Faculty Bibliography

Noonan syndrome (NS), a genetic disease caused in half of cases by activating mutations of the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2 (PTPN11), is characterized by congenital cardiopathies, facial dysmorphic features, and short stature. How mutated SHP2 induces growth retardation remains poorly understood. We report here that early postnatal growth delay is associated with low levels of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) in a mouse model of NS expressing the D61G mutant of SHP2. Conversely, inhibition of SHP2 expression in growth hormone (GH)-responsive cell lines results in increased IGF-1 release upon GH stimulation. SHP2-deficient cells display decreased ERK1/2 phosphorylation and rat sarcoma (RAS) activation in response to GH, whereas expression of NS-associated SHP2 mutants results in ERK1/2 hyperactivation in vitro and in vivo. RAS/ERK1/2 inhibition in SHP2-deficient cells correlates with impaired dephosphorylation of the adaptor Grb2-associated binder-1 (GAB1) on its RAS GTPase-activating protein (RASGAP) binding sites and is rescued by interfering with RASGAP recruitment or function. We demonstrate that inhibition of ERK1/2 activation results in an increase of IGF-1 levels in vitro and in vivo, which is associated with significant growth improvement in NS mice. In conclusion, NS-causing SHP2 mutants inhibit GH-induced IGF-1 release through RAS/ERK1/2 hyperactivation, a mechanism that could contribute to growth retardation. This finding suggests that, in addition to its previously shown beneficial effect on NS-linked cardiac and craniofacial defects, RAS/ERK1/2 modulation could also alleviate the short stature phenotype in NS caused by PTPN11 mutations.

Brain immunoglobulin-like molecule with tyrosine-based activation motifs/SHP substrate 1 (BIT/SHPS-1) is a neuronal adhesion molecule that is highly expressed in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs); however its function in CGNs remains unclear. Our previous studies indicated that BIT/SHPS-1 is able to modulate the antiapoptotic effect of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) on CNS neurons by cell type-specific mechanisms. In this article, we have studied the role of BIT/SHPS-1 in the antiapoptotic function of BDNF on low potassium (LK)-induced cell death of cultured CGNs which is an in vitro model system of neuronal apoptosis during brain development. Cultured rat CGNs were transduced with wild-type rat BIT/SHPS-1 (BIT/SHPS-1(WT)), its 4F-mutant (BIT/SHPS-1(4F), in which all cytoplasmic tyrosine residues were substituted with phenylalanine), or nuclear localization signal-attached beta-galactosidase (NLS-LacZ, as control)-expressing adenoviruses. Expression of BIT/SHPS-1(WT) and BIT/SHPS-1(4F) alone did not affect steady-state cell viability. Tyrosine phosphorylation of BIT/SHPS-1 was only detected in BIT/SHPS-1(WT)-expressing cultures in the presence and the absence of BDNF. When subjected to LK in the presence of BDNF, BIT/SHPS-1(WT)- and BIT/SHPS-1(4F)-expressing cultures showed a significant resistance to cell death, while the control virus-transfected culture did not. In addition, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3-K) inhibitor, LY294002, attenuated the antiapoptotic effect of BDNF on BIT/SHPS-1(WT)-, and BIT/SHPS-1(4F)-expressing cultures. These results demonstrated that in both tyrosine phosphorylation-independent and PI3-K-dependent manners, BIT/SHPS-1 promotes the antiapoptotic effect of BDNF on the LK-induced cell death of CGNs.

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is a leading cause of sudden death in children and young adults. Abnormalities in several signaling pathways are implicated in the pathogenesis of HCM, but the role of the RAS-RAF-MEK-ERK MAPK pathway has been controversial. Noonan syndrome (NS) is one of several autosomal-dominant conditions known as RASopathies, which are caused by mutations in different components of this pathway. Germline mutations in RAF1 (which encodes the serine-threonine kinase RAF1) account for approximately 3%-5% of cases of NS. Unlike other NS alleles, RAF1 mutations that confer increased kinase activity are highly associated with HCM. To explore the pathogenesis of such mutations, we generated knockin mice expressing the NS-associated Raf1(L613V) mutation. Like NS patients, mice heterozygous for this mutation (referred to herein as L613V/+ mice) had short stature, craniofacial dysmorphia, and hematologic abnormalities. Valvuloseptal development was normal, but L613V/+ mice exhibited eccentric cardiac hypertrophy and aberrant cardiac fetal gene expression, and decompensated following pressure overload. Agonist-evoked MEK-ERK activation was enhanced in multiple cell types, and postnatal MEK inhibition normalized the growth, facial, and cardiac defects in L613V/+ mice. These data show that different NS genes have intrinsically distinct pathological effects, demonstrate that enhanced MEK-ERK activity is critical for causing HCM and other RAF1-mutant NS phenotypes, and suggest a mutation-specific approach to the treatment of RASopathies.

Germline and somatic gain-of-function mutations in tyrosine phosphatase PTPN11 (SHP-2) are associated with juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML), a myeloproliferative disease (MPD) of early childhood. The mechanism by which PTPN11 mutations induce this disease is not fully understood. Signaling partners that mediate the pathogenic effects of PTPN11 mutations have not been explored. Here we report that germ line mutation Ptpn11(D61G) in mice aberrantly accelerates hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) cycling, increases the stem cell pool, and elevates short-term and long-term repopulating capabilities, leading to the development of MPD. MPD is reproduced in primary and secondary recipient mice transplanted with Ptpn11(D61G/+) whole bone marrow cells or purified Lineage(-)Sca-1(+)c-Kit(+) cells, but not lineage committed progenitors. The deleterious effects of Ptpn11(D61G) mutation on HSCs are attributable to enhancing cytokine/growth factor signaling. The aberrant HSC activities caused by Ptpn11(D61G) mutation are largely corrected by deletion of Gab2, a prominent interacting protein and target of Shp-2 in cell signaling. As a result, MPD phenotypes are markedly ameliorated in Ptpn11(D61G/+)/Gab2(-/-) double mutant mice. Collectively, our data suggest that oncogenic Ptpn11 induces MPD by aberrant activation of HSCs. This study also identifies Gab2 as an important mediator for the pathogenic effects of Ptpn11 mutations.

Noonan syndrome (NS) is an autosomal dominant disorder, and a main feature is congenital heart malformation. About 50% of cases are caused by gain-of-function mutations in the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2/PTPN11, a downstream regulator of ERK/MAPK. Recently it was reported that SHP2 also localizes to the mitochondrial intercristae/intermembrane space (IMS), but the role of SHP2 in mitochondria is unclear. The mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OxPhos) system provides the vast majority of cellular energy and produces reactive oxygen species (ROS). Changes in ROS may interfere with organ development such as that observed in NS patients. Several phosphorylation sites have been found in OxPhos components including cytochrome c oxidase (CcO) and cytochrome c (Cytc), and we hypothesized that OxPhos complexes may be direct or indirect targets of SHP2. We analyzed mitochondrial function using mouse fibroblasts from wild-types, SHP2 knockdowns, and D61G SHP2 mutants leading to constitutively active SHP2, as found in NS patients. Levels of OxPhos complexes were similar except for CcO and Cytc, which were 37% and 28% reduced in the D61G cells. However, CcO activity was significantly increased, as we also found for two lymphoblast cell lines from NS patients with two independent mutations in PTPN11. D61G cells showed lower mitochondrial membrane potential and 30% lower ATP content compared to controls. ROS were significantly increased; aconitase activity, a marker for ROS-induced damage, was decreased; and catalase activity was increased in D61G cells. We propose that decreased energy levels and/or increased ROS may explain, at least in part, some of the clinical features in NS that overlap with children with mitochondrial disorders.

Noonan syndrome (NS), the most common single-gene cause of congenital heart disease, is an autosomal dominant disorder that also features proportionate short stature, facial abnormalities, and an increased risk of myeloproliferative disease. Germline-activating mutations in PTPN11, which encodes the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP2, cause about half of NS cases; other causative alleles include KRAS, SOS1, and RAF1 mutants. We showed previously that knock-in mice bearing the NS mutant Ptpn11(D61G) on a mixed 129S4/SvJae X C57BL6/J background exhibit all major NS features, including a variety of cardiac defects, with variable penetrance. However, the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying NS cardiac defects and whether genetic background and/or the specific NS mutation contribute to the NS phenotype remained unclear. Here, using an inducible knock-in approach, we show that all cardiac defects in NS result from mutant Shp2 expression in the endocardium, not in the myocardium or neural crest. Furthermore, the penetrance of NS defects is affected by genetic background and the specific Ptpn11 allele. Finally, ex vivo assays and pharmacological approaches show that NS mutants cause cardiac valve defects by increasing Erk MAPK activation, probably downstream of ErbB family receptor tyrosine kinases, extending the interval during which cardiac endocardial cells undergo endocardial-mesenchymal transformation. Our data provide a mechanistic underpinning for the cardiac defects in this disorder.

Within the developing mammalian CNS, growth factors direct multipotent precursors to generate neurons versus glia, a process that if perturbed might lead to neural dysfunction. In this regard, genetic mutations resulting in constitutive activation of the protein tyrosine phosphatase SHP-2 cause Noonan Syndrome (NS), which is associated with learning disabilities and mental retardation. Here, we demonstrate that genetic knockdown of SHP-2 in cultured cortical precursors or in the embryonic cortex inhibited basal neurogenesis and caused enhanced and precocious astrocyte formation. Conversely, expression of an NS SHP-2 mutant promoted neurogenesis and inhibited astrogenesis. Neural cell-fate decisions were similarly perturbed in a mouse knockin model that phenocopies human NS. Thus, SHP-2 instructs precursors to make neurons and not astrocytes during the neurogenic period, and perturbations in the relative ratios of these two cell types upon constitutive SHP-2 activation may contribute to the cognitive impairments in NS patients.

Noonan syndrome, the most common single-gene cause of congenital heart disease, is characterized by short stature, characteristic facies, learning problems and leukemia predisposition. Gain-of-function mutations in PTPN11, encoding the tyrosine phosphatase SHP2, cause approximately 50% of Noonan syndrome cases. SHP2 is required for RAS-ERK MAP kinase (MAPK) cascade activation, and Noonan syndrome mutants enhance ERK activation ex vivo and in mice. KRAS mutations account for <5% of cases of Noonan syndrome, but the gene(s) responsible for the remainder are unknown. We identified missense mutations in SOS1, which encodes an essential RAS guanine nucleotide-exchange factor (RAS-GEF), in approximately 20% of cases of Noonan syndrome without PTPN11 mutation. The prevalence of specific cardiac defects differs in SOS1 mutation-associated Noonan syndrome. Noonan syndrome-associated SOS1 mutations are hypermorphs encoding products that enhance RAS and ERK activation. Our results identify SOS1 mutants as a major cause of Noonan syndrome, representing the first example of activating GEF mutations associated with human disease and providing new insights into RAS-GEF regulation.