Neural tube defects (NTDs) including spina bifida, anencephaly and holoprosencephaly are some of the most common structural birth defects observed in humans. The causes of these NTDs are poorly understood, but it is clear that there are both environmental and genetic components. A major advancement in the prevention of spina bifida and anencephaly came with the realization that the incidence of these NTDs can be significantly reduced by periconceptional folic acid supplementation. Intriguingly, incidence can be reduced even further when folic acid is taken along with a multivitamin;however, the essential other nutrient(s) in multivitamin supplements remain unknown. Our recent data indicate that iron is necessary for neural tube closure suggesting that iron may be one of these important nutrients. Iron plays fundamental roles in cellular metabolism and is required for development and growth of all organisms. Iron deficiency is one of the most common nutritional deficits in women of childbearing age and during pregnancy. Furthermore, low dietary iron intake has been associated with increased NTD risk;however, more definitive evidence that iron is necessary for neural tube closure has been lacking. We generated a novel mouse mutant flatiron (ffe) with a hypomorphic mutation in the gene encoding Ferroportin (Fpn1) essential for transport of iron from the mother to the fetus. Our analysis of an allelic series and conditional Fpn1 mutants demonstrate that NTDs including spina bifida, exencephaly and HPE develop due to reduced iron delivered to the embryo. Experiments proposed here will investigate our novel hypothesis that iron is an essential nutrient needed for neural tube development. The overall goal of these studies is to provide the first evidence of the utility of iron in combination with folic acid in the prevention of NTDs and to elucidate the mechanistic pathways by which deficiency of this important nutrient leads to birth defects. These studies will significantly impact human health by providing new simple and inexpensive treatments to prevent NTDs and will provide necessary preliminary data needed to begin to investigate whether iron deficiency is an important contributing factor in human NTDs and if NTDs can be prevented by iron supplementation.

Public Health Relevance

The goal of the proposed research is to evaluate the effectiveness of combined periconception iron and folic supplementation to reduce the incidence of neural tube defects in mouse models. In addition, we will elucidate the mechanistic pathways by which iron deficiency leads to birth defects. The results of these studies will have a significat impact on the prevention of neural tube defects by providing a simple and inexpensive preventative strategy for this debilitating birth defect.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health & Human Development (NICHD)
Type
Exploratory/Developmental Grants (R21)
Project #
1R21HD076202-01A1
Application #
8636105
Study Section
Development - 2 Study Section (DEV2)
Program Officer
Henken, Deborah B
Project Start
2013-09-21
Project End
2015-08-31
Budget Start
2013-09-21
Budget End
2014-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2013
Total Cost
$258,000
Indirect Cost
$108,000
Name
Children's Research Institute
Department
Type
DUNS #
143983562
City
Washington
State
DC
Country
United States
Zip Code
20010
Sabatino, Julia A; Stokes, Bethany A; Zohn, Irene E (2017) Prevention of neural tube defects in Lrp2 mutant mouse embryos by folic acid supplementation. Birth Defects Res 109:16-26
Stokes, Bethany A; Sabatino, Julia A; Zohn, Irene E (2017) High levels of iron supplementation prevents neural tube defects in the Fpn1ffe mouse model. Birth Defects Res 109:81-91
Warrier, Sunita; Nuwayhid, Samer; Sabatino, Julia A et al. (2017) Supt20 is required for development of the axial skeleton. Dev Biol 421:245-257
Zohn, Irene E (2012) Mouse as a model for multifactorial inheritance of neural tube defects. Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today 96:193-205
Zohn, Irene E; Sarkar, Anjali A (2010) The visceral yolk sac endoderm provides for absorption of nutrients to the embryo during neurulation. Birth Defects Res A Clin Mol Teratol 88:593-600
Mao, Jinzhe; McKean, David M; Warrier, Sunita et al. (2010) The iron exporter ferroportin 1 is essential for development of the mouse embryo, forebrain patterning and neural tube closure. Development 137:3079-88