Padmanabhan Nair, V. ; Liu, H.* ; Ciceri, G.* ; Jungverdorben, J.* ; Frishman, G. ; Tchieu, J.* ; Cederquist, G.Y.* ; Rothenaigner, I. ; Schorpp, K.K. ; Klepper, L. ; Walsh, R.M.* ; Kim, T.W.* ; Cornacchia, D.* ; Ruepp, A. ; Mayer, J.* ; Hadian, K. ; Frishman, D.* ; Studer, L.* ; Vincendeau, M.
Activation of HERV-K(HML-2) disrupts cortical patterning and neuronal differentiation by increasing NTRK3.
Cell Stem Cell 28, 1566-1581.e8 (2021)
The biological function and disease association of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are largely elusive. HERV-K(HML-2) has been associated with neurotoxicity, but there is no clear understanding of its role or mechanistic basis. We addressed the physiological functions of HERV-K(HML-2) in neuronal differentiation using CRISPR engineering to activate or repress its expression levels in a human-pluripotent-stem-cell-based system. We found that elevated HERV-K(HML-2) transcription is detrimental for the development and function of cortical neurons. These effects are cell-type-specific, as dopaminergic neurons are unaffected. Moreover, high HERV-K(HML-2) transcription alters cortical layer formation in forebrain organoids. HERV-K(HML-2) transcriptional activation leads to hyperactivation of NTRK3 expression and other neurodegeneration-related genes. Direct activation of NTRK3 phenotypically resembles HERV-K(HML-2) induction, and reducing NTRK3 levels in context of HERV-K(HML-2) induction restores cortical neuron differentiation. Hence, these findings unravel a cell-type-specific role for HERV-K(HML-2) in cortical neuron development.
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Publication type
Article: Journal article
Document type
Scientific Article
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Keywords
Crispr ; Herv ; Ntrk3 ; Neurotrophic Tyrosine Receptor Kinase 3 ; Endogenous Retrovirus ; Forebrain Orgnoid ; Influencing Cortical Neuronal Development ; Retrotransposon; Human Endogenous Retroviruses; Herv-k; Transcriptional Activity; Comprehensive Analysis; Transposable Elements; Dopamine Neurons; Gene-expression; Human Genome; Human Es; Cells
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Language
english
Publication Year
2021
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2021
ISSN (print) / ISBN
1934-5909
e-ISSN
1875-9777
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Volume: 28,
Issue: 9,
Pages: 1566-1581.e8
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Cell Press
Publishing Place
Cambridge, Mass.
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Peer reviewed
POF-Topic(s)
30203 - Molecular Targets and Therapies
30201 - Metabolic Health
Research field(s)
Immune Response and Infection
Genetics and Epidemiology
Enabling and Novel Technologies
PSP Element(s)
G-502700-009
G-500600-007
G-505293-001
Grants
New York State Stem Cell Science (NYSTEM, USA) postdoctoral fellowship
EMBO long-term postdoctoral fellowship from the European Molecular Biology Organization
National Institute of Health (NIH, USA)
Deutsche Forschungs Gemeinschaft (DFG, Germany)
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Erfassungsdatum
2021-05-25