1
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Deb VK, Jain U. Ti 3C 2 (MXene), an advanced carrier system: role in photothermal, photoacoustic, enhanced drugs delivery and biological activity in cancer therapy. Drug Deliv Transl Res 2024; 14:3009-3031. [PMID: 38713400 DOI: 10.1007/s13346-024-01572-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/11/2024] [Indexed: 05/08/2024]
Abstract
In the realm of healthcare and the advancing field of medical sciences, the development of efficient drug delivery systems become an immense promise to cure several diseases. Despite considerable advancements in drug delivery systems, numerous challenges persist, necessitating further enhancements to optimize patient outcomes. Smart nano-carriers, for instance, 2D sheets nano-carriers are the recently emerging nanosheets that may garner attention for targeted delivery of bioactive compounds, drugs, and genes to kill cancer cells. Within these advancements, Ti3C2TX-MXene, characterized as a two-dimensional transition metal carbide, has surfaced as a prominent intelligent nanocarrier within nanomedicine. Its noteworthy characteristics facilitated it as an ideal nanocarrier for cancer therapy. In recent advancements in drug delivery research, Ti3C2TX-MXene 2D nanocarriers have been designed to release drugs in response to specific stimuli, guided by distinct physicochemical parameters. This review emphasized the multifaceted role of Ti3C2TX-MXene as a potential carrier for delivering poorly hydrophilic drugs to cancer cells, facilitated by various polymer coatings. Furthermore, beyond drug delivery, this smart nanocarrier demonstrates utility in photoacoustic imaging and photothermal therapy, further highlighting its significant role in cellular mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal Kumar Deb
- School of Health Sciences and Technology (SoHST), UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India
| | - Utkarsh Jain
- School of Health Sciences and Technology (SoHST), UPES, Dehradun 248007, Uttarakhand, India.
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2
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Nicoletto RE, Holdcraft CJ, Yin AC, Retzbach EP, Sheehan SA, Greenspan AA, Laugier CM, Trama J, Zhao C, Zheng H, Goldberg GS. Effects of cadherin mediated contact normalization on oncogenic Src kinase mediated gene expression and protein phosphorylation. Sci Rep 2024; 14:23942. [PMID: 39397108 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-75449-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 10/04/2024] [Indexed: 10/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Nontransformed cells form heterotypic cadherin junctions with adjacent transformed cells to inhibit tumor cell growth and motility. Transformed cells must override this form of growth control, called "contact normalization", to invade and metastasize during cancer progression. Heterocellular cadherin junctions between transformed and nontransformed cells are needed for this process. However, specific mechanisms downstream of cadherin signaling have not been clearly elucidated. Here, we utilized a β-catenin reporter construct to determine if contact normalization affects Wnt signaling in transformed cells. β-catenin driven GFP expression in Src transformed mouse embryonic cells was decreased when cultured with cadherin competent nontransformed cells compared to transformed cells cultured with themselves, but not when cultured with cadherin deficient nontransformed cells. We also utilized a layered culture system to investigate the effects of oncogenic transformation and contact normalization on gene expression and oncogenic Src kinase mediated phosphorylation events. RNA-Seq analysis found that cadherin dependent contact normalization inhibited the expression of 22 transcripts that were induced by Src transformation, and increased the expression of 78 transcripts that were suppressed by Src transformation. Phosphoproteomic analysis of cells expressing a temperature sensitive Src kinase construct found that contact normalization decreased phosphorylation of 10 proteins on tyrosine residues that were phosphorylated within 1 h of Src kinase activation in transformed cells. Taken together, these results indicate that cadherin dependent contact normalization inhibits Wnt signaling to regulate oncogenic kinase activity and gene expression, particularly PDPN expression, in transformed cells in order to control tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel E Nicoletto
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, B330 Science Center, 2 Medical Center Dr., Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Cayla J Holdcraft
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, B330 Science Center, 2 Medical Center Dr., Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Ariel C Yin
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, B330 Science Center, 2 Medical Center Dr., Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Edward P Retzbach
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, B330 Science Center, 2 Medical Center Dr., Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Stephanie A Sheehan
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, B330 Science Center, 2 Medical Center Dr., Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Amanda A Greenspan
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, B330 Science Center, 2 Medical Center Dr., Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Christopher M Laugier
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, B330 Science Center, 2 Medical Center Dr., Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA
| | - Jason Trama
- Medical Diagnostic Laboratories, 2439 Kuser Rd, Hamilton Township, NJ, 08690, USA
| | - Caifeng Zhao
- Biological Mass Spectrometry Resources, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, 174 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Haiyan Zheng
- Biological Mass Spectrometry Resources, Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, 174 Frelinghuysen Road, Piscataway, NJ, 08854, USA
| | - Gary S Goldberg
- Rowan-Virtua School of Osteopathic Medicine, Rowan University, B330 Science Center, 2 Medical Center Dr., Stratford, NJ, 08084, USA.
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3
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Grätz L, Voss JH, Schulte G. Class-Wide Analysis of Frizzled-Dishevelled Interactions Using BRET Biosensors Reveals Functional Differences among Receptor Paralogs. ACS Sens 2024; 9:4626-4636. [PMID: 39213612 PMCID: PMC11443525 DOI: 10.1021/acssensors.4c00806] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/04/2024]
Abstract
Wingless/Int-1 (WNT) signaling is mediated by WNT binding to 10 Frizzleds (FZD1-10), which propagate the signal inside the cell by interacting with different transducers, most prominently the phosphoprotein Dishevelled (DVL). Despite recent progress, questions about WNT/FZD selectivity and paralog-dependent differences in the FZD/DVL interaction remain unanswered. Here, we present a class-wide analysis of the FZD/DVL interaction using the DEP domain of DVL as a proxy in bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) techniques. Most FZDs engage in a constitutive high-affinity interaction with DEP. Stimulation of unimolecular FZD/DEP BRET sensors with different ligands revealed that most paralogs are dynamic in the FZD/DEP interface, showing distinct profiles in terms of ligand selectivity and signal kinetics. This study underlines mechanistic differences in terms of how allosteric communication between FZDs and their main signal transducer DVL occurs. Moreover, the unimolecular sensors represent the first receptor-focused biosensors to surpass the requirements for high-throughput screening, facilitating FZD-targeted drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Grätz
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan H Voss
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Schulte
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Biomedicum, Karolinska Institutet, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
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4
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Bugacov H, Der B, Briantseva BM, Guo Q, Kim S, Lindström NO, McMahon AP. Dose-dependent responses to canonical Wnt transcriptional complexes in the regulation of mammalian nephron progenitors. Development 2024; 151:dev202279. [PMID: 39250420 PMCID: PMC11463962 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2023] [Accepted: 09/02/2024] [Indexed: 09/11/2024]
Abstract
In vivo and in vitro studies argue that concentration-dependent Wnt signaling regulates mammalian nephron progenitor cell (NPC) programs. Canonical Wnt signaling is regulated through the stabilization of β-catenin, a transcriptional co-activator when complexed with Lef/Tcf DNA-binding partners. Using the GSK3β inhibitor CHIR99021 (CHIR) to block GSK3β-dependent destruction of β-catenin, we examined dose-dependent responses to β-catenin in mouse NPCs, using mRNA transduction to modify gene expression. Low CHIR-dependent proliferation of NPCs was blocked on β-catenin removal, with evidence of NPCs arresting at the G2-M transition. While NPC identity was maintained following β-catenin removal, mRNA-seq identified low CHIR and β-catenin dependent genes. High CHIR activated nephrogenesis. Nephrogenic programming was dependent on Lef/Tcf factors and β-catenin transcriptional activity. Molecular and cellular features of early nephrogenesis were driven in the absence of CHIR by a mutated stabilized form of β-catenin. Chromatin association studies indicate low and high CHIR response genes are likely direct targets of canonical Wnt transcriptional complexes. Together, these studies provide evidence for concentration-dependent Wnt signaling in the regulation of NPCs and provide new insight into Wnt targets initiating mammalian nephrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helena Bugacov
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Balint Der
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1082, Hungary
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Bohdana-Myroslava Briantseva
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Qiuyu Guo
- Discovery Biomarkers, Amgen Research, 1 Amgen Center Drive, Thousand Oaks, CA 91320, USA
| | - Sunghyun Kim
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Nils O. Lindström
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Andrew P. McMahon
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
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5
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Der B, Bugacov H, Briantseva BM, McMahon AP. Cadherin adhesion complexes direct cell aggregation in the epithelial transition of Wnt-induced nephron progenitor cells. Development 2024; 151:dev202303. [PMID: 39344436 PMCID: PMC11463967 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202303] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 10/01/2024]
Abstract
In the developing mammalian kidney, nephron formation is initiated by a subset of nephron progenitor cells (NPCs). Wnt input activates a β-catenin (Ctnnb1)-driven, transcriptional nephrogenic program and the mesenchymal to epithelial transition (MET) of NPCs. Using an in vitro mouse NPC culture model, we observed that activation of the Wnt pathway results in the aggregation of induced NPCs, which is an initiating step in the MET program. Genetic removal showed aggregation was dependent on β-catenin. Modulating extracellular Ca2+ levels showed cell-cell contacts were Ca2+ dependent, suggesting a role for cadherin (Cdh)-directed cell adhesion. Molecular analysis identified Cdh2, Cdh4 and Cdh11 in NPCs, and the β-catenin directed upregulation of Cdh3 and Cdh4 accompanying the MET of induced NPCs. Mutational analysis of β-catenin supported a role for a Lef/Tcf-β-catenin-mediated transcriptional response in the cell aggregation process. Genetic removal of all four cadherins, and independent removal of α-catenin or of β-catenin-α-catenin interactions, abolished aggregation, but not the inductive response to Wnt pathway activation. These findings, and data in an accompanying article highlight the role of β-catenin in linking transcriptional programs to the morphogenesis of NPCs in mammalian nephrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Balint Der
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA
- Department of Urology, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1082, Hungary
- Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Semmelweis University, Budapest 1094, Hungary
| | - Helena Bugacov
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA
- Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Bohdana-Myroslava Briantseva
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA
| | - Andrew P. McMahon
- Department of Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, Eli and Edythe Broad Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles 90033, USA
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6
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Shen S, Wang P, Wu P, Huang P, Chi T, Xu W, Xi Y. CasRx-based Wnt activation promotes alveolar regeneration while ameliorating pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model of lung injury. Mol Ther 2024:S1525-0016(24)00593-8. [PMID: 39245939 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling is an attractive target for regenerative medicine. A powerful driver of stem cell activity and hence tissue regeneration, Wnt signaling can promote fibroblast proliferation and activation, leading to fibrosis, while prolonged Wnt signaling is potentially carcinogenic. Thus, to harness its therapeutic potential, the activation of Wnt signaling must be transient, reversible, and tissue specific. In the lung, Wnt signaling is essential for alveolar stem cell activity and alveolar regeneration, which is impaired in lung fibrosis. Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in lung epithelium may have anti-fibrotic effects. Here, we used intratracheal adeno-associated virus 6 injection to selectively deliver CasRx into the lung epithelium, where it reversibly activates Wnt signaling by simultaneously degrading mRNAs encoding Axin1 and Axin2, negative regulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Interestingly, CasRx-mediated Wnt activation specifically in lung epithelium not only promotes alveolar type II cell proliferation and alveolar regeneration but also inhibits lung fibrosis resulted from bleomycin-induced injury, relevant in both preventive and therapeutic settings. Our study offers an attractive strategy for treating pulmonary fibrosis, with general implications for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengxi Shen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ping Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Pei Wu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Pengyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, Engineering Research Center of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Technology and Device (Ministry of Education), Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Tian Chi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Department of Immunobiology, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Wenqing Xu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ying Xi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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7
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Zhang R, Wu M, Xiang D, Zhu J, Zhang Q, Zhong H, Peng Y, Wang Z, Ma G, Li G, Liu F, Ye W, Shi R, Zhou X, Babarinde IA, Su H, Chen J, Zhang X, Qin D, Hutchins AP, Pei D, Li D. A primate-specific endogenous retroviral envelope protein sequesters SFRP2 to regulate human cardiomyocyte development. Cell Stem Cell 2024; 31:1298-1314.e8. [PMID: 39146934 DOI: 10.1016/j.stem.2024.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 07/23/2024] [Indexed: 08/17/2024]
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) occupy a significant part of the human genome, with some encoding proteins that influence the immune system or regulate cell-cell fusion in early extra-embryonic development. However, whether ERV-derived proteins regulate somatic development is unknown. Here, we report a somatic developmental function for the primate-specific ERVH48-1 (SUPYN/Suppressyn). ERVH48-1 encodes a fragment of a viral envelope that is expressed during early embryonic development. Loss of ERVH48-1 led to impaired mesoderm and cardiomyocyte commitment and diverted cells to an ectoderm-like fate. Mechanistically, ERVH48-1 is localized to sub-cellular membrane compartments through a functional N-terminal signal peptide and binds to the WNT antagonist SFRP2 to promote its polyubiquitination and degradation, thus limiting SFRP2 secretion and blocking repression of WNT/β-catenin signaling. Knockdown of SFRP2 or expression of a chimeric SFRP2 with the ERVH48-1 signal peptide rescued cardiomyocyte differentiation. This study demonstrates how ERVH48-1 modulates WNT/β-catenin signaling and cell type commitment in somatic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China; State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Menghua Wu
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Dan Xiang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jieying Zhu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China
| | - Qi Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Hui Zhong
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China
| | - Yuling Peng
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Zhenhua Wang
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Gang Ma
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Guihuan Li
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Fengping Liu
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China; Faculty of Medicine, Macau University of Science and Technology, Taipa, Macau 999078, China
| | - Weipeng Ye
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China
| | - Ruona Shi
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xuemeng Zhou
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Isaac A Babarinde
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Huanxing Su
- State Key Laboratory of Quality Research in Chinese Medicine, Institute of Chinese Medical Sciences, University of Macau, Macao, China
| | - Jiekai Chen
- CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China
| | - Xiaofei Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China; CAS Key Laboratory of Regenerative Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, GIBH-HKU Guangdong-Hong Kong Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine Research Centre, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Guangzhou Institutes of Biomedicine and Health, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510530, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China.
| | - Dajiang Qin
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China; Centre for Regenerative Medicine and Health, Hong Kong Institute of Science & Innovation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hong Kong SAR, China.
| | - Andrew P Hutchins
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China.
| | - Duanqing Pei
- Laboratory of Cell Fate Control, School of Life Sciences, Westlake University, Hangzhou 310024, China.
| | - Dongwei Li
- Key Laboratory of Biological Targeting Diagnosis, Therapy and Rehabilitation of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510799, China.
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Chen C, Lan Z, Tang X, Chen W, Zhou X, Su H, Su R, Chen Z, Chen H, Guo Y, Deng W. Human-Derived Induced GABAergic Progenitor Cells Improve Cognitive Function in Mice and Inhibit Astrocyte Activation with Anti-Inflammatory Exosomes. Ann Neurol 2024; 96:488-507. [PMID: 38860520 DOI: 10.1002/ana.27001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2023] [Revised: 04/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/10/2024] [Indexed: 06/12/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The role of gamma-aminobutyric acid-ergic (GABAergic) neuron impairment in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and if and how transplantation of healthy GABAergic neurons can improve AD, remain unknown. METHODS Human-derived medial ganglionic eminence progenitors (hiMGEs) differentiated from programmed induced neural precursor cells (hiNPCs) were injected into the dentate gyrus region of the hippocampus (HIP). RESULTS We showed that grafts migrate to the whole brain and form functional synaptic connections in amyloid precursor protein gene/ presenilin-1 (APP/PS1) chimeric mice. Following transplantation of hiMGEs, behavioral deficits and AD-related pathology were alleviated and defective neurons were repaired. Notably, exosomes secreted from hiMGEs, which are rich in anti-inflammatory miRNA, inhibited astrocyte activation invitro and in vivo, and the mechanism was related to regulation of CD4+ Th1 cells mediated tumor necrosis factor (TNF) pathway. INTERPRETATION Taken together, these findings support the hypothesis that hiMGEs transplantation is an alternative treatment for neuronal loss in AD and demonstrate that exosomes with anti-inflammatory activity derived from hiMGEs are important factors for graft survival. ANN NEUROL 2024;96:488-507.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunxia Chen
- Department of Pharmacy, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region & Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, P. R. China
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Zhaohui Lan
- Center for Brain Health and Brain Technology, Global Institute of Future Technology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xihe Tang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Aviation General Hospital, Beijing, P. R. China
- Department of Neurosurgery, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region & Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Wan Chen
- Department of Emergency, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region & Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Xing Zhou
- Department of Pharmacy, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region & Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Hua Su
- Department of Pharmacology, Guangxi Institute of Chinese Medicine & Pharmaceutical Science, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Rixiang Su
- Department of Pharmacy, The People's Hospital of Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region & Guangxi Academy of Medical Sciences, Nanning, P. R. China
| | - Zhaolin Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Hongbo Chen
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Ying Guo
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
| | - Wenbin Deng
- School of Pharmaceutical Sciences (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Campus of Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, P. R. China
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9
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Zhang Y, Zhang C, Peng C, Jia J. Unraveling the crosstalk: circRNAs and the wnt signaling pathway in cancers of the digestive system. Noncoding RNA Res 2024; 9:853-864. [PMID: 38586314 PMCID: PMC10995981 DOI: 10.1016/j.ncrna.2024.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2024] [Revised: 03/02/2024] [Accepted: 03/03/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) is a unique type of noncoding RNA molecule characterized by its closed-loop structure. Functionally versatile, circRNAs play pivotal roles in gene expression regulation, protein activity modulation, and participation in cell signaling processes. In the context of cancers of the digestive system, the Wnt signaling pathway holds particular significance. Anomalous activation of the Wnt pathway serves as a primary catalyst for the development of colorectal cancer. Extensive research underscores the notable participation of circRNAs associated with the Wnt pathway in the progression of digestive system tumors. These circRNAs exhibit pronounced dysregulation across esophageal cancer, gastric cancer, liver cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, and cholangiocarcinoma. Furthermore, the altered expression of circRNAs linked to the Wnt pathway correlates with prognostic factors in digestive system tumors. Additionally, circRNAs related to the Wnt pathway showcase potential as diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic markers within the realm of digestive system tumors. This comprehensive review outlines the interplay between circRNAs and the Wnt signaling pathway in cancers of the digestive system. It seeks to provide a comprehensive perspective on their association while delving into ongoing research that explores the clinical applications of circRNAs associated with the Wnt pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Cheng Zhang
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Chuanhui Peng
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Junjun Jia
- Division of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Department of Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
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10
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Zhu X, Trehan R, Xie C. Primary liver cancer organoids and their application to research and therapy. JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL CANCER CENTER 2024; 4:195-202. [PMID: 39281720 PMCID: PMC11401492 DOI: 10.1016/j.jncc.2024.06.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 05/02/2024] [Accepted: 06/13/2024] [Indexed: 09/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Primary liver cancer is a leading cause of death worldwide. To create advanced treatments for primary liver cancer, studies have utilized models such as 2D cell culture and in vivo animal models. Recent developments in cancer organoids have created the possibility for 3D in vitro cultures that recapitulates the cancer cell structure and operation as well as the tumor microenvironment (TME). However, before organoids can be directly translated to clinical use, tissue processing and culture medium must be standardized with unified protocols to decrease variability in results. Herein, we present the wide variety of published methodologies used to derive liver cancer organoids from patient tumor tissues. Additionally, we summarize validation methodologies for organoids in terms of marker expression levels with immunohistochemistry as well as the presence of mutations and variants through RNA-sequencing. Primary liver cancer organoids have exciting applications allowing for faster drug testing at a larger scale. Primary liver cancer organoids also assisit in uncovering new mechanisms. Through the coculture of different immune cells and cancer organoids, organoids are now better able to recapitulate the liver cancer TME. In addition, it further aids in the investigation of drug development and drug resistance. Lastly, we posit that the usage of liver cancer organoids in animal models provides researchers a methodology to overcome the current limitations of culture systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaobin Zhu
- Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Rajiv Trehan
- Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
| | - Changqing Xie
- Thoracic and GI Malignancies Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, USA
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11
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Borges KS, Little DW, Magalhães TDA, Ribeiro C, Dumontet T, Lapensee C, Basham KJ, Seth A, Azova S, Guagliardo NA, Barrett PQ, Berber M, O'Connell AE, Turcu AF, Lerario AM, Mohan DR, Rainey W, Carlone DL, Hirschhorn JN, Salic A, Breault DT, Hammer GD. Non-canonical Wnt signaling triggered by WNT2B drives adrenal aldosterone production. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.08.23.609423. [PMID: 39229119 PMCID: PMC11370552 DOI: 10.1101/2024.08.23.609423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2024]
Abstract
The steroid hormone aldosterone, produced by the zona glomerulosa (zG) of the adrenal gland, is a master regulator of plasma electrolytes and blood pressure. While aldosterone control by the renin-angiotensin system is well understood, other key regulatory factors have remained elusive. Here, we replicated a prior association between a non-coding variant in WNT2B and an increased risk of primary aldosteronism, a prevalent and debilitating disease caused by excessive aldosterone production. We further show that in both mice and humans, WNT2B is expressed in the mesenchymal capsule surrounding the adrenal cortex, in close proximity to the zG. Global loss of Wnt2b in the mouse results in a dysmorphic and hypocellular zG, with impaired aldosterone production. Similarly, humans harboring WNT2B loss-of-function mutations develop a novel form of Familial Hyperreninemic Hypoaldosteronism, designated here as Type 4. Additionally, we demonstrate that WNT2B signals by activating the non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity pathway. Our findings identify WNT2B as a key regulator of zG function and aldosterone production with important clinical implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kleiton S Borges
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Donald W Little
- Doctoral Program in Cancer Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | | | - Claudio Ribeiro
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Typhanie Dumontet
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Chris Lapensee
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Kaitlin J Basham
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, 84112, USA
| | - Aishwarya Seth
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge MA, 02142
| | - Svetlana Azova
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Nick A Guagliardo
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0735, USA
| | - Paula Q Barrett
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, 22908-0735, USA
| | - Mesut Berber
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Amy E O'Connell
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Division of Newborn Medicine, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Adina F Turcu
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Antonio Marcondes Lerario
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Dipika R Mohan
- Doctoral Program in Cancer Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - William Rainey
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Diana L Carlone
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Joel N Hirschhorn
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge MA, 02142
| | - Adrian Salic
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - David T Breault
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge MA, 02142
- Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Cambridge, MA, 02138, USA
| | - Gary D Hammer
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Endocrine Oncology Program, Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
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12
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Hillier J, Zhao Y, Carrique L, Malinauskas T, Ruza RR, Chang TH, Yi G, Duyvesteyn HME, Yu J, Lu W, Pardon E, Steyaert J, Zhu Y, Ni T, Jones EY. Structural insights into Frizzled3 through nanobody modulators. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7228. [PMID: 39174501 PMCID: PMC11341715 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51451-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The Wnt receptor Frizzled3 (FZD3) is important for brain axonal development and cancer progression. We report structures of FZD3 in complex with extracellular and intracellular binding nanobodies (Nb). The crystal structure of Nb8 in complex with the FZD3 cysteine-rich domain (CRD) reveals that the nanobody binds at the base of the lipid-binding groove and can compete with Wnt5a. Nb8 fused with the Dickkopf-1 C-terminal domain behaves as a FZD3-specific Wnt surrogate, activating β-catenin signalling. The cryo-EM structure of FZD3 in complex with Nb9 reveals partially resolved density for the CRD, which exhibits positional flexibility, and a transmembrane conformation that resembles active GPCRs. Nb9 binds to the cytoplasmic region of FZD3 at the putative Dishevelled (DVL) or G protein-binding site, competes with DVL binding, and inhibits GαS coupling. In combination, our FZD3 structures with nanobody modulators map extracellular and intracellular interaction surfaces of functional, and potentially therapeutic, relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Hillier
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yuguang Zhao
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Loic Carrique
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tomas Malinauskas
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Reinis R Ruza
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tao-Hsin Chang
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gangshun Yi
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Helen M E Duyvesteyn
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jing Yu
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Weixian Lu
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Els Pardon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Centre for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jan Steyaert
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Centre for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yanan Zhu
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tao Ni
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - E Yvonne Jones
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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13
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Zheng S, Sheng R. The emerging understanding of Frizzled receptors. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:1939-1954. [PMID: 38744670 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14903] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway is a huge network governing development and homeostasis, dysregulation of which is associated with a myriad of human diseases. The Frizzled receptor (FZD) family comprises receptors for Wnt ligands, which indispensably mediate Wnt signaling jointly with a variety of co-receptors. Studies of FZDs have revealed that 10 FZD subtypes play diverse roles in physiological processes. At the same time, dysregulation of FZDs is also responsible for various diseases, in particular human cancers. Enormous attention has been paid to the molecular understanding and targeted therapy of FZDs in the past decade. In this review, we summarize the latest research on FZD structure, function, regulation and targeted therapy, providing a basis for guiding future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoqin Zheng
- College of Life and Health Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ren Sheng
- College of Life and Health Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
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14
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Chuan J, Li W, Pan S, Jiang Z, Shi J, Yang Z. Progress in the development of modulators targeting Frizzleds. Pharmacol Res 2024; 206:107286. [PMID: 38936522 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
The Frizzleds (FZDs) receptors on the cell surface belong to the class F of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) which are the major receptors of WNT protein that mediates the classical WNT signaling pathway and other non-classical pathways. Besides, the FZDs also play a core role in tissue regeneration and tumor occurrence. With the structure and mechanism of FZDs activation becoming clearer, a series of FZDs modulators (inhibitors and agonists) have been developed, with the hope of bringing benefits to the treatment of cancer and degenerative diseases. Most of the FZDs inhibitors (small molecules, antibodies or designed protein inhibitors) block WNT signaling through binding to the cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of FZDs. Several small molecules impede FZDs activation by targeting to the third intracellular domain or the transmembrane domain of FZDs. However, three small molecules (FZM1.8, SAG1.3 and purmorphamine) activate the FZDs through direct interaction with the transmembrane domain. Another type of FZDs agonists are bivalent or tetravalent antibodies which activate the WNT signaling via inducing FZD-LRP5/6 heterodimerization. In this article, we reviewed the FZDs modulators reported in recent years, summarized the critical molecules' discovery processes and the elucidated relevant structural and pharmacological mechanisms. We believe the summaried molecular mechanisms of the relevant modulators could provide important guidance and reference for the future development of FZD modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlan Chuan
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study and Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Li
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9, Section 4, Renmin South Road, Chengdu 610041, China; The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 380 Huaibeizhuang, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Shengliu Pan
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9, Section 4, Renmin South Road, Chengdu 610041, China; The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 380 Huaibeizhuang, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Zhongliang Jiang
- Hematology Department, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, USA
| | - Jianyou Shi
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study and Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
| | - Zhenglin Yang
- Research Unit for Blindness Prevention, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China.
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15
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Wang H, Zhang L, Hu C, Li H, Jiang M. Wnt signaling and tumors (Review). Mol Clin Oncol 2024; 21:45. [PMID: 38798312 PMCID: PMC11117032 DOI: 10.3892/mco.2024.2743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 04/23/2024] [Indexed: 05/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling is a highly conserved evolutionary pathway that plays a key role in regulation of embryonic development, as well as tissue homeostasis and regeneration. Abnormalities in Wnt signaling are associated with tumorigenesis and development, leading to poor prognosis in patients with cancer. However, the pharmacological effects and mechanisms underlying Wnt signaling and its inhibition in cancer treatment remain unclear. In addition, potential side effects of inhibiting this process are not well understood. Therefore, the present review outlines the role of Wnt signaling in tumorigenesis, development, metastasis, cancer stem cells, radiotherapy resistance and tumor immunity. The present review further identifies inhibitors that target Wnt signaling to provide a potential novel direction for cancer treatment. This may facilitate early application of safe and effective drugs targeting Wnt signaling in clinical settings. An in-depth understanding of the mechanisms underlying inhibition of Wnt signaling may improve the prognosis of patients with cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huaishi Wang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
| | - Lihai Zhang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
| | - Chao Hu
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
| | - Hui Li
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
| | - Mingyan Jiang
- Department of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Xiangtan Central Hospital, Xiangtan, Hunan 411100, P.R. China
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16
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Post Y, Lu C, Fletcher RB, Yeh WC, Nguyen H, Lee SJ, Li Y. Design principles and therapeutic applications of novel synthetic WNT signaling agonists. iScience 2024; 27:109938. [PMID: 38832011 PMCID: PMC11145361 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Wingless-related integration site or Wingless and Int-1 or Wingless-Int (WNT) signaling is crucial for embryonic development, and adult tissue homeostasis and regeneration, through its essential roles in cell fate, patterning, and stem cell regulation. The biophysical characteristics of WNT ligands have hindered efforts to interrogate ligand activity in vivo and prevented their development as therapeutics. Recent breakthroughs have enabled the generation of synthetic WNT signaling molecules that possess characteristics of natural ligands and potently activate the pathway, while also providing distinct advantages for therapeutic development and manufacturing. This review provides a detailed discussion of the protein engineering of these molecular platforms for WNT signaling agonism. We discuss the importance of WNT signaling in several organs and share insights from the initial application of these new classes of molecules in vitro and in vivo. These molecules offer a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of how WNT signaling agonism promotes tissue repair, enabling targeted development of tailored therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yorick Post
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Chenggang Lu
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Russell B. Fletcher
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Wen-Chen Yeh
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Huy Nguyen
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Sung-Jin Lee
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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17
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Kschonsak YT, Gao X, Miller SE, Hwang S, Marei H, Wu P, Li Y, Ruiz K, Dorighi K, Holokai L, Perampalam P, Tsai WTK, Kee YS, Agard NJ, Harris SF, Hannoush RN, de Sousa E Melo F. Potent and selective binders of the E3 ubiquitin ligase ZNRF3 stimulate Wnt signaling and intestinal organoid growth. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1176-1187.e10. [PMID: 38056465 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.11.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 08/21/2023] [Accepted: 11/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/08/2023]
Abstract
Selective and precise activation of signaling transduction cascades is key for cellular reprogramming and tissue regeneration. However, the development of small- or large-molecule agonists for many signaling pathways has remained elusive and is rate limiting to realize the full clinical potential of regenerative medicine. Focusing on the Wnt pathway, here we describe a series of disulfide-constrained peptides (DCPs) that promote Wnt signaling activity by modulating the cell surface levels of ZNRF3, an E3 ubiquitin ligase that controls the abundance of the Wnt receptor complex FZD/LRP at the plasma membrane. Mechanistically, monomeric DCPs induce ZNRF3 ubiquitination, leading to its cell surface clearance, ultimately resulting in FZD stabilization. Furthermore, we engineered multimeric DCPs that induce expansive growth of human intestinal organoids, revealing a dependence between valency and ZNRF3 clearance. Our work highlights a strategy for the development of potent, biologically active Wnt signaling pathway agonists via targeting of ZNRF3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne T Kschonsak
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Xinxin Gao
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry and Peptide Therapeutics, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Stephen E Miller
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry and Peptide Therapeutics, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Sunhee Hwang
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry and Peptide Therapeutics, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Hadir Marei
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Ping Wu
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yanjie Li
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry and Peptide Therapeutics, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Karen Ruiz
- Department of Discovery Oncology, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Kristel Dorighi
- Department of Molecular Biology, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Loryn Holokai
- Department of Biomarker Discovery, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Pirunthan Perampalam
- ProCogia Inc. under contract to Hoffmann-La Roche Limited, Toronto, Ontario M5J2P1, Canada
| | - Wen-Ting K Tsai
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yee-Seir Kee
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Nicholas J Agard
- Department of Antibody Engineering, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Seth F Harris
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Rami N Hannoush
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry and Peptide Therapeutics, Genentech Inc, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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18
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Wolf L, Angers S. Get your receptors in a knot with new Wnt signaling agonists. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1044-1046. [PMID: 38906109 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Pharmacological modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway holds promises for both basic research and therapeutic applications. In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Kschonsak et al.1 engineered knotted peptides that promote Wnt signaling by targeting ZNRF3 and serve as pharmacological tools for studying Wnt biology and supporting organoid growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Wolf
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephane Angers
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and Department of Biochemistry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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19
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Sampathkumar P, Jung H, Chen H, Zhang Z, Suen N, Yang Y, Huang Z, Lopez T, Benisch R, Lee SJ, Ye J, Yeh WC, Li Y. Targeted protein degradation systems to enhance Wnt signaling. eLife 2024; 13:RP93908. [PMID: 38847394 PMCID: PMC11161174 DOI: 10.7554/elife.93908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Molecules that facilitate targeted protein degradation (TPD) offer great promise as novel therapeutics. The human hepatic lectin asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGR) is selectively expressed on hepatocytes. We have previously engineered an anti-ASGR1 antibody-mutant RSPO2 (RSPO2RA) fusion protein (called SWEETS) to drive tissue-specific degradation of ZNRF3/RNF43 E3 ubiquitin ligases, which achieved hepatocyte-specific enhanced Wnt signaling, proliferation, and restored liver function in mouse models, and an antibody-RSPO2RA fusion molecule is currently in human clinical trials. In the current study, we identified two new ASGR1- and ASGR1/2-specific antibodies, 8M24 and 8G8. High-resolution crystal structures of ASGR1:8M24 and ASGR2:8G8 complexes revealed that these antibodies bind to distinct epitopes on opposing sides of ASGR, away from the substrate-binding site. Both antibodies enhanced Wnt activity when assembled as SWEETS molecules with RSPO2RA through specific effects sequestering E3 ligases. In addition, 8M24-RSPO2RA and 8G8-RSPO2RA efficiently downregulate ASGR1 through TPD mechanisms. These results demonstrate the possibility of combining different therapeutic effects and degradation mechanisms in a single molecule.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Hui Chen
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | | | - Yiran Yang
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | - Zhong Huang
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | - Tom Lopez
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | | | - Jay Ye
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | - Yang Li
- Surrozen, IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
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20
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Capdevila C, Miller J, Cheng L, Kornberg A, George JJ, Lee H, Botella T, Moon CS, Murray JW, Lam S, Calderon RI, Malagola E, Whelan G, Lin CS, Han A, Wang TC, Sims PA, Yan KS. Time-resolved fate mapping identifies the intestinal upper crypt zone as an origin of Lgr5+ crypt base columnar cells. Cell 2024; 187:3039-3055.e14. [PMID: 38848677 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Revised: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 05/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/09/2024]
Abstract
In the prevailing model, Lgr5+ cells are the only intestinal stem cells (ISCs) that sustain homeostatic epithelial regeneration by upward migration of progeny through elusive upper crypt transit-amplifying (TA) intermediates. Here, we identify a proliferative upper crypt population marked by Fgfbp1, in the location of putative TA cells, that is transcriptionally distinct from Lgr5+ cells. Using a kinetic reporter for time-resolved fate mapping and Fgfbp1-CreERT2 lineage tracing, we establish that Fgfbp1+ cells are multi-potent and give rise to Lgr5+ cells, consistent with their ISC function. Fgfbp1+ cells also sustain epithelial regeneration following Lgr5+ cell depletion. We demonstrate that FGFBP1, produced by the upper crypt cells, is an essential factor for crypt proliferation and epithelial homeostasis. Our findings support a model in which tissue regeneration originates from upper crypt Fgfbp1+ cells that generate progeny propagating bi-directionally along the crypt-villus axis and serve as a source of Lgr5+ cells in the crypt base.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Capdevila
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jonathan Miller
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Liang Cheng
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Adam Kornberg
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Joel J George
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Hyeonjeong Lee
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Theo Botella
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Christine S Moon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - John W Murray
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Stephanie Lam
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ruben I Calderon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ermanno Malagola
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Gary Whelan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Chyuan-Sheng Lin
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Pathology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Arnold Han
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Microbiology & Immunology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timothy C Wang
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Peter A Sims
- Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Departments of Biochemistry & Molecular Biophysics and of Systems Biology, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Kelley S Yan
- Department of Medicine, Division of Digestive & Liver Diseases, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Department of Genetics & Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA; Digestive & Liver Diseases Research Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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21
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Ando T, Takazawa I, Spencer ZT, Ito R, Tomimori Y, Mikulski Z, Matsumoto K, Ishitani T, Denson LA, Kawakami Y, Kawakami Y, Kitaura J, Ahmed Y, Kawakami T. Ileal Crohn's Disease Exhibits Reduced Activity of Phospholipase C-β3-Dependent Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Pathway. Cells 2024; 13:986. [PMID: 38891118 PMCID: PMC11171731 DOI: 10.3390/cells13110986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Revised: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 05/27/2024] [Indexed: 06/21/2024] Open
Abstract
Crohn's disease is a chronic, debilitating, inflammatory bowel disease. Here, we report a critical role of phospholipase C-β3 (PLC-β3) in intestinal homeostasis. In PLC-β3-deficient mice, exposure to oral dextran sodium sulfate induced lethality and severe inflammation in the small intestine. The lethality was due to PLC-β3 deficiency in multiple non-hematopoietic cell types. PLC-β3 deficiency resulted in reduced Wnt/β-catenin signaling, which is essential for homeostasis and the regeneration of the intestinal epithelium. PLC-β3 regulated the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in small intestinal epithelial cells (IECs) at transcriptional, epigenetic, and, potentially, protein-protein interaction levels. PLC-β3-deficient IECs were unable to respond to stimulation by R-spondin 1, an enhancer of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Reduced expression of PLC-β3 and its signature genes was found in biopsies of patients with ileal Crohn's disease. PLC-β regulation of Wnt signaling was evolutionally conserved in Drosophila. Our data indicate that a reduction in PLC-β3-mediated Wnt/β-catenin signaling contributes to the pathogenesis of ileal Crohn's disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomoaki Ando
- Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (T.A.)
- Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Ikuo Takazawa
- Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (T.A.)
| | - Zachary T. Spencer
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (Z.T.S.)
| | - Ryoji Ito
- Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (T.A.)
- Central Institute for Experimental Animals, Kawasaki 210-0821, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Tomimori
- Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (T.A.)
| | - Zbigniew Mikulski
- Imaging Facility, La Jolla Institute for Immunology, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kenji Matsumoto
- Department of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo 157-8535, Japan
| | - Tohru Ishitani
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Regulation, Gunma University, Maebashi 371-0044, Gunma, Japan
| | - Lee A. Denson
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, OH 45267, USA
| | - Yu Kawakami
- Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (T.A.)
| | - Yuko Kawakami
- Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (T.A.)
| | - Jiro Kitaura
- Atopy Research Center, Graduate School of Medicine, Juntendo University, Tokyo 113-8421, Japan
| | - Yashi Ahmed
- Department of Molecular and Systems Biology and the Dartmouth Cancer Center, Geisel School of Medicine at Dartmouth College, Hanover, NH 03755, USA; (Z.T.S.)
| | - Toshiaki Kawakami
- Laboratory of Allergic Diseases, Center for Autoimmunity and Inflammation, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA; (T.A.)
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22
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Yuki K, Vallon M, Ding J, Rada CC, Tang AT, Vilches-Moure JG, McCormick AK, Henao Echeverri MF, Alwahabi S, Braunger BM, Ergün S, Kahn ML, Kuo CJ. GPR124 regulates murine brain embryonic angiogenesis and BBB formation by an intracellular domain-independent mechanism. Development 2024; 151:dev202794. [PMID: 38682276 PMCID: PMC11213517 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The GPR124/RECK/WNT7 pathway is an essential regulator of CNS angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier (BBB) function. GPR124, a brain endothelial adhesion seven-pass transmembrane protein, associates with RECK, which binds and stabilizes newly synthesized WNT7 that is transferred to frizzled (FZD) to initiate canonical β-catenin signaling. GPR124 remains enigmatic: although its extracellular domain (ECD) is essential, the poorly conserved intracellular domain (ICD) appears to be variably required in mammals versus zebrafish, potentially via adaptor protein bridging of GPR124 and FZD ICDs. GPR124 ICD deletion impairs zebrafish angiogenesis, but paradoxically retains WNT7 signaling upon mammalian transfection. We thus investigated GPR124 ICD function using the mouse deletion mutant Gpr124ΔC. Despite inefficiently expressed GPR124ΔC protein, Gpr124ΔC/ΔC mice could be born with normal cerebral cortex angiogenesis, in comparison with Gpr124-/- embryonic lethality, forebrain avascularity and hemorrhage. Gpr124ΔC/ΔC vascular phenotypes were restricted to sporadic ganglionic eminence angiogenic defects, attributable to impaired GPR124ΔC protein expression. Furthermore, Gpr124ΔC and the recombinant GPR124 ECD rescued WNT7 signaling in culture upon brain endothelial Gpr124 knockdown. Thus, in mice, GPR124-regulated CNS forebrain angiogenesis and BBB function are exerted by ICD-independent functionality, extending the signaling mechanisms used by adhesion seven-pass transmembrane receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanako Yuki
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mario Vallon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jie Ding
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cara C. Rada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alan T. Tang
- Department of Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - José G. Vilches-Moure
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Aaron K. McCormick
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Maria F. Henao Echeverri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Samira Alwahabi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Barbara M. Braunger
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Süleyman Ergün
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Mark L. Kahn
- Department of Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Calvin J. Kuo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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23
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Seki Y, Takebe H, Nakao Y, Sato K, Mizoguchi T, Nakamura H, Iijima M, Hosoya A. Osteoblast differentiation of Gli1⁺ cells via Wnt and BMP signaling pathways during orthodontic tooth movement. J Oral Biosci 2024; 66:373-380. [PMID: 38499228 DOI: 10.1016/j.job.2024.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2024] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Factors that induce bone formation during orthodontic tooth movement (OTM) remain unclear. Gli1 was recently identified as a stem cell marker in the periodontal ligament (PDL). Therefore, we evaluated the mechanism of differentiation of Cre/LoxP-mediated Gli1/Tomato+ cells into osteoblasts during OTM. METHODS After the final administration of tamoxifen to 8-week-old Gli1-CreERT2/ROSA26-loxP-stop-loxP-tdTomato mice for 2 days, nickel-titanium closed coil springs were attached between the upper anterior alveolar bone and the first molar. Immunohistochemical localizations of β-catenin, Smad4, and Runx2 were observed in the PDL on 2, 5, and 10 days after OTM initiation. RESULTS In the untreated tooth, few Gli1/Tomato+ cells were detected in the PDL. Two days after OTM initiation, the number of Gli1/Tomato+ cells increased in the PDL on the tension side. On this side, 49.3 ± 7.0% of β-catenin+ and 48.7 ± 5.7% of Smad4+ cells were found in the PDL, and Runx2 expression was detected in some Gli1/Tomato+ cells apart from the alveolar bone. The number of positive cells in the PDL reached a maximum on day 5. In contrast, on the compression side, β-catenin and Smad4 exhibited less immunoreactivity. On day 10, Gli1/Tomato+ cells were aligned on the alveolar bone on the tension side, with some expressing Runx2. CONCLUSIONS Gli1+ cells in the PDL differentiated into osteoblasts during OTM. Wnt and bone morphogenetic proteins signaling pathways may be involved in this differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuri Seki
- Division of Histology, Department of Oral Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, Health Science University of Hokkaido. Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido, 061-0293, Japan
| | - Hiroaki Takebe
- Division of Histology, Department of Oral Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, Health Science University of Hokkaido. Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido, 061-0293, Japan
| | - Yuya Nakao
- Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Department of Oral Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, Health Science University of Hokkaido. Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido, 061-0293, Japan
| | - Kohei Sato
- Division of Periodontology and Endodontology, Department of Oral Rehabilitation, School of Dentistry, Health Sciences University of Hokkaido, Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido, 061-0293, Japan
| | | | - Hiroaki Nakamura
- Department of Oral Anatomy, Matsumoto Dental University, Nagano, 399-0781, Japan
| | - Masahiro Iijima
- Division of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics, Department of Oral Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, Health Science University of Hokkaido. Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido, 061-0293, Japan
| | - Akihiro Hosoya
- Division of Histology, Department of Oral Growth and Development, School of Dentistry, Health Science University of Hokkaido. Ishikari-Tobetsu, Hokkaido, 061-0293, Japan.
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24
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Powell GT, Faro A, Zhao Y, Stickney H, Novellasdemunt L, Henriques P, Gestri G, White ER, Ren J, Lu W, Young RM, Hawkins TA, Cavodeassi F, Schwarz Q, Dreosti E, Raible DW, Li VSW, Wright GJ, Jones EY, Wilson SW. Cachd1 interacts with Wnt receptors and regulates neuronal asymmetry in the zebrafish brain. Science 2024; 384:573-579. [PMID: 38696577 PMCID: PMC7615972 DOI: 10.1126/science.ade6970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2024] [Indexed: 05/04/2024]
Abstract
Neurons on the left and right sides of the nervous system often show asymmetric properties, but how such differences arise is poorly understood. Genetic screening in zebrafish revealed that loss of function of the transmembrane protein Cachd1 resulted in right-sided habenula neurons adopting left-sided identity. Cachd1 is expressed in neuronal progenitors, functions downstream of asymmetric environmental signals, and influences timing of the normally asymmetric patterns of neurogenesis. Biochemical and structural analyses demonstrated that Cachd1 can bind simultaneously to Lrp6 and Frizzled family Wnt co-receptors. Consistent with this, lrp6 mutant zebrafish lose asymmetry in the habenulae, and epistasis experiments support a role for Cachd1 in modulating Wnt pathway activity in the brain. These studies identify Cachd1 as a conserved Wnt receptor-interacting protein that regulates lateralized neuronal identity in the zebrafish brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth T. Powell
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
| | - Ana Faro
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Yuguang Zhao
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford; Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Heather Stickney
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- Departments of Otolaryngology-HNS and Biological Structure, University of Washington; Seattle, WA 98195-7420, USA
- Ambry Genetics; Aliso Viejo, CA 92656, USA
| | - Laura Novellasdemunt
- The Francis Crick Institute; London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology; 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Pedro Henriques
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Gaia Gestri
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | | | - Jingshan Ren
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford; Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Weixian Lu
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford; Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Rodrigo M. Young
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London; London, EC1V 9EL, UK
- Center for Integrative Biology, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad Mayor; Camino La Piramide 5750, 8580745, Santiago, Chile
| | - Thomas A. Hawkins
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Florencia Cavodeassi
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
- St. George’s, University of London; London, SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Quenten Schwarz
- Institute of Ophthalmology, University College London; London, EC1V 9EL, UK
| | - Elena Dreosti
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - David W. Raible
- Departments of Otolaryngology-HNS and Biological Structure, University of Washington; Seattle, WA 98195-7420, USA
| | | | - Gavin J. Wright
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute; Cambridge CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Biology, Hull York Medical School, York Biomedical Research Institute, University of York; York, YO10 5DD, UK
| | - E. Yvonne Jones
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford; Oxford, OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Stephen W. Wilson
- Cell and Developmental Biology, University College London; London, WC1E 6BT, UK
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25
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Zhu N, Smallwood PM, Rattner A, Chang TH, Williams J, Wang Y, Nathans J. Utility of protein-protein binding surfaces composed of anti-parallel alpha-helices and beta-sheets selected by phage display. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107283. [PMID: 38608728 PMCID: PMC11107207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107283] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past 3 decades, a diverse collection of small protein domains have been used as scaffolds to generate general purpose protein-binding reagents using a variety of protein display and enrichment technologies. To expand the repertoire of scaffolds and protein surfaces that might serve this purpose, we have explored the utility of (i) a pair of anti-parallel alpha-helices in a small highly disulfide-bonded 4-helix bundle, the CC4 domain from reversion-inducing Cysteine-rich Protein with Kazal Motifs and (ii) a concave beta-sheet surface and two adjacent loops in the human FN3 domain, the scaffold for the widely used monobody platform. Using M13 phage display and next generation sequencing, we observe that, in both systems, libraries of ∼30 million variants contain binding proteins with affinities in the low μM range for baits corresponding to the extracellular domains of multiple mammalian proteins. CC4- and FN3-based binding proteins were fused to the N- and/or C-termini of Fc domains and used for immunostaining of transfected cells. Additionally, FN3-based binding proteins were inserted into VP1 of AAV to direct AAV infection to cells expressing a defined surface receptor. Finally, FN3-based binding proteins were inserted into the Pvc13 tail fiber protein of an extracellular contractile injection system particle to direct protein cargo delivery to cells expressing a defined surface receptor. These experiments support the utility of CC4 helices B and C and of FN3 beta-strands C, D, and F together with adjacent loops CD and FG as surfaces for engineering general purpose protein-binding reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningyu Zhu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Philip M Smallwood
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Amir Rattner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Tao-Hsin Chang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - John Williams
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Yanshu Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Jeremy Nathans
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
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26
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Schulte G, Scharf MM, Bous J, Voss JH, Grätz L, Kozielewicz P. Frizzleds act as dynamic pharmacological entities. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2024; 45:419-429. [PMID: 38594145 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2024.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2024] [Revised: 03/07/2024] [Accepted: 03/13/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024]
Abstract
The Frizzled family of transmembrane receptors (FZD1-10) belongs to the class F of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs). FZDs bind to and are activated by Wingless/Int1 (WNT) proteins. The WNT/FZD signaling system regulates crucial aspects of developmental biology and stem-cell regulation. Dysregulation of WNT/FZD communication can lead to developmental defects and diseases such as cancer and fibrosis. Recent insight into the activation mechanisms of FZDs has underlined that protein dynamics and conserved microswitches are essential for FZD-mediated information flow and build the basis for targeting these receptors pharmacologically. In this review, we summarize recent advances in our understanding of FZD activation, and how novel concepts merge and collide with existing dogmas in the field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Schulte
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Magdalena M Scharf
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Julien Bous
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Jan Hendrik Voss
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lukas Grätz
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pawel Kozielewicz
- Section of Receptor Biology & Signaling, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
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Patel M, Post Y, Hill N, Sura A, Ye J, Fisher T, Suen N, Zhang M, Cheng L, Pribluda A, Chen H, Yeh WC, Li Y, Baribault H, Fletcher RB. A WNT mimetic with broad spectrum FZD-specificity decreases fibrosis and improves function in a pulmonary damage model. Respir Res 2024; 25:153. [PMID: 38566174 PMCID: PMC10985870 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-024-02786-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wnt/β-catenin signaling is critical for lung development and AT2 stem cell maintenance in adults, but excessive pathway activation has been associated with pulmonary fibrosis, both in animal models and human diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a detrimental interstitial lung disease, and although two approved drugs limit functional decline, transplantation is the only treatment that extends survival, highlighting the need for regenerative therapies. METHODS Using our antibody-based platform of Wnt/β-catenin modulators, we investigated the ability of a pathway antagonist and pathway activators to reduce pulmonary fibrosis in the acute bleomycin model, and we tested the ability of a WNT mimetic to affect alveolar organoid cultures. RESULTS A WNT mimetic agonist with broad FZD-binding specificity (FZD1,2,5,7,8) potently expanded alveolar organoids. Upon therapeutic dosing, a broad FZD-binding specific Wnt mimetic decreased pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis and increased lung function in the bleomycin model, and it impacted multiple lung cell types in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the unexpected capacity of a WNT mimetic to effect tissue repair after lung damage and support the continued development of Wnt/β-catenin pathway modulation for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehaben Patel
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yorick Post
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Natalie Hill
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Asmiti Sura
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Jay Ye
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Trevor Fisher
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Nicholas Suen
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Mengrui Zhang
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Leona Cheng
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Ariel Pribluda
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Hui Chen
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Wen-Chen Yeh
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Hélène Baribault
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Russell B Fletcher
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
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Deng D, Tian D, Wang Y, Bai Y, Diao Z, Liu W. Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 protects against renal fibrosis by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Open Med (Wars) 2024; 19:20240934. [PMID: 38584843 PMCID: PMC10997006 DOI: 10.1515/med-2024-0934] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 01/28/2024] [Accepted: 02/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/09/2024] Open
Abstract
Renal fibrosis (RF) is an important pathogenesis for renal function deterioration in chronic kidney disease. Secreted frizzled-related protein 5 (SFRP5) is an anti-fibrotic adipokine but its direct role on RF remains unknown. It was aimed to study the protective effect of SFRP5 against RF and interference with Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway for the first time. First, the therapeutic efficacy of SFRP5 was evaluated by adenovirus overexpression in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO) in vivo. Thirty-six rats were randomly divided into the sham, UUO, and SFRP5 (UUO + Ad-SFRP5) groups. Half rats in each group were selected at random for euthanasia at 7 days and the others until 14 days. Then, the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) was established in HK-2 cells in vitro. The cells were divided into four groups: the control group, the TGF-β1 group, the TGF-β1 + SFRP5 group, and the TGF-β1 + SFRP5 + anti-SFRP5 group. The makers of EMT and Wnt/β-catenin pathway proteins were investigated. In the UUO model, expression of SFRP5 showed compensatory upregulation, and adenoviral-mediated SFRP5 over-expression remarkably attenuated RF, as demonstrated by maintenance of E-cadherin and suppression of α-smooth muscle actin (SMA). In vitro, SFRP5 was shown to inhibit TGF-β1-mediated positive regulation of α-SMA, fibronectin, collagen I but negative regulation of E-cadherin. Furthermore, SFRP5 abrogated activation of Wnt/β-catenin, which was the essential pathway in EMT and RF pathogenesis. The changes after a neutralizing antibody to SFRP5 confirmed the specificity of SFRP5 for inhibition. These findings suggest that SFRP5 can directly ameliorate EMT and protect against RF by inhibiting Wnt/β-catenin pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dai Deng
- Department of Nephrology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100050, Beijing, China
| | - Dongli Tian
- Department of Nephrology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100050, Beijing, China
| | - Yahui Wang
- Department of Emergency, China Rehabilitation Research Center, Beijing, China
| | - Yu Bai
- Department of Nephrology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100050, Beijing, China
| | - Zongli Diao
- Department of Nephrology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 100050, Beijing, China
| | - Wenhu Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Beijing Friendship Hospital, Capital Medical University, 95 Yong’an Road, Xicheng District, 100050, Beijing, China
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Guo L, Li C, Gong W. Toward reproducible tumor organoid culture: focusing on primary liver cancer. Front Immunol 2024; 15:1290504. [PMID: 38571961 PMCID: PMC10987700 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2024.1290504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Organoids present substantial potential for pushing forward preclinical research and personalized medicine by accurately recapitulating tissue and tumor heterogeneity in vitro. However, the lack of standardized protocols for cancer organoid culture has hindered reproducibility. This paper comprehensively reviews the current challenges associated with cancer organoid culture and highlights recent multidisciplinary advancements in the field with a specific focus on standardizing liver cancer organoid culture. We discuss the non-standardized aspects, including tissue sources, processing techniques, medium formulations, and matrix materials, that contribute to technical variability. Furthermore, we emphasize the need to establish reproducible platforms that accurately preserve the genetic, proteomic, morphological, and pharmacotypic features of the parent tumor. At the end of each section, our focus shifts to organoid culture standardization in primary liver cancer. By addressing these challenges, we can enhance the reproducibility and clinical translation of cancer organoid systems, enabling their potential applications in precision medicine, drug screening, and preclinical research.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Weiqiang Gong
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, Weifang People’s Hospital, Weifang, Shandong, China
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30
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Eassawy MMT, Ismail AFM. Protective effect of chicory and/or artichoke leaves extracts on carbon tetrachloride and gamma-irradiation-induced chronic nephrotoxicity in rats. ENVIRONMENTAL TOXICOLOGY 2024; 39:1666-1681. [PMID: 38031637 DOI: 10.1002/tox.24060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2023] [Revised: 11/03/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023]
Abstract
The prevalence of chronic kidney disease (CKD) is in progress that causes kidney failure, leading to global problems. This manuscript investigated the nephroprotective effects of chicory (CLE) and/or artichoke (ALE) leaves extracts on carbon tetrachloride (CCl4 ) and gamma-irradiation (Rad)-induced chronic nephrotoxicity in rats. Rats were divided into 10 groups (10 animals/group): group 1: control, groups 2-7 rats were treated with CLE, ALE, CLE/ALE, CCl4 , Rad, and CCl4 /Rad, respectively. Groups 8 to 10, rats were intoxicated with CCl4 /Rad, and treated with CLE, ALE, and CLE/ALE extracts, respectively, for 4 weeks. The data demonstrated that CCl4 administration or Rad exposure induced high levels of urea and creatinine, with low levels of total protein and albumin in the serum. However, high levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), nitric oxide (NO), hydrogen peroxide (H2 O2 ), some pro-inflammatory markers such as interleukins (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6), TNF-α, NF-κB, the fibrotic marker; TGF-β1, calcium, and copper, low contents of reduced glutathione (GSH), iron, and zinc, and suppression of the antioxidant enzymes' activity, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were observed. In addition, the Wnt and β-catenin protein expression ratios were up-regulated in the kidney tissues of the CCl4 , and Rad intoxicated animals. However, the combined treatment CCl4 /Rad augmented these measurements. On the other hand, CLE, ALE, and CLE/ALE treatments demonstrated nephroprotection in the kidney tissues of CCl4 /Rad intoxicated animals, in the order of CLE/ALE>ALE>CLE by ameliorating the investigated parameters. Kidney tissues' histopathological examinations confirmed these results. In conclusion, CLE and/or ALE demonstrated nephroprotection against CCl4 /Rad co-toxicity mediated by down-regulation of renal Wnt/β-catenin protein expressions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamdouh M T Eassawy
- Regional Center for Food and Feed (RCFF), Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt
| | - Amel F M Ismail
- Drug Radiation Research Department, Biotechnology Division, National Center for Radiation Research and Technology (NCRRT), Egyptian Atomic Energy Authority, Cairo, Egypt
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Liu T, Li X, Li H, Qin J, Xu H, Wen J, He Y, Zhang C. Intestinal organoid modeling: bridging the gap from experimental model to clinical translation. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1334631. [PMID: 38496762 PMCID: PMC10941338 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1334631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
The 3D culture of intestinal organoids entails embedding isolated intestinal crypts and bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells within a growth factor-enriched matrix gel. This process leads to the formation of hollow microspheres with structures resembling intestinal epithelial cells, which are referred to as intestinal organoids. These structures encompass various functional epithelial cell types found in the small intestine and closely mimic the organizational patterns of the small intestine, earning them the name "mini-intestines". Intestinal tumors are prevalent within the digestive system and represent a significant menace to human health. Through the application of 3D culture technology, miniature colorectal organs can be cultivated to retain the genetic characteristics of the primary tumor. This innovation offers novel prospects for individualized treatments among patients with intestinal tumors. Presently established libraries of patient-derived organoids serve as potent tools for conducting comprehensive investigations into tissue functionality, developmental processes, tumorigenesis, and the pathobiology of cancer. This review explores the origins of intestinal organoids, their culturing environments, and their advancements in the realm of precision medicine. It also addresses the current challenges and outlines future prospects for development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taotao Liu
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yin Chuan, Ningxia, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yin Chuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Xiaoqi Li
- School of Clinical Medicine, Shandong Second Medical University, Weifang, Shandong, China
| | - Hao Li
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yin Chuan, Ningxia, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yin Chuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Jingjing Qin
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yin Chuan, Ningxia, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yin Chuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Hui Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology and Surgery, Gansu Provincial People's Hospital, Lan Zhou, Gansu, China
| | - Jun Wen
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yin Chuan, Ningxia, China
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yin Chuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Yaqin He
- School of Clinical Medicine, Ningxia Medical University, Yin Chuan, Ningxia, China
| | - Cao Zhang
- Department of Gastrointestinal Surgery, Affiliated Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, Yin Chuan, Ningxia, China
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Coschiera A, Yoshihara M, Lauter G, Ezer S, Pucci M, Li H, Kavšek A, Riedel CG, Kere J, Swoboda P. Primary cilia promote the differentiation of human neurons through the WNT signaling pathway. BMC Biol 2024; 22:48. [PMID: 38413974 PMCID: PMC10900739 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-024-01845-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Primary cilia emanate from most human cell types, including neurons. Cilia are important for communicating with the cell's immediate environment: signal reception and transduction to/from the ciliated cell. Deregulation of ciliary signaling can lead to ciliopathies and certain neurodevelopmental disorders. In the developing brain cilia play well-documented roles for the expansion of the neural progenitor cell pool, while information about the roles of cilia during post-mitotic neuron differentiation and maturation is scarce. RESULTS We employed ciliated Lund Human Mesencephalic (LUHMES) cells in time course experiments to assess the impact of ciliary signaling on neuron differentiation. By comparing ciliated and non-ciliated neuronal precursor cells and neurons in wild type and in RFX2 -/- mutant neurons with altered cilia, we discovered an early-differentiation "ciliary time window" during which transient cilia promote axon outgrowth, branching and arborization. Experiments in neurons with IFT88 and IFT172 ciliary gene knockdowns, leading to shorter cilia, confirm these results. Cilia promote neuron differentiation by tipping WNT signaling toward the non-canonical pathway, in turn activating WNT pathway output genes implicated in cyto-architectural changes. CONCLUSIONS We provide a mechanistic entry point into when and how ciliary signaling coordinates, promotes and translates into anatomical changes. We hypothesize that ciliary alterations causing neuron differentiation defects may result in "mild" impairments of brain development, possibly underpinning certain aspects of neurodevelopmental disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Coschiera
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Masahito Yoshihara
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Artificial Intelligence Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Gilbert Lauter
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala, Sweden
- Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Sini Ezer
- University of Helsinki, Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, and Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Mariangela Pucci
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
- Department of Bioscience and Technology for Food, Agriculture and Environment, Teramo, Italy
- University of Teramo, Teramo, Italy
| | - Haonan Li
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Alan Kavšek
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Christian G Riedel
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
| | - Juha Kere
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden
- University of Helsinki, Stem Cells and Metabolism Research Program, and Folkhälsan Research Center, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Peter Swoboda
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition, Karolinska Institute, Huddinge, Sweden.
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Qu S, Xu R, Yi G, Li Z, Zhang H, Qi S, Huang G. Patient-derived organoids in human cancer: a platform for fundamental research and precision medicine. MOLECULAR BIOMEDICINE 2024; 5:6. [PMID: 38342791 PMCID: PMC10859360 DOI: 10.1186/s43556-023-00165-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2023] [Accepted: 12/08/2023] [Indexed: 02/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Cancer is associated with a high degree of heterogeneity, encompassing both inter- and intra-tumor heterogeneity, along with considerable variability in clinical response to common treatments across patients. Conventional models for tumor research, such as in vitro cell cultures and in vivo animal models, demonstrate significant limitations that fall short of satisfying the research requisites. Patient-derived tumor organoids, which recapitulate the structures, specific functions, molecular characteristics, genomics alterations and expression profiles of primary tumors. They have been efficaciously implemented in illness portrayal, mechanism exploration, high-throughput drug screening and assessment, discovery of innovative therapeutic targets and potential compounds, and customized treatment regimen for cancer patients. In contrast to conventional models, tumor organoids offer an intuitive, dependable, and efficient in vitro research model by conserving the phenotypic, genetic diversity, and mutational attributes of the originating tumor. Nevertheless, the organoid technology also confronts the bottlenecks and challenges, such as how to comprehensively reflect intra-tumor heterogeneity, tumor microenvironment, tumor angiogenesis, reduce research costs, and establish standardized construction processes while retaining reliability. This review extensively examines the use of tumor organoid techniques in fundamental research and precision medicine. It emphasizes the importance of patient-derived tumor organoid biobanks for drug development, screening, safety evaluation, and personalized medicine. Additionally, it evaluates the application of organoid technology as an experimental tumor model to better understand the molecular mechanisms of tumor. The intent of this review is to explicate the significance of tumor organoids in cancer research and to present new avenues for the future of tumor research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanqiang Qu
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- The Laboratory for Precision Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- Nanfang Glioma Center, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Brain disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Rongyang Xu
- The Laboratory for Precision Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- The First Clinical Medical College of Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Guozhong Yi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- Nanfang Glioma Center, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Brain disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Zhiyong Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- Nanfang Glioma Center, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- Institute of Brain disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Huayang Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
- The Laboratory for Precision Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Songtao Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
- The Laboratory for Precision Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
- Nanfang Glioma Center, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
- Institute of Brain disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
| | - Guanglong Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
- The Laboratory for Precision Neurosurgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
- Nanfang Glioma Center, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
- Institute of Brain disease, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou Dadao Bei Street 1838, Guangzhou, 510515, Guangdong, China.
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Scharf MM, Humphrys LJ, Berndt S, Di Pizio A, Lehmann J, Liebscher I, Nicoli A, Niv MY, Peri L, Schihada H, Schulte G. The dark sides of the GPCR tree - research progress on understudied GPCRs. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38339984 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16325] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A large portion of the human GPCRome is still in the dark and understudied, consisting even of entire subfamilies of GPCRs such as odorant receptors, class A and C orphans, adhesion GPCRs, Frizzleds and taste receptors. However, it is undeniable that these GPCRs bring an untapped therapeutic potential that should be explored further. Open questions on these GPCRs span diverse topics such as deorphanisation, the development of tool compounds and tools for studying these GPCRs, as well as understanding basic signalling mechanisms. This review gives an overview of the current state of knowledge for each of the diverse subfamilies of understudied receptors regarding their physiological relevance, molecular mechanisms, endogenous ligands and pharmacological tools. Furthermore, it identifies some of the largest knowledge gaps that should be addressed in the foreseeable future and lists some general strategies that might be helpful in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena M Scharf
- Karolinska Institutet, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Sec. Receptor Biology & Signaling, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laura J Humphrys
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Berndt
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute for Biochemistry, Molecular Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Antonella Di Pizio
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Chemoinformatics and Protein Modelling, Department of Molecular Life Science, School of Life Science, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Juliane Lehmann
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute for Biochemistry, Molecular Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ines Liebscher
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute for Biochemistry, Molecular Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alessandro Nicoli
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Chemoinformatics and Protein Modelling, Department of Molecular Life Science, School of Life Science, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Masha Y Niv
- The Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lior Peri
- The Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hannes Schihada
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Gunnar Schulte
- Karolinska Institutet, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Sec. Receptor Biology & Signaling, Stockholm, Sweden
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Bruguera ES, Mahoney JP, Weis WI. The co-receptor Tspan12 directly captures Norrin to promote ligand-specific β-catenin signaling. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2024.02.03.578714. [PMID: 38352533 PMCID: PMC10862866 DOI: 10.1101/2024.02.03.578714] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2024]
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling directs animal development and tissue renewal in a tightly controlled, cell- and tissue-specific manner. In the central nervous system, the atypical ligand Norrin controls angiogenesis and maintenance of the blood-brain barrier and blood-retina barrier through the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Like Wnt, Norrin activates signaling by binding and heterodimerizing the receptors Frizzled (Fzd) and Low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 or 6 (LRP5/6), leading to membrane recruitment of the intracellular transducer Dishevelled (Dvl); this ultimately results in the stabilization of the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin. Unlike Wnt, the cysteine-knot ligand Norrin only signals through Fzd4 and additionally requires the co-receptor Tspan12; however, the mechanism underlying Tspan12-mediated signal enhancement is unclear. It has been proposed that Tspan12 integrates into the Norrin-Fzd4 complex to enhance Norrin-Fzd4 affinity or otherwise allosterically modulate Fzd4 signaling. Here, we measure direct, high-affinity binding between purified Norrin and Tspan12 in a lipid environment and use AlphaFold models to interrogate this interaction interface. We find that Tspan12 and Fzd4 can simultaneously bind Norrin and that a pre-formed Tspan12/Fzd4 heterodimer, as well as cells co-expressing Tspan12 and Fzd4, more efficiently capture low concentrations of Norrin than Fzd4 alone. We also show that Tspan12 competes with both heparan sulfate proteoglycans and LRP6 for Norrin binding and that Tspan12 does not impact Fzd4-Dvl affinity in the presence or absence of Norrin. Our findings suggest that Tspan12 does not allosterically enhance Fzd4 binding to Norrin or Dvl, but instead functions to directly capture Norrin upstream of signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elise S Bruguera
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - Jacob P Mahoney
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
| | - William I Weis
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305
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Keshri R, Detraux D, Phal A, McCurdy C, Jhajharia S, Chan TC, Mathieu J, Ruohola-Baker H. Next-generation direct reprogramming. Front Cell Dev Biol 2024; 12:1343106. [PMID: 38371924 PMCID: PMC10869521 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2024.1343106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue repair is significantly compromised in the aging human body resulting in critical disease conditions (such as myocardial infarction or Alzheimer's disease) and imposing a tremendous burden on global health. Reprogramming approaches (partial or direct reprogramming) are considered fruitful in addressing this unmet medical need. However, the efficacy, cellular maturity and specific targeting are still major challenges of direct reprogramming. Here we describe novel approaches in direct reprogramming that address these challenges. Extracellular signaling pathways (Receptor tyrosine kinases, RTK and Receptor Serine/Theronine Kinase, RSTK) and epigenetic marks remain central in rewiring the cellular program to determine the cell fate. We propose that modern protein design technologies (AI-designed minibinders regulating RTKs/RSTK, epigenetic enzymes, or pioneer factors) have potential to solve the aforementioned challenges. An efficient transdifferentiation/direct reprogramming may in the future provide molecular strategies to collectively reduce aging, fibrosis, and degenerative diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Riya Keshri
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Damien Detraux
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Ashish Phal
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Clara McCurdy
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Protein Design, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Samriddhi Jhajharia
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Tung Ching Chan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Julie Mathieu
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Comparative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
| | - Hannele Ruohola-Baker
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering, College of Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States
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37
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Liu T, Liu Y, Zhao X, Zhang L, Wang W, Bai D, Liao Y, Wang Z, Wang M, Zhang J. Thermodynamically stable ionic liquid microemulsions pioneer pathways for topical delivery and peptide application. Bioact Mater 2024; 32:502-513. [PMID: 38026438 PMCID: PMC10643103 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioactmat.2023.10.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 09/09/2023] [Accepted: 10/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Copper peptides (GHK-Cu) are a powerful hair growth promoter with minimal side effects when compared with minoxidil and finasteride; however, challenges in delivering GHK-Cu topically limits their non-invasive applications. Using theoretical calculations and pseudo-ternary phase diagrams, we designed and constructed a thermodynamically stable ionic liquid (IL)-based microemulsion (IL-M), which integrates the high drug solubility of ILs and high skin permeability of microemulsions, thus improving the local delivery of copper peptides by approximately three-fold while retaining their biological function. Experiments in mice validated the effectiveness of our proposed IL-M system. Furthermore, the exact effects of the IL-M system on the expression of growth factors, such as vascular endothelial growth factor, were revealed, and it was found that microemulsion increased the activation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, which includes factors involved in hair growth regulation. Overall, the safe and non-invasive IL microemulsion system developed in this study has great potential for the clinical treatment of hair loss.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianqi Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Research Center of Printed Flexible Electronics, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Ying Liu
- Department of Chemistry, College of Sciences, Northeastern University, Shenyang, 110819, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhao
- CAS Key Laboratory of Quantitative Engineering Biology, Shenzhen Institute of Synthetic Biology, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Liguo Zhang
- Harbin Voolga Technology Co., Ltd., Harbin, 150070, China
| | - Wei Wang
- Harbin Voolga Technology Co., Ltd., Harbin, 150070, China
| | - De Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Research Center of Printed Flexible Electronics, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Ya Liao
- Shenzhen Shinehigh Innovation Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Zhenyuan Wang
- Shenzhen Shinehigh Innovation Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Mi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Research Center of Printed Flexible Electronics, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
| | - Jiaheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Welding and Joining, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology (Shenzhen), Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Research Center of Printed Flexible Electronics, School of Materials Science and Engineering, Harbin Institute of Technology, Shenzhen, 518055, China
- Shenzhen Shinehigh Innovation Technology Co., Ltd., Shenzhen, 518055, China
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38
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Kwon O, Lee H, Jung J, Son YS, Jeon S, Yoo WD, Son N, Jung KB, Choi E, Lee IC, Kwon HJ, Kim C, Lee MO, Cho HS, Kim DS, Son MY. Chemically-defined and scalable culture system for intestinal stem cells derived from human intestinal organoids. Nat Commun 2024; 15:799. [PMID: 38280855 PMCID: PMC10821882 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45103-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2024] [Indexed: 01/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Three-dimensional human intestinal organoids (hIO) are widely used as a platform for biological and biomedical research. However, reproducibility and challenges for large-scale expansion limit their applicability. Here, we establish a human intestinal stem cell (ISC) culture method expanded under feeder-free and fully defined conditions through selective enrichment of ISC populations (ISC3D-hIO) within hIO derived from human pluripotent stem cells. The intrinsic self-organisation property of ISC3D-hIO, combined with air-liquid interface culture in a minimally defined medium, forces ISC3D-hIO to differentiate into the intestinal epithelium with cellular diversity, villus-like structure, and barrier integrity. Notably, ISC3D-hIO is an ideal cell source for gene editing to study ISC biology and transplantation for intestinal diseases. We demonstrate the intestinal epithelium differentiated from ISC3D-hIO as a model system to study severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 viral infection. ISC3D-hIO culture technology provides a biological tool for use in regenerative medicine and disease modelling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ohman Kwon
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Hana Lee
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Jaeeun Jung
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Ye Seul Son
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sojeong Jeon
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Won Dong Yoo
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Naeun Son
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang Bo Jung
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Eunho Choi
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - In-Chul Lee
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeongeup, 56212, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB, Korea Preclinical Evaluation Center, Jeongeup, 56212, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyung-Jun Kwon
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Jeongeup, 56212, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB, Korea Preclinical Evaluation Center, Jeongeup, 56212, Republic of Korea
| | - Chuna Kim
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB, Aging Convergence Research Center, Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Ok Lee
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyun-Soo Cho
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea
| | - Dae Soo Kim
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea
- KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea
| | - Mi-Young Son
- Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology (KRIBB), Daejeon, 34141, Republic of Korea.
- KRIBB School of Bioscience, Korea University of Science and Technology (UST), Daejeon, 34113, Republic of Korea.
- Department of Biological Science, Sungkyunkwan University, Suwon, 16419, Republic of Korea.
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de Almeida Magalhaes T, Liu J, Chan C, Borges KS, Zhang J, Kane AJ, Wierbowski BM, Ge Y, Liu Z, Mannam P, Zeve D, Weiss R, Breault DT, Huang P, Salic A. Extracellular carriers control lipid-dependent secretion, delivery, and activity of WNT morphogens. Dev Cell 2024; 59:244-261.e6. [PMID: 38154460 PMCID: PMC10872876 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2023.11.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2023] [Revised: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 12/30/2023]
Abstract
WNT morphogens trigger signaling pathways fundamental for embryogenesis, regeneration, and cancer. WNTs are modified with palmitoleate, which is critical for binding Frizzled (FZD) receptors and activating signaling. However, it is unknown how WNTs are released and spread from cells, given their strong lipid-dependent membrane attachment. We demonstrate that secreted FZD-related proteins and WNT inhibitory factor 1 are WNT carriers, potently releasing lipidated WNTs and forming active soluble complexes. WNT release occurs by direct handoff from the membrane protein WNTLESS to the carriers. In turn, carriers donate WNTs to glypicans and FZDs involved in WNT reception and to the NOTUM hydrolase, which antagonizes WNTs by lipid moiety removal. WNT transfer from carriers to FZDs is greatly facilitated by glypicans that serve as essential co-receptors in Wnt signaling. Thus, an extracellular network of carriers dynamically controls secretion, posttranslational regulation, and delivery of WNT morphogens, with important practical implications for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jingjing Liu
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Charlene Chan
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Kleiton Silva Borges
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jiuchun Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Andrew J Kane
- Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - Bradley M Wierbowski
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Yunhui Ge
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Zhiwen Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Prabhath Mannam
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Daniel Zeve
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Ron Weiss
- Synthetic Biology Center, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
| | - David T Breault
- Division of Endocrinology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Harvard Stem Cell Institute, 7 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Pengxiang Huang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Adrian Salic
- Department of Cell Biology, Blavatnik Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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40
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Chen H, Lee SJ, Li R, Sura A, Suen N, Dilip A, Pomogov Y, Vuppalapaty M, Suen TT, Lu C, Post Y, Li Y. BRAIDing receptors for cell-specific targeting. eLife 2024; 12:RP90221. [PMID: 38193894 PMCID: PMC10945505 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic toxicity is a major challenge in the development of therapeutics. Consequently, cell-type-specific targeting is needed to improve on-target efficacy while reducing off-target toxicity. Here, we describe a cell-targeting system we have termed BRAID (BRidged Activation by Intra/intermolecular Division) whereby an active molecule is divided into two inactive or less active parts that are subsequently brought together via a so-called 'bridging receptor' on the target cell. This concept was validated using the WNT/β-catenin signaling system, demonstrating that a multivalent WNT agonist molecule divided into two inactive components assembled from different epitopes via the hepatocyte receptor βKlotho induces signaling specifically on hepatocytes. These data provide proof of concept for this cell-specific targeting strategy, and in principle, this may also allow activation of multiple signaling pathways where desirable. This approach has broad application potential for other receptor systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | - Ryan Li
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | - Asmiti Sura
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | | | - Yan Pomogov
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Yorick Post
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | - Yang Li
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
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41
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Chen H, Lee SJ, Ouyang B, Suen N, Ye J, Lu C, Li Y. Effects of Fc glycosylation on the activity of WNT mimetic agonistic antibodies. Antib Ther 2024; 7:88-95. [PMID: 38371954 PMCID: PMC10873268 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies have been explored in a broad range of applications including receptor agonism. Given the importance of receptor conformation in signaling, the agonistic activity of antibodies that engage these receptors are influenced by many parameters. Tetravalent bispecific antibodies that target the frizzled and lipoprotein receptor-related protein receptors and subsequently activate WNT ("Wingless-related integration site" or "Wingless and Int-1" or "Wingless-Int") signaling have been constructed. Because WNT activation stimulates stem cell proliferation and tissue regeneration, immune effector functions should be eliminated from therapeutic antibodies targeting this pathway. Here, we report an unexpected effect of Fc glycosylation on the agonistic activity of WNT mimetic antibodies. Our findings underscore the importance of antibody format, geometry and epitope in agonistic antibody design, and highlight the need to establish appropriate early discovery screening strategies to identify hits for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Protein Sciences, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Sung-Jin Lee
- Discovery Biology, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Brian Ouyang
- Protein Sciences, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Nicholas Suen
- Protein Sciences, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jay Ye
- Protein Sciences, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Chenggang Lu
- Discovery Biology, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Research, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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42
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Tan T, Mouradov D, Lee M, Gard G, Hirokawa Y, Li S, Lin C, Li F, Luo H, Wu K, Palmieri M, Leong E, Clarke J, Sakthianandeswaren A, Brasier H, Tie J, Tebbutt NC, Jalali A, Wong R, Burgess AW, Gibbs P, Sieber OM. Unified framework for patient-derived, tumor-organoid-based predictive testing of standard-of-care therapies in metastatic colorectal cancer. Cell Rep Med 2023; 4:101335. [PMID: 38118423 PMCID: PMC10783557 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2023.101335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 09/11/2023] [Accepted: 11/18/2023] [Indexed: 12/22/2023]
Abstract
Predictive drug testing of patient-derived tumor organoids (PDTOs) holds promise for personalizing treatment of metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), but prospective data are limited to chemotherapy regimens with conflicting results. We describe a unified framework for PDTO-based predictive testing across standard-of-care chemotherapy and biologic and targeted therapy options. In an Australian community cohort, PDTO predictions based on treatment-naive patients (n = 56) and response rates from first-line mCRC clinical trials achieve 83% accuracy for forecasting responses in patients receiving palliative treatments (18 patients, 29 treatments). Similar assay accuracy is achieved in a prospective study of third-line or later mCRC treatment, AGITG FORECAST-1 (n = 30 patients). "Resistant" predictions are associated with inferior progression-free survival; misclassification rates are similar by regimen. Liver metastases are the optimal site for sampling, with testing achievable within 7 weeks for 68.8% cases. Our findings indicate that PDTO drug panel testing can provide predictive information for multifarious standard-of-care therapies for mCRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Tan
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Dmitri Mouradov
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Margaret Lee
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Western Health, Footscray, VIC 3011, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC 3128, Australia; Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Box Hill, VIC 3128, Australia
| | - Grace Gard
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Western Health, Footscray, VIC 3011, Australia
| | - Yumiko Hirokawa
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Shan Li
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Cong Lin
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, BGI Research, Hangzhou 310000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Fuqiang Li
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, BGI Research, Hangzhou 310000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Huijuan Luo
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, BGI Research, Hangzhou 310000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Kui Wu
- HIM-BGI Omics Center, Zhejiang Cancer Hospital, Hangzhou Institute of Medicine, Chinese Academy of Sciences, BGI Research, Hangzhou 310000, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Human Disease Genomics, Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Genomics, BGI Research, Shenzhen 518083, China
| | - Michelle Palmieri
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Evelyn Leong
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Jordan Clarke
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Anuratha Sakthianandeswaren
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Helen Brasier
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Jeanne Tie
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Western Health, Footscray, VIC 3011, Australia
| | - Niall C Tebbutt
- Department of Medical Oncology, Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre, Austin Health, Heidelberg, VIC 3084, Australia
| | - Azim Jalali
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Western Health, Footscray, VIC 3011, Australia; Department of Cancer Services, Latrobe Regional Hospital, Traralogon, VIC 3844, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, The Northern Hospital, Epping, VIC 3076, Australia
| | - Rachel Wong
- Department of Medical Oncology, Eastern Health, Box Hill, VIC 3128, Australia; Eastern Health Clinical School, Faculty of Medicine, Nursing, and Health Sciences, Monash University, Box Hill, VIC 3128, Australia
| | - Antony W Burgess
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia
| | - Peter Gibbs
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Western Health, Footscray, VIC 3011, Australia
| | - Oliver M Sieber
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3800, Australia.
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43
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Nejak-Bowen K, Monga SP. Wnt-β-catenin in hepatobiliary homeostasis, injury, and repair. Hepatology 2023; 78:1907-1921. [PMID: 37246413 PMCID: PMC10687322 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Wnt-β-catenin signaling has emerged as an important regulatory pathway in the liver, playing key roles in zonation and mediating contextual hepatobiliary repair after injuries. In this review, we will address the major advances in understanding the role of Wnt signaling in hepatic zonation, regeneration, and cholestasis-induced injury. We will also touch on some important unanswered questions and discuss the relevance of modulating the pathway to provide therapies for complex liver pathologies that remain a continued unmet clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
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44
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Alsaadi A, Artibani M, Hu Z, Wietek N, Morotti M, Gonzalez LS, Alazzam M, Jiang J, Abdul B, Soleymani Majd H, Blazer LL, Adams J, Silvestri F, Sidhu SS, Brugge JS, Ahmed AA. Single-cell transcriptomics identifies a WNT7A-FZD5 signaling axis that maintains fallopian tube stem cells in patient-derived organoids. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113354. [PMID: 37917586 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113354] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of fallopian tube (FT) function in health and disease has been hampered by limited knowledge of FT stem cells and lack of in vitro models of stem cell renewal and differentiation. Using optimized organoid culture conditions to address these limitations, we find that FT stem cell renewal is highly dependent on WNT/β-catenin signaling and engineer endogenous WNT/β-catenin signaling reporter organoids to biomark, isolate, and characterize these cells. Using functional approaches, as well as bulk and single-cell transcriptomics analyses, we show that an endogenous hormonally regulated WNT7A-FZD5 signaling axis is critical for stem cell renewal and that WNT/β-catenin pathway-activated cells form a distinct transcriptomic cluster of FT cells enriched in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and integrin signaling pathways. Overall, we provide a deep characterization of FT stem cells and their molecular requirements for self-renewal, paving the way for mechanistic work investigating the role of stem cells in FT health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulkhaliq Alsaadi
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Mara Artibani
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Gene Regulatory Networks in Development and Disease Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Zhiyuan Hu
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Gene Regulatory Networks in Development and Disease Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Nina Wietek
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Matteo Morotti
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Laura Santana Gonzalez
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Moiad Alazzam
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Jason Jiang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Beena Abdul
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Hooman Soleymani Majd
- Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Levi L Blazer
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Jarret Adams
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | | | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Joan S Brugge
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ahmed Ashour Ahmed
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK.
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Liu R, Xu Z, Huang X, Xu B, Chen M. Yin Yang 1 promotes the neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer cells via the non-canonical WNT pathway (FYN/STAT3). Clin Transl Med 2023; 13:e1422. [PMID: 37771187 PMCID: PMC10539684 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.1422] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2023] [Revised: 09/05/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND A growing number of studies have shown that Yin Yang 1 (YY1) promotes the development of multiple tumours. The purpose of the current study was to determine the mechanism by which YY1 mediates neuroendocrine differentiation of prostate cancer (NEPC) cells undergoing cellular plasticity. METHODS Using the Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, we bioinformatically analyzed YY1 expression in prostate cancer (PCa). Aberrant YY1 expression was validated in different PCa tissues and cell lines via quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, western blotting, and immunohistochemistry. In vivo and in vitro functional assays verified the oncogenicity of YY1 in PCa. Further functional assays showed that ectopic expression of YY1 promoted cellular plasticity in PCa cells via epithelial-mesenchymal transition induction and neuroendocrine differentiation. RESULTS Androgen deprivation therapy induced a decrease in YY1 protein ubiquitination, enhanced its stability, and thus enhanced the transcriptional activity of FZD8. Castration enhanced FZD8 binding to Wnt9A and mediated cellular plasticity by activating the non-canonical Wnt (FZD8/FYN/STAT3) pathway. CONCLUSIONS We identified YY1 as a novel dysregulated transcription factor that plays an important role in NEPC progression in this study. We believe that an in-depth investigation of the mechanism underlying YY1-mediated disease may lead to improved NEPC therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui‐ji Liu
- Department of Urology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of MedicineUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduChina
- Department of UrologyAffiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast UniversityNanjingChina
- Surgical Research Center, Institute of UrologySoutheast University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
| | - Zhi‐Peng Xu
- Department of UrologyAffiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast UniversityNanjingChina
- Surgical Research Center, Institute of UrologySoutheast University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
| | - Xiang Huang
- Department of Urology, Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, School of MedicineUniversity of Electronic Science and Technology of ChinaChengduChina
| | - Bin Xu
- Department of UrologyAffiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast UniversityNanjingChina
- Surgical Research Center, Institute of UrologySoutheast University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
| | - Ming Chen
- Department of UrologyAffiliated Zhongda Hospital of Southeast UniversityNanjingChina
- Surgical Research Center, Institute of UrologySoutheast University Medical SchoolNanjingChina
- Department of Urology, Nanjing Lishui District People's HospitalZhongda Hospital Lishui BranchSoutheast UniversityNanjingChina
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Pan H, Yang Y, Xu H, Jin A, Huang X, Gao X, Sun S, Liu Y, Liu J, Lu T, Wang X, Zhu Y, Jiang L. The odontoblastic differentiation of dental mesenchymal stem cells: molecular regulation mechanism and related genetic syndromes. Front Cell Dev Biol 2023; 11:1174579. [PMID: 37818127 PMCID: PMC10561098 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2023.1174579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/24/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Dental mesenchymal stem cells (DMSCs) are multipotent progenitor cells that can differentiate into multiple lineages including odontoblasts, osteoblasts, chondrocytes, neural cells, myocytes, cardiomyocytes, adipocytes, endothelial cells, melanocytes, and hepatocytes. Odontoblastic differentiation of DMSCs is pivotal in dentinogenesis, a delicate and dynamic process regulated at the molecular level by signaling pathways, transcription factors, and posttranscriptional and epigenetic regulation. Mutations or dysregulation of related genes may contribute to genetic diseases with dentin defects caused by impaired odontoblastic differentiation, including tricho-dento-osseous (TDO) syndrome, X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets (XLH), Raine syndrome (RS), hypophosphatasia (HPP), Schimke immuno-osseous dysplasia (SIOD), and Elsahy-Waters syndrome (EWS). Herein, recent progress in the molecular regulation of the odontoblastic differentiation of DMSCs is summarized. In addition, genetic syndromes associated with disorders of odontoblastic differentiation of DMSCs are discussed. An improved understanding of the molecular regulation and related genetic syndromes may help clinicians better understand the etiology and pathogenesis of dentin lesions in systematic diseases and identify novel treatment targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Houwen Pan
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yiling Yang
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Hongyuan Xu
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Anting Jin
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xiangru Huang
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xin Gao
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Siyuan Sun
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yuanqi Liu
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingyi Liu
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Tingwei Lu
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Xinyu Wang
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Yanfei Zhu
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
| | - Lingyong Jiang
- Center of Craniofacial Orthodontics, Department of Oral and Cranio-Maxillofacial Surgery, Shanghai Ninth People’s Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- College of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
- National Center for Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Research Institute of Stomatology, Shanghai, China
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Der B, Bugacov H, Briantseva BM, McMahon AP. Cadherin Adhesion Complexes Direct Cell Aggregation in the Epithelial Transition of Wnt-Induced Nephron Progenitor Cells. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.27.555021. [PMID: 38654822 PMCID: PMC11037868 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.27.555021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/26/2024]
Abstract
In the developing mammalian kidney, nephron formation is initiated by a subset of nephron progenitor cells (NPCs). Wnt input activates a β-catenin ( Ctnnb1 )-driven, transcriptional nephrogenic program. In conjunction, induced mesenchymal NPCs transition through a pre-tubular aggregate to an epithelial renal vesicle, the precursor for each nephron. How this critical mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET) is regulated is unclear. In an in vitro mouse NPC culture model, activation of the Wnt pathway results in the aggregation of induced NPCs into closely-packed, cell clusters. Genetic removal of β-catenin resulted in a failure of both Wnt pathway-directed transcriptional activation and the formation of aggregated cell clusters. Modulating extracellular Ca 2+ levels showed cell-cell contacts were Ca 2+ -dependent, suggesting a role for cadherin (Cdh)-directed cell adhesion. Molecular analysis identified Cdh2 , Cdh4 and Cdh11 in uninduced NPCs and the up-regulation of Cdh3 and Cdh4 accompanying the Wnt pathway-induced MET. Genetic removal of all four cadherins, and independent removal of α-catenin, which couples Cdh-β-catenin membrane complexes to the actin cytoskeleton, abolished cell aggregation in response to Wnt pathway activation. However, the β-catenin driven inductive transcriptional program was unaltered. Together with the accompanying paper (Bugacov et al ., submitted), these data demonstrate that distinct cellular activities of β-catenin - transcriptional regulation and cell adhesion - combine in the mammalian kidney programs generating differentiated epithelial nephron precursors from mesenchymal nephron progenitors. Summary statement Our study highlights the role of Wnt-β-catenin pathway regulation of cadherin-mediated cell adhesion in the mesenchymal to epithelial transition of induced nephron progenitor cells.
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Bugacov H, Der B, Kim S, Lindström NO, McMahon AP. Canonical Wnt transcriptional complexes are essential for induction of nephrogenesis but not maintenance or proliferation of nephron progenitors. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.08.20.554044. [PMID: 37662369 PMCID: PMC10473675 DOI: 10.1101/2023.08.20.554044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/05/2023]
Abstract
Wnt regulated transcriptional programs are associated with both the maintenance of mammalian nephron progenitor cells (NPC) and their induction, initiating the process of nephrogenesis. How opposing transcriptional roles are regulated remain unclear. Using an in vitro model replicating in vivo events, we examined the requirement for canonical Wnt transcriptional complexes in NPC regulation. In canonical transcription, Lef/Tcf DNA binding proteins associate the transcriptional co-activator β-catenin. Wnt signaling is readily substituted by CHIR99021, a small molecule antagonist of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK3β). GSK3β inhibition blocks Gskβ-dependent turnover of β-catenin, enabling formation of Lef/Tcf/β-catenin transcriptional complexes, and enhancer-mediated transcriptional activation. Removal of β-catenin activity from NPCs under cell expansion conditions (low CHIR) demonstrated a non-transcriptional role for β-catenin in the CHIR-dependent proliferation of NPCs. In contrast, CHIR-mediated induction of nephrogenesis, on switching from low to high CHIR, was dependent on Lef/Tcf and β-catenin transcriptional activity. These studies point to a non-transcriptional mechanism for β-catenin in regulation of NPCs, and potentially other stem progenitor cell types. Further, analysis of the β-catenin-directed transcriptional response provides new insight into induction of nephrogenesis. Summary Statement The study provides a mechanistic understanding of Wnt/ β-catenin activity in self-renewal and differentiation of mammalian nephron progenitors.
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Zhang L, Abedin M, Jo HN, Levey J, Dinh QC, Chen Z, Angers S, Junge HJ. A Frizzled4-LRP5 agonist promotes blood-retina barrier function by inducing a Norrin-like transcriptional response. iScience 2023; 26:107415. [PMID: 37559903 PMCID: PMC10407957 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Norrin (NDP) and WNT7A/B induce and maintain the blood-brain and blood-retina barrier (BBB, BRB) by stimulating the Frizzled4-LDL receptor related protein 5/6 (FZD4-LRP5/6) complex to induce beta-catenin-dependent signaling in endothelial cells (ECs). Recently developed agonists for the FZD4-LRP5 complex have therapeutic potential in retinal and neurological diseases. Here, we use the tetravalent antibody modality F4L5.13 to identify agonist activities in Tspan12-/- mice, which display a complex retinal pathology due to impaired NDP-signaling. F4L5.13 administration during development alleviates BRB defects, retinal hypovascularization, and restores neural function. In mature Tspan12-/- mice F4L5.13 partially induces a BRB de novo without inducing angiogenesis. In a genetic model of impaired BRB maintenance, administration of F4L5.13 rapidly and substantially restores the BRB. scRNA-seq reveals perturbations of key mediators of barrier functions in juvenile Tspan12-/- mice, which are in large parts restored after F4L5.13 administration. This study identifies transcriptional and functional activities of FZD4-LRP5 agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Md. Abedin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ha-Neul Jo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jacklyn Levey
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Quynh Chau Dinh
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zhe Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Stephane Angers
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Harald J. Junge
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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50
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Maimets M. Help! I need a WNT antibody. Help! Not just any antibody. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:857-860. [PMID: 37595548 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of antibody based surrogate WNT molecules has revolutionized research exploiting organoid cultures. In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Post et al.1 present a refined collection of WNT mimetics with unprecedented WNT/β-catenin pathway activating characteristics. These mimetics hold significant promise for future therapeutic advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martti Maimets
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
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