DCDC2 mutations cause a renal-hepatic ciliopathy by disrupting Wnt signaling

Markus Schueler, Daniela A Braun, Gayathri Chandrasekar, Heon Yung Gee, Timothy D. Klasson, Jan Halbritter, Andrea Bieder, Jonathan D Porath, Rannar Airik, Weibin Zhou, Joseph J LoTurco, Alicia Che, Edgar A Otto, Detlef Böckenhauer, Neil J Sebire, Tomas Honzik, Peter C Harris, Sarah J Koon, Meral Gunay-Aygun, Sophie SaunierKlaus Zerres, Nadina Ortiz Bruechle, Joost P H Drenth, Laurence Pelletier, Isabel Tapia-Páez, Richard P Lifton, R Giles, Juha Kere, Friedhelm Hildebrandt

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Abstract

Nephronophthisis-related ciliopathies (NPHP-RC) are recessive diseases characterized by renal dysplasia or degeneration. We here identify mutations of DCDC2 as causing a renal-hepatic ciliopathy. DCDC2 localizes to the ciliary axoneme and to mitotic spindle fibers in a cell-cycle-dependent manner. Knockdown of Dcdc2 in IMCD3 cells disrupts ciliogenesis, which is rescued by wild-type (WT) human DCDC2, but not by constructs that reflect human mutations. We show that DCDC2 interacts with DVL and DCDC2 overexpression inhibits β-catenin-dependent Wnt signaling in an effect additive to Wnt inhibitors. Mutations detected in human NPHP-RC lack these effects. A Wnt inhibitor likewise restores ciliogenesis in 3D IMCD3 cultures, emphasizing the importance of Wnt signaling for renal tubulogenesis. Knockdown of dcdc2 in zebrafish recapitulates NPHP-RC phenotypes, including renal cysts and hydrocephalus, which is rescued by a Wnt inhibitor and by WT, but not by mutant, DCDC2. We thus demonstrate a central role of Wnt signaling in the pathogenesis of NPHP-RC, suggesting an avenue for potential treatment of NPHP-RC.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)81-92
Number of pages12
JournalAmerican Journal of Human Genetics
Volume96
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 8 Jan 2015

Keywords

  • Adaptor Proteins, Signal Transducing
  • Animals
  • Cilia
  • Computational Biology
  • Exons
  • HEK293 Cells
  • Humans
  • Kidney
  • Kidney Diseases, Cystic
  • Mice
  • Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
  • Microtubule-Associated Proteins
  • Mutation
  • NIH 3T3 Cells
  • Phenotype
  • Phosphoproteins
  • Wnt Signaling Pathway
  • Zebrafish
  • beta Catenin

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