The atypical homeoprotein Pbx1a participates in the axonal pathfinding of mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons

Background The pre B-cell leukemia transcription factor 1 (Pbx1) genes belong to the three amino acid loop extension family of homeodomain proteins that form hetero-oligomeric complexes with other homeodomain transcription factors, thereby modulating target specificity, DNA binding affinity and transcriptional activity of their molecular associates. Results Here, we provide evidence that Pbx1 is expressed in mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons from embryonic day 11 into adulthood and determines some of the cellular properties of this neuronal population. In Pbx1-deficient mice, the mesencephalic dopaminergic axons stall during mid-gestation at the border between di- and telencephalon before entering the ganglionic eminence, leading to a loose organization of the axonal bundle and partial misrouting. In Pbx1-deficient dopaminergic neurons, the high affinity netrin-1 receptor, deleted in colon cancer (DCC), is down-regulated. Interestingly, we found several conserved Pbx1 binding sites in the first intron of DCC, suggesting a direct regulation of DCC transcription by Pbx1. Conclusions The expression of Pbx1 in dopaminergic neurons and its regulation of DCC expression make it an important player in defining the axonal guidance of the midbrain dopaminergic neurons, with possible implications for the normal physiology of the nigro-striatal system as well as processes related to the degeneration of neurons during the course of Parkinson’s disease.


Background
Pre B-cell leukemia transcription factor 1 (Pbx1) encodes a transcription factor, belonging to the PBC (Pbx1 to 4) subclass of the three amino acid loop extension (TALE) proteins characterized by an atypical homeodomain [1]. Studies of the Pbx proteins and their Drosophila homolog Extradenticle (exd) revealed that they form stable complexes with other homeodomain transcription factors, such as Hox and Engrailed, as well as other nonhomeodomain proteins [2]. The interaction with Pbx modulates the target selectivity, the DNA binding affinity and the transcriptional activity of the associated homeoproteins [3]. An example of the modulation of transcriptional activity by the Pbx transcription factors is the regulation of Fibroblast growth factor 8 (Fgf8) expression by the Engrailed transcription factors. A highly conserved region in the large intron of the Fgf8 gene contains an Engrailed/Pbx binding site. This part of the enhancer increases transcriptional activity by three to fourfold in the presence of embryonic nuclear extract containing the Engrailed proteins and Pbx1, and point mutations in the binding site inactivate it [4].
Pbx loss of function phenotype is to a large part a reflection of the phenotypic alterations observed after functional ablation of the associated molecular partner. In Drosophila, for example, embryos lacking exd (zygotic or maternal) show the typical homeotic transformations in the thoracic and abdominal segments that resemble the loss of function phenotypes of the Hox genes cooperating with exd, although their expression is unaltered [5]. In mammals, the correlation between phenotypes of mutants deficient for Pbx1 and null mutants for the molecular partners is not as evident [6]. Pbx genes have been implicated in development of the skeleton [7], pancreas [8], kidney, adrenal glands [9,10], thymus [11], spleen [12] and in hematopoiesis [13]. A number of homeodomain transcription factors play a major role in the development of all of these tissues and organs systems and may act as cofactors for Pbx genes.
We have previously demonstrated that the Engrailed genes are required for survival of the mesencephalic dopaminergic (mesDA) neurons [14,15]. The survival function of Engrailed genes is unique to these neurons and is not shared with other neuronal populations expressing the genes, like the cerebellar granule cells [16,17] or the V1 interneurons in the spinal cord [18]. The cooperative binding to Pbx1 protein has already been shown to modulate the regulation of Fgf8 expression by the Engrailed genes, a crucial factor for the development of the mesDA neurons [4,19,20]. We therefore hypothesized that cooperative binding to Pbx proteins may modulate the target selectivity of the Engrailed genes in mesDA neurons.
We examined the expression and function of the Pbx genes in this neuronal population during development and show here that a splicing variant of Pbx1, Pbx1a, and one of the Prep genes, Prep1, are expressed by mesDA neurons. Furthermore, our analysis of Pbx1 mutant mice demonstrates a role of Pbx1 in axon guidance through the regulation of the netrin-1 receptor, deleted in colon cancer (DCC). Interestingly, despite increasing evidence of a cooperative function of Engrailed and Pbx transcription factors in vertebrates development [4,21], we could not find a 1:1 correlation between Engrailed and Pbx1 mutants' phenotype. In our case, a more detailed analysis of different single and compound mutants might be necessary to confirm our original hypothesis of a Pbx/Engrailed functional cooperative binding playing a significant role in the development and survival of mesDA.

Pbx1 expression in mesencephalic dopaminergic neurons
To examine expression of the Pbx family members in mesDA neurons, we performed in situ hybridization on midbrain sections of various ages. We restricted our analysis to those family members, Pbx1, 2 and 3, which are expressed in the brain [22]. Of note, only Pbx1a, a splicing variant of Pbx1, colocalized with tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), the key enzyme of dopamine synthesis (Figure 1). At embryonic day (E) 11, Pbx1a was expressed in the entire developing midbrain neuroepithelium. Ventrally on the pial site, an elevated signal was observable that overlapped with TH in the parallel section, suggesting co-expression ( Figure 1A, B). At E14, Pbx1a expression was more restricted and now clearly overlapped with TH ( Figure 1C, D). The staining with a pan-Pbx antibody at the same embryonic stage revealed that each TH-positive cell body in the midbrain possessed a Pbx1-positive nucleus ( Figure 1I-K). At postnatal ages, Pbx1a expression was decreased in intensity and disappeared in many brain regions, but remained at high levels in all mesDA neurons (for the adult see Figure 1N, O). Furthermore, a double immunostaining using the pan-Pbx antibody and an antibody against βgalactosidase to detect the Engrailed1 (En1) reporter LacZ [23] revealed that Pbx1a is co-expressed with En1 in these neurons (for the adult see Figure 2A-E). We also detected by in situ hybridization a diffuse Pbx3 RNA signal in the ventral midbrain from E14 into the adult ( Figure 1G), but a Pbx3 specific antibody on wild type was unable to detect any Pbx3 protein in mesDA neurons ( Figure 1L, M). However, Pbx3 protein was detectable in other brain regions, like for example the raphe nucleus ( Figure 1L, M insert).

Pbx1 sub-cellular localization
The activity of PBC proteins is in part regulated by nuclear import, which is mediated by dimerization with homeoproteins of the MEINOX (MEIS and KNOX) subclass, or by phosphorylation [24][25][26][27]. The MEIS subfamily of TALE proteins includes the products of the vertebrate Meis1-3, while the PREP subfamily includes the vertebrate Prep1 and Prep2. Exd and Pbx proteins have been shown to require MEIS/PREP for their nuclear import in specific cell contexts, such as limb mesenchymal cells in vertebrates or limb imaginal disc cells in flies [28][29][30][31][32].
Since the Pbx1a protein was localized in the nucleus of mesDA neurons, we investigated whether any of the Meis genes are also expressed in these neurons. We found Meis1, Meis2 and Meis3 expression in telencephalon, diencephalon, midbrain and hindbrain as previously described [33], but none of them in mesDA neurons ( Figure 3A-D). Despite previous reports of a ubiquitous expression of Prep1 in the developing brain from as early as E7.5, we detected by immunohistochemistry a specific Prep1 domain in the ventral midbrain, co-localized with TH ( Figure 3E-I), indicating that the nuclear transport of the Pbx1 protein is likely achieved in this neuronal population by molecular association with Prep1.

Analysis of Pbx1 mutant mice
In order to investigate the role of Pbx1a in mesDA neurons, we analyzed homologous recombinant mutant mice null for Pbx1 [7]. Up to E15.5, when the mutant mice die, mid/hindbrain morphology and the distribution of mesDA neurons appeared normal ( Figure 4A, B); however, the mutants showed aberrant mesDA axonal projections. In the E13 whole mount preparations, the wild type mesDA neurons extended their axons deep into the ganglionic eminence [34] ( Figure 4C, C'), whereas in Pbx1 null mutants, the DA axons stopped growing at the border between tel-and diencephalon, and defasciculated ( Figure 4D, D'). One day later, at E14, some of the Pbx1-deficient mesDA axons reached into the ganglionic eminence (data not shown) but the axonal bundle was loosely packed and a small part of the axons had misrouted at the same position in the ventral forebrain where they had stalled at E13 ( Figure 4E, F).
Recent studies indicated a role of netrin-1/DCC signaling in the guidance of mesDA axons [35,36], thus, we investigated Pbx1 mutant mice for alterations in the expression of netrin-1 and its high affinity receptor DCC [37]. Despite the widespread expression of Pbx1 in the telencephalon, netrin-1 expression in the basal ganglia of E14 Pbx1 mutant appeared normal ( Figure 5A, B); instead, expression of its receptor DCC [38] was absent in Pbx1-deficient mesDA neurons ( Figure 5E, F) identified by TH immunohistochemistry on the parallel sections ( Figure 5C, D). To confirm the absence of DCC in mesDA neurons we performed quantitative PCR on E13 ventral midbrain tissue of Pbx1 mutant mice compared to littermate controls. We found a reduction of approximately 35-40 % in the expression of DCC in the entire ventral midbrain of Pbx1 mutant mice while the expression of netrin-1 was unaltered ( Figure 5G).
Conversely, the absence of DCC expression in Pbx1deficient mutant embryos suggested that DCC is a direct target of Pbx1. In order to investigate this hypothesis, we searched for putative Pbx1 binding sites in DCC

Discussion
We show here that Pbx1a is expressed in mesDA neurons from E11 into adulthood. During early embryogenesis, its expression in the neural tube is abundant, and becomes later confined in the ventral midbrain to only mesDA neurons. The co-expression of Pbx1a and Prep1 in mesDA neurons suggests that Pbx1 nuclear localization is achieved in this neuronal population through molecular association with Prep1. We, furthermore, show an aberrant mesDA axonal projection in Pbx1−/− embryos, which is likely the result of the loss of DCC expression. However we were not able to demonstrate direct Pbx1 binding on the three highly conserved Pbx1 binding sites in the first intron of DCC by ChIP. A number of studies have shown molecular interactions between Pbx proteins and several other transcription factors and transcriptional co-regulators. The most studied Pbx partners are the Hox proteins. However, Pbx members form functional heterodimeric complexes with other homeoproteins, such as Engrailed and Pdx1, and other non-homeodomain transcription factors of the basic helix-loop-helix, forkhead and Smad family, as well as with members of the nuclear receptor superfamily [2,6]. Pbx loss of function phenotype is very often correlated to the function of the associated partner. Pbx1-deficient mice die at E15.5, displaying severe hypoplasia (lungs, liver, stomach, gut, kidneys and pancreas), ectopia (thymus and kidneys) or aplasia (spleen, adrenal gland) of multiple organs, and widespread defects of the axial and appendicular skeleton [7]. Although mice with Pbx1 targeted mutation exhibit some degree of homeotic transformations, they do not perfectly resemble mutants for Hox genes, their most studied partners. The same can be said for other Pbx mutants. Pbx3-deficient mice survive to term, but die soon after birth from central respiratory failure [45]. Pbx1 and Pbx3 have overlapping embryonic expression domains and could therefore exhibit redundant functions. In contrast to Pbx1-and Pbx3-deficient mice, Pbx2-deficient mice are viable and display no apparent phenotype despite its broad expression [46]. Therefore the phenotype of the Pbx targeted mutants could be the result of compensatory functions of other Pbx members and/or partial partner-independent functions [2,6].
The phenotypical alterations in mesDA neurons of Pbx1-deficient mice can be considered in correlation to the well-described Engrailed phenotype in these cells. The targeted deletion of both Engrailed genes leads to severe tissue deletion in the mesencephalon and loss of mesDA neurons at birth [40]. A more detailed analysis of these mutant mice revealed that the dopaminergic neurons are generated in the mesencephalic flexure, but die by E14 without extending axonal processes [15]. MesDA neurons in Pbx1-deficent embryos survive beyond E14 and are able to extend axons; a phenotype that seems to diverge from the complete ablation of mesDA neurons observed in Engrailed double mutant embryos. Yet a cooperative function of Engrailed and Pbx1 cannot be excluded on the base of this sole phenotypic resemblance. Engrailed mutation show a gene-dose dependent effect on the survival of mesDA neurons [40] and no information have been reported about the axonal projections of mesDA neurons in other single or compound Engrailed mutants. Furthermore, our analysis does not exclude a redundant effect of other Pbx genes. The presence of Pbx3 mRNA expression in these neurons indicates the possibility of a compensatory effect in absence of Pbx1, therefore restoring the threshold Pbx proteins concentration required for a correct development.
We report here that Pbx1 loss of function leads to defasciculation and misrouting of mesDA axons in the border between di-and telencephalon. Since Pbx1 is expressed in mesDA neurons as well as in the developing target tissue [47], the axonal outgrowth phenotype of Pbx1-deficient mice could reflect alterations in either of the two. The unaltered expression of netrin-1 in the ganglionic eminence, the intact morphology of the tissue and the loss of DCC expression suggest that the mesDA axonal phenotype is likely attributable to a cellautonomous function of Pbx1.
Several studies suggest that multiple cues collaborate to guide dopaminergic axons into a restricted domain through the diencephalon. Initially, migration of mesDA axons rostrally is determined by repulsion from a posterior source of semaphorin. Once in the diencephalon, mesDA axons are constrained in a narrow path established by multiple signals that keep axons from diverging ventrally or dorsally. The ventral boundary requires both Robo/Slit [48,49] and Netrin/DCC [35,36] opposing actions, as both slits repulsion and netrins attraction actions contribute to prevent dopaminergic axons from crossing the midline. Dorsal repulsion instead is likely mediated by attractive cues only, such as netrin and Sonic hedgehog [35,[49][50][51]. Finally, mesDA projections into the basal forebrain and cortex require an unusual attractive activity of semaphorin [52].
A recent analysis of DCC loss of function in vitro and in vivo demonstrated that DCC regulates neuronal precursor cell migration, axon guidance and axonal terminal arborization [36]. Nevertheless, even in absence of DCC expression, mesDA axons are able to reach their target tissue [36]. Differently from the previous report, however, in Pbx1-deficient embryos, loss of DCC expression has no effect on cell migration and seems to affect only long-range axon guidance. In Pbx1-deficent mice, axonal outgrowth is not affected until the mesDA neurons reach the border region between di-and telencephalon, and only at this point does Pbx1-mediated DCC/ netrin signaling seem to be required. Unfortunately, Pbx1 mutant mice die at E15.5, preventing further analysis of the phenotype induced by the loss of DCC expression in these mice. No information is available on the embryonic phenotype of DCC mutants to be compared with those of Pbx1 mutants. Furthermore, analysis at later stages of the basal forebrain structures affected by abnormal nigro-striatal axonal targeting (dorsal striatum, olfactory tubercle, etc. . .) is not possible in Pbx1-mutants as complete maturation of dopaminergic innervations to the forebrain takes place between E15 and P0 [34,53].
According to the Stein and Tessier-Lavigne 'Hierarchical organization of guidance receptors' model [54], activation of DCC by netrin, and concomitantly of Robo by Slit, leads to silencing of the attractive DCC-mediated netrin response without affecting its growth-stimulatory effect. Indeed, both DCC and Robo are expressed in mesDA neurons at developmental stages consistent with the defect observed in Pbx1 mutant embryos and could contribute to the observed phenotype [35,36,49]. Furthermore, a recent study indicated that loss of Slit/Robo signaling leads to widespread errors in mesDA axonal trajectories in the diencephalon, similar to those observed in Pbx1-deficient mice [49].

Conclusions
In this study, we show that Pbx1 and possibly its cofactor Prep1 are part of the transcriptional factor network that control a key step in mesDA neuronal differentiation by regulating the establishment of mesencephalic-striatal axonal projection. The axon guidance pathways are not just important in development of mesDA neurons they may regulate survival of this neuronal population throughout life, as suggested by genetic linkage studies and their connection to sporadic Parkinson's disease [55,56]. Therefore, Pbx1 may be important in determining the vulnerability of mesDA neurons to degeneration during the early phases of Parkinson's disease.

Mutant mice
Targeted mutation of Pbx1 and En1tauLacZ mice has previously been described [7,23]. Pbx1+/− and En1+/tlZ adult mice were crossed into a C57/Bl6 background. The colony was maintained at the central animal facility at the University of Heidelberg. Experiments were carried out in accordance with the European Communities Council Directive of 24 November 1986 (86/609/EEC) for the care and use of experimental animals; all procedures were approved by the central animal facility at the University of Heidelberg. Each of the described phenotypes was found in all analyzed mutant animals (n ≥ 4).

Real time PCR
Quantitative PCRs were performed with a Biorad CFX384 system by using preformulated TaqMan Gene expression assays (Invitrogen, Life Technologies Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA) and calculating the results with the comparative Ct method. The assays had the following identification tags: Mm00514509_m1 (DCC), Mm00500896_m1 (netrin-1) and Mm01974474_gH (RPLP0). Dissection of ventral midbrain tissue has been previously described [15]. The dissected ventral midbrains were homogenized, the RNA isolated using the RNeasy Mini kit (Qiagen group, USA) and reversetranscribed using the VILO Superscript cDNA synthesis kit (Invitrogen, Life Technologies Inc., Carlsbad, California, USA). Each individual PCR was done in three biological replicates.

In silico promoter analysis
Syntenic alignment and analysis of transcription factor binding sites of genomic sequences was performed using ECR Browser and rVista2.0 software (http://www.dcode. org/). For the identification of transcription factor binding sites, rVista2.0 uses a recently developed method, which combines 'suffix tree'-based fast subsequence search with position weight matrices.