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Hu G, Chen J, Chen M, Yang K, Wang Y, Ma Z, Bao H, Ding X. Silencing DOCK2 Attenuates Cardiac Fibrosis Following Myocardial Infarction in Mice Via Targeting PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-Catenin Pathways. J Cardiovasc Transl Res 2024:10.1007/s12265-024-10533-7. [PMID: 38990461 DOI: 10.1007/s12265-024-10533-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Cardiac fibrosis following myocardial infarction (MI) seriously affects the prognosis and survival rate of patients. This study aimed to determine the effect and regulation mechanism of the dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) during this process. Experiments were carried out in mice in vivo, and in Ang II treated cardiac fibroblasts (CFs) in vitro. DOCK2 was increased in mouse myocardial tissues after MI and Ang II-treated CFs. In MI mice, DOCK2 silencing improved cardiac function, and ameliorated cardiac fibrosis. DOCK2 knockdown suppressed the activation of CFs and decreased the expression of α-SMA, collagen I, and collagen III. Suppression of DOCK2 mitigated Ang II induced migration of CFs. DOCK2 inhibition reduced the activity of the PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin pathways, while this change could be reversed by the pathway activators, SC79 and SKL2001. In summary, DOCK2 suppression improves cardiac dysfunction and attenuates cardiac fibrosis after MI via attenuating PI3K/Akt and Wnt/β-catenin pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangquan Hu
- Department of Cardiology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Jin Chen
- Department of Medical Technology, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Min Chen
- Department of Cardiology, The Second People's Hospital of Hefei, Hefei Hospital Affiliated to Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Kai Yang
- Department of Medical Technology, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Yuchen Wang
- Department of Neurology, Anhui Children's Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Ziyang Ma
- Department of Medical Technology, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Huangxin Bao
- Department of Medical Technology, Anhui Medical College, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China
| | - Xiaojie Ding
- Department of Endocrinology, Anhui No.2 Provincial People's Hospital, Hefei, Anhui, P. R. China.
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Qian G, Adeyanju O, Cai D, Tucker TA, Idell S, Chen SY, Guo X. DOCK2 Promotes Atherosclerosis by Mediating the Endothelial Cell Inflammatory Response. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2024; 194:599-611. [PMID: 37838011 PMCID: PMC10988758 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2023.09.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
The pathology of atherosclerosis, a leading cause of mortality in patients with cardiovascular disease, involves inflammatory phenotypic changes in vascular endothelial cells. This study explored the role of the dedicator of cytokinesis (DOCK)-2 protein in atherosclerosis. Mice with deficiencies in low-density lipoprotein receptor and Dock2 (Ldlr-/-Dock2-/-) and controls (Ldlr-/-) were fed a high-fat diet (HFD) to induce atherosclerosis. In controls, Dock2 was increased in atherosclerotic lesions, with increased intercellular adhesion molecule (Icam)-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule (Vcam)-1, after HFD for 4 weeks. Ldlr-/-Dock2-/- mice exhibited significantly decreased oil red O staining in both aortic roots and aortas compared to that in controls after HFD for 12 weeks. In control mice and in humans, Dock2 was highly expressed in the ECs of atherosclerotic lesions. Dock2 deficiency was associated with attenuation of Icam-1, Vcam-1, and monocyte chemoattractant protein (Mcp)-1 in the aortic roots of mice fed HFD. Findings in human vascular ECs in vitro suggested that DOCK2 was required in TNF-α-mediated expression of ICAM-1/VCAM-1/MCP-1. DOCK2 knockdown was associated with attenuated NF-κB phosphorylation with TNF-α, partially accounting for DOCK2-mediated vascular inflammation. With DOCK2 knockdown in human vascular ECs, TNF-α-mediated VCAM-1 promoter activity was inhibited. The findings from this study suggest the novel concept that DOCK2 promotes the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis by modulating inflammation in vascular ECs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqing Qian
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Oluwaseun Adeyanju
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Dunpeng Cai
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Torry A Tucker
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Steven Idell
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Shi-You Chen
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri; The Research Service, Harry S. Truman Memorial Veterans Hospital, Columbia, Missouri; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
| | - Xia Guo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas; Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia.
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3
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Guo X, Cai D, Dong K, Li C, Xu Z, Chen SY. DOCK2 Deficiency Attenuates Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Formation-Brief Report. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2023; 43:e210-e217. [PMID: 37021575 PMCID: PMC10212530 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.122.318400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2023] [Indexed: 04/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a potentially lethal disease that lacks pharmacological treatment. Degradation of extracellular matrix proteins, especially elastin laminae, is the hallmark for AAA development. DOCK2 (dedicator of cytokinesis 2) has shown proinflammatory effects in several inflammatory diseases and acts as a novel mediator for vascular remodeling. However, the role of DOCK2 in AAA formation remains unknown. METHODS Ang II (angiotensin II) infusion of ApoE-/- (apolipoprotein E deficient) mouse and topical elastase-induced AAA combined with DOCK2-/- (DOCK2 knockout) mouse models were used to study DOCK2 function in AAA formation/dissection. The relevance of DOCK2 to human AAA was examined using human aneurysm specimens. Elastin fragmentation in AAA lesion was observed by elastin staining. Elastin-degrading enzyme MMP (matrix metalloproteinase) activity was measured by in situ zymography. RESULTS DOCK2 was robustly upregulated in AAA lesion of Ang II-infused ApoE-/- mice, elastase-treated mice, as well as human AAA lesions. DOCK2-/- significantly attenuated the Ang II-induced AAA formation/dissection or rupture in mice along with reduction of MCP-1 (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1) and MMP expression and activity. Accordingly, the elastin fragmentation observed in ApoE-/- mouse aorta infused with Ang II and elastase-treated aorta was significantly attenuated by DOCK2 deficiency. Moreover, DOCK2-/- decreased the prevalence and severity of aneurysm formation, as well as the elastin degradation observed in the topical elastase model. CONCLUSIONS Our results indicate that DOCK2 is a novel regulator for AAA formation. DOCK2 regulates AAA development by promoting MCP-1 and MMP2 expression to incite vascular inflammation and elastin degradation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Guo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, TX, USA
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Dunpeng Cai
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
| | - Kun Dong
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Chenxiao Li
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Zaiyan Xu
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
| | - Shi-You Chen
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Medical Pharmacology & Physiology, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, MO, USA
- Department of Physiology & Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA, USA
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4
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Ji L, Xu S, Luo H, Zeng F. Insights from DOCK2 in cell function and pathophysiology. Front Mol Biosci 2022; 9:997659. [PMID: 36250020 PMCID: PMC9559381 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2022.997659] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) can activate the downstream small G protein Rac and regulate cytoskeletal reorganization. DOCK2 is essential for critical physiological processes such as migration, activation, proliferation, and effects of immune cells, including lymphocytes, neutrophils, macrophages, and dendritic cells. For example, DOCK2 is involved in the development and activation of T and B lymphocytes by affecting synapse formation and inhibiting the development of the Th2 lineage by downregulating IL-4Rα surface expression. Not only that, DOCK2 may be a molecular target for controlling cardiac transplant rejection and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Patients with defects in the DOCK2 gene also exhibit a variety of impaired cellular functions, such as chemotactic responses of lymphocytes and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production by neutrophils. To date, DOCK2 has been shown to be involved in the development of various diseases, including AD, pneumonia, myocarditis, colitis, tumors, etc. DOCK2 plays different roles in these diseases and the degree of inflammatory response has a different impact on the progression of disease. In this paper, we present a review of recent advances in the function of DOCK2 in various immune cells and its role in various diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lulin Ji
- The Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Cancer Invasion of the Chinese Ministry of Education, Cancer Research Institute and School of Basic Medical Sciences, Central South University, Changsha, China
- *Correspondence: Fanwei Zeng, ; Haiqing Luo, ; Lulin Ji,
| | - Shuquan Xu
- School of Basic Medicine, Gannan Medical University, Ganzhou, Jiangxi, China
| | - Haiqing Luo
- Organoid Research Center, Xiamen Broad Creation Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Xiamen, China
- Research and Development Center, Xiamen Mogengel Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Fanwei Zeng, ; Haiqing Luo, ; Lulin Ji,
| | - Fanwei Zeng
- Organoid Research Center, Xiamen Broad Creation Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Xiamen, China
- Research and Development Center, Xiamen Mogengel Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Xiamen, China
- *Correspondence: Fanwei Zeng, ; Haiqing Luo, ; Lulin Ji,
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Guo X, Adeyanju O, Sunil C, Mandlem V, Olajuyin A, Huang S, Chen SY, Idell S, Tucker TA, Qian G. DOCK2 contributes to pulmonary fibrosis by promoting lung fibroblast to myofibroblast transition. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2022; 323:C133-C144. [PMID: 35584329 PMCID: PMC9273279 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00067.2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2022] [Revised: 05/13/2022] [Accepted: 05/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is the most common chronic interstitial lung disease and is characterized by progressive scarring of the lung. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling plays an essential role in IPF and drives fibroblast to myofibroblast transition (FMT). Dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) is known to regulate diverse immune functions by activating Rac and has been recently implicated in pleural fibrosis. We now report a novel role of DOCK2 in pulmonary fibrosis development by mediating FMT. In primary normal and IPF human lung fibroblasts (HLFs), TGF-β induced DOCK2 expression concurrent with FMT markers, smooth muscle α-actin (α-SMA), collagen-1, and fibronectin. Knockdown of DOCK2 significantly attenuated TGF-β-induced expression of these FMT markers. In addition, we found that the upregulation of DOCK2 by TGF-β is dependent on both Smad3 and ERK pathways as their respective inhibitors blocked TGF-β-mediated induction. TGF-β also stabilized DOCK2 protein, which contributes to increased DOCK2 expression. In addition, DOCK2 was also dramatically induced in the lungs of patients with IPF and in bleomycin, and TGF-β induced pulmonary fibrosis in C57BL/6 mice. Furthermore, increased lung DOCK2 expression colocalized with the FMT marker α-SMA in the bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis model, implicating DOCK2 in the regulation of lung fibroblast phenotypic changes. Importantly, DOCK2 deficiency also attenuated bleomycin-induced pulmonary fibrosis and α-SMA expression. Taken together, our study demonstrates a novel role of DOCK2 in pulmonary fibrosis by modulating FMT and suggests that targeting DOCK2 may present a potential therapeutic strategy for the prevention or treatment of IPF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Guo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Oluwaseun Adeyanju
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Christudas Sunil
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Venkatakirankumar Mandlem
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Ayobami Olajuyin
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Steven Huang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, The University of Michigan-Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Shi-You Chen
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Steven Idell
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
- The Texas Lung Injury Institute, Tyler, Texas
| | - Torry A Tucker
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
- The Texas Lung Injury Institute, Tyler, Texas
| | - Guoqing Qian
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
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DOCK2 regulates antifungal immunity by regulating RAC GTPase activity. Cell Mol Immunol 2022; 19:602-618. [PMID: 35079145 PMCID: PMC8787451 DOI: 10.1038/s41423-021-00835-0] [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: 09/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Fungal infections cause ~1.5 million deaths each year worldwide, and the mortality rate of disseminated candidiasis currently exceeds that of breast cancer and malaria. The major reasons for the high mortality of candidiasis are the limited number of antifungal drugs and the emergence of drug-resistant species. Therefore, a better understanding of antifungal host defense mechanisms is crucial for the development of effective preventive and therapeutic strategies. Here, we report that DOCK2 (dedicator of cytokinesis 2) promotes indispensable antifungal innate immune signaling and proinflammatory gene expression in macrophages. DOCK2-deficient macrophages exhibit decreased RAC GTPase (Rac family small GTPase) activation and ROS (reactive oxygen species) production, which in turn attenuates the killing of intracellular fungi and the activation of downstream signaling pathways. Mechanistically, after fungal stimulation, activated SYK (spleen-associated tyrosine kinase) phosphorylates DOCK2 at tyrosine 985 and 1405, which promotes the recruitment and activation of RAC GTPases and then increases ROS production and downstream signaling activation. Importantly, nanoparticle-mediated delivery of in vitro transcribed (IVT) Rac1 mRNA promotes the activity of Rac1 and helps to eliminate fungal infection in vivo. Taken together, this study not only identifies a critical role of DOCK2 in antifungal immunity via regulation of RAC GTPase activity but also provides proof of concept for the treatment of invasive fungal infections by using IVT mRNA.
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Wharton’s Jelly-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells with High Aurora Kinase A Expression Show Improved Proliferation, Migration, and Therapeutic Potential. Stem Cells Int 2022; 2022:4711499. [PMID: 35450345 PMCID: PMC9017458 DOI: 10.1155/2022/4711499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2021] [Accepted: 03/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are effective therapeutic agents that contribute to tissue repair and regeneration by secreting various factors. However, donor-dependent variations in MSC proliferation and therapeutic potentials result in variable production yields and clinical outcomes, thereby impeding MSC-based therapies. Hence, selection of MSCs with high proliferation and therapeutic potentials would be important for effective clinical application of MSCs. This study is aimed at identifying the upregulated genes in human Wharton's jelly-derived MSCs (WJ-MSCs) with high proliferation potential using mRNA sequencing. Aurora kinase A (AURKA) and dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) were selected as the upregulated genes, and their effects on proliferation, migration, and colony formation of the WJ-MSCs were verified using small interfering RNA (siRNA) techniques. mRNA expression levels of both the genes were positively correlated with the proliferation capacity of WJ-MSCs. Moreover, AURKA from human WJ-MSCs regulated the antiapoptotic effect of skeletal muscle cells by upregulating the chemokine (C motif) ligand (XCL1); this was further confirmed in the mdx mouse model. Taken together, the results indicated that AURKA and DOCK2 can be used as potential biomarkers for proliferation and migration of human WJ-MSCs. In particular, human WJ-MSCs with high expression of AURKA might have therapeutic efficacy against muscle diseases, such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD).
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Ding S, Cao Y, Lu X, Zhang H, Cong L, Yi T, Xu M, Wang L. Dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) silencing protects against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by modulating microglia polarization via the activation of the STAT6 signaling pathway. Neuroscience 2022; 491:110-121. [PMID: 35395356 DOI: 10.1016/j.neuroscience.2022.03.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2022] [Revised: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion is the major pathophysiological process in stroke and could lead to severe and permanent disability. The current study aimed to investigate the effects of dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) on cerebral ischemia/reperfusion-induced cerebral injury. We established a mouse middle cerebral artery occlusion (MCAO) model with suture-occluded method in vivo. Then, BV-2 cells were conducted to oxygen-glucose deprivation and re-oxygenation (OGD/R) in vitro. The results showed that DOCK2 was highly expressed in ischemic brain following MCAO and in BV-2 cells induced by OGD/R. DOCK2 depletion protected against MCAO-induced brain infarcts and neuron degeneration. DOCK2 downregulation improved long-term neurological function, which was assessed by the Morris water-maze test. Moreover, silencing of DOCK2 promoted M2 polarization (anti-inflammation) and repressed M1 polarization (pro-inflammation) of microglia both in vivo and in vitro. Subsequently, we found that the loss of DOCK2 upregulated the expression of p-STAT6. DOCK2 knockdown-induced microglial cell polarization towards M2 phenotype was partly abrogated by the STAT6 inhibitor AS1517499. In conclusion, DOCK2 downregulation protected against cerebral ischemia/reperfusion by modulating microglia polarization via the activation of the STAT6 signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siwen Ding
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Yuze Cao
- Department of Neurology, Peking Union Medical College Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.
| | - Xiaoyu Lu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Huixue Zhang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Lin Cong
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Tingting Yi
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Mei Xu
- Department of Neurology, The Second Hospital of Harbin, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
| | - Lihua Wang
- Department of Neurology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, Heilongjiang, China.
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Zhang Y, Yang X, Cui Y, Zhang X. Suppression of RNA editing by miR-17 inhibits the stemness of melanoma stem cells. MOLECULAR THERAPY. NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:439-455. [PMID: 35036056 PMCID: PMC8728536 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.12.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/09/2021] [Accepted: 12/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
More and more evidence suggests that microRNA (miRNA) and RNA editing play key roles in the development and progression of tumor. However, the influence of miRNA-mediated RNA editing on tumor stem cells remains unclear. In this study, the results demonstrated that miR-17, which was downregulated in melanoma stem cells, acted as a tumor inhibitor by suppressing the stemness of melanoma stem cells and promoting cell differentiation. MiR-17 targeted ADAR2 (adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 2), a gene encoding an editing enzyme required for the maintenance of melanoma stem cell stemness. In melanoma stem cells, ADAR2 was responsible for DOCK2 mRNA editing, which was able to increase the stability of DOCK2 mRNA. The in vitro and in vivo data demonstrated that DOCK2 mRNA editing upregulated the expressions of stemness and anti-apoptotic genes by activating Rac1 and then phosphorylating Akt and NF-κB, thus leading to oncogenesis of melanoma stem cells. Our findings contribute new perspectives to miRNA-regulated RNA editing in tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology of Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao) and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaoyuan Yang
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology of Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao) and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yalei Cui
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology of Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao) and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People’s Republic of China
| | - Xiaobo Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Laboratory for Marine Biology and Biotechnology of Pilot National Laboratory for Marine Science and Technology (Qingdao) and Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai), Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, People’s Republic of China
- Corresponding author Prof. Xiaobo Zhang.
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Qian G, Adeyanju O, Sunil C, Huang SK, Chen SY, Tucker TA, Idell S, Guo X. Dedicator of Cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) Deficiency Attenuates Lung Injury Associated with Chronic High-Fat and High-Fructose Diet-Induced Obesity. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2022; 192:226-238. [PMID: 34767813 PMCID: PMC8883439 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2021.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 10/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Obesity is a major risk factor for lung disease development. However, little is known about the impact of chronic high-fat and high-fructose (HFHF) diet-induced obesity on lung inflammation and subsequent pulmonary fibrosis. Herein we hypothesized that dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) promotes a proinflammatory phenotype of lung fibroblasts (LFs) to elicit lung injury and fibrosis in chronic HFHF diet-induced obesity. An HFHF diet for 20 weeks induced lung inflammation and profibrotic changes in wild-type C57BL/6 mice. CD68 and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) expression were notably increased in the lungs of wild-type mice fed an HFHF diet. An HFHF diet further increased lung DOCK2 expression that co-localized with fibroblast-specific protein 1, suggesting a role of DOCK2 in regulating proinflammatory phenotype of LFs. Importantly, DOCK2 knockout protected mice from lung inflammation and fibrosis induced by a HFHF diet. In primary human LFs, tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and IL-1β induced DOCK2 expression concurrent with MCP-1, IL-6, and matrix metallopeptidase 2. DOCK2 knockdown suppressed TNF-α-induced expression of these molecules and activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase/AKT and NF-κB signaling pathways, suggesting a mechanism of DOCK2-mediated proinflammatory and profibrotic changes in human LFs. Taken together, these findings reveal a previously unrecognized role of DOCK2 in regulating proinflammatory phenotype of LFs, potentiation of lung inflammation, and pulmonary fibrosis in chronic HFHF diet-caused obesity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqing Qian
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Oluwaseun Adeyanju
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Christudas Sunil
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Steven K. Huang
- Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Shi-You Chen
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia,Department of Surgery, School of Medicine, The University of Missouri, Columbia, Missouri
| | - Torry A. Tucker
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Steven Idell
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas
| | - Xia Guo
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, Tyler, Texas,Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia,Address correspondence to Xia Guo, Ph.D., Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 11937 US Highway 271, Lab A-1, Tyler, TX 75708.
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11
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Tucker TA, Idell S. Update on Novel Targeted Therapy for Pleural Organization and Fibrosis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23031587. [PMID: 35163509 PMCID: PMC8835949 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23031587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Pleural injury and subsequent loculation is characterized by acute injury, sustained inflammation and, when severe, pathologic tissue reorganization. While fibrin deposition is a normal part of the injury response, disordered fibrin turnover can promote pleural loculation and, when unresolved, fibrosis of the affected area. Within this review, we present a brief discussion of the current IPFT therapies, including scuPA, for the treatment of pathologic fibrin deposition and empyema. We also discuss endogenously expressed PAI-1 and how it may affect the efficacy of IPFT therapies. We further delineate the role of pleural mesothelial cells in the progression of pleural injury and subsequent pleural remodeling resulting from matrix deposition. We also describe how pleural mesothelial cells promote pleural fibrosis as myofibroblasts via mesomesenchymal transition. Finally, we discuss novel therapeutic targets which focus on blocking and/or reversing the myofibroblast differentiation of pleural mesothelial cells for the treatment of pleural fibrosis.
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Li W, Li J, He N, Dai X, Wang Z, Wang Y, Ni X, Zeng D, Zhang D, Zeng Y, Pan K. Molecular mechanism of enhancing the immune effect of the Newcastle disease virus vaccine in broilers fed with Bacillus cereus PAS38. Food Funct 2021; 12:10903-10916. [PMID: 34647113 DOI: 10.1039/d1fo01777b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to explore the molecular mechanism of enhancing the immune effect of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) vaccine in broilers fed with Bacillus cereus PAS38. The results showed that the NDV antibody titer of broilers in the treatment group supplemented with B. cereus PAS38 was higher than that of the control group, and the difference was significant at 28 days of age (P < 0.05). The spleen, thymus and bursa of fabricius of 42-day-old broilers were quickly collected to construct a differentially expressed gene library of suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH). A total of 31 immune-related differentially expressed genes were screened from three immune organs, of which 15 were up-regulated and 16 were down-regulated. After silencing the up-regulated genes MIF, CD74, DOCK2 and KLHL6, the expression levels of cytokines (Akirin2, NF-κB, IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IFN-γ and TNF-α) in lymphocytes were reduced to varying degrees. B. cereus PAS38 might be involved in the proliferation, differentiation, activation, migration of B lymphocytes and vaccine antigen presentation by up-regulating the expression of MIF, CD74, DOCK2, KLHL6 and other genes. Moreover, it also stimulated plasma cells to produce immunoglobulins and specific antibodies, thereby improving the humoral immune function of broilers and enhancing the immune effect of the NDV vaccine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanqiang Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
| | - Jianzhen Li
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China. .,Chengdu Agricultural College, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Nianjia He
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
| | - Xixi Dai
- Chongqing Three Gorges Vocational College, Chongqing, 404155, China
| | - Zhenhua Wang
- Chengdu Agricultural College, Chengdu, 611130, China
| | - Yufei Wang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
| | - Xueqin Ni
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
| | - Dong Zeng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
| | - Dongmei Zhang
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
| | - Yan Zeng
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
| | - Kangcheng Pan
- College of Veterinary Medicine, Sichuan Agricultural University, Chengdu, 611130, China.
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13
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Qian G, Adeyanju O, Roy S, Sunil C, Jeffers A, Guo X, Ikebe M, Idell S, Tucker TA. DOCK2 Promotes Pleural Fibrosis by Modulating Mesothelial to Mesenchymal Transition. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2021; 66:171-182. [PMID: 34710342 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2021-0175oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Mesothelial to mesenchymal transition (MesoMT) is one of the crucial mechanisms underlying pleural fibrosis, which results in restrictive lung disease. DOCK2 plays important roles in immune functions, however, its role in pleural fibrosis particularly MesoMT remains unknown. We found that DOCK2 and the MesoMT maker α-SMA were significantly elevated and colocalized in the thickened pleura of patients with nonspecific pleuritis, suggesting the involvement of DOCK2 in the pathogenesis of MesoMT and pleural fibrosis. Likewise, data from three different pleural fibrosis models (TGF-β, carbon black/bleomycin, and streptococcal empyema) consistently demonstrated DOCK2 upregulation and its colocalization with α-SMA in the pleura. In addition, induced DOCK2 colocalized with the mesothelial marker calretinin, implicating DOCK2 in the regulation of MesoMT. Our in vivo data also showed that DOCK2 knockout mice were protected from Streptococcus pneumoniae induced pleural fibrosis, impaired lung compliance, and collagen deposition. To determine the involvement of DOCK2 in MesoMT, we treated primary human pleural mesothelial cells with the potent MesoMT inducer TGF-β. TGF-β significantly induced DOCK2 expression in a time-dependent manner, along with α-SMA, collagen 1, and fibronectin. Furthermore, DOCK2 knockdown significantly attenuated TGF-β induced α-SMA, collagen 1 and fibronectin expression, suggesting the importance of DOCK2 in TGF-β induced MesoMT. DOCK2 knockdown also inhibited TGF-β induced Snail upregulation, which may account for its role in regulating MesoMT. Taken together, the current study provides evidence that DOCK2 contributes to the pathogenesis of pleural fibrosis by mediating MesoMT and deposition of neomatrix and may represent a novel target for its prevention or treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guoqing Qian
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 12341, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tyler, Texas, United States;
| | - Oluwaseun Adeyanju
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 12341, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tyler, Texas, United States
| | - Saptarshi Roy
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 12341, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tyler, Texas, United States
| | - Christudas Sunil
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 12341, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tyler, Texas, United States
| | - Ann Jeffers
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 12341, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tyler, Texas, United States
| | - Xia Guo
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 12341, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tyler, Texas, United States
| | - Mitsuo Ikebe
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 12341, Department of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Tyler, Texas, United States
| | - Steven Idell
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 12341, Texas Lung Injury Institute, Tyler, Texas, United States
| | - Torry A Tucker
- The University of Texas Health Science Center at Tyler, 12341, Texas Lung Injury Institute, Tyler, Texas, United States
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14
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Benson CE, Southgate L. The DOCK protein family in vascular development and disease. Angiogenesis 2021; 24:417-433. [PMID: 33548004 PMCID: PMC8292242 DOI: 10.1007/s10456-021-09768-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 01/06/2021] [Accepted: 01/16/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The vascular network is established and maintained through the processes of vasculogenesis and angiogenesis, which are tightly regulated during embryonic and postnatal life. The formation of a functional vasculature requires critical cellular mechanisms, such as cell migration, proliferation and adhesion, which are dependent on the activity of small Rho GTPases, controlled in part by the dedicator of cytokinesis (DOCK) protein family. Whilst the majority of DOCK proteins are associated with neuronal development, a growing body of evidence has indicated that members of the DOCK family may have key functions in the control of vasculogenic and angiogenic processes. This is supported by the involvement of several angiogenic signalling pathways, including chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K), in the regulation of specific DOCK proteins. This review summarises recent progress in understanding the respective roles of DOCK family proteins during vascular development. We focus on existing in vivo and in vitro models and known human disease phenotypes and highlight potential mechanisms of DOCK protein dysfunction in the pathogenesis of vascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clare E Benson
- Genetics Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK
| | - Laura Southgate
- Genetics Research Centre, Molecular and Clinical Sciences Research Institute, St. George's University of London, Cranmer Terrace, London, SW17 0RE, UK. .,Department of Medical & Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Life Sciences & Medicine, King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK.
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15
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Xu X, Su Y, Wu K, Pan F, Wang A. DOCK2 contributes to endotoxemia-induced acute lung injury in mice by activating proinflammatory macrophages. Biochem Pharmacol 2021; 184:114399. [PMID: 33382969 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2020.114399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 12/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2), an atypical Rac activator, has important anti-inflammatory properties in blepharitis, enteric bacterial infection and colitis. However, the roles of DOCK2 in macrophage activation and acute lung injury (ALI) are still poorly elucidated. In vitro studies demonstrated that DOCK2 was essential for the nucleotide-sensing Toll-like receptor (TLR) 4-mediated inflammatory response in macrophages. We also confirmed that exposure of macrophages to LPS induced Rac activation through a TLR4-independent, DOCK2-dependent mechanism. Phosphorylation of IκB kinase (IKK) β and nuclear translocation of transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) were impaired in Ad-shDOCK2-expressing macrophages, resulting in a decreased inflammatory response. Similar results were obtained when EHop-016 (a Rac inhibitor) was used to treat uninfected macrophages. In summary, these data indicate that the DOCK2-Rac signaling pathway acts in parallel with TLR4 engagement to control IKKβ activation for inflammatory cytokine release. Next, we investigated whether pharmacological inhibition of DOCK2 protects against endotoxemia-induced lung injury in mice. Treatment with 4-[3'-(2″-chlorophenyl)-2'-propen-1'-ylidene]-1-phenyl-3,5-pyrazolidinedione (CPYPP), a small-molecule inhibitor of DOCK2, reduced the severity of lung injury, as indicated by decreases in the lung injury score and myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity. Moreover, CPYPP attenuated LPS-induced proinflammatory cytokine release in mice. Our studies suggest that inhibition of DOCK2 may suppress LPS-induced macrophage activation and that DOCK2 may be a novel target for treating endotoxemia-related ALI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaotao Xu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Yang Su
- Department of Anesthesiology, Kaifeng People's Hospital, Kaifeng 475000, China
| | - Kaixuan Wu
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Fan Pan
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China
| | - Aizhong Wang
- Department of Anesthesiology, Affiliated Shanghai Sixth People's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200233, China.
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16
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Chang L, Yang J, Jo CH, Boland A, Zhang Z, McLaughlin SH, Abu-Thuraia A, Killoran RC, Smith MJ, Côté JF, Barford D. Structure of the DOCK2-ELMO1 complex provides insights into regulation of the auto-inhibited state. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3464. [PMID: 32651375 PMCID: PMC7351999 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17271-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2019] [Accepted: 06/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
DOCK (dedicator of cytokinesis) proteins are multidomain guanine nucleotide exchange factors (GEFs) for RHO GTPases that regulate intracellular actin dynamics. DOCK proteins share catalytic (DOCKDHR2) and membrane-associated (DOCKDHR1) domains. The structurally-related DOCK1 and DOCK2 GEFs are specific for RAC, and require ELMO (engulfment and cell motility) proteins for function. The N-terminal RAS-binding domain (RBD) of ELMO (ELMORBD) interacts with RHOG to modulate DOCK1/2 activity. Here, we determine the cryo-EM structures of DOCK2-ELMO1 alone, and as a ternary complex with RAC1, together with the crystal structure of a RHOG-ELMO2RBD complex. The binary DOCK2-ELMO1 complex adopts a closed, auto-inhibited conformation. Relief of auto-inhibition to an active, open state, due to a conformational change of the ELMO1 subunit, exposes binding sites for RAC1 on DOCK2DHR2, and RHOG and BAI GPCRs on ELMO1. Our structure explains how up-stream effectors, including DOCK2 and ELMO1 phosphorylation, destabilise the auto-inhibited state to promote an active GEF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leifu Chang
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
- Department of Biological Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | - Chang Hwa Jo
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Andreas Boland
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
- Department of Molecular Biology, Science III, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Ziguo Zhang
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK
| | | | - Afnan Abu-Thuraia
- Montreal Institute of Clinical Research (IRCM), Montréal, QC, H2W 1R7, Canada
| | - Ryan C Killoran
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Matthew J Smith
- Institute for Research in Immunology and Cancer, Université de Montréal, Montréal, Québec, H3T 1J4, Canada
- Department of Pathology and Cell Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3T 1J4, Canada
| | - Jean-Francois Côté
- Montreal Institute of Clinical Research (IRCM), Montréal, QC, H2W 1R7, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, H3C 3J7, Canada
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, McGill University, Montréal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - David Barford
- MRC Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Cambridge, CB2 0QH, UK.
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17
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Wang L, Zhang Y, Zhu G, Ma Y, Zuo H, Tian X. miR-16 exhibits protective function in LPS-treated cardiomyocytes by targeting DOCK2 to repress cell apoptosis and exert anti-inflammatory effect. Cell Biol Int 2020; 44:1760-1768. [PMID: 32369253 DOI: 10.1002/cbin.11371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 04/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
This study aims to investigate the effects of microRNA (miR)-16/dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) on myocarditis. The differences in the expression of genes in acute myocarditis were filtered out across Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. Myocarditis cell model was established by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation in cardiomyocytes. The association between miR-16 and DOCK2 was predicted by bioinformatics software and confirmed by dual-luciferase assay. Polymerase chain reaction and western blot analysis were employed to assess the expression levels of miR-16 and DOCK2 under different conditions. Cells viability, apoptosis, and inflammatory reaction were evaluated by Cell Counting Kit-8, flow cytometry, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. miR-16, as an upstream regulator of DOCK2, exhibited lower expression in LPS-induced myocarditis model. More importantly, we revealed that a marked augmentation of miR-16 promoted the growth of LPS-stimulated cardiomyocytes, and attenuated cell apoptosis and inflammatory response. However, an increasing expression of DOCK2 inhibited the remission of LPS-induced myocardial injury caused by miR-16 mimic. Herein, our results highlighted that upregulation of miR-16 resulted in the protective effects on LPS-induced myocardial injury by reducing DOCK2 expression, affording a pair of novel target molecules for ameliorating the symptoms of myocarditis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital Affiliated to Jining Medical College, Tengzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Yangyang Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital Affiliated to Jining Medical College, Tengzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Guangfu Zhu
- Intervention Room, Department of Cardiology, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital Affiliated to Jining Medical College, Tengzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Yuncong Ma
- Department of Cardiology, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital Affiliated to Jining Medical College, Tengzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Huan Zuo
- Department of Neurology, Tengzhou Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Tengzhou, Shandong, China
| | - Xia Tian
- Intervention Room, Department of Cardiology, Tengzhou Central People's Hospital Affiliated to Jining Medical College, Tengzhou, Shandong, China
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18
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Wu M, Li L, Hamaker M, Small D, Duffield AS. FLT3-ITD cooperates with Rac1 to modulate the sensitivity of leukemic cells to chemotherapeutic agents via regulation of DNA repair pathways. Haematologica 2019; 104:2418-2428. [PMID: 30975911 PMCID: PMC6959181 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2018.208843] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is an aggressive hematologic neoplasm, and patients with an internal tandem duplication (ITD) mutation of the FMS-like tyrosine kinase-3 (FLT3) receptor gene have a poor prognosis. FLT3-ITD interacts with DOCK2, a G effector protein that activates Rac1/2. Previously, we showed that knockdown of DOCK2 leads to decreased survival of FLT3-ITD leukemic cells. We further investigated the mechanisms by which Rac1/DOCK2 activity affects cell survival and chemotherapeutic response in FLT3-ITD leukemic cells. Exogenous expression of FLT3-ITD led to increased Rac1 activity, reactive oxygen species, phosphorylated STAT5, DNA damage response factors and cytarabine resistance. Conversely, DOCK2 knockdown resulted in a decrease in these factors. Consistent with the reduction in DNA damage response factors, FLT3-ITD cells with DOCK2 knockdown exhibited significantly increased sensitivity to DNA damage response inhibitors. Moreover, in a mouse model of FLT3-ITD AML, animals treated with the CHK1 inhibitor MK8776 + cytarabine survived longer than those treated with cytarabine alone. These findings suggest that FLT3-ITD and Rac1 activity cooperatively modulate DNA repair activity, the addition of DNA damage response inhibitors to conventional chemotherapy may be useful in the treatment of FLT3-ITD AML, and inhibition of the Rac signaling pathways via DOCK2 may provide a novel and promising therapeutic target for FLT3-ITD AML.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Li Li
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | | | - Donald Small
- Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Johns Hopkins Hospital, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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19
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Dedicator of cytokinesis 2 silencing therapy inhibits neointima formation and improves blood flow in rat vein grafts. J Mol Cell Cardiol 2019; 128:134-144. [DOI: 10.1016/j.yjmcc.2019.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Revised: 01/02/2019] [Accepted: 01/31/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
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20
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Monroe TO, Hill MC, Morikawa Y, Leach JP, Heallen T, Cao S, Krijger PHL, de Laat W, Wehrens XHT, Rodney GG, Martin JF. YAP Partially Reprograms Chromatin Accessibility to Directly Induce Adult Cardiogenesis In Vivo. Dev Cell 2019; 48:765-779.e7. [PMID: 30773489 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2019.01.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 138] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2018] [Revised: 12/10/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
Specialized adult somatic cells, such as cardiomyocytes (CMs), are highly differentiated with poor renewal capacity, an integral reason underlying organ failure in disease and aging. Among the least renewable cells in the human body, CMs renew approximately 1% annually. Consistent with poor CM turnover, heart failure is the leading cause of death. Here, we show that an active version of the Hippo pathway effector YAP, termed YAP5SA, partially reprograms adult mouse CMs to a more fetal and proliferative state. One week after induction, 19% of CMs that enter S-phase do so twice, CM number increases by 40%, and YAP5SA lineage CMs couple to pre-existing CMs. Genomic studies showed that YAP5SA increases chromatin accessibility and expression of fetal genes, partially reprogramming long-lived somatic cells in vivo to a primitive, fetal-like, and proliferative state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tanner O Monroe
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Matthew C Hill
- Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yuka Morikawa
- Cardiomyocyte Renewal Laboratory, Texas Heart Institute, 6770 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - John P Leach
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Todd Heallen
- Cardiomyocyte Renewal Laboratory, Texas Heart Institute, 6770 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shuyi Cao
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Peter H L Krijger
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW, Utrecht, the Netherlands; University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Wouter de Laat
- Oncode Institute, Hubrecht Institute-KNAW, Utrecht, the Netherlands; University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Xander H T Wehrens
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - George G Rodney
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - James F Martin
- Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cardiomyocyte Renewal Laboratory, Texas Heart Institute, 6770 Bertner Avenue, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, One Baylor Plaza, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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21
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Sarkar D, Jana T, Saha S. LMDIPred: A web-server for prediction of linear peptide sequences binding to SH3, WW and PDZ domains. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0200430. [PMID: 30001346 PMCID: PMC6042728 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0200430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-peptide interactions form an important subset of the total protein interaction network in the cell and play key roles in signaling and regulatory networks, and in major biological processes like cellular localization, protein degradation, and immune response. In this work, we have described the LMDIPred web server, an online resource for generalized prediction of linear peptide sequences that may bind to three most prevalent and well-studied peptide recognition modules (PRMs)—SH3, WW and PDZ. We have developed support vector machine (SVM)-based prediction models that achieved maximum Matthews Correlation Coefficient (MCC) of 0.85 with an accuracy of 94.55% for SH3, MCC of 0.90 with an accuracy of 95.82% for WW, and MCC of 0.83 with an accuracy of 92.29% for PDZ binding peptides. LMDIPred output combines predictions from these SVM models with predictions using Position-Specific Scoring Matrices (PSSMs) and string-matching methods using known domain-binding motif instances and regular expressions. All of these methods were evaluated using a five-fold cross-validation technique on both balanced and unbalanced datasets, and also validated on independent datasets. LMDIPred aims to provide a preliminary bioinformatics platform for sequence-based prediction of probable binding sites for SH3, WW or PDZ domains.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Tanmoy Jana
- Bioinformatics Centre, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
| | - Sudipto Saha
- Bioinformatics Centre, Bose Institute, Kolkata, India
- * E-mail: ,
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22
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Kaur A, Lee LH, Chow SC, Fang CM. IRF5-mediated immune responses and its implications in immunological disorders. Int Rev Immunol 2018; 37:229-248. [PMID: 29985675 DOI: 10.1080/08830185.2018.1469629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Transcription factors are gene regulators that activate or repress target genes. One family of the transcription factors that have been extensively studied for their crucial role in regulating gene network in the immune system is the interferon regulatory factors (IRFs). IRFs possess a novel turn-helix turn motif that recognizes a specific DNA consensus found in the promoters of many genes that are involved in immune responses. IRF5, a member of IRFs has recently gained much attention for its role in regulating inflammatory responses and autoimmune diseases. Here, we discuss the role of IRF5 in regulating immune cells functions and how the dysregulation of IRF5 contributes to the pathogenesis of immune disorders. We also review the latest findings of potential IRF5 inhibitors that modulate IRF5 activity in the effort of developing therapeutic approaches for treating inflammatory disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwinder Kaur
- a School of Pharmacy, Faculty of Science , The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus , Selangor Darul , Ehsan , Malaysia
| | - Learn-Han Lee
- c School of Pharmacy , Monash University Malaysia , Selangor Darul , Ehsan , Malaysia.,e Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences , Monash University Malaysia , Selangor Darul , Ehsan , Malaysia
| | - Sek-Chuen Chow
- d School of Science , Monash University Malaysia , Selangor Darul , Ehsan , Malaysia
| | - Chee-Mun Fang
- b Department of Biomedical Sciences, Faculty of Science , The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus , Selangor Darul , Ehsan , Malaysia
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23
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Mott HR, Owen D. Bioblockades join the assault on small G protein signalling. Semin Cancer Biol 2018; 54:149-161. [PMID: 29307570 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2018.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/04/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Inhibition of Ras signalling has been a goal almost since its central role in cell signalling and its deregulation in disease were discovered. Early attempts at inhibiting its post-translational modification using peptidomimetics were successful in cell culture but failed spectacularly in clinical trials, making industry wary of targeting this critical oncoprotein. Small molecule inhibition of the protein-protein interactions involving Ras has also been difficult due to the nature of the interaction interface. Recent improvements in design, synthesis and selection of stabilised peptides, peptidomimetics and macrocycles have suggested that these biologics may represent a new hope in Ras inhibition. Here we review the various ways in which Ras has been targeted with these molecules. We also describe work on related small G proteins of the Ras superfamily, since many of the principles may be applicable to Ras, and these also provide inhibition of pathways downstream of Ras.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen R Mott
- Department of Biochemistry, 80, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK.
| | - Darerca Owen
- Department of Biochemistry, 80, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1GA, UK.
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Guo X, Li F, Xu Z, Yin A, Yin H, Li C, Chen SY. DOCK2 deficiency mitigates HFD-induced obesity by reducing adipose tissue inflammation and increasing energy expenditure. J Lipid Res 2017; 58:1777-1784. [PMID: 28716822 DOI: 10.1194/jlr.m073049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Revised: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Obesity is the major risk factor for type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, and many other diseases. Adipose tissue inflammation is frequently associated with obesity and contributes to the morbidity and mortality. Dedicator of cytokinesis 2 (DOCK2) is involved in several inflammatory diseases, but its role in obesity remains unknown. To explore the function of DOCK2 in obesity and insulin resistance, WT and DOCK2-deficient (DOCK2-/-) mice were given chow or high-fat diet (HFD) for 12 weeks followed by metabolic, biochemical, and histologic analyses. DOCK2 was robustly induced in adipose tissues of WT mice given HFD. DOCK2-/- mice with HFD showed decreased body weight gain and improved metabolic homeostasis and insulin resistance compared with WT mice. DOCK2 deficiency also attenuated adipose tissue and systemic inflammation accompanied by reduced macrophage infiltration. Moreover, DOCK2-/- mice exhibited increased expression of metabolic genes in adipose tissues with greater energy expenditure. Mechanistically, DOCK2 appeared to regulate brown adipocyte differentiation because increased preadipocyte differentiation to brown adipocytes in interscapular and inguinal fat was observed in DOCK2-/- mice, as compared with WT. These data indicated that DOCK2 deficiency protects mice from HFD-induced obesity, at least in part, by stimulating brown adipocyte differentiation. Therefore, targeting DOCK2 may be a potential therapeutic strategy for treating obesity-associated diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Guo
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Feifei Li
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Department of Cardiovascular Surgery, Union Hospital, Wuhan, China
| | - Zaiyan Xu
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,College of Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Amelia Yin
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Hang Yin
- Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA.,Center for Molecular Medicine, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Chenxiao Li
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
| | - Shi-You Chen
- Departments of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Georgia, Athens, GA
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25
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Heilmann AM, Schrock AB, He J, Nahas M, Curran K, Shukla N, Cramer S, Draper L, Verma A, Erlich R, Ross J, Stephens P, Miller VA, Ali SM, Verglio JA, Tallman MS, Mughal TI. Novel PDGFRB fusions in childhood B- and T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Leukemia 2017; 31:1989-1992. [PMID: 28552906 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2017.161] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
| | - A B Schrock
- Foundation Medicine Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - J He
- Foundation Medicine Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - M Nahas
- Foundation Medicine Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - K Curran
- Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - N Shukla
- Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - S Cramer
- University of Alabama, Birmingham, MS, USA
| | - L Draper
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - A Verma
- University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - R Erlich
- Foundation Medicine Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - J Ross
- Foundation Medicine Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA.,Albany College of Medicine, Albany, NY, USA
| | - P Stephens
- Foundation Medicine Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - V A Miller
- Foundation Medicine Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - S M Ali
- Foundation Medicine Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - J-A Verglio
- Foundation Medicine Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - M S Tallman
- Memorial Sloane Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - T I Mughal
- Foundation Medicine Inc., Cambridge, MA, USA.,Tufts University Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
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