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Le Y, Gao H, Le J, Hornick JL, Bleday R, Wee J, Zhu Z. VentX promotes tumor specific immunity and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. iScience 2024; 27:108731. [PMID: 38299030 PMCID: PMC10829883 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune suppression within tumor microenvironments (TME) have been implicated in limited efficacy of immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) against solid tumors. Down-regulated VentX expression in tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) underlies phagocytotic anergic phenotype of TAMs, which govern immunological state of TME. In this study, using a tumor immune microenvironment enabling model system (TIME-EMS) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we found that PD-1 antibody modestly activates cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) within the NSCLC-TME but not the status of TIME. We showed that the restoration of VentX expression in TAMs reignites the phagocytotic function of TAMs, which in turn, transforms TIME, activates CTLs in a tumor-specific manner and promotes efficacy of PD-1 antibody against NSCLC but not toxicity on normal lung epithelial cells. Supported by in vivo data on NSG-PDX models of primary human NSCLC, our study revealed potential venues to promote the efficacy of ICI against solid tumors through VentX-based mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Le
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hong Gao
- Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joanna Le
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center
| | - Jason L. Hornick
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ronald Bleday
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jon Wee
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhenglun Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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Le Y, Gao H, Zhu A, Felt K, Rodig S, Bleday R, Zhu Z. NF-κB-regulated VentX expression mediates tumoricidal effects of chemotherapeutics at noncytotoxic concentrations. iScience 2022; 25:105426. [DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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Rankin SA, Zorn AM. The homeodomain transcription factor Ventx2 regulates respiratory progenitor cell number and differentiation timing during
Xenopus
lung development. Dev Growth Differ 2022; 64:347-361. [PMID: 36053777 PMCID: PMC10088502 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ventx2 is an Antennapedia superfamily/NK-like subclass homeodomain transcription factor best known for its roles in the regulation of early dorsoventral patterning during Xenopus gastrulation and in the maintenance of neural crest multipotency. In this work we characterize the spatiotemporal expression pattern of ventx2 in progenitor cells of the Xenopus respiratory system epithelium. We find that ventx2 is directly induced by BMP signaling in the ventral foregut prior to nkx2-1, the earliest epithelial marker of the respiratory lineage. Functional studies demonstrate that Ventx2 regulates the number of Nkx2-1/Sox9+ respiratory progenitor cells induced during foregut development, the timing and level of surfactant protein gene expression, and proper tracheal-esophageal separation. Our data suggest that Ventx2 regulates the balance of respiratory progenitor cell expansion and differentiation. While the ventx gene family has been lost from the mouse genome during evolution, humans have retained a ventx2-like gene (VENTX). Finally, we discuss how our findings might suggest a possible function of VENTX in human respiratory progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Rankin
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati OH
| | - Aaron M. Zorn
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati OH
- University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics Cincinnati OH
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4
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Ventx Family and Its Functional Similarities with Nanog: Involvement in Embryonic Development and Cancer Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052741. [PMID: 35269883 PMCID: PMC8911082 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ventx family is one of the subfamilies of the ANTP (antennapedia) superfamily and belongs to the NK-like (NKL) subclass. Ventx is a homeobox transcription factor and has a DNA-interacting domain that is evolutionarily conserved throughout vertebrates. It has been extensively studied in Xenopus, zebrafish, and humans. The Ventx family contains transcriptional repressors widely involved in embryonic development and tumorigenesis in vertebrates. Several studies have documented that the Ventx family inhibited dorsal mesodermal formation, neural induction, and head formation in Xenopus and zebrafish. Moreover, Ventx2.2 showed functional similarities to Nanog and Barx1, leading to pluripotency and neural-crest migration in vertebrates. Among them, Ventx protein is an orthologue of the Ventx family in humans. Studies have demonstrated that human Ventx was strongly associated with myeloid-cell differentiation and acute myeloid leukemia. The therapeutic potential of Ventx family inhibition in combating cancer progression in humans is discussed. Additionally, we briefly discuss genome evolution, gene duplication, pseudo-allotetraploidy, and the homeobox family in Xenopus.
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Ge H, Tian M, Pei Q, Tan F, Pei H. Extracellular Matrix Stiffness: New Areas Affecting Cell Metabolism. Front Oncol 2021; 11:631991. [PMID: 33718214 PMCID: PMC7943852 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.631991] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years, in-depth studies have shown that extracellular matrix stiffness plays an important role in cell growth, proliferation, migration, immunity, malignant transformation, and apoptosis. Most of these processes entail metabolic reprogramming of cells. However, the exact mechanism through which extracellular matrix stiffness leads to metabolic reprogramming remains unclear. Insights regarding the relationship between extracellular matrix stiffness and metabolism could help unravel novel therapeutic targets and guide development of clinical approaches against a myriad of diseases. This review provides an overview of different pathways of extracellular matrix stiffness involved in regulating glucose, lipid and amino acid metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heming Ge
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Mengxiang Tian
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qian Pei
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Fengbo Tan
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Haiping Pei
- Department of General Surgery, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
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Jiang G, Huang C, Liao X, Li J, Wu XR, Zeng F, Huang C. The RING domain in the anti-apoptotic protein XIAP stabilizes c-Myc protein and preserves anchorage-independent growth of bladder cancer cells. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:5935-5944. [PMID: 30819803 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.005621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2018] [Revised: 02/12/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis protein (XIAP) suppresses apoptosis and plays key roles in the development, growth, migration, and invasion of cancer cells. Therefore, XIAP has recently attracted much attention as a potential antineoplastic therapeutic target, requiring elucidation of the molecular mechanisms underlying its biological activities. Here, using shRNA-mediated gene silencing, immunoblotting, quantitative RT-PCR, anchorage-independent growth assay, and invasive assay, we found that XIAP's RING domain, but not its BIR domain, is crucial for XIAP-mediated up-regulation of c-Myc protein expression in human bladder cancer (BC) cells. Mechanistically, we observed that the RING domain stabilizes c-Myc by inhibiting its phosphorylation at Thr-58 and that this inhibition is due to activated ERK1/2-mediated phosphorylation of glycogen synthase kinase-3β (GSK-3β) at Ser-9. Functional studies further revealed that c-Myc protein promotes anchorage-independent growth and invasion stimulated by the XIAP RING domain in human BC cells. Collectively, the findings in our study uncover that the RING domain of XIAP supports c-Myc protein stability, providing insight into the molecular mechanism and role of c-Myc overexpression in cancer progression. Our observations support the notion of targeting XIAP's RING domain and c-Myc in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guosong Jiang
- From the Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York 10987; the Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Chao Huang
- From the Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York 10987; the Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China
| | - Xin Liao
- From the Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York 10987
| | - Jingxia Li
- From the Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York 10987
| | - Xue-Ru Wu
- the Department of Urology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, New York 10016
| | - Fuqing Zeng
- the Department of Urology, Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430022, China.
| | - Chuanshu Huang
- From the Nelson Institute of Environmental Medicine, New York University School of Medicine, Tuxedo, New York 10987.
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