC or anaplastic medulloblastoma histologic subtype (p < 0.001).The LC or anaplastic medulloblastoma subtype was associated with increased ADC and with ring enhancement, the latter of which correlated with tumor necrosis. These features could be considered in the evaluation of high-risk medulloblastoma subtypes.

  View details for DOI 10.2214/AJR.12.9249

  View details for Web of Science ID 000316622100045

  View details for PubMedID 23521467

• Late profound muscle weakness following heart transplantation due to danon disease MUSCLE & NERVE van der Starre, P., Deuse, T., Pritts, C., Brun, C., Vogel, H., Oyer, P. 2013; 47 (1): 135-137

  Abstract

  Postoperative muscle weakness is a serious complication in surgical intensive care patients. It is mostly described as critical illness polyneuromyopathy. Risk factors include intensive care length of stay, sepsis, poor glycemic control, and combined use of corticosteroids and neuromuscular blocking agents, malnutrition, and electrolyte imbalance.We report a case of late-progressive, profound weakness after heart transplantation for noncompaction cardiomyopathy which required prolonged mechanical ventilation. The patient's muscle strength recovered completely after prolonged rehabilitation.Electromyographic assessment showed myopathy. Muscle biopsy revealed Danon disease, a genetic disorder affecting the lysosomal-associated membrane protein 2 gene (LAMP2).The finding of this genetic disorder was unexpected, because the preoperative echocardiographic diagnosis of noncompaction cardiomyopathy has not been reported in Danon disease. This report underlines the need for early availability of pathology results from the explanted heart, which showed the same disorder.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/mus.23517

  View details for Web of Science ID 000312657200022

  View details for PubMedID 23168931

• Unimpaired Skin Carcinogenesis in Desmoglein 3 Knockout Mice PLOS ONE Baron, S., Anabel Hoang, A., Vogel, H., Attardi, L. D. 2012; 7 (11)

  Abstract

  The contribution of adherens junction inactivation, typically by downregulation or mutation of the transmembrane core component E-cadherin, to cancer progression is well recognized. In contrast, the role of the desmosomal cadherin components of the related cell-cell adhesion junction, the desmosome, in cancer development has not been well explored. Here, we use mouse models to probe the functional role of desmosomal cadherins in carcinogenesis. Because mice lacking the desmosomal cadherin Desmoglein 3 (Dsg3) have revealed a crucial role for Dsg3 in cell-cell adhesion in stratified epithelia, we investigate the consequence of Dsg3 loss in two models of skin carcinogenesis. First, using Dsg3-/- keratinocytes, we show that these cells display adhesion defects in vitro and compromised tumor growth in allograft assays, suggesting that Dsg3 enables tumor formation in certain settings. In contrast, using an autochthonous model for SCC development in response to chronic UVB treatment, we discover a surprising lack of enhanced tumorigenesis in Dsg3-/- mice relative to controls, unlike mice lacking the desmosomal component Perp. Accordingly, there is no defect in the apoptotic response to UVB or enhanced immune cell infiltration upon Dsg3 loss that could promote tumorigenesis. Thus, Dsg3 does not display a clear function as a tumor suppressor in these mouse skin cancer models. Continued unraveling of the roles of Dsg3 and other desmosomal constituents in carcinogenesis in different contexts will be important for ultimately improving cancer diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0050024

  View details for Web of Science ID 000311821000167

  View details for PubMedID 23185521

• Extravascular Papillary Endothelial Hyperplasia Mimicking Neoplasm After Radiosurgery: Case Report NEUROSURGERY Karamchandani, J., Vogel, H., Fischbein, N., Gibbs, I., Edwards, M. S., Harsh, G. 2012; 70 (4): E1043-E1048

  Abstract

  Papillary endothelial hyperplasia (PEH) is a rare form of exuberant reactive endothelial proliferation that can mimic neoplasm. We report the largest series of patients with histologically confirmed intracranial extravascular PEH developing in the field of previous treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery.We collected the clinical, radiological, surgical, and pathological findings from 4 patients in whom intracranial extravascular PEH developed after treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery. In all patients, the development of an enlarging hemorrhagic mass lesion at the site of previous radiotherapy on magnetic resonance imaging was radiographically suspicious for neoplasm and prompted biopsy or resection. All 4 patients elected to undergo biopsy or surgical resection. Histological examination of the biopsy and resection specimens in all patients demonstrated the classic features of PEH.The interval to the development of PEH ranged from 5 months to 6 years, 10 months. Clinical follow-up was available for 3 of the 4 patients. None of these 3 patients have demonstrated evidence of recurrence during a mean follow-up period of 22 months (range, 15-30 months). These patients share common radiological features, potentially allowing preoperative diagnosis and improved guidance of clinical management. These cases suggest a link between radiosurgery and the development of PEH. These findings also suggest that PEH should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients treated with radiosurgery in whom a hemorrhagic mass lesion subsequently develops at or near the site of previous treatment. We think that complete surgical excision is the best treatment for intracranial PEH.

  View details for DOI 10.1227/NEU.0b013e31822e81f9

  View details for Web of Science ID 000301934000010

  View details for PubMedID 22426048

• Notch signaling inhibits hepatocellular carcinoma following inactivation of the RB pathway JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE Viatour, P., Ehmer, U., Saddic, L. A., Dorrell, C., Andersen, J. B., Lin, C., Zmoos, A., Mazur, P. K., Schaffer, B. E., Ostermeier, A., Vogel, H., Sylvester, K. G., Thorgeirsson, S. S., Grompe, M., Sage, J. 2011; 208 (10): 1963-1976

  Abstract

  Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the third cancer killer worldwide with >600,000 deaths every year. Although the major risk factors are known, therapeutic options in patients remain limited in part because of our incomplete understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms influencing HCC development. Evidence indicates that the retinoblastoma (RB) pathway is functionally inactivated in most cases of HCC by genetic, epigenetic, and/or viral mechanisms. To investigate the functional relevance of this observation, we inactivated the RB pathway in the liver of adult mice by deleting the three members of the Rb (Rb1) gene family: Rb, p107, and p130. Rb family triple knockout mice develop liver tumors with histopathological features and gene expression profiles similar to human HCC. In this mouse model, cancer initiation is associated with the specific expansion of populations of liver stem/progenitor cells, indicating that the RB pathway may prevent HCC development by maintaining the quiescence of adult liver progenitor cells. In addition, we show that during tumor progression, activation of the Notch pathway via E2F transcription factors serves as a negative feedback mechanism to slow HCC growth. The level of Notch activity is also able to predict survival of HCC patients, suggesting novel means to diagnose and treat HCC.

  View details for DOI 10.1084/jem.20110198

  View details for Web of Science ID 000295318900005

  View details for PubMedID 21875955

• Gene-protein correlation in single cells NEURO-ONCOLOGY Renfrow, J. J., Scheck, A. C., Dhawan, N. S., Lukac, P. J., Vogel, H., Chandler, J. P., Raizer, J. J., Harsh, G. R., Chakravarti, A., Bredel, M. 2011; 13 (8): 880-885

  Abstract

  We present a novel methodology combining traditional fluorescent in situ hybridization with an in situ protein detection technology called proximity ligation assay. This method has potential to perform a detailed analysis of the relationship between gene status and corresponding protein expression in cells and tissues. We demonstrate that the fluorescent in situ gene protein assay methodology is capable of resolving gene and protein patterns simultaneously on a cell-by-cell basis.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/neuonc/nor071

  View details for Web of Science ID 000293820900008

  View details for PubMedID 21798849

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3145472

• Mosaic Analysis with Double Markers Reveals Tumor Cell of Origin in Glioma CELL Liu, C., Sage, J. C., Miller, M. R., Verhaak, R. G., Hippenmeyer, S., Vogel, H., Foreman, O., Bronson, R. T., Nishiyama, A., Luo, L., Zong, H. 2011; 146 (2): 209-221

  Abstract

  Cancer cell of origin is difficult to identify by analyzing cells within terminal stage tumors, whose identity could be concealed by the acquired plasticity. Thus, an ideal approach to identify the cell of origin is to analyze proliferative abnormalities in distinct lineages prior to malignancy. Here, we use mosaic analysis with double markers (MADM) in mice to model gliomagenesis by initiating concurrent p53/Nf1 mutations sporadically in neural stem cells (NSCs). Surprisingly, MADM-based lineage tracing revealed significant aberrant growth prior to malignancy only in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs), but not in any other NSC-derived lineages or NSCs themselves. Upon tumor formation, phenotypic and transcriptome analyses of tumor cells revealed salient OPC features. Finally, introducing the same p53/Nf1 mutations directly into OPCs consistently led to gliomagenesis. Our findings suggest OPCs as the cell of origin in this model, even when initial mutations occur in NSCs, and highlight the importance of analyzing premalignant stages to identify the cancer cell of origin.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2011.06.014

  View details for Web of Science ID 000293013000005

  View details for PubMedID 21737130

• Liposomal cytarabine for central nervous system embryonal tumors in children and young adults JOURNAL OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY Partap, S., Murphy, P. A., Vogel, H., Barnes, P. D., Edwards, M. S., Fisher, P. G. 2011; 103 (3): 561-566

  Abstract

  To assess the tolerability and efficacy of liposomal cytarabine (LC), an encapsulated, sustained-release, intrathecal (IT) formulation of cytosine arabinoside, in de novo and relapsed central nervous system (CNS) embryonal tumors in children and young adults. We studied retrospectively all patients less than age 30 at our institution treated consecutively with LC for medulloblastoma (MB), primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET), and atypical teratoid rhabdoid tumor (ATRT). Seventeen patients received LC (2 mg/kg up to 50 mg, every 2 weeks to monthly) at diagnosis of high-risk CNS embryonal tumor (2 PNET, 3 ATRT) or relapse of MB (12 MB; 9 had leptomeningeal metastases). Sixteen patients received concurrent systemic chemotherapy. A total of 108 doses were administered (IT 82, intraventricular 26) with a mean of six (range 1-16) treatments per patient. Only three administrations were associated with adverse effects of arachnoiditis or headache. None developed malignant cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) cytology while receiving LC. All the six evaluable patients with malignant CSF cytology and treated with at least two doses cleared their CSF (mean 3 doses, range 1-5). Median overall survival in relapse patients was 9.1 months. Five patients (4 de novo and 1 relapsed) remain alive in complete remission for a median 26.8 months from first LC. Liposomal cytarabine is an easily administered, well-tolerated, and active drug in patients with high-risk embryonal neoplasms. One-third of our cohort remains in remission from otherwise fatal diagnoses. Our findings warrant a phase II trial of LC in newly diagnosed or recurrent CNS embryonal tumors.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11060-010-0419-y

  View details for Web of Science ID 000291703000018

  View details for PubMedID 20859651

• The pro-longevity gene FoxO3 is a direct target of the p53 tumor suppressor ONCOGENE Renault, V. M., Thekkat, P. U., Hoang, K. L., WHITE, J. L., Brady, C. A., Broz, D. K., Venturelli, O. S., Johnson, T. M., Oskoui, P. R., Xuan, Z., Santo, E. E., Zhang, M. Q., Vogel, H., Attardi, L. D., Brunet, A. 2011; 30 (29): 3207-3221

  Abstract

  FoxO transcription factors have a conserved role in longevity, and act as tissue-specific tumor suppressors in mammals. Several nodes of interaction have been identified between FoxO transcription factors and p53, a major tumor suppressor in humans and mice. However, the extent and importance of the functional interaction between FoxO and p53 have not been fully explored. Here, we show that p53 regulates the expression of FoxO3, one of the four mammalian FoxO genes, in response to DNA damaging agents in both mouse embryonic fibroblasts and thymocytes. We find that p53 transactivates FoxO3 in cells by binding to a site in the second intron of the FoxO3 gene, a genomic region recently found to be associated with extreme longevity in humans. While FoxO3 is not necessary for p53-dependent cell cycle arrest, FoxO3 appears to modulate p53-dependent apoptosis. We also find that FoxO3 loss does not interact with p53 loss for tumor development in vivo, although the tumor spectrum of p53-deficient mice appears to be affected by FoxO3 loss. Our findings indicate that FoxO3 is a p53 target gene, and suggest that FoxO3 and p53 are part of a regulatory transcriptional network that may have an important role during aging and cancer.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/onc.2011.35

  View details for Web of Science ID 000293006800001

  View details for PubMedID 21423206

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3136551

• Functional Interactions between Retinoblastoma and c-MYC in a Mouse Model of Hepatocellular Carcinoma PLOS ONE Saddic, L. A., Wirt, S., Vogel, H., Felsher, D. W., Sage, J. 2011; 6 (5)

  Abstract

  Inactivation of the RB tumor suppressor and activation of the MYC family of oncogenes are frequent events in a large spectrum of human cancers. Loss of RB function and MYC activation are thought to control both overlapping and distinct cellular processes during cell cycle progression. However, how these two major cancer genes functionally interact during tumorigenesis is still unclear. Here, we sought to test whether loss of RB function would affect cancer development in a mouse model of c-MYC-induced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), a deadly cancer type in which RB is frequently inactivated and c-MYC often activated. We found that RB inactivation has minimal effects on the cell cycle, cell death, and differentiation features of liver tumors driven by increased levels of c-MYC. However, combined loss of RB and activation of c-MYC led to an increase in polyploidy in mature hepatocytes before the development of tumors. There was a trend for decreased survival in double mutant animals compared to mice developing c-MYC-induced tumors. Thus, loss of RB function does not provide a proliferative advantage to c-MYC-expressing HCC cells but the RB and c-MYC pathways may cooperate to control the polyploidy of mature hepatocytes.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0019758

  View details for Web of Science ID 000290305600045

  View details for PubMedID 21573126

• Endocervical Fibroblastic Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor (Neurofibrosarcoma): Report of a Novel Entity Possibly Related to Endocervical CD34 Fibrocytes AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY Mills, A. M., Karamchandani, J. R., Vogel, H., Longacre, T. A. 2011; 35 (3): 404-412

  Abstract

  Primary cervical stromal sarcomas are rare neoplasms that have been poorly characterized. We report the clinical, histologic, and immunohistologic features of 3 primary endocervical S100 protein (S100p)-positive and CD34-positive sarcomas, herein designated as fibroblastic malignant peripheral nerve sheath sarcoma (endocervical neurofibrosarcoma), 2 of which occurred in women younger than 35 years of age. All tumors presented as a cervical polyp or mass lesion; 1 extended into the pelvic side wall and vaginal soft tissue. The tumors measured 2.0 to 8.0 cm, and were composed of compact fascicles of spindled cells arranged in herringbone, loose fascicular, or ill-defined storiform patterns. A focal whorled architecture was identified in all 3 tumors, but distinct Antoni A areas and Verocay bodies were absent. Ultrastructural examination in 1 case confirmed the presence of fibrocyte-like differentiation. Strong, diffuse, and in 1 case, patchy S100p expression was seen in all cases; strong and diffuse CD34 expression was also present in all tumors. Adjacent uninvolved endocervical stroma also showed CD34 positivity but expression was much less dramatic than in tumor cells. All other markers of neural, melanocytic, smooth muscle, endometrial stromal, and epithelial differentiation were negative. One of the tumors behaved extremely aggressively with extensive pelvic involvement, resulting in patient death within 16 months of diagnosis; another tumor was associated with pelvic recurrence 13 months after diagnosis; and the third tumor had an indolent course with no evidence of recurrence at 33 months after complete excision and local radiotherapy, although follow-up was limited. Review of large numbers of mesenchymal tumors in the uterus did not show similar tumors. Endocervical neurofibrosarcoma should be distinguished from solitary fibrous tumor, endometrial stromal sarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, melanoma, and other spindle cell neoplasms. The prominent fibroblastic endoneurial-like differentiation seen in this peripheral nerve sheath tumor may be related to the presence of a rich mucosal stromal fibrocyte network in the endocervix.

  View details for DOI 10.1097/PAS.0b013e318208f72e

  View details for Web of Science ID 000287441200011

  View details for PubMedID 21317712

• Brain Abscess Caused by Phaeoacremonium parasiticum in an Immunocompromised Patient JOURNAL OF CLINICAL MICROBIOLOGY McNeil, C. J., Luo, R. F., Vogel, H., Banaei, N., Ho, D. Y. 2011; 49 (3): 1171-1174

  Abstract

  Phaeoacremonium parasiticum is an environmental fungus usually associated with subcutaneous infections. We report the first documented case of central nervous system involvement with brain abscess formation in a patient with chronic granulomatous disease and review the literature on Phaeoacremonium parasiticum infections.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/JCM.00830-10

  View details for Web of Science ID 000287967100072

  View details for PubMedID 21191052

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3067714

• Delta Np630 alpha Is an Oncogene that Targets Chromatin Remodeler Lsh to Drive Skin Stem Cell Proliferation and Tumorigenesis CELL STEM CELL Keyes, W. M., Pecoraro, M., Aranda, V., Vernersson-Lindahl, E., Li, W., Vogel, H., Guo, X., Garcia, E. L., Michurina, T. V., Enikolopov, G., Muthuswamy, S. K., Mills, A. A. 2011; 8 (2): 164-176

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.stem.2010.12.009

  View details for Web of Science ID 000287633400010

• Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1)R132H Mutation Is Not Detected in Angiocentric Glioma 100th Annual Meeting United States-and-Canadian-Academy-of-Pathology Raghunathan, A., Olar, A., Vogel, H., Parker, J. R., Coventry, S. C., Debski, R., Albarracin, C. T., Aldape, K. D., Cahill, D. P., Powell, S. Z., Fuller, G. N. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. 2011: 384A–384A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000287282302077

• Isocitrate Dehydrogenase 1 (IDH1) R132H Mutation Is Not Detected in Angiocentric Glioma 100th Annual Meeting of the United-States-and-Canadian-Academy-of-Pathology Raghunathan, A., Olar, A., Vogel, H., Parker, J. R., Coventry, S. C., Debski, R., Albarracin, C. T., Aldape, K. D., Cahill, D. P., Powell, S. Z., Fuller, G. N. NATURE PUBLISHING GROUP. 2011: 384A–384A

  View details for Web of Science ID 000291285001287

• Extravascular Papillary Endothelial Hyperplasia Mimicking Neoplasm Following Radiosurgery. Neurosurgery Karamchandani, J., Vogel, H., Fischbein, N., Gibbs, I., Edwards, M. S., Harsh, G. 2011

  Abstract

  BACKGROUND AND IMPORTANCE:: Papillary endothelial hyperplasia (PEH) is a rare form of exuberant reactive endothelial proliferation that can mimic neoplasm. We report the largest series of patients with histologically confirmed intracranial extravascular PEH developing in the field of prior treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery. CLINICAL PRESENTATION:: We collected the clinical, radiological, surgical, and pathologic findings in four cases of patients who developed intracranial extravascular PEH following treatment with stereotactic radiosurgery. In all cases the development of an enlarging hemorrhagic mass lesion in the site of prior radiotherapy on MRI was radiographically suspicious for neoplasm and prompted biopsy or resection. In all four cases the patients elected to undergo biopsy or surgical resection. Histologic examination of the biopsy and resection specimens in all cases demonstrated the classic features of PEH. CONCLUSION:: The interval to the development of PEH ranged from five months to six years and ten months. Clinical follow up was available for three of the four patients. None of these three patients has demonstrated evidence of recurrence during a mean follow-up period of 22 months (15-30 months). These cases share common radiological features, potentially allowing for pre-operative diagnosis and improved guidance of clinical management. These cases suggest a link between radiosurgery and the development of PEH. These findings also suggest that PEH should be considered in the differential diagnosis for patients treated with radiosurgery who subsequently develop a hemorrhagic mass lesion at or near the site of prior treatment. We think that complete surgical excision is the best treatment for intracranial PEH.

  View details for DOI 10.1227/NEU.0b013e31822e81f9

  View details for PubMedID 21937944

• Primary Pediatric Skull Tumors PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGERY Gephart, M. G., Colglazier, E., Paulk, K. L., Vogel, H., Guzman, R., Edwards, M. S. 2011; 47 (3): 198-203

  Abstract

  To review the pathological distribution of pediatric primary skull tumors, and to determine the diagnostic value of lesion location, patient age and lesion size.A retrospective chart review identified 51 consecutive pediatric patients with 54 primary skull tumors, treated between 2005 and 2010.The most common diagnoses were dermoid cysts (n = 34) and fibrous dysplasia (n = 5). While dermoid tumors could reside anywhere (sensitivity = 0.41), a midline lesion had a specificity of 0.9 and a positive predictive value of 0.88. All of the fibrous dysplasia lesions were laterally placed, with a negative predictive value (NPV) of 1. Patient age < or >5 years had a high sensitivity and NPV for dermoid cysts and fibrous dysplasia, respectively. Size appeared to be sensitive (0.91, 0.8), but not specific (0.6, 0.78), with good NPV (0.8, 0.97) when considering dermoid cysts (≤2 cm) or fibrous dysplasia (>2 cm), respectively.Dermoid cysts followed by fibrous dysplasia are the most common primary skull tumors. Lesion location, patient age and lesion size give important clues as to the diagnosis. For the majority of cases, a clinical diagnosis based on CT is sufficient for presurgical evaluation.

  View details for DOI 10.1159/000330544

  View details for Web of Science ID 000300098800006

  View details for PubMedID 22301489

• ECTOPIC ACROMEGALY DUE TO A PANCREATIC NEUROENDOCRINE TUMOR PRODUCING GROWTH HORMONE-RELEASING HORMONE ENDOCRINE PRACTICE Weiss, D. E., Vogel, H., Lopes, M. B., Chang, S. D., Katznelson, L. 2011; 17 (1): 79-84

  Abstract

  To present a case of acromegaly due to ectopic growth hormone-releasing hormone (GHRH) secretion from a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor in the context of multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN 1).We describe the clinical, imaging, and pathologic findings of the study patient.A 46-year-old woman presented with clinical and biochemical findings diagnostic of acromegaly. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a 1.2-cm sellar mass. Following resection of the macroadenoma, serum insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) and growth hormone (GH) levels remained unchanged. Pathologic examination revealed adenomatous changes, including a nonsecretory focus and a prolactin immunopositive area (GH stain negative in both). Octreotide long-acting release was ineffective. Search for an ectopic tumor included normal octreoscan and abdominal computed tomography. GHRH was greater than 1000 pg/mL. Repeated abdominal computed tomography documented a 6.2-cm mass in the tail and body of the pancreas. Distal pancreatectomy revealed a pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor that stained positive for GHRH. Postoperatively, serum GHRH and IGF-1 normalized. Re-evaluation of the initial pituitary pathologic specimen revealed additional somatotroph hyperplasia of the adjacent, normal pituitary gland. Primary hyperparathyroidism was diagnosed, and multigland parathyroid hyperplasia was noted at surgery. Genetic testing was positive for a mutation in the MEN1 gene.This patient's acromegaly was resistant to somatostatin analogue therapy, reflecting the negative octreoscan imaging. In addition, this case is novel because the patient presented with pituitary adenomatous changes, which were presumably associated with MEN 1 and/or possibly the elevated GHRH levels.

  View details for DOI 10.4158/EP10165.CR

  View details for Web of Science ID 000289272700011

  View details for PubMedID 20713338

• AN RNAI SCREEN IDENTIFIES TRRAP AS A REGULATOR OF BRAIN TUMOR-INITIATING CELL DIFFERENTIATION Advances in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases Crohn's and Colitis Foundations National Clinical and Research Conference Skirboll, S. L., Wurdak, H., Zhu, S., Romero, A., Lorger, M., Watson, J., Chiang, C., Zhang, J., Natu, V. S., Lairson, L. L., Walker, J. R., Trussell, C. M., Harsh, G. R., Vogel, H., Felding-Habermann, B., Orth, A. P., Miraglia, L. J., Rines, D. R., Schultz, P. G. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2010: 122–122

  View details for Web of Science ID 000285082400517

• Loss of the p53/p63 Regulated Desmosomal Protein Perp Promotes Tumorigenesis PLOS GENETICS Beaudry, V. G., Jiang, D., Dusek, R. L., Park, E. J., Knezevich, S., Ridd, K., Vogel, H., Bastian, B. C., Attardi, L. D. 2010; 6 (10)

  Abstract

  Dysregulated cell-cell adhesion plays a critical role in epithelial cancer development. Studies of human and mouse cancers have indicated that loss of adhesion complexes known as adherens junctions contributes to tumor progression and metastasis. In contrast, little is known regarding the role of the related cell-cell adhesion junction, the desmosome, during cancer development. Studies analyzing expression of desmosome components during human cancer progression have yielded conflicting results, and therefore genetic studies using knockout mice to examine the functional consequence of desmosome inactivation for tumorigenesis are essential for elucidating the role of desmosomes in cancer development. Here, we investigate the consequences of desmosome loss for carcinogenesis by analyzing conditional knockout mice lacking Perp, a p53/p63 regulated gene that encodes an important component of desmosomes. Analysis of Perp-deficient mice in a UVB-induced squamous cell skin carcinoma model reveals that Perp ablation promotes both tumor initiation and progression. Tumor development is associated with inactivation of both of Perp's known functions, in apoptosis and cell-cell adhesion. Interestingly, Perp-deficient tumors exhibit widespread downregulation of desmosomal constituents while adherens junctions remain intact, suggesting that desmosome loss is a specific event important for tumorigenesis rather than a reflection of a general change in differentiation status. Similarly, human squamous cell carcinomas display loss of PERP expression with retention of adherens junctions components, indicating that this is a relevant stage of human cancer development. Using gene expression profiling, we show further that Perp loss induces a set of inflammation-related genes that could stimulate tumorigenesis. Together, these studies suggest that Perp-deficiency promotes cancer by enhancing cell survival, desmosome loss, and inflammation, and they highlight a fundamental role for Perp and desmosomes in tumor suppression. An understanding of the factors affecting cancer progression is important for ultimately improving the diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment of cancer.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pgen.1001168

  View details for Web of Science ID 000283647800022

  View details for PubMedID 20975948

• Langerhans cell histiocytosis in a 5-month-old presenting with biparietal masses Case report JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY-PEDIATRICS Pricola, K. L., Karamchandani, J., Vogel, H., Dahl, G. V., Yeom, K. W., Edwards, M. S., Guzman, R. 2010; 6 (4): 393-397

  Abstract

  Langerhans cell histiocytosis (LCH) is a rare proliferative disorder that occurs most commonly in the pediatric population as a result of pathological clonal proliferation of Langerhans cells with subsequent damage and destruction to surrounding tissue. Clinically, LCH presents in a variety of ways, which often results in prolonged time to diagnosis and subsequently poorer outcomes. In this case report, the authors describe an unusually early presentation of multisystem LCH in a patient at birth, which resulted in a 5-month delay to diagnosis and treatment. This patient presented both atypically young and with an uncommon initial manifestation of multisystem disease with multiple soft-tissue swellings rather than early skin involvement. Additionally, this patient had an unusual radiographic appearance with biparietal skull destruction on initial skull radiographs and biparietal soft-tissue lesions on CT resembling cephalohematoma at 3 months of age. The clinical and radiological evaluation, pathology, and treatment strategies are discussed, with particular attention paid to the importance of further workup of atypical nonresolving cephalohematomas to prevent disease progression and poorer outcomes.

  View details for DOI 10.3171/2010.7.PEDS10149

  View details for Web of Science ID 000282244400020

  View details for PubMedID 20887116

• Retrosellar intracranial extracerebral glioneuronal heterotopion: case report CLINICAL NEUROPATHOLOGY Karamchandani, J., Fischbein, N., Harsh, G., Katznelson, L., Vogel, H. 2010; 29 (5): 297-300

  Abstract

  We report the case of an 18-year-old woman with an intradural retroclival retrosellar glioneuronal heterotopion. At the time of surgery, a well circumscribed pale-tan mass was identified posterior to and distinct from the posterior pituitary. Pathologic examination showed disorganized, non-neoplastic glial tissue characteristic of glioneuronal heterotopia. To our knowledge, this is the first report of such a lesion in this location.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000281967000004

  View details for PubMedID 20860892

• Inhibition of vasculogenesis, but not angiogenesis, prevents the recurrence of glioblastoma after irradiation in mice JOURNAL OF CLINICAL INVESTIGATION Kioi, M., Vogel, H., Schultz, G., Hoffman, R. M., Harsh, G. R., Brown, J. M. 2010; 120 (3): 694-705

  Abstract

  Despite the high doses of radiation delivered in the treatment of patients with glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), the tumors invariably recur within the irradiation field, resulting in a low cure rate. Understanding the mechanism of such recurrence is therefore important. Here we have shown in an intracranial GBM xenograft model that irradiation induces recruitment of bone marrow-derived cells (BMDCs) into the tumors, restoring the radiation-damaged vasculature by vasculogenesis and thereby allowing the growth of surviving tumor cells. BMDC influx was initiated by induction of HIF-1 in the irradiated tumors, and blocking this influx prevented tumor recurrence. Previous studies have indicated that BMDCs are recruited to tumors in part through the interaction between the HIF-1-dependent stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) and its receptor, CXCR4. Pharmacologic inhibition of HIF-1 or of the SDF-1/CXCR4 interaction prevented the influx of BMDCs, primarily CD11b+ myelomonocytes, and the postirradiation development of functional tumor vasculature, resulting in abrogation of tumor regrowth. Similar results were found using neutralizing antibodies against CXCR4. Our data therefore suggest a novel approach for the treatment of GBM: in addition to radiotherapy, the vasculogenesis pathway needs to be blocked, and this can be accomplished using the clinically approved drug AMD3100, a small molecule inhibitor of SDF-1/CXCR4 interactions.

  View details for DOI 10.1172/JCI40283

  View details for Web of Science ID 000275272700008

  View details for PubMedID 20179352

• Breast cancer brain metastases express the sodium iodide symporter JOURNAL OF NEURO-ONCOLOGY Renier, C., Vogel, H., Offor, O., Yao, C., Wapnir, I. 2010; 96 (3): 331-336

  Abstract

  Breast cancer brain metastases are on the rise and their treatment is hampered by the limited entry and efficacy of anticancer drugs in this sanctuary. The sodium iodide symporter, NIS, actively transports iodide across the plasma membrane and is exploited clinically to deliver radioactive iodide into cells. As in thyroid cancers, NIS is expressed in many breast cancers including primary and metastatic tumors. In this study NIS expression was analyzed for the first time in 28 cases of breast cancer brain metastases using a polyclonal anti-NIS antibody directed against the terminal C-peptide of human NIS gene and immunohistochemical methods. Twenty-five tumors (84%) in this retrospective series were estrogen/progesterone receptor-negative and 15 (53.6%) were HER2+. Overall 21 (75%) cases and 80% of HER2 positive metastases were NIS positive. While the predominant pattern of NIS immunoreactivity is intracellular, plasma membrane immunopositivity was detected at least focally in 23.8% of NIS-positive samples. Altogether, these findings indicate that NIS expression is prevalent in breast cancer brain metastases and could have a therapeutic role via the delivery of radioactive iodide and selective ablation of tumor cells.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11060-009-9971-8

  View details for Web of Science ID 000273788700004

  View details for PubMedID 19618116

• Timing of Bone Marrow Cell Delivery Has Minimal Effects on Cell Viability and Cardiac Recovery After Myocardial Infarction CIRCULATION-CARDIOVASCULAR IMAGING Swijnenburg, R., Govaert, J. A., van der Bogt, K. E., Pearl, J. I., Huang, M., Stein, W., Hoyt, G., Vogel, H., Contag, C. H., Robbins, R. C., Wu, J. C. 2010; 3 (1): 77-U109

  Abstract

  Despite ongoing clinical trials, the optimal time for delivery of bone marrow mononuclear cells (BMCs) after myocardial infarction is unclear. We compared the viability and effects of transplanted BMCs on cardiac function in the acute and subacute inflammatory phases of myocardial infarction.The time course of acute inflammatory cell infiltration was quantified by FACS analysis of enzymatically digested hearts of FVB mice (n=12) after left anterior descending artery ligation. Mac-1(+)Gr-1(high) neutrophil infiltration peaked at day 4. BMCs were harvested from transgenic FVB mice expressing firefly luciferase (Fluc) and green fluorescent protein (GFP). Afterward, 2.5x10(6) BMCs were injected into the left ventricle of wild-type FVB mice either immediately (acute BMC) or 7 days (subacute BMC) after myocardial infarction, or after a sham procedure (n=8 per group). In vivo bioluminescence imaging showed an early signal increase in both BMC groups at day 7, followed by a nonsignificant trend (P=0.203) toward improved BMC survival in the subacute BMC group that persisted until the bioluminescence imaging signal reached<0.01) and 6 weeks (both BMC groups versus saline; P<0.05) but no significant differences between the 2 BMC groups. FACS analysis of BMC-injected hearts at day 7 revealed that GFP(+) BMCs expressed hematopoietic (CD45, Mac-1, Gr-1), minimal progenitor (Sca-1, c-kit), and no endothelial (CD133, Flk-1) or cardiac (Trop-T) cell markers.Timing of BMC delivery has minimal effects on intramyocardial retention and preservation of cardiac function. In general, there is poor long-term engraftment and BMCs tend to adopt inflammatory cell phenotypes.

  View details for DOI 10.1161/CIRCIMAGING.109.872085

  View details for Web of Science ID 000273736000011

  View details for PubMedID 19920031

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC3075469

• The Lysosomal Sialic Acid Transporter Sialin Is Required for Normal CNS Myelination JOURNAL OF NEUROSCIENCE Prolo, L. M., Vogel, H., Reimer, R. J. 2009; 29 (49): 15355-15365

  Abstract

  Salla disease and infantile sialic acid storage disease are autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disorders caused by mutations in the gene encoding sialin, a membrane protein that transports free sialic acid out of the lysosome after it is cleaved from sialoglycoconjugates undergoing degradation. Accumulation of sialic acid in lysosomes defines these disorders, and the clinical phenotype is characterized by neurodevelopmental defects, including severe CNS hypomyelination. In this study, we used a sialin-deficient mouse to address how loss of sialin leads to the defect in myelination. Behavioral analysis of the sialin(-/-) mouse demonstrates poor coordination, seizures, and premature death. Analysis by histology, electron microscopy, and Western blotting reveals a decrease in myelination of the CNS but normal neuronal cytoarchitecture and normal myelination of the PNS. To investigate potential mechanisms underlying CNS hypomyelination, we studied myelination and oligodendrocyte development in optic nerves. We found reduced numbers of myelinated axons in optic nerves from sialin(-/-) mice, but the myelin that was present appeared grossly normal. Migration and density of oligodendrocyte precursor cells were normal; however, a marked decrease in the number of postmitotic oligodendrocytes and an associated increase in the number of apoptotic cells during the later stages of myelinogenesis were observed. These findings suggest that a defect in maturation of cells in the oligodendrocyte lineage leads to increased apoptosis and underlies the myelination defect associated with sialin loss.

  View details for DOI 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.3005-09.2009

  View details for Web of Science ID 000272736400003

  View details for PubMedID 20007460

• Intraventricular metaplastic meningioma in a child: case report and review of the literature NEUROPATHOLOGY Dulai, M. S., Khan, A., Edwards, M. S., Vogel, H. 2009; 29 (6): 708-712

  Abstract

  Childhood meningiomas are rare and display important differences from adult forms. We report the first case of an intraventricular metaplastic meningioma arising in a child. A 7-year-old female underwent resection of an enhancing tumor arising within the left lateral ventricle. It was composed of monomorphic cells embedded within an abundant myxoid stroma. The cells demonstrated epithelial membrane antigen and vimentin immunoreactivity. Ultrastructural analysis demonstrated intermediate filaments, complex intercellular interdigitations and desmosomes, and a diagnosis of myxoid (metaplastic) meningioma was rendered. This case reflects the higher incidence of intraventricular meningiomas in childhood and greater incidence of intraventricular meningiomas in the left lateral ventricle. Recognition of the grade I myxoid meningioma in this case is paramount since chordoid meningiomas, which share similar histologic features, are of a higher grade and worse prognosis.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1440-1789.2009.01008.x

  View details for Web of Science ID 000271713800010

  View details for PubMedID 19389075

• Papillary Tumor of the Spinal Cord Report of 2 Cases AMERICAN JOURNAL OF SURGICAL PATHOLOGY Mobley, B., Kalani, M. S., Harsh, G. R., Edwards, M. S., Vogel, H. 2009; 33 (8): 1191-1197

  Abstract

  Intramedullary spinal cord tumors constitute a small fraction of central nervous system tumors in the pediatric population; of these, the majority are ependymomas or astrocytomas. We report 2 pediatric spinal cord tumor cases with unique morphologic and immunohistochemical features. The first patient presented at age 7 with an intramedullary tumor of the thoracic spine. She suffered lumbar, cerebellar, and temporal lobe recurrences despite surgical resection and radiation. The second patient presented at age 17 with an intramedullary tumor of the cervical spine. The tumor recurred locally and in the cerebellum. Magnetic resonance imaging studies demonstrated gadolinium enhancement in each case. Microscopy showed papillary and solid cytoarchitecture with monomorphous epithelioid cells arranged around vascular papillae. Immunohistochemistry in each case revealed diffuse epithelial membrane antigen, cytokeratin, and E-cadherin reactivity. Glial fibrillary acidic protein staining was focal in case 1 and completely negative in case 2. Neural cell adhesion molecule showed patchy membranous reactivity and synaptophysin was negative. Electron microscopy showed ependymal differentiation. The clinical features, including propensity for recurrence and remote subarachnoid spread, and the pathologic features of these tumors are reminiscent of papillary tumor of the pineal region, ependymoma, and choroid plexus papilloma. The cases presented may constitute a new neoplastic entity within the recently described spectrum of central nervous system tumors with ependymal features.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000268850300010

  View details for PubMedID 19417584

• Distinguishing Chordoid Meningiomas From Their Histologic Mimics An Immunohistochemical Evaluation 97th Annual Meeting of the United-States-and-Canadian-Academy-of-Pathology Sangoi, A. R., Dulai, M. S., Beck, A. H., Brat, D. J., Vogel, H. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2009: 669–81

  Abstract

  Chordoid meningioma, World Health Organization grade II, is an uncommon variant of meningioma with a propensity for aggressive behavior and increased likelihood of recurrence. As such, recognition of this entity is important in cases that show similar morphologic overlap with other chondroid/myxoid neoplasms that can arise within or near the central nervous system. A formal comparison of the immunohistochemical features of chordoid meningioma versus tumors with significant histologic overlap has not been previously reported. In this study, immunohistochemical staining was performed with antibodies against D2-40, S100, pankeratin, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), brachyury, and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) in 4 cases of chordoid glioma, 6 skeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas, 10 chordoid meningiomas, 16 extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, 18 chordomas, 22 low-grade chondrosarcomas, and 27 enchondromas. Staining extent and intensity were evaluated semiquantitatively and mean values for each parameter were calculated. Immunostaining with D2-40 showed positivity in 100% of skeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas, 96% of enchondromas, 95% of low-grade chondrosarcomas, 80% of chordoid meningiomas, and 75% of chordoid gliomas. Staining with S100 demonstrated diffuse, strong positivity in all (100%) chordoid gliomas, skeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas, low-grade chondrosarcomas, and enchondromas, 94% of chordomas, and 81% of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas, with focal, moderate staining in 40% of chordoid meningiomas. Pankeratin highlighted 100% of chordoid gliomas and chordomas, 38% of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas, and 20% of chordoid meningiomas. EMA staining was positive in 100% of chordoid gliomas, 94% of chordomas, 90% of chordoid meningiomas, and 25% of extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcomas. Brachyury was positive only in the chordomas (100%), whereas GFAP was positive only in the chordoid gliomas (100%). EMA was the most effective antibody for differentiating chordoid meningioma from skeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, low-grade chondrosarcoma, and enchondroma, whereas D2-40 was the most effective antibody for differentiating chordoid meningioma from extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma and chordoma. Our findings demonstrate that in conjunction with clinical and radiographic findings, immunohistochemical evaluation with a panel of D2-40, EMA, brachyury, and GFAP is most useful in distinguishing chordoid meningioma from chordoid glioma, skeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, chordoma, low-grade chondrosarcoma, and enchondroma. A lack of strong, diffuse S100 reactivity may also be useful in excluding chordoid meningioma. Among the neoplasms evaluated, brachyury and GFAP proved to be both sensitive and specific markers for chordoma and chordoid glioma, respectively. Of note, this study is the first to characterize the D2-40 immunoprofile in extraskeletal myxoid chondrosarcoma, results that could be of utility in differential diagnostic assessment.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000265585500003

  View details for PubMedID 19194275

• A novel homozygous SCO2 mutation, p.G193S, causing fatal infantile cardioencephalomyopathy CLINICAL NEUROPATHOLOGY Mobley, B. C., Enns, G. M., Wong, L., Vogel, H. 2009; 28 (2): 143-149

  Abstract

  Cytochrome c oxidase (COX) deficiency is a frequent cause of mitochondrial disease in infants. Mutations in the COX assembly gene SCO2 cause fatal infantile cardioencephalomyopathy. All patients reported to date with SCO2 deficiency share a common p.E140K mutation in at least 1 allele. In order to further the understanding of the genotype-phenotype spectrum associated with fatal infantile cardioencephalomyopathy, we describe a novel homozygous SCO2 mutation p.G193S in a patient with fatal infantile cardioencephalomyopathy born to consanguineous parents of Indian ancestry.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000264437100011

  View details for PubMedID 19353847

• The Transcription Factor LMO2 Is a Robust Marker of Vascular Endothelium and Vascular Neoplasms and Selected Other Entities AMERICAN JOURNAL OF CLINICAL PATHOLOGY Gratzinger, D., Zhao, S., West, R., Rouse, R. V., Vogel, H., Gil, E. C., Levy, R., Lossos, I. S., Natkunam, Y. 2009; 131 (2): 264-278

  Abstract

  The transcription factor LMO2 is involved in vascular and hematopoietic development and hematolymphoid neoplasia. We have demonstrated that LMO2 is expressed nearly ubiquitously in native and neoplastic vasculature, including lymphatics. LMO2 reactivity is otherwise virtually absent in nonhematolymphoid tissues except in breast myoepithelium, prostatic basal cells, and secretory phase endometrial glands. Vasculature is LMO2- in adult and fetal heart, brain of older adults, hepatic sinusoids, and hepatocellular carcinoma. LMO2 is uniformly expressed in benign vascular and lymphatic neoplasms and in most malignant vascular neoplasms with the exception of epithelioid vascular neoplasms of pleura and bone. Among nonvascular neoplasms, LMO2 reactivity is present in giant cell tumor of tendon sheath, juvenile xanthogranuloma, a subset of gastrointestinal stromal tumors, small round blue cell tumors, and myoepithelial-derived neoplasms. The restricted expression pattern, nuclear localization, and crisp staining of LMO2 in paraffin blocks make it an attractive candidate for the diagnostic immunohistochemistry laboratory.

  View details for DOI 10.1309/AJCP5FP3NAXAXRJE

  View details for Web of Science ID 000262540200013

  View details for PubMedID 19141387

• Drosophila Models of Neurodegenerative Diseases ANNUAL REVIEW OF PATHOLOGY-MECHANISMS OF DISEASE Lu, B., Vogel, H. 2009; 4: 315-342

  Abstract

  Neurodegenerative diseases are progressive disorders of the nervous system that affect specific cellular populations in the central and peripheral nervous systems. Although most cases are sporadic, genes associated with familial cases have been identified, thus enabling the development of animal models. Invertebrates such as Drosophila have recently emerged as model systems for studying mechanisms of neurodegeneration in several major neurodegenerative diseases. These models are also excellent in vivo systems for the testing of therapeutic compounds. Genetic studies using these animal models have provided novel insights into the disease process. We anticipate that further exploration of the animal models will further our understanding of mechanisms of neurodegeneration as well as facilitate the development of rational treatments for debilitating degenerative diseases.

  View details for DOI 10.1146/annurev.pathol.3.121806.151529

  View details for Web of Science ID 000268071700013

  View details for PubMedID 18842101

• Wnt-mediated self-renewal of neural stem/progenitor cells PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Kalani, M. Y., Cheshier, S. H., Cord, B. J., Bababeygy, S. R., Vogel, H., Weissman, I. L., Palmer, T. D., Nusse, R. 2008; 105 (44): 16970-16975

  Abstract

  In this work we have uncovered a role for Wnt signaling as an important regulator of stem cell self-renewal in the developing brain. We identified Wnt-responsive cells in the subventricular zone of the developing E14.5 mouse brain. Responding cell populations were enriched for self-renewing stem cells in primary culture, suggesting that Wnt signaling is a hallmark of self-renewing activity in vivo. We also tested whether Wnt signals directly influence neural stem cells. Using inhibitors of the Wnt pathway, we found that Wnt signaling is required for the efficient cloning and expansion of single-cell derived populations that are able to generate new stem cells as well as neurons, astrocytes, and oligodendrocytes. The addition of exogenous Wnt3a protein enhances clonal outgrowth, demonstrating not only a critical role for the Wnt pathway for the regulation of neurogenesis but also its use for the expansion of neural stem cells in cell culture and in tissue engineering.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.0808616105

  View details for Web of Science ID 000260913800033

  View details for PubMedID 18957545

• Suprasellar giant cell ependymoma: a rare neoplasm in a unique location HUMAN PATHOLOGY Sangoi, A. R., Lim, M., Dulai, M. S., Vogel, H., Chang, S. D. 2008; 39 (9): 1396-1401

  Abstract

  Ependymomas are glial tumors that usually present in the posterior fossa in children and in the spinal cord in adults. Giant cell ependymoma, a rare ependymal subtype only recently recognized as a diagnostic entity in the last decade, demonstrates pleomorphic giant cells admixed with features of typical ependymoma. Although only 8 giant cell ependymomas have been reported to date, none have been reported in the suprasellar space. Moreover, as these neoplasms demonstrate a high incidence of anaplastic grade, recognition of this ependymal subtype is paramount. We describe the presentation and pertinent radiologic, histologic, immunologic, and ultrastructural findings in conjunction with relevant clinical implications of the first reported case of a suprasellar giant cell ependymoma occurring in a 34-year-old female 7 years after an initial diagnosis of a medullary ependymoma with rare atypical giant cells, a potential tumor seeding culprit.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.humpath.2008.01.007

  View details for Web of Science ID 000258626500015

  View details for PubMedID 18602668

• Reactive oxygen species act remotely to cause synapse loss in a Drosophila model of developmental mitochondrial encephalopathy DEVELOPMENT Mast, J. D., Tomalty, K. M., Vogel, H., Clandinin, T. R. 2008; 135 (15): 2669-2679

  Abstract

  Mitochondrial dysfunction is a hallmark of many neurodegenerative diseases, yet its precise role in disease pathology remains unclear. To examine this link directly, we subtly perturbed electron transport chain function in the Drosophila retina, creating a model of Leigh Syndrome, an early-onset neurodegenerative disorder. Using mutations that affect mitochondrial complex II, we demonstrate that mild disruptions of mitochondrial function have no effect on the initial stages of photoreceptor development, but cause degeneration of their synapses and cell bodies in late pupal and adult animals. In this model, synapse loss is caused by reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, not energy depletion, as ATP levels are normal in mutant photoreceptors, and both pharmacological and targeted genetic manipulations that reduce ROS levels prevent synapse degeneration. Intriguingly, these manipulations of ROS uncouple synaptic effects from degenerative changes in the cell body, suggesting that mitochondrial dysfunction activates two genetically separable processes, one that induces morphological changes in the cell body, and another that causes synapse loss. Finally, by blocking mitochondrial trafficking into the axon using a mutation affecting a mitochondrial transport complex, we find that ROS action restricted to the cell body is sufficient to cause synaptic degeneration, demonstrating that ROS need not act locally at the synapse. Thus, alterations in electron transport chain function explain many of the neurodegenerative changes seen in both early- and late-onset disorders.

  View details for DOI 10.1242/dev.020644

  View details for Web of Science ID 000257557200018

  View details for PubMedID 18599508

• Severe congenital encephalopathy caused by MECP2 null mutations in males: central hypoxia and reduced neuronal dendritic structure CLINICAL GENETICS Schule, B., Armstrong, D. D., Vogel, H., Oviedo, A., Francke, U. 2008; 74 (2): 116-126

  Abstract

  Non-mosaic males with a 46,XY karyotype and a MECP2 null mutation display a phenotype of severe neonatal-onset encephalopathy that is distinctly different from Rett syndrome (RTT). To increase awareness of this rare disorder, we are reporting novel findings in a sporadic case, compare them to 16 previously reported cases and establish salient criteria for clinical diagnosis. The proband suffered from general hypotonia and hypoxia caused by hypoventilation and irregular breathing. He developed abnormal movements, seizures and electroencephalogram abnormalities. He failed to thrive and to reach any motor milestones and died at 15 months from central respiratory failure without a diagnosis. In a muscle biopsy, type II fibers were reduced in diameter, indicating central hypoxia. At autopsy, the brain was small with disproportionate reduction of the frontal and temporal lobes. Synaptophysin staining of synaptic vesicles was greatly reduced in cerebellar and spinal cord sections. Analysis of Golgi-stained pyramidal neurons from cortical layers III and V of the frontal and temporal lobes revealed drastically diminished dendritic trees. Post-mortem MECP2 mutation analysis on DNA and RNA from fibroblasts revealed a novel de novo 9-nucleotide deletion including the intron 3/exon 4 splice junction. The two nucleotides flanking the deletion form a new splice site, and the aberrantly spliced transcript lacks seven nucleotides (r.378_384delTCCCCAG), causing a frameshift and premature termination codon (p.I126fsX11). Males with congenital encephalopathy, not females with RTT, represent the true human counterpart for the commonly studied Mecp2-/y mouse model and provide unique insight into the mechanisms of MeCP2 deficiency.

  View details for DOI 10.1111/j.1399-0004.2008.01005.x

  View details for Web of Science ID 000257476200003

  View details for PubMedID 18477000

• Pink1 regulates mitochondrial dynamics through interaction with the fission/fusion machinery PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Yang, Y., Ouyang, Y., Yang, L., Beal, M. F., McQuibban, A., Vogel, H., Lu, B. 2008; 105 (19): 7070-7075

  Abstract

  Mitochondria form dynamic tubular networks that undergo frequent morphological changes through fission and fusion, the imbalance of which can affect cell survival in general and impact synaptic transmission and plasticity in neurons in particular. Some core components of the mitochondrial fission/fusion machinery, including the dynamin-like GTPases Drp1, Mitofusin, Opa1, and the Drp1-interacting protein Fis1, have been identified. How the fission and fusion processes are regulated under normal conditions and the extent to which defects in mitochondrial fission/fusion are involved in various disease conditions are poorly understood. Mitochondrial malfunction tends to cause diseases with brain and skeletal muscle manifestations and has been implicated in neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson's disease (PD). Whether abnormal mitochondrial fission or fusion plays a role in PD pathogenesis has not been shown. Here, we show that Pink1, a mitochondria-targeted Ser/Thr kinase linked to familial PD, genetically interacts with the mitochondrial fission/fusion machinery and modulates mitochondrial dynamics. Genetic manipulations that promote mitochondrial fission suppress Drosophila Pink1 mutant phenotypes in indirect flight muscle and dopamine neurons, whereas decreased fission has opposite effects. In Drosophila and mammalian cells, overexpression of Pink1 promotes mitochondrial fission, whereas inhibition of Pink1 leads to excessive fusion. Our genetic interaction results suggest that Fis1 may act in-between Pink1 and Drp1 in controlling mitochondrial fission. These results reveal a cell biological role for Pink1 and establish mitochondrial fission/fusion as a paradigm for PD research. Compounds that modulate mitochondrial fission/fusion could have therapeutic value in PD intervention.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.0711845105

  View details for Web of Science ID 000255921200051

  View details for PubMedID 18443288

• Intracerebral hemorrhage caused by cerebral amyloid angiopathy in a 53-year-old man JOURNAL OF NEUROLOGY Campbell, D. M., Bruins, S., Vogel, H., Shuer, L. M., Wijman, C. A. 2008; 255 (4): 597-598

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00415-008-0742-9

  View details for Web of Science ID 000255255300021

  View details for PubMedID 18227992

• CNS T-cell lymphoma: an under-recognized entity? ACTA NEUROPATHOLOGICA Dulai, M. S., Park, C. Y., Howell, W. D., Smyth, L. T., Desai, M., Carter, D. M., Vogel, H. 2008; 115 (3): 345-356

  Abstract

  The incidence of CNS lymphoma has increased significantly in the past 30 years, primarily in the elderly and immunocompromised. While T-cell lymphomas comprise 15-20% of systemic lymphomas, they comprise less than 4% of primary CNS lymphomas, suggesting that they may be under-recognized compared to their systemic counterparts. To investigate this, we studied brain biopsies from three patients who were diagnosed with T-cell lymphoma confined to the brain. They had enhancing lesions by MRI, arising in the cerebellum and brainstem in one and temporal lobe in two. We compared these to biopsies from three patients who had reactive lymphoid infiltrates and who had clinical signs/symptoms and radiographic findings that were indistinguishable from the lymphoma group. Biopsies from both the lymphoma group and reactive group showed considerable cytomorphologic heterogeneity. Although one lymphoma case contained large atypical cells, the other two contained small, mature lymphocytes within a heterogeneous infiltrate of neoplastic and reactive inflammatory cells. Surface marker aberrancies were present in two lymphoma cases, but this alone could not reliably diagnose T-cell lymphoma. The proliferation index was not useful for differentiating lymphoma from reactive infiltrates. In five of the six cases the diagnosis was most influenced by clonality studies for T-cell receptor-gamma gene rearrangements. We conclude that because of the high degree of overlap in cytomorphologic and immunophenotypic features between T-cell lymphoma and reactive infiltrates, T-cell lymphoma may not be recognized unless studies for T-cell receptor gene rearrangements are performed for CNS lesions composed of a polymorphous but predominantly T-cell infiltrate.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00401-007-0338-y

  View details for Web of Science ID 000253346000008

  View details for PubMedID 18196250

• Progressive cerebral vascular degeneration with mitochondrial encephalopathy AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART A Longo, N., Schrijver, I., Vogel, H., Pique, L. M., Cowan, T. M., Pasquali, M., Steinberg, G. K., Hedlund, G. L., Ernst, S. L., Gallagher, R. C., Enns, G. M. 2008; 146A (3): 361-367

  Abstract

  MELAS (mitochondrial encephalopathy with lactic acidosis and stroke-like episodes) is a maternally inherited disorder characterized by recurrent cerebral infarctions that do not conform to discreet vascular territories. Here we report on a patient who presented at 7 years of age with loss of consciousness and severe metabolic acidosis following vomiting and dehydration. She developed progressive sensorineural hearing loss, myopathy, ptosis, short stature, and mild developmental delays after normal early development. Biochemical testing identified metabolites characteristic of medium-chain acyl-CoA dehydrogenase (MCAD) deficiency (hexanoylglycine and suberylglycine), but also severe lactic acidemia (10-25 mM) and, in urine, excess of lactic acid, intermediates of the citric cycle, and marked ketonuria, suggesting mitochondrial dysfunction. She progressed rapidly to develop temporary cortical blindness. Brain imaging indicated generalized atrophy, more marked on the left side, in addition to white matter alterations consistent with a mitochondrial disorder. Magnetic resonance angiography indicated occlusion of the left cerebral artery with development of collateral circulation (Moyamoya syndrome). This process worsened over time to involve the other side of the brain. A muscle biopsy indicated the presence of numerous ragged red fibers. Molecular testing confirmed compound heterozygosity for the common mutation in the MCAD gene (985A>G) and a second pathogenic mutation (233T>C). MtDNA testing indicated that the muscle was almost homoplasmic for the 3243A>T mutation in tRNALeu, with a lower mutant load (about 50% heteroplasmy) in blood and skin fibroblasts. These results indicate that mitochondrial disorders may be associated with severe vascular disease resulting in Moyamoya syndrome. The contribution of the concomitant MCAD deficiency to the development of the phenotype in this case is unclear.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.31841

  View details for Web of Science ID 000253008300014

• Congenital glioblastoma multiforme: Case report and review of the literature PEDIATRIC NEUROSURGERY Hou, L. C., Bababeygy, S. R., Sarkissian, V., Fisher, P. G., Vogel, H., Barnes, P., Huhn, S. L. 2008; 44 (4): 304-312

  Abstract

  Congenital glioblastoma multiforme is a rare primary brain tumor that has a unique biology distinct from pediatric and adult variants. In this report, we present a case of congenital glioblastoma with complicated management course. A literature review of previously reported cases is included to illustrate the epidemiology and natural history of this disease. A 9-month-old male infant developed acute lethargy, hemiparesis and unilaterally dilated pupil. Imaging studies revealed a large hemispheric tumor, resulting in significant midline shift suggestive of impending herniation. Emergent tumor cystic fluid drainage was performed at initial presentation. A frontotemporoparietal craniotomy was performed on the following day to attempt a gross total resection. Adjuvant chemotherapy consisting of oral temozolomide was administered. The patient eventually succumbed 4 months later due to aggressive tumor progression. Congenital glioblastoma should be included in the differential diagnosis of infants with large intracranial tumors. Although surgical intervention may increase survival, the overall outcome remains poor despite maximal multimodal treatment.

  View details for DOI 10.1159/000134922

  View details for Web of Science ID 000258318800008

  View details for PubMedID 18504417

• Muscle lymphocytic infiltrates in thymoma-associated myasthenia gravis are phenotypically different from those in polymyositis NEUROMUSCULAR DISORDERS Zamecnik, J., Vesely, D., Jakubicka, B., Simkova, L., Pitha, J., Schutmer, J., Mazanec, R., Vogel, H. 2007; 17 (11-12): 935-942

  Abstract

  The aim of the study is to provide evidence that the lymphocytic infiltration of myasthenia gravis (MG) muscle do not represent a true autoimmune myositis, rather an infiltration by naive lymphocytes derived from lymphocyte-rich thymomas. Muscle biopsies from 179 patients with pure MG, 6 thymoma patients without MG and 15 patients with definite polymyositis were analyzed. In 18 patients with MG (all associated with lymphocyte-rich thymomas) and in two thymoma patients without MG, lymphocytic infiltrates were identified in muscles. By use of immunohistochemistry, we demonstrated that the lymphocytes in MG differ from those in polymyositis, being mature but in contrast to polymyositis naive CD45RA+ T lymphocytes. We suggest that the lymphocytic infiltrates in patients with MG and thymoma represent an infiltration of muscle by thymoma-derived mature but naive T cells. The finding of CD8+CD45RA+ lymphocytes in muscle may signify an underlying thymoma and should not be misdiagnosed as polymyositis.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.nmd.2007.05.010

  View details for Web of Science ID 000252118200004

  View details for PubMedID 17651972

• Intraventricular myxoid meningioma in a 7-year-old female 12th Annual Meeting of the Society-for-Neuro-Oncology Dulai, M. S., Khan, A., Edwards, M. S., Vogel, H. OXFORD UNIV PRESS INC. 2007: 550–51

  View details for Web of Science ID 000249999100321

• A 35-year-old woman with a dural-based mass. Brain pathology Haddix, T., Chang, S., Vogel, H. 2007; 17 (3): 331-332

  View details for PubMedID 17598829

• Multimodality molecular imaging of glioblastoma growth inhibition with vasculature-targeting fusion toxin VEGF(121)/rGel JOURNAL OF NUCLEAR MEDICINE Hsu, A. R., Cai, W., Veeravagu, A., Mohamedali, K. A., Chen, K., Kim, S., Vogel, H., Hou, L. C., Tse, V., Rosenblum, M. G., Chen, X. 2007; 48 (3): 445-454

  Abstract

  Vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) and its receptors, Flt-1/FLT-1 (VEGFR-1) and Flk-1/KDR (VEGFR-2), are key regulators of tumor angiogenesis and tumor growth. The purpose of this study was to determine the antiangiogenic and antitumor efficacies of a vasculature-targeting fusion toxin (VEGF(121)/rGel) composed of the VEGF-A isoform VEGF(121) linked with a G(4)S tether to recombinant plant toxin gelonin (rGel) in an orthotopic glioblastoma mouse model by use of noninvasive in vivo bioluminescence imaging (BLI), MRI, and PET.Tumor-bearing mice were randomized into 2 groups and balanced according to BLI and MRI signals. PET with (64)Cu-1,4,7,10-tetraazacyclododedane-N,N',N'',N'''-tetraacetic acid (DOTA)-VEGF(121)/rGel was performed before VEGF(121)/rGel treatment. (18)F-Fluorothymidine ((18)F-FLT) scans were obtained before and after treatment to evaluate VEGF(121)/rGel therapeutic efficacy. In vivo results were confirmed with ex vivo histologic and immunohistochemical analyses.Logarithmic transformation of peak BLI tumor signal intensity revealed a strong correlation with MRI tumor volume (r = 0.89, n = 14). PET with (64)Cu-DOTA-VEGF(121)/rGel before treatment revealed a tumor accumulation (mean +/- SD) of 11.8 +/- 2.3 percentage injected dose per gram at 18 h after injection, and the receptor specificity of the tumor accumulation was confirmed by successful blocking of the uptake in the presence of an excess amount of VEGF(121). PET with (18)F-FLT revealed significant a decrease in tumor proliferation in VEGF(121)/rGel-treated mice compared with control mice. Histologic analysis revealed specific tumor neovasculature damage after treatment with 4 doses of VEGF(121)/rGel; this damage was accompanied by a significant decrease in peak BLI tumor signal intensity.The results of this study suggest that future clinical multimodality imaging and therapy with VEGF(121)/rGel may provide an effective means to prospectively identify patients who will benefit from VEGF(121)/rGel therapy and then stratify, personalize, and monitor treatment to obtain optimal survival outcomes.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000244937400026

  View details for PubMedID 17332623

• CHD5 is a tumor suppressor at human 1p36 CELL Bagchi, A., Papazoglu, C., Wu, Y., Capurso, D., Brodt, M., Francis, D., Bredel, M., Vogel, H., Mills, A. A. 2007; 128 (3): 459-475

  Abstract

  Cancer gene discovery has relied extensively on analyzing tumors for gains and losses to reveal the location of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, respectively. Deletions of 1p36 are extremely common genetic lesions in human cancer, occurring in malignancies of epithelial, neural, and hematopoietic origin. Although this suggests that 1p36 harbors a gene that drives tumorigenesis when inactivated, the identity of this tumor suppressor has remained elusive. Here we use chromosome engineering to generate mouse models with gain and loss of a region corresponding to human 1p36. This approach functionally identifies chromodomain helicase DNA binding domain 5 (Chd5) as a tumor suppressor that controls proliferation, apoptosis, and senescence via the p19(Arf)/p53 pathway. We demonstrate that Chd5 functions as a tumor suppressor in vivo and implicate deletion of CHD5 in human cancer. Identification of this tumor suppressor provides new avenues for exploring innovative clinical interventions for cancer.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cell.2006.11.052

  View details for Web of Science ID 000244842700014

  View details for PubMedID 17289567

• In vivo near-infrared fluorescence imaging of integrin alpha(v)beta(3) in an orthotopic glioblastoma model MOLECULAR IMAGING AND BIOLOGY Hsu, A. R., Hou, L. C., Veeravagu, A., Greve, J. M., Vogel, H., Tse, V., Chen, X. 2006; 8 (6): 315-323

  Abstract

  Expression of cell adhesion molecule integrin alpha(v)beta(3) is significantly up-regulated during tumor growth, and sprouting of tumor vessels and correlates well with tumor aggressiveness. The purpose of this study was to visualize tumor integrin alpha(v)beta(3) expression in vivo by using near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging of Cy5.5-linked cyclic arginine-glycine-aspartic acid (RGD) peptide in an orthotopic brain tumor model.U87MG glioma cells transfected with the firefly luciferase gene were stereotactically injected into nude mice in the right frontal lobe. Bioluminescence imaging (BLI) using D: -luciferin substrate and small animal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using gadolinium contrast enhancement were conducted weekly after tumor cell inoculation to monitor intracranial tumor growth. Integrin alpha(v)beta(3) expression was assessed by using a three-dimensional optical imaging system (IVIS 200) 0-24 hours after administration of 1.5 nmol monomeric Cy5.5-RGD via the tail vein. Animals were injected intravenously with both Texas Red-tomato lectin and Cy5.5-RGD prior to sacrifice to visualize peptide localization to tumor vasculature using histology.Fluorescence microscopy demonstrated specific Cy5.5-RGD binding to both U87MG tumor vessels and tumor cells with no normal tissue binding. NIRF imaging showed highest tumor uptake and tumor to normal brain tissue ratio two hours postinjection (2.64 +/- 0.20). Tumor uptake of Cy5.5-RGD was effectively blocked by using unlabeled c(RGDyK), and injection of Cy5.5 dye alone showed nonspecific binding.Optical imaging via BLI and NIRF offer a simple, effective, and rapid technique for noninvasive in vivo monitoring and semiquantitative analysis of intracranial tumor growth and integrin alpha(v)beta(3) expression. This study suggests that NIRF via fluorescently labeled RGD peptides may provide enhanced surveillance of tumor angiogenesis and anti-integrin treatment efficacy in orthotopic brain tumor models.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s11307-006-0059-y

  View details for Web of Science ID 000242428500001

  View details for PubMedID 17053862

• Mitochondrial pathology and muscle and dopaminergic neuron degeneration caused inactivation of Drosophila Pink1 is rescued by by Parkin PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Yang, Y., Gehrke, S., Imai, Y., Huang, Z., Ouyang, Y., Wang, J., Yang, L., Beal, M. F., Vogel, H., Lu, B. 2006; 103 (28): 10793-10798

  Abstract

  Mutations in Pink1, a gene encoding a Ser/Thr kinase with a mitochondrial-targeting signal, are associated with Parkinson's disease (PD), the most common movement disorder characterized by selective loss of dopaminergic neurons. The mechanism by which loss of Pink1 leads to neurodegeneration is not understood. Here we show that inhibition of Drosophila Pink1 (dPink1) function results in energy depletion, shortened lifespan, and degeneration of select indirect flight muscles and dopaminergic neurons. The muscle pathology was preceded by mitochondrial enlargement and disintegration. These phenotypes could be rescued by the wild type but not the pathogenic C-terminal deleted form of human Pink1 (hPink1). The muscle and dopaminergic phenotypes associated with dPink1 inactivation show similarity to that seen in parkin mutant flies and could be suppressed by the overexpression of Parkin but not DJ-1. Consistent with the genetic rescue results, we find that, in dPink1 RNA interference (RNAi) animals, the level of Parkin protein is significantly reduced. Together, these results implicate Pink1 and Parkin in a common pathway that regulates mitochondrial physiology and cell survival in Drosophila.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.0602493103

  View details for Web of Science ID 000239047400046

  View details for PubMedID 16818890

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC1502310

• Transcriptional profiling of aging in human muscle reveals a common aging signature PLOS GENETICS Zahn, J. M., Sonu, R., Vogel, H., Crane, E., Mazan-Mamczarz, K., Rabkin, R., Davis, R. W., Becker, K. G., Owen, A. B., Kim, S. K. 2006; 2 (7): 1058-1069

  Abstract

  We analyzed expression of 81 normal muscle samples from humans of varying ages, and have identified a molecular profile for aging consisting of 250 age-regulated genes. This molecular profile correlates not only with chronological age but also with a measure of physiological age. We compared the transcriptional profile of muscle aging to previous transcriptional profiles of aging in the kidney and the brain, and found a common signature for aging in these diverse human tissues. The common aging signature consists of six genetic pathways; four pathways increase expression with age (genes in the extracellular matrix, genes involved in cell growth, genes encoding factors involved in complement activation, and genes encoding components of the cytosolic ribosome), while two pathways decrease expression with age (genes involved in chloride transport and genes encoding subunits of the mitochondrial electron transport chain). We also compared transcriptional profiles of aging in humans to those of the mouse and fly, and found that the electron transport chain pathway decreases expression with age in all three organisms, suggesting that this may be a public marker for aging across species.

  View details for DOI 10.1371/journal.pgen.0020115

  View details for Web of Science ID 000239494800016

  View details for PubMedID 16789832

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC1513263

• p63 heterozygous mutant mice are not prone to spontaneous or chemically induced tumors PROCEEDINGS OF THE NATIONAL ACADEMY OF SCIENCES OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Keyes, W. M., Vogel, H., Koster, M. I., Guo, X., Qi, Y., Petherbridge, K. M., Roop, D. R., Bradley, A., Mills, A. A. 2006; 103 (22): 8435-8440

  Abstract

  Homology between p63 and p53 has suggested that these proteins might function similarly. However, the majority of data from human tumors have not supported a similar role for p63 in tumor suppression. To investigate this issue, we studied spontaneous tumorigenesis in p63+/- mice in both WT and p53-compromised backgrounds. We found that p63+/- mice were not tumor prone and mice heterozygous for both p63 and p53 had fewer tumors than p53+/- mice. The rare tumors that developed in mice with compromised p63 were also distinct from those of p53+/- mice. Furthermore, p63+/- mice were not prone to chemically induced tumorigenesis, and p63 expression was maintained in carcinomas. These findings demonstrate that, in agreement with data from human tumors, p63 plays a markedly different biological role in cancer than p53.

  View details for DOI 10.1073/pnas.0602477103

  View details for Web of Science ID 000238206800026

  View details for PubMedID 16714381

• Gene targeting of GAN in mouse causes a toxic accumulation of microtubule-associated protein 8 and impaired retrograde axonal transport HUMAN MOLECULAR GENETICS Ding, J. Q., Allen, E., Wang, W., Valle, A., Wu, C. B., Nardine, T., Cui, B. X., Yi, J., Taylor, A., Jeon, N. L., Chu, S., So, Y., Vogel, H., Tolwani, R., Mobley, W., Yang, Y. M. 2006; 15 (9): 1451-1463

  Abstract

  Mutations in gigaxonin were identified in giant axonal neuropathy (GAN), an autosomal recessive disorder. To understand how disruption of gigaxonin's function leads to neurodegeneration, we ablated the gene expression in mice using traditional gene targeting approach. Progressive neurological phenotypes and pathological lesions that developed in the GAN null mice recapitulate characteristic human GAN features. The disruption of gigaxonin results in an impaired ubiquitin-proteasome system leading to a substantial accumulation of a novel microtubule-associated protein, MAP8, in the null mutants. Accumulated MAP8 alters the microtubule network, traps dynein motor protein in insoluble structures and leads to neuronal death in cultured wild-type neurons, which replicates the process occurring in GAN null mutants. Defective axonal transport is evidenced by the in vitro assays and is supported by vesicular accumulation in the GAN null neurons. We propose that the axonal transport impairment may be a deleterious consequence of accumulated, toxic MAP8 protein.

  View details for DOI 10.1093/hmg/ddl069

  View details for Web of Science ID 000237002400007

  View details for PubMedID 16565160

• Osteopontin expression in intratumoral astrocytes marks tumor progression in gliomas induced by prenatal exposure to N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY Jang, T. C., Savarese, T., Low, H. P., Kim, S., Vogel, H., Lapointe, D., Duong, T., Litofsky, N. S., Weimann, J. M., Ross, A. H., Recht, L. 2006; 168 (5): 1676-1685

  Abstract

  To better study early events in glioma genesis, markers that reliably denote landmarks in glioma development are needed. In the present study, we used microarray analysis to compare the gene expression patterns of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)-localized N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU)-induced tumors in rat brains with those of uninvolved contralateral side and normal brains. Our analysis identified osteopontin (OPN) as the most up-regulated gene in glioma. Using immunohistochemistry we then confirmed OPN expression in every tumor examined (n = 17), including those with diameters as small as 300 mum. By contrast, no OPN immunostaining was seen in normal brain or in brains removed from ENU-exposed rats before the development of glioma. Further studies confirmed that OPN was co-localized exclusively in intratumoral glial fibrillary acidic protein-expressing cells and was notably absent from nestin-expressing ones. In conjunction with this, we confirmed that both normal neurosphere cells and ENU-im-mortalized subventricular zone/striatal cells produced negligible amounts of OPN compared to the established rat glioma cell line C6. Furthermore, inducing OPN expression in an immortalized cell line increased cell proliferation. Based on these findings, we conclude that OPN overexpression in ENU-induced gliomas occurs within a specific subset of intratumoral glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells and becomes evident at the stage of tumor progression.

  View details for DOI 10.2353/ajpath.2006.050400

  View details for Web of Science ID 000237325700026

  View details for PubMedID 16651633

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC1606608

• Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein 3 as a putative regulator of nuclear factor-kappa B-mediated resistance to O-6-alkylating agents in human glioblastomas JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY Bredel, M., Bredel, C., Juric, D., Duran, G. E., Yu, R. X., Harsh, G. R., Vogel, H., Recht, L. D., Scheck, A. C., Sikic, B. I. 2006; 24 (2): 274-287

  Abstract

  Pre-existing and acquired drug resistance are major obstacles to the successful treatment of glioblastomas.We used an integrated resistance model and genomics tools to globally explore molecular factors and cellular pathways mediating resistance to O6-alkylating agents in glioblastoma cells.We identified a transcriptomic signature that predicts a common in vitro and in vivo resistance phenotype to these agents, a proportion of which is imprinted recurrently by gene dosage changes in the resistant glioblastoma genome. This signature was highly enriched for genes with functions in cell death, compromise, and survival. Modularity was a predominant organizational principle of the signature, with functions being carried out by groups of interacting molecules in overlapping networks. A highly significant network was built around nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-kappaB), which included the persistent alterations of various NF-kappaB pathway elements. Tumor necrosis factor-alpha-induced protein 3 (TNFAIP3) was identified as a new regulatory component of a putative cytoplasmic signaling cascade that mediates NF-kappaB activation in response to DNA damage caused by O6-alkylating agents. Expression of the corresponding zinc finger protein A20 closely mirrored the expression of the TNFAIP3 transcript, and was inversely related to NF-kappaB activation status in the resistant cells. A prediction model based on the resistance signature enabled the subclassification of an independent, validation cohort of 31 glioblastomas into two outcome groups (P = .037) and revealed TNFAIP3 as part of an optimized four-gene predictor associated significantly with patient survival (P = .022).Our results offer strong evidence for TNFAIP3 as a key regulator of the cytoplasmic signaling to activate NF-kappaB en route to O6-alkylating agent resistance in glioblastoma cells. This pathway may be an attractive target for therapeutic modulation of glioblastomas.

  View details for DOI 10.1200/JCO.2005.02.9405

  View details for Web of Science ID 000234741700008

  View details for PubMedID 16365179

• Gigaxonin interacts with tubulin folding cofactor B and controls its degradation through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway CURRENT BIOLOGY Wang, W., Ding, J. Q., Allen, E., Zhu, P., Zhang, L., Vogel, H., Yang, Y. M. 2005; 15 (22): 2050-2055

  Abstract

  Gigaxonin is mutated in human giant axonal neuropathy (GAN), an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder. The presence of generalized cytoskeletal abnormalities , including few microtubules and accumulated intermediate filaments (IFs), in GAN suggests an essential role of gigaxonin in cytoskeletal organization and dynamics. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying the cytoskeletal pathology remain to be elucidated. Over the years, the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) of intracellular protein degradation has been implicated in the control of many fundamental cellular processes. Defects in this system seem to be directly linked to the development of human diseases, including cancers and neurodegenerative diseases . Here, we show that gigaxonin controls protein degradation of tubulin folding cofactor B (TBCB) , a function disrupted by GAN-associated mutations. The substantial TBCB protein accumulation caused by impaired UPS may be a causative factor of cytoskeletal pathology in GAN. Our study provides important insight into pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases associated with cytoskeletal abnormalities.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.cub.2005.10.052

  View details for Web of Science ID 000233770900028

  View details for PubMedID 16303566

• Identification of phenotypic neural stem cells in a pediatric astroblastoma JOURNAL OF NEUROSURGERY Huhn, S. L., Yung, Y., Cheshier, S., Harsh, G., Ailles, L., Weissman, I., Vogel, H., Tse, V. 2005; 103 (5): 446-450

  Abstract

  The goal of this study was to illustrate the findings of a significant subpopulation of cells within a pediatric astroblastoma that have the specific cell surface phenotype found on known human neural stem cells.Cells with a cell surface marker profile characteristic of human neural stem cells were isolated using fluorescence-activated cell sorting from a mostly nonmitotic astroblastoma removed from the brain of an 11-year-old girl. An unusually high proportion (24%) of the cells were CD133 positive and CD24, CD34, and CD45 negative (CD133(+)CD24(-)CD34(-)CD45(-) cells), the phenotypic antigenic pattern associated with neural stem cells; very few CD133-positive cells were not also CD24, CD34, and CD45 negative. Some cells (12%) were CD34 positive, indicating the presence within the tumor of hematopoietic stem cells. Cells formed cytospheres that resembled neurospheres when seeded into stem cell media and coexpressed beta-tubulin and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) but did not express the oligodendrocyte marker O4. Cell proliferation was demonstrated by incorporation of bromodeoxyuridine. The cells lost their capacity for self-renewal in vitro after four to six passages, although they continued to coexpress beta-tubulin and GFAP. The cells did not differentiate into neurons or astrocytes when placed in differentiation medium.Although this astroblastoma contained a high proportion of phenotypic neural stemlike cells, the cells had limited proliferative capacity and multipotency. Their role in astroblastoma formation and growth is unknown.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000233081900012

  View details for PubMedID 16302618

• Functional network analysis reveals extended gliomagenesis pathway maps and three novel MYC-interacting genes in human gliomas CANCER RESEARCH Bredel, M., Bredel, C., Juric, D., Harsh, G. R., Vogel, H., Recht, L. D., Sikic, B. I. 2005; 65 (19): 8679-8689

  Abstract

  Gene expression profiling has proven useful in subclassification and outcome prognostication for human glial brain tumors. The analysis of biological significance of the hundreds or thousands of alterations in gene expression found in genomic profiling remains a major challenge. Moreover, it is increasingly evident that genes do not act as individual units but collaborate in overlapping networks, the deregulation of which is a hallmark of cancer. Thus, we have here applied refined network knowledge to the analysis of key functions and pathways associated with gliomagenesis in a set of 50 human gliomas of various histogenesis, using cDNA microarrays, inferential and descriptive statistics, and dynamic mapping of gene expression data into a functional annotation database. Highest-significance networks were assembled around the myc oncogene in gliomagenesis and around the integrin signaling pathway in the glioblastoma subtype, which is paradigmatic for its strong migratory and invasive behavior. Three novel MYC-interacting genes (UBE2C, EMP1, and FBXW7) with cancer-related functions were identified as network constituents differentially expressed in gliomas, as was CD151 as a new component of a network that mediates glioblastoma cell invasion. Complementary, unsupervised relevance network analysis showed a conserved self-organization of modules of interconnected genes with functions in cell cycle regulation in human gliomas. This approach has extended existing knowledge about the organizational pattern of gene expression in human gliomas and identified potential novel targets for future therapeutic development.

  View details for DOI 10.1158/0008-5472

  View details for Web of Science ID 000232199400018

  View details for PubMedID 16204036

• p63 deficiency activates a program of cellular senescence and leads to accelerated aging GENES & DEVELOPMENT Keyes, W. M., Wu, Y., Vogel, H., Guo, X. C., Lowe, S. W., Mills, A. A. 2005; 19 (17): 1986-1999

  Abstract

  The p53 tumor suppressor plays a key role in organismal aging. A cellular mechanism postulated to drive the aging process is cellular senescence, mediated in part by p53. Although senescent cells accumulate in elderly individuals, most studies have relied on correlating in vitro senescence assays with in vivo phenotypes of aging. Here, using two different mouse models in which the p53-related protein p63 is compromised, we demonstrate that cellular senescence and organismal aging are intimately linked and that these processes are mediated by p63 loss. We found that p63(+/-) mice have a shortened life span and display features of accelerated aging. Both germline and somatically induced p63 deficiency activates widespread cellular senescence with enhanced expression of senescent markers SA-beta-gal, PML, and p16(INK4a). Using an inducible tissue-specific p63 conditional model, we further show that p63 deficiency induces cellular senescence and causes accelerated aging phenotypes in the adult. Our results thus suggest a causative link between cellular senescence and aging in vivo, and demonstrate that p63 deficiency accelerates this process.

  View details for DOI 10.1101/gad.342305

  View details for Web of Science ID 000231630100005

  View details for PubMedID 16107615

• A new ENU-induced allele of mouse quaking causes severe CNS dysmyelination MAMMALIAN GENOME Noveroske, J. K., Hardy, R., Dapper, J. D., Vogel, H., Justice, M. J. 2005; 16 (9): 672-682

  Abstract

  The mutant allelic series of the mouse quaking gene consists of the spontaneous quaking(viable) (qk(v)) allele, which is homozygous viable with a dysmyelination phenotype, and four ENU-induced alleles (qk(kt 1), qk(k2), qk(kt3/4), and qk(l-1)), which are homozygous embryonic lethal. Here we report the isolation of qk(e5), the first ENU-induced viable allele of quaking. Unlike qk(v)/qk(v), qk(e5)/qk(e5) animals have early-onset seizures, severe ataxia, and a dramatically reduced lifespan. Ultrastructural analysis of qk(e5)/qk(e5) brains reveals severe dysmyelination when compared with both wild-type and qk(v)/qk(v) brains. In addition, Calbindin detection in young adult qk(e5)/qk(e5) mice reveals Purkinje cell axonal swellings indicative of neurodegeneration , which is not seen in young adult qk(v)/qk(v) mice. Although the molecular defect in the qk(e5) allele is not evident by sequencing, protein expression studies show that qk(e5)/qk(e5) postnatal oligodendrocytes lack the QKI-6 and QKI-7 isoforms and have reduced QKI-5 levels. The oligodendrocyte developmental markers PDGF alpha R, NG 2, O4, CNP, and MBP are also present in the qk(e5)/qk(e5) postnatal brain although CNP and MBP levels are considerably reduced. Because the qk(v) allele is a large deletion that affects the expression of three genes, the new neurologic qk(e5) allele is an important addition to this allelic series.

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s00335-005-0035-x

  View details for Web of Science ID 000232303800003

  View details for PubMedID 16245024

• Embryonic stem cell immunogenicity increases upon differentiation after transplantation into ischemic myocardium CIRCULATION Swijnenburg, R. J., Tanaka, M., Vogel, H., Baker, J., Kofidis, T., Gunawan, F., Lebl, D. R., Caffarelli, A. D., de Bruin, J. L., Fedoseyeva, E. V., Robbins, R. C. 2005; 112 (9): I166-I172

  Abstract

  We investigated whether differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) in ischemic myocardium enhances their immunogenicity, thereby increasing their chance for rejection.In one series, 129/SvJ-derived mouse ESCs (ES-D3 line) were transplanted by direct myocardial injection (1 x 10(6) cells) into murine hearts of both allogeneic (BALB/c, n=20) and syngeneic (129/SvJ, n=12) recipients after left anterior artery ligation. Hearts were procured at 1, 2, 4, and 8 weeks after ESC transplantation and analyzed by immunohistochemistry to assess immune cell infiltration (CD3, CD4, CD8, B220, CD11c, Mac-1, and Gr-1) and ESC differentiation (hematoxylin and eosin). In a second series (allogeneic n=5, sham n=3), ESC transplantation was performed similarly; however after 2 weeks, left anterior descending artery-ligated and ESC-injected hearts were heterotopically transplanted into naive BALB/c recipients. After an additional 2 weeks, donor hearts were procured and analyzed by immunohistochemistry. In the first series, the size of all ESC grafts remained stable and there was no evidence of ESC differentiation 2 weeks after transplantation; however, after 4 weeks, both allogeneic and syngeneic ESC grafts showed the presence of teratoma. By 8 weeks, surviving ESCs could be detected in the syngeneic but not in the allogeneic group. Mild inflammatory cellular infiltrates were found in allogeneic recipients at 1 and 2 weeks after transplantation, progressing into vigorous infiltration at 4 and 8 weeks. The second series demonstrated similar vigorous infiltration of immune cells as early as 2 weeks after heterotopic transplantation.In vivo differentiated ESCs elicit an accelerated immune response as compared with undifferentiated ESCs. These data imply that clinical transplantation of allogeneic ESCs or ESC derivatives for treatment of cardiac failure might require immunosuppressive therapy.

  View details for DOI 10.1161/CIRCULATIONAHA.104.525824

  View details for Web of Science ID 000231741600025

  View details for PubMedID 16159810

• alpha(v)beta(3) integrin in central nervous system tumors HUMAN PATHOLOGY Lim, M., Guccione, S., Haddix, T., Sims, L., Cheshier, S., Chu, P., Vogel, H., Harsh, G. 2005; 36 (6): 665-669

  Abstract

  alpha(v)beta(3) Is an integrin specifically expressed in endothelial cells of newly forming blood vessels. Integrin-mediated angiogenesis is hypothesized to play a central role in the development and the progression of central nervous system neoplasms. Accordingly, it is considered a potential target for antiangiogenic therapy. In the current study, we compare the expression of alpha(v)beta(3) in ependymomas, oligodendrogliomas, pilocytic astrocytomas, medulloblastomas, and vestibular schwannomas (acoustic neuromas). Samples of 5 tumors of each of the 5 tumor types were harvested surgically and frozen. After the pathological diagnosis was confirmed, immunohistochemistry was performed using an anti- alpha(v)beta(3) monoclonal antibody (LM609). The expression of alpha(v)beta(3) was assessed using a 4-tiered (0-3) grading scheme reflecting the percentage of positively staining vessels. All vestibular schwannomas demonstrated strong (grade 3) alpha(v)beta(3) expression. The expression was uniformly prominent in Antoni B regions of the tumors. Of 5 ependymomas, 4 demonstrated uniformly strong alpha(v)beta(3). Oligodendrogliomas, medulloblastomas, and pilocytic astrocytomas demonstrated more variable alpha(v)beta(3). alpha(v)beta(3) may contribute significantly to angiogenesis in vestibular schwannomas and ependymomas. Despite the high vascular density of oligodendrogliomas, pilocytic astrocytomas, and medulloblastomas, these tumors had variable moderate alpha(v)beta(3) expression. This discrepancy suggests temporal and/or regional variability in the angiogenesis in these types of tumor. This study provides the first demonstration of alpha(v)beta(3) expression in vestibular schwannomas, medulloblastomas, and pilocytic astrocytomas.

  View details for DOI 10.1016/j.humpath.2005.03.014

  View details for Web of Science ID 000230633500010

  View details for PubMedID 16021573

• Hematopoietic cells maintain hematopoietic fates upon entering the brain JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL MEDICINE Massengale, M., Wagers, A. J., Vogel, H., Weissman, I. L. 2005; 201 (10): 1579-1589

  Abstract

  Several studies have reported that bone marrow (BM) cells may give rise to neurons and astrocytes in vitro and in vivo. To further test this hypothesis, we analyzed for incorporation of neural cell types expressing donor markers in normal or injured brains of irradiated mice reconstituted with whole BM or single, purified c-kit(+)Thy1.1(lo)Lin(-)Sca-1(+) (KTLS) hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), and of unirradiated parabionts with surgically anastomosed vasculature. Each model showed low-level parenchymal engraftment of donor-marker(+) cells with 96-100% immunoreactivity for panhematopoietic (CD45) or microglial (Iba1 or Mac1) lineage markers in all cases studied. Other than one arborizing structure in the olfactory bulb of one BM-transplanted animal, possibly representing a neuronal or glial cell process, we found no donor-marker-expressing astrocytes or non-Purkinje neurons among >10,000 donor-marker(+) cells from 21 animals. These data strongly suggest that HSCs and their progeny maintain lineage fidelity in the brain and do not adopt neural cell fates with any measurable frequency.

  View details for DOI 10.1084/jem.20050030

  View details for Web of Science ID 000229476100006

  View details for PubMedID 15897275

• High-resolution genome-wide mapping of genetic alterations in human glial brain tumors CANCER RESEARCH Bredel, M., Bredel, C., Juric, D., Harsh, G. R., Vogel, H., Recht, L. D., Sikic, B. I. 2005; 65 (10): 4088-4096

  Abstract

  High-resolution genome-wide mapping of exact boundaries of chromosomal alterations should facilitate the localization and identification of genes involved in gliomagenesis and may characterize genetic subgroups of glial brain tumors. We have done such mapping using cDNA microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization technology to profile copy number alterations across 42,000 mapped human cDNA clones, in a series of 54 gliomas of varying histogenesis and tumor grade. This gene-by-gene approach permitted the precise sizing of critical amplicons and deletions and the detection of multiple new genetic aberrations. It has also revealed recurrent patterns of occurrence of distinct chromosomal aberrations as well as their interrelationships and showed that gliomas can be clustered into distinct genetic subgroups. A subset of detected alterations was shown predominantly associated with either astrocytic or oligodendrocytic tumor phenotype. Finally, five novel minimally deleted regions were identified in a subset of tumors, containing putative candidate tumor suppressor genes (TOPORS, FANCG, RAD51, TP53BP1, and BIK) that could have a role in gliomagenesis.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000229062000015

  View details for PubMedID 15899798

• NF90 regulates cell cycle exit and terminal myogenic differentiation by direct binding to the 3 '-untranslated region of MyoD and p21(WAF1/CIP1) mRNAs JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL CHEMISTRY Shi, L. F., Zhao, G. H., Qiu, D. M., Godfrey, W. R., Vogel, H., Rando, T. A., Hu, H., Kao, P. N. 2005; 280 (19): 18981-18989

  Abstract

  NF90 and splice variant NF110/ILF3/NFAR are double-stranded RNA-binding proteins that regulate gene expression. Mice with targeted disruption of NF90 were engineered. NF90(-/-) mice were born small and weak and succumbed to perinatal death within 12 h because of neuromuscular respiratory failure. Lung inflation and morphology were normal in NF90(-/-) mice. The diaphragm and other skeletal muscles in NF90(-/-) mice demonstrated disorganized arrangement and paucity of myofibers, evidence of myocyte degeneration and increased apoptosis. The expression of myogenic regulators, MyoD, myogenin, and p21WAF1/CIP1, was severely decreased in NF90(-/-) mice. These myogenic transcription factors and cell cycle inhibitors are regulated in part through post-transcriptional mRNA stabilization. Northwestern blotting revealed that NF90 is the principal and specific p21WAF1/CIP1 and MyoD 3'-untranslated region RNA-binding protein in developing skeletal muscles. NF90 regulates transcription factors and a cell cycle inhibitor essential for skeletal muscle differentiation and for survival.

  View details for DOI 10.1074/jbc.M411034200

  View details for Web of Science ID 000228932300052

  View details for PubMedID 15746098

• Myopathy with skeletal asymmetry and hemidiaphragm elevation is caused by myotubularin mutations NEUROLOGY Grogan, P. M., Tanner, S. M., Orstavik, K. H., Knudsen, G. P., Saperstein, D. S., Vogel, H., Barohn, R. J., Herbelin, L. L., McVey, A. L., Katz, J. S. 2005; 64 (9): 1638-1640

  Abstract

  The authors report two families with a myopathy phenotype affecting only women, marked by asymmetric weakness, skeletal asymmetry, and an elevated hemidiaphragm. One family had a mutation in a stop codon in exon 9 of the myotubularin gene, and the other had a splice site mutation in exon 13. Both families had manifesting and nonmanifesting carriers. Skewed X-inactivation appeared to explain the clinical manifestations in only one of the two families.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000228995600032

  View details for PubMedID 15883335

• Amplification of whole tumor genomes and geneby-gene mapping of genomic aberrations from limited sources of fresh-frozen and paraffin-embedded DNA JOURNAL OF MOLECULAR DIAGNOSTICS Bredel, M., Bredel, C., Juric, D., Kim, Y., Vogel, H., Harsh, G. R., Recht, L. D., Pollack, J. R., Sikic, B. I. 2005; 7 (2): 171-182

  Abstract

  Sufficient quantity of genomic DNA can be a bottleneck in genome-wide analysis of clinical tissue samples. DNA polymerase Phi29 can be used for the random-primed amplification of whole genomes, although the amplification may introduce bias in gene dosage. We have performed a detailed investigation of this technique in archival fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed/paraffin-embedded tumor DNA by using cDNA microarray-based comparative genomic hybridization. Phi29 amplified DNA from matched pairs of fresh-frozen and formalin-fixed/paraffin-embedded tumor samples with similar efficiency. The distortion in gene dosage representation in the amplified DNA was nonrandom and reproducibly involved distinct genomic loci. Regional amplification efficiency was significantly linked to regional GC content of the template genome. The biased gene representation in amplified tumor DNA could be effectively normalized by using amplified reference DNA. Our data suggest that genome-wide gene dosage alterations in clinical tumor samples can be reliably assessed from a few hundred tumor cells. Therefore, this amplification method should lend itself to high-throughput genetic analyses of limited sources of tumor, such as fine-needle biopsies, laser-microdissected tissue, and small paraffin-embedded specimens.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000228736900004

  View details for PubMedID 15858140

  View details for PubMedCentralID PMC1867518

• Overexpression of osteopontin (OPN) in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). 81st Annual Meeting of the American-Association-of-Neuropathologists Haddix, T. L., Recht, L. D., Myles, T., Leung, L. L., Vogel, H. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2005: 456–56

  View details for Web of Science ID 000228945800110

• Diagnostic immunohistology of muscle diseases JOURNAL OF NEUROPATHOLOGY AND EXPERIMENTAL NEUROLOGY Vogel, H., Zamecnik, J. 2005; 64 (3): 181-193

  Abstract

  The diagnostic muscle biopsy has seen the use of virtually every histologic technique in existence over the past 50 years. Since the 1960s, enzyme histochemistry has become the chief technique in evaluating muscle biopsies. However, the increasing knowledge of cellular constituents and associated connective tissue of the myofiber coupled with the increasing availability of a broad diversity of antibodies to these proteins promises to bring the diagnosis of muscle disease to the same state of dependency upon immunohistochemistry as in the contemporary pathologic diagnosis of neoplasia. Immunohistochemistry may be used for both the identification of normal antigenic constituents in skeletal muscle and their loss, accumulation, or maldistribution in corresponding myopathies, sometimes with small biopsies or lacking frozen tissue, in paraffin sections. Three broad categories of muscle diseases will be characterized in terms of diagnostic antibodies in current use: dystrophic, congenital/structural, and inflammatory myopathies.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000227747800002

  View details for PubMedID 15804049

• Capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons contribute to the maintenance of trabecular bone integrity JOURNAL OF BONE AND MINERAL RESEARCH Offley, S. C., Guo, T. Z., Wei, T. P., Clark, J. D., Vogel, H., Lindsey, D. P., Jacobs, C. R., Yao, W., Lane, N. E., Kingery, W. S. 2005; 20 (2): 257-267

  Abstract

  This investigation used capsaicin to selectively lesion unmyelinated sensory neurons in rats. Neuronal lesioning induced a loss of trabecular integrity, reduced bone mass and strength, and depleted neuropeptides in nerve and bone. These data suggest that capsaicin-sensitive sensory nerves contribute to trabecular bone integrity.Familial dysautomia is an autosomal recessive disease in which patients suffer from unmyelinated sensory neuron loss, reduced BMD, and frequent fractures. It has been proposed that the loss of neurotransmitters synthesized by unmyelinated neurons adversely affects bone integrity in this hereditary syndrome. The purpose of this study was to determine whether small sensory neurons are required for the maintenance of bone integrity in rats.Ten-month-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either capsaicin or vehicle. In vivo DXA scanning and micro CT scanning, and histomorphometry were used to evaluate BMD, structure, and cellular activity. Bone strength was measured in distal femoral sections. Body weight and gastrocnemius/soleus weights were measured and spontaneous locomotor activity was monitored. Peroneal nerve morphometry was evaluated using light and electron microscopy. Substance P and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) content in the sciatic nerve and proximal tibia were determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). Substance P signaling was measured using a sciatic nerve stimulation extravasation assay.Four weeks after capsaicin treatment, there was a loss of BMD in the metaphyses of the tibia and femur. In the proximal tibia, the osteoclast number and surface increased, osteoblast activity and bone formation were impaired, and trabecular bone volume and connectivity were diminished. There was also a loss of bone strength in the distal femur. No changes occurred in body weight, 24-h grid-crossing activity, weight bearing, or muscle mass after capsaicin treatment, indicating that skeletal unloading did not contribute to the loss of bone integrity. Capsaicin treatment destroyed 57% of the unmyelinated sensory axons, reduced the substance P and CGRP content in the sciatic nerve and proximal tibia, and inhibited neurogenic extravasation.These results support the hypothesis that capsaicin-sensitive sensory neurons contribute to the maintenance of trabecular bone integrity. Capsaicin-sensitive neurons have efferent functions in the tissues they innervate, effects mediated by transmitters released from the peripheral nerve terminals. We postulate that the deleterious effects of capsaicin treatment on trabecular bone are mediated by reductions in local neurotransmitter content and release.

  View details for DOI 10.1359/JBMR.041108

  View details for Web of Science ID 000226460800011

  View details for PubMedID 15647820

• Characterization of the integrin alpha v beta 3 in arteriovenous malformations and cavernous malformations CEREBROVASCULAR DISEASES Lim, M., Haddix, T., Harsh, G. R., Vogel, H., Steinberg, G. K., Guccione, S. 2005; 20 (1): 23-27

  Abstract

  Alpha V beta 3 (alphavbeta3) is an integrin specifically expressed on the endothelial cells of central nervous system (CNS) neoplasms. However, no data exist on the expression of alphavbeta3 in vascular malformations of the CNS. In this study, we investigate the expression of alphavbeta3 in arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) and cavernous malformations (CMs).Frozen samples of AVMs from 12 patients and CMs from 5 patients were obtained intraoperatively. Once the final pathology had been confirmed, immunohistochemistry was performed using an antibody to the integrin alphavbeta3. The alphavbeta3 expression pattern was graded according to the percentage of positively staining vessels.Ten of 12 AVMs demonstrated alphavbeta3 immunopositivity. Six of these 10 AVMs had moderate or strong staining. Most notably, 5 of the 6 moderate or strongly staining AVMs came from patients 22 years of age or younger. Four of these 6 AVMs had previously been embolized. None of the cavernous malformations demonstrated alphavbeta3 immunopositivity.alphavbeta3 may contribute to the formation of AVMs in younger patients. alphavbeta3 may also provide a potential therapeutic target. The lack of alphavbeta3 expression in cavernous malformations, despite their high vascular densities, suggests that the pathophysiology of their formation differs from that of AVMs.

  View details for DOI 10.1159/000086123

  View details for Web of Science ID 000230678700005

  View details for PubMedID 15925879

• Burden of proof in the postmortem diagnosis of mitochondrial disease: Leigh disease PEDIATRIC AND DEVELOPMENTAL PATHOLOGY Vogel, H. 2004; 7 (6): 615-619

  View details for DOI 10.1007/s10024-004-5054-1

  View details for Web of Science ID 000226031600008

  View details for PubMedID 15630530

• Immunogenicity of embryonic stem cells increases upon differentiation in ischemic myocardium 77th Scientific Meeting of the American-Heart-Association Swijnenburg, R. J., Tanaka, M., Baker, J., Vogel, H., Lebl, D. R., Caffarelli, A. D., Kofidis, T., Robbins, R. C. LIPPINCOTT WILLIAMS & WILKINS. 2004: 507–

  View details for Web of Science ID 000224783502699

• Clinical spectrum, morbidity, and mortality in 113 pediatric patients with mitochondrial disease PEDIATRICS Scaglia, F., Towbin, J. A., Craigen, W. J., Belmont, J. W., Smith, E. O., Neish, S. R., Ware, S. M., Hunter, J. V., Fernbach, S. D., Vladutiu, G. D., Wong, L. J., Vogel, H. 2004; 114 (4): 925-931

  Abstract

  The aim of this study was to elucidate the frequency of major clinical manifestations in children with mitochondrial disease and establish their clinical course, prognosis, and rates of survival depending on their clinical features.We performed a retrospective review of the medical records of 400 patients who were referred for evaluation of mitochondrial disease. By use of the modified Walker criteria, only patients who were assigned a definite diagnosis were included in the study.A total of 113 pediatric patients with mitochondrial disease were identified. A total of 102 (90%) patients underwent a muscle biopsy as part of the diagnostic workup. A significant respiratory chain (RC) defect, according to the diagnostic criteria, was found in 71% of the patients who were evaluated. In this cohort, complex I deficiency (32%) and combined complex I, III, and IV deficiencies (26%) were the most common causes of RC defects, followed by complex IV (19%), complex III (16%), and complex II deficiencies (7%). Pathogenic mitochondrial DNA abnormalities were found in 11.5% of the patients. A substantial fraction (40%) of patients with mitochondrial disorders exhibited cardiac disease, diagnosed by Doppler echocardiography; however, the majority (60%) of patients had predominant neuromuscular manifestations. No correlation between the type of RC defect and the clinical presentation was observed. Overall, the mean age at presentation was 40 months. However, the mean age at presentation was 33 months in the cardiac group and 44 months in the noncardiac group. Twenty-six (58%) patients in the cardiac group exhibited hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 29% had dilated cardiomyopathy, and the remainder (13%) had left ventricular noncompaction. Patients with cardiomyopathy had an 18% survival rate at 16 years of age. Patients with neuromuscular features but no cardiomyopathy had a 95% survival at the same age.This study gives strong support to the view that in patients with RC defects, cardiomyopathy is more common than previously thought and tends to follow a different and more severe clinical course. Although with a greater frequency than previously reported, mitochondrial DNA mutations were found in a minority of patients, emphasizing that most mitochondrial disorders of childhood follow a Mendelian pattern of inheritance.

  View details for DOI 10.1542/peds.2004-0718

  View details for Web of Science ID 000224242200024

  View details for PubMedID 15466086

• Primitive neuroectodermal tumors, embryonal tumors, and other small cell and poorly differentiated malignant neoplasms of the central and peripheral nervous systems. Annals of diagnostic pathology Vogel, H., Fuller, G. N. 2003; 7 (6): 387-398

  Abstract

  Many different types of small cell, embryonal, and poorly differentiated neoplasms originate within the central and peripheral nervous systems. Because appropriate treatment is based on a correct diagnosis, the surgical pathologist must be familiar both with basic characteristics of each of the numerous entities as well as the spectrum of morphologic features that each may display. The nosology and nomenclature of these tumors have a rich and varied history. One basic distinction is between primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the central nervous system (cPNETs) and primitive neuroectodermal tumors of the peripheral nervous system (pPNETs), which are clinicopathologically and genetically distinct. Among the cPNETs are medulloblastoma, pineoblastoma, cerebral neuroblastoma, ependymoblastoma, medulloepithelioma, primary rhabdomyosarcoma, and atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, whereas the pPNETs comprise the more differentiated end of a spectrum of neoplasms that include skeletal and extraskeletal Ewing's sarcoma.

  View details for PubMedID 15018124

• Novel homoplasmic mutation in the mitochondrial tRNA(Tyr) gene associated with atypical mitochondrial cytopathy presenting with focal segmental glomeruloselerosis AMERICAN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL GENETICS PART A Scaglia, F., Vogel, H., Hawkins, E. P., Vladutiu, G. D., Liu, L. L., Wong, L. J. 2003; 123A (2): 172-178

  Abstract

  We report a 9-year-old girl with a mitochondrial cytopathy preceded by steroid-resistant focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS). The proband presented at the age of 2 years with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome caused by FSGS. Her renal function progressively deteriorated and a dilated cardiomyopathy developed at the age of 7 years. A skeletal muscle biopsy showed a combined respiratory chain (RC) defect and a partial deficiency of coenzyme Q(10). A novel mutation in the evolutionary highly conserved region of the mitochondrial tRNA(Tyr) gene was found in homoplasmic state in skeletal muscle, blood, and renal tissue. The mutation was also found in homoplasmic state in her mildly symptomatic mother. No other maternal family members were available for testing. The present case of mitochondrial cytopathy initially presenting with steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome, unusual biochemical and renal findings associated with a novel tRNA point mutation suggests that steroid-resistant FSGS can predate other features of mitochondrial disease for a prolonged period of time and that the progressive glomerulopathy associated with combined mitochondrial RC defects is genetically heterogeneous.

  View details for DOI 10.1002/ajmg.a.20315

  View details for Web of Science ID 000186612500008

  View details for PubMedID 14598342

• COP9 signalosome subunit 3 (Csn3) is essential for maintenance of cell proliferation in the mouse embryonic epiblast. 53rd Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Human-Genetics Yan, J., Walz, K., Nakamura, H., Carattini-Rivera, S., Zhao, Q., Vogel, H., Wei, N., JUSTICE, M. J., Bradley, A., Lupski, J. R. CELL PRESS. 2003: 328–28

  View details for Web of Science ID 000185599700929

• Cooperativity of p19(ARF), Mdm2, and p53 in murine tumorigenesis ONCOGENE Moore, L., Venkatachalam, S., Vogel, H., Watt, J. C., Wu, C. L., Steinman, H., Jones, S. N., Donehower, L. A. 2003; 22 (49): 7831-7837

  Abstract

  The p19ARF gene product responds to oncogenic stresses by interfering with the inhibitory effects of Mdm2 on p53, thus enhancing p53 activity and its antiproliferative functions. The absence of p19ARF in the mouse leads to early tumor susceptibility, presumably in part due to decreased p53 activity. To examine the tumorigenic cooperativity of p19ARF, Mdm2, and p53 in vivo, p19ARF-deficient mice were crossed first to p53-deficient mice and then to Mdm2 transgenic mice. The progeny were monitored for tumors. Cooperativity between p19ARF and p53 deficiencies in accelerating tumor formation was observed for most genotypes except p53-/- p19ARF-/- mice. p53-/- p19ARF-/- mice had a tumor incidence similar to p53-/- mice. In this context, tumor suppression by ARF appears to be primarily p53 dependent. The majority of the p19ARF+/- tumors deleted the wildtype p19ARF allele, in agreement with the previous studies, suggesting that p19ARF is a classic 'two hit' tumor suppressor. In a p53+/- background, however, all p19ARF+/- tumors retained a wildtype ARF allele and most also retained wildtype p53. In the second cross between p19ARF-deficient and Mdm2 transgenic mice, cooperativity in tumor incidence between Mdm2 overexpression and ARF deficiency was observed, consistent with the role of p19ARF in negatively regulating Mdm2 activity. These experiments further demonstrate in vivo the inter-relationships of the p19ARF-Mdm2-p53 signaling axis in tumor suppression.

  View details for DOI 10.1038/sj.onc.1206985

  View details for Web of Science ID 000186240200013

  View details for PubMedID 14586409

• COP9 signalosome subunit 3 is essential for maintenance of cell proliferation in the mouse embryonic epiblast MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY Yan, J., Walz, K., Nakamura, H., Carattini-Rivera, S., Zhao, Q., Vogel, H., Wei, N., JUSTICE, M. J., Bradley, A., Lupski, J. R. 2003; 23 (19): 6798-6808

  Abstract

  Csn3 (Cops3) maps to the mouse chromosome 11 region syntenic to the common deletion interval for the Smith-Magenis syndrome, a contiguous gene deletion syndrome. It encodes the third subunit of an eight-subunit protein complex, the COP9 signalosome (CSN), which controls a wide variety of molecules of different functions. Mutants of this complex caused lethality at early development of both plants and Drosophila melanogaster. CSN function in vivo in mammals is unknown. We disrupted the murine Csn3 gene in three independent ways with insertional vectors, including constructing a approximately 3-Mb inversion chromosome. The heterozygous mice appeared normal, although the protein level was reduced. Csn3(-/-) embryos arrested after 5.5 days postcoitum (dpc) and resorbed by 8.5 dpc. Mutant embryos form an abnormal egg cylinder which does not gastrulate. They have reduced numbers of epiblast cells, mainly due to increased cell death. In the Csn3(-/-) mice, subunit 8 of the COP9 complex was not detected by immunohistochemical techniques, suggesting that the absence of Csn3 may disrupt the entire COP9 complex. Therefore, Csn3 is important for maintaining the integrity of the COP9 signalosome and is crucial to maintain the survival of epiblast cells and thus the development of the postimplantation embryo in mice.

  View details for DOI 10.1128/MCB.23.19.6798-6808.2003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000185525700009

  View details for PubMedID 12972600

• Modeling del(17)(p11.2p11.2) and dup(17)(p11.2p11.2) contiguous gene syndromes by chromosome engineering in mice: Phenotypic consequences of gene dosage imbalance MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR BIOLOGY Walz, K., Caratini-Rivera, S., Bi, W. M., Fonseca, P., Mansouri, D. L., Lynch, J., Vogel, H., Noebels, J. L., Bradley, A., Lupski, J. R. 2003; 23 (10): 3646-3655

  Abstract

  Contiguous gene syndromes (CGS) are a group of disorders associated with chromosomal rearrangements of which the phenotype is thought to result from altered copy numbers of physically linked dosage-sensitive genes. Smith-Magenis syndrome (SMS) is a CGS associated with a deletion within band p11.2 of chromosome 17. Recently, patients harboring the predicted reciprocal duplication product [dup(17)(p11.2p11.2)] have been described as having a relatively mild phenotype. By chromosomal engineering, we created rearranged chromosomes carrying the deletion [Df(11)17] or duplication [Dp(11)17] of the syntenic region on mouse chromosome 11 that spans the genomic interval commonly deleted in SMS patients. Df(11)17/+ mice exhibit craniofacial abnormalities, seizures, marked obesity, and male-specific reduced fertility. Dp(11)17/+ animals are underweight and do not have seizures, craniofacial abnormalities, or reduced fertility. Examination of Df(11)17/Dp(11)17 animals suggests that most of the observed phenotypes result from gene dosage effects. Our murine models represent a powerful tool to analyze the consequences of gene dosage imbalance in this genomic interval and to investigate the molecular genetic bases of both SMS and dup(17)(p11.2p11.2).

  View details for DOI 10.1128/MCB.23.10.3646-3655.2003

  View details for Web of Science ID 000182696100025

  View details for PubMedID 12724422

• Phenotypic consequences of gene dosage imbalance in chromosome engineered mouse models for del(17)p11.2 (Smith-Magenis syndrome) and it's reciprocal duplication. 52nd Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Human-Genetics Walz, K., Carattini-Rivera, S., Bi, W., Mansouri, D., Vogel, H., Paylor, R., Lynch, J. K., Noebels, J. L., Bradley, A., Lupski, J. L. CELL PRESS. 2002: 195–95

  View details for Web of Science ID 000178025800162

• Mitochondrial DNA depletion associated with partial complex II and IV deficiencies and 3-methylglutaconic aciduria 49th Annual Meeting of the American-Society-of-Human-Genetics Scaglia, F., Sutton, V. R., Bodamer, O. A., Vogel, H., Shapira, S. K., Naviaux, R. K., Vladutiu, G. D. SAGE PUBLICATIONS INC. 2001: 136–38

  Abstract

  We report a patient with mitochondrial DNA depletion, partial complex II and IV deficiencies, and 3-methylglutaconic aciduria. Complex II deficiency has not been previously observed in mitochondrial DNA depletion syndromes. The observation of 3-methylglutaconic and 3-methylglutaric acidurias may be a useful indicator of a defect in respiratory chain function caused by mitochondrial DNA depletion.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000171025300014

  View details for PubMedID 11292221

• p63 is a p53 homologue required for limb and epidermal morphogenesis NATURE Mills, A. A., Zheng, B. H., Wang, X. J., Vogel, H., Roop, D. R., Bradley, A. 1999; 398 (6729): 708-713

  Abstract

  The p53 tumour suppressor is a transcription factor that regulates the progression of the cell through its cycle and cell death (apoptosis) in response to environmental stimuli such as DNA damage and hypoxia. Even though p53 modulates these critical cellular processes, mice that lack p53 are developmentally normal, suggesting that p53-related proteins might compensate for the functions of p53 during embryogenesis. Two p53 homologues, p63 and p73, are known and here we describe the function of p63 in vivo. Mice lacking p63 are born alive but have striking developmental defects. Their limbs are absent or truncated, defects that are caused by a failure of the apical ectodermal ridge to differentiate. The skin of p63-deficient mice does not progress past an early developmental stage: it lacks stratification and does not express differentiation markers. Structures dependent upon epidermal-mesenchymal interactions during embryonic development, such as hair follicles, teeth and mammary glands, are absent in p63-deficient mice. Thus, in contrast to p53, p63 is essential for several aspects of ectodermal differentiation during embryogenesis.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000079920100051

  View details for PubMedID 10227293

• Embryonic lethality and tumorigenesis caused by segmental aneuploidy on mouse chromosome 11 GENETICS Liu, P. T., Zhang, H. J., Mclellan, A., Vogel, H., Bradley, A. 1998; 150 (3): 1155-1168

  Abstract

  Chromosome engineering in mice enables the construction of models of human chromosomal diseases and provides key reagents for genetic studies. To begin to define functional information for a small portion of chromosome 11, deficiencies, duplications, and inversions were constructed in embryonic stem cells with sizes ranging from 1 Mb to 22 cM. Two deficiencies and three duplications were established in the mouse germline. Mice with a 1-Mb duplication developed corneal hyperplasia and thymic tumors, while two different 3- to 4-cM deficiencies were embryonically lethal in heterozygous mice. A duplication corresponding to one of these two deficiencies was able to rescue its haplolethality.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000076807800018

  View details for PubMedID 9799267

• Retention of wild-type p53 in tumors from p53 heterozygous mice: reduction of p53 dosage can promote cancer formation EMBO JOURNAL Venkatachalam, S., Shi, Y. P., Jones, S. N., Vogel, H., Bradley, A., Pinkel, D., Donehower, L. A. 1998; 17 (16): 4657-4667

  Abstract

  Tumor suppressor genes are generally viewed as being recessive at the cellular level, so that mutation or loss of both tumor suppressor alleles is a prerequisite for tumor formation. The tumor suppressor gene, p53, is mutated in approximately 50% of human sporadic cancers and in an inherited cancer predisposition (Li-Fraumeni syndrome). We have analyzed the status of the wild-type p53 allele in tumors taken from p53-deficient heterozygous (p53+/-) mice. These mice inherit a single null p53 allele and develop tumors much earlier than those mice with two functional copies of wild-type p53. We present evidence that a high proportion of the tumors from the p53+/- mice retain an intact, functional, wild-type p53 allele. Unlike p53+/- tumors which lose their wild-type allele, the tumors which retain an intact p53 allele express p53 protein that induces apoptosis following gamma-irradiation, activates p21(WAF1/CIP1) and Mdm2 expression, represses PCNA expression (a negatively regulated target of wild-type p53), shows high levels of binding to oligonucleotides containing a wild-type p53 response element and prevents chromosomal instability as measured by comparative genomic hybridization. These results indicate that loss of both p53 alleles is not a prerequisite for tumor formation and that mere reduction in p53 levels may be sufficient to promote tumorigenesis.

  View details for Web of Science ID 000075613200011

  View details for PubMedID 9707425

• EFFECTS OF GENETIC BACKGROUND ON TUMORIGENESIS IN P53-DEFICIENT MICE 8th International Conference on Carcinogenesis and Risk Assessment: Genetics and Susceptibility - Impact on Risk Assessment Donehower, L. A., Harvey, M., Vogel, H., McArthur, M. J., Montgomery, C. A., Park, S. H., Thompson, T., Ford, R. J., Bradley, A. WILEY-LISS. 1995: 16–22

  Abstract

  Mice with disrupted germline p53 alleles have been engineered by us and others and have been shown to have enhanced susceptibility to spontaneous tumors of various types. We monitored a large number of p53-deficient mice (p53+/- and p53-/-) and their wild-type littermates (p53+/+) of two different genetic backgrounds (129/Sv and mixed C57BL/6 x 129/Sv) up to 2 yr of age. p53+/- and p53-/- 129/Sv mice show accelerated tumorigenesis rates compared with their p53-deficient counterparts of mixed C57BL/6 x 129/Sv genetic background. The tumor spectra of the two strains of mice are similar except that almost half of 129/Sv p53-/- males develop malignant teratomas, whereas these tumors are rarely observed in C57BL/6 x 129/Sv mice and never in 129/Sv p53+/- males. In the study reported here, we further characterized the lymphomas that arose in the p53-nullizygous mice and found that over three-quarters of the lymphomas were of thymic origin and contained primarily immature (CD4+/CD8+) T-cells, whereas the remainder originated in the spleen and peripheral lymph nodes and were of B-cell type. The high incidence of early-onset lymphomas in the nullizygous mice makes these animals a good lymphoma model, whereas the heterozygous mice may be a useful model for Li-Fraumeni syndrome, a human inherited cancer predisposition.

  View details for Web of Science ID A1995RW55100004

  View details for PubMedID 7546219