1
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Robertson R, Li S, Filippelli RL, Chang NC. Muscle stem cell dysfunction in rhabdomyosarcoma and muscular dystrophy. Curr Top Dev Biol 2024; 158:83-121. [PMID: 38670717 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2024.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/28/2024]
Abstract
Muscle stem cells (MuSCs) are crucial to the repair and homeostasis of mature skeletal muscle. MuSC dysfunction and dysregulation of the myogenic program can contribute to the development of pathology ranging from cancers like rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) or muscle degenerative diseases such as Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Both diseases exhibit dysregulation at nearly all steps of myogenesis. For instance, MuSC self-renewal processes are altered. In RMS, this leads to the creation of tumor propagating cells. In DMD, impaired asymmetric stem cell division creates a bias towards producing self-renewing stem cells instead of committing to differentiation. Hyperproliferation of these cells contribute to tumorigenesis in RMS and symmetric expansion of the self-renewing MuSC population in DMD. Both diseases also exhibit a repression of factors involved in terminal differentiation, halting RMS cells in the proliferative stage and thus driving tumor growth. Conversely, the MuSCs in DMD exhibit impaired differentiation and fuse prematurely, affecting myonuclei maturation and the integrity of the dystrophic muscle fiber. Finally, both disease states cause alterations to the MuSC niche. Various elements of the niche such as inflammatory and migratory signaling that impact MuSC behavior are dysregulated. Here we show how these seemingly distantly related diseases indeed have similarities in MuSC dysfunction, underlying the importance of considering MuSCs when studying the pathophysiology of muscle diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebecca Robertson
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Shulei Li
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Romina L Filippelli
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Natasha C Chang
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada; Rosalind and Morris Goodman Cancer Institute, McGill University, Montréal, QC, Canada.
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2
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Sreenivas P, Wang L, Wang M, Challa A, Modi P, Hensch NR, Gryder B, Chou HC, Zhao XR, Sunkel B, Moreno-Campos R, Khan J, Stanton BZ, Ignatius MS. A SNAI2/CTCF Interaction is Required for NOTCH1 Expression in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Mol Cell Biol 2023; 43:547-565. [PMID: 37882064 PMCID: PMC10761179 DOI: 10.1080/10985549.2023.2256640] [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: 10/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2023] [Indexed: 10/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is a pediatric malignancy of the muscle with characteristics of cells blocked in differentiation. NOTCH1 is an oncogene that promotes self-renewal and blocks differentiation in the fusion negative-RMS sub-type. However, how NOTCH1 expression is transcriptionally maintained in tumors is unknown. Analyses of SNAI2 and CTCF chromatin binding and HiC analyses revealed a conserved SNAI2/CTCF overlapping peak downstream of the NOTCH1 locus marking a sub-topologically associating domain (TAD) boundary. Deletion of the SNAI2-CTCF peak showed that it is essential for NOTCH1 expression and viability of FN-RMS cells. Reintroducing constitutively activated NOTCH1-ΔE in cells with the SNAI2-CTCF peak deleted restored cell-viability. Ablation of SNAI2 using CRISPR/Cas9 reagents resulted in the loss of majority of RD and SMS-CTR FN-RMS cells. However, the few surviving clones that repopulate cultures have recovered NOTCH1. Cells that re-establish NOTCH1 expression after SNAI2 ablation are unable to differentiate robustly as SNAI2 shRNA knockdown cells; yet, SNAI2-ablated cells continued to be exquisitely sensitive to ionizing radiation. Thus, we have uncovered a novel mechanism by which SNAI2 and CTCF maintenance of a sub-TAD boundary promotes rather than represses NOTCH1 expression. Further, we demonstrate that SNAI2 suppression of apoptosis post-radiation is independent of SNAI2/NOTCH1 effects on self-renewal and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Long Wang
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Meng Wang
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Anil Challa
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, USA
| | - Paulomi Modi
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Nicole Rae Hensch
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Berkley Gryder
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Xiang R. Zhao
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Benjamin Sunkel
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Rodrigo Moreno-Campos
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Benjamin Z. Stanton
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children’s Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio, USA
| | - Myron S. Ignatius
- Greehey Children’s Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
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3
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Burks HE, Pokorny JL, Koetsier JL, Roth-Carter QR, Arnette CR, Gerami P, Seykora JT, Johnson JL, Ren Z, Green KJ. Melanoma cells repress Desmoglein 1 in keratinocytes to promote tumor cell migration. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:e202212031. [PMID: 37733372 PMCID: PMC10512973 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202212031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Revised: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 09/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Melanoma is an aggressive cancer typically arising from transformation of melanocytes residing in the basal layer of the epidermis, where they are in direct contact with surrounding keratinocytes. The role of keratinocytes in shaping the melanoma tumor microenvironment remains understudied. We previously showed that temporary loss of the keratinocyte-specific cadherin, Desmoglein 1 (Dsg1), controls paracrine signaling between normal melanocytes and keratinocytes to stimulate the protective tanning response. Here, we provide evidence that melanoma cells hijack this intercellular communication by secreting factors that keep Dsg1 expression low in the surrounding keratinocytes, which in turn generate their own paracrine signals that enhance melanoma spread through CXCL1/CXCR2 signaling. Evidence suggests a model whereby paracrine signaling from melanoma cells increases levels of the transcriptional repressor Slug, and consequently decreases expression of the Dsg1 transcriptional activator Grhl1. Together, these data support the idea that paracrine crosstalk between melanoma cells and keratinocytes resulting in chronic keratinocyte Dsg1 reduction contributes to melanoma cell movement associated with tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hope E. Burks
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jenny L. Pokorny
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Koetsier
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Quinn R. Roth-Carter
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Christopher R. Arnette
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Pedram Gerami
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - John T. Seykora
- Department of Dermatology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jodi L. Johnson
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Ziyou Ren
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
| | - Kathleen J. Green
- Department of Pathology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
- Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
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4
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Verstappe J, Berx G. A role for partial epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in enabling stemness in homeostasis and cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2023; 90:15-28. [PMID: 36773819 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2023.02.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2022] [Revised: 01/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/02/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells have self-renewal capacities and the ability to give rise to differentiated cells thereby sustaining tissues during homeostasis and injury. This structural hierarchy extends to tumours which harbor stem-like cells deemed cancer stem cells that propagate the tumour and drive metastasis and relapse. The process of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), which plays an important role in development and cancer cell migration, was shown to be correlated with stemness in both homeostasis and cancer indicating that stemness can be acquired and is not necessarily an intrinsic trait. Nowadays it is experimentally proven that the activation of an EMT program does not necessarily drive cells towards a fully mesenchymal phenotype but rather to hybrid E/M states. This review offers the latest advances in connecting the EMT status and stem-cell state of both non-transformed and cancer cells. Recent literature clearly shows that hybrid EMT states have a higher probability of acquiring stem cell traits. The position of a cell along the EMT-axis which coincides with a stem cell-like state is known as the stemness window. We show how the original EMT-state of a cell dictates the EMT/MET inducing programmes required to reach stemness. Lastly we present the mechanism of stemness regulation and the regulatory feedback loops which position cells at a certain EMT state along the EMT axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeroen Verstappe
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Berx
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium; Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
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5
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Heryanto YD, Imoto S. Identifying Key Regulators of Keratinization in Lung Squamous Cell Cancer Using Integrated TCGA Analysis. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15072066. [PMID: 37046726 PMCID: PMC10092975 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15072066] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2023] [Revised: 03/25/2023] [Accepted: 03/29/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Keratinization is one of lung squamous cell cancer’s (LUSC) hallmark histopathology features. Epithelial cells produce keratin to protect their integrity from external harmful substances. In addition to their roles as cell protectors, recent studies have shown that keratins have important roles in regulating either normal cell or tumor cell functions. The objective of this study is to identify the genes and microRNAs (miRNAs) that act as key regulators of the keratinization process in LUSC. To address this goal, we classified LUSC samples from GDC-TCGA databases based on their keratinization molecular signatures. Then, we performed differential analyses of genes, methylation, and miRNA expression between high keratinization and low keratinization samples. By reconstruction and analysis of the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) network, we found that TP63 and SOX2 were the hub genes that were highly connected to other genes and displayed significant correlations with several keratin genes. Methylation analysis showed that the P63, P73, and P53 DNA-binding motif sites were significantly enriched for differentially methylated probes. We identified SNAI2, GRHL3, TP63, ZNF750, and FOXE1 as the top transcription factors associated with these binding sites. Finally, we identified 12 miRNAs that influence the keratinization process by using miRNA–mRNA correlation analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yusri Dwi Heryanto
- Division of Health Medical Intelligence, Human Genome Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Correspondence:
| | - Seiya Imoto
- Division of Health Medical Intelligence, Human Genome Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
- Laboratory of Sequence Analysis, Human Genome Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Shirokanedai, Minato-ku, Tokyo 108-8639, Japan
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6
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A Kaleidoscope of Keratin Gene Expression and the Mosaic of Its Regulatory Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24065603. [PMID: 36982676 PMCID: PMC10052683 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24065603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2023] [Revised: 03/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/10/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Keratins are a family of intermediate filament-forming proteins highly specific to epithelial cells. A combination of expressed keratin genes is a defining property of the epithelium belonging to a certain type, organ/tissue, cell differentiation potential, and at normal or pathological conditions. In a variety of processes such as differentiation and maturation, as well as during acute or chronic injury and malignant transformation, keratin expression undergoes switching: an initial keratin profile changes accordingly to changed cell functions and location within a tissue as well as other parameters of cellular phenotype and physiology. Tight control of keratin expression implies the presence of complex regulatory landscapes within the keratin gene loci. Here, we highlight patterns of keratin expression in different biological conditions and summarize disparate data on mechanisms controlling keratin expression at the level of genomic regulatory elements, transcription factors (TFs), and chromatin spatial structure.
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7
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Pomella S, Porrazzo A, Cassandri M, Camero S, Codenotti S, Milazzo L, Vulcano F, Barillari G, Cenci G, Marchese C, Fanzani A, Megiorni F, Rota R, Marampon F. Translational Implications for Radiosensitizing Strategies in Rhabdomyosarcoma. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:13281. [PMID: 36362070 PMCID: PMC9656983 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232113281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2022] [Revised: 10/28/2022] [Accepted: 10/28/2022] [Indexed: 08/13/2024] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood and adolescence that includes FP-RMS, harboring the fusion oncoprotein PAX3/7-FOXO1 and FN-RMS, often mutant in the RAS pathway. Risk stratifications of RMS patients determine different prognostic groups and related therapeutic treatment. Current multimodal therapeutic strategies involve surgery, chemotherapy (CHT) and radiotherapy (RT), but despite the deeper knowledge of response mechanisms underpinning CHT treatment and the technological improvements that characterize RT, local failures and recurrence frequently occur. This review sums up the RMS classification and the management of RMS patients, with special attention to RT treatment and possible radiosensitizing strategies for RMS tumors. Indeed, RMS radioresistance is a clinical problem and further studies aimed at dissecting radioresistant molecular mechanisms are needed to identify specific targets to hit, thus improving RT-induced cytotoxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pomella
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, 00146 Rome, Italy
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Antonella Porrazzo
- Units of Molecular Genetics of Complex Phenotypes, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, 00146 Rome, Italy
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Matteo Cassandri
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, 00146 Rome, Italy
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Camero
- Department of Maternal, Infantile and Urological Sciences, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Codenotti
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Biotechnology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Luisa Milazzo
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesca Vulcano
- Department of Oncology and Molecular Medicine, Italian National Institute of Health, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Barillari
- Department of Clinical Sciences and Translational Medicine, University of Rome Tor Vergata, 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cenci
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology “C. Darwin”, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Cinzia Marchese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alessandro Fanzani
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, Division of Biotechnology, University of Brescia, 25123 Brescia, Italy
| | - Francesca Megiorni
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Oncohematology, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Francesco Marampon
- Department of Radiological Sciences, Oncology and Anatomical Pathology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
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8
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Snail maintains the stem/progenitor state of skin epithelial cells and carcinomas through the autocrine effect of matricellular protein Mindin. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111390. [PMID: 36130502 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111390] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2022] [Revised: 06/11/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Preservation of a small population of cancer stem cells (CSCs) within a heterogeneous carcinoma serves as a paradigm to understand how select cells in a tissue maintain their undifferentiated status. In both embryogenesis and cancer, Snail has been correlated with stemness, but the molecular underpinning of this phenomenon remains largely ill-defined. In models of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC), we discovered a non-epithelial-mesenchymal transition function for the transcription factor Snail in maintaining the stemness of epidermal keratinocytes. Snail-expressing cells secrete the matricellular protein Mindin, which functions in an autocrine fashion to activate a Src-STAT3 pathway to reinforce their stem/progenitor phenotype. This pathway is activated by the engagement of Mindin with the leukocyte-specific integrin, CD11b (ITGAM), which is also unexpectedly expressed by epidermal keratinocytes. Interestingly, disruption of this signaling module in human cSCC attenuates tumorigenesis, suggesting that targeting Mindin would be a promising therapeutic approach to hinder cancer recurrence.
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9
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Liang M, Li JW, Luo H, Lulu S, Calbay O, Shenoy A, Tan M, Law BK, Huang S, Xiao TS, Chen H, Wu L, Chang J, Lu J. Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Suppresses AMPK and Sensitizes Cancer Cells to Pyroptosis under Energy Stress. Cells 2022; 11:cells11142208. [PMID: 35883651 PMCID: PMC9322750 DOI: 10.3390/cells11142208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2022] [Revised: 07/01/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is implicated in tumor metastasis and therapeutic resistance. It remains a challenge to target cancer cells that have undergone EMT. The Snail family of key EMT-inducing transcription factors directly binds to and transcriptionally represses not only epithelial genes but also a myriad of additional genomic targets that may carry out significant biological functions. Therefore, we reasoned that EMT inherently causes various concomitant phenotypes, some of which may create targetable vulnerabilities for cancer treatment. In the present study, we found that Snail transcription factors bind to the promoters of multiple genes encoding subunits of the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) complex, and expression of AMPK genes was markedly downregulated by EMT. Accordingly, high AMPK expression in tumors correlated with epithelial cell markers and low AMPK expression in tumors was strongly associated with adverse prognosis. AMPK is the principal sensor of cellular energy status. In response to energy stress, AMPK is activated and critically reprograms cellular metabolism to restore energy homeostasis and maintain cell survival. We showed that activation of AMPK by energy stress was severely impaired by EMT. Consequently, EMT cancer cells became hypersensitive to a variety of energy stress conditions and primarily underwent pyroptosis, a regulated form of necrotic cell death. Collectively, the study suggests that EMT impedes the activation of AMPK signaling induced by energy stress and sensitizes cancer cells to pyroptotic cell death under energy stress conditions. Therefore, while EMT promotes malignant progression, it concurrently induces collateral vulnerabilities that may be therapeutically exploited.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mingwei Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.L.); (J.W.L.); (H.L.); (S.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Jennifer W. Li
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.L.); (J.W.L.); (H.L.); (S.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Huacheng Luo
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.L.); (J.W.L.); (H.L.); (S.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Sarah Lulu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.L.); (J.W.L.); (H.L.); (S.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Ozlem Calbay
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (O.C.); (S.H.)
| | - Anitha Shenoy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.L.); (J.W.L.); (H.L.); (S.L.); (A.S.)
| | - Ming Tan
- Graduate Institute of Biomedical Sciences and Research Center for Cancer Biology, China Medical University, Taichung 406040, Taiwan;
| | - Brian K. Law
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Shuang Huang
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (O.C.); (S.H.)
| | - Tsan Sam Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA;
| | - Hao Chen
- Department of General Surgery, Second Hospital of Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730030, China;
| | - Lizi Wu
- Department of Molecular Genetics and Microbiology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Jia Chang
- Department of Periodontology, College of Dentistry, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA;
| | - Jianrong Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA; (M.L.); (J.W.L.); (H.L.); (S.L.); (A.S.)
- Correspondence:
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10
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Werle SD, Ikonomi N, Schwab JD, Kraus JM, Weidner FM, Rudolph KL, Pfister AS, Schuler R, Kühl M, Kestler HA. Identification of dynamic driver sets controlling phenotypical landscapes. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2022; 20:1603-1617. [PMID: 35465155 PMCID: PMC9010550 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2022.03.034] [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: 01/10/2022] [Revised: 03/30/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Controlling phenotypical landscapes is of vital interest to modern biology. This task becomes highly demanding because cellular decisions involve complex networks engaging in crosstalk interactions. Previous work on control theory indicates that small sets of compounds can control single phenotypes. However, a dynamic approach is missing to determine the drivers of the whole network dynamics. By analyzing 35 biologically motivated Boolean networks, we developed a method to identify small sets of compounds sufficient to decide on the entire phenotypical landscape. These compounds do not strictly prefer highly related compounds and show a smaller impact on the stability of the attractor landscape. The dynamic driver sets include many intervention targets and cellular reprogramming drivers in human networks. Finally, by using a new comprehensive model of colorectal cancer, we provide a complete workflow on how to implement our approach to shift from in silico to in vitro guided experiments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silke D. Werle
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Nensi Ikonomi
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Julian D. Schwab
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Johann M. Kraus
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Felix M. Weidner
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - K. Lenhard Rudolph
- Leibniz Institute of Aging – Fritz Lipman Institute, 07745 Jena, Thuringia, Germany
| | - Astrid S. Pfister
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Rainer Schuler
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Michael Kühl
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
| | - Hans A. Kestler
- Institute of Medical Systems Biology, Ulm University, 89081 Ulm, Baden-Wuerttemberg, Germany
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11
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Ahram M, Abdullah MS, Mustafa SA, Alsafadi DB, Battah AH. Androgen down-regulates desmocollin 2 in association with induction of mesenchymal transition of breast MDA-MB-453 cancer cells. Cytoskeleton (Hoboken) 2022; 78:391-399. [PMID: 35023302 DOI: 10.1002/cm.21691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 01/06/2022] [Accepted: 01/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Desmosomes are cellular structures that are critical in cell-cell adhesion and in maintaining tissue architecture. Changes in the expression of desmocollin-2 (DSC2) have been noted during tumor progression into an invasive phenotype and as cells undergo epithelial-mesenchymal transition. We have previously reported that breast MDA-MB-453 cancer cells, a luminal androgen receptor model of triple-negative breast cancer, acquire mesenchymal features when treated with the androgen receptor (AR) agonist, dihydrotestosterone (DHT). We have therefore investigated androgen regulation of the expression and cellular localization of DSC2 in MDA-MB-453 cells. Treatment of the cells with DHT resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in DSC2 protein levels and dispersion of its membrane localization concomitant with AR- and β-catenin-mediated mesenchymal transition of cells. A significant correlation was revealed between decreased expression of AR and increased expression of DSC2 in patient samples. In addition, whereas lower expression of AR was associated with a reduced overall and recurrence-free survival of breast cancer patients, higher expression of DSC2 was found in invasive breast tumors than in normal breast cells and was correlated with lower patient survival. Upon knocking down DSC2, the cells became elongated, mesenchymal-like, and slightly, but insignificantly, more migratory. The addition of DHT further stimulated cell elongation and migration. DSC2 siRNA-transfected cells reverted to a normal epithelial morphology upon inhibition of β-catenin. These results highlight the role of DSC2 in maintaining the epithelial morphology of MDA-MB-453 cells and the negative regulation of the desmosomal protein by DHT during stimulation of the androgen-induced, β-catenin-mediated mesenchymal transition of the cells. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mamoun Ahram
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Mohammad S Abdullah
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Shahed A Mustafa
- Department of Microbiology, Pathology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Dana B Alsafadi
- Department of Physiology and Biochemistry, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
| | - Abdelkader H Battah
- Department of Microbiology, Pathology, and Forensic Medicine, School of Medicine, The University of Jordan, Amman, Jordan
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12
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Miyake Y, Nagaoka Y, Okamura K, Takeishi Y, Tamaoki S, Hatta M. SNAI2 is induced by transforming growth factor-β1, but is not essential for epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human keratinocyte HaCaT cells. Exp Ther Med 2021; 22:1124. [PMID: 34466140 PMCID: PMC8383325 DOI: 10.3892/etm.2021.10558] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Accepted: 07/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a cellular process in which epithelial cells lose their epithelial traits and shift to the mesenchymal phenotype, and is associated with various biological events, such as embryogenesis, wound healing and cancer progression. The transcriptional program that promotes phenotype switching is dynamically controlled by transcription factors during EMT, including Snail (SNAI1), twist family bHLH transcription factor (TWIST) and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 1 (ZEB1). The present study aimed to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying EMT in squamous epithelial cells. Western blot analysis and immunocytochemical staining identified Slug (SNAI2) as a transcription factor that is induced during transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-mediated EMT in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT. The effect of SNAI2 overexpression and knockdown on the phenotypic characteristics of HaCaT cells was evaluated. Filamentous actin staining and western blot analysis revealed that the overexpression of SNAI2 did not induce the observed EMT-related phenotypic changes. In addition, SNAI2 knockdown demonstrated almost no impact on the EMT phenotypes induced by TGF-β1. Notably, DNA microarray analysis followed by comprehensive bioinformatics analysis revealed that the differentially expressed genes upregulated by TGF-β1 were significantly enriched in cell adhesion and extracellular matrix binding, whereas the genes downregulated in response to TGF-β1 were significantly enriched in the cell cycle. No enriched gene ontology term and biological pathways were identified in the differentially expressed gene sets of SNAI2-overexpressing cells. In addition, the candidates for master transcription factors regulating the TGF-β1-induced EMT were identified using transcription factor enrichment analysis. In conclusion, the results of study demonstrated that SNAI2 does not play an essential role in the EMT of HaCaT cells and identified candidate transcription factors that may be involved in EMT-related gene expression induced by TGF-β1. These findings may enhance the understanding of molecular events in EMT and contribute to the development of a novel therapeutic approach against EMT in cancers and wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuki Miyake
- Department of Physiological Science and Molecular Biology, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan.,Department of Oral Growth and Development, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Yoshiyuki Nagaoka
- Department of Physiological Science and Molecular Biology, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Okamura
- Department of Morphological Biology, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Yukimasa Takeishi
- Department of Physiological Science and Molecular Biology, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Sachio Tamaoki
- Department of Oral Growth and Development, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
| | - Mitsutoki Hatta
- Department of Physiological Science and Molecular Biology, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan.,Oral Medicine Research Center, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka 814-0193, Japan
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13
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Razmara E, Bitaraf A, Karimi B, Babashah S. Functions of the SNAI family in chondrocyte-to-osteocyte development. Ann N Y Acad Sci 2021; 1503:5-22. [PMID: 34403146 DOI: 10.1111/nyas.14668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2021] [Revised: 06/22/2021] [Accepted: 07/02/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Different cellular mechanisms contribute to osteocyte development. And while critical roles for members of the zinc finger protein SNAI family (SNAIs) have been discussed in cancer-related models, there are few reviews summarizing their importance for chondrocyte-to-osteocyte development. To help fill this gap, we review the roles of SNAIs in the development of mature osteocytes from chondrocytes, including the regulation of chondro- and osteogenesis through different signaling pathways and in programmed cell death. We also discuss how epigenetic factors-including DNA methylation, histone methylation and acetylation, and noncoding RNAs-contribute differently to both chondrocyte and osteocyte development. To better grasp the important roles of SNAIs in bone development, we also review genotype-phenotype correlations in different animal models. We end with comments about the possible importance of the SNAI family in cartilage/bone development and the potential applications for therapeutic goals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ehsan Razmara
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Amirreza Bitaraf
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Behnaz Karimi
- Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Science, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sadegh Babashah
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Tarbiat Modares University, Tehran, Iran
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14
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Yuan Y, Salinas Parra N, Chen Q, Iglesias-Bartolome R. Oncogenic Hedgehog-smoothened signaling depends on YAP1-TAZ/TEAD transcription to restrain differentiation in basal cell carcinoma. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 142:65-76.e7. [PMID: 34293352 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2021] [Revised: 06/09/2021] [Accepted: 06/10/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Disruption of the transcriptional activity of the Hippo pathway members YAP1 and TAZ has become a major target for cancer treatment. However, detailed analysis of the effectivity and networks affected by YAP1/TAZ transcriptional targeting are limited. Here, we utilize TEADi, an inhibitor of the binding of YAP1 and TAZ with their main transcriptional target TEAD in a mouse model of basal cell carcinoma (BCC) to unveil the consequences of YAP1/TAZ transcriptional inhibition in cancer cells. Both TEADi and YAP1/TAZ knockdown lead to reduced proliferation and increased differentiation of mouse BCC driven by oncogenic Hedgehog-Smoothened (SmoM2) activity. While TEAD transcriptional networks were essential to inactivate differentiation in BCC, this inactivation was found to be indirect and potentially mediated through the repression of KLF4 by SNAI2. By comparing the transcriptional effects of TEADi with those caused by YAP1/TAZ depletion, we determined YAP1/TAZ TEAD-independent effects in cancer cells that impact STAT3 and NF-κB. Our results reveal the gene networks affected by targeting YAP1/TAZ-TEAD in BCC tumors and expose potential pitfalls for targeting TEAD transcription in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Yuan
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Natalia Salinas Parra
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Qianming Chen
- The Affiliated Stomatology Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Ramiro Iglesias-Bartolome
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA.
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15
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Jackson-Weaver O, Ungvijanpunya N, Yuan Y, Qian J, Gou Y, Wu J, Shen H, Chen Y, Li M, Richard S, Chai Y, Sucov HM, Xu J. PRMT1-p53 Pathway Controls Epicardial EMT and Invasion. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107739. [PMID: 32521264 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107739] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Epicardial cells are cardiac progenitors that give rise to the majority of cardiac fibroblasts, coronary smooth muscle cells, and pericytes during development. An integral phase of epicardial fate transition is epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) that confers motility. We uncover an essential role for the protein arginine methyltransferase 1 (PRMT1) in epicardial invasion and differentiation. Using scRNA-seq, we show that epicardial-specific deletion of Prmt1 reduced matrix and ribosomal gene expression in epicardial-derived cell lineages. PRMT1 regulates splicing of Mdm4, which is a key controller of p53 stability. Loss of PRMT1 leads to accumulation of p53 that enhances Slug degradation and blocks EMT. During heart development, the PRMT1-p53 pathway is required for epicardial invasion and formation of epicardial-derived lineages: cardiac fibroblasts, coronary smooth muscle cells, and pericytes. Consequently, this pathway modulates ventricular morphogenesis and coronary vessel formation. Altogether, our study reveals molecular mechanisms involving the PRMT1-p53 pathway and establish its roles in heart development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olan Jackson-Weaver
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Trauma & Critical Care Education Division, Tulane School of Medicine, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA, USA
| | - Nicha Ungvijanpunya
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yuan Yuan
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jiang Qian
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yongchao Gou
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; College of Stomatology, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China; Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jian Wu
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hua Shen
- Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Yibu Chen
- Norris Medical Library, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Meng Li
- Norris Medical Library, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Stéphane Richard
- Segal Cancer Center, Bloomfield Center for Research on Aging, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Departments of Oncology and Medicine, McGill University, Montréal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Yang Chai
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Henry M Sucov
- Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Jian Xu
- Center for Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Center for Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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16
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Zhang M, Hoyle RG, Ma Z, Sun B, Cai W, Cai H, Xie N, Zhang Y, Hou J, Liu X, Chen D, Kellogg GE, Harada H, Sun Y, Wang C, Li J. FOSL1 promotes metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma through super-enhancer-driven transcription program. Mol Ther 2021; 29:2583-2600. [PMID: 33794365 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.03.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2020] [Revised: 12/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Previously, we discovered that FOSL1 facilitates the metastasis of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) cancer stem cells in a spontaneous mouse model. However, the molecular mechanisms remained unclear. Here, we demonstrated that FOSL1 serves as the dominant activating protein 1 (AP1) family member and is significantly upregulated in HNSCC tumor tissues and correlated with metastasis of HNSCC. Mechanistically, FOSL1 exerts its function in promoting tumorigenicity and metastasis predominantly via selective association with Mediators to establish super-enhancers (SEs) at a cohort of cancer stemness and pro-metastatic genes, such as SNAI2 and FOSL1 itself. Depletion of FOSL1 led to disruption of SEs and expression inhibition of these key oncogenes, which resulted in the suppression of tumor initiation and metastasis. We also revealed that the abundance of FOSL1 is positively associated with the abundance of SNAI2 in HNSCC and the high expression levels of FOSL1 and SNAI2 are associated with short overall disease-free survival. Finally, the administration of the FOSL1 inhibitor SR11302 significantly suppressed tumor growth and lymph node metastasis of HNSCC in a patient-derived xenograft model. These findings indicate that FOSL1 is a master regulator that promotes the metastasis of HNSCC through a SE-driven transcription program that may represent an attractive target for therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ming Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Rosalie G Hoyle
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA
| | - Zhikun Ma
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA
| | - Bo Sun
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA
| | - Weixin Cai
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA
| | - Hongshi Cai
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Nan Xie
- Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China; Department of Oral Pathology, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China
| | - Yadong Zhang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jinsong Hou
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Xiqiang Liu
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Demeng Chen
- Center for Translational Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Glen E Kellogg
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA; Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA
| | - Hisashi Harada
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA; Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA; Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA
| | - Yue Sun
- Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA; Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA; Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA
| | - Cheng Wang
- Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Hospital of Stomatology, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510055, China; Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Jiong Li
- Department of Medicinal Chemistry, School of Pharmacy, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA; Institute for Structural Biology, Drug Discovery and Development, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA; Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA; Department of Oral and Craniofacial Molecular Biology, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA; Philips Institute for Oral Health Research, School of Dentistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA 23298-0540, USA.
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17
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Champion M, Chiquet J, Neuvial P, Elati M, Radvanyi F, Birmelé E. Identification of deregulation mechanisms specific to cancer subtypes. J Bioinform Comput Biol 2021; 19:2140003. [PMID: 33653235 DOI: 10.1142/s0219720021400035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
In many cancers, mechanisms of gene regulation can be severely altered. Identification of deregulated genes, which do not follow the regulation processes that exist between transcription factors and their target genes, is of importance to better understand the development of the disease. We propose a methodology to detect deregulation mechanisms with a particular focus on cancer subtypes. This strategy is based on the comparison between tumoral and healthy cells. First, we use gene expression data from healthy cells to infer a reference gene regulatory network. Then, we compare it with gene expression levels in tumor samples to detect deregulated target genes. We finally measure the ability of each transcription factor to explain these deregulations. We apply our method on a public bladder cancer data set derived from The Cancer Genome Atlas project and confirm that it captures hallmarks of cancer subtypes. We also show that it enables the discovery of new potential biomarkers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Julien Chiquet
- Université Paris Saclay, AgroParisTech, INRAE, UMR MIA-Paris, Paris, France
| | - Pierre Neuvial
- Institut de Mathématiques de Toulouse, UMR 5219, Université de Toulouse, CNRS, France
| | - Mohamed Elati
- CANTHER, University of Lille, CNRS UMR 1277, Inserm U9020, 59045 Lille cedex, France
| | - François Radvanyi
- Institut Curie, PSL Research University, CNRS, UMR144, Paris, France
| | - Etienne Birmelé
- Université de Paris, CNRS, MAP5 UMR8145, Paris, France.,Institut de Recherche Mathématique Avancée, UMR 7501 Université de Strasbourg, CNRS, Strasbourg, France
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18
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Subbalakshmi AR, Sahoo S, Biswas K, Jolly MK. A Computational Systems Biology Approach Identifies SLUG as a Mediator of Partial Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT). Cells Tissues Organs 2021; 211:689-702. [PMID: 33567424 DOI: 10.1159/000512520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2020] [Accepted: 10/19/2020] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity comprises reversible transitions among epithelial, hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal (E/M) and mesenchymal phenotypes, and underlies various aspects of aggressive tumor progression such as metastasis, therapy resistance, and immune evasion. The process of cells attaining one or more hybrid E/M phenotypes is termed as partial epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT). Cells in hybrid E/M phenotype(s) can be more aggressive than those in either fully epithelial or mesenchymal state. Thus, identifying regulators of hybrid E/M phenotypes is essential to decipher the rheostats of phenotypic plasticity and consequent accelerators of metastasis. Here, using a computational systems biology approach, we demonstrate that SLUG (SNAIL2) - an EMT-inducing transcription factor - can inhibit cells from undergoing a complete EMT and thus stabilize them in hybrid E/M phenotype(s). It expands the parametric range enabling the existence of a hybrid E/M phenotype, thereby behaving as a phenotypic stability factor. Our simulations suggest that this specific property of SLUG emerges from the topology of the regulatory network it forms with other key regulators of epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity. Clinical data suggest that SLUG associates with worse patient prognosis across multiple carcinomas. Together, our results indicate that SLUG can stabilize hybrid E/M phenotype(s).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayalur R Subbalakshmi
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Sarthak Sahoo
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India
| | - Kuheli Biswas
- Department of Physical Sciences, Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Kolkata, India
| | - Mohit Kumar Jolly
- Centre for BioSystems Science and Engineering, Indian Institute of Science, Bangalore, India,
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19
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Ben Brahim C, Courageux C, Jolly A, Ouine B, Cartier A, de la Grange P, de Koning L, Leroy P. Proliferation Genes Repressed by TGF-β Are Downstream of Slug/Snail2 in Normal Bronchial Epithelial Progenitors and Are Deregulated in COPD. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 17:703-718. [PMID: 33495975 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-021-10123-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Slug/Snail2 belongs to the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)-inducing transcription factors involved in development and diseases. Slug is expressed in adult stem/progenitor cells of several epithelia, making it unique among these transcription factors. To investigate Slug role in human bronchial epithelium progenitors, we studied primary bronchial basal/progenitor cells in an air-liquid interface culture system that allows regenerating a bronchial epithelium. To identify Slug downstream genes we knocked down Slug in basal/progenitor cells from normal subjects and subjects with COPD, a respiratory disease presenting anomalies in the bronchial epithelium and high levels of TGF-β in the lungs. We show that normal and COPD bronchial basal/progenitors, even when treated with TGF-β, express both epithelial and mesenchymal markers, and that the epithelial marker E-cadherin is not a target of Slug and, moreover, positively correlates with Slug. We reveal that Slug downstream genes responding to both differentiation and TGF-β are different in normal and COPD progenitors, with in particular a set of proliferation-related genes that are among the genes repressed downstream of Slug in normal but not COPD. In COPD progenitors at the onset of differentiation in presence of TGF-β,we show that there is positive correlations between the effect of differentiation and TGF-β on proliferation-related genes and on Slug protein, and that their expression levels are higher than in normal cells. As well, the expression of Smad3 and β-Catenin, two molecules from TGF-βsignaling pathways, are higher in COPD progenitors, and our results indicate that proliferation-related genes and Slug protein are increased by different TGF-β-induced mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chamseddine Ben Brahim
- INSERM UMR1152, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Respiratory Diseases, Paris, France
- Faculty of Medicine, Paris Diderot University, Bichat Campus, Paris, France
| | - Charlotte Courageux
- INSERM UMR1152, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Respiratory Diseases, Paris, France
- Faculty of Medicine, Paris Diderot University, Bichat Campus, Paris, France
| | | | - Bérengère Ouine
- Institut Curie, Department of Translational Research, RPPA platform, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Aurélie Cartier
- Institut Curie, Department of Translational Research, RPPA platform, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | | | - Leanne de Koning
- Institut Curie, Department of Translational Research, RPPA platform, PSL Research University, Paris, France
| | - Pascale Leroy
- INSERM UMR1152, Physiopathology and Epidemiology of Respiratory Diseases, Paris, France.
- Faculty of Medicine, Paris Diderot University, Bichat Campus, Paris, France.
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20
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Pomella S, Sreenivas P, Gryder BE, Wang L, Milewski D, Cassandri M, Baxi K, Hensch NR, Carcarino E, Song Y, Chou HC, Yohe ME, Stanton BZ, Amadio B, Caruana I, De Stefanis C, De Vito R, Locatelli F, Chen Y, Chen EY, Houghton P, Khan J, Rota R, Ignatius MS. Interaction between SNAI2 and MYOD enhances oncogenesis and suppresses differentiation in Fusion Negative Rhabdomyosarcoma. Nat Commun 2021; 12:192. [PMID: 33420019 PMCID: PMC7794422 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-20386-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 11/26/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS) is an aggressive pediatric malignancy of the muscle, that includes Fusion Positive (FP)-RMS harboring PAX3/7-FOXO1 and Fusion Negative (FN)-RMS commonly with RAS pathway mutations. RMS express myogenic master transcription factors MYOD and MYOG yet are unable to terminally differentiate. Here, we report that SNAI2 is highly expressed in FN-RMS, is oncogenic, blocks myogenic differentiation, and promotes growth. MYOD activates SNAI2 transcription via super enhancers with striped 3D contact architecture. Genome wide chromatin binding analysis demonstrates that SNAI2 preferentially binds enhancer elements and competes with MYOD at a subset of myogenic enhancers required for terminal differentiation. SNAI2 also suppresses expression of a muscle differentiation program modulated by MYOG, MEF2, and CDKN1A. Further, RAS/MEK-signaling modulates SNAI2 levels and binding to chromatin, suggesting that the differentiation blockade by oncogenic RAS is mediated in part by SNAI2. Thus, an interplay between SNAI2, MYOD, and RAS prevents myogenic differentiation and promotes tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Silvia Pomella
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Prethish Sreenivas
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | | | - Long Wang
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | | | - Matteo Cassandri
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Kunal Baxi
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Nicole R Hensch
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Elena Carcarino
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Young Song
- Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | | | - Marielle E Yohe
- Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - Benjamin Z Stanton
- Center for Childhood Cancer and Blood Diseases, Abigail Wexner Research Institute at Nationwide Children's Hospital, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, 43205, USA
| | - Bruno Amadio
- SAFU Laboratory, Translational Research Area, Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Ignazio Caruana
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Rita De Vito
- Department of Pathology Unit, Department of Laboratories, Bambino Gesu' Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy
- Departmentof Pediatrics, Sapienza University of Rome, Rome, Italy
| | - Yidong Chen
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Eleanor Y Chen
- Department of Pathology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
| | - Peter Houghton
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA
| | - Javed Khan
- Genetics Branch, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - Rossella Rota
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, Rome, Italy.
| | - Myron S Ignatius
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, Department of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Sciences Center, San Antonio, Texas, USA.
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21
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Doshida Y, Sano H, Iwabuchi S, Aigaki T, Yoshida M, Hashimoto S, Ishigami A. Age-associated changes in the transcriptomes of non-cultured adipose-derived stem cells from young and old mice assessed via single-cell transcriptome analysis. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0242171. [PMID: 33237970 PMCID: PMC7688117 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0242171] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Adipose-derived stem cells (ASCs) exhibit self-renewal and pluripotency. The differentiation potency of ASCs has been reported to deteriorate with aging; however, relevant studies used ASCs that were isolated and subcultured several times. It is still unclear whether subcultured ASCs accurately reflect the in vivo state. To address this question, we used freshly isolated stromal vascular fractions (SVFs) and performed comprehensive single-cell transcriptome analysis. In this study, we identified three cell populations as putative ASC candidates in SVFs and three novel ASC-related genes: Adamts7, Snai2, and Tgfbr1, that are reported to be negative regulators of cell differentiation. Moreover, we identified age-associated high gene expression levels of Adamts7, Egfr, and Igfbp4 in the earliest differentiation stage of ASCs. These results suggest that aging may make it impossible to maintain the stringency of the regulation of the expression of some genes related to ASC differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuta Doshida
- Molecular Regulation of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Haruka Sano
- Molecular Regulation of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Life Science and Bioethics, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Sadahiro Iwabuchi
- Department of Molecular Pathophysiology, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Toshiro Aigaki
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Masayuki Yoshida
- Department of Life Science and Bioethics, Graduate School of Medicine, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shinichi Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Pathophysiology, Institute of Advanced Medicine, Wakayama Medical University, Wakayama, Japan
| | - Akihito Ishigami
- Molecular Regulation of Aging, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology, Tokyo, Japan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Metropolitan University, Tokyo, Japan
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22
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Li J, Bansal V, Tiwari M, Chen Y, Sen GL. ELL Facilitates RNA Polymerase II-Mediated Transcription of Human Epidermal Proliferation Genes. J Invest Dermatol 2020; 141:1352-1356.e3. [PMID: 33157094 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.09.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 09/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jingting Li
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Varun Bansal
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Manisha Tiwari
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Yifang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - George L Sen
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
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23
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Slug regulates the Dll4-Notch-VEGFR2 axis to control endothelial cell activation and angiogenesis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5400. [PMID: 33106502 PMCID: PMC7588439 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-18633-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2018] [Accepted: 09/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Slug (SNAI2), a member of the well-conserved Snail family of transcription factors, has multiple developmental roles, including in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we show that Slug is critical for the pathological angiogenesis needed to sustain tumor growth, and transiently necessary for normal developmental angiogenesis. We find that Slug upregulation in angiogenic endothelial cells (EC) regulates an EMT-like suite of target genes, and suppresses Dll4-Notch signaling thereby promoting VEGFR2 expression. Both EC-specific Slug re-expression and reduced Notch signaling, either by γ-secretase inhibition or loss of Dll4, rescue retinal angiogenesis in SlugKO mice. Conversely, inhibition of VEGF signaling prevents excessive angiogenic sprouting of Slug overexpressing EC. Finally, endothelial Slug (but not Snail) is activated by the pro-angiogenic factor SDF1α via its canonical receptor CXCR4 and the MAP kinase ERK5. Altogether, our data support a critical role for Slug in determining the angiogenic response during development and disease. Slug supports heart development and tumor metastasis, but its role in blood vessel formation is less clear. Here the authors show that endothelial cell-expressed Slug regulates both physiologic and pathological angiogenesis, at least in part through the modulation of Notch signalling.
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24
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Egolf S, Aubert Y, Doepner M, Anderson A, Maldonado-Lopez A, Pacella G, Lee J, Ko EK, Zou J, Lan Y, Simpson CL, Ridky T, Capell BC. LSD1 Inhibition Promotes Epithelial Differentiation through Derepression of Fate-Determining Transcription Factors. Cell Rep 2020; 28:1981-1992.e7. [PMID: 31433976 PMCID: PMC6719800 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.07.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2019] [Revised: 04/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/17/2019] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Self-renewing somatic tissues depend upon the proper balance of chromatin-modifying enzymes to coordinate progenitor cell maintenance and differentiation, disruption of which can promote carcinogenesis. As a result, drugs targeting the epigenome hold significant therapeutic potential. The histone demethylase, LSD1 (KDM1A), is overexpressed in numerous cancers, including epithelial cancers; however, its role in the skin is virtually unknown. Here we show that LSD1 directly represses master epithelial transcription factors that promote differentiation. LSD1 inhibitors block both LSD1 binding to chromatin and its catalytic activity, driving significant increases in H3K4 methylation and gene transcription of these fate-determining transcription factors. This leads to both premature epidermal differentiation and the repression of squamous cell carcinoma. Together these data highlight both LSD1’s role in maintaining the epidermal progenitor state and the potential of LSD1 inhibitors for the treatment of keratinocyte cancers, which collectively outnumber all other cancers combined. Egolf et al. demonstrate that inhibition of the epigenetic regulator and histone demethylase, LSD1, promotes activation of the epidermal differentiation transcriptional program and, in turn, represses the invasion of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, one of the most common of all human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaun Egolf
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yann Aubert
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Miriam Doepner
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Amy Anderson
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Alexandra Maldonado-Lopez
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Gina Pacella
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jessica Lee
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Eun Kyung Ko
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jonathan Zou
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Yemin Lan
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Cory L Simpson
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Todd Ridky
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Brian C Capell
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Dermatology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Genetics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Abramson Cancer Center, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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25
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Stern JL, Hibshman G, Hu K, Ferrara SE, Costello JC, Kim W, Tamayo P, Cech TR, Huang FW. Mesenchymal and MAPK Expression Signatures Associate with Telomerase Promoter Mutations in Multiple Cancers. Mol Cancer Res 2020; 18:1050-1062. [PMID: 32276990 PMCID: PMC8020009 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-19-1244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2019] [Revised: 01/29/2020] [Accepted: 04/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
In a substantial fraction of cancers TERT promoter (TERTp) mutations drive expression of the catalytic subunit of telomerase, contributing to their proliferative immortality. We conducted a pan-cancer analysis of cell lines and find a TERTp mutation expression signature dominated by epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and MAPK signaling. These data indicate that TERTp mutants are likely to generate distinctive tumor microenvironments and intercellular interactions. Analysis of high-throughput screening tests of 546 small molecules on cell line growth indicated that TERTp mutants displayed heightened sensitivity to specific drugs, including RAS pathway inhibitors, and we found that inhibition of MEK1 and 2, key RAS/MAPK pathway effectors, inhibited TERT mRNA expression. Consistent with an enrichment of mesenchymal states in TERTp mutants, cell lines and some patient tumors displayed low expression of the central adherens junction protein E-cadherin, and we provide evidence that its expression in these cells is regulated by MEK1/2. Several mesenchymal transcription factors displayed elevated expression in TERTp mutants including ZEB1 and 2, TWIST1 and 2, and SNAI1. Of note, the developmental transcription factor SNAI2/SLUG was conspicuously elevated in a significant majority of TERTp-mutant cell lines, and knock-down experiments suggest that it promotes TERT expression. IMPLICATIONS: Cancers harboring TERT promoter mutations are often more lethal, but the basis for this higher mortality remains unknown. Our study identifies that TERTp mutants, as a class, associate with a distinct gene and protein expression signature likely to impact their biological and clinical behavior and provide new directions for investigating treatment approaches for these cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josh Lewis Stern
- BioFrontiers Institute and the Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of
- Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, O'Neal Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama
| | - Grace Hibshman
- BioFrontiers Institute and the Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of
| | - Kevin Hu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Cancer Center; Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, Institute of Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California
| | - Sarah E Ferrara
- University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | - James C Costello
- University of Colorado, Anschutz Medical Campus, Department of Pharmacology, University of Colorado Comprehensive Cancer Center, Aurora, Colorado
| | - William Kim
- Division of Medical Genetics and Center for Cancer Target Discovery and Development (CTD), Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Pablo Tamayo
- Division of Medical Genetics and Center for Cancer Target Discovery and Development (CTD), Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.
| | - Thomas R Cech
- BioFrontiers Institute and the Department of Biochemistry, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of
| | - Franklin W Huang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Cancer Center; Bakar Computational Health Sciences Institute, Institute of Human Genetics, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
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26
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Jones J, Chen Y, Tiwari M, Li J, Ling J, Sen GL. KLF3 Mediates Epidermal Differentiation through the Epigenomic Writer CBP. iScience 2020; 23:101320. [PMID: 32659720 PMCID: PMC7358749 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/10/2019] [Revised: 06/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Impairments in the differentiation process can lead to skin diseases that can afflict ∼20% of the population. Thus, it is of utmost importance to understand the factors that promote the differentiation process. Here we identify the transcription factor KLF3 as a regulator of epidermal differentiation. Knockdown of KLF3 results in reduced differentiation gene expression and increased cell cycle gene expression. Over half of KLF3's genomic binding sites occur at active enhancers. KLF3 binds to active enhancers proximal to differentiation genes that are dependent upon KLF3 for expression. KLF3's genomic binding sites also highly overlaps with CBP, a histone acetyltransferase necessary for activating enhancers. Depletion of KLF3 causes reduced CBP localization at enhancers proximal to differentiation gene clusters, which leads to loss of enhancer activation but not priming. Our results suggest that KLF3 is necessary to recruit CBP to activate enhancers and drive epidermal differentiation gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Jones
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - Yifang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - Manisha Tiwari
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - Jingting Li
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - Ji Ling
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - George L Sen
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, 9500 Gilman Drive, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA.
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27
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Zheng J, Yun W, Park J, Kang PJ, Lee G, Song G, Kim IY, You S. Long-term expansion of directly reprogrammed keratinocyte-like cells and in vitro reconstitution of human skin. J Biomed Sci 2020; 27:56. [PMID: 32312260 PMCID: PMC7171822 DOI: 10.1186/s12929-020-00642-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/26/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Human keratinocytes and derived products are crucial for skin repair and regeneration. Despite substantial advances in engineered skin equivalents, their poor availability and immunorejection remain major challenges in skin grafting. Methods Induced keratinocyte-like cells (iKCs) were directly reprogrammed from human urine cells by retroviral transduction of two lineage-specific transcription factors BMI1 and △NP63α (BN). Expression of keratinocyte stem cell or their differentiation markers were assessed by PCR, immunofluorescence and RNA-Sequencing. Regeneration capacity of iKCs were assessed by reconstitution of a human skin equivalent under air-interface condition. Results BN-driven iKCs were similar to primary keratinocytes (pKCs) in terms of their morphology, protein expression, differentiation potential, and global gene expression. Moreover, BN-iKCs self-assembled to form stratified skin equivalents in vitro. Conclusions This study demonstrated an approach to generate human iKCs that could be directly reprogrammed from human somatic cells and extensively expanded in serum- and feeder cell-free systems, which will facilitate their broad applicability in an efficient and patient-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Zheng
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Wonjin Yun
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Junghyun Park
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Phil Jun Kang
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.,Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea
| | - Gilju Lee
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Korea University Guro Hospital, Seoul, 08308, Republic of Korea
| | - Gwonhwa Song
- Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - In Yong Kim
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
| | - Seungkwon You
- Laboratory of Cell Function Regulation, Department of Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea. .,Institute of Animal Molecular Biotechnology, College of Life Sciences and Biotechnology, Korea University, Seoul, 02841, Republic of Korea.
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28
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Jevtić M, Löwa A, Nováčková A, Kováčik A, Kaessmeyer S, Erdmann G, Vávrová K, Hedtrich S. Impact of intercellular crosstalk between epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts on skin homeostasis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-MOLECULAR CELL RESEARCH 2020; 1867:118722. [PMID: 32302667 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbamcr.2020.118722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 04/09/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
Dermal fibroblasts seem critical for epidermal maturation and differentiation and recent work demonstrated that diseased fibroblasts may drive pathophysiological processes. Nevertheless, still very little is known about the actual crosstalk between epidermal keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts and the impact of dermal fibroblasts on epidermal maturation and differentiation. Aiming for a more fundamental understanding of the impact of the cellular crosstalk between keratinocytes and fibroblasts on the skin homeostasis, we generated full-thickness skin equivalents with and without fibroblasts and subsequently analysed them for the expression of skin differentiation markers, their barrier function, skin lipid content and epidermal cell signalling. Skin equivalents without fibroblasts consistently showed an impaired differentiation and dysregulated expression of skin barrier and tight junction proteins, increased skin permeability, and a decreased skin lipid/protein ratio. Most interestingly, impaired Ras/Raf/ERK/MEK signalling was evident in skin equivalents without fibroblasts. Our data clearly indicate that the epidermal-dermal crosstalk between keratinocytes and fibroblasts is critical for adequate skin differentiation and that fibroblasts orchestrate epidermal differentiation processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marijana Jevtić
- Institute for Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Löwa
- Institute for Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
| | - Anna Nováčková
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Czech Republic
| | - Andrej Kováčik
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Czech Republic
| | - Sabine Kaessmeyer
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, Institute for Veterinary Anatomy, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Kateřina Vávrová
- Skin Barrier Research Group, Faculty of Pharmacy in Hradec Králové, Charles University, Czech Republic
| | - Sarah Hedtrich
- Institute for Pharmacy, Pharmacology and Toxicology, Freie Universität Berlin, Germany; Faculty of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada.
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29
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Jones J, Chen Y, Tiwari M, Li J, Ling J, Sen GL. BRD4 Is Necessary for Differentiation Downstream of Epidermal Lineage-Determining Transcription Factors. J Invest Dermatol 2020; 140:2077-2081.e5. [PMID: 32142793 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2020.01.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2019] [Revised: 01/17/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Jackson Jones
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Yifang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Manisha Tiwari
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Jingting Li
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Ji Ling
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - George L Sen
- Department of Dermatology, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA.
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30
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Li D, Kishta MS, Wang J. Regulation of pluripotency and reprogramming by RNA binding proteins. Curr Top Dev Biol 2020; 138:113-138. [PMID: 32220295 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2020.01.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Embryonic stem cells have the capacities of self-renewal and pluripotency. Pluripotency establishment (somatic cell reprogramming), maintenance, and execution (differentiation) require orchestrated regulatory mechanisms of a cell's molecular machinery, including signaling pathways, epigenetics, transcription, translation, and protein degradation. RNA binding proteins (RBPs) take part in every process of RNA regulation and recent studies began to address their important functions in the regulation of pluripotency and reprogramming. Here, we discuss the roles of RBPs in key regulatory steps in the control of pluripotency and reprogramming. Among RNA binding proteins are a group of RNA helicases that are responsible for RNA structure remodeling with important functional implications. We highlight the largest family of RNA helicases, DDX (DEAD-box) helicase family and our current understanding of their functions specifically in the regulation of pluripotency and reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dan Li
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology; The Black Family Stem Cell Institute; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States
| | - Mohamed S Kishta
- Hormones Department, Medical Research Division, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt; Stem Cell Lab., Center of Excellence for Advanced Sciences, National Research Centre, Cairo, Egypt; Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jianlong Wang
- Department of Cell, Developmental and Regenerative Biology; The Black Family Stem Cell Institute; Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; The Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, New York, NY, United States; Department of Medicine, Columbia Center for Human Development, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, United States.
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Zhuang Z, Yu P, Xie N, Wu Y, Liu H, Zhang M, Tao Y, Wang W, Yin H, Zou B, Hou J, Liu X, Li J, Huang H, Wang C. MicroRNA-204-5p is a tumor suppressor and potential therapeutic target in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. Am J Cancer Res 2020; 10:1433-1453. [PMID: 31938073 PMCID: PMC6956807 DOI: 10.7150/thno.38507] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2019] [Accepted: 11/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Elucidation of the molecular mechanisms governing aggressiveness of HNSCC may provide clinical therapeutic strategies for patients. In this study, a novel hub miR-204-5p functioning as tumor suppressor has been identified and explored in HNSCC. Methods: A novel hub miR-204-5p was identified based on miRNA microarray, bioinformatics analysis and validated in different HNSCC patient cohorts. The functional role of miR-204-5p and its downstream and upstream regulatory machinery were investigated by gain-of-function and loss-of-function assays in vitro and in vivo. Interactions among miR-204-5p and SNAI2/SUZ12/HDAC1/STAT3 complex were examined by a series of molecular biology experiments. Then, the clinical relevance of miR-204-5p and its targets were evaluated in HNSCC samples. HNSCC patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model was used to assess the therapeutic value of miR-204-5p. Results: We reveal that miR-204-5p as a tumor suppressor is commonly repressed in HNSCC, which can inhibit tumor growth, metastasis and stemness. Mechanically, miR-204-5p suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and STAT3 signaling by targeting SNAI2, SUZ12, HDAC1 and JAK2. Among these targets, we further showed that SNAI2, SUZ12, and HDAC1 form a repressive complex on CDH1 promoter to maintain EMT in HNSCC. In turn, the SNAI2/SUZ12/HDAC1 complex interacts with STAT3 on miR-204-5p-regulatory regions to suppress the transcription of miR-204-5p. Moreover, we also show that decrease of miR-204-5p indicates a poor prognosis in HNSCC patients and administration of agomiR-204-5p inhibits tumor growth and metastasis in HNSCC PDX models. Conclusion: miR-204-5p-SNAI2/SUZ12/HDAC1/STAT3 regulatory circuit has a critical role in maintaining aggressiveness of HNSCC, suggesting that miR-204-5p might serve as a promising therapeutic target for clinical intervention.
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Zhou W, Gross KM, Kuperwasser C. Molecular regulation of Snai2 in development and disease. J Cell Sci 2019; 132:132/23/jcs235127. [PMID: 31792043 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.235127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The transcription factor Snai2, encoded by the SNAI2 gene, is an evolutionarily conserved C2H2 zinc finger protein that orchestrates biological processes critical to tissue development and tumorigenesis. Initially characterized as a prototypical epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) transcription factor, Snai2 has been shown more recently to participate in a wider variety of biological processes, including tumor metastasis, stem and/or progenitor cell biology, cellular differentiation, vascular remodeling and DNA damage repair. The main role of Snai2 in controlling such processes involves facilitating the epigenetic regulation of transcriptional programs, and, as such, its dysregulation manifests in developmental defects, disruption of tissue homeostasis, and other disease conditions. Here, we discuss our current understanding of the molecular mechanisms regulating Snai2 expression, abundance and activity. In addition, we outline how these mechanisms contribute to disease phenotypes or how they may impact rational therapeutic targeting of Snai2 dysregulation in human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhui Zhou
- Department of Developmental, Molecular & Chemical Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111, USA.,Raymond and Beverly Sackler Convergence Laboratory, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Kayla M Gross
- Department of Developmental, Molecular & Chemical Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111, USA.,Raymond and Beverly Sackler Convergence Laboratory, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
| | - Charlotte Kuperwasser
- Department of Developmental, Molecular & Chemical Biology, Sackler School of Graduate Biomedical Sciences, Boston, MA 02111, USA .,Raymond and Beverly Sackler Convergence Laboratory, Tufts University School of Medicine, Boston, MA 02111, USA
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Agbo KC, Huang JZ, Ghaleb AM, Williams JL, Shroyer KR, Bialkowska AB, Yang VW. Loss of the Krüppel-like factor 4 tumor suppressor is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2019; 5. [PMID: 32566755 PMCID: PMC7304562 DOI: 10.20517/2394-4722.2019.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Aim: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third leading cancer-related cause of death due to its propensity to metastasize. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a multistep process important for invasion and metastasis of CRC. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is a zinc finger transcription factor highly expressed in differentiated cells of the intestinal epithelium. KLF4 has been shown to play a tumor suppressor role during CRC tumorigenesis - its loss accelerates development and progression of cancer. The present study examined the relationship between KLF4 and markers of EMT in CRC. Methods: Immunofluorescence staining for KLF4 and EMT markers was performed on archived patient samples after colorectal cancer resection and on colonic tissues of mice with colitis-associated cancer. Results: We found that KLF4 expression is lost in tumor sections obtained from CRC patients and in those of mouse colon following azoxymethane and dextran sodium sulfate (AOM/DSS) treatment when compared to their respective normal appearing mucosa. Importantly, in CRC patient tumor sections, we observed a negative correlation between KLF4 levels and mesenchymal markers including TWIST, β-catenin, claudin-1, N-cadherin, and vimentin. Similarly, in tumor tissues from AOM/DSS-treated mice, KLF4 levels were negatively correlated with mesenchymal markers including SNAI2, β-catenin, and vimentin and positively correlated with the epithelial marker E-cadherin. Conclusion: These findings suggest that the loss of KLF4 expression is a potentially significant indicator of EMT in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kimberley C Agbo
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jessie Z Huang
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Amr M Ghaleb
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Jennie L Williams
- Department of Family, Population and Preventive Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Kenneth R Shroyer
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Agnieszka B Bialkowska
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Vincent W Yang
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.,Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University School of Medicine, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
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Szeder B, Tárnoki-Zách J, Lakatos D, Vas V, Kudlik G, Merő B, Koprivanacz K, Bányai L, Hámori L, Róna G, Czirók A, Füredi A, Buday AL. Absence of the Tks4 Scaffold Protein Induces Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition-Like Changes in Human Colon Cancer Cells. Cells 2019; 8:cells8111343. [PMID: 31671862 PMCID: PMC6912613 DOI: 10.3390/cells8111343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 10/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/25/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a multipurpose process involved in wound healing, development, and certain pathological processes, such as metastasis formation. The Tks4 scaffold protein has been implicated in cancer progression; however, its role in oncogenesis is not well defined. In this study, the function of Tks4 was investigated in HCT116 colon cancer cells by knocking the protein out using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. Surprisingly, the absence of Tks4 induced significant changes in cell morphology, motility, adhesion and expression, and localization of E-cadherin, which are all considered as hallmarks of EMT. In agreement with these findings, the marked appearance of fibronectin, a marker of the mesenchymal phenotype, was also observed in Tks4-KO cells. Analysis of the expression of well-known EMT transcription factors revealed that Snail2 was strongly overexpressed in cells lacking Tks4. Tks4-KO cells showed increased motility and decreased cell–cell attachment. Collagen matrix invasion assays demonstrated the abundance of invasive solitary cells. Finally, the reintroduction of Tks4 protein in the Tks4-KO cells restored the expression levels of relevant key transcription factors, suggesting that the Tks4 scaffold protein has a specific and novel role in EMT regulation and cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bálint Szeder
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Júlia Tárnoki-Zách
- Department of Biological Physics, Eötvös University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Dóra Lakatos
- Department of Biological Physics, Eötvös University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Virág Vas
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gyöngyi Kudlik
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Balázs Merő
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Kitti Koprivanacz
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - László Bányai
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Lilla Hámori
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
| | - Gergely Róna
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA.
| | - András Czirók
- Department of Biological Physics, Eötvös University, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Kansas Medical Center, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
- University of Kansas Cancer Centre, Kansas City, KS 66160, USA.
| | - András Füredi
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
- Institute of Cancer Research, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
| | - And László Buday
- Institute of Enzymology, Research Centre for Natural Sciences, Hungarian Academy of Sciences, 1117 Budapest, Hungary.
- Department of Medical Chemistry, Semmelweis University Medical School, 1094 Budapest, Hungary.
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IRF2 is a master regulator of human keratinocyte stem cell fate. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4676. [PMID: 31611556 PMCID: PMC6791852 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12559-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Resident adult epithelial stem cells maintain tissue homeostasis by balancing self-renewal and differentiation. The stem cell potential of human epidermal keratinocytes is retained in vitro but lost over time suggesting extrinsic and intrinsic regulation. Transcription factor-controlled regulatory circuitries govern cell identity, are sufficient to induce pluripotency and transdifferentiate cells. We investigate whether transcriptional circuitry also governs phenotypic changes within a given cell type by comparing human primary keratinocytes with intrinsically high versus low stem cell potential. Using integrated chromatin and transcriptional profiling, we implicate IRF2 as antagonistic to stemness and show that it binds and regulates active cis-regulatory elements at interferon response and antigen presentation genes. CRISPR-KD of IRF2 in keratinocytes with low stem cell potential increases self-renewal, migration and epidermis formation. These data demonstrate that transcription factor regulatory circuitries, in addition to maintaining cell identity, control plasticity within cell types and offer potential for therapeutic modulation of cell function. Epidermal homeostasis requires long term stem cell function. Here, the authors apply transcriptional circuitry analysis based on integrated epigenomic profiling of primary human keratinocytes with high and low stem cell function to identify IRF2 as a negative regulator of stemness.
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Swain SD, Grifka-Walk HN, Gripentrog J, Lehmann M, Deuling B, Jenkins B, Liss H, Blaseg N, Bimczok D, Kominsky DJ. Slug and Snail have differential effects in directing colonic epithelial wound healing and partially mediate the restitutive effects of butyrate. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2019; 317:G531-G544. [PMID: 31393789 PMCID: PMC6842986 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00071.2019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Restitution of wounds in colonic epithelium is essential in the maintenance of health. Microbial products, such as the short-chain fatty acid butyrate, can have positive effects on wound healing. We used an in vitro model of T84 colonic epithelial cells to determine if the Snail genes Slug (SNAI2) and Snail (SNAI1), implemented in keratinocyte monolayer healing, are involved in butyrate-enhanced colonic epithelial wound healing. Using shRNA-mediated Slug/Snail knockdown, we found that knockdown of Slug (Slug-KD), but not Snail (Snail-KD), impairs wound healing in scratch assays with and without butyrate. Slug and Snail had differential effects on T84 monolayer barrier integrity, measured by transepithelial resistance, as Snail-KD impaired the barrier (with or without butyrate), whereas Slug-KD enhanced the barrier, again with or without butyrate. Targeted transcriptional analysis demonstrated differential expression of several tight junction genes, as well as focal adhesion genes. This included altered regulation of Annexin A2 and ITGB1 in Slug-KD, which was reflected in confocal microscopy, showing increased accumulation of B1-integrin protein in Slug-KD cells, which was previously shown to impair wound healing. Transcriptional analysis also indicated altered expression of genes associated with epithelial terminal differentiation, such that Slug-KD cells skewed toward overexpression of secretory cell pathway-associated genes. This included trefoil factors TFF1 and TFF3, which were expressed at lower than control levels in Snail-KD cells. Since TFFs can enhance the barrier in epithelial cells, this points to a potential mechanism of differential modulation by Snail genes. Although Snail genes are crucial in epithelial wound restitution, butyrate responses are mediated by other pathways as well.NEW & NOTEWORTHY Although butyrate can promote colonic mucosal healing, not all of its downstream pathways are understood. We show that the Snail genes Snail and Slug are mediators of butyrate responses. Furthermore, these genes, and Slug in particular, are necessary for efficient restitution of wounds and barriers in T84 epithelial cells even in the absence of butyrate. These effects are achieved in part through effects on regulation of β1 integrin and cellular differentiation state.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steve D. Swain
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
| | | | - Jeannie Gripentrog
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
| | - Margaret Lehmann
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
| | - Benjamin Deuling
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
| | - Brittany Jenkins
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
| | - Hailey Liss
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
| | - Nathan Blaseg
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
| | - Diane Bimczok
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
| | - Douglas J. Kominsky
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, Montana
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HNRNPK maintains epidermal progenitor function through transcription of proliferation genes and degrading differentiation promoting mRNAs. Nat Commun 2019; 10:4198. [PMID: 31519929 PMCID: PMC6744489 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-12238-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Maintenance of high-turnover tissues such as the epidermis requires a balance between stem cell proliferation and differentiation. The molecular mechanisms governing this process are an area of investigation. Here we show that HNRNPK, a multifunctional protein, is necessary to prevent premature differentiation and sustains the proliferative capacity of epidermal stem and progenitor cells. To prevent premature differentiation of progenitor cells, HNRNPK is necessary for DDX6 to bind a subset of mRNAs that code for transcription factors that promote differentiation. Upon binding, these mRNAs such as GRHL3, KLF4, and ZNF750 are degraded through the mRNA degradation pathway, which prevents premature differentiation. To sustain the proliferative capacity of the epidermis, HNRNPK is necessary for RNA Polymerase II binding to proliferation/self-renewal genes such as MYC, CYR61, FGFBP1, EGFR, and cyclins to promote their expression. Our study establishes a prominent role for HNRNPK in maintaining adult tissue self-renewal through both transcriptional and post-transcriptional mechanisms. Maintenance of high turnover in tissues such as epidermis requires balance between proliferation and differentiation. Here the authors show that HNRNPK promotes RNA Polymerase II binding to proliferation and self-renewal genes as well as degradation of differentiation promoting mRNAs together with DDX6 in epidermis.
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38
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Kalinkova L, Zmetakova I, Smolkova B, Minarik G, Sedlackova T, Horvathova Kajabova V, Cierna Z, Mego M, Fridrichova I. Decreased methylation in the SNAI2 and ADAM23 genes associated with de-differentiation and haematogenous dissemination in breast cancers. BMC Cancer 2018; 18:875. [PMID: 30189837 PMCID: PMC6127923 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-018-4783-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2018] [Accepted: 08/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In breast cancer (BC), deregulation of DNA methylation leads to aberrant expressions and functions of key regulatory genes. In our study, we investigated the relationship between the methylation profiles of genes associated with cancer invasivity and clinico-pathological parameters. In detail, we studied differences in the methylation levels between BC patients with haematogenous and lymphogenous cancer dissemination. METHODS We analysed samples of primary tumours (PTs), lymph node metastases (LNMs) and peripheral blood cells (PBCs) from 59 patients with sporadic disseminated BC. Evaluation of the DNA methylation levels of six genes related to invasivity, ADAM23, uPA, CXCL12, TWIST1, SNAI1 and SNAI2, was performed by pyrosequencing. RESULTS Among the cancer-specific methylated genes, we found lower methylation levels of the SNAI2 gene in histologic grade 3 tumours (OR = 0.61; 95% CI, 0.39-0.97; P = 0.038) than in fully or moderately differentiated cancers. We also evaluated the methylation profiles in patients with different cancer cell dissemination statuses (positivity for circulating tumour cells (CTCs) and/or LNMs). We detected the significant association between reduced DNA methylation of ADAM23 in PTs and presence of CTCs in the peripheral blood of patients (OR = 0.45; 95% CI, 0.23-0.90; P = 0.023). CONCLUSION The relationships between the decreased methylation levels of the SNAI2 and ADAM23 genes and cancer de-differentiation and haematogenous dissemination, respectively, indicate novel functions of those genes in the invasive processes. After experimental validation of the association between the lower values of SNAI2 and ADAM23 methylation and clinical features of aggressive BCs, these methylation profiles could improve the management of metastatic disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lenka Kalinkova
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Iveta Zmetakova
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Bozena Smolkova
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Gabriel Minarik
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Tatiana Sedlackova
- Institute of Molecular Biomedicine, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, Sasinkova 4, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Viera Horvathova Kajabova
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Zuzana Cierna
- Institute of Pathological Anatomy, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, University Hospital, Sasinkova 4, 811 08, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Michal Mego
- 2nd Department of Oncology, Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University, National Cancer Institute, Klenova 1, 83310, Bratislava, Slovak Republic
| | - Ivana Fridrichova
- Department of Genetics, Cancer Research Institute, Biomedical Research Center, Slovak Academy of Sciences, v.v.i., Dubravska cesta 9, 845 05, Bratislava, Slovak Republic.
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Srivastava K, Pickard A, Craig SG, Quinn GP, Lambe SM, James JA, McDade SS, McCance DJ. ΔNp63γ/SRC/Slug Signaling Axis Promotes Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Squamous Cancers. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:3917-3927. [PMID: 29739791 PMCID: PMC6098695 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-3775] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2017] [Revised: 03/28/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: To investigate the regulation of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) and its importance in tumor invasion.Experimental Design: We use a three-dimensional invasive organotypic raft culture model of human foreskin keratinocytes expressing the E6/E7 genes of the human papilloma virus-16, coupled with bioinformatic and IHC analysis of patient samples to investigate the role played by EMT in invasion and identify effectors and upstream regulatory pathways.Results: We identify SNAI2 (Slug) as a critical effector of EMT-activated downstream of TP63 overexpression in HNSCC. Splice-form-specific depletion and rescue experiments further identify the ΔNp63γ isoform as both necessary and sufficient to activate the SRC signaling axis and SNAI2-mediated EMT and invasion. Moreover, elevated SRC levels are associated with poor outcome in patients with HNSCC in The Cancer Genome Atlas dataset. Importantly, the effects on EMT and invasions and SNAI2 expression can be reversed by genetic or pharmacologic inhibition of SRC.Conclusions: Overexpression of ΔNp63γ modulates cell invasion by inducing targetable SRC-Slug-evoked EMT in HNSCC, which can be reversed by inhibitors of the SRC signaling. Clin Cancer Res; 24(16); 3917-27. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kirtiman Srivastava
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
| | - Adam Pickard
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
- The Wellcome Trust Centre for Cell Matrix Research, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Stephanie G Craig
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Gerard P Quinn
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Shauna M Lambe
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Jacqueline A James
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom
| | - Simon S McDade
- Centre for Cancer Research and Cell Biology, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, United Kingdom.
| | - Dennis J McCance
- Department of Pathology, School of Medicine, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico.
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Balestrieri C, Alfarano G, Milan M, Tosi V, Prosperini E, Nicoli P, Palamidessi A, Scita G, Diaferia GR, Natoli G. Co-optation of Tandem DNA Repeats for the Maintenance of Mesenchymal Identity. Cell 2018; 173:1150-1164.e14. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.03.081] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Revised: 12/16/2017] [Accepted: 03/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
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41
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Hatta M, Miyake Y, Uchida K, Yamazaki J. Keratin 13 gene is epigenetically suppressed during transforming growth factor-β1-induced epithelial-mesenchymal transition in a human keratinocyte cell line. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2018; 496:381-386. [PMID: 29326042 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2018.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2017] [Accepted: 01/07/2018] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a biological event in which epithelial cells lose their polarity and cell-cell adhesions and concomitantly acquire mesenchymal traits, and is thought to play an important role in pathological processes such as wound healing and cancer progression. In this study, we evaluated transforming growth factor (TGF)-β1-treated human keratinocyte HaCaT cells as an in vitro model of EMT. HaCaT cells were changed into an elongated fibroblast-like morphology, which is indicative of EMT in response to TGF-β1. Phalloidin staining demonstrated the formation of actin stress fibers in TGF-β1-treated cells. Quantitative RT-PCR analysis revealed that TGF-β1 increased the mRNA levels of EMT transcription factors (SNAI2, TWIST1, and ZEB1) and mesenchymal markers (CDH2, VIM, and FN1), while it decreased the transcripts of epithelial phenotypic genes (CLDN1, OCLN, KRT5, KRT15, KRT13, and TGM1). Furthermore, we found that KRT13 was drastically suppressed through the reduction of RNA polymerase II occupancy of its promoter, which was accompanied by a decrease in active histone marks (H3K4me3 and H3K27ac) and an increase in a repressive mark (H3K27me3) during EMT. These findings indicate that the TGF-β1-induced EMT program regulates a subset of epithelial and mesenchymal marker genes, and that KRT13 is transcriptionally suppressed through the modulation of the chromatin state at the KRT13 promoter in HaCaT cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mitsutoki Hatta
- Department of Physiological Science and Molecular Biology, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan.
| | - Yuki Miyake
- Department of Oral Growth and Development, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Kunitoshi Uchida
- Department of Physiological Science and Molecular Biology, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Jun Yamazaki
- Department of Physiological Science and Molecular Biology, Fukuoka Dental College, Fukuoka, Japan
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Noutsou M, Li J, Ling J, Jones J, Wang Y, Chen Y, Sen GL. The Cohesin Complex Is Necessary for Epidermal Progenitor Cell Function through Maintenance of Self-Renewal Genes. Cell Rep 2017; 20:3005-3013. [PMID: 28954219 PMCID: PMC5683098 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2017.09.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Revised: 07/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Adult stem and progenitor cells are critical for replenishing lost tissue due to injury or normal turnover. How these cells maintain self-renewal and sustain the tissue they populate are areas of active investigation. Here, we show that the cohesin complex, which has previously been implicated in regulating chromosome segregation and gene expression, is necessary to promote epidermal stem and progenitor cell self-renewal through cell-autonomous mechanisms. Cohesin binds to genomic sites associated with open chromatin, including DNase-I-hypersensitive sites, RNA polymerase II, and histone marks such as H3K27ac and H3K4me3. Reduced cohesin expression results in spontaneous epidermal differentiation due to loss of open chromatin structure and expression of key self-renewal genes. Our results demonstrate a prominent role for cohesin in modulating chromatin structure to allow for enforcement of a stem and progenitor cell gene expression program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Noutsou
- Department of Dermatology, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - Jingting Li
- Department of Dermatology, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - Ji Ling
- Department of Dermatology, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - Jackson Jones
- Department of Dermatology, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - Ying Wang
- Department of Dermatology, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - Yifang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA
| | - George L Sen
- Department of Dermatology, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093-0869, USA.
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Zhang LJ, Sen GL, Ward NL, Johnston A, Chun K, Chen Y, Adase C, Sanford JA, Gao N, Chensee M, Sato E, Fritz Y, Baliwag J, Williams MR, Hata T, Gallo RL. Antimicrobial Peptide LL37 and MAVS Signaling Drive Interferon-β Production by Epidermal Keratinocytes during Skin Injury. Immunity 2017; 45:119-30. [PMID: 27438769 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2016.06.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2015] [Revised: 03/30/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Type 1 interferons (IFNs) promote inflammation in the skin but the mechanisms responsible for inducing these cytokines are not well understood. We found that IFN-β was abundantly produced by epidermal keratinocytes (KCs) in psoriasis and during wound repair. KC IFN-β production depended on stimulation of mitochondrial antiviral-signaling protein (MAVS) by the antimicrobial peptide LL37 and double stranded-RNA released from necrotic cells. MAVS activated downstream TBK1 (TANK-Binding Kinase 1)-AKT (AKT serine/threonine kinase 1)-IRF3 (interferon regulatory factor 3) signaling cascade leading to IFN-β production and then promoted maturation of dendritic cells. In mice, the production of epidermal IFN-β by LL37 required MAVS, and human wounded and/or psoriatic skin showed activation of MAVS-associated IRF3 and induction of MAVS and IFN-β gene signatures. These findings show that KCs are an important source of IFN-β and MAVS is critical to this function, and demonstrates how the epidermis triggers unwanted skin inflammation under disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling-Juan Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - George L Sen
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nicole L Ward
- Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Andrew Johnston
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Kimberly Chun
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Yifang Chen
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Christopher Adase
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - James A Sanford
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Nina Gao
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Melanie Chensee
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Emi Sato
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Yi Fritz
- Department of Dermatology, Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA
| | - Jaymie Baliwag
- Department of Dermatology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Michael R Williams
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Tissa Hata
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Richard L Gallo
- Department of Dermatology, University of California, San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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44
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Nagarajan S, Bedi U, Budida A, Hamdan FH, Mishra VK, Najafova Z, Xie W, Alawi M, Indenbirken D, Knapp S, Chiang CM, Grundhoff A, Kari V, Scheel CH, Wegwitz F, Johnsen SA. BRD4 promotes p63 and GRHL3 expression downstream of FOXO in mammary epithelial cells. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:3130-3145. [PMID: 27980063 PMCID: PMC5389510 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw1276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2016] [Accepted: 12/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4) is a member of the bromo- and extraterminal (BET) domain-containing family of epigenetic readers which is under intensive investigation as a target for anti-tumor therapy. BRD4 plays a central role in promoting the expression of select subsets of genes including many driven by oncogenic transcription factors and signaling pathways. However, the role of BRD4 and the effects of BET inhibitors in non-transformed cells remain mostly unclear. We demonstrate that BRD4 is required for the maintenance of a basal epithelial phenotype by regulating the expression of epithelial-specific genes including TP63 and Grainy Head-like transcription factor-3 (GRHL3) in non-transformed basal-like mammary epithelial cells. Moreover, BRD4 occupancy correlates with enhancer activity and enhancer RNA (eRNA) transcription. Motif analyses of cell context-specific BRD4-enriched regions predicted the involvement of FOXO transcription factors. Consistently, activation of FOXO1 function via inhibition of EGFR-AKT signaling promoted the expression of TP63 and GRHL3. Moreover, activation of Src kinase signaling and FOXO1 inhibition decreased the expression of FOXO/BRD4 target genes. Together, our findings support a function for BRD4 in promoting basal mammary cell epithelial differentiation, at least in part, by regulating FOXO factor function on enhancers to activate TP63 and GRHL3 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sankari Nagarajan
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Upasana Bedi
- Institute of Molecular Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany.,Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20246 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Anusha Budida
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Feda H Hamdan
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Vivek Kumar Mishra
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Zeynab Najafova
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Wanhua Xie
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Malik Alawi
- Bioinformatics Core, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, 20251 Hamburg, Germany.,Heinrich-Pette-Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Daniela Indenbirken
- Heinrich-Pette-Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Stefan Knapp
- Structural Genomics Consortium, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK.,Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7FZ, UK.,Institute for Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Goethe University Frankfurt 60323, Germany
| | - Cheng-Ming Chiang
- University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, Dallas, TX 75235, USA
| | - Adam Grundhoff
- Heinrich-Pette-Institute, Leibniz Institute for Experimental Virology, 20251 Hamburg, Germany
| | - Vijayalakshmi Kari
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christina H Scheel
- Institute of Stem Cell Research, Helmholtz Center for Health and Environmental Research Munich, 85764 Neuherberg, Germany
| | - Florian Wegwitz
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Steven A Johnsen
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, Göttingen Center for Molecular Biosciences, University Medical Center Göttingen, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
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45
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Ghaleb AM, Yang VW. Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4): What we currently know. Gene 2017; 611:27-37. [PMID: 28237823 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2017.02.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 340] [Impact Index Per Article: 48.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2016] [Revised: 02/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/21/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Krüppel-like factor 4 (KLF4) is an evolutionarily conserved zinc finger-containing transcription factor that regulates diverse cellular processes such as cell growth, proliferation, and differentiation. Since its discovery in 1996, KLF4 has been gaining a lot of attention, particularly after it was shown in 2006 as one of four factors involved in the induction of pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Here we review the current knowledge about the different functions and roles of KLF4 in various tissue and organ systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amr M Ghaleb
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA
| | - Vincent W Yang
- Department of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794, USA.
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46
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Vand-Rajabpour F, Sadeghipour N, Saee-Rad S, Fathi H, Noormohammadpour P, Yaseri M, Hesari KK, Bagherpour Z, Tabrizi M. Differential BMI1, TWIST1, SNAI2 mRNA expression pattern correlation with malignancy type in a spectrum of common cutaneous malignancies: basal cell carcinoma, squamous cell carcinoma, and melanoma. Clin Transl Oncol 2016; 19:489-497. [PMID: 27718152 DOI: 10.1007/s12094-016-1555-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE Melanoma, squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) can be used as a unique model to identify molecular mechanisms to distinguish rarely metastatic (BCC), often metastatic (SCC) and most metastatic (melanoma) cancer. It is known that epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stemness transcription factors (TWIST1, SNAI2/SLUG, and BMI1) play an important role in metastasis and their dysregulation has been demonstrated in metastatic cancers. We hypothesized that this spectrum of cutaneous cancers (BCC, SCC, and melanoma) would be a unique cancer model system to elucidate steps toward cancer invasion and metastasis. METHODS We evaluated the mRNA expression level of BMI1, TWIST1, and SNAI2/SLUG and studied clinicopathological features in 170 skin cancers along with normal tissue samples. RESULTS We demonstrate downregulation of BMI1 mRNA expression in BCC samples compared with controls (p = 0.0001), SCC (p = 0.001), and melanoma (p = 0.0001) samples. Downregulation of TWIST1 mRNA expression is seen in only BCC samples compared with controls (p = 0.031). High SNAI2 mRNA expression is represented in melanoma samples compared with controls (p = 0.022) and SCC samples (p = 0.031). High mRNA expression of TWIST1 is seen in patients with positive history of cancers. Extremely low mRNA expression of BMI1 is detected in patients with positive history of cancers other than skin cancer. CONCLUSIONS These findings provide support for the hypothesis that the spectrum of cutaneous cancers could be better understood as a series of gene dosage-dependent entities with distinct molecular events. Oncogene-induced senescence, mechanism of which is still unclear, could be one explanation for these results.
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Affiliation(s)
- F Vand-Rajabpour
- Medical Genetics Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 14155-6447, Tehran, 14176-13151, Iran
| | - N Sadeghipour
- Medical Genetics Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 14155-6447, Tehran, 14176-13151, Iran
| | - S Saee-Rad
- Dietary Supplements and Probiotic Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran
| | - H Fathi
- Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery Department, Imam Khomeini Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.,Tumor Clinic, Pathology Department and the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Razi Dermatology Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - P Noormohammadpour
- Tumor Clinic, Pathology Department and the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Razi Dermatology Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - M Yaseri
- Epidemiology and Biostatistics Department, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - K K Hesari
- Tumor Clinic, Pathology Department and the Department of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Razi Dermatology Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Z Bagherpour
- Medical Genetics Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 14155-6447, Tehran, 14176-13151, Iran
| | - M Tabrizi
- Medical Genetics Department, School of Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, P.O. Box 14155-6447, Tehran, 14176-13151, Iran.
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Coll-Bonfill N, Peinado VI, Pisano MV, Párrizas M, Blanco I, Evers M, Engelmann JC, García-Lucio J, Tura-Ceide O, Meister G, Barberà JA, Musri MM. Slug Is Increased in Vascular Remodeling and Induces a Smooth Muscle Cell Proliferative Phenotype. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159460. [PMID: 27441378 PMCID: PMC4956159 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159460] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/01/2016] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective Previous studies have confirmed Slug as a key player in regulating phenotypic changes in several cell models, however, its role in smooth muscle cells (SMC) has never been assessed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the expression of Slug during the phenotypic switch of SMC in vitro and throughout the development of vascular remodeling. Methods and Results Slug expression was decreased during both cell-to-cell contact and TGFβ1 induced SMC differentiation. Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNFα), a known inductor of a proliferative/dedifferentiated SMC phenotype, induces the expression of Slug in SMC. Slug knockdown blocked TNFα-induced SMC phenotypic change and significantly reduced both SMC proliferation and migration, while its overexpression blocked the TGFβ1-induced SMC differentiation and induced proliferation and migration. Genome-wide transcriptomic analysis showed that in SMC, Slug knockdown induced changes mainly in genes related to proliferation and migration, indicating that Slug controls these processes in SMC. Notably, Slug expression was significantly up-regulated in lungs of mice using a model of pulmonary hypertension-related vascular remodeling. Highly remodeled human pulmonary arteries also showed an increase of Slug expression compared to less remodeled arteries. Conclusions Slug emerges as a key transcription factor driving SMC towards a proliferative phenotype. The increased Slug expression observed in vivo in highly remodeled arteries of mice and human suggests a role of Slug in the pathogenesis of pulmonary vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Núria Coll-Bonfill
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clínic-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victor I. Peinado
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clínic-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
| | - María V. Pisano
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
| | | | - Isabel Blanco
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clínic-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Maurits Evers
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Julia C. Engelmann
- Institute of Functional Genomics, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Jessica García-Lucio
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clínic-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Olga Tura-Ceide
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clínic-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Gunter Meister
- Biochemistry Center Regensburg (BZR), Laboratory for RNA Biology, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Joan Albert Barberà
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clínic-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Biomedical Research Networking Center on Respiratory Diseases (CIBERES), Madrid, Spain
| | - Melina M. Musri
- Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Hospital Clínic-Institut d’Investigacions Biomèdiques August Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS), Universitat de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Instituto de Investigación Médica Mercedes y Martín Ferreyra, INIMEC-CONICET, Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Córdoba, Argentina
- * E-mail:
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Li J, Sen GL. Post-Transcriptional Mechanisms Regulating Epidermal Stem and Progenitor Cell Self-Renewal and Differentiation. J Invest Dermatol 2016; 136:746-752. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2015.12.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2015] [Revised: 11/17/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Li J, Sen GL. Generation of Genetically Modified Organotypic Skin Cultures Using Devitalized Human Dermis. J Vis Exp 2015:e53280. [PMID: 26709715 DOI: 10.3791/53280] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Organotypic cultures allow the reconstitution of a 3D environment critical for cell-cell contact and cell-matrix interactions which mimics the function and physiology of their in vivo tissue counterparts. This is exemplified by organotypic skin cultures which faithfully recapitulates the epidermal differentiation and stratification program. Primary human epidermal keratinocytes are genetically manipulable through retroviruses where genes can be easily overexpressed or knocked down. These genetically modified keratinocytes can then be used to regenerate human epidermis in organotypic skin cultures providing a powerful model to study genetic pathways impacting epidermal growth, differentiation, and disease progression. The protocols presented here describe methods to prepare devitalized human dermis as well as to genetically manipulate primary human keratinocytes in order to generate organotypic skin cultures. Regenerated human skin can be used in downstream applications such as gene expression profiling, immunostaining, and chromatin immunoprecipitations followed by high throughput sequencing. Thus, generation of these genetically modified organotypic skin cultures will allow the determination of genes that are critical for maintaining skin homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingting Li
- Department of Dermatology, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego
| | - George L Sen
- Department of Dermatology, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, UCSD Stem Cell Program, University of California, San Diego;
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50
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Chen Y, Sen GL. SOX2 expression inhibits terminal epidermal differentiation. Exp Dermatol 2015; 24:974-6. [DOI: 10.1111/exd.12855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yifang Chen
- Department of Dermatology; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine; UCSD Stem Cell Program; University of California; La Jolla CA USA
| | - George L. Sen
- Department of Dermatology; Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine; UCSD Stem Cell Program; University of California; La Jolla CA USA
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