This is a competing renewal application for a grant (R01 AR28450) which has been active since April 1981. The overall goal of this project, viz., definition of molecular defects in diseases affecting the extracellular matrix of connective tissues, remains the same. This proposal now focuses on pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a heritable disorder characterized by ectopic mineralization of elastic structures in the skin, the eyes, and the cardiovascular system, with considerable morbidity and mortality. Our research in the past, supported by this NIH grant, has led to identification of ABCC6 as the gene harboring mutations in PXE. We have developed an Abcc6-/- mouse model for PXE, and our recent studies have demonstrated that PXE is a metabolic disorder in which mutations in this gene expressed primarily in the liver result in ectopic mineralization of peripheral connective tissues. However, the precise function of ABCC6 in vivo, consequences of the corresponding gene mutations at the mRNA and protein levels, and the pathomechanistic details leading to mineralization of the elastic structures are currently unknown. In this application, we propose multi-disciplinary state-of-the-art approaches to dissect the pathomechanisms leading to PXE phenotype, based on the unifying hypothesis that PXE is a metabolic disorder at the genome-environment interface. The focus of this research is on the Abcc6-/- mouse which recapitulates genetic, histopathologic and ultrastructural features of PXE.
Specific Aim 1 proposes delineation of pathomechanisms of PXE, with emphasis on expansion of the ABCC6 mutation database and exploration of the genetic heterogeneity with respect to vitamin K-dependent genes GGCX and VKORC.
Specific Aim 2 focuses on identification of factors modifying the onset and phenotypic expression of PXE, both genetic and environmental.
Specific Aim 3 concentrates on development of molecular therapies for this, currently intractable, disease, utilizing information derived in this project from the Abcc6-/- mouse. We anticipate that these approaches will disclose the pathomechanistic details explaining the consequences of ABCC6 gene mutations at the phenotypic level, and provide the preclinical information serving as a critical platform for development of translational strategies to counteract this devastating multi-system disorder.

Public Health Relevance

This project, active since 1981, revolves around pseudoxanthoma elasticum (PXE), a heritable multisystem disorder with considerable morbidity and mortality. This proposal addresses the pathomechanistic features and phenotypic variability in PXE, with the overall goal to develop molecular therapies for this, currently intractable, disorder.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS)
Type
Research Project (R01)
Project #
5R01AR028450-31
Application #
8461905
Study Section
Arthritis, Connective Tissue and Skin Study Section (ACTS)
Program Officer
Tseng, Hung H
Project Start
1987-01-01
Project End
2015-04-30
Budget Start
2013-05-01
Budget End
2014-04-30
Support Year
31
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$318,060
Indirect Cost
$112,860
Name
Thomas Jefferson University
Department
Dermatology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
053284659
City
Philadelphia
State
PA
Country
United States
Zip Code
19107
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
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
Li, Qiaoli; Sundberg, John P; Levine, Michael A et al. (2015) The effects of bisphosphonates on ectopic soft tissue mineralization caused by mutations in the ABCC6 gene. Cell Cycle 14:1082-9
Li, Qiaoli; Kingman, Joshua; Uitto, Jouni (2015) Mineral content of the maternal diet influences ectopic mineralization in offspring of Abcc6(-/-) mice. Cell Cycle 14:3184-9
Jin, Liang; Jiang, Qiujie; Wu, Zhengsheng et al. (2015) Genetic heterogeneity of pseudoxanthoma elasticum: the Chinese signature profile of ABCC6 and ENPP1 mutations. J Invest Dermatol 135:1294-1302
Li, Qiaoli; Price, Thea P; Sundberg, John P et al. (2014) Juxta-articular joint-capsule mineralization in CD73 deficient mice: similarities to patients with NT5E mutations. Cell Cycle 13:2609-15
Li, Qiaoli; Guo, Haitao; Chou, David W et al. (2014) Mouse models for pseudoxanthoma elasticum: genetic and dietary modulation of the ectopic mineralization phenotypes. PLoS One 9:e89268
Li, Qiaoli; Pratt, C Herbert; Dionne, Louise A et al. (2014) Spontaneous asj-2J mutant mouse as a model for generalized arterial calcification of infancy: a large deletion/insertion mutation in the Enpp1 gene. PLoS One 9:e113542
Boraldi, Federica; Bartolomeo, Angelica; Li, Qiaoli et al. (2014) Changes in dermal fibroblasts from Abcc6(-/-) mice are present before and after the onset of ectopic tissue mineralization. J Invest Dermatol 134:1855-1861
Li, Qiaoli; Brodsky, Jill L; Conlin, Laura K et al. (2014) Mutations in the ABCC6 gene as a cause of generalized arterial calcification of infancy: genotypic overlap with pseudoxanthoma elasticum. J Invest Dermatol 134:658-665

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