Overgrowth of a mouse model of Simpson-Golabi-Behmel syndrome is partly mediated by Indian hedgehog

EMBO Rep. 2009 Aug;10(8):901-7. doi: 10.1038/embor.2009.98. Epub 2009 Jul 10.

Abstract

Loss-of-function mutations of Glypican 3 (Gpc3) cause the Simpson-Golabi-Behmel overgrowth syndrome (SGBS), and developmental overgrowth is observed in Gpc3-null mice, a mouse model for SGBS. We recently reported that GPC3 inhibits Hedgehog (Hh) signalling by inducing its endocytosis and degradation. Here, we show that the developmental overgrowth observed in Gpc3-null mice is, at least in part, a consequence of the hyperactivation of the Hh pathway. We bred Gpc3-null mice with mice that are Hh signalling-deficient owing to the lack of Indian Hh (Ihh), one of the three mammalian Hhs. We found that the Gpc3-null mice showed a 29.9% overgrowth in an Ihh wild-type background, whereas an Ihh-null background partly rescues the overgrowth caused by the lack of Gpc3 as the double mutants were 19.8% bigger than the Ihh-null mice. Consistent with the role of GPC3 in Hh endocytosis and degradation, the Gpc3-null mice show increased levels of Ihh protein and signalling, but similar levels of Ihh messenger RNA.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Abnormalities, Multiple / genetics*
  • Abnormalities, Multiple / pathology
  • Animals
  • Blotting, Western
  • Cell Line
  • Disease Models, Animal
  • Female
  • Glypicans / genetics
  • Glypicans / physiology
  • Hedgehog Proteins / genetics
  • Hedgehog Proteins / physiology*
  • Humans
  • Immunohistochemistry
  • Male
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Mice, Mutant Strains
  • RNA Interference
  • Reverse Transcriptase Polymerase Chain Reaction
  • Surface Plasmon Resonance

Substances

  • Glypicans
  • Hedgehog Proteins
  • ihh protein, mouse