This revised Mentored Career Development Award application (K01) revolves around pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a Mendelian autosomal recessive disorder characterized by ectopic mineralization of connective tissues in a variety of organs, including the skin, eyes, and the cardiovascular system, with considerable morbidity and mortality. PXE results from mutations in the ABCC6 gene which encodes a putative transmembrane transporter protein, ABCC6, which is expressed primarily in the liver, to a lesser extent in kidneys, and at very low levels, if at all, in tissues affected by PXE. Adding to the complexity of this disorder are the observations that there is considerable inter- and intra-familil heterogeneity. Genetic factors, environmental, and life style variables also modulate the progression and eventual outcome of the disease. This application will expand upon baseline skills of the applicant, Dr. Qiaoli Li, to address the overall goal of identifying and characterizig the major and minor modifier genes of ectopic cutaneous mineralization, a predominant feature of PXE, using mouse genetic approaches. Crossing the severely affected KK/HIJ mice with unaffected C57BL/6J mice which are wild type for the Abcc6 allelic mutation, and crossing the severely affected KK/HIJ mice with unaffected DBA/2J mice with the same Abcc6 allelic mutation as KK/HIJ mice, allows examination of their N2 progeny for Quantitative Trait Locus (QTL) analysis to identify modifier genes that potentially modifies the cutaneous mineralization phenotype. Functional in vivo characterization of the candidate genes will prove their importance in ectopic mineralization process. It is expected that the results of this study will provide novel insights into the molecular pathways leading to phenotypic variability in PXE, with relevance to common disorders involving ectopic mineralization. Understanding such pathways is expected to provide opportunities for the development of novel pharmacologic approaches to ameliorate, and perhaps cure, these currently intractable conditions. Having both Drs. Jouni Uitto and John P. Sundberg on the mentoring team provides Dr. Li with an outstanding opportunity to take advantage of their expertise, learn about their diverse skill sets, and to utilze resources they have accumulated. These provide resources to immediately utilize for these studies which will support the applicant's progress into becoming an independent researcher.

Public Health Relevance

This K01 proposal by a new investigator, Dr. Qiaoli Li, revolves around identification and characterization of major and minor modifier genes that regulate the phenotypic diversity and severity of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE) using mouse models. PXE is a prototypic heritable skin disorder which is characterized by ectopic connective tissue mineralization. The information gleaned from this rare disorder will be applicable towards providing new diagnostic tools for subtyping patients with PXE, development of new therapeutic targets, and will help predict response to treatment. In broader sense, understanding the pathophysiology or molecular mechanisms underlying PXE, particularly the genetic modifiers of the phenotype at the genome- environment interface, may provide additional information on other relatively common disorders, such as arteriosclerotic vascular changes and calcinosis cutis associated with inflammatory skin diseases.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Scientist Development Award - Research & Training (K01)
Project #
5K01AR064766-04
Application #
9212101
Study Section
Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Special Grants Review Committee (AMS)
Program Officer
Tseng, Hung H
Project Start
2014-03-05
Project End
2019-02-28
Budget Start
2017-03-01
Budget End
2018-02-28
Support Year
4
Fiscal Year
2017
Total Cost
$126,756
Indirect Cost
$9,389
Name
Thomas Jefferson University
Department
Dermatology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053284659
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19107
Li, Qiaoli; Huang, Jianhe; Pinkerton, Anthony B et al. (2018) Inhibition of Tissue-Nonspecific Alkaline Phosphatase Attenuates Ectopic Mineralization in the Abcc6-/- Mouse Model of PXE but Not in the Enpp1 Mutant Mouse Models of GACI. J Invest Dermatol :
Samuelov, Liat; Li, Qiaoli; Bochner, Ron et al. (2017) SVEP1 plays a crucial role in epidermal differentiation. Exp Dermatol 26:423-430
Kingman, Joshua; Uitto, Jouni; Li, Qiaoli (2017) Elevated dietary magnesium during pregnancy and postnatal life prevents ectopic mineralization in Enpp1asj mice, a model for generalized arterial calcification of infancy. Oncotarget 8:38152-38160
Li, Qiaoli; Kingman, Joshua; van de Wetering, Koen et al. (2017) Abcc6 Knockout Rat Model Highlights the Role of Liver in PPi Homeostasis in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum. J Invest Dermatol 137:1025-1032
Ross, Nicholas A; Chung, Hye-Jin; Li, Qiaoli et al. (2016) Epidemiologic, Clinicopathologic, Diagnostic, and Management Challenges of Pityriasis Rubra Pilaris: A Case Series of 100 Patients. JAMA Dermatol 152:670-5
Li, Qiaoli; Kingman, Joshua; Sundberg, John P et al. (2016) Dual Effects of Bisphosphonates on Ectopic Skin and Vascular Soft Tissue Mineralization versus Bone Microarchitecture in a Mouse Model of Generalized Arterial Calcification of Infancy. J Invest Dermatol 136:275-283
Siu, Sarah Y; Dyment, Nathaniel A; Rowe, David W et al. (2016) Variable patterns of ectopic mineralization in Enpp1asj-2J mice, a model for generalized arterial calcification of infancy. Oncotarget 7:83837-83842
Li, Qiaoli; Arányi, Tamás; Váradi, András et al. (2016) Research Progress in Pseudoxanthoma Elasticum and Related Ectopic Mineralization Disorders. J Invest Dermatol 136:550-556
Li, Qiaoli; Berndt, Annerose; Sundberg, Beth A et al. (2016) Mouse genome-wide association study identifies polymorphisms on chromosomes 4, 11, and 15 for age-related cardiac fibrosis. Mamm Genome 27:179-90
Li, Qiaoli; Kingman, Joshua; Sundberg, John P et al. (2016) Etidronate prevents, but does not reverse, ectopic mineralization in a mouse model of pseudoxanthoma elasticum (Abcc6-/-). Oncotarget :

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