HLXB9 gene expression, and nuclear location during in vitro neuronal differentiation in the SK-N-BE neuroblastoma cell line.

Different parts of the genome occupy specific compartments of the cell nucleus based on the gene content and the transcriptional activity. An example of this is the altered nuclear positioning of the HLXB9 gene in leukaemia cells observed in association with its over-expression. This phenomenon was attributed to the presence of a chromosomal translocation with breakpoint proximal to the HLXB9 gene. Before becoming an interesting gene in cancer biology, HLXB9 was studied as a developmental gene. This homeobox gene is also known as MNX1 (motor neuron and pancreas homeobox 1) and it is relevant for both motor neuronal and pancreatic beta cells development. A spectrum of mutations in this gene are causative of sacral agenesis and more broadly, of what is known as the Currarino Syndrome, a constitutional autosomal dominant disorder. Experimental work on animal models has shown that HLXB9 has an essential role in motor neuronal differentiation. Here we present data to show that, upon treatment with retinoic acid, the HLXB9 gene becomes over-expressed during the early stages of neuronal differentiation and that this corresponds to a reposition of the gene in the nucleus. More precisely, we used the SK-N-BE human neuroblastoma cell line as an in vitro model and we demonstrated a transient transcription of HLXB9 at the 4th and 5th days of differentiation that corresponded to the presence, predominantly in the cell nuclei, of the encoded protein HB9. The nuclear positioning of the HLXB9 gene was monitored at different stages: a peripheral location was noted in the proliferating cells whereas a more internal position was noted during differentiation, that is while HLXB9 was transcriptionally active. Our findings suggest that HLXB9 can be considered a marker of early neuronal differentiation, possibly involving chromatin remodeling pathways.

Introduction

It is well know that the human genome is distributed in organized structures that occupy specific areas of the nucleus named chromosome territories [1]. Several studies have shown that different parts of the genome occupy specific compartments of the cell nucleus based on their gene content, with gene rich regions positioned towards the nuclear interior and gene poor regions positioned towards the periphery of the nucleus [1]–[6]. The maintenance of higher order chromatin structure is crucial for the maintenance of nuclear health and alterations of this equilibrium are emerging factors in human diseases, including cancer [7]–[12]. Many studies also demonstrated that the chromatin arrangement in the nucleus has a correlation with cellular functions, including differentiation [13]–[19], and that gene distribution in different regions of the nucleus is also associated with transcriptional activity [20]–[26]. For instance, an altered nuclear positioning of the HLXB9 gene was shown in leukaemia cells in association with gene over-expression, a phenomenon that was attributed to the presence of a chromosomal translocation with breakpoint proximal to the HLXB9 gene [12].

The HLXB9 gene, also known as MNX1 (motor neuron and pancreas homeobox 1), is located on chromosome 7q36.3 and belongs to the family of EHG homeobox genes which includes also EN1, EN2, GBX1 and GBX2 [27], [28]. HLXB9 is a gene of 12,801 bp, is composed of 3 exons and codes for a transcription factor, HB9, formed by 401 aminoacids [29]. HB9 contains a homeodomain, preceded by a highly conserved region of 82 amino acids (159–241) and a region of polyalanine that expands from residue 121 to residue 134 in exon 1 [30].

HLXB9 was identified as a locus involved in the autosomal dominant Currarino Syndrome, also known as Hereditary Sacral Agenesis (HSA) syndrome: impaired function of the HLXB9 gene generates a disorder characterized by rectal and uro-genital malformations and sacral agenesis. Malformations observed in the Currarino syndrome probably reflect disturbances in secondary neurulation, a process that occurs in the early stages of development [31].

The HLXB9 gene is also involved in development of pancreatic beta cell [29], [32] and motor neuronal cells with an essential role in motor neuronal differentiation. Specific expression of HLXB9 in pancreatic beta cells is associated with the conserved function in beta cells maturation. The gene is expressed in zebrafish and mice during two different stages of pancreas development. Before the embryonic stage of morphogenesis, HLXB9 is expressed in the pancreatic endoderm, but with morphogenesis this gene is down-regulated and subsequently reactivated during beta cells differentiation. This makes the HLXB9 gene an early specific marker of differentiation of pancreatic cells and suggests that this gene is linked to the initial steps of beta cells specification [33].

RNA in situ hybridization experiments on the amphioxus embryo have revealed that AmphiMnx (orthologue of the human HLXB9 gene) has a dynamic pattern of expression in the neuroectoderm and the mesoderm. The gene transcript is detected ten hours after fertilization and decreases in the following hours [34].

Moreover, HLXB9 is expressed during motor neuron differentiation and it is part of the regulatory system for this process [35], [36]. Genetic studies in the mouse highlight the importance of HLXB9 in the consolidation and maintenance of motor neurons identity suggesting that HLXB9 is to be considered a marker for the correct development of spinal neurons. In fact, mice lacking functional HLXB9 generate a correct number of motor neurons but show dramatic changes in their program of differentiation, such as: abnormalities in the pattern of migration, errors in the motor axons projection and innervation defects in some target muscles [35]. Moreover, studies performed on neuroepithelial stem cells, showed an increase in the levels of HLXB9 transcripts in motoneuronal phenotype [37].

Neuroblastoma cell lines have been used extensively as in vitro models for studies on neuronal development including proliferation, differentiation and growth [38], [39], [40]. In particular, it has been shown that it is possible to obtain neuron-like cells after treatment with retinoic acid [38]. Being HLXB9 gene involved in motor neuron identity, we wanted to investigate its expression levels during neuronal cell differentiation, using the human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-BE as in vitro model, and its nuclear location to point out a possible correlation between the expression of HLXB9 and the chromatin re-organization, as previously shown for this gene in leukaemic cells [12].

Here we demonstrate, for the first time, that HLXB9 is expressed in a specific and restricted period during in vitro human neuronal differentiation in the SK-N-BE neuroblastoma cell line, and that HLXB9 expression is associated with a change of its radial nuclear location, indicating HLXB9 as an early specific marker of neuronal cell differentiation, a process that implies a remodelling of the chromatin organization.

Materials and Methods

Cell cultures

Human neuroblastoma cell line SK-N-BE [38] grows in RPMI 1640 supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) to a final concentration of 10%, 1% antibiotic Penicillin/Streptomycin (P/S) and 1% L-Glutamine at 37°C, with 5% CO2 [38]. SK-N-BE cells were kindly gifted by Professor Della Valle from Department of Genetics and Microbiology, University of Pavia, Italy [41].

Human myeloma U266 cells were kindly provided by Dr. Daniele Tibullo, Department of Clinical and Molecular Biomedicine, University of Catania, Catania, Italy [42], purchased from ATCC (code number TIB-196). Cells were maintained in RPMI 1640 medium supplemented with fetal bovine serum (FBS) to a final concentration of 10%, 1% antibiotic Penicillin/Streptomycin (P/S) and 1% L-Glutamine at 37°C, with 5% CO2 [43], [44].

Human liver cancer HepG2 cell line were kindly provided by Professor Fabrizio Palitti, Department of Ecological and Biological Sciences, University of Tuscia, Viterbo, Italy [45]. Cells were grown in Dulbecco’s minimal essential medium (DMEM) supplemented with 15% fetal bovine serum, 1% antibiotic Penicillin/Streptomycin (P/S) and 1% L-Glutamine at 37°C, with 5% CO2 [46].

SK-N-BE cells were differentiated in neuronal-like cells after treatment with retinoic acid (10 µM). Retinoic acid was added to the culture medium every 72 hours (day 0, 3, 6, 9) to obtain fully differentiated cells at the 12th day of treatment [47], [48]. U266 and HepG2 cells were used as controls and treated with retinoic acid (10 µM) for six days.

In situ hybridization on chromosomes and nuclei

To obtain metaphase chromosomes we added colcemid 0.05 µg/ml to the cell cultures for 1 hour before harvesting. Then, cells were harvested in hypotonic solution (KCl 0.075 M) and fixed with methanol-acetic acid (3∶1). Interphase nuclei were prepared using a protocol to preserve the 3D chromatin structure, as previously described [49]. Briefly, cells were fixed in freshly made 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS for 10 min, washed in PBS, incubated in 0.5% Triton X-100 in PBS for 10 min, and equilibrated in 20% glycerol in PBS for 30 min. Cells were then frozen in liquid nitrogen and thawed at room temperature. After a further wash in PBS, cells were incubated for 5 min in 0.1 N HCl. Subsequently, fluorescence in situ hybridizations was performed with PAC RPCI-5-1121A15 probe containing HLXB9 gene. DNA probes were extracted using a commercial kit (Qiagen, Milan, Italy), biotin-labeled by nick translation (Roche, Mannheim, Germany) and hybridized as previously described [6]. Detection of hybridized probe was performed using fluorescein-conjugated avidin.

Statistical analysis

Images of the hybridized nuclei were captured using MacProbe v4.3 software (Applied Imaging, Newcastle, UK), and radial nuclear location of HLXB9 gene was obtained using the two-dimensional (2D) analysis as previously described [6]. Briefly, the radial nuclear position was first assigned to each hybridization signal in each cell nucleus as a ratio of the nuclear radius (0 and 1 indicate the centre and the periphery of the nucleus, respectively) using a dedicated computer software developed in our lab at the University of Catania [6]. The assessment of each radial nuclear location was based on the analysis of a minimum of 300 nuclei per experiment. At least two different experiments per each examined period (proliferative cells, and cells after 2, 4, 6, and 12 days of treatment with retinoic acid) were performed. Nuclear location was defined as the median value ± confidence interval (C.I.): median values lower than 0.65 indicate loci located more internally in the nuclei. The statistical analyses were carried out using Microsoft Excel and StatView softwares.

Expression analysis

To analyze gene expression in SK-N-BE cells, RNA was extracted every day from 0 (start) to 12 days (fully differentiated cells), after retinoic acid induction, using TRI Reagent (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA) and used in Real Time PCR experiments (StepOne instrument from Applied Biosystems) with primers specifically selected for target and control genes (Sigma-Aldrich, St. Louis, USA) (Table 1). To analyze HLXB9 expression in the control cell lines U266 and HepG2, RNA was extracted at day 0, 4 and 6 after retinoic acid induction with the same conditions used for SK-N-BE cells.

Table 1

Primers used in the present study.

Human Gene	Size	Nucleotide sequence (5′-3′)
HLXB9	137 bp	Forward	AACCTCCTGGGGAAGTGC
		Reverse	GGTGAGCATGAGCGAGGT
ACTB	131 bp	Forward	GACGACATGGAGAAAATCTG
		Reverse	ATGATCTGGGTCATCTTCTC
GAP-43	76 bp	Forward	GAGGAAAAATCTTCAGAGACC
		Reverse	AACCCTTGAAATCCAGAAAG
MYCN	187 bp	Forward	GAGCGATTCAGATGATGAAG
		Reverse	TCGTTTGAGGATCAGCTC
MAPT	190 bp	Forward	CTGGTTTGGGTACAGTTAAAG
		Reverse	AGATCCCTTCAACTTAGGAG

Real Time PCR was performed according to the manufacturer instructions with specific annealing temperature and experiments were repeated at least three times with statistical analyses for each individual experimental set. A value of P<0.05 was considered statistically significant. Data were represented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM). Data on HLXB9, GAP43, MAPT and MYCN were analyzed using the Ct value. This is normalized with Ct value of the endogenous control ACTB obtaining the ΔCt. Normalizing the ΔCt of the sample of interest with that of the calibrator, we get the ΔΔCt. Finally, to determine the relative concentration of the target gene in the sample of interest we applied 2−ΔΔCt formula.

Immunolocalization

Indirect immunofluorescence experiments were performed on SK-N-BE cells using anti HB9 antibody (Sigma–Aldrich, 1∶100 dilution) at day 0, 4, 5 and 6 after retinoic acid treatment, and anti β-tubulin antibody (Sigma–Aldrich, 1∶100 dilution) at day 0 and 12. Cells were fixed with 4% paraformaldehyde for 20 min at room temperature. Fixed cells were washed with PBS and incubated 15 min in PBS containing 0.5% Triton X-100, and then for 20 min in blocking solution. The cells were then incubated with specific primary antibody overnight at 37°C. After further PBS washes, the cells were incubated for 1 hour with anti-rabbit secondary antibody conjugated with FITC (Invitrogen, 1∶100) at 37°C. Photographs were taken under a Zeiss LSM 700 microscope.

Results

Assessment of differentiation in SK-N-BE cells

SK-N-BE cells treated with retinoic acid start differentiating into neuronal-like cells. After 12 days of in vitro treatment, cells are fully differentiated. During differentiation, cells stop proliferating and undergo multiple morphological modifications that involve loss of round shape and development of cell protrusions to resemble dendritic formations (Figure 1 A, B, C, D and E). Real-time PCR experiments were performed on RNA samples extracted from SK-N-BE cells on a daily basis during differentiation, and specific markers to confirm neuronal differentiation were used. These experiments showed expression of GAP-43 and MAPT gene throughout the 12 days, with a dramatic increase at day 12. Conversely, MYCN expression was higher at the initial stages of retinoic acid treatment and decreases with time during differentiation (Figure 1F).

Figure 1

Morphological changes and expression analysis of neuronal differentiation markers in SK-N-BE cells.

(A, B, C) Morphology of the SK-N-BE cells in proliferating stage (A), and at 6th (B) and 12th (C) day after treatment with retinoic acid. The cell body from relatively round shape (A) becomes more elongated (B) and cells eventually form dendridic-like extensions (C). Images were obtained using the inverted microscope Olympus CK40 (200x magnification). (D, and E) Dendridic-like extensions are clearly visible by indirect immunofluorescence experiments to detect β-tubulin protein in SK-N-BE cells at the 12th day after treatment with retinoic acid (E) respect to the proliferating stage (D). These images were obtained using the Zeiss LSM700 Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy. (F) Histograms showing the expression profile of GAP-43, MYCN, and MAPT genes, three control genes differently expressed during cell differentiation, reaching the peak of expression on the twelfth day (GAP-43 and MAPT), or on the early days (MYCN), when SK-N-BE treated with retinoic acid are differentiated in a neuron-like form. 0 indicates proliferating cells before treatment with retinoic acid.

HLXB9 gene expression in SK-N-BE

Real-time PCR showed the presence of HLXB9 mRNA mainly in the fourth and fifth day of differentiation, then undergoing a significant decrease on the sixth day and disappearing from seventh to twelfth day of differentiation. Analysis of data obtained from 2−ΔΔCt calculation enabled us to quantify the increase of HLXB9 expression, with an eightfold increase at the fourth day and a fivefold increase at the fifth day compared to proliferating cells (Figure 2B).

Figure 2

HLXB9 expression in SK-N-BE.

(A) Amplification plot of Real time PCR experiments. Data show HLXB9 expression in SK-N-BE cells at different days after retinoic acid treatment in comparison with expression of ACTB (Actin-B) used as a control. (B) Histogram generated with values of 2−ΔΔCt. Samples are on x-axis and fluorescence emission is on y-axis. The increase of HLXB9 expression in SK-N-BE cells is noted dramatically on the fourth and fifth day of differentiation. Subsequently, HLXB9 expression decreases until disappearing at day 12. (C) Electrophoresis of the Real time PCR fragments obtained with the specific primers for HLXB9 and for the control gene ACTB. Electrophoresis of MYCN Real time PCR fragments was also shown. In B, and C “0” indicates proliferating cells before treatment with retinoic acid. D) Histogram generated with values of 2−ΔΔCt. Samples are on x-axis and fluorescence emission is on y-axis. There isn’t a significant increase of HLXB9 gene expression in U266 and HepG2 cells, when cells are treated with retinoic acid. Data in the graphs B, and D are represented as mean ± standard error of the mean (SEM).

To confirm that our observations are specific for the SK-N-BE cell line and that retinoic acid itself does not influence HLXB9 gene expression we used two other different cell lines as control: U266 and HepG2 cells, derived from myeloma and liver cancer respectively. These cell lines, exposed to retinoic acid for six days, did not show an increase in HLXB9 expression (Figure 2D).

HB9 immunodetection

In agreement with the Real time PCR data showing HLXB9 gene expression, the HB9 protein was detected in the SK-N-BE cells at fourth and fifth day of differentiation by immunofluorescence with specific antibody. HB9 immunostaining was detected in both nuclei and cytoplasm of cells at the fourth and fifth day of differentiation, with more intense staining in the nucleus than in the cytoplasm. This preferential nuclear location is compatible with the function of HB9 protein as transcription factor. Cells at sixth day of differentiation showed a decrease of the HB9 presence in the nucleus (Figure 3).

Figure 3

Indirect immunofluorescence to detect HB9 protein in SK-N-BE cells.

A, B, C, and D show SK-N-BE cells at proliferative stage (day 0) and at 4th day, 5th day, and 6th day after acid retinoic induction respectively. HB9 protein (green signal) is visible in both nucleus and cytoplasm at the fourth and fifth days of differentiation (B, C). A very faint staining is also noted in the cytoplasm of cells at proliferating stage (A) and in the cytoplasm of cells at the sixth day of differentiation (D). A, B, C and D are the merge images of A’, B’, C’, D’, representing immunofluorescence staining only, and A”, B”, C”, D”, representing the DAPI staining of the nucleus only in blue. Scale bar is 10 µm.

Radial nuclear location of the HLXB9 gene

Using fluorescence in situ hybridization we assessed the positioning of HLXB9 gene in the interphase nuclei of SK-N-BE cells at proliferative stage, 2nd, 4th, 6th, and 12th day after retinoic acid induction respectively. Our data showed that HLXB9 is localized to a more peripheral position in the proliferating SK-N-BE nuclei with median values of 0.73 whereas it occupies a more internal localization in SK-N-BE from 2nd day of differentiation, with median values of 0.60. This internal location of HLXB9 gene is conserved up to the 12th day of differentiation (Figure 4).

Figure 4

HLXB9 gene localization in the metaphase chromosomes and interphase nuclei of SK-N-BE cells.

Fluorescence in situ hybridization was used to assess localization of HLXB9 gene, contained in the probe RPCI-5-1121A15, and visible in green in both metaphase chromosomes (A), showing localization on both chromosomes 7, and interphase nuclei (B and C). DNA is counterstained with DAPI and is visible in blue. Representative examples of proliferating (B) and differentiated SK-N-BE nuclei (C) at day 0 and 6 respectively are shown. Gene positioning in (B) is more peripheral compared to (C) as shown by the presence of green hybridization signals in different areas of the nucleus. (D) Schematic representation of HLXB9 radial nuclear localization (red spots) in proliferating SK-N-BE (pro) cells and at the second, fourth, sixth and twelfth day after retinoic acid treatment. IR, and PR: internal and peripheral nuclear compartment respectively. 0.65 indicates the median value demarcating the peripheral and the internal nuclear compartment. (E) Median values (and the relative confidence interval, C.I.) of the data for RPCI-5-1121A15 probe located in the SK-N-BE nuclei at different days after retinoic acid treatment. Data for two different experiments were shown for each analysis. Pro indicates proliferating cells.

Discussion

The expression levels of HLXB9 gene have been evaluated in proliferating SK-N-BE cells and at different stages of their neuronal differentiation, from day 1 to day 12 of treatment with retinoic acid. Differentiation was assessed by observing the morphological changes at the cellular level and was confirmed by real time PCR experiments through the assessment of mRNA levels of some known specific markers of differentiation such as GAP-43, MAPT and MYCN genes [48], [50]–[53]. Our data indicate that HLXB9 is only expressed during the fourth, and fifth day from the start of differentiation, showing a decrease in the following days and disappearing from the ninth day. Moreover, we observed during differentiation a significant change in the HLXB9 gene nuclear positioning, from a peripheral location in the proliferating cells to a more internal position during differentiation.

These findings indicate that the HLXB9 gene is repositioned to the inner part of the nucleus within 2 days of differentiation to start its transcription, and then it maintains the more internal nuclear position until the end of differentiation, in a down-regulated state. Thus we can assume that HLXB9 gene in proliferating SK-N-BE cells is maintained in a repressed status by chromatin compaction at the nuclear periphery. Then, the retinoic acid treatment seems to induce a chromatin reorganization that determines a repositioning of the genes in the nucleus, with HLXB9 relocated in a more internal, and transcriptionally competent, compartment. After the 5th–6th day, HLXB9 remains in the inner part of the nucleus in a transcriptionally inactive status, probably due to the absence of specific, unidentified, transcription factor, and/or epigenetic modification of its regulatory region.

Previous studies carried out in human lymphocytes, showed that chromosome 7 is arranged in a zig-zag manner with the gene-poorest regions located close to the nuclear envelope [6]. In this context, the 7q36.3 band, where the HLXB9 gene is mapped, has a peripheral location. This is the case also in the proliferative SK-N-BE cells, as shown in the present work. The peripheral location is associated with the absence of expression of HLXB9. Our findings suggest that the retinoic acid induction determines, from the first addition, a chromatin remodeling which moves the HLXB9 gene into a transcriptionally competent compartment, toward the internal part of the nucleus. Thus, transcriptional activation of HLXB9 could be considered a response of the SK-N-BE cells to the retinoic acid.

Although an increases in HLXB9 expression was previously observed in motor neurons derived from human stem cells [37], our results show for the first time the change in expression level of the gene during several days of human neuronal differentiation Furthermore, HLXB9 expression was tested in relation to its nuclear positioning in a neuronal model. Previous reports showed alterations of gene positioning within the nucleus during development. For instance, a change in the positioning of adipogenesis genes corresponding to their expression implies a reorganization of the nuclear architecture in the stem cells of pig embryos [54]. The more internal positioning of the HLXB9 gene in the cell nucleus of neuronal cells half way through differentiation, might be crucial for its expression, making it more available to the transcription machinery. It was previously observed that a change in nuclear positioning for HLXB9 corresponded to an increase of its transcriptional activity due to a chromosomal translocation in leukaemia [12]. Our data indicate that HLXB9 expression is related to the chromatin reorganization not only in the case of Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), but also during neuronal differentiation. Being HB9 a transcription factor itself [35], [36], our findings suggest that this protein must be required only at a certain time point during neuronal differentiation, in order to initiate specific pathways conducive to cell maturity.

Our findings suggest that HLXB9 might have a functional role in the differentiation process. Therefore, this gene could be considered a marker of development and consolidation of motor neuron, and more generally, as a marker of the early stages of neuronal differentiation, also involving a chromatin remodelling pathway, in addition to known markers that are found in completely differentiated neurons such as GAP-43, NF, MAP2, TAU [48], [50]–[53].

The possibility to use a human derived cell line has been an advantage in this work, allowing us to highlight HLXB9 transcriptional activation in relation to the cell differentiation process and to the chromatin reorganization. Therefore, SK-N-BE cell line can be considered a good tool to study in vitro neuronal development. The use of this model enabled us also to evaluate the expression of other chromatin reorganization genes during the different stages of cell differentiation. Further work is needed to better understand the relevance of HLXB9 in the neuronal differentiation program and to establish whether this gene could be exploited to reprogram degenerative neuronal cells. These aspects would have considerable implications in the therapy of human conditions such as Alzheimer disease.