1
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Ying Z, Lyu L, Xu X, Wen Z, Xue J, Chen M, Li Z, Jiang L, Chen T. Resident vascular Sca1 + progenitors differentiate into endothelial cells in vascular remodeling via miR-145-5p/ERG signaling pathway. iScience 2024; 27:110080. [PMID: 38883819 PMCID: PMC11176791 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.110080] [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: 11/07/2023] [Revised: 03/17/2024] [Accepted: 05/20/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) damage or dysfunction serves as the initial event in the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. Progenitor cells have been postulated to be able to differentiate into ECs, facilitate endothelial regeneration, and alleviate vascular pathological remodeling. However, the precise cellular origins and underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Through single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq), we identified an increasing population of progenitors expressing stem cell antigen 1 (Sca1) during vascular remodeling in mice. Using both mouse femoral artery injury and vein graft models, we determined that Sca1+ cells differentiate into ECs, restored endothelium in arterial and venous remodeling processes. Notably, we have observed that the differentiation of Sca1+ cells into ECs is negatively regulated by the microRNA-145-5p (miR-145-5p)-Erythroblast transformation-specific-related gene (ERG) pathway. Inhibiting miR-145-5p promoted Sca1+ cell differentiation and reduced neointimal formation after vascular injury. Finally, a similar downregulation of miR-145-5p in human arteriovenous fistula was observed comparing to healthy veins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhangquan Ying
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Lingxia Lyu
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Xiaodong Xu
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Zuoshi Wen
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Jianing Xue
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Mengjia Chen
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Zhoubin Li
- Department of Lung Transplantation and General Thoracic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Liujun Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
| | - Ting Chen
- Department of Cardiology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310003, China
- Key Laboratory of Precision Medicine for Atherosclerotic Diseases of Zhejiang Province, Affiliated First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo 315010, China
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2
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Wang X, Starodubtseva MN, Kapron CM, Liu J. Cadmium, von Willebrand factor and vascular aging. NPJ AGING 2023; 9:11. [PMID: 37264012 DOI: 10.1038/s41514-023-00107-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 04/28/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
Vascular aging is a major contributing factor to cardiovascular disease. The aged blood vessels, characterized by vascular wall thickening and stiffening, are instigated by endothelial cell dysfunction induced by oxidative stress and inflammation. von Willebrand Factor (vWF) is a glycoprotein known for its role in coagulation, and plasma levels of vWF are increased with age. Elevated vWF promotes thrombosis, atherosclerotic plaque formation, inflammation and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells. Cadmium (Cd) is an environmental pollutant associated with increased morbidity and mortality of cardiovascular disease. At low concentrations, Cd activates pro-survival signaling in endothelial cells, however enhances intima-media thickness and atherogenesis. A non-cytotoxic dose of Cd also increases endothelial vWF expression and secretion in vivo and in vitro. In this review, we summarize the molecular mechanisms underlying vWF-promoted vascular aging-associated pathologies and Cd-induced vWF expression. In addition, we propose that exposure to low-dose Cd is a risk factor for vascular aging, through elevation of plasma vWF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wang
- Institute of Microvascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University& Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China
| | - Maria N Starodubtseva
- Gomel State Medical University, Gomel, Belarus
- Institute of Radiobiology of NAS of Belarus, Gomel, Belarus
| | - Carolyn M Kapron
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, ON, Canada
| | - Ju Liu
- Institute of Microvascular Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University& Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Jinan, China.
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3
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Nie S. Use of Frogs as a Model to Study the Etiology of HLHS. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2023; 10:51. [PMID: 36826547 PMCID: PMC9965361 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd10020051] [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: 01/06/2023] [Revised: 01/25/2023] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
A frog is a classical model organism used to uncover processes and regulations of early vertebrate development, including heart development. Recently, we showed that a frog also represents a useful model to study a rare human congenital heart disease, hypoplastic left heart syndrome. In this review, we first summarized the cellular events and molecular regulations of vertebrate heart development, and the benefit of using a frog model to study congenital heart diseases. Next, we described the challenges in elucidating the etiology of hypoplastic left heart syndrome and discussed how a frog model may contribute to our understanding of the molecular and cellular bases of the disease. We concluded that a frog model offers its unique advantage in uncovering the cellular mechanisms of hypoplastic left heart syndrome; however, combining multiple model organisms, including frogs, is needed to gain a comprehensive understanding of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyi Nie
- School of Biological Sciences, Petit Institute for Bioengineering and Bioscience, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
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4
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Elf3 deficiency during zebrafish development alters extracellular matrix organization and disrupts tissue morphogenesis. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0276255. [DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0276255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
E26 transformation specific (ETS) family transcription factors are expressed during embryogenesis and are involved in various cellular processes such as proliferation, migration, differentiation, angiogenesis, apoptosis, and survival of cellular lineages to ensure appropriate development. Dysregulated expression of many of the ETS family members is detected in different cancers. The human ELF3, a member of the ETS family of transcription factors, plays a role in the induction and progression of human cancers is well studied. However, little is known about the role of ELF3 in early development. Here, the zebrafish elf3 was cloned, and its expression was analyzed during zebrafish development. Zebrafish elf3 is maternally deposited. At different developmental stages, elf3 expression was detected in different tissue, mainly neural tissues, endoderm-derived tissues, cartilage, heart, pronephric duct, blood vessels, and notochord. The expression levels were high at the tissue boundaries. Elf3 loss-of-function consequences were examined by using translation blocking antisense morpholino oligonucleotides, and effects were validated using CRISPR/Cas9 knockdown. Elf3-knockdown produced short and bent larvae with notochord, craniofacial cartilage, and fin defects. The extracellular matrix (ECM) in the fin and notochord was disorganized. Neural defects were also observed. Optic nerve fasciculation (bundling) and arborization in the optic tectum were defective in Elf3-morphants, and fragmentation of spinal motor neurons were evident. Dysregulation of genes encoding ECM proteins and matrix metalloprotease (MMP) and disorganization of ECM may play a role in the observed defects in Elf3 morphants. We conclude that zebrafish Elf3 is required for epidermal, mesenchymal, and neural tissue development.
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5
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Cell landscape of larval and adult Xenopus laevis at single-cell resolution. Nat Commun 2022; 13:4306. [PMID: 35879314 PMCID: PMC9314398 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-31949-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapid development of high-throughput single-cell RNA sequencing technology offers a good opportunity to dissect cell heterogeneity of animals. A large number of organism-wide single-cell atlases have been constructed for vertebrates such as Homo sapiens, Macaca fascicularis, Mus musculus and Danio rerio. However, an intermediate taxon that links mammals to vertebrates of more ancient origin is still lacking. Here, we construct the first Xenopus cell landscape to date, including larval and adult organs. Common cell lineage-specific transcription factors have been identified in vertebrates, including fish, amphibians and mammals. The comparison of larval and adult erythrocytes identifies stage-specific hemoglobin subtypes, as well as a common type of cluster containing both larval and adult hemoglobin, mainly at NF59. In addition, cell lineages originating from all three layers exhibits both antigen processing and presentation during metamorphosis, indicating a common regulatory mechanism during metamorphosis. Overall, our study provides a large-scale resource for research on Xenopus metamorphosis and adult organs.
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6
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Lorenzin F, Demichelis F. Past, Current, and Future Strategies to Target ERG Fusion-Positive Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051118. [PMID: 35267426 PMCID: PMC8909394 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In addition to its role in development and in the vascular and hematopoietic systems, ERG plays a central role in prostate cancer. Approximately 40–50% of prostate cancer cases are characterized by ERG gene fusions, which lead to ERG overexpression. Importantly, inhibition of ERG activity in prostate cancer cells decreases their viability. Therefore, inhibiting ERG might represent an important step to improve treatment efficacy for patients with ERG-positive prostate tumors. Here, we summarize the attempts made over the past years to repress ERG activity, the current use of ERG fusion detection and the strategies that might be utilized in the future to treat ERG fusion-positive tumors. Abstract The ETS family member ERG is a transcription factor with physiological roles during development and in the vascular and hematopoietic systems. ERG oncogenic activity characterizes several malignancies, including Ewing’s sarcoma, leukemia and prostate cancer (PCa). In PCa, ERG rearrangements with androgen-regulated genes—mostly TMPRSS2—characterize a large subset of patients across disease progression and result in androgen receptor (AR)-mediated overexpression of ERG in the prostate cells. Importantly, PCa cells overexpressing ERG are dependent on ERG activity for survival, further highlighting its therapeutic potential. Here, we review the current understanding of the role of ERG and its partners in PCa. We discuss the strategies developed in recent years to inhibit ERG activity, the current therapeutic utility of ERG fusion detection in PCa patients, and the possible future approaches to target ERG fusion-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Lorenzin
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.L.); (F.D.)
| | - Francesca Demichelis
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA
- The Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Correspondence: (F.L.); (F.D.)
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7
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Tharakan B, Hunter FA, Muthusamy S, Randolph S, Byrd C, Rao VN, Reddy ESP, Childs EW. ETS-Related Gene Activation Preserves Adherens Junctions and Permeability in Microvascular Endothelial Cells. Shock 2022; 57:309-315. [PMID: 34907119 DOI: 10.1097/shk.0000000000001899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT ERG (ETS-related gene) is a member of the ETS (Erythroblast-transformation specific) family of transcription factors abundantly present in vascular endothelial cells. Recent studies demonstrate that ERG has important roles in blood vessel stability and angiogenesis. However, it is unclear how ERG is potentially involved in microvascular barrier functions and permeability. A wide variety of diseases and clinical conditions including trauma-hemorrhagic shock and burn injury are associated with microvascular dysfunctions, which causes excessive microvascular permeability, tissue edema and eventually, multiple organ dysfunction and death. The main purpose of this study was to determine the specific role of ERG in regulating microvascular permeability in human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMEC) and to evaluate if exogenous ERG will protect the barrier. The HLMECs were grown on Transwell inserts as monolayers and were transfected with ERG CRISPR/cas9 knockdown plasmid, ERG CRISPR activation plasmid, recombinant ERG protein or their respective controls. Recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was used as an inducer of permeability for evaluating the effect of ERG activation on permeability. Changes in barrier integrity and permeability were studied using monolayer permeability assay and immunofluorescence of adherens junction proteins (VE-cadherin and β-catenin) respectively. CRISPR/cas9-based ERG knockdown as well as VEGF treatment induced monolayer hyperpermeability, VE-cadherin, and β-catenin junctional relocation and cytoskeletal F-actin stress fiber formation. CRISPR based ERG activation and recombinant ERG transfection attenuated VEGF-induced monolayer hyperpermeability. ERG activation preserved the adherens junctions and cytoskeleton. These results demonstrate that ERG is a potent regulator of barrier integrity and permeability in human lung microvascular endothelial cells and endogenously or exogenously enhancing ERG provides protection against barrier dysfunction and hyperpermeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binu Tharakan
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Felicia A Hunter
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Sonya Randolph
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Crystal Byrd
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Veena N Rao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - E Shyam P Reddy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ed W Childs
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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8
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Eldhose B, Pandrala M, Xavier C, Mohamed AA, Srivastava S, Sunkara AD, Dobi A, Malhotra SV. New Selective Inhibitors of ERG Positive Prostate Cancer: ERGi-USU-6 Salt Derivatives. ACS Med Chem Lett 2021; 12:1703-1709. [PMID: 34790292 PMCID: PMC8591719 DOI: 10.1021/acsmedchemlett.1c00308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
![]()
Prostate
cancer is among the leading causes of cancer related death
of men in the United States. The ERG gene fusion
leading to overexpression of near full-length ERG transcript and protein represents most prevalent (50–65%)
prostate cancer driver gene alterations. The ERG oncoprotein overexpression
persists in approximately 35% of metastatic castration resistant prostate
cancers. Due to the emergence of eventual refractoriness to second-
and third-generation androgen axis-based inhibitors, there remains
a pressing need to develop drugs targeting other validated prostate
cancer drivers such as ERG. Here we report the new and more potent
ERG inhibitor ERGi-USU-6 developed by structure–activity studies
from the parental ERGi-USU. We have developed an improved procedure
for the synthesis of ERGi-USU-6 and identified a salt formulation
that further improves its activity in biological assays for selective
targeting of ERG harboring prostate cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binil Eldhose
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, United States
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland 20817, United States
| | - Mallesh Pandrala
- Division of Radiation & Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
| | - Charles Xavier
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, United States
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland 20817, United States
| | - Ahmed A. Mohamed
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, United States
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland 20817, United States
| | - Shiv Srivastava
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, United States
| | - Anu D. Sunkara
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, United States
- Washington Adventist University, Takoma Park, Maryland 20912, United States
| | - Albert Dobi
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, United States
- Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Inc., Bethesda, Maryland 20817, United States
| | - Sanjay V. Malhotra
- Division of Radiation & Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California 94305, United States
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9
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Marsman J, Gimenez G, Day RC, Horsfield JA, Jones GT. A non-coding genetic variant associated with abdominal aortic aneurysm alters ERG gene regulation. Hum Mol Genet 2021; 29:554-565. [PMID: 31691800 PMCID: PMC7068029 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddz256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2019] [Revised: 09/11/2019] [Accepted: 10/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a major cause of sudden death in the elderly. While AAA has some overlapping genetic and environmental risk factors with atherosclerosis, there are substantial differences, and AAA-specific medication is lacking. A recent meta-analysis of genome-wide association studies has identified four novel single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) specifically associated with AAA. Here, we investigated the gene regulatory function for one of four non-coding SNPs associated with AAA, rs2836411, which is located in an intron of the ERG gene. Rs2836411 resides within a >70 kb super-enhancer that has high levels of H3K27ac and H3K4me1 in vascular endothelial and haematopoietic cell types. Enhancer luciferase assays in cell lines showed that the risk allele significantly alters enhancer activity. The risk allele also correlates with reduced ERG expression in aortic and other vascular tissues. To identify whether rs2836411 directly contacts the promoters of ERG and/or of genes further away, we performed allele-specific circular chromosome conformation capture sequencing. In vascular endothelial cells, which express ERG, the SNP region interacts highly within the super-enhancer, while in vascular smooth muscle cells, which do not express ERG, the interactions are distributed across a wider region that includes neighbouring genes. Furthermore, the risk allele has fewer interactions within the super-enhancer compared to the protective allele. In conclusion, our results indicate that rs2836411 likely affects ERG expression by altering enhancer activity and changing local chromatin interactions. ERG is involved in vascular development, angiogenesis, and inflammation in atherosclerosis; therefore mechanistically, rs2836411 could contribute to AAA by modulating ERG levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Marsman
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Gregory Gimenez
- Department of Pathology, Dunedin School of Medicine, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Robert C Day
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Julia A Horsfield
- Department of Pathology, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
| | - Gregory T Jones
- Department of Surgical Sciences, University of Otago, Dunedin 9016, New Zealand
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10
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Li F, Yuan Q, Di W, Xia X, Liu Z, Mao N, Li L, Li C, He J, Li Y, Guo W, Zhang X, Zhu Y, Aji R, Wang S, Tong X, Ji H, Chi P, Carver B, Wang Y, Chen Y, Gao D. ERG orchestrates chromatin interactions to drive prostate cell fate reprogramming. J Clin Invest 2021; 130:5924-5941. [PMID: 32701507 DOI: 10.1172/jci137967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 07/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Although cancer is commonly perceived as a disease of dedifferentiation, the hallmark of early-stage prostate cancer is paradoxically the loss of more plastic basal cells and the abnormal proliferation of more differentiated secretory luminal cells. However, the mechanism of prostate cancer proluminal differentiation is largely unknown. Through integrating analysis of the transcription factors (TFs) from 806 human prostate cancers, we found that ERG was highly correlated with prostate cancer luminal subtyping. ERG overexpression in luminal epithelial cells inhibited those cells' normal plasticity to transdifferentiate into a basal lineage, and ERG superseded PTEN loss, which favored basal differentiation. ERG KO disrupted prostate cell luminal differentiation, whereas AR KO had no such effects. Trp63 is a known master regulator of the prostate basal lineage. Through analysis of 3D chromatin architecture, we found that ERG bound and inhibited the enhancer activity and chromatin looping of a Trp63 distal enhancer, thereby silencing its gene expression. Specific deletion of the distal ERG binding site resulted in the loss of ERG-mediated inhibition of basal differentiation. Thus, ERG, in its fundamental role in lineage differentiation in prostate cancer initiation, orchestrated chromatin interactions and regulated prostate cell lineage toward a proluminal program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiuyue Yuan
- Center for Excellence in Mathematical Sciences (CEMS), National Center for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences (NCMIS), Key Laboratory of Management, Decision and Information Systems (MDIS)., Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, National Center for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, and.,School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Di
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xinyi Xia
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhuang Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ninghui Mao
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chunfeng Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Juan He
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yunguang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Wangxin Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yiqin Zhu
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Rebiguli Aji
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Shangqian Wang
- Department of Urology, First Affiliated Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xinyuan Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Hongbin Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ping Chi
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Medicine and.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Brett Carver
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Division of Urology, Department of Surgery, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Yong Wang
- Center for Excellence in Mathematical Sciences (CEMS), National Center for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences (NCMIS), Key Laboratory of Management, Decision and Information Systems (MDIS)., Academy of Mathematics and Systems Science, National Center for Mathematics and Interdisciplinary Sciences, and.,School of Mathematical Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Center for Excellence in Animal Evolution and Genetics, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, China.,Key Laboratory of Systems Biology, Hangzhou Institute for Advanced Study, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yu Chen
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Medicine and.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medical College and New York-Presbyterian Hospital, New York, New York, USA
| | - Dong Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Molecular Andrology, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, China.,University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.,Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
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11
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Zhang S, Wang L, Cheng L. Aberrant ERG expression associates with downregulation of miR-4638-5p and selected genomic alterations in a subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. Mol Carcinog 2019; 58:1846-1854. [PMID: 31237044 DOI: 10.1002/mc.23074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 05/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
ERG (avian v-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog), an oncoprotein in prostate carcinoma and Ewing's sarcoma is associated with poor prognosis in patients with acute myeloid leukemia and T lymphoblastic leukemia. However little is known about ERG in lymphoma. Here we studied ERG in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) by immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), genome-wide microRNA (miRNA) expression profiling, real-time reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and whole exome sequencing (WES). Approximately 30% of de novo DLBCLs (37 of 118) expressed ERG (ERG+). ERG expression showed no significant correlation with DLBCL cell-of-origin classification, patient's age, sex, nodal, or extranodal disease status, tumor expression of p53 or p63. There was no ERG rearrangement in 10 randomly selected ERG+ DLBCLs by FISH. Forty-three miRNAs showed significant differential expression between ERG+ and ERG- DLBCLs. Downregulation of miR-4638-5p was confirmed by real-time RT-PCR. WES not only confirmed known gene mutations in DLBCLs but also revealed multiple novel gene mutations in POLA1, E2F1, PSMD8, AXIN1, GAB2, and GNB2L1, which occur more frequently in ERG+ DLBCLs. In conclusion, our studies demonstrated aberrant ERG expression in a subset of DLBCL, which is associated with downregulation of miR-4638-5p. In comparison with ERG-negative DLBCL, ERG+ DLBCL more likely harbors mutations in genes important in cell cycle control, B-cell receptor-mediated signaling and degradation of β-catenin. Further clinicopathological correlation and functional studies of ERG-related miRNAs and pathways may provide new insight into the pathogenesis of DLBCL and reveal novel targets for better management of patients with DLBCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shanxiang Zhang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Lin Wang
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Liang Cheng
- Department of Pathology & Laboratory Medicine, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
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12
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Mohamed AA, Xavier CP, Sukumar G, Tan SH, Ravindranath L, Seraj N, Kumar V, Sreenath T, McLeod DG, Petrovics G, Rosner IL, Srivastava M, Strovel J, Malhotra SV, LaRonde NA, Dobi A, Dalgard CL, Srivastava S. Identification of a Small Molecule That Selectively Inhibits ERG-Positive Cancer Cell Growth. Cancer Res 2018; 78:3659-3671. [PMID: 29712692 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-2949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2017] [Revised: 02/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Oncogenic activation of the ETS-related gene (ERG) by recurrent gene fusions (predominantly TMPRSS2-ERG) is one of the most validated and prevalent genomic alterations present in early stages of prostate cancer. In this study, we screened small-molecule libraries for inhibition of ERG protein in TMPRSS2-ERG harboring VCaP prostate cancer cells using an In-Cell Western Assay with the highly specific ERG-MAb (9FY). Among a subset of promising candidates, 1-[2-Thiazolylazo]-2-naphthol (NSC139021, hereafter ERGi-USU) was identified and further characterized. ERGi-USU selectively inhibited growth of ERG-positive cancer cell lines with minimal effect on normal prostate or endothelial cells or ERG-negative tumor cell lines. Combination of ERGi-USU with enzalutamide showed additive effects in inhibiting growth of VCaP cells. A screen of kinases revealed that ERGi-USU directly bound the ribosomal biogenesis regulator atypical kinase RIOK2 and induced ribosomal stress signature. In vivo, ERGi-USU treatment inhibited growth of ERG-positive VCaP tumor xenografts with no apparent toxicity. Structure-activity-based derivatives of ERGi-USU recapitulated the ERG-selective activity of the parental compound. Taken together, ERGi-USU acts as a highly selective inhibitor for the growth of ERG-positive cancer cells and has potential for further development of ERG-targeted therapy of prostate cancer and other malignancies.Significance: A highly selective small-molecule inhibitor of ERG, a critical driver of early stages of prostate cancer, will be imperative for prostate cancer therapy. Cancer Res; 78(13); 3659-71. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Mohamed
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Charles P Xavier
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Gauthaman Sukumar
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Shyh-Han Tan
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Lakshmi Ravindranath
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nishat Seraj
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Vineet Kumar
- Division of Radiation & Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Taduru Sreenath
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - David G McLeod
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Gyorgy Petrovics
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.,John P. Murtha Cancer Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Inger L Rosner
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.,John P. Murtha Cancer Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.,Urology Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Meera Srivastava
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland.,John P. Murtha Cancer Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | - Sanjay V Malhotra
- Division of Radiation & Cancer Biology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, California
| | - Nicole A LaRonde
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Albert Dobi
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland.,John P. Murtha Cancer Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Clifton L Dalgard
- Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences, Bethesda, Maryland. .,John P. Murtha Cancer Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Shiv Srivastava
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland. .,John P. Murtha Cancer Center, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, Maryland
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13
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Wang X, Dong F, Wang F, Yan S, Chen X, Tozawa H, Ushijima T, Kapron CM, Wada Y, Liu J. Low dose cadmium upregulates the expression of von Willebrand factor in endothelial cells. Toxicol Lett 2018; 290:46-54. [PMID: 29571895 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2018.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a persistent and widespread environmental pollutant of continuing worldwide concern. Previous studies have suggested that Cd exposure increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we observed that low dose Cd treatment induced von Willebrand factor (vWF) expression in vascular endothelial cells in mouse lung and kidney tissues. In vitro analysis showed that 1 μM Cd specifically upregulated vWF mRNA and protein expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), indicating that Cd targets vascular endothelial cells even at relatively low concentrations. Further study demonstrated that nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and GATA3, two established transcription regulators of the vWF gene, were not altered in the presence of Cd. However, ETS-related gene (ERG) was significantly induced by 1 μM Cd. When ERG was knocked down by siRNA, Cd induced upregulation of vWF was totally blocked. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that Cd increases the binding of ERG on the -56 ETS motif on the human vWF promoter. These results indicated that ERG mediated the increased expression of vWF by Cd. Since vWF is a key regulator for vascular homeostasis, our findings may provide a novel mechanism for understanding low dose Cd induced development of vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wang
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Fengyun Dong
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Fufang Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, China; Key laboratory of Cardiovascular Proteomics of Shandong Province, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Suhua Yan
- Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014 China
| | - Xiaocui Chen
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Hideto Tozawa
- The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, and Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ushijima
- The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, and Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Carolyn M Kapron
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Youichiro Wada
- The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, and Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Ju Liu
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China.
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14
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Sedarsky J, Degon M, Srivastava S, Dobi A. Ethnicity and ERG frequency in prostate cancer. Nat Rev Urol 2017; 15:125-131. [PMID: 28872154 DOI: 10.1038/nrurol.2017.140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Emerging observations emphasize a distinct biology of prostate cancer among men of different ethnicities and races, as demonstrated by remarkable differences in the frequency of ERG oncogenic activation, one of the most common and widely studied prostate cancer driver genes. Worldwide assessment of ERG alterations frequencies show consistent trends, with men of European ancestry having the highest rates of alteration and men of African or Asian ancestries having considerably lower alteration rates. However, data must be interpreted cautiously, owing to variations in assay platforms and specimen types, as well as ethnic and geographical classifications. Many opportunities and challenges remain in assessing cancer-associated molecular alterations at a global level, and these need to be addressed in order to realize the true potential of precision medicine for all cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Sedarsky
- Urology Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, USA
| | - Michael Degon
- Urology Service, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 8901 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, Maryland 20889, USA
| | - Shiv Srivastava
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
| | - Albert Dobi
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and the Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, 4301 Jones Bridge Rd, Bethesda, Maryland 20814, USA
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15
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TMPRSS2-ERG fusion co-opts master transcription factors and activates NOTCH signaling in primary prostate cancer. Nat Genet 2017; 49:1336-1345. [PMID: 28783165 DOI: 10.1038/ng.3930] [Citation(s) in RCA: 124] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2017] [Accepted: 07/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
TMPRSS2-ERG (T2E) structural rearrangements typify ∼50% of prostate tumors and result in overexpression of the ERG transcription factor. Using chromatin, genomic and expression data, we show distinct cis-regulatory landscapes between T2E-positive and non-T2E primary prostate tumors, which include clusters of regulatory elements (COREs). This difference is mediated by ERG co-option of HOXB13 and FOXA1, implementing a T2E-specific transcriptional profile. We also report a T2E-specific CORE on the structurally rearranged ERG locus arising from spreading of the TMPRSS2 locus pre-existing CORE, assisting in its overexpression. Finally, we show that the T2E-specific cis-regulatory landscape underlies a vulnerability against the NOTCH pathway. Indeed, NOTCH pathway inhibition antagonizes the growth and invasion of T2E-positive prostate cancer cells. Taken together, our work shows that overexpressed ERG co-opts master transcription factors to deploy a unique cis-regulatory landscape, inducing a druggable dependency on NOTCH signaling in T2E-positive prostate tumors.
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16
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The endothelial transcription factor ERG mediates Angiopoietin-1-dependent control of Notch signalling and vascular stability. Nat Commun 2017; 8:16002. [PMID: 28695891 PMCID: PMC5508205 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms16002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch and Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1)/Tie2 pathways are crucial for vascular maturation and stability. Here we identify the transcription factor ERG as a key regulator of endothelial Notch signalling. We show that ERG controls the balance between Notch ligands by driving Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) while repressing Jagged1 (Jag1) expression. In vivo, this regulation occurs selectively in the maturing plexus of the mouse developing retina, where Ang1/Tie2 signalling is active. We find that ERG mediates Ang1-dependent regulation of Notch ligands and is required for the stabilizing effects of Ang1 in vivo. We show that Ang1 induces ERG phosphorylation in a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt-dependent manner, resulting in ERG enrichment at Dll4 promoter and multiple enhancers. Finally, we demonstrate that ERG directly interacts with Notch intracellular domain (NICD) and β-catenin and is required for Ang1-dependent β-catenin recruitment at the Dll4 locus. We propose that ERG coordinates Ang1, β-catenin and Notch signalling to promote vascular stability.
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17
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Shah AV, Birdsey GM, Randi AM. Regulation of endothelial homeostasis, vascular development and angiogenesis by the transcription factor ERG. Vascul Pharmacol 2016; 86:3-13. [PMID: 27208692 PMCID: PMC5404112 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few years, the ETS transcription factor ERG has emerged as a major regulator of endothelial function. Multiple studies have shown that ERG plays a crucial role in promoting angiogenesis and vascular stability during development and after birth. In the mature vasculature ERG also functions to maintain endothelial homeostasis, by transactivating genes involved in key endothelial functions, while repressing expression of pro-inflammatory genes. Its homeostatic role is lineage-specific, since ectopic expression of ERG in non-endothelial tissues such as prostate is detrimental and contributes to oncogenesis. This review summarises the main roles and pathways controlled by ERG in the vascular endothelium, its transcriptional targets and its functional partners and the emerging evidence on the pathways regulating ERG's activity and expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti V Shah
- Vascular Sciences, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme M Birdsey
- Vascular Sciences, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna M Randi
- Vascular Sciences, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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18
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Craig MP, Sumanas S. ETS transcription factors in embryonic vascular development. Angiogenesis 2016; 19:275-85. [PMID: 27126901 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-016-9511-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2015] [Accepted: 04/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
At least thirteen ETS-domain transcription factors are expressed during embryonic hematopoietic or vascular development and potentially function in the formation and maintenance of the embryonic vasculature or blood lineages. This review summarizes our current understanding of the specific roles played by ETS factors in vasculogenesis and angiogenesis and the implications of functional redundancies between them.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael P Craig
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Wright State University, 3640 Colonel Glenn Hwy., Dayton, OH, 45435, USA.,Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA
| | - Saulius Sumanas
- Division of Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, 3333 Burnet Avenue, Cincinnati, OH, 45229, USA.
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19
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Meadows SM, Cleaver O. Annexin A3 Regulates Early Blood Vessel Formation. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0132580. [PMID: 26182056 PMCID: PMC4504506 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0132580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2015] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Annexins are a large family of calcium binding proteins that associate with cell membrane phospholipids and are involved in various cellular processes including endocytosis, exocytosis and membrane-cytoskeletal organization. Despite studies on numerous Annexin proteins, the function of Annexin A3 (Anxa3) is largely unknown. Our studies identify Anxa3 as a unique marker of the endothelial and myeloid cell lineages of Xenopus laevis during development. Anxa3 transcripts are also detected in endothelial cells (ECs) of zebrafish and mouse embryos, suggesting an important evolutionary function during formation of blood vessels. Indeed, Anxa3 loss-of-function experiments in frog embryos reveal its critical role during the morphogenesis of early blood vessels, as angioblasts in MO injected embryos fail to form vascular cords. Furthermore, in vitro experiments in mammalian cells identify a role for Anxa3 in EC migration. Our results are the first to reveal an in vivo function for Anxa3 during vascular development and represent a previously unexplored aspect of annexin biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stryder M. Meadows
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, Tulane University, 2000 Percival Stern Hall, 6400 Freret St., New Orleans, LA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| | - Ondine Cleaver
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas, United States of America
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20
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Lin G, Doyle LA. An update on the application of newly described immunohistochemical markers in soft tissue pathology. Arch Pathol Lab Med 2015; 139:106-21. [PMID: 25549147 DOI: 10.5858/arpa.2014-0488-ra] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
CONTEXT During the last 5 to 10 years, significant progress has been made in the molecular characterization of soft tissue tumors, predominantly with the identification of recurrent translocations or amplification of certain genes in different tumor types. Alongside this, translational efforts have identified many novel and diagnostically useful immunohistochemical markers for many of these tumor types. OBJECTIVE This article reviews a select group of recently described immunohistochemical markers of particular use in the evaluation of mesenchymal neoplasms; the underlying biology of the protein product, practical utility, and limitations of each marker are discussed in detail. DATA SOURCES Literature review, authors' research data, and personal practice experience serve as sources. CONCLUSIONS There are many diagnostically useful immunohistochemical markers to help confirm the diagnosis of many different soft tissue tumor types, some of which have reduced the need for additional, and more costly, studies, such as fluorescence in situ hybridization. However, no one marker is 100% specific for a given tumor, and knowledge of potential pitfalls and overlap in patterns of staining among other tumor types is crucial to ensure the appropriate application of these markers in clinical practice.
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Affiliation(s)
- George Lin
- From the Department of Laboratory Medicine, Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, Pennsylvania (Dr Lin); and the Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts (Dr Doyle)
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21
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Birdsey GM, Shah AV, Dufton N, Reynolds LE, Osuna Almagro L, Yang Y, Aspalter IM, Khan ST, Mason JC, Dejana E, Göttgens B, Hodivala-Dilke K, Gerhardt H, Adams RH, Randi AM. The endothelial transcription factor ERG promotes vascular stability and growth through Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Dev Cell 2015; 32:82-96. [PMID: 25584796 PMCID: PMC4292982 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Blood vessel stability is essential for embryonic development; in the adult, many diseases are associated with loss of vascular integrity. The ETS transcription factor ERG drives expression of VE-cadherin and controls junctional integrity. We show that constitutive endothelial deletion of ERG (Erg(cEC-KO)) in mice causes embryonic lethality with vascular defects. Inducible endothelial deletion of ERG (Erg(iEC-KO)) results in defective physiological and pathological angiogenesis in the postnatal retina and tumors, with decreased vascular stability. ERG controls the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by promoting β-catenin stability, through signals mediated by VE-cadherin and the Wnt receptor Frizzled-4. Wnt signaling is decreased in ERG-deficient endothelial cells; activation of Wnt signaling with lithium chloride, which stabilizes β-catenin levels, corrects vascular defects in Erg(cEC-KO) embryos. Finally, overexpression of ERG in vivo reduces permeability and increases stability of VEGF-induced blood vessels. These data demonstrate that ERG is an essential regulator of angiogenesis and vascular stability through Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme M Birdsey
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Aarti V Shah
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Neil Dufton
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Louise E Reynolds
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute - a CR-UK Centre of Excellence, John Vane Science Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Lourdes Osuna Almagro
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Youwen Yang
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Irene M Aspalter
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, London WC2A 3PX, UK
| | - Samia T Khan
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Justin C Mason
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Elisabetta Dejana
- FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology Foundation, IFOM, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute - a CR-UK Centre of Excellence, John Vane Science Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Holger Gerhardt
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, London WC2A 3PX, UK
| | - Ralf H Adams
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Anna M Randi
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
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22
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Lathen C, Zhang Y, Chow J, Singh M, Lin G, Nigam V, Ashraf YA, Yuan JX, Robbins IM, Thistlethwaite PA. ERG-APLNR axis controls pulmonary venule endothelial proliferation in pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. Circulation 2014; 130:1179-91. [PMID: 25062690 DOI: 10.1161/circulationaha.113.007822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pulmonary veno-occlusive disease is caused by excessive cell proliferation and fibrosis, which obliterate the lumen of pulmonary venules, leading to pulmonary hypertension, right ventricular failure, and death. This condition has no effective treatment and a 5-year survival of <5%. Understanding the mechanism of this disease and designing effective therapies are urgently needed. METHODS AND RESULTS We show that mice with homozygous deletion of the Ets transcription factor Erg die between embryonic day 16.5 and 3 months of age as a result of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease, capillary hemorrhage, and pancytopenia. We demonstrate that Erg binds to and serves as a transcriptional activator of the G-protein-coupled receptor gene Aplnr, the expression of which is uniquely specific for venous endothelium and that knockout of either Erg or Aplnr results in pulmonary venule-specific endothelial proliferation in vitro. We show that mice with either homozygous-global or endothelium-directed deletion of Aplnr manifest pulmonary veno-occlusive disease and right heart failure, detectable at 8 months of age. Levels of pulmonary ERG and APLNR in patients with pulmonary veno-occlusive disease undergoing lung transplantation were significantly lower than those of control subjects. CONCLUSIONS Our results suggest that ERG and APLNR are essential for endothelial homeostasis in venules in the lung and that perturbation in ERG-APLNR signaling is crucial for the development of pulmonary veno-occlusive disease. We identify this pathway as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of this incurable disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher Lathen
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (C.L., Y.Z, J.C., M.S., Y.A.A., P.A.T), Department of Pathology (G.L.), Division of Cardiology (V.N), University of California, San Diego; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago (J.X.Y.); and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (I.M.R.)
| | - Yu Zhang
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (C.L., Y.Z, J.C., M.S., Y.A.A., P.A.T), Department of Pathology (G.L.), Division of Cardiology (V.N), University of California, San Diego; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago (J.X.Y.); and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (I.M.R.)
| | - Jennifer Chow
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (C.L., Y.Z, J.C., M.S., Y.A.A., P.A.T), Department of Pathology (G.L.), Division of Cardiology (V.N), University of California, San Diego; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago (J.X.Y.); and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (I.M.R.)
| | - Martanday Singh
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (C.L., Y.Z, J.C., M.S., Y.A.A., P.A.T), Department of Pathology (G.L.), Division of Cardiology (V.N), University of California, San Diego; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago (J.X.Y.); and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (I.M.R.)
| | - Grace Lin
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (C.L., Y.Z, J.C., M.S., Y.A.A., P.A.T), Department of Pathology (G.L.), Division of Cardiology (V.N), University of California, San Diego; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago (J.X.Y.); and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (I.M.R.)
| | - Vishal Nigam
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (C.L., Y.Z, J.C., M.S., Y.A.A., P.A.T), Department of Pathology (G.L.), Division of Cardiology (V.N), University of California, San Diego; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago (J.X.Y.); and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (I.M.R.)
| | - Yasser A Ashraf
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (C.L., Y.Z, J.C., M.S., Y.A.A., P.A.T), Department of Pathology (G.L.), Division of Cardiology (V.N), University of California, San Diego; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago (J.X.Y.); and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (I.M.R.)
| | - Jason X Yuan
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (C.L., Y.Z, J.C., M.S., Y.A.A., P.A.T), Department of Pathology (G.L.), Division of Cardiology (V.N), University of California, San Diego; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago (J.X.Y.); and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (I.M.R.)
| | - Ivan M Robbins
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (C.L., Y.Z, J.C., M.S., Y.A.A., P.A.T), Department of Pathology (G.L.), Division of Cardiology (V.N), University of California, San Diego; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago (J.X.Y.); and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (I.M.R.)
| | - Patricia A Thistlethwaite
- From the Division of Cardiothoracic Surgery (C.L., Y.Z, J.C., M.S., Y.A.A., P.A.T), Department of Pathology (G.L.), Division of Cardiology (V.N), University of California, San Diego; Department of Medicine, University of Illinois, Chicago (J.X.Y.); and Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN (I.M.R.).
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Direct induction of haematoendothelial programs in human pluripotent stem cells by transcriptional regulators. Nat Commun 2014; 5:4372. [PMID: 25019369 PMCID: PMC4107340 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms5372] [Citation(s) in RCA: 144] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2014] [Accepted: 06/11/2014] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Advancing pluripotent stem cell technologies for modeling hematopoietic stem cell development and blood therapies requires identifying key regulators of hematopoietic commitment from human pluripotent stem cells (hPSCs). Here, by screening the effect of 27 candidate factors, we reveal two groups of transcriptional regulators capable of inducing distinct hematopoietic programs from hPSCs: panmyeloid (ETV2 and GATA2) and erythro-megakaryocytic (GATA2 and TAL1). In both cases, these transcription factors directly convert hPSCs to endothelium, which subsequently transforms into blood cells with pan-myeloid or erythromegakaryocytic potential. These data demonstrate that two distinct genetic programs regulate the hematopoietic development from hPSCs and that both of these programs specify hPSCs directly to hemogenic endothelial cells. Additionally, this study provides a novel method for the efficient induction of blood and endothelial cells from hPSCs via overexpression of modified mRNA for the selected transcription factors.
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Miettinen M, Wang Z, Sarlomo-Rikala M, Abdullaev Z, Pack SD, Fetsch JF. ERG expression in epithelioid sarcoma: a diagnostic pitfall. Am J Surg Pathol 2013; 37:1580-5. [PMID: 23774169 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0b013e31828de23a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
ERG transcription factor is constitutively expressed in endothelial cells. Because benign and malignant vascular endothelia retain the ERG expression, ERG is considered a useful marker for angiosarcomas and related tumors. ERG is also expressed in a subset of prostate carcinomas and Ewing sarcomas due to ERG-involved translocations; therefore, this marker is also of high interest in the study of these malignancies. In this study, we evaluated 109 epithelioid sarcomas for ERG expression, on the basis of an initial observation of an ERG-positive case. We also studied expression of other endothelial antigens in epithelioid sarcoma. ERG was expressed in 38% of epithelioid sarcomas (41/109), usually with a uniform nuclear staining, similar to that seen in angiosarcomas. However, all epithelioid sarcomas were negative for ERG gene rearrangement indicating that ERG expression is not likely related to ERG-involving translocations in epithelioid sarcoma. Other endothelial markers, CD31, claudin 5, and Prox1, were absent in epithelioid sarcomas. The only exception was a pulmonary metastasis of epithelioid sarcoma showing focal CD31 expression, which probably resulted from antigen adsorption onto tumor cell surfaces. However, podoplanin was commonly (7/9) expressed in epithelioid sarcoma; therefore, this marker is not useful in distinguishing epithelioid sarcoma from angiosarcoma. INI1/SMARCB1 gene product was absent in all epithelioid sarcomas (considered here a definitional feature) but was absent from only 1 epithelioid angiosarcoma, indicating its relative specificity for epithelioid sarcoma in this differential diagnostic setting. ERG expression is fairly common in epithelioid sarcoma and should be recognized as a diagnostic pitfall in the differential diagnosis of epithelioid sarcoma and epithelioid angiosarcoma. General lack of endothelial cell-specific markers in epithelioid sarcoma helps in this distinction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Markku Miettinen
- *Laboratory of Pathology, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda ‡Joint Pathology Center, Silver Spring, MD †HUSLab, Helsinki, Finland
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25
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Charpentier MS, Christine KS, Amin NM, Dorr KM, Kushner EJ, Bautch VL, Taylor JM, Conlon FL. CASZ1 promotes vascular assembly and morphogenesis through the direct regulation of an EGFL7/RhoA-mediated pathway. Dev Cell 2013; 25:132-43. [PMID: 23639441 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2013.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2012] [Revised: 01/22/2013] [Accepted: 03/01/2013] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The formation of the vascular system is essential for embryonic development and homeostasis. However, transcriptional control of this process is not fully understood. Here we report an evolutionarily conserved role for the transcription factor CASZ1 (CASTOR) in blood vessel assembly and morphogenesis. In the absence of CASZ1, Xenopus embryos fail to develop a branched and lumenized vascular system, and CASZ1-depleted human endothelial cells display dramatic alterations in adhesion, morphology, and sprouting. Mechanistically, we show that CASZ1 directly regulates Epidermal Growth Factor-Like Domain 7 (Egfl7). We further demonstrate that defects of CASZ1- or EGFL7-depleted cells are in part due to diminished RhoA expression and impaired focal adhesion localization. Moreover, these abnormal endothelial cell behaviors in CASZ1-depleted cells can be rescued by restoration of Egfl7. Collectively, these studies show that CASZ1 is required to directly regulate an EGFL7/RhoA-mediated pathway to promote vertebrate vascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta S Charpentier
- McAllister Heart Institute, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599-3280, USA
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26
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Angiosarcoma (AS) is a rare soft tissue sarcoma showing endothelial differentiation as indicated by morphology and expression of CD31 (blood), D2-40 (lymphatic), factor VIII, and CD34 (both). We sought to examine the pattern of immunohistochemical markers of differentiation in AS and correlate these with outcome. DESIGN An AS tissue microarray (n = 70 specimens) was constructed for immunohistochemical analysis of CD31, CD34, factor VIII, D2-40, and pan-cytokeratin. Samples on this array were linked to clinicopathologic and outcome data for these patients. Univariate analyses were used to explore disease-specific survival (DSS) factors. RESULTS Nine metastatic, 23 localized, and 4 recurrent cases were included. Information about the tissue status (ie, primary or metastasis) was unavailable in 4 patients. Primary sites for the tumor included bone (n = 1), breast parenchyma (n = 11), breast skin (n = 4), heart (n = 5), skin (n = 8), soft tissue (n = 7), and unknown (n = 3). Three patients presented with multifocal disease (primary sites in these patients included breast, skin, and soft tissue). Metastatic sites included lung, bone, lymph nodes, brain, liver, and parotid. Of the 40 cases, 8 (20%) showed a pure or predominant epithelioid histology. Of the biomarkers evaluated by tissue microarray, 92% of tumors expressed at least one endothelial marker (factor VIII = 83%, CD31 = 80%, CD34 = 63%, and D2-40 = 43%) with 88% expressing 2 or more markers. Eighty-eight percent of tumors expressing D2-40 coexpressed CD31, an unusual combination in normal vessels. No endothelial marker clearly associated with disease-specific survival. Fifty percent (4/8) of epithelioid cases and 9% (3/32) of nonepithelioid cases showed keratin expression. CONCLUSIONS Unusual patterns and loss of endothelial markers are common in AS, suggesting use of multiple markers in challenging cases and perhaps indicating important biologic characteristics.
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27
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Vijayaraj P, Le Bras A, Mitchell N, Kondo M, Juliao S, Wasserman M, Beeler D, Spokes K, Aird WC, Baldwin HS, Oettgen P. Erg is a crucial regulator of endocardial-mesenchymal transformation during cardiac valve morphogenesis. Development 2012; 139:3973-85. [PMID: 22932696 PMCID: PMC3472597 DOI: 10.1242/dev.081596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
During murine embryogenesis, the Ets factor Erg is highly expressed in endothelial cells of the developing vasculature and in articular chondrocytes of developing bone. We identified seven isoforms for the mouse Erg gene. Four share a common translational start site encoded by exon 3 (Ex3) and are enriched in chondrocytes. The other three have a separate translational start site encoded by Ex4 and are enriched in endothelial cells. Homozygous ErgΔEx3/ΔEx3 knockout mice are viable, fertile and do not display any overt phenotype. By contrast, homozygous ErgΔEx4/ΔEx4 knockout mice are embryonic lethal, which is associated with a marked reduction in endocardial-mesenchymal transformation (EnMT) during cardiac valve morphogenesis. We show that Erg is required for the maintenance of the core EnMT regulatory factors that include Snail1 and Snail2 by binding to their promoter and intronic regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Preethi Vijayaraj
- Division of Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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28
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Abstract
Oncogenic activation of ERG resulting from gene fusion is present in over half of all patients with prostate cancer in Western countries. Although the underlying genetic mechanisms have been extensively studied, evaluation of the ERG oncoprotein--the translational product of ERG gene fusions--has just begun. The robust correlation between ERG oncoprotein detection and gene fusion status enables rapid characterization of this protein in large patient cohorts. Recent studies have focused on characterizing the ERG oncoprotein and determining its potential role in the diagnosis and biological stratification of prostate cancer.
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29
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Sreenath TL, Dobi A, Petrovics G, Srivastava S. Oncogenic activation of ERG: A predominant mechanism in prostate cancer. J Carcinog 2011; 10:37. [PMID: 22279422 PMCID: PMC3263025 DOI: 10.4103/1477-3163.91122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2011] [Accepted: 11/10/2011] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Prevalent gene fusions involving regulatory sequences of the androgen receptor (AR) regulated genes (primarily TMPRSS2) and protein coding sequences of nuclear transcription factors of the ETS gene family (predominantly ERG) result in unscheduled androgen dependent ERG expression in prostate cancer (CaP).Cumulative data from a large number of studies in the past six years accentuate ERG alterations in more than half of all CaP patients in Western countries. Studies underscore that ERG functions are involved in the biology of CaP. ERG expression in normal context is selective to endothelial cells, specific hematopoetic cells and pre-cartilage cells. Normal functions of ERG are highlighted in hematopoetic stem cells. Emerging data continues to unravel molecular and cellular mechanisms by which ERG may contribute to CaP. Herein, we focus on biological and clinical aspects of ERG oncogenic alterations, potential of ERG-based stratification of CaP and the possibilities of targeting the ERG network in developing new therapeutic strategies for the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Taduru L Sreenath
- Center for Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
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30
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Meadows SM, Myers CT, Krieg PA. Regulation of endothelial cell development by ETS transcription factors. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2011; 22:976-84. [PMID: 21945894 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2011.09.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2010] [Accepted: 09/14/2011] [Indexed: 10/17/2022]
Abstract
The ETS family of transcription factors plays an essential role in controlling endothelial gene expression. Multiple members of the ETS family are expressed in the developing endothelium and evidence suggests that the proteins function, to some extent, redundantly. However, recent studies have demonstrated a crucial non-redundant role for ETV2, as a primary player in specification and differentiation of the endothelial lineage. Here, we review the contribution of ETS factors, and their partner proteins, to the regulation of embryonic vascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stryder M Meadows
- Department of Molecular Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX, United States
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31
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RhoJ is an endothelial cell-restricted Rho GTPase that mediates vascular morphogenesis and is regulated by the transcription factor ERG. Blood 2011; 118:1145-53. [PMID: 21628409 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2010-10-315275] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
ERG is a member of the ETS transcription factor family that is highly enriched in endothelial cells (ECs). To further define the role of ERG in regulating EC function, we evaluated the effect of ERG knock-down on EC lumen formation in 3D collagen matrices. Blockade of ERG using siRNA completely interferes with EC lumen formation. Quantitative PCR (QPCR) was used to identify potential downstream gene targets of ERG. In particular, we identified RhoJ as the Rho GTPase family member that is closely related to Cdc42 as a target of ERG. Knockdown of ERG expression in ECs led to a 75% reduction in the expression of RhoJ. Chromatin immunoprecipitation and transactivation studies demonstrated that ERG could bind to functional sites in the proximal promoter of the RhoJ gene. Knock-down of RhoJ similarly resulted in a marked reduction in the ability of ECs to form lumens. Suppression of either ERG or RhoJ during EC lumen formation was associated with a marked increase in RhoA activation and a decrease in Rac1 and Cdc42 activation and their downstream effectors. Finally, in contrast to other Rho GTPases, RhoJ exhibits a highly EC-restricted expression pattern in several different tissues, including the brain, heart, lung, and liver.
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ERG transcription factor as an immunohistochemical marker for vascular endothelial tumors and prostatic carcinoma. Am J Surg Pathol 2011; 35:432-41. [PMID: 21317715 DOI: 10.1097/pas.0b013e318206b67b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 242] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
ERG, an ETS family transcription factor, is known to be expressed in endothelial cells, and oncogenic ERG gene fusions occur in subsets of prostatic carcinoma, acute myeloid leukemia, and Ewing sarcoma. In this study, we immunohistochemically investigated nuclear ERG expression using a new monoclonal antibody, CPDR ERG-MAb, that is highly specific for detecting ERG protein and ERG-expressing prostate carcinomas. A broad range of vascular endothelial (n = 250), other mesenchymal (n = 973), and epithelial tumors (n = 657) was examined to determine the use of ERG immunohistochemistry in surgical pathology. Only immunostains with ERG-positive normal endothelia (internal control) were considered valid, and only nuclear staining was considered to be positive. In adult tissues, ERG was restricted to endothelial cells and to a subset of bone marrow precursors, but early fetal mesenchyme and subpopulations of fetal cartilage were also positive. In vascular tumors, ERG was expressed in endothelia of all hemangiomas and lymphangiomas, and typically extensively expressed in 96 of 100 angiosarcomas, 42 of 43 epithelioid hemangioendotheliomas, and all 26 Kaposi sarcomas. Among nonvascular mesenchymal tumors, only blastic extramedullary myeloid tumors (7 of 10) and rare Ewing sarcomas (2 of 29) were positive. Among epithelial tumors, 30 of 66 prostatic adenocarcinomas showed focal-to-extensive ERG positivity, with no immunoreactivity in the normal prostate. Other carcinomas and epithelial tumors (n = 643) were ERG negative, with the exception of 1 of 42 large cell undifferentiated pulmonary carcinomas and 1 of 27 mesotheliomas, each of which showed focal nuclear ERG positivity. On the basis of the above observations, ERG is a highly specific new marker for benign and malignant vascular tumors. Among epithelial tumors, ERG shows a great promise as a marker to identify prostatic carcinoma in both primary and metastatic settings.
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33
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Mohamed AA, Tan SH, Mikhalkevich N, Ponniah S, Vasioukhin V, Bieberich CJ, Sesterhenn IA, Dobi A, Srivastava S, Sreenath TL. Ets family protein, erg expression in developing and adult mouse tissues by a highly specific monoclonal antibody. J Cancer 2010; 1:197-208. [PMID: 21060730 PMCID: PMC2974237 DOI: 10.7150/jca.1.197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2010] [Accepted: 10/24/2010] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogenic activation of the ETS Related Gene (ERG) in humans was originally identified in subsets of Ewing sarcomas, myeloid leukemias and, recently, in the majority of prostate cancers. Expression of human ERG protein and consequently its functions in normal and disease states needs to be better understood in light of its suggested role in cell differentiation and proliferation. Here, we analyzed temporal and spatial expression of the Erg (mouse protein) by immunohistochemical analysis during mouse embryonic and adult organogenesis using a highly specific ERG monoclonal antibody (ERG MAb). This study establishes widespread immunolocalization of Erg protein in endothelial cells and restricted expression in precartilage and hematopoietic tissues. Intriguingly, Erg is not expressed in any epithelial tissue including prostate epithelium, or in infiltrating lymphocytes that are occasionally seen in the prostate environment, a common site of tumors with ERG rearrangements and unscheduled ERG expression. These findings will further aid in investigations of Erg functions in normal and disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed A Mohamed
- 1. Center For Prostate Disease Research, Department of Surgery, United States Military Cancer Institute, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda MD 20814, USA
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34
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Salanga MC, Meadows SM, Myers CT, Krieg PA. ETS family protein ETV2 is required for initiation of the endothelial lineage but not the hematopoietic lineage in the Xenopus embryo. Dev Dyn 2010; 239:1178-87. [PMID: 20235229 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22277] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors of the ETS family are important regulators of endothelial and hematopoietic development. We have characterized the Xenopus orthologue of the ETS transcription factor, ETV2. Expression analysis shows that etv2 is highly expressed in hematopoietic and endothelial precursor cells in the Xenopus embryo. In gain-of-function experiments, ETV2 is sufficient to activate ectopic expression of vascular endothelial markers. In addition, ETV2 activated expression of hematopoietic genes representing the myeloid but not the erythroid lineage. Loss-of-function studies indicate that ETV2 is required for expression of all endothelial markers examined. However, knockdown of ETV2 has no detectable effects on expression of either myeloid or erythroid markers. This contrasts with studies in mouse and zebrafish where ETV2 is required for development of the myeloid lineage. Our studies confirm an essential role for ETV2 in endothelial development, but also reveal important differences in hematopoietic development between organisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew C Salanga
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, Molecular Cardiovascular Research Program, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona 85724, USA
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35
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Furusato B, Tan SH, Young D, Dobi A, Sun C, Mohamed AA, Thangapazham R, Chen Y, McMaster G, Sreenath T, Petrovics G, McLeod DG, Srivastava S, Sesterhenn IA. ERG oncoprotein expression in prostate cancer: clonal progression of ERG-positive tumor cells and potential for ERG-based stratification. Prostate Cancer Prostatic Dis 2010; 13:228-37. [PMID: 20585344 PMCID: PMC3010744 DOI: 10.1038/pcan.2010.23] [Citation(s) in RCA: 193] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Gene fusions prevalent in prostate cancer (CaP) lead to the elevated expression of the ERG proto-oncogene. ERG activation present in 50–70% of prostate tumors underscores one of the most common oncogenic alterations in CaP. Despite numerous reports of gene fusions and mRNA expression, ERG oncoprotein status in CaP still remains to be defined. Furthermore, development of ERG protein-based assays may provide a new dimension to evaluation of gene fusions involving diverse androgen-regulated promoters and the ERG protein-coding sequence. Through exhaustive evaluations of 132 whole-mount prostates (261 tumor foci and over 200 000 benign glands) for the ERG oncoprotein nuclear expression, we demonstrated 99.9% specificity for detecting prostate tumor cells using a highly specific anti-ERG monoclonal antibody. The ERG oncoprotein expression correlated well with fusion transcript or gene fusion in randomly selected specimens. Strong concordance of ERG-positive foci of prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) with ERG-positive carcinoma (82 out of 85 sections with PIN, 96.5%) affirms the biological role of ERG in clonal selection of prostate tumors in 65% (86 out of 132) of patients. Conversely, ERG negative PINs were associated with ERG-negative carcinoma. Taken together, the homogeneous and strong ERG expression detected in individual tumors establishes the potential for ERG oncoprotein-based stratification of CaP.
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Affiliation(s)
- B Furusato
- Department of Genitourinary Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Washington, DC, USA
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36
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Abstract
Transcription factors of the ETS family are important regulators of endothelial gene expression. Here, we review the evidence that ETS factors regulate angiogenesis and briefly discuss the target genes and pathways involved. Finally, we discuss novel evidence that shows how these transcription factors act in a combinatorial fashion with others, through composite sites that may be crucial in determining endothelial specificity in gene transcription.
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37
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38
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Gray RS, Bayly RD, Green SA, Agarwala S, Lowe CJ, Wallingford JB. Diversification of the expression patterns and developmental functions of the dishevelled gene family during chordate evolution. Dev Dyn 2009; 238:2044-57. [PMID: 19618470 PMCID: PMC2782374 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.22028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Dishevelled (Dvl) proteins are key transducers of Wnt signaling encoded by members of a multi-gene family in vertebrates. We report here the divergent, tissue-specific expression patterns for all three Dvl genes in Xenopus embryos, which contrast dramatically with their expression patterns in mice. Moreover, we find that the expression patterns of Dvl genes in the chick diverge significantly from those of Xenopus. In addition, in hemichordates, an outgroup to chordates, we find that the one Dvl gene is dynamically expressed in a tissue-specific manner. Using knockdowns, we find that Dvl1 and Dvl2 are required for early neural crest specification and for somite segmentation in Xenopus. Most strikingly, we report a novel role for Dvl3 in the maintenance of gene expression in muscle and in the development of the Xenopus sclerotome. These data demonstrate that the expression patterns and developmental functions of specific Dvl genes have diverged significantly during chordate evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan S. Gray
- Section of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Robbie D. Bayly
- Section of Neurobiology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Stephen A. Green
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - Seema Agarwala
- Section of Neurobiology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
| | - Christopher J. Lowe
- Department of Organismal Biology and Anatomy, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637
| | - John B. Wallingford
- Section of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
- Institute for Cellular and Molecular Biology, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
- Institute for Neuroscience, University of Texas, Austin, Texas 78712
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39
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Yuan L, Nikolova-Krstevski V, Zhan Y, Kondo M, Bhasin M, Varghese L, Yano K, Carman CV, Aird WC, Oettgen P. Antiinflammatory effects of the ETS factor ERG in endothelial cells are mediated through transcriptional repression of the interleukin-8 gene. Circ Res 2009; 104:1049-57. [PMID: 19359602 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.108.190751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
ERG (Ets-related gene) is an ETS transcription factor that has recently been shown to regulate a number of endothelial cell (EC)-restricted genes including VE-cadherin, von Willebrand factor, endoglin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-2. Our preliminary data demonstrate that unlike other ETS factors, ERG exhibits a highly EC-restricted pattern of expression in cultured primary cells and several adult mouse tissues including the heart, lung, and brain. In response to inflammatory stimuli, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, we observed a marked reduction of ERG expression in ECs. To further define the role of ERG in the regulation of normal EC function, we used RNA interference to knock down ERG. Microarray analysis of RNA derived from ERG small interfering RNA- or tumor necrosis factor-alpha-treated human umbilical vein (HUV)ECs revealed significant overlap (P<0.01) in the genes that are up- or downregulated. Of particular interest to us was a significant change in expression of interleukin (IL)-8 at both protein and RNA levels. Exposure of ECs to tumor necrosis factor-alpha is known to be associated with increased neutrophil attachment. We observed that knockdown of ERG in HUVECs is similarly associated with increased neutrophil attachment compared to control small interfering RNA-treated cells. This enhanced adhesion could be blocked with IL-8 neutralizing or IL-8 receptor blocking antibodies. ERG can inhibit the activity of the IL-8 promoter in a dose dependent manner. Direct binding of ERG to the IL-8 promoter in ECs was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. In summary, our findings support a role for ERG in promoting antiinflammatory effects in ECs through repression of inflammatory genes such as IL-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yuan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, and the Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Xu K, Chong DC, Rankin SA, Zorn AM, Cleaver O. Rasip1 is required for endothelial cell motility, angiogenesis and vessel formation. Dev Biol 2009; 329:269-79. [PMID: 19272373 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2009.02.033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2008] [Revised: 02/20/2009] [Accepted: 02/24/2009] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
Ras proteins are small GTPases that regulate cellular growth and differentiation. Components of the Ras signaling pathway have been shown to be important during embryonic vasculogenesis and angiogenesis. Here, we report that Rasip1, which encodes a novel Ras-interacting protein, is strongly expressed in vascular endothelial cells throughout development, in both mouse and frog. Similar to the well-characterized vascular markers VEGFR2 and PECAM, Rasip1 is specifically expressed in angioblasts prior to vessel formation, in the initial embryonic vascular plexus, in the growing blood vessels during angiogenesis and in the endothelium of mature blood vessels into the postnatal period. Rasip1 expression is undetectable in VEGFR2 null embryos, which lack endothelial cells, suggesting that Rasip1 is endothelial specific. siRNA-mediated reduction of Rasip1 severely impairs angiogenesis and motility in endothelial cell cultures, and morpholino knockdown experiments in frog embryos demonstrate that Rasip1 is required for embryonic vessel formation in vivo. Together, these data identify Rasip1 as a novel endothelial factor that plays an essential role in vascular development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ke Xu
- Department of Molecular Biology, NA8.300, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, TX 75390-9148, USA
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41
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Meadows SM, Salanga MC, Krieg PA. Kruppel-like factor 2 cooperates with the ETS family protein ERG to activate Flk1 expression during vascular development. Development 2009; 136:1115-25. [PMID: 19244281 DOI: 10.1242/dev.029538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
The VEGF receptor, FLK1, is essential for differentiation of the endothelial lineage and for embryonic vascular development. Using comparative genomics, we have identified conserved ETS and Krüppel-like factor (KLF) binding sites within the Flk1 enhancer. In transgenic studies, mutation of either site results in dramatic reduction of Flk1 reporter expression. Overexpression of KLF2 or the ETS transcription factor ERG is sufficient to induce ectopic Flk1 expression in the Xenopus embryo. Inhibition of KLF2 function in the Xenopus embryo results in a dramatic reduction in Flk1 transcript levels. Furthermore, we show that KLF2 and ERG associate in a physical complex and that the two proteins synergistically activate transcription of Flk1. Since the ETS and KLF protein families have independently been recognized as important regulators of endothelial gene expression, cooperation between the two families has broad implications for gene regulation during development, normal physiology and vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stryder M Meadows
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA
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42
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Ellett F, Kile BT, Lieschke GJ. The role of the ETS factor erg in zebrafish vasculogenesis. Mech Dev 2008; 126:220-9. [PMID: 19027849 DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2008.11.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2008] [Revised: 10/30/2008] [Accepted: 11/02/2008] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Erg, a member of the ETS family of transcription factors, has been implicated by previous studies in endothelial and haematopoietic development. Deregulation of the human ERG locus is associated with acute myeloid leukaemia, prostate cancer and Ewing's sarcoma. To better understand the role of Erg during early development, we utilised the zebrafish as a model amenable to descriptive and functional studies in vivo. Zebrafish have a single erg gene that is expressed in mesoderm and its vascular derivatives during angioblast migration, vasculogenesis and early angiogenesis. Mutant and morphant expression analyses placed erg in a genetic pathway downstream of cloche, tal1/scl and etsrp during early angioblast migration. Furthermore, a combination of gain-of-function and loss-of-function studies suggested a redundant yet specific role for erg in both angioblast specification/proliferation and early angiogenesis, and a synergistic interaction with the critical ETS factor etsrp.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felix Ellett
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, VIC 3050, Australia
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43
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Transcription factor Erg regulates angiogenesis and endothelial apoptosis through VE-cadherin. Blood 2008; 111:3498-506. [PMID: 18195090 DOI: 10.1182/blood-2007-08-105346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 201] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tight regulation of the balance between apoptosis and survival is essential in angiogenesis. The ETS transcription factor Erg is required for endothelial tube formation in vitro. Inhibition of Erg expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), using antisense oligonucleotides, resulted in detachment of cell-cell contacts and increased cell death. Inhibition of Erg expression by antisense in HUVECs also lowered expression of the adhesion molecule vascular endothelial (VE)-cadherin, a key regulator of endothelial intercellular junctions and survival. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation, we showed that Erg binds to the VE-cadherin promoter. Furthermore, Erg was found to enhance VE-cadherin promoter activity in a transactivation assay. Apoptosis induced by inhibition of Erg was partly rescued by overexpression of VE-cadherin-GFP, suggesting that VE-cadherin is involved in the Erg-dependent survival signals. To show the role of Erg in angiogenesis in vivo, we used siRNA against Erg in a Matrigel plug model. Erg inhibition resulted in a significant decrease in vascularization, with increase in caspase-positive endothelial cells (ECs). These results identify a new pathway regulating angiogenesis and endothelial survival, via the transcription factor Erg and the adhesion molecule VE-cadherin.
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44
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Kälin RE, Kretz MP, Meyer AM, Kispert A, Heppner FL, Brändli AW. Paracrine and autocrine mechanisms of apelin signaling govern embryonic and tumor angiogenesis. Dev Biol 2007; 305:599-614. [PMID: 17412318 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 145] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2006] [Revised: 03/02/2007] [Accepted: 03/06/2007] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Apelin and its G protein-coupled receptor APJ play important roles in blood pressure regulation, body fluid homeostasis, and possibly the modulation of immune responses. Here, we report that apelin-APJ signaling is essential for embryonic angiogenesis and upregulated during tumor angiogenesis. A detailed expression analysis demonstrates that both paracrine and autocrine mechanisms mark areas of embryonic and tumor angiogenesis. Knockdown studies in Xenopus reveal that apelin-APJ signaling is required for intersomitic vessel angiogenesis. Moreover, ectopic expression of apelin but not vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) is sufficient to trigger premature angiogenesis. In vitro, apelin is non-mitogenic for primary human endothelial cells but promotes chemotaxis. Epistasis studies in Xenopus embryos suggest that apelin-APJ signaling functions downstream of VEGFA. Finally, we show that apelin and APJ expression is highly upregulated in microvascular proliferations of brain tumors such as malignant gliomas. Thus, our results define apelin and APJ as genes of potential diagnostic value and promising targets for the development of a new generation of anti-tumor angiogenic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roland E Kälin
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Department of Chemistry and Applied Biosciences, ETH Zurich, Wolfgang-Pauli-Strasse 10, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland
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45
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Iwamoto M, Tamamura Y, Koyama E, Komori T, Takeshita N, Williams JA, Nakamura T, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Pacifici M. Transcription factor ERG and joint and articular cartilage formation during mouse limb and spine skeletogenesis. Dev Biol 2007; 305:40-51. [PMID: 17336282 PMCID: PMC2104487 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2007.01.037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2006] [Revised: 01/26/2007] [Accepted: 01/29/2007] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Articular cartilage and synovial joints are critical for skeletal function, but the mechanisms regulating their development are largely unknown. In previous studies we found that the ets transcription factor ERG and its alternatively-spliced variant C-1-1 have roles in joint formation in chick. Here, we extended our studies to mouse. We found that ERG is also expressed in developing mouse limb joints. To test regulation of ERG expression, beads coated with the joint master regulator protein GDF-5 were implanted close to incipient joints in mouse limb explants; this led to rapid and strong ectopic ERG expression. We cloned and characterized several mammalian ERG variants and expressed a human C-1-1 counterpart (hERG3Delta81) throughout the cartilaginous skeleton of transgenic mice, using Col2a1 gene promoter/enhancer sequences. The skeletal phenotype was severe and neonatal lethal, and the transgenic mice were smaller than wild type littermates and their skeletons were largely cartilaginous. Limb long bone anlagen were entirely composed of chondrocytes actively expressing collagen IX and aggrecan as well as articular markers such as tenascin-C. Typical growth plates were absent and there was very low expression of maturation and hypertrophy markers, including Indian hedgehog, collagen X and MMP-13. The results suggest that ERG is part of molecular mechanisms leading chondrocytes into a permanent developmental path and become joint forming cells, and may do so by acting downstream of GDF-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masahiro Iwamoto
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Thomas Jefferson University College of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA.
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46
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Pham VN, Lawson ND, Mugford JW, Dye L, Castranova D, Lo B, Weinstein BM. Combinatorial function of ETS transcription factors in the developing vasculature. Dev Biol 2006; 303:772-83. [PMID: 17125762 PMCID: PMC1859867 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.10.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 156] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2006] [Revised: 10/17/2006] [Accepted: 10/20/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Members of the ETS family of transcription factors are among the first genes expressed in the developing vasculature, but loss-of-function experiments for individual ETS factors in mice have not uncovered important early functional roles for these genes. However, multiple ETS factors are expressed in spatially and temporally overlapping patterns in the developing vasculature, suggesting possible functional overlap. We have taken a comprehensive approach to exploring the function of these factors during vascular development by employing the genetic and experimental tools available in the zebrafish to analyze four ETS family members expressed together in the zebrafish vasculature; fli1, fli1b, ets1, and etsrp. We isolated and characterized an ENU-induced mutant with defects in trunk angiogenesis and positionally cloned the defective gene from this mutant, etsrp. Using the etsrp morpholinos targeting each of the four genes, we show that the four ETS factors function combinatorially during vascular and hematopoietic development. Reduction of etsrp or any of the other genes alone results in either partial or no defects in endothelial differentiation, while combined reduction in the function of all four genes causes dramatic loss of endothelial cells. Our results demonstrate that combinatorial ETS factor function is essential for early endothelial specification and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Van N Pham
- Laboratory of Molecular Genetics, National Institute of Child Health and Human Development/NIH, Building 6B, Room 309, 6 Center Drive, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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47
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Baltzinger M, Ori M, Pasqualetti M, Nardi I, Rijli FM. Hoxa2 knockdown in Xenopus results in hyoid to mandibular homeosis. Dev Dyn 2006; 234:858-67. [PMID: 16222714 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.20567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022] Open
Abstract
The skeletal structures of the face and throat are derived from cranial neural crest cells (NCCs) that migrate from the embryonic neural tube into a series of branchial arches (BAs). The first arch (BA1) gives rise to the upper and lower jaw cartilages, whereas hyoid structures are generated from the second arch (BA2). The Hox paralogue group 2 (PG2) genes, Hoxa2 and Hoxb2, show distinct roles for hyoid patterning in tetrapods and fishes. In the mouse, Hoxa2 acts as a selector of hyoid identity, while its paralogue Hoxb2 is not required. On the contrary, in zebrafish Hoxa2 and Hoxb2 are functionally redundant for hyoid arch patterning. Here, we show that in Xenopus embryos morpholino-induced functional knockdown of Hoxa2 is sufficient to induce homeotic changes of the second arch cartilage. Moreover, Hoxb2 is downregulated in the BA2 of Xenopus embryos, even though initially expressed in second arch NCCs, similar to mouse and unlike in zebrafish. Finally, Xbap, a gene involved in jaw joint formation, is selectively upregulated in the BA2 of Hoxa2 knocked-down frog embryos, supporting a hyoid to mandibular change of NCC identity. Thus, in Xenopus Hoxa2 does not act redundantly with Hoxb2 for BA2 patterning, similar to mouse and unlike in fish. These data bring novel insights into the regulation of Hox PG2 genes and hyoid patterning in vertebrate evolution and suggest that Hoxa2 function is required at late stages of BA2 development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireille Baltzinger
- Institut de Génétique et de Biologie Moléculaire et Cellulaire, CNRS/INSERM/ULP, Strasbourg, France
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48
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Cox CM, D'Agostino SL, Miller MK, Heimark RL, Krieg PA. Apelin, the ligand for the endothelial G-protein-coupled receptor, APJ, is a potent angiogenic factor required for normal vascular development of the frog embryo. Dev Biol 2006; 296:177-89. [PMID: 16750822 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2006.04.452] [Citation(s) in RCA: 229] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2005] [Revised: 04/06/2006] [Accepted: 04/19/2006] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
The peptide growth factor apelin is the high affinity ligand for the G-protein-coupled receptor APJ. During embryonic development of mouse and frog, APJ receptor is expressed at high levels in endothelial precursor cells and in nascent vascular structures. Characterization of Xenopus apelin shows that the sequence of the bioactive region of the peptide is perfectly conserved between frogs and mammals. Embryonic expression studies indicate that apelin is expressed in, or immediately adjacent to, a subset of the developing vascular structures, particularly the intersegmental vessels. Experimental inhibition of either apelin or APJ expression, using antisense morpholino oligos, results in elimination or disruption of intersegmental vessels in a majority of embryos. In gain of function experiments, apelin peptide is a potent angiogenic factor when tested using two in vivo angiogenesis assays, the frog embryo and the chicken chorioallantoic membrane. Furthermore, studies using the mouse brain microvascular cell line bEnd.3 show that apelin acts as a mitogenic, chemotactic and anti-apoptotic agent for endothelial cells in culture. Finally, we show that, similar to a number of other angiogenic factors, expression of the apelin gene is increased under conditions of hypoxia. Taken together, these studies indicate that apelin is required for normal vascular development in the frog embryo and has properties consistent with a role during normal and pathological angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher M Cox
- Department of Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Arizona Health Sciences Center, 1501 N. Campbell Avenue, Tucson, AZ 85724-5044, USA
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49
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Marcucci G, Baldus CD, Ruppert AS, Radmacher MD, Mrózek K, Whitman SP, Kolitz JE, Edwards CG, Vardiman JW, Powell BL, Baer MR, Moore JO, Perrotti D, Caligiuri MA, Carroll AJ, Larson RA, de la Chapelle A, Bloomfield CD. Overexpression of the ETS-related gene, ERG, predicts a worse outcome in acute myeloid leukemia with normal karyotype: a Cancer and Leukemia Group B study. J Clin Oncol 2005; 23:9234-42. [PMID: 16275934 DOI: 10.1200/jco.2005.03.6137] [Citation(s) in RCA: 198] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE To test the prognostic significance of ETS-related gene (ERG) expression in cytogenetically normal primary acute myeloid leukemia (AML). PATIENTS AND METHODS Pretreatment blood samples from 84 cytogenetically normal AML patients aged less than 60 years, who were characterized for BAALC expression, FLT3 internal tandem duplication (ITD), and MLL partial tandem duplication (PTD) and uniformly treated on Cancer and Leukemia Group B 9621 protocol, were analyzed for ERG expression by real-time reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction. Patients were divided into quartiles according to ERG levels and were compared for clinical outcome. High-density oligonucleotide arrays were used to identify genes differentially expressed between high and low ERG expressers. RESULTS With a median follow-up of 5.7 years, patients with the upper 25% of ERG expression values had a worse cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR; P < .001) and overall survival (OS; P = .011) than the remaining patients. In a multivariable analysis, high ERG expression (P < .001) and the presence of MLL PTD (P = .027) predicted worse CIR. With regard to OS, an interaction was observed between expression of ERG and BAALC (P = .013), with ERG overexpression predicting shorter survival only in low BAALC expressers (P = .002). ERG overexpression was an independent prognostic factor even when the unfavorable group of FLT3 ITD patients lacking an FLT3 wild-type allele was included. High ERG expression was associated with upregulation of 112 expressed-sequenced tags and named genes, many of which are involved in cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. CONCLUSION ERG overexpression in AML patients with normal cytogenetics predicts an adverse clinical outcome and seems to be associated with a specific molecular signature.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guido Marcucci
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus OH 43210, USA.
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50
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Mackereth CD, Schärpf M, Gentile LN, MacIntosh SE, Slupsky CM, McIntosh LP. Diversity in structure and function of the Ets family PNT domains. J Mol Biol 2004; 342:1249-64. [PMID: 15351649 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2004.07.094] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2004] [Revised: 06/23/2004] [Accepted: 07/16/2004] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The PNT (or Pointed) domain, present within a subset of the Ets family of transcription factors, is structurally related to the larger group of SAM domains through a common tertiary arrangement of four alpha-helices. Previous studies have shown that, in contrast to the PNT domain from Tel, this domain from Ets-1 contains an additional N-terminal helix integral to its folded structure. To further investigate the structural plasticity of the PNT domain, we have used NMR spectroscopy to characterize this domain from two additional Ets proteins, Erg and GABPalpha. These studies both define the conserved and variable features of the PNT domain, and demonstrate that the additional N-terminal helix is also present in GABPalpha, but not Erg. In contrast to Tel and Yan, which self-associate to form insoluble polymers, we also show that the isolated PNT domains from Ets-1, Ets-2, Erg, Fli-1, GABPalpha, and Pnt-P2 are monomeric in solution. Furthermore, these soluble PNT domains do not associate in any pair-wise combination. Thus these latter Ets family PNT domains likely mediate interactions with additional components of the cellular signaling or transcriptional machinery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cameron D Mackereth
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada V6T 1Z3
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