Overexpression of Fgfr2c causes craniofacial bone hypoplasia and ameliorates craniosynostosis in the Crouzon mouse

摘要

FGFR2c regulates many aspects of craniofacial and skeletal development. Mutations in the FGFR2 gene are causative of multiple forms of syndromic craniosynostosis, including Crouzon syndrome. Paradoxically, mouse studies have shown that the activation ( Fgfr2c supC342Y/sup; a mouse model for human Crouzon syndrome), as well as the removal ( Fgfr2c supnull/sup), of the FGFR2c isoform can drive suture abolishment. This study aims to address the downstream effects of pathogenic FGFR2c signalling by studying the effects of Fgfr2c overexpression. Conditional overexpression of Fgfr2c ( R26R supFgfr2c;βact/sup) results in craniofacial hypoplasia as well as microtia and cleft palate. Contrary to Fgfr2c supnull/sup and Fgfr2c supC342Y/sup, Fgfr2c overexpression is insufficient to drive onset of craniosynostosis. Examination of the MAPK/ERK pathway in the embryonic sutures of Fgfr2c supC342Y/sup and R26R supFgfr2c;βact/sup mice reveals that both mutants have increased pERK expression. The contrasting phenotypes between Fgfr2c supC342Y/sup and R26R supFgfr2c;βact/sup mice prompted us to assess the impact of the Fgfr2c overexpression allele on the Crouzon mouse ( Fgfr2c supC342Y/sup), in particular its effects on the coronal suture. Our results demonstrate that Fgfr2c overexpression is sufficient to partially rescue craniosynostosis through increased proliferation and reduced osteogenic activity in E18.5 Fgfr2c supC342Y/sup embryos. This study demonstrates the intricate balance of FGF signalling required for correct calvarial bone and suture morphogenesis, and that increasing the expression of the wild-type FGFR2c isoform could be a way to prevent or delay craniosynostosis progression.