John V. Brigande, Ph.D.
- Professor of Otolaryngology - Head and Neck Surgery, School of Medicine
- Professor of Cell, Developmental and Cancer Biology, School of Medicine
- Cell and Developmental Biology Graduate Program, School of Medicine
- Neuroscience Graduate Program, School of Medicine
- Program in Molecular and Cellular Biosciences, School of Medicine
Biography
Background
John V. Brigande's introduction to neuroscience formally began in Thomas N. Seyfried's lab at Boston College where his Master's work focused on reactive astrocytosis in a mouse model of human temporal lobe epilepsy. Brigande then transitioned to developmental neurobiology for his doctoral work again with Dr. Seyfried studying glycosphinogolipid biosynthesis in the organogenesis-stage mouse embryo. His doctoral studies ignited a passion for mammalian development that was fostered by postdoctoral training in developmental genetics with Karen Artzt at the University of Texas at Austin and in auditory development with Donna M. Fekete at Purdue University. Brigande began his assistant professorship in the Oregon Hearing Research Center in July 2003 and was promoted to associate professor in 2009. Brigande joined the Hearing Health Foundation's Hearing Restoration Project in 2011 and works on the definition of mouse model systems to test candidate genes for hair cell regeneration
Summary of current research
We study the development of the mammalian inner ear using mouse as a model system. Our approach involves experimental embryology, a palette of surgical, micromanipulation, and gene transfer techniques that enables interrogation of developmental processes in vivo. Our long term goal is to apply what we learn about the genetic mechanisms governing inner ear sensory organ development to define and validate efficacious gene and cell therapies to treat hearing loss and balance disorders.
Retroviral lineage analysis enables us to understand the types of cell fate choices an otic progenitor makes and the timing of those choices during sensory organ formation. We have shown by transuterine microinjection of lineage virus at embryonic day 11.5 (E11.5) that both auditory and vestibular hair cells are lineally related to their supporting cells and that spiral ganglion neurons, interdental cells, and Claudius’ cells are lineally related to cells of the same type. We have also identified clonal relationships between organ of Corti cell types that reside on opposite sides of the tunnel of Corti. The extensive clonal dispersion detected and the observation of clonally related cells that span the tunnel suggest that progenitors integrating lineage label at ~E12 do not respect anatomical boundaries during convergent extension of the nascent cochlea. Correlating these observations with single cell transcriptomics of inner ear sensory cells may give us insight into the gene expression profiles required to specify individual sensory lineages and perhaps serve as the basis for new strategies to regenerate the sensory patch for therapeutic benefit.
Fetal pharmacotherapy for congenital deafness involves the use of gene replacement or drug strategies to restore wild type gene function during formation of the inner ear in utero. Our proof of concept for gene replacement focuses on the vesicular glutamate transporter 3 (VGLUT3) knockout mouse which is deaf at birth. Remarkably, adeno-associated virus (AAV)-mediated gene transfer of VGLUT3 into the E12.5 otocyst can restore auditory brainstem response thresholds (ABR) to near wild type levels. Our proof of concept for drug therapy focuses on the Usher 1c knockout mouse which is also deaf at birth. Transuterine microinjection of antisense oligonucleotide designed to correct mRNA slicing of harmonin incompletely but significantly restores ABR thresholds after a single dose to the E12.5 otocyst. These studies represent an exciting new experimental path for our lab that is refreshingly translational in perspective.
Our lab is a member of the Hearing Health Foundation’s Hearing Restoration Project (HRP). The organizing principle of the HRP is that strategic collaborations among participating labs will more efficiently advance the science needed to define efficacious therapies for treating hearing loss and tinnitus. Our specific role is to devise mouse model systems required to test candidate hair cell regeneration genes in the postnatal, deafened mouse inner ear. Our HRP affiliation has led to intellectually engaging and productive ongoing collaborations that leave us excited about future prospects for treating inner ear disease.
Major Milestones and Significant Discoveries
Misexpression of the transcription factor atonal homolog 1 in the developing mouse inner ear generates functional auditory hair cells The in utero gene transfer technique premits gain and loss-of-function experiments in the developing mouse inner ear
Education and training
-
Degrees
- B.S., 1987, Boston College
- M.S., 1991, Boston College
- Ph.D., 1997, Boston College
-
Fellowship
- Postdoctoral, University of Texas at Austin in Developmental Genetics 1998
- Postdoctoral, Purdue University in Developmental Biology 2003
Areas of interest
- Fate of otic epithelial progenitors in the mouse otic vesicle
- Lineage relationships of sensory and nonsensory cells in the mouse inner ear
- Molecular regulation of sensory organ formation
Additional information
Publications
Selected publications
- Brigande, J.V., Iten, L.E., and Fekete, D.M. (2000) A fate map of chick otic cup closure reveals lineage boundaries in the dorsal otocyst. Dev. Biol. 227: 256-270.
- Gubbels, S.P., Woessner, D.W., Mitchell, J.C., Ricci, A.J., and Brigande, J.V. (2008) Functional auditory hair cells produced in the mammalian cochlea by in utero gene transfer. Nature 455: 475-77.
- Brigande, J. V. and Heller, S. (2009) Quo Vadis, Hair Cell Regeneration? Nature Neuroscience 12: 679-685.
- Wang, L., Jiang, H., and Brigande, J.V. (2012) Gene transfer to the developing mouse inner ear by in vivo electroporation. J Vis Exp, (64), e3653-e3653.
- Jiang, H., Wang, L., Beier, K.T., Cepko, C.L., Fekete, D.M., and Brigande, J.V. (2013) Lineage analysis of the late otocyst stage mouse inner ear by transuterine microinjection of a retroviral vector encoding alkaline phosphatase and an oligonucleotide library. PloS One 8: e69314.
Publications
CRISPR/Cas9 editing of the MYO7A gene in rhesus macaque embryos to generate a primate model of Usher syndrome type 1B
Scientific ReportsA neonatal nonhuman primate model of gestational Zika virus infection with evidence of microencephaly, seizures and cardiomyopathy
PloS oneDeleterious mtDNA mutations are common in mature oocytes
Biology of reproductionFetal antisense oligonucleotide therapy for congenital deafness and vestibular dysfunction
Nucleic acids researchOptimizing Auditory Brainstem Response Acquisition Using Interleaved Frequencies
JARO - Journal of the Association for Research in OtolaryngologyTGFβ signaling is critical for maintenance of the tendon cell fate
eLifeRequirement for scleraxis in the recruitment of mesenchymal progenitors during embryonic tendon elongation
Development (Cambridge)Gene therapy in mouse models of deafness and balance dysfunction
Frontiers in Molecular NeuroscienceAntisense oligonucleotides delivered to the amniotic cavity in utero modulate gene expression in the postnatal mouse
Nucleic acids researchOptogenetic Control of Mouse Outer Hair Cells
Biophysical JournalLineage Analysis of the Late Otocyst Stage Mouse Inner Ear by Transuterine Microinjection of A Retroviral Vector Encoding Alkaline Phosphatase and an Oligonucleotide Library
PloS oneProlyl 3-hydroxylase-1 null mice exhibit hearing impairment and abnormal morphology of the middle ear bone joints
Matrix BiologyGene transfer to the developing mouse inner ear by in vivo electroporation
Journal of Visualized ExperimentsGipc1 has a dual role in Vangl2 trafficking and hair bundle integrity in the inner ear
Development (Cambridge)Probing the functional equivalence of otoferlin and synaptotagmin 1 in exocytosis
Journal of NeuroscienceScleraxis is required for differentiation of the stapedius and tensor tympani tendons of the middle ear.
Journal of the Association for Research in Otolaryngology : JAROFunctional auditory hair cells produced in the mammalian cochlea by in utero gene transfer
NatureIn Vivo Delivery of Recombinant Viruses to the Fetal Murine Cochlea
Molecular TherapyThe development of semicircular canals in the inner ear
DevelopmentA fate map of chick otic cup closure reveals lineage boundaries in the dorsal otocyst
Developmental BiologyGlycosphingolipid biosynthesis may not be necessary for vertebrate brain development
Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences