Chromosome X loci and spontaneous granulosa cell tumor development in SWR mice: epigenetics and epistasis at work for an ovarian phenotype.

Females of the SWR/Bm (SWR) inbred mouse strain possess a unique susceptibility to juvenile-onset tumors originating from the granulosa cells (GC) of the ovarian follicles. Tumor susceptibility is an inherited, polygenic trait in SWR females, minimally involving an oncogenic Granulosa cell tumor susceptibility (Gct) locus on chromosome (Chr) 4 (Gct1), and two GC tumor susceptibility modifier genes mapped to distinct regions of Chr X (Gct4 and Gct6). Shifts in the frequency of GC tumor initiation in the SWR female population from low penetrance to moderate penetrance, or phenotype switching between GC tumor-susceptible and GC tumor-resistant, is strongly influenced by the allelic contributions at Gct4 and Gct6.

Fine map of the Gct1 spontaneous ovarian granulosa cell tumor locus.

The spontaneous development of juvenile-onset, ovarian granulosa cell (GC) tumors in the SWR/Bm (SWR) inbred mouse strain is a model for juvenile-type GC tumors that appear in infants and young girls. GC tumor susceptibility is supported by multiple Granulosa cell tumor (Gct) loci, but the Gct1 locus on Chr 4 derived from SWR strain background is fundamental for GC tumor development and uniquely responsive to the androgenic precursor dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA). To resolve the location of Gct1 independently from other susceptibility loci, Gct1 was isolated in a congenic strain that replaces the distal segment of Chr 4 in SWR mice with a 47 × 10(6)-bp genomic segment from the Castaneus/Ei (CAST) strain.

Bone morphogenetic protein receptor type Ia localization causes increased BMP2 signaling in mice exhibiting increased peak bone mass phenotype.

Bone morphogenetic protein 2 (BMP2) is a growth factor that initiates osteoblast differentiation. Recent studies show that BMP2 signaling regulates bone mineral density (BMD). BMP2 interacts with BMP receptor type Ia (BMPRIa) and type II receptor leading to the activation of the Smad signaling pathway.

Multiple quantitative trait loci for cortical and trabecular bone regulation map to mid-distal mouse chromosome 4 that shares linkage homology to human chromosome 1p36.

The mid-distal region of mouse chromosome 4 (Chr 4) is homologous with human Chr 1p36. Previously, we reported that mouse Chr 4 carries a quantitative trait locus (QTL) with strong regulatory effect on volumetric bone mineral density (vBMD). The intent of this study is to utilize nested congenic strains to decompose the genetic complexity of this gene-rich region.

LH analog and dietary isoflavones support ovarian granulosa cell tumor development in a spontaneous mouse model.

The reproductive hormone environment is an important influence upon spontaneous ovarian granulosa cell (GC) tumor development in genetically susceptible (SWR x SWXJ-9) F1 female mice: androgenic support during puberty stimulates tumorigenesis, while exposure to 17beta-estradiol (E(2)) suppresses tumor initiation. We sought to determine whether gonadotropic stimulation was sufficient to initiate GC tumors in a grafted model system, and to determine the potential for dietary isoflavones (genistein and daidzein) as alternatives to E(2) for tumor chemoprevention in vivo. Isolated ovaries from pre-pubertal (SWR x SWXJ-9) F1 females were transferred to the kidney capsule of host mice homozygous for the hypogonadal (hpg/hpg) and severe combined immunodeficiency (scid/scid) mutations.

Genetic dissection of mouse distal chromosome 1 reveals three linked BMD QTLs with sex-dependent regulation of bone phenotypes.

Unlabelled: Genetic analyses with mouse congenic strains for distal Chr1 have identified three closely linked QTLs regulating femoral vBMD, mid-diaphyseal cortical thickness, and trabecular microstructure in a sex-dependent fashion. The homologous relationship between distal mouse Chr 1 and human 1q21-24 offers the possibility of finding common regulatory genes for cortical and trabecular bone.

Introduction: The distal third of mouse chromosome 1 (Chr 1) has been shown to carry a major quantitative trait locus (QTL) for BMD from several inbred mouse strain crosses.

Genetic effects on bone mechanotransduction in congenic mice harboring bone size and strength quantitative trait loci.

Unlabelled: The degree to which bone tissue responds to mechanical loading events is partially under genetic control. We assess the contribution of three genetic loci (QTLs linked to bone geometry and strength)--located on mouse Chrs. 1, 8, and 13--to mechanically stimulated bone formation, through in vivo skeletal loading of congenic strains.

Multiple genetic loci from CAST/EiJ chromosome 1 affect vBMD either positively or negatively in a C57BL/6J background.

Unlabelled: Skeletal phenotype analyses of 10 B6.CAST-1 congenic sublines of mice have revealed evidence for the presence of three closely linked QTLs in Chr 1 that influence femoral vBMD both positively and negatively.

Introduction: BMD is an important component of bone strength and a recognized predictor of risk for osteoporotic fracture.

Ovariectomy-induced bone loss varies among inbred strains of mice.

Unlabelled: There is a subset of women who experience particularly rapid bone loss during and after the menopause. However, the factors that lead to this enhanced bone loss remain obscure. We show that patterns of bone loss after ovariectomy vary among inbred strains of mice, providing evidence that there may be genetic regulation of bone loss induced by estrogen deficiency.

Distal Chr 4 harbors a genetic locus (Gct1) fundamental for spontaneous ovarian granulosa cell tumorigenesis in a mouse model.

The spontaneous development of juvenile-onset ovarian granulosa cell tumors in mice of the SWXJ-9 recombinant inbred strain is a model for juvenile-type granulosa cell tumors that appear in very young girls. To expedite gene discovery in this mouse model of childhood cancer, we did a gene mapping study with the SWXJ-9 recombinant inbred strain and the evolutionarily divergent Mus musculus castaneus (CAST/Ei) strain as a mapping partner. Our mapping strategy focused on autosomal determinants of susceptibility with a backcross scheme that exploited a paternal, parent-of-origin effect for a X-linked gene (Gct4) that strongly supports granulosa cell tumor development.

Mapping quantitative trait loci for vertebral trabecular bone volume fraction and microarchitecture in mice.

Unlabelled: BMD, which reflects both cortical and cancellous bone, has been shown to be highly heritable; however, little is known about the specific genetic factors regulating trabecular bone. Genome-wide linkage analysis of vertebral trabecular bone traits in 914 adult female mice from the F2 intercross of C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ inbred strains revealed a pattern of genetic regulation derived from 13 autosomes, with 5-13 QTLs associated with each of the traits. Ultimately, identification of genes that regulate trabecular bone traits may yield important information regarding mechanisms that regulate mechanical integrity of the skeleton.

High-resolution genetic map of X-linked juvenile-type granulosa cell tumor susceptibility genes in mouse.

SWR/Bm (SWR) female mice spontaneously develop early-onset ovarian granulosa cell (GC) tumors that can progress to metastatic carcinoma and thus provide a model system for human, juvenile-type GC tumors. In SWR mice, GC tumor susceptibility is an inherited, polygenic trait that appears at a low frequency. A dramatic increase in tumor frequency occurs when the autosomal SWR genetic complement is combined with the X-linked Gct4 allele of the mouse strain SJL/Bm (SJL).

Genetic effects for femoral biomechanics, structure, and density in C57BL/6J and C3H/HeJ inbred mouse strains.

Unlabelled: Genome-wide QTL analysis for bone density, structure, and biomechanical phenotypes was performed in 999 (B6xC3H)F2 mice. Multivariate phenotypes were also derived to test for pleiotropic QTL effects. Highly significant QTLs were detected with pleiotropic effects on many of these phenotypes, and QTLs with unique effects on specific phenotypes were found as well.

Congenic strains of mice for verification and genetic decomposition of quantitative trait loci for femoral bone mineral density.

Peak femoral volumetric bone mineral density (femoral bone mineral density) in C57BL/6J (B6) 4-month-old female mice is 50% lower than in C3H/HeJ (C3H) and 34% lower than in CAST/EiJ (CAST) females. Genome-wide analyses of (B6 x C3H)F2 and (B6 x CAST)F2 4-month-old female progeny demonstrated that peak femoral bone mineral density is a complex quantitative trait associated with genetic loci (QTL) on numerous chromosomes (Chrs) and with trait heritabilities of 83% (C3H) and 57% (CAST). To test the effect of each QTL on femoral bone mineral density, two sets of loci (six each from C3H and CAST) were selected to make congenic strains by repeated backcrossing of donor mice carrying a given QTL-containing chromosomal region to recipient mice of the B6 progenitor strain.

Evidence for a skeletal mechanosensitivity gene on mouse chromosome 4.

Differences in skeletal mechanical adaptation between C3H/HeJ (C3H) and C57BL/6J (B6) mouse strains suggest that these mice can be used to elucidate the genes involved in mechanosensitivity regulation. The C3H and B6 skeletons also differ in bone size, and several quantitative trait loci (QTL) have been mapped for bone size. We hypothesized that genes controlling bone size (external diameter) might exert their effect by influencing mechanosensitivity.

Gene expression between a congenic strain that contains a quantitative trait locus of high bone density from CAST/EiJ and its wild-type strain C57BL/6J.

Peak bone density is an important determining factor of future osteoporosis risk. We previously identified a quantitative trait locus (QTL) that contributes significantly to high bone density on mouse chromosome 1 from a cross between C57BL/6J (B6) and CAST/EiJ (CAST) mouse strains. We then generated a congenic strain, B6.

Generation of a new congenic mouse strain to test the relationships among serum insulin-like growth factor I, bone mineral density, and skeletal morphology in vivo.

Insulin-like growth factor (IGF) I is a critical peptide for skeletal growth and consolidation. However, its regulation is complex and, in part, heritable. We previously indicated that changes in both serum and skeletal IGF-I were related to strain-specific differences in total femoral bone mineral density (BMD) in mice.