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Bateman NW, Abulez T, Tarney CM, Bariani MV, Driscoll JA, Soltis AR, Zhou M, Hood BL, Litzi T, Conrads KA, Jackson A, Oliver J, Ganakammal SR, Schneider F, Dalgard CL, Wilkerson MD, Smith B, Borda V, O'Connor T, Segars J, Shobeiri SA, Phippen NT, Darcy KM, Al-Hendy A, Conrads TP, Maxwell GL. Multiomic analysis of uterine leiomyomas in self-described Black and White women: molecular insights into health disparities. Am J Obstet Gynecol 2024; 231:321.e1-321.e11. [PMID: 38723985 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajog.2024.04.051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2023] [Revised: 04/09/2024] [Accepted: 04/09/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Black women are at an increased risk of developing uterine leiomyomas and experiencing worse disease prognosis than White women. Epidemiologic and molecular factors have been identified as underlying these disparities, but there remains a paucity of deep, multiomic analysis investigating molecular differences in uterine leiomyomas from Black and White patients. OBJECTIVE To identify molecular alterations within uterine leiomyoma tissues correlating with patient race by multiomic analyses of uterine leiomyomas collected from cohorts of Black and White women. STUDY DESIGN We performed multiomic analysis of uterine leiomyomas from Black (42) and White (47) women undergoing hysterectomy for symptomatic uterine leiomyomata. In addition, our analysis included the application of orthogonal methods to evaluate fibroid biomechanical properties, such as second harmonic generation microscopy, uniaxial compression testing, and shear-wave ultrasonography analyses. RESULTS We found a greater proportion of MED12 mutant uterine leiomyomas from Black women (>35% increase; Mann-Whitney U, P<.001). MED12 mutant tumors exhibited an elevated abundance of extracellular matrix proteins, including several collagen isoforms, involved in the regulation of the core matrisome. Histologic analysis of tissue fibrosis using trichrome staining and secondary harmonic generation microscopy confirmed that MED12 mutant tumors are more fibrotic than MED12 wild-type tumors. Using shear-wave ultrasonography in a prospectively collected cohort, Black patients had fibroids that were firmer than White patients, even when similar in size. In addition, these analyses uncovered ancestry-linked expression quantitative trait loci with altered allele frequencies in African and European populations correlating with differential abundance of several proteins in uterine leiomyomas independently of MED12 mutation status, including tetratricopeptide repeat protein 38. CONCLUSION Our study shows that Black women have a higher prevalence of uterine leiomyomas harboring mutations in MED12 and that this mutational status correlates with increased tissue fibrosis compared with wild-type uterine leiomyomas. Our study provides insights into molecular alterations correlating with racial disparities in uterine leiomyomas and improves our understanding of the molecular etiology underlying uterine leiomyoma development within these populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas W Bateman
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD
| | - Tamara Abulez
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD
| | - Christopher M Tarney
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Jordan A Driscoll
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD
| | | | - Ming Zhou
- The American Genome Center, Center for Military Precision Health, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
| | - Brian L Hood
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD
| | - Tracy Litzi
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD
| | - Kelly A Conrads
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD
| | - Amanda Jackson
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD
| | - Julie Oliver
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD
| | | | | | - Clifton L Dalgard
- The American Genome Center, Center for Military Precision Health, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
| | - Matthew D Wilkerson
- The American Genome Center, Center for Military Precision Health, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Genetics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD
| | - Barbara Smith
- Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
| | - Victor Borda
- Program in Personalize and Genomic Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - Timothy O'Connor
- Program in Personalize and Genomic Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD
| | - James Segars
- Johns Hopkins University Medical Center, Baltimore, MD
| | - S Abbas Shobeiri
- Women's Health Integrated Research Center, Women's Service Line, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA
| | - Neil T Phippen
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD
| | - Kathleen M Darcy
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; The Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine Inc, Bethesda, MD
| | - Ayman Al-Hendy
- The University of Chicago College of Medicine, Chicago, IL
| | - Thomas P Conrads
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Women's Health Integrated Research Center, Women's Service Line, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA.
| | - George Larry Maxwell
- Gynecologic Cancer Center of Excellence, Department of Gynecologic Surgery and Obstetrics, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Murtha Cancer Center Research Program, Department of Surgery, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Walter Reed National Military Medical Center, Bethesda, MD; Women's Health Integrated Research Center, Women's Service Line, Inova Health System, Falls Church, VA.
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2
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Schiano C, Luongo L, Maione S, Napoli C. Mediator complex in neurological disease. Life Sci 2023; 329:121986. [PMID: 37516429 DOI: 10.1016/j.lfs.2023.121986] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/26/2023] [Indexed: 07/31/2023]
Abstract
Neurological diseases, including traumatic brain injuries, stroke (haemorrhagic and ischemic), and inherent neurodegenerative diseases cause acquired disability in humans, representing a leading cause of death worldwide. The Mediator complex (MED) is a large, evolutionarily conserved multiprotein that facilities the interaction between transcription factors and RNA Polymerase II in eukaryotes. Some MED subunits have been found altered in the brain, although their specific functions in neurodegenerative diseases are not fully understood. Mutations in MED subunits were associated with a wide range of genetic diseases for MED12, MED13, MED13L, MED20, MED23, MED25, and CDK8 genes. In addition, MED12 and MED23 were deregulated in the Alzheimer's Disease. Interestingly, most of the genomic mutations have been found in the subunits of the kinase module. To date, there is only one evidence on MED1 involvement in post-stroke cognitive deficits. Although the underlying neurodegenerative disorders may be different, we are confident that the signal cascades of the biological-cognitive mechanisms of brain adaptation, which begin after brain deterioration, may also differ. Here, we analysed relevant studies in English published up to June 2023. They were identified through a search of electronic databases including PubMed, Medline, EMBASE and Scopus, including search terms such as "Mediator complex", "neurological disease", "brains". Thematic content analysis was conducted to collect and summarize all studies demonstrating MED alteration to understand the role of this central transcriptional regulatory complex in the brain. Improved and deeper knowledge of the regulatory mechanisms in neurological diseases can increase the ability of physicians to predict onset and progression, thereby improving diagnostic care and providing appropriate treatment decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Concetta Schiano
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences (DAMSS), University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy.
| | - Livio Luongo
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy; IRCSS, Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Sabatino Maione
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy; IRCSS, Neuromed, Pozzilli, Italy
| | - Claudio Napoli
- Department of Advanced Medical and Surgical Sciences (DAMSS), University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli", Italy; Clinical Department of Internal Medicine and Specialistic Units, Division of Clinical Immunology and Immunohematology, Transfusion Medicine, and Transplant Immunology (SIMT), Regional Reference Laboratory of Transplant Immunology (LIT), Azienda Universitaria Policlinico (AOU), Italy
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Shah K, Cook M. LIMK2: A Multifaceted kinase with pleiotropic roles in human physiology and pathologies. Cancer Lett 2023; 565:216207. [PMID: 37141984 PMCID: PMC10316521 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2023] [Revised: 04/21/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Abstract
LIMK2, a serine-specific kinase, was discovered as an actin dynamics regulating kinase. Emerging studies have shown its pivotal role in numerous human malignancies and neurodevelopmental disorder. Inducible knockdown of LIMK2 fully reverses tumorigenesis, underscoring its potential as a clinical target. However, the molecular mechanisms leading to its upregulation and its deregulated activity in various diseases largely remain unknown. Similarly, LIMK2's peptide substrate specificity has not been analyzed. This is particularly important for LIMK2, a kinase almost three decades old, as only a handful of its substrates are known to date. As a result, most of LIMK2's physiological and pathological roles have been assigned to its regulation of actin dynamics via cofilin. This review focuses on LIMK2's unique catalytic mechanism, substrate specificity and its upstream regulators at transcriptional, post-transcriptional and post-translational stages. Moreover, emerging studies have unveiled a few tumor suppressors and oncogenes as LIMK2's direct substrates, which in turn have uncovered novel molecular mechanisms by which it plays pleiotropic roles in human physiology and pathologies independent of actin dynamics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kavita Shah
- Department of Chemistry and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA.
| | - Mason Cook
- Department of Chemistry and Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, 560 Oval Drive, West Lafayette, IN, 47907, USA
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4
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Haque F, Honjo T, Begum NA. XLID syndrome gene Med12 promotes Ig isotype switching through chromatin modification and enhancer RNA regulation. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eadd1466. [PMID: 36427307 PMCID: PMC9699684 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.add1466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
The transcriptional coactivator Med12 regulates gene expression through its kinase module. Here, we show a kinase module-independent function of Med12 in CSR. Med12 is essential for super-enhancer activation by collaborating with p300-Jmjd6/Carm1 coactivator complexes. Med12 loss decreases H3K27 acetylation and eRNA transcription with concomitant impairment of AID-induced DNA breaks, S-S synapse formation, and 3'RR-Eμ interaction. CRISPR-dCas9-mediated enhancer activation reestablishes the epigenomic and transcriptional hallmarks of the super-enhancer and fully restores the Med12 depletion defects. Moreover, 3'RR-derived eRNAs are critical for promoting S region epigenetic regulation, synapse formation, and recruitment of Med12 and AID to the IgH locus. We find that XLID syndrome-associated Med12 mutations are defective in both 3'RR eRNA transcription and CSR, suggesting that B and neuronal cells may have cell-specific super-enhancer dysfunctions. We conclude that Med12 is essential for IgH 3'RR activation/eRNA transcription and plays a central role in AID-induced antibody gene diversification and genomic instability in B cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Farazul Haque
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Tasuku Honjo
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Nasim A Begum
- Department of Immunology and Genomic Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida, Sakyo-Ku, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
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5
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Xu Y, Zhao R, Wang M, Wang X, Wang Y, Li H, Ma Y, Wu B, Zhou Y. Identification of genetic characteristics in pediatric epilepsy with focal cortical dysplasia type 2 using deep whole-exome sequencing. Mol Genet Genomic Med 2022; 10:e2086. [PMID: 36342087 PMCID: PMC9747558 DOI: 10.1002/mgg3.2086] [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: 05/10/2022] [Revised: 09/26/2022] [Accepted: 10/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Focal cortical dysplasia type 2 (FCD2) is a malformation of cortical development that constitutes a common cause of pediatric focal epilepsy. Germline or somatic variants in the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway genes are the pathogenesis of FCD2. OBJECTIVE In this study, whole-exome deep sequencing was performed on dysplastic cortex from focal epilepsy in children to explore genetic characteristics in FCD2. METHODS Resected core lesions of FCD2 were confirmed by pathology, and peripheral blood was collected from 11 patients. Deep whole-exome sequencing (>500X) was performed on derived genomic DNA, germline, or somatic variants in brain-specific genes were analyzed and identified. RESULTS In 11 patients, a heterozygous likely pathogenic germline variant of DEPDC5 was identified in one case, while somatic variants were found in four brain samples. The frequencies of the somatic variant allele were 2.52%-5.12%. Somatic variants in AKT3, TSC2, and MTOR (mTOR signaling pathway genes) were found in three samples. Besides, one somatic variant was detected in MED12 which has not been reported to associate with FCD2. CONCLUSION Our study expanded the variant spectrum in the mTOR-GATOR pathway, and also detected a somatic variant in MED12 which was potentially associated with FCD 2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Xu
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy CenterChildren's Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Rui Zhao
- Department of NeurosurgeryChildren's Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Min Wang
- Department of NeurosurgeryChildren's Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Xin‐hua Wang
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy CenterChildren's Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy CenterChildren's Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Hao Li
- Department of NeurosurgeryChildren's Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yang‐yang Ma
- Department of PathologyChildren's Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Bing‐bing Wu
- Center for Molecular MedicinePediatrics Research Institute, Children's Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yuan‐feng Zhou
- Department of Neurology and Epilepsy CenterChildren's Hospital of Fudan UniversityShanghaiChina
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6
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Jin X, Song Y, An Z, Wu S, Cai D, Fu Y, Zhang C, Chen L, Tang W, Zheng Z, Lu H, Lian J. A Predictive Model for Prognosis and Therapeutic Response in Hepatocellular Carcinoma Based on a Panel of Three MED8-Related Immunomodulators. Front Oncol 2022; 12:868411. [PMID: 35558516 PMCID: PMC9086905 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.868411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/25/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The current tumor-node-metastasis (TNM) system is limited in predicting the survival and guiding the treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients since the TNM system only focuses on the anatomical factors, regardless of the intratumoral molecule heterogeneity. Besides, the landscape of intratumoral immune genes has emerged as a prognostic indicator. The mediator complex subunit 8 (MED8) is a major polymerase regulator and has been described as an oncogene in renal cell carcinoma, but its pathophysiological significance of HCC and its contribution to the prognosis of HCC remain unclear. Here, we aimed to discuss the expression profile and clinical correlation of MED8 in HCC and construct a predictive model based on MED8-related immunomodulators as a supplement to the TNM system. According to our analyses, MED8 was overexpressed in HCC tissues and increased expression of MED8 was an indicator of poor outcome in HCC. The knockdown of MED8 weakened the proliferation, colony forming, and migration of HepG2 and Huh7 cells. Subsequently, a predictive model was identified based on a panel of three MED8-related immunomodulators using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and further validated in International Cancer Genome Consortium (ICGC) database. The combination of the predictive model and the TNM system could improve the performance in predicting the survival of HCC patients. High-risk patients had poor overall survival in TCGA and ICGC databases, as well as in subgroup analysis with early clinicopathology classification. It was also found that high-risk patients had a higher probability of recurrence in TCGA cohort. Furthermore, low-risk score indicated a better response to immunotherapy and drug therapy. This predictive model can be served as a supplement to the TNM system and may have implications in prognosis stratification and therapeutic guidance for HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojun Jin
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Department of Cardiovasology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Central Laboratory, Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering, Ningbo, China
| | - Yongfei Song
- Department of Cardiovasology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Central Laboratory, Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering, Ningbo, China
| | - Zhanglu An
- Graduate School, Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, China.,Department of Pathology, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Affiliated Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Shanshan Wu
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Dihui Cai
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Yin Fu
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | | | - Lichao Chen
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Wen Tang
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Zequn Zheng
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China
| | - Hongsheng Lu
- Department of Pathology, Taizhou Central Hospital (Taizhou University Affiliated Hospital), Taizhou, China
| | - Jiangfang Lian
- School of Medicine, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Department of Cardiovasology, The Affiliated Lihuili Hospital, Ningbo University, Ningbo, China.,Central Laboratory, Ningbo Institute of Innovation for Combined Medicine and Engineering, Ningbo, China
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7
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Eigenhuis KN, Somsen HB, van den Berg DLC. Transcription Pause and Escape in Neurodevelopmental Disorders. Front Neurosci 2022; 16:846272. [PMID: 35615272 PMCID: PMC9125161 DOI: 10.3389/fnins.2022.846272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2021] [Accepted: 04/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription pause-release is an important, highly regulated step in the control of gene expression. Modulated by various factors, it enables signal integration and fine-tuning of transcriptional responses. Mutations in regulators of pause-release have been identified in a range of neurodevelopmental disorders that have several common features affecting multiple organ systems. This review summarizes current knowledge on this novel subclass of disorders, including an overview of clinical features, mechanistic details, and insight into the relevant neurodevelopmental processes.
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8
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The Mediator kinase module: an interface between cell signaling and transcription. Trends Biochem Sci 2022; 47:314-327. [DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2022.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 01/11/2022] [Accepted: 01/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
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Srivastava S, Makala H, Sharma V, Suri V, Sarkar C, Kulshreshtha R. MED12 is overexpressed in glioblastoma patients and serves as an oncogene by targeting the VDR/BCL6/p53 axis. Cell Mol Life Sci 2022; 79:104. [PMID: 35091793 PMCID: PMC11071957 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-04056-6] [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: 07/06/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma is the most life-threatening tumor of the central nervous system. Despite recent therapeutic advancements, maximum survival of glioblastoma patients remains dismal. The mediator complex is a set of proteins, essential for eukaryotic gene expression. Abnormal expression/mutations of specific mediator genes have been associated with progression of various cancers, however, its role and status in glioblastoma remains largely unknown. Our work shows overexpression of a subunit of kinase assembly of mediator complex, MED12, in various glioblastoma patient cohorts including Indian glioblastoma patients and cell lines. Functional characterization of MED12 using both overexpression and knockdown approach revealed that it promotes glioblastoma cell proliferation, migration and inhibits apoptosis. Transcriptome analysis post MED12 knockdown revealed Vitamin D receptor (VDR) pathway to be one of the key pathways affected by MED12 in glioblastoma. We studied direct interaction of MED12 with VDR protein using docking studies and co-immunoprecipitation assay. We identify BCL6, a secondary regulator of VDR signaling, to be directly regulated by MED12 through a combination of chromatin immunoprecipitation, qRT-PCR and western analyses. We further show that MED12 brings about the inhibition of p53 levels and apoptosis partly through induction of BCL6 in glioblastoma. Overall, this stands as the first report of MED12 over-expression and involvement in glioblastoma pathogenesis and identifies MED12 as an important mediator of VDR signaling and an attractive molecule for development of new therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Srishti Srivastava
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Hima Makala
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Vikas Sharma
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India
| | - Vaishali Suri
- Neuropathology Neurosciences Centre, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Chitra Sarkar
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, 110029, India
| | - Ritu Kulshreshtha
- Department of Biochemical Engineering and Biotechnology, Indian Institute of Technology Delhi, New Delhi, 110016, India.
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Role of the Mediator Complex and MicroRNAs in Breast Cancer Etiology. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13020234. [PMID: 35205279 PMCID: PMC8871970 DOI: 10.3390/genes13020234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2021] [Revised: 01/17/2022] [Accepted: 01/19/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional coactivators play a key role in RNA polymerase II transcription and gene regulation. One of the most important transcriptional coactivators is the Mediator (MED) complex, which is an evolutionary conserved large multiprotein complex. MED transduces the signal between DNA-bound transcriptional activators (gene-specific transcription factors) to the RNA polymerase II transcription machinery to activate transcription. It is known that MED plays an essential role in ER-mediated gene expression mainly through the MED1 subunit, since estrogen receptor (ER) can interact with MED1 by specific protein–protein interactions; therefore, MED1 plays a fundamental role in ER-positive breast cancer (BC) etiology. Additionally, other MED subunits also play a role in BC etiology. On the other hand, microRNAs (miRNAs) are a family of small non-coding RNAs, which can regulate gene expression at the post-transcriptional level by binding in a sequence-specific fashion at the 3′ UTR of the messenger RNA. The miRNAs are also important factors that influence oncogenic signaling in BC by acting as both tumor suppressors and oncogenes. Moreover, miRNAs are involved in endocrine therapy resistance of BC, specifically to tamoxifen, a drug that is used to target ER signaling. In metazoans, very little is known about the transcriptional regulation of miRNA by the MED complex and less about the transcriptional regulation of miRNAs involved in BC initiation and progression. Recently, it has been shown that MED1 is able to regulate the transcription of the ER-dependent miR-191/425 cluster promoting BC cell proliferation and migration. In this review, we will discuss the role of MED1 transcriptional coactivator in the etiology of BC and in endocrine therapy-resistance of BC and also the contribution of other MED subunits to BC development, progression and metastasis. Lastly, we identified miRNAs that potentially can regulate the expression of MED subunits.
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Gonzalez C, Akula S, Burleson M. The role of mediator subunit 12 in tumorigenesis and cancer therapeutics (Review). Oncol Lett 2022; 23:74. [PMID: 35111243 PMCID: PMC8771631 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2022.13194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mediator complex subunit 12 (MED12) is a subunit of Mediator, a large multi-subunit protein complex that acts an important regulator of transcription. Specifically, MED12 is an integral part of the kinase module of Mediator along with MED13, CyclinC (CycC) and CDK8. Structural studies have indicated that MED12 makes a direct connection to CycC through a specific interface and thereby functions to create a link between MED13 and CycC-CDK8. Disruption of the MED12-CycC interface often leads to dysregulated CDK8 kinase activity, which has important physiological implications. For example, a number of studies have indicated that mutations within MED12 can lead to the formation of benign or malignant tumors, either as a result of MED12-CycC disruption or through distinct independent mechanisms. Furthermore, recent studies have indicated that the N-terminal portion of MED12 forms a direct connection to CDK8. Mutations within MED12 do not appear to disrupt the physical connection to CDK8, but rather abrogate CDK8 kinase activity. Thus, mutations in MED12 can cause disruption of CDK8 kinase activity through two separate mechanisms. The aim of the present review article was to discuss the MED12 mutational landscape in a variety of benign and malignant tumors, as well as the mechanistic basis behind tumorigenesis. Furthermore, the link between MED12 and drug resistance has also been discussed, as well as potential cancer therapeutics related to MED12-altered tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristian Gonzalez
- Department of Biology, University of The Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX 78209, USA
| | - Shivani Akula
- Department of Chemistry, University of The Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX 78209, USA
| | - Marieke Burleson
- Department of Biology, University of The Incarnate Word, San Antonio, TX 78209, USA
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Molecular and Cellular Insights into the Development of Uterine Fibroids. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22168483. [PMID: 34445194 PMCID: PMC8395213 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22168483] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2021] [Revised: 08/03/2021] [Accepted: 08/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Uterine leiomyomas represent the most common benign gynecologic tumor. These hormone-dependent smooth-muscle formations occur with an estimated prevalence of ~70% among women of reproductive age and cause symptoms including pain, abnormal uterine bleeding, infertility, and recurrent abortion. Despite the prevalence and public health impact of uterine leiomyomas, available treatments remain limited. Among the potential causes of leiomyomas, early hormonal exposure during periods of development may result in developmental reprogramming via epigenetic changes that persist in adulthood, leading to disease onset or progression. Recent developments in unbiased high-throughput sequencing technology enable powerful approaches to detect driver mutations, yielding new insights into the genomic instability of leiomyomas. Current data also suggest that each leiomyoma originates from the clonal expansion of a single transformed somatic stem cell of the myometrium. In this review, we propose an integrated cellular and molecular view of the origins of leiomyomas, as well as paradigm-shifting studies that will lead to better understanding and the future development of non-surgical treatments for these highly frequent tumors.
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van de Plassche SR, de Brouwer APM. MED12-Related (Neuro)Developmental Disorders: A Question of Causality. Genes (Basel) 2021; 12:663. [PMID: 33925166 PMCID: PMC8146938 DOI: 10.3390/genes12050663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2021] [Revised: 04/22/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
MED12 is a member of the Mediator complex that is involved in the regulation of transcription. Missense variants in MED12 cause FG syndrome, Lujan-Fryns syndrome, and Ohdo syndrome, as well as non-syndromic intellectual disability (ID) in hemizygous males. Recently, female patients with de novo missense variants and de novo protein truncating variants in MED12 were described, resulting in a clinical spectrum centered around ID and Hardikar syndrome without ID. The missense variants are found throughout MED12, whether they are inherited in hemizygous males or de novo in females. They can result in syndromic or nonsyndromic ID. The de novo nonsense variants resulting in Hardikar syndrome that is characterized by facial clefting, pigmentary retinopathy, biliary anomalies, and intestinal malrotation, are found more N-terminally, whereas the more C-terminally positioned variants are de novo protein truncating variants that cause a severe, syndromic phenotype consisting of ID, facial dysmorphism, short stature, skeletal abnormalities, feeding difficulties, and variable other abnormalities. This broad range of distinct phenotypes calls for a method to distinguish between pathogenic and non-pathogenic variants in MED12. We propose an isogenic iNeuron model to establish the unique gene expression patterns that are associated with the specific MED12 variants. The discovery of these patterns would help in future diagnostics and determine the causality of the MED12 variants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Arjan P. M. de Brouwer
- Department of Human Genetics, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behavior, Radboud University Medical Center, 6500 HB Nijmegen, The Netherlands;
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