Journal of Shanghai Jiao Tong University (Medical Science) ›› 2024, Vol. 44 ›› Issue (6): 676-686.doi: 10.3969/j.issn.1674-8115.2024.06.002

• Oral and Cranio-maxillofacial Science • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Generation and validation of the conditional osteoblast-specific retinoic acid signaling inhibition mouse model

SUN Siyuan1,2(), LIU Yuanqi1,2(), CUI Yiwen1,2, HUANG Zihan1,2, MEI Li2,3, DAI Qinggang4, JIANG Lingyong1,2()   

  1. 1.Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology; Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, China
    2.Shanghai -New Zealand Joint Laboratory of Dentistry, Centre for Clinical and Fundamental Craniofacial Research, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200011, China
    3.Department of Oral Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
    4.Department of 2nd Dental Centre, Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine; College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University; National Center for Stomatology; National Clinical Research Center for Oral Diseases; Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology; Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai 200011, China
  • Received:2024-02-01 Accepted:2024-03-21 Online:2024-06-28 Published:2024-06-28
  • Contact: JIANG Lingyong E-mail:ssy1412832053@163.com;liuyuanqi@sjtu.edu.cn;jianglingyong@sjtu.edu.cn
  • Supported by:
    “Two-Hundred Talents” Program of Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(20221809);Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities(YG2023ZD14);National Natural Science Foundation of China(82071083);Natural Science Foundation of Shanghai(21ZR1436900);Hainan Provincial Natural Science Foundation(824MS152);Shanghai Science and Technology Innovation Action Plan-International Science and Technology Cooperation Program(23410713600);Cross-Disciplinary Research Fund of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(JYJC202116);Biomaterials and Regenerative Medicine Institute Cooperative Research Project, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(2022LHB02);Original Exploration Project of Shanghai Ninth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine(JYYC003)

Abstract:

Objective ·To construct and verify the mouse model that can mimic the vitamin A deficiency (VAD)-like craniofacial skeletal deformity and do not cause embryonic death. Methods ·Based on the Cre-LoxP system, the OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice expressing osteoblast-specific dominant-negative retinoid acid receptor α (dnRARα) mutation were obtained by hybridization through OsxCre and Rosa26dnRARα/dnRARα mice, to achieve the conditional inhibition of retinoic acid signaling to simulate VAD disease. Femur bone mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) and parietal bone cells of OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice and their control littermates were isolated and underwent osteogenic induction, to assess the expression of retinoid acid receptor α (RARα) protein through Western blotting. Osteoblasts induced from parietal bone cells of OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice and their control littermates were isolated and the effect of retinoic acid signaling inhibition was verified through dual luciferase gene reporter assay. Meanwhile, Ad-eGFP or Ad-Cre adenovirus-infected femur BMSCs and parietal bone cells of Rosa26dn/dn mice underwent osteogenic induction to assess the expression of dominant-negative mutant protein and the inhibition of the retinoic acid signaling pathway in vitro by Western blotting and dual luciferase gene reporter assay. Moreover, the skulls of 6-week-old OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice were collected, and Micro-CT scanning and three-dimensional (3D) reconstruction were performed to verify the craniofacial skeletal deformities of the mouse model. Results ·Western blotting results demonstrated that the level of RARα protein increased in the femur and parietal osteoblasts of OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice compared to that of their control littermates, and also increased in the Ad-Cre-infected femur and parietal osteoblasts of Rosa26dn/dn mice compared to that in the Ad-eGFP-infected group (P<0.05). Dual luciferase gene reporter assay results indicated that the activity of retinoid acid response element (RARE) was inhibited in the osteoblasts of OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice compared to their control littermates, and was also inhibited in the Ad-Cre-infected group compared to the Ad-eGFP-infected group (P<0.05). Micro-CT and 3D reconstruction suggested that the skull of 6-week-old OsxCre;Rosa26dn/dn mice exhibited VAD-like craniofacial skeletal deformities, including smaller size of the skull and osteogenesis imperfecta compared to their control littermates. Conclusion ·An osteoblast-specific dnRARα expressing mouse model that can mimic VAD-like craniofacial skeletal deformity is successfully constructed, therefore providing a new model for exploring the pathogenesis and therapeutic targets of VAD-like craniofacial skeletal deformity in the future.

Key words: vitamin A deficiency (VAD), craniofacial skeletal deformity, osteoblast, conditional dominant-negative mutant expressing mice, retinoic acid receptor (RAR)

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