Microenvironmental regulation by fibrillin-1

PLoS Genet. 2012 Jan;8(1):e1002425. doi: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1002425. Epub 2012 Jan 5.

Abstract

Fibrillin-1 is a ubiquitous extracellular matrix molecule that sequesters latent growth factor complexes. A role for fibrillin-1 in specifying tissue microenvironments has not been elucidated, even though the concept that fibrillin-1 provides extracellular control of growth factor signaling is currently appreciated. Mutations in FBN1 are mainly responsible for the Marfan syndrome (MFS), recognized by its pleiotropic clinical features including tall stature and arachnodactyly, aortic dilatation and dissection, and ectopia lentis. Each of the many different mutations in FBN1 known to cause MFS must lead to similar clinical features through common mechanisms, proceeding principally through the activation of TGFβ signaling. Here we show that a novel FBN1 mutation in a family with Weill-Marchesani syndrome (WMS) causes thick skin, short stature, and brachydactyly when replicated in mice. WMS mice confirm that this mutation does not cause MFS. The mutation deletes three domains in fibrillin-1, abolishing a binding site utilized by ADAMTSLIKE-2, -3, -6, and papilin. Our results place these ADAMTSLIKE proteins in a molecular pathway involving fibrillin-1 and ADAMTS-10. Investigations of microfibril ultrastructure in WMS humans and mice demonstrate that modulation of the fibrillin microfibril scaffold can influence local tissue microenvironments and link fibrillin-1 function to skin homeostasis and the regulation of dermal collagen production. Hence, pathogenetic mechanisms caused by dysregulated WMS microenvironments diverge from Marfan pathogenetic mechanisms, which lead to broad activation of TGFβ signaling in multiple tissues. We conclude that local tissue-specific microenvironments, affected in WMS, are maintained by a fibrillin-1 microfibril scaffold, modulated by ADAMTSLIKE proteins in concert with ADAMTS enzymes.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • ADAMTS Proteins
  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Animals
  • Binding Sites
  • Cellular Microenvironment
  • Exons
  • Extracellular Matrix / genetics*
  • Extracellular Matrix / metabolism
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / genetics
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins / metabolism
  • Female
  • Fibrillin-1
  • Fibrillins
  • Humans
  • Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins / genetics
  • Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins / metabolism
  • Male
  • Marfan Syndrome / genetics
  • Mice
  • Mice, Transgenic
  • Microfibrils / ultrastructure
  • Microfilament Proteins / genetics*
  • Microfilament Proteins / metabolism*
  • Peptide Hydrolases / genetics
  • Peptide Hydrolases / metabolism
  • Sequence Deletion / genetics*
  • Signal Transduction
  • Skin Abnormalities / genetics
  • Skin Abnormalities / pathology
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / genetics
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta / metabolism
  • Weill-Marchesani Syndrome / genetics*

Substances

  • ADAMTSL1 protein, human
  • ADAMTSL3 protein, human
  • Extracellular Matrix Proteins
  • FBN1 protein, human
  • Fbn1 protein, mouse
  • Fibrillin-1
  • Fibrillins
  • LTBP1 protein, human
  • Latent TGF-beta Binding Proteins
  • Microfilament Proteins
  • SLC7A6OS protein, human
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta
  • Peptide Hydrolases
  • ADAMTS Proteins