LAMONERIE

Thomas LAMONERIE

Neurodevelopment : Temporal functions of transcription factors in mouse brain development

Main interests

  • Mammalian brain development
  • Developmental and post-developmental functions of transcription factors
  • Retinal development and diseases
  • Neurodevelopmental origin of psychiatric diseases

Scientific Questions

The main goal of this team is the elucidation of mechanisms that govern temporal variations of regulatory gene function throughout development of the mammalian central nervous system. During animal development, a handful of signalling molecules and transcription factors are used for many different purposes. Among these molecules, homeodomain proteins are particularly important from the first steps of development to trigger cascades of developmental events leading to mature tissues or organs. From our recent studies, it has become clear that these so-called 'developmental genes' also play major roles in adult tissues. How can these proteins play so many roles in such different developmental contexts? To gain insight into this, the group has focussed on one specific neural transcription factor, Otx2, with the goal to identify its different functions during development and post-development, and to determine the molecular bases of these different functions.

Our Strategy

We have developed in-house mouse molecular genetics tools to study real-time activity of the Otx2 gene, to carry out lineage analyses and to achieve temporally controlled gain- or loss-of-function. We combine these animal models with other tools such as mouse driver lines, drug designed tracing viruses, optogenetics, to perform a wide range of studies such as dissection of molecular networks using high-throughput methods, cellular analyses of neuronal identity, migration and projections, physiological activity recording, or behavioural studies in adults.

Research Aims

Otx2 neuro-protective function in the retina. We have generated the first genetically controlled model for late onset photoreceptor degeneration (a model for AMD). This model allowed us to demonstrate that in the adult retina, Otx2 is primarily required in the retinal pigment epithelium to ensure long-term maintenance of photoreceptors. We are investigating the nature and the mechanism of this neuro-protective activity.

Control of normal and tumoral growth In the cerebellum. We have discovered a major role of Otx2 in the control of normal and tumoral proliferation of granule cell precursors, a finding of importance for understanding medulloblastoma formation. Our research now aims at understanding how early patterning activities involving Otx2 and other genes in the rhombencephalon set the stage for the production of highly proliferative, tumor-prone neural precursors.

Neurodevelopmental origin of psychiatric diseases. In the habenulo-inderpeduncular system, a major component of positive and negative reward circuits, we show that Otx2 is critical for the edification of a sub-circuit involved in anxiety and depression and for its function in adults. Our research aims at understanding how developmental defects of this circuit translate into susceptibility to psychiatric pathologies.

Researchers

BILLON RASCLE Nathalie - +33 489150846
D`AUTRéAUX Fabien - +33 489150846
ONTENIENTE Brigitte - +33 489150846

Engineers & Technicians

SEKONI KHEMIRI Mouna - +33 489150809

Recent publications

  1. Rahimi-Balaei, M, Amiri, S, Lamonerie, T, Wu, SR, Zoghbi, HY, Consalez, GG et al.. Identification of an early subset of cerebellar nuclei neurons in mice. Elife. 2024;13 :. doi: 10.7554/eLife.93778. PubMed PMID:39679919 .
  2. Rakotobe, M, Fjerdingstad, N, Ruiz-Reig, N, Lamonerie, T, D'Autréaux, F. Central role of the habenulo-interpeduncular system in the neurodevelopmental basis of susceptibility and resilience to anxiety in mice. Neurobiol Dis. 2024;191 :106392. doi: 10.1016/j.nbd.2023.106392. PubMed PMID:38145853 .
  3. Pensieri, P, Mantilleri, A, Plassard, D, Furukawa, T, Moya, KL, Prochiantz, A et al.. Photoreceptor cKO of OTX2 Enhances OTX2 Intercellular Transfer in the Retina and Causes Photophobia. eNeuro. 2021;8 (5):. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0229-21.2021. PubMed PMID:34475267 PubMed Central PMC8496205.
  4. Torero Ibad, R, Mazhar, B, Vincent, C, Bernard, C, Dégardin, J, Simonutti, M et al.. OTX2 Non-Cell Autonomous Activity Regulates Inner Retinal Function. eNeuro. 2020;7 (5):. doi: 10.1523/ENEURO.0012-19.2020. PubMed PMID:32737182 PubMed Central PMC7477954.
  5. Ruiz-Reig, N, Rakotobe, M, Bethus, I, Le Menn, G, Huditz, HI, Marie, H et al.. Developmental Requirement of Homeoprotein Otx2 for Specific Habenulo-Interpeduncular Subcircuits. J Neurosci. 2019;39 (6):1005-1019. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1818-18.2018. PubMed PMID:30593496 PubMed Central PMC6363926.
  6. El Nagar, S, Chakroun, A, Le Greneur, C, Figarella-Branger, D, Di Meglio, T, Lamonerie, T et al.. Otx2 promotes granule cell precursor proliferation and Shh-dependent medulloblastoma maintenance in vivo. Oncogenesis. 2018;7 (8):60. doi: 10.1038/s41389-018-0070-6. PubMed PMID:30100614 PubMed Central PMC6087714.
  7. Ruiz-Reig, N, Andres, B, Lamonerie, T, Theil, T, Fairén, A, Studer, M et al.. The caudo-ventral pallium is a novel pallial domain expressing Gdf10 and generating Ebf3-positive neurons of the medial amygdala. Brain Struct Funct. 2018;223 (7):3279-3295. doi: 10.1007/s00429-018-1687-0. PubMed PMID:29869132 .
  8. El Nagar, S, Zindy, F, Moens, C, Martin, L, Plassard, D, Roussel, MF et al.. A new genetically engineered mouse model of choroid plexus carcinoma. Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2018;496 (2):568-574. doi: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2017.11.192. PubMed PMID:29339161 PubMed Central PMC5880203.
  9. Kim, HT, Kim, SJ, Sohn, YI, Paik, SS, Caplette, R, Simonutti, M et al.. Mitochondrial Protection by Exogenous Otx2 in Mouse Retinal Neurons. Cell Rep. 2015;13 (5):990-1002. doi: 10.1016/j.celrep.2015.09.075. PubMed PMID:26565912 .
  10. Fant, B, Samuel, A, Audebert, S, Couzon, A, El Nagar, S, Billon, N et al.. Comprehensive interactome of Otx2 in the adult mouse neural retina. Genesis. 2015;53 (11):685-94. doi: 10.1002/dvg.22903. PubMed PMID:26426291 .
  11. Vendrell, V, López-Hernández, I, Durán Alonso, MB, Feijoo-Redondo, A, Abello, G, Gálvez, H et al.. Otx2 is a target of N-myc and acts as a suppressor of sensory development in the mammalian cochlea. Development. 2015;142 (16):2792-800. doi: 10.1242/dev.122465. PubMed PMID:26160903 .
  12. Mortensen, AH, Schade, V, Lamonerie, T, Camper, SA. Deletion of OTX2 in neural ectoderm delays anterior pituitary development. Hum Mol Genet. 2015;24 (4):939-53. doi: 10.1093/hmg/ddu506. PubMed PMID:25315894 PubMed Central PMC4834879.
  13. Ip, CK, Fossat, N, Jones, V, Lamonerie, T, Tam, PP. Head formation: OTX2 regulates Dkk1 and Lhx1 activity in the anterior mesendoderm. Development. 2014;141 (20):3859-67. doi: 10.1242/dev.114900. PubMed PMID:25231759 .
  14. Samuel, A, Housset, M, Fant, B, Lamonerie, T. Otx2 ChIP-seq reveals unique and redundant functions in the mature mouse retina. PLoS One. 2014;9 (2):e89110. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0089110. PubMed PMID:24558479 PubMed Central PMC3928427.
  15. Fauquier, T, Chatonnet, F, Picou, F, Richard, S, Fossat, N, Aguilera, N et al.. Purkinje cells and Bergmann glia are primary targets of the TRα1 thyroid hormone receptor during mouse cerebellum postnatal development. Development. 2014;141 (1):166-75. doi: 10.1242/dev.103226. PubMed PMID:24346699 .
  16. Housset, M, Samuel, A, Ettaiche, M, Bemelmans, A, Béby, F, Billon, N et al.. Loss of Otx2 in the adult retina disrupts retinal pigment epithelium function, causing photoreceptor degeneration. J Neurosci. 2013;33 (24):9890-904. doi: 10.1523/JNEUROSCI.1099-13.2013. PubMed PMID:23761884 PubMed Central PMC6618395.
  17. Beby, F, Lamonerie, T. The homeobox gene Otx2 in development and disease. Exp Eye Res. 2013;111 :9-16. doi: 10.1016/j.exer.2013.03.007. PubMed PMID:23523800 .
  18. Chung, S, Moon, JI, Leung, A, Aldrich, D, Lukianov, S, Kitayama, Y et al.. ES cell-derived renewable and functional midbrain dopaminergic progenitors. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2011;108 (23):9703-8. doi: 10.1073/pnas.1016443108. PubMed PMID:21606375 PubMed Central PMC3111266.
  19. Béby, F, Housset, M, Fossat, N, Le Greneur, C, Flamant, F, Godement, P et al.. Otx2 gene deletion in adult mouse retina induces rapid RPE dystrophy and slow photoreceptor degeneration. PLoS One. 2010;5 (7):e11673. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0011673. PubMed PMID:20657788 PubMed Central PMC2908139.
  20. Bertrand, S, Somorjai, I, Garcia-Fernandez, J, Lamonerie, T, Escriva, H. FGFRL1 is a neglected putative actor of the FGF signalling pathway present in all major metazoan phyla. BMC Evol Biol. 2009;9 :226. doi: 10.1186/1471-2148-9-226. PubMed PMID:19740411 PubMed Central PMC2754479.
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2014 - Prime d'encadrement doctoral et de Recherche - MENRT

2010 - Prime d'excellence scientifique - MENRT

2005 - Prime d'encadrement doctoral et de Recherche - MENRT

2001 - Prime d'encadrement doctoral et de Recherche - MENRT

1993 - Canadian Medical Research Council Fellowship - MRC

1992 - INSERM Post-doctoral fellowship - INSERM

iBV - Institut de Biologie Valrose

"Sciences Naturelles"

Université Nice Sophia Antipolis
Faculté des Sciences
Parc Valrose
06108 Nice cedex 2