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Liu H, Cheng H, Wang H, Wang Q, Yuan J. Crocin improves the renal autophagy in rat experimental membranous nephropathy via regulating the SIRT1/Nrf2/HO-1 signaling pathway. Ren Fail 2023; 45:2253924. [PMID: 37724538 PMCID: PMC10512763 DOI: 10.1080/0886022x.2023.2253924] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2023] [Accepted: 08/25/2023] [Indexed: 09/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Membranous nephropathy (MN) is a glomerular disease. Crocin is isolated from saffron and gardenia. Its antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, anti-hyperlipidemic, anti-atherosclerotic, anti-tumor, free-radical scavenging and neuroprotective activities have been well established. We investigated the biological functions of crocin and its related mechanisms in MN. We established an experimental passive Heymann nephritis (PHN) rat model induced by anti-Fx1A antiserum. The rats were divided into sham, sham + crocin, PHN, PHN + crocin, and PHN + enalapril groups. Blood samples and kidneys of rats were collected for estimation of biochemical parameters in serum and oxidative stress indicators in kidney tissues. Histopathological changes of renal tissues were evaluated by hematoxylin and eosin, periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) and Masson staining. The podocyte number was estimated by immunohistochemistry staining of Wilms tumor type 1 (WT1). The deposition of rat anti-rabbit IgG antibodies, complement C3 and C5b-9 was detected by immunofluorescence staining. Western blotting was performed to measure the levels of Sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2), heme oxygenase 1 (HO-1) and apoptosis-related proteins. The total cholesterol, triglycerides, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, urine volume and urine albumin of PMN rats were significantly reduced by crocin. Additionally, crocin attenuated the renal histopathological changes. Moreover, the oxidative stress damage and podocyte loss and immune injury were relieved by crocin in PHN rats. Mechanistically, crocin administration activated the Sirt1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathways. The results provide a scientific basis that crocin could alleviate MN by inhibiting immune injury and podocyte damage through activating the Sirt1/Nrf2/HO-1 pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongyan Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Hong Cheng
- Renal Division, Hubei Provincial Hospital of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The Affiliated Hospital of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongyun Wang
- The First Clinical College, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Qiong Wang
- The First Clinical College, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Wuhan, China
| | - Jun Yuan
- Department of Nephrology, Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
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2
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Integrated Bioinformatics and Clinical Correlation Analysis of Key Genes, Pathways, and Potential Therapeutic Agents Related to Diabetic Nephropathy. DISEASE MARKERS 2022; 2022:9204201. [PMID: 35637650 PMCID: PMC9148260 DOI: 10.1155/2022/9204201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Background Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is a common microvascular complication of diabetes and a major cause of end-stage renal disease, resulting in a substantial socioeconomic burden around the world. Some unknown biomarkers, mechanisms, and potential novel agents regarding DN are yet to be identified. Methods GSE30528 and GSE1009 were downloaded as training datasets to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of DN. Common DEGs were selected for further analysis. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) analyses of DEGs were performed to explore molecular mechanisms and pathways. Protein-protein interaction (PPI) network of DEGs was used to identify the top 10 hub genes of DN. Expression profiles of the hub genes were validated in GSE96804 and GSE47183 datasets. The clinical correlation analyses were conducted to confirm the association between key genes and clinical characteristics in the Nephroseq v5 database. The Drug Gene Interaction Database was used to predict potential targeted drugs. Results 345 and 1228 DEGs were identified in GSE30528 and GSE1009, respectively; and 120 common DEGs were found. The biological process of DEGs was significantly enriched in kidney development. PI3K-Akt signaling pathway, focal adhesion, complement and coagulation cascades were significantly enriched KEGG pathways. The identified top10 hub genes were VEGFA, NPHS1, WT1, TJP1, CTGF, FYN, SYNPO, PODXL, TNNT2, and BMP2. VEGFA, NPHS1, WT1, CTGF, SYNPO, PODXL, and TNNT2 were significantly downregulated in DN. VEGFA, NPHS1, WT1, CTGF, SYNPO, and PODXL were positively correlated with glomerular filtration rate. The targeted drugs or molecular compounds were enalapril, sildenafil, and fenofibrate target for VEGFA; losartan target for NPHS1; halofuginone, deferoxamine, curcumin, and sirolimus target for WT1; and purpurogallin target for TNNT2. Conclusions VEGFA, NPHS1, WT1, CTGF, SYNPO, and PODXL are promising biomarkers for diagnosing and evaluating the progression of DN. The drug-gene interaction analyses provide a list of candidate drugs for the precise treatment of DN.
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Drakhlis L, Biswanath S, Farr CM, Lupanow V, Teske J, Ritzenhoff K, Franke A, Manstein F, Bolesani E, Kempf H, Liebscher S, Schenke-Layland K, Hegermann J, Nolte L, Meyer H, de la Roche J, Thiemann S, Wahl-Schott C, Martin U, Zweigerdt R. Human heart-forming organoids recapitulate early heart and foregut development. Nat Biotechnol 2021; 39:737-746. [PMID: 33558697 PMCID: PMC8192303 DOI: 10.1038/s41587-021-00815-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 59.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/30/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Organoid models of early tissue development have been produced for the intestine, brain, kidney and other organs, but similar approaches for the heart have been lacking. Here we generate complex, highly structured, three-dimensional heart-forming organoids (HFOs) by embedding human pluripotent stem cell aggregates in Matrigel followed by directed cardiac differentiation via biphasic WNT pathway modulation with small molecules. HFOs are composed of a myocardial layer lined by endocardial-like cells and surrounded by septum-transversum-like anlagen; they further contain spatially and molecularly distinct anterior versus posterior foregut endoderm tissues and a vascular network. The architecture of HFOs closely resembles aspects of early native heart anlagen before heart tube formation, which is known to require an interplay with foregut endoderm development. We apply HFOs to study genetic defects in vitro by demonstrating that NKX2.5-knockout HFOs show a phenotype reminiscent of cardiac malformations previously observed in transgenic mice. Heart-forming organoids model early cardiac development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lika Drakhlis
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
| | - Santoshi Biswanath
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Clara-Milena Farr
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Victoria Lupanow
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jana Teske
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Katharina Ritzenhoff
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Annika Franke
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Felix Manstein
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Emiliano Bolesani
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Henning Kempf
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Stem Cell Discovery, Novo Nordisk A/S, Måløv, Denmark
| | - Simone Liebscher
- Department of Women's Health, Research Institute for Women's Health, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Katja Schenke-Layland
- Department of Women's Health, Research Institute for Women's Health, Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany.,The Natural and Medical Sciences Institute (NMI) at the University of Tübingen, Reutlingen, Germany.,Department of Medicine/Cardiology, Cardiovascular Research Laboratories, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA.,Cluster of Excellence iFIT (EXC 2180) 'Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies', Eberhard Karls University Tübingen, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jan Hegermann
- Research Core Unit Electron Microscopy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Institute of Functional and Applied Anatomy, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Lena Nolte
- Industrial and Biomedical Optics Department, Laser Zentrum Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Heiko Meyer
- Industrial and Biomedical Optics Department, Laser Zentrum Hannover, Hannover, Germany
| | - Jeanne de la Roche
- Institute for Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Thiemann
- Institute for Neurophysiology, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Martin
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.,Biomedical Research in Endstage and Obstructive Lung Disease (BREATH), Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | - Robert Zweigerdt
- Leibniz Research Laboratories for Biotechnology and Artificial Organs (LEBAO), Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery (HTTG), REBIRTH-Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany.
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4
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Wineberg Y, Bar-Lev TH, Futorian A, Ben-Haim N, Armon L, Ickowicz D, Oriel S, Bucris E, Yehuda Y, Pode-Shakked N, Gilad S, Benjamin S, Hohenstein P, Dekel B, Urbach A, Kalisky T. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Reveals mRNA Splice Isoform Switching during Kidney Development. J Am Soc Nephrol 2020; 31:2278-2291. [PMID: 32651222 PMCID: PMC7609002 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2019080770] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/02/2019] [Accepted: 05/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND During mammalian kidney development, nephron progenitors undergo a mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition and eventually differentiate into the various tubular segments of the nephron. Recently, Drop-seq single-cell RNA sequencing technology for measuring gene expression from thousands of individual cells identified the different cell types in the developing kidney. However, that analysis did not include the additional layer of heterogeneity that alternative mRNA splicing creates. METHODS Full transcript length single-cell RNA sequencing characterized the transcriptomes of 544 individual cells from mouse embryonic kidneys. RESULTS Gene expression levels measured with full transcript length single-cell RNA sequencing identified each cell type. Further analysis comprehensively characterized splice isoform switching during the transition between mesenchymal and epithelial cellular states, which is a key transitional process in kidney development. The study also identified several putative splicing regulators, including the genes Esrp1/2 and Rbfox1/2. CONCLUSIONS Discovery of the sets of genes that are alternatively spliced as the fetal kidney mesenchyme differentiates into tubular epithelium will improve our understanding of the molecular mechanisms that drive kidney development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yishay Wineberg
- Department of Bioengineering and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Tali Hana Bar-Lev
- Department of Bioengineering and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Anna Futorian
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Nissim Ben-Haim
- Department of Bioengineering and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Leah Armon
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Debby Ickowicz
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Sarit Oriel
- Department of Bioengineering and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Efrat Bucris
- Department of Bioengineering and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Yishai Yehuda
- Department of Bioengineering and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Naomi Pode-Shakked
- Pediatric Stem Cell Research Institute, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Shlomit Gilad
- The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Sima Benjamin
- The Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Peter Hohenstein
- Department of Human Genetics, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | - Benjamin Dekel
- Pediatric Stem Cell Research Institute, Edmond and Lily Safra Children's Hospital, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Division of Pediatric Nephrology, Sheba Medical Center, Tel-Hashomer, Israel
- Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel-Aviv University, Tel-Aviv, Israel
| | - Achia Urbach
- The Mina and Everard Goodman Faculty of Life Sciences, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat-Gan, Israel
| | - Tomer Kalisky
- Department of Bioengineering and Bar-Ilan Institute of Nanotechnology and Advanced Materials, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gan, Israel
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5
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Wan L, Chong S, Xuan F, Liang A, Cui X, Gates L, Carroll TS, Li Y, Feng L, Chen G, Wang SP, Ortiz MV, Daley SK, Wang X, Xuan H, Kentsis A, Muir TW, Roeder RG, Li H, Li W, Tjian R, Wen H, Allis CD. Impaired cell fate through gain-of-function mutations in a chromatin reader. Nature 2019; 577:121-126. [PMID: 31853060 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-019-1842-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 84] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Modifications of histone proteins have essential roles in normal development and human disease. Recognition of modified histones by 'reader' proteins is a key mechanism that mediates the function of histone modifications, but how the dysregulation of these readers might contribute to disease remains poorly understood. We previously identified the ENL protein as a reader of histone acetylation via its YEATS domain, linking it to the expression of cancer-driving genes in acute leukaemia1. Recurrent hotspot mutations have been found in the ENL YEATS domain in Wilms tumour2,3, the most common type of paediatric kidney cancer. Here we show, using human and mouse cells, that these mutations impair cell-fate regulation by conferring gain-of-function in chromatin recruitment and transcriptional control. ENL mutants induce gene-expression changes that favour a premalignant cell fate, and, in an assay for nephrogenesis using murine cells, result in undifferentiated structures resembling those observed in human Wilms tumour. Mechanistically, although bound to largely similar genomic loci as the wild-type protein, ENL mutants exhibit increased occupancy at a subset of targets, leading to a marked increase in the recruitment and activity of transcription elongation machinery that enforces active transcription from target loci. Furthermore, ectopically expressed ENL mutants exhibit greater self-association and form discrete and dynamic nuclear puncta that are characteristic of biomolecular hubs consisting of local high concentrations of regulatory factors. Such mutation-driven ENL self-association is functionally linked to enhanced chromatin occupancy and gene activation. Collectively, our findings show that hotspot mutations in a chromatin-reader domain drive self-reinforced recruitment, derailing normal cell-fate control during development and leading to an oncogenic outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liling Wan
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA. .,Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Shasha Chong
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Fan Xuan
- Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Angela Liang
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xiaodong Cui
- Division of Biostatistics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Leah Gates
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Thomas S Carroll
- Bioinformatics Core, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Lijuan Feng
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Guochao Chen
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Shu-Ping Wang
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.,Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Michael V Ortiz
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sara K Daley
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Xiaolu Wang
- Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Hongwen Xuan
- Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - Alex Kentsis
- Department of Pediatrics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Molecular Pharmacology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Tom W Muir
- Department of Chemistry, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Robert G Roeder
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Haitao Li
- Beijing Advanced Innovation Center for Structural Biology, MOE Key Laboratory of Protein Sciences, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Wei Li
- Division of Biostatistics, Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center and Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California Irvine, Irvine, CA, USA
| | - Robert Tjian
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA.,CIRM Center of Excellence, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Hong Wen
- Center for Epigenetics, Van Andel Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA.
| | - C David Allis
- Laboratory of Chromatin Biology and Epigenetics, The Rockefeller University, New York, NY, USA.
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6
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Wang D, Horton JR, Zheng Y, Blumenthal RM, Zhang X, Cheng X. Role for first zinc finger of WT1 in DNA sequence specificity: Denys-Drash syndrome-associated WT1 mutant in ZF1 enhances affinity for a subset of WT1 binding sites. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 46:3864-3877. [PMID: 29294058 PMCID: PMC5934627 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx1274] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Accepted: 12/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Wilms tumor protein (WT1) is a Cys2-His2 zinc-finger transcription factor vital for embryonic development of the genitourinary system. The protein contains a C-terminal DNA binding domain with four tandem zinc-fingers (ZF1-4). An alternative splicing of Wt1 can add three additional amino acids-lysine (K), threonine (T) and serine (S)-between ZF3 and ZF4. In the -KTS isoform, ZF2-4 determine the sequence-specificity of DNA binding, whereas the function of ZF1 remains elusive. Three X-ray structures are described here for wild-type -KTS isoform ZF1-4 in complex with its cognate DNA sequence. We observed four unique ZF1 conformations. First, like ZF2-4, ZF1 can be positioned continuously in the DNA major groove forming a 'near-cognate' complex. Second, while ZF2-4 make base-specific interactions with one DNA molecule, ZF1 can interact with a second DNA molecule (or, presumably, two regions of the same DNA molecule). Third, ZF1 can intercalate at the joint of two tail-to-head DNA molecules. If such intercalation occurs on a continuous DNA molecule, it would kink the DNA at the ZF1 binding site. Fourth, two ZF1 units can dimerize. Furthermore, we examined a Denys-Drash syndrome-associated ZF1 mutation (methionine at position 342 is replaced by arginine). This mutation enhances WT1 affinity for a guanine base. X-ray crystallography of the mutant in complex with its preferred sequence revealed the interactions responsible for this affinity change. These results provide insight into the mechanisms of action of WT1, and clarify the fact that ZF1 plays a role in determining sequence specificity of this critical transcription factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongxue Wang
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - John R Horton
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yu Zheng
- RGENE, Inc., 953 Indiana Street, San Francisco, CA 94107, USA
| | - Robert M Blumenthal
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, and Program in Bioinformatics, University of Toledo College of Medicine and Life Sciences, Toledo, OH 43614, USA
| | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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7
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Kaverina NV, Eng DG, Largent AD, Daehn I, Chang A, Gross KW, Pippin JW, Hohenstein P, Shankland SJ. WT1 Is Necessary for the Proliferation and Migration of Cells of Renin Lineage Following Kidney Podocyte Depletion. Stem Cell Reports 2017; 9:1152-1166. [PMID: 28966119 PMCID: PMC5639431 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2017.08.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2017] [Revised: 08/25/2017] [Accepted: 08/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wilms' tumor suppressor 1 (WT1) plays an important role in cell proliferation and mesenchymal-epithelial balance in normal development and disease. Here, we show that following podocyte depletion in three experimental models, and in patients with focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS) and membranous nephropathy, WT1 increased significantly in cells of renin lineage (CoRL). In an animal model of FSGS in RenWt1fl/fl reporter mice with inducible deletion of WT1 in CoRL, CoRL proliferation and migration to the glomerulus was reduced, and glomerular disease was worse compared with wild-type mice. To become podocytes, CoRL undergo mesenchymal-to-epithelial transformation (MET), typified by reduced staining for mesenchymal markers (MYH11, SM22, αSMA) and de novo expression of epithelial markers (E-cadherin and cytokeratin18). Evidence for changes in MET markers was barely detected in RenWt1fl/fl mice. Our results show that following podocyte depletion, WT1 plays essential roles in CoRL proliferation and migration toward an adult podocyte fate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya V Kaverina
- Division of Nephrology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Diana G Eng
- Division of Nephrology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Andrea D Largent
- Division of Nephrology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Ilse Daehn
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, The Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1468 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Anthony Chang
- Department of Pathology, University of Chicago, 5841 S Maryland Ave, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Kenneth W Gross
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Elm & Carlton Streets, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Jeffrey W Pippin
- Division of Nephrology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, WA 98109, USA
| | - Peter Hohenstein
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Stuart J Shankland
- Division of Nephrology, University of Washington School of Medicine, 750 Republican Street, Seattle, WA 98109, USA.
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8
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Alge JL, Wenderfer SE, Hicks J, Bekheirnia MR, Schady DA, Kain JS, Braun MC. Hemolytic uremic syndrome as the presenting manifestation of WT1 mutation and Denys-Drash syndrome: a case report. BMC Nephrol 2017; 18:243. [PMID: 28720077 PMCID: PMC5516385 DOI: 10.1186/s12882-017-0643-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2016] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS) can occur as a primary process due to mutations in complement genes or secondary to another underlying disease. HUS sometimes occurs in the setting of glomerular diseases, and it has been described in association with Denys-Drash syndrome (DDS), which is characterized by the triad of abnormal genitourinary development; a pathognomonic glomerulopathy, diffuse mesangial sclerosis; and the development of Wilms tumor. Case presentation We report the case of a 46, XX female infant who presented with HUS and biopsy-proven thrombotic microangiopathy. Next generation sequencing of genes with known mutations causative of atypical HUS found that she was homozygous for the Complement Factor H H3 haplotype and heterozygous for a variant of unknown significance in the DGKE gene. Whole exome sequencing identified a de novo heterozygous WT1 c.1384C > T; p.R394W mutation, which is classically associated with Denys-Drash syndrome (DDS). At the time of bilateral nephrectomy five months after her initial biopsy, she had diffuse mesangial sclerosis, typical of Denys-Drash syndrome, without evidence of thrombotic microangiopathy. Conclusion This unique case highlights HUS as a rare but important manifestation of WT1 mutation and provides new insight into the genetics underlying this association.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joseph L Alge
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Pediatrician-Scientist Training and Development Program, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Scott E Wenderfer
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Renal Section, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - John Hicks
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Mir Reza Bekheirnia
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Houston, 77030, USA
| | - Deborah A Schady
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pathology and Immunology, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
| | | | - Michael C Braun
- Baylor College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics, Renal Section, Houston, TX, USA.,Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
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9
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Mazzei L, Manucha W. Growing evidence suggests WT1 effects in the kidney development are modulated by Hsp70/NO interaction. J Nephrol 2016; 30:11-18. [DOI: 10.1007/s40620-016-0302-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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10
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Abstract
Wilms' tumor-1 protein (WT1) is a transcription factor that can either activate or repress genes to regulate cell growth, apoptosis and differentiation. WT1 can act as either a tumor suppressor or an oncogene. The cellular functions of WT1 are predominantly regulated by its various interacting partners. Recently we have found that WT1 can regulate the fidelity of chromosome segregation through its interaction with the spindle assembly checkpoint protein, Mitotic arrest deficient-2 (MAD2). WT1 delays anaphase entry by inhibiting the ubiquitination activity of the Anaphase promoting complex/cyclosome (APC/C). Our findings have revealed an important role of WT1 in the regulation of mitotic checkpoint and genomic stability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jayasha Shandilya
- a Department of Biological Sciences ; University at Buffalo ; Buffalo , NY USA
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11
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Abstract
In this chapter, the role of WT1 in childhood cancer is discussed, using the key examples Wilms' tumor, desmoplastic small round cell of childhood, and leukemia. The role of WT1 in each disease is described and mirrored to the role of WT1 in normal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jocelyn Charlton
- UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK
| | - Kathy Pritchard-Jones
- UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK.
- Hugh and Catherine Stevenson Professor of Paediatric Oncology, UCL Institute of Child Health, 30 Guilford Street, London, WC1N 1EH, UK.
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12
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Down-regulation of Wt1 activates Wnt/β-catenin signaling through modulating endocytic route of LRP6 in podocyte dysfunction in vitro. Cell Signal 2015; 27:1772-80. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2015.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2015] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
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13
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Dong L, Pietsch S, Englert C. Towards an understanding of kidney diseases associated with WT1 mutations. Kidney Int 2015; 88:684-90. [PMID: 26154924 PMCID: PMC4687464 DOI: 10.1038/ki.2015.198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2015] [Accepted: 05/12/2015] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in Wilms' tumor 1 (WT1) cause a wide spectrum of renal manifestations, eventually leading to end-stage kidney failure. Insufficient understanding of WT1's molecular functions in kidney development has hampered efficient therapeutic applications for WT1-associated diseases. Recently, the generation and characterization of mouse models and application of multiple state-of-the-art approaches have significantly expanded our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of how WT1 mutations lead to kidney failure. Here, we discuss the WT1 binding consensus and illustrate the major roles of WT1 in different cell populations in kidney biology. WT1 controls metanephric mesenchyme (MM) self-renewal and proliferation mainly by regulating FGF and BMP-pSMAD signaling pathways as well as Sall1 and Pax2, encoding key transcription factors; WT1 drives MM differentiation and mesenchyme–epithelial transition by targeting Fgf8 and Wnt4; WT1 defines podocyte identity by activation of other podocyte-specific transcription factors, including Mafb, Lmx1b, FoxC2, and Tcf21. These factors potentially cooperate with WT1 regulating the expression of components and regulators of the cytoskeleton for establishing podocyte polarity, slit diaphragm structure, and focal adhesion to the glomerular basement membrane. Understanding of WT1's function in kidney biology including WT1-regulated pathways will give insights that will eventually help therapeutic applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lihua Dong
- Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Stefan Pietsch
- Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Molecular Genetics, Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany.,Faculty of Biology and Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany
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14
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Berry RL, Ozdemir DD, Aronow B, Lindström NO, Dudnakova T, Thornburn A, Perry P, Baldock R, Armit C, Joshi A, Jeanpierre C, Shan J, Vainio S, Baily J, Brownstein D, Davies J, Hastie ND, Hohenstein P. Deducing the stage of origin of Wilms' tumours from a developmental series of Wt1-mutant mice. Dis Model Mech 2015; 8:903-17. [PMID: 26035382 PMCID: PMC4527280 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.018523] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Wilms' tumours, paediatric kidney cancers, are the archetypal example of tumours caused through the disruption of normal development. The genetically best-defined subgroup of Wilms' tumours is the group caused by biallelic loss of the WT1 tumour suppressor gene. Here, we describe a developmental series of mouse models with conditional loss of Wt1 in different stages of nephron development before and after the mesenchymal-to-epithelial transition (MET). We demonstrate that Wt1 is essential for normal development at all kidney developmental stages under study. Comparison of genome-wide expression data from the mutant mouse models with human tumour material of mutant or wild-type WT1 datasets identified the stage of origin of human WT1-mutant tumours, and emphasizes fundamental differences between the two human tumour groups due to different developmental stages of origin. Summary: The comparison of different nephron-specific Wt1-knockout mouse models identifies the stage of origin of human WT1-mutant Wilms' tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel L Berry
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Derya D Ozdemir
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Bruce Aronow
- Department of Biomedical Informatics and Developmental Biology, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA
| | - Nils O Lindström
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Tatiana Dudnakova
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Anna Thornburn
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Paul Perry
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Richard Baldock
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Chris Armit
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Anagha Joshi
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Cécile Jeanpierre
- INSERM, UMR 1163, Laboratory of Inherited Kidney Diseases, Paris 75015, France Paris Descartes - Sorbonne Paris Cité University, Imagine Institute, Paris 75015, France
| | - Jingdong Shan
- Biocenter Oulu, InfoTech Oulu, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Aapistie 5A, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, Oulu 90014, Finland
| | - Seppo Vainio
- Biocenter Oulu, InfoTech Oulu, Faculty of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, Aapistie 5A, University of Oulu, PO Box 5000, Oulu 90014, Finland
| | - James Baily
- Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - David Brownstein
- Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, 47 Little France Crescent, Edinburgh, EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Jamie Davies
- Centre for Integrative Physiology, University of Edinburgh, Hugh Robson Building, 15 George Square, Edinburgh, EH8 9XD, UK
| | - Nicholas D Hastie
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK
| | - Peter Hohenstein
- MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute for Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU, UK The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
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15
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Abstract
Wilms' tumor, or nephroblastoma, is the most common pediatric renal cancer. The tumors morphologically resemble embryonic kidneys with a disrupted architecture and are associated with undifferentiated metanephric precursors. Here, we discuss genetic and epigenetic findings in Wilms' tumor in the context of renal development. Many of the genes implicated in Wilms' tumorigenesis are involved in the control of nephron progenitors or the microRNA (miRNA) processing pathway. Whereas the first group of genes has been extensively studied in normal development, the second finding suggests important roles for miRNAs in general-and specific miRNAs in particular-in normal kidney development that still await further analysis. The recent identification of Wilms' tumor cancer stem cells could provide a framework to integrate these pathways and translate them into new or improved therapeutic interventions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Hohenstein
- The Roslin Institute, University of Edinburgh, Midlothian EH25 9RG, United Kingdom; MRC Human Genetics Unit, MRC Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, United Kingdom;
| | - Kathy Pritchard-Jones
- UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
| | - Jocelyn Charlton
- UCL Institute of Child Health, University College London, London WC1N 1EH, United Kingdom
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16
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Dong L, Pietsch S, Tan Z, Perner B, Sierig R, Kruspe D, Groth M, Witzgall R, Gröne HJ, Platzer M, Englert C. Integration of Cistromic and Transcriptomic Analyses Identifies Nphs2, Mafb, and Magi2 as Wilms' Tumor 1 Target Genes in Podocyte Differentiation and Maintenance. J Am Soc Nephrol 2015; 26:2118-28. [PMID: 25556170 DOI: 10.1681/asn.2014080819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2014] [Accepted: 10/10/2014] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wilms' tumor suppressor gene 1 (WT1) encodes a zinc finger transcription factor. Mutation of WT1 in humans leads to Wilms' tumor, a pediatric kidney tumor, or other kidney diseases, such as Denys-Drash and Frasier syndromes. We showed previously that inactivation of WT1 in podocytes of adult mice results in proteinuria, foot process effacement, and glomerulosclerosis. However, the WT1-dependent transcriptional network regulating podocyte development and maintenance in vivo remains unknown. Here, we performed chromatin immunoprecipitation followed by high-throughput sequencing with glomeruli from wild-type mice. Additionally, we performed a cDNA microarray screen on an inducible podocyte-specific WT1 knockout mouse model. By integration of cistromic and transcriptomic analyses, we identified the WT1 targetome in mature podocytes. To further analyze the function and targets of WT1 in podocyte maturation, we used an Nphs2-Cre model, in which WT1 is deleted during podocyte differentiation. These mice display anuria and kidney hemorrhage and die within 24 hours after birth. To address the evolutionary conservation of WT1 targets, we performed functional assays using zebrafish as a model and identified Nphs2, Mafb, and Magi2 as novel WT1 target genes required for podocyte development. Our data also show that both Mafb and Magi2 are required for normal development of the embryonic zebrafish kidney. Collectively, our work provides insights into the transcriptional networks controlled by WT1 and identifies novel WT1 target genes that mediate the function of WT1 in podocyte differentiation and maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | - Marco Groth
- Genome Analysis, Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Ralph Witzgall
- Institute for Molecular and Cellular Anatomy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Hermann-Josef Gröne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pathology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany; and
| | - Matthias Platzer
- Genome Analysis, Leibniz Institute for Age Research, Fritz Lipmann Institute, Jena, Germany
| | - Christoph Englert
- Departments of Molecular Genetics and Faculty of Biology and Pharmacy, Friedrich Schiller University of Jena, Jena, Germany
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17
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Hashimoto H, Olanrewaju YO, Zheng Y, Wilson GG, Zhang X, Cheng X. Wilms tumor protein recognizes 5-carboxylcytosine within a specific DNA sequence. Genes Dev 2014; 28:2304-13. [PMID: 25258363 PMCID: PMC4201290 DOI: 10.1101/gad.250746.114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 96] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Hashimoto et al. investigated the response of the zinc finger DNA-binding domains of transcription factors early growth response protein 1 (Egr1) and Wilms tumor protein 1 (WT1) to different forms of modified cytosine within their recognition sequence. 5-Carboxylcytosine (5caC) affected the two proteins differently, abolishing binding by Egr1 but not by WT1. In Egr1, a negatively charged glutamate conflicts with the negatively charged carboxylate of 5caC, whereas the corresponding glutamine of WT1 interacts with this group favorably. In mammalian DNA, cytosine occurs in several chemical forms, including unmodified cytosine (C), 5-methylcytosine (5mC), 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5hmC), 5-formylcytosine (5fC), and 5-carboxylcytosine (5caC). 5mC is a major epigenetic signal that acts to regulate gene expression. 5hmC, 5fC, and 5caC are oxidized derivatives that might also act as distinct epigenetic signals. We investigated the response of the zinc finger DNA-binding domains of transcription factors early growth response protein 1 (Egr1) and Wilms tumor protein 1 (WT1) to different forms of modified cytosine within their recognition sequence, 5′-GCG(T/G)GGGCG-3′. Both displayed high affinity for the sequence when C or 5mC was present and much reduced affinity when 5hmC or 5fC was present, indicating that they differentiate primarily oxidized C from unoxidized C, rather than methylated C from unmethylated C. 5caC affected the two proteins differently, abolishing binding by Egr1 but not by WT1. We ascribe this difference to electrostatic interactions in the binding sites. In Egr1, a negatively charged glutamate conflicts with the negatively charged carboxylate of 5caC, whereas the corresponding glutamine of WT1 interacts with this group favorably. Our analyses shows that zinc finger proteins (and their splice variants) can respond in modulated ways to alternative modifications within their binding sequence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hideharu Hashimoto
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | | | - Yu Zheng
- New England Biolabs, Ipswich, Massachusetts 01938, USA
| | | | - Xing Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA
| | - Xiaodong Cheng
- Department of Biochemistry, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia 30322, USA;
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18
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Tian F, Yourek G, Shi X, Yang Y. The development of Wilms tumor: from WT1 and microRNA to animal models. Biochim Biophys Acta Rev Cancer 2014; 1846:180-7. [PMID: 25018051 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbcan.2014.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2014] [Revised: 07/04/2014] [Accepted: 07/07/2014] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Wilms tumor recapitulates the development of the kidney and represents a unique opportunity to understand the relationship between normal and tumor development. This has been illustrated by the findings that mutations of Wnt/β-catenin pathway-related WT1, β-catenin, and WTX together account for about one-third of Wilms tumor cases. While intense efforts are being made to explore the genetic basis of the other two-thirds of tumor cases, it is worth noting that, epigenetic changes, particularly the loss of imprinting of the DNA region encoding the major fetal growth factor IGF2, which results in its biallelic over-expression, are closely associated with the development of many Wilms tumors. Recent investigations also revealed that mutations of Drosha and Dicer, the RNases required for miRNA generation, and Dis3L2, the 3'-5' exonuclease that normally degrades miRNAs and mRNAs, could cause predisposition to Wilms tumors, demonstrating that miRNA can play a pivotal role in Wilms tumor development. Interestingly, Lin28, a direct target of miRNA let-7 and potent regulator of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation, is significantly elevated in some Wilms tumors, and enforced expression of Lin28 during kidney development could induce Wilms tumor. With the success in establishing mice nephroblastoma models through over-expressing IGF2 and deleting WT1, and advances in understanding the ENU-induced rat model, we are now able to explore the molecular and cellular mechanisms induced by these genetic, epigenetic, and miRNA alterations in animal models to understand the development of Wilms tumor. These animal models may also serve as valuable systems to assess new treatment targets and strategies for Wilms tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fang Tian
- Department of Pathophysiology, School of Basic Medicine, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, PR China
| | | | - Xiaolei Shi
- Department of Urology, Changhai Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China
| | - Yili Yang
- Center for Translational Medicine, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, PR China.
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