Abstract
Elongase of very long chain fatty acids-4 (ELOVL4) is the only mammalian enzyme known to synthesize C28-C36 fatty acids. In humans, ELOVL4 mutations cause Stargardt disease-3 (STGD3), a juvenile dominant macular degeneration. Heterozygous Stgd3 mice that carry a pathogenic mutation in the mouse Elovl4 gene demonstrate reduced levels of retinal C28-C36 acyl phosphatidylcholines (PC) and epidermal C28-C36 acylceramides. Homozygous Stgd3 mice die shortly after birth with signs of disrupted skin barrier function. In this study, we report generation of transgenic (Tg) mice with targeted Elovl4 expression driven by an epidermal-specific involucrin promoter. In homozygous Stgd3 mice, this transgene reinstates both epidermal Elovl4 expression and synthesis of two missing epidermal lipid groups: C28-C36 acylceramides and (O -linoleoyl)-omegahydroxy C28-C36 fatty acids. Transgene expression also restores skin barrier function and rescues the neonatal lethality of homozygous Stgd3 mice. These studies establish the critical requirement for epidermal C28-C36 fatty acid synthesis for animal viability. In addition to the skin, Elovl4 is also expressed in other tissues, including the retina, brain, and testes. Thus, these mice will facilitate future studies to define the roles of C28-C36 fatty acids in the Elovl4-expressing tissues.
| Original language | English (US) |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 1128-1138 |
| Number of pages | 11 |
| Journal | Journal of Lipid Research |
| Volume | 52 |
| Issue number | 6 |
| DOIs | |
| State | Published - Jun 2011 |
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Keywords
- Acylceramides
- Elongase of very long chain fatty acids-4
- Skin permeability barrier
- Very long chain C28-C36 fatty acids
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
- Endocrinology
Cite this
Epidermal expression of an Elovl4 transgene rescues neonatal lethality of homozygous Stargardt disease-3 mice. / McMahon, Anne; Butovich, Igor A.; Kedzierski, Wojciech.
In: Journal of Lipid Research, Vol. 52, No. 6, 06.2011, p. 1128-1138.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Epidermal expression of an Elovl4 transgene rescues neonatal lethality of homozygous Stargardt disease-3 mice
AU - McMahon, Anne
AU - Butovich, Igor A.
AU - Kedzierski, Wojciech
PY - 2011/6
Y1 - 2011/6
N2 - Elongase of very long chain fatty acids-4 (ELOVL4) is the only mammalian enzyme known to synthesize C28-C36 fatty acids. In humans, ELOVL4 mutations cause Stargardt disease-3 (STGD3), a juvenile dominant macular degeneration. Heterozygous Stgd3 mice that carry a pathogenic mutation in the mouse Elovl4 gene demonstrate reduced levels of retinal C28-C36 acyl phosphatidylcholines (PC) and epidermal C28-C36 acylceramides. Homozygous Stgd3 mice die shortly after birth with signs of disrupted skin barrier function. In this study, we report generation of transgenic (Tg) mice with targeted Elovl4 expression driven by an epidermal-specific involucrin promoter. In homozygous Stgd3 mice, this transgene reinstates both epidermal Elovl4 expression and synthesis of two missing epidermal lipid groups: C28-C36 acylceramides and (O -linoleoyl)-omegahydroxy C28-C36 fatty acids. Transgene expression also restores skin barrier function and rescues the neonatal lethality of homozygous Stgd3 mice. These studies establish the critical requirement for epidermal C28-C36 fatty acid synthesis for animal viability. In addition to the skin, Elovl4 is also expressed in other tissues, including the retina, brain, and testes. Thus, these mice will facilitate future studies to define the roles of C28-C36 fatty acids in the Elovl4-expressing tissues.
AB - Elongase of very long chain fatty acids-4 (ELOVL4) is the only mammalian enzyme known to synthesize C28-C36 fatty acids. In humans, ELOVL4 mutations cause Stargardt disease-3 (STGD3), a juvenile dominant macular degeneration. Heterozygous Stgd3 mice that carry a pathogenic mutation in the mouse Elovl4 gene demonstrate reduced levels of retinal C28-C36 acyl phosphatidylcholines (PC) and epidermal C28-C36 acylceramides. Homozygous Stgd3 mice die shortly after birth with signs of disrupted skin barrier function. In this study, we report generation of transgenic (Tg) mice with targeted Elovl4 expression driven by an epidermal-specific involucrin promoter. In homozygous Stgd3 mice, this transgene reinstates both epidermal Elovl4 expression and synthesis of two missing epidermal lipid groups: C28-C36 acylceramides and (O -linoleoyl)-omegahydroxy C28-C36 fatty acids. Transgene expression also restores skin barrier function and rescues the neonatal lethality of homozygous Stgd3 mice. These studies establish the critical requirement for epidermal C28-C36 fatty acid synthesis for animal viability. In addition to the skin, Elovl4 is also expressed in other tissues, including the retina, brain, and testes. Thus, these mice will facilitate future studies to define the roles of C28-C36 fatty acids in the Elovl4-expressing tissues.
KW - Acylceramides
KW - Elongase of very long chain fatty acids-4
KW - Skin permeability barrier
KW - Very long chain C28-C36 fatty acids
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79956008251&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=79956008251&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1194/jlr.M014415
DO - 10.1194/jlr.M014415
M3 - Article
VL - 52
SP - 1128
EP - 1138
JO - Journal of Lipid Research
JF - Journal of Lipid Research
SN - 0022-2275
IS - 6
ER -