Platform presentation at the Children’s Tumor Foundation (CTF) Annual NF Conference 2009, Portland, OR. Session:Novel Cellular and Animal Models of NF.

1. Nerve gene expression patterning in
Nf1 mouse models
Walter J. Jessen, Ph.D.
Laboratory of Nancy Ratner
Division of Experimental Hematology
and Cancer Biology
Cincinnati Children’s Hospital
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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2. Myelinated vs. unmyelinated axons
A. Myelinated Axon B. Unmyelinated Axons
Ax
S
S
S Schwann cell nucleus
Ax Axon
Ax
Corfas et al., 2004
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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3. Mast cell infiltration and Remak bundle disruption
 One hallmark of neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1):
infiltration of mast cells in peripheral nerve tumors
(Pineda, 1965; Olsson, 1971).
 Many mouse models of NF1 display abnormalities in the
organization of Remak bundles
(Ling et al, 2005; Wu et al., 2008; Zheng et al., 2008).
 Coincident with mast cell infiltration is the disruption of
Remak bundles and the accumulation of collagen
(Monk et al. 2007).
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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4. Models for NF1 tumor formation
1. Linear pathway
Normal nerve Disrupted nerve Tumor
2. Mutually exclusive pathway
Disrupted nerve
Normal nerve
Tumor
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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5. Models for NF1 tumor formation
1. Linear pathway
Normal nerve Disrupted nerve Neurofibroma
2. Mutually exclusive pathway
Disrupted nerve
Normal nerve
Tumor
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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6. Disruption of Remak bundles in peripheral nerves of
EGFR/+ mice correlates with mast cell infiltration
Disrupted Remak bundle
Monk et al., 2007
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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7. Disruption of Remak bundles in peripheral nerves of
EGFR/+ mice correlates with mast cell infiltration
Disrupted Remak bundle
Evaluate the acute effects Monk et al., 2007
of mast cells on nerve.
4 Week 8 Week
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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8. The disrupted Remak bundle phenotype is observed in both
EGFR over-expression and GEM Nf1 models
Wild type EGFR/+
Monk et al., 2007 Monk et al., 2007
Nf1flox/-; P0A-cre+ DhhCre; Nf1 fl/fl
Zheng et al., 2008 Wu et al., 2008
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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9. Objectives
Test the hypotheses that genetically engineered mouse
(GEM) models showing mast cell infiltration and
Remak bundle disruption:
1. Share common nerve gene expression programs
and have similar transcription profiles.
2. Maintain nerve gene transcription profiles in
GEM-neurofibroma and/or -PNST models.
~100 mouse GEM model samples
encompassing 20 genotypes
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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10. Data analysis
Nerve gene expression patterns
from GEM models of NF1
Nerve gene patterns across
GEM model tumors
Integrate data sets
Identify mouse
Identify nerve
nerve gene
genes changed
orthologs that are
with early Remak
also changed
bundle disruption
in human
and mast cell
NF1-derived
infiltration
Schwann cells
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
10

11. Nerve gene expression patterns
from GEM models of NF1
Hypothesis #1
GEM models showing Nerve gene patterns across
mast cell infiltration and GEM model tumors
Remak bundle disruption Integrate data sets
share common nerve gene
expression programs and Identify nerve
Identify mouse
nerve gene
have similar transcription genes changed
orthologs that are
with early Remak
profiles. bundle disruption
also changed
in human
and mast cell
NF1-derived
infiltration
Schwann cells
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
11

12. Five GEM models of Nf1 and EGFR over-expression known to
cause mast cell infiltration and Remak bundle disruption
GEM Nf1 models Unknown
P0CreB; Nf1 flox/- H-Ras V12
P0CreB; Nf1 flox/flox NPcis (Nf1+/-; p53+/-)
DhhCre; Nf1 flox/flox
GEM models over-expressing EGFR
CNPase-hEGFR/+
CNPase-hEGFR/hEGFR
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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13. GEM model nerves: gene expression profiles
Control nerves GEM model nerves
C1
C2
4.00
2,028 transcripts
C3
C4
0.25
C5
C6
10 genotypes
Disrupted Remak bundle phenotype
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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14. GEM model nerves: gene expression profiles
Control nerves GEM model nerves
C1
C2
4.00
2,028 transcripts
C3
C4
0.25
C5
C6
10 genotypes
Disrupted Remak bundle phenotype
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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15. GEM models showing mast cell infiltration and Remak bundle disruption share
common gene expression programs and have similar transcription profiles
GEM model nerves  Microtubule cytoskeleton
organization and biogenesis
C1  Lipid metabolic process
 Integral to membrane (32%)
C2
Enrichment p-value < 0.05
4.00
2,028 transcripts
 Immune response
C3  Chemotaxis
C4  Angiogenesis
0.25  Extracellular matrix organization
C5 and biogenesis
 Wnt signaling pathway
 Cell differentiation
C6  EGFR signaling pathway
 Extracellular region (28%)
 Collagen (2%)
Disrupted Remak bundle phenotype
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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16. H-Ras and NPcis nerves do not have a disrupted
Remak bundle phenotype
H-Ras V12 nerve NPcis nerve
** mice do not form tumors ** mice only form PNST
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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17. Nerve gene expression patterns
from GEM models of NF1
Hypothesis #2
GEM models showing Nerve gene patterns across
mast cell infiltration and GEM model tumors
Remak bundle disruption Integrate data sets
maintain nerve gene
expression profiles in GEM- Identify nerve
Identify mouse
nerve gene
neurofibroma and/or -PNST genes changed
orthologs that are
with early Remak
models. bundle disruption
also changed
in human
and mast cell
NF1-derived
infiltration
Schwann cells
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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18. Nf1 nerves: Gene expression profiles in GEM tumors
Mouse nerves Mouse tumors
Control nerves
Control Nerves GEM model nerves GEM-Neurofibroma GEM-PNST
GEM-neurofibroma
C1
C2
4.00
2,028 transcripts
C3
0.25
C4
C5
C6
20 genotypes
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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19. GEM models showing mast cell infiltration and Remak bundle disruption
Nf1 nerves: Genetranscription profiles in GEM-Neurofibroma and -PNST
maintain nerve gene expression profiles in GEM tumors
Mouse nerves Mouse tumors
Control nerves
Control Nerves GEM model nerves GEM-Neurofibroma GEM-PNST
GEM-neurofibroma
C1
C2
4.00
2,028 transcripts
C3
0.25
C4
C5
C6
20 genotypes
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org 14
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20. Early features of nerve disruption
Evaluate the acute effects of Nerve gene expression patterns
mast cells on nerve. from GEM models of NF1
Strategy:
Nerve gene patterns across
use GEM Nf1 and EGFR GEM model tumors
over-expression models to
compare nerve gene Integrate data sets
programs expressed at
Identify mouse
4-weeks and 8-weeks Identify nerve
nerve gene
genes changed
orthologs that are
with early Remak
also changed
bundle disruption
in human
and mast cell
NF1-derived
infiltration
Schwann cells
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
20

21. With early Remak bundle disruption and mast cell infiltration, there is a
clear difference in gene patterning between controls and GEM model nerves
Genes also changed
4 week-old nerve 8 week-old nerve in nerve gene
clusters C1 and C6
4.00
1339 transcripts
0.25
3 genotypes
Nf1 flox/flox EGFR/EGFR DhhCre; Nf1 flox/flox
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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22. Nerve differentiation and maturation gene programs are lost in
EGFR/EGFR and DhhCre;Nf1 flox/flox nerves
Genes also changed
4 week-old nerve 8 week-old nerve in nerve gene
clusters C1 and C6
4.00
1339 transcripts
0.25
3 genotypes
Nf1 flox/flox EGFR/EGFR DhhCre; Nf1 flox/flox
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
22

23. Failed nerve maturation correlates with gene signatures of Remak
bundle disruption in GEM Nf1 and EGFR nerve gene expression
Genes also changed
4 week-old nerve 8 week-old nerve in nerve gene
clusters C1 and C6
4.00
1339 transcripts
0.25
3 genotypes
Nf1 flox/flox EGFR/EGFR DhhCre; Nf1 flox/flox
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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24. Schwann cell component Nerve gene expression patterns
from GEM models of NF1
Which mouse nerve genes
are also changed in human
NF1-derived Schwann cells? Nerve gene patterns across
GEM model tumors
Integrate data sets
Strategy:
compare mouse nerve gene Identify nerve
Identify mouse
orthologs from clusters C1 nerve gene
genes changed
orthologs that are
and C6 to NF1-derived with early Remak
also changed
bundle disruption
Schwann cells and primary in human
and mast cell
NF1-derived
tumor gene programs. infiltration
Schwann cells
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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25. GEM disrupted nerve genes that are also differentially expressed
in NF1-derived Schwann cells (SCs) and MPNST cell lines
Genes also in mouse
Human Schwann cell cultures Primary human tumors nerve gene clusters
C1 and C6
6.00
268 Gene Orthologs
0.00
*
*
*
MPNST
NHSC NF1-derived SCs Neurofibroma MPNST
cell lines
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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26. Summary
 GEM models showing mast cell infiltration and Remak bundle
disruption share common nerve gene expression programs.
 GEM models showing mast cell infiltration and Remak bundle
disruption maintain nerve gene transcription profiles in GEM-
neurofibroma and GEM-PNST.
 Nerve differentiation/maturation is lost in GEM Nf1 and EGFR
over-expression models.
 Failed nerve differentiation/maturation correlates with Remak
bundle disruption.
 Abnormal Schwann cell signatures are associated with Remak
bundle disruption in GEM model nerves, GEM-neurofibromas,
GEM-PNST and human neurofibromas and MPNST.
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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27. Mouse models Human
Cincinnati, OH – CCHMC Cincinnati, OH – CCHMC
Nancy Ratner, Jianqiang Wu, Tilat Rizvi Nancy Ratner, Shrya Miller, Atira Hardiman
Paris, France – Fondation Jean Dausset Boston, MA – MGH/Harvard
Marco Giovannini, Jan Manent Anat Stemmer-Rachamimov
Gainseville, FL – University of Florida
Bioinformatics/Biostatistics Margaret Wallace
Cincinnati, OH – CCHMC
Bruce Aronow, Walter Jessen Barcelona, Spain – LʼHospitalet de Llobregat
Concepcion Lazaro, Eduard Serra
Birmingham, AL – University of Alabama
Grier Page, Tapan Mehta
Funding
DOD W81XWH-04-1-0273
Walter Jessen Nf1 mouse nerve gene expression
Walter.Jessen@cchmc.org
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