CTCFL expression is associated with cerebral vascular abnormalities.

CTCFL is expressed in testis, oocytes and embryonic stem cells, and is aberrantly expressed in malignant cells, and is classified as a cancer-testis gene. We have previously shown by using a tetracycline-inducible Ctcfl transgene that inappropriate expression of Ctcfl negatively impacts fetal development and causes early postnatal lethality in the mouse. The affected pups displayed severe vascular abnormalities and localized hemorrhages in the brain evocative of cerebral cavernous malformations (CCM) and arteriovenous malformations (AVM) in humans. Thus, we aim to analyze; a) the presence of CCM-related proteins CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2/malcavernin and CCM3/PDCD10 in Ctcfl transgenic animals and, b) whether there is CTCFL expression in human CCM and AVM tissues. Ctcfl transgenic animals exhibited increased CD31 expression in vascular areas of the dermis and periadnexal regions but no difference was observed for vWF and α-SMA expressions. CCM-related proteins CCM1/KRIT1, CCM2/malcavernin and CCM3/PDCD10 were aberrantly expressed in coronal sections of the head in transgenic animals. We also observed CTCFL expression in human CCMs and AVMs. The induced expression of CTCFL resulting in vascular brain malformations in mice combined with the presence of CTCFL in human vascular malformations provide new insights into the role of this gene in vascular development in humans.