Sotos syndrome is associated with deregulation of the MAPK/ERK-signaling pathway

PLoS One. 2012;7(11):e49229. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0049229. Epub 2012 Nov 14.

Abstract

Sotos syndrome (SoS) is characterized by tall stature, characteristic craniofacial features and mental retardation. It is caused by haploinsufficiency of the NSD1 gene. In this study, our objective was to identify downstream effectors of NSD1 and to map these effectors in signaling pathways associated with growth. Genome-wide expression studies were performed on dermal fibroblasts from SoS patients with a confirmed NSD1 abnormality. To substantiate those results, phosphorylation, siRNA and transfection experiments were performed. A significant association was demonstrated with the Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase (MAPK) pathway. Members of the fibroblast growth factor family such as FGF4 and FGF13 contributed strongly to the differential expression in this pathway. In addition, a diminished activity state of the MAPK/ERK pathway was demonstrated in SoS. The Ras Interacting Protein 1 (RASIP1) was identified to exhibit upregulated expression in SoS. It was shown that RASIP1 dose-dependently potentiated bFGF induced expression of the MAPK responsive SBE reporter providing further support for a link between NSD1 and the MAPK/ERK signaling pathway. Additionally, we demonstrated NSD1 expression in the terminally differentiated hypertrophic chondrocytes of normal human epiphyseal growth plates. In short stature syndromes such as hypochondroplasia and Noonan syndrome, the activation level of the FGF-MAPK/ERK-pathway in epiphyseal growth plates is a determining factor for statural growth. In analogy, we propose that deregulation of the MAPK/ERK pathway in SoS results in altered hypertrophic differentiation of NSD1 expressing chondrocytes and may be a determining factor in statural overgrowth and accelerated skeletal maturation in SoS.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Cell Line
  • Dose-Response Relationship, Drug
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / genetics
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / metabolism
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 4 / genetics
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 4 / metabolism
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / genetics
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors / metabolism
  • Fibroblasts / metabolism*
  • Humans
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / genetics
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / metabolism
  • MAP Kinase Signaling System / physiology*
  • Phosphorylation
  • Skin / metabolism
  • Sotos Syndrome / genetics*
  • Sotos Syndrome / metabolism
  • Up-Regulation

Substances

  • FGF4 protein, human
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 4
  • Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins
  • RASIP1 protein, human
  • Fibroblast Growth Factor 2
  • fibroblast growth factor 13
  • Fibroblast Growth Factors

Grants and funding

This work was supported by Stichting Nationaal Fonds “het Gehandicapte Kind” and The Netherlands Organisation for Health Research and Development (920-03-325 to R.V.). The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.