Effect of the G375C and G346E achondroplasia mutations on FGFR3 activation

Two mutations in FGFR3, G380R and G375C are known to cause achondroplasia, the most common form of human dwarfism. The G380R mutation accounts for 98% of the achondroplasia cases, and thus has been studied extensively. Here we study the effect of the G375C mutation on the phosphorylation and the cross-linking propensity of full-length FGFR3 in HEK 293 cells, and we compare the results to previously published results for the G380R mutant. We observe identical behavior of the two achondroplasia mutants in these experiments, a finding which supports a direct link between the severity of dwarfism phenotypes and the level and mechanism of FGFR3 over-activation. The mutations do not increase the cross-linking propensity of FGFR3, contrary to previous expectations that the achondroplasia mutations stabilize the FGFR3 dimers. Instead, the phosphorylation efficiency within un-liganded FGFR3 dimers is increased, and this increase is likely the underlying cause for pathogenesis in achondroplasia. We further investigate the G346E mutation, which has been reported to cause achondroplasia in one case. We find that this mutation does not increase FGFR3 phosphorylation and decreases FGFR3 cross-linking propensity, a finding which raises questions whether this mutation is indeed a genetic cause for human dwarfism.     

Paternal origin of FGFR3 mutations in Muenke-type craniosynostosis

Muenke syndrome, also known as FGFR3-associated coronal synostosis, is defined molecularly by the presence of a heterozygous nucleotide transversion, c.749C>G, encoding the amino acid substitution Pro250Arg, in the fibroblast growth factor receptor type 3 gene (FGFR3). This frequently occurs as a new mutation, manifesting one of the highest documented rates for any transversion in the human genome. To understand the biology of this mutation, we have investigated its parental origin, and the ages of the parents, in 19 families with de novo c.749C>G mutations. All ten informative cases originated from the paternal allele (95% confidence interval 74–100% paternal); the average paternal age at birth overall was 34.7 years. An exclusive paternal origin of mutations, and increased paternal age, were previously described for a different mutation (c.1138G>A) of the FGFR3 gene causing achondroplasia, as well as for mutations of the related FGFR2 gene causing Apert, Crouzon and Pfeiffer syndromes. We conclude that similar biological processes are likely to shape the occurrence of this c.749C>G mutation as for other mutations of FGFR3 as well as FGFR2.S.V. Rannan-Eliya and I.B. Taylor contributed equally to this work.     

Sprouty 2 disturbs FGFR3 degradation in thanatophoric dysplasia type II: a severe form of human achondroplasia

Thanatophoric dysplasia is a member of the achondroplasia family of human skeletal dysplasias, which result from FGFR3 mutations that exaggerate this receptor's inhibitory influence on chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation in the skeletal growth plate. We have previously reported that defective lysosomal degradation of activated receptor contributes to the gain-of-function of the mutant FGFR3. We now provide evidence that this disturbance is mediated by the receptor's kinase activity and involves constitutive induction and activation of Spry2. Our findings suggest that activated Spry2 may interfere with c-Cbl-mediated ubiquitination of FGFR3 by sequestering c-Cbl. They provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of this group of human skeletal dysplasias and identify a mechanism that potentially could be targeted therapeutically.     

FGFR3/fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 inhibits autophagy through decreasing the ATG12–ATG5 conjugate,leading to the delay of cartilage development in achondroplasia

FGFR3 (fibroblast growth factor receptor 3) is a negative regulator of endochondral ossification. Gain-of-function mutations in FGFR3 are responsible for achondroplasia, the most common genetic form of dwarfism in humans. Autophagy, an evolutionarily conserved catabolic process, maintains chondrocyte viability in the growth plate under stress conditions, such as hypoxia and nutritional deficiencies. However, the role of autophagy and its underlying molecular mechanisms in achondroplasia remain elusive. In this study, we found activated FGFR3 signaling inhibited autophagic activity in chondrocytes, both in vivo and in vitro. By employing an embryonic bone culture system, we demonstrated that treatment with autophagy inhibitor 3-MA or chloroquine led to cartilage growth retardation, which mimics the effect of activated-FGFR3 signaling on chondrogenesis. Furthermore, we found that FGFR3 interacted with ATG12–ATG5 conjugate by binding to ATG5. More intriguingly, FGFR3 signaling was found to decrease the protein level of ATG12–ATG5 conjugate. Consistently, using in vitro chondrogenic differentiation assay system, we showed that the ATG12–ATG5 conjugate was essential for the viability and differentiation of chondrocytes. Transient transfection of ATG5 partially rescued FGFR3-mediated inhibition on chondrocyte viability and differentiation. Our findings reveal that FGFR3 inhibits the autophagic activity by decreasing the ATG12–ATG5 conjugate level, which may play an essential role in the pathogenesis of achondroplasia.     

Rapid combined genotyping assay for four achondroplasia and hypochondroplasia mutations by real-time PCR with multiple detection probes

Achondroplasia (ACH) and hypochondroplasia (HYCH) are the most prevalent genetic short-stature syndromes. Whereas the diagnosis of ACH can be established on clinical and radiologic grounds alone in the majority of cases, HYCH is more difficult to confirm. Molecular genetic analysis of both skeletal dysplasias can be especially helpful for the purpose of prenatal diagnosis, in early childhood to differentiate definitively between the largely overlapping phenotypes, and in atypical presentations. The two most prevalent mutations for each syndrome cause substitution of a single respective nucleotide. These mutations can be identified by a variety of molecular methods, including PCR with restriction enzyme digestion or direct DNA sequencing. We have developed a single-step, real-time PCR assay in which two detection probes are applied in combination with a single anchor probe at each mutation position. Because the two most prevalent mutations for each syndrome cause substitution of a single respective nucleotide, this approach guarantees optimal differentiation during probe dissociation analysis after amplification. This assay, which is performed on the LightCycler thermocycler, enables the rapid and reliable detection of the two most common FGFR3 mutations associated with ACH (1138G --> A and 1138G --> C; G380R) and HYCH (1620C --> A and 1620 C --> G; N540K) in a single test.     

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) - analyses of the S249C mutation and protein expression in primary cervical carcinomas.

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) seems to play an inhibitory role in bone development, as activating mutations in the gene underlie disorders such as achondroplasia and thanatophoric dysplasia. Findings from multiple myeloma (MM) indicate that FGFR3 also can act as an oncogene, and mutation of codon 249 in the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene was recently detected in 3/12 primary cervical carcinomas. We have analysed 91 cervical carcinomas for this specific S249C mutation using amplification created restriction site methodology (ACRS), and detected no mutations. Immunohistochemistry was performed on 73 of the tumours. Reduced protein staining was seen in 43 (58.8%) samples. Six of the tumours (8.2%) revealed increased protein staining compared with normal cervical tissue. These patients had a better prognosis than those with reduced or normal levels, although not statistically significant.This report weakens the hypothesis of FGFR3 as an oncogene of importance in cervical carcinomas.     

PCR-induced sequence alterations hamper the typing of prehistoric bone samples for diagnostic achondroplasia mutations

Achondroplasia (ACH) is a skeletal disorder (MIM100800) with an autosomal dominant Mendelian inheritance and complete penetrance. Here we report the screening of ancient bone samples for diagnostic ACH mutations. The diagnostic G-->A transition in the FGFR3 gene at cDNA position 1138 was detected in cloned polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products obtained from the dry mummy of the Semerchet tomb, Egypt (first dynasty, approximately 4,890-5,050 BP [before present]), and from an individual from Kirchheim, Germany (Merovingian period, approximately 1,300-1,500 BP), both of which had short stature. However, these mutations were also reproducibly observed in four ancient control samples from phenotypically healthy individuals (false-positives), rendering the reliable molecular typing of ancient bones for ACH impossible. The treatment of a false-positive DNA extract with uracil N-glycosylase (UNG) to minimize type 2 transitions (G-->A/C-->T) did not reduce the frequency of the false-positive diagnostic ACH mutations. Recently, it was suggested that ancient DNA extracts may induce mutations under PCR. Contemporary human template DNA from a phenotypically healthy individual was therefore spiked with an ancient DNA extract from a cave bear. Again, sequences with the diagnostic G-->A transition in the FGFR3 gene were observed, and it is likely that the false-positive G-->A transitions result from errors introduced during the PCR reaction. Amplifications in the presence of MnCl(2) indicate that position 1138 of the FGFR3 gene is particularly sensitive for mutations. Our data are in line with previously published results on the occurrence of nonrandom mutations in PCR products of contemporary human mitochondrial HVRI template DNA spiked with ancient DNA extracts.     

FGFR3 heterodimerization in achondroplasia, the most common form of human dwarfism

The G380R mutation in the transmembrane domain of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) causes achondroplasia, the most common form of human dwarfism. Achondroplasia is a heterozygous disorder, and thus the affected individuals express both wild-type and mutant FGFR3. Yet heterodimerization in achondroplasia has not been characterized thus far. To investigate the formation of FGFR3 heterodimers in cellular membranes, we designed an FGFR3 construct that lacks the kinase domain, and we monitored the formation of inactive heterodimers between this construct and wild-type and mutant FGFR3. The formation of the inactive heterodimers depleted the pool of full-length receptors capable of forming active homodimers and ultimately reduced their phosphorylation. By analyzing the effect of the truncated FGFR3 on full-length receptor phosphorylation, we demonstrated that FGFR3 WT/G380R heterodimers form with lower probability than wild-type FGFR3 homodimers at low ligand concentration. These results further our knowledge of FGFR3-associated bone disorders.     

Physical Basis behind Achondroplasia,the Most Common Form of Human Dwarfism

Fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3) is a receptor tyrosine kinase that plays an important role in long bone development. The G380R mutation in FGFR3 transmembrane domain is known as the genetic cause for achondroplasia, the most common form of human dwarfism. Despite many studies, there is no consensus about the exact mechanism underlying the pathology. To gain further understanding into the physical basis behind the disorder, here we measure the activation of wild-type and mutant FGFR3 in mammalian cells using Western blots, and we analyze the activation within the frame of a physical-chemical model describing dimerization, ligand binding, and phosphorylation probabilities within the dimers. The data analysis presented here suggests that the mutation does not increase FGFR3 dimerization, as proposed previously. Instead, FGFR3 activity in achondroplasia is increased due to increased probability for phosphorylation of the unliganded mutant dimers. This finding has implications for the design of targeted molecular treatments for achondroplasia.     

FGFR3 intracellular mutations induce tyrosine phosphorylation in the Golgi and defective glycosylation

Mutations of the Fibroblast Growth Factor Receptor 3 (FGFR3) gene have been implicated in a series of skeletal dysplasias including hypochondroplasia, achondroplasia and thanatophoric dysplasia. The severity of these diseases ranges from mild dwarfism to severe dwarfism and to perinatal lethality, respectively. Although it is considered that the mutations give rise to constitutively active receptors, it remains unclear how the different mutations are functionally linked to the severity of the different pathologies. By examining various FGFR3 mutations in a HEK cell culture model, including the uncharacterized X807R mutation, it was found that only the mutations affecting the intracellular domain, induced premature receptor phosphorylation and inhibited receptor glycosylation, suggesting that premature receptor tyrosine phosphorylation of the native receptor inhibits its glycosylation. Moreover, these mutations appeared to be associated with elevated receptor signaling in the Golgi apparatus. In conclusion, although pathological severity could not be correlated with a single factor arising from FGFR3 mutations, these results suggest that intracellular domain mutations define a distinct means by which mutated FGFR3 could disrupt bone development.     

Growth hormone therapy in achondroplasia

Achondroplasia is one of the most common causes of severe rhizomelic dwarfism. We have previously reported the growth-promoting effect of growth hormone (GH) in this disorder. In this expanded clinical study, dose dependency and the long-term effect of GH were also investigated. Prepubertal children with achondroplasia (82 males and 63 females) were randomly divided into 2 groups. Patients were treated with 0.5 IU/kg per week or 1.0 IU/kg per week subcutaneous recombinant human GH. Of 75 patients, the mutational analysis of fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 revealed that G1138A was detected in 70 and G1138C was found in 2. GH increased growth rate and height z score in a dose-dependent manner. GH also increased serum insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, IGF-binding protein-3 and osteocalcin. No adverse effects were observed in either group. We conclude that GH therapy is a useful method for improvement of severe growth retardation of achondroplasia.     

Distinct missense mutations of the FGFR3 lys650 codon modulate receptor kinase activation and the severity of the skeletal dysplasia phenotype

The fibroblast growth factor-receptor 3 (FGFR3) Lys650 codon is located within a critical region of the tyrosine kinase-domain activation loop. Two missense mutations in this codon are known to result in strong constitutive activation of the FGFR3 tyrosine kinase and cause three different skeletal dysplasia syndromes-thanatophoric dysplasia type II (TD2) (A1948G [Lys650Glu]) and SADDAN (severe achondroplasia with developmental delay and acanthosis nigricans) syndrome and thanatophoric dysplasia type I (TD1) (both due to A1949T [Lys650Met]). Other mutations within the FGFR3 tyrosine kinase domain (e.g., C1620A or C1620G [both resulting in Asn540Lys]) are known to cause hypochondroplasia, a relatively common but milder skeletal dysplasia. In 90 individuals with suspected clinical diagnoses of hypochondroplasia who do not have Asn540Lys mutations, we screened for mutations, in FGFR3 exon 15, that would disrupt a unique BbsI restriction site that includes the Lys650 codon. We report here the discovery of three novel mutations (G1950T and G1950C [both resulting in Lys650Asn] and A1948C [Lys650Gln]) occurring in six individuals from five families. Several physical and radiological features of these individuals were significantly milder than those in individuals with the Asn540Lys mutations. The Lys650Asn/Gln mutations result in constitutive activation of the FGFR3 tyrosine kinase but to a lesser degree than that observed with the Lys540Glu and Lys650Met mutations. These results demonstrate that different amino acid substitutions at the FGFR3 Lys650 codon can result in several different skeletal dysplasia phenotypes.     

Methylation levels at selected CpG sites in the factor VIII and FGFR3 genes, in mature female and male germ cells: implications for male-driven evolution.

Transitional mutations at CpG dinucleotides account for approximately a third of all point mutations. These mutations probably arise through spontaneous deamination of 5-methylcytosine. Studies of CpG mutation rates in disease-linked genes, such as factor VIII and FGFR3, have indicated that they more frequently originate in male than in female germ cells. It has been speculated that these sex-biased mutation rates might be a consequence of sex-specific methylation differences between the female and the male germ lines. Using the bisulfite-based genomic-sequencing method, we investigated the methylation status of the human factor VIII and FGFR3 genes in mature male and female germ cells. With the exception of a single CpG, both genes were found to be equally and highly methylated in oocytes and spermatocytes. Whereas these observations strongly support the notion that DNA methylation is the major determining factor for recurrent CpG germ-line mutations in patients with hemophilia and achondroplasia, the higher mutation rate in the male germ line is apparently not a simple reflection of sex-specific methylation differences.     

FGFR3 induces degradation of BMP type I receptor to regulate skeletal development

Fibroblast growth factors (FGFs) and their receptors (FGFRs) play significant roles in vertebrate organogenesis and morphogenesis. FGFR3 is a negative regulator of chondrogenesis and multiple mutations with constitutive activity of FGFR3 result in achondroplasia, one of the most common dwarfisms in humans, but the molecular mechanism remains elusive. In this study, we found that chondrocyte-specific deletion of BMP type I receptor a (Bmpr1a) rescued the bone overgrowth phenotype observed in Fgfr3 deficient mice by reducing chondrocyte differentiation. Consistently, using in vitro chondrogenic differentiation assay system, we demonstrated that FGFR3 inhibited BMPR1a-mediated chondrogenic differentiation. Furthermore, we showed that FGFR3 hyper-activation resulted in impaired BMP signaling in chondrocytes of mouse growth plates. We also found that FGFR3 inhibited BMP-2- or constitutively activated BMPR1-induced phosphorylation of Smads through a mechanism independent of its tyrosine kinase activity. We found that FGFR3 facilitates BMPR1a to degradation through Smurf1-mediated ubiquitination pathway. We demonstrated that down-regulation of BMP signaling by BMPR1 inhibitor dorsomorphin led to the retardation of chondrogenic differentiation, which mimics the effect of FGF-2 on chondrocytes and BMP-2 treatment partially rescued the retarded growth of cultured bone rudiments from thanatophoric dysplasia type II mice. Our findings reveal that FGFR3 promotes the degradation of BMPR1a, which plays an important role in the pathogenesis of FGFR3-related skeletal dysplasia.     

The cytoplasmic tyrosine kinase Pyk2 as a novel effector of fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 activation

Activating mutations within fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 (FGFR3), a receptor tyrosine kinase, are responsible for human skeletal dysplasias including achondroplasia and the neonatal lethal syndromes thanatophoric dysplasia types I and II. Several of these same FGFR3 mutations have also been identified somatically in human cancers, including multiple myeloma, bladder carcinoma, and cervical cancer. The molecular pathways exploited by FGFR3 to stimulate abnormal proliferation during neoplasia are unclear. The nonreceptor protein-tyrosine kinase Pyk2 (proline-rich tyrosine kinase 2) has been shown previously to regulate apoptosis in multiple myeloma cells. Here we describe a novel interaction between FGFR3 and Pyk2, mediated by the juxtamembrane domain of FGFR3 and the kinase domain of Pyk2. Within the FGFR family, Pyk2 also interacted significantly with FGFR2. Overexpression of Pyk2 alone led to its spontaneous activation and tyrosine phosphorylation, resulting in activation of Stat5B, indicated by the reporter GFP-Stat5B. These effects were completely dependent upon Tyr(402), the autophosphorylation site of Pyk2, which allows recruitment of Src family members for further activating phosphorylations at other sites on Pyk2. In the presence of activated FGFR3, the activation of Pyk2 itself became independent of Tyr(402), indicating that FGFR3 activation circumvents the requirement for c-Src recruitment at Tyr(402) of Pyk2. We also examined the role of the tyrosine phosphatase Shp2 in antagonizing Pyk2 activation. Taken together, these results suggest that signaling pathways regulated by FGFR3 may converge with Pyk2-dependent pathways to provide maximal activation of Stat5B.     

Differential regulation of endochondral bone growth and joint development by FGFR1 and FGFR3 tyrosine kinase domains

Fibroblast growth factor receptors (FGFR) 1 and 3 have distinct mitogenic activities in vitro. In several cultured cell lines, FGFR1 transmits a potent mitogenic signal, whereas FGFR3 has little or no mitogenic activity. However, in other in vitro assays the FGFR3 intracellular domain is comparable with that of FGFR1. In vivo, FGFR3 negatively regulates chondrocyte proliferation and differentiation, and activating mutations are the molecular etiology of achondroplasia. By contrast, FGFR1 transmits a proliferative signal in various cell types in vivo. These observations suggest that inhibition of the proliferating chondrocyte could be a unique property of FGFR3 or, alternatively, a unique property of the proliferating chondrocyte. To test this hypothesis, FGFR1 signaling was activated in the growth plate in cells that normally express FGFR3. Comparison of transgenic mice with an activated FGFR1 signaling pathway with an achondroplasia-like mouse that expresses a similarly activated FGFR3 signaling pathway demonstrated that both transgenes result in a similar achondroplasia-like dwarfism. These data demonstrate that suppression of mitogenic activity by FGFR signaling is a property that is unique to growth plate chondrocytes. Surprisingly, we observed that in transgenic mice expressing an activated FGFR, some synovial joints failed to develop and were replaced by cartilage. The defects in the digit joints phenocopied the symphalangism that occurs in Apert syndrome and the number of affected joints was dependent on transgene dose. In contrast to the phenotype in the growth plate, the joint phenotype was more severe in transgenic mice with an activated FGFR1 signaling pathway. The failure of joint development resulted from expanded chondrification in the presumptive joint space, suggesting a crucial role for FGF signaling in regulating the transition of condensed mesenchyme to cartilage and in defining the boundary of skeletal elements.     

A simple and rapid quantitative method of detection of the common achondroplasia mutation: analysis in mismatch repair deficient cells

Achondroplasia is the most common form of dwarfism and has an incidence of approximately 1/7500. In more than 97% of cases, it is caused by a recurrent point mutation, a G to A substitution at nucleotide position 1138 (G1138A) of the fibroblast growth factor receptor 3 gene. Although this is an autosomal dominant condition, more than 90% of all mutations occur sporadically making this one of the most mutagenic sites in the human genome. The reasons for the high spontaneous G1138A mutation rate are not known. This investigation was performed by developing a simple and rapid semi-quantitative allele specific PCR based assay capable of reliably detecting more than 25 mutant G1138A copies in a pool of 300 000 wild type molecules. Using this assay, the G1138A mutation frequency was measured in cell lines deficient in mismatch repair (LoVo, SW48) and comparing it with controls. No differences were found in the frequency of this point mutation between the mismatch repair deficient and wild type cell lines.     

Mutations of the fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 gene in one familial and six sporadic cases of achondroplasia in Japanese patients

Achondroplasia, the most common cause of chondrodysplasia in man, is characterized by short-limbed dwarfism, macrocephaly, and dysplasia of metaphyses of the tubular bones. Recently, mutations in the gene encoding fibroblast growth factor receptor-3 (FGFR-3) have been found in patients with achondroplasia. All mutations so far reported had occurred at codon 380, resulting in the substitution of an arginine for a glycine in the transmembrane domain of the predicted protein. We have examined the transmembrane domain of the FGFR-3 gene in seven Japanese patients with achondroplasia. Of the six cases that were sporadic, all carried a mutation in codon 380; the single familial case bore a novel mutation of a G-to-T transition at codon 375, which resulted in substitution of a cysteine for a glycine.