Isolation of cDNA encoding transcription factor Sp1 and functional analysis of the DNA binding domain

A pan-cancer analysis: predictive role of ZNF32 in cancer prognosis and immunotherapy response

The zinc finger protein 32 (ZNF32) has been associated with high expression in various cancers, underscoring its significant function in both cancer biology and immune response. To further elucidate the biological role of ZNF32 and identify potential immunotherapy targets in cancer, we conducted an in-depth analysis of ZNF32. We comprehensively investigated the expression of ZNF32 across tumors using diverse databases, including TCGA, CCLE, TIMER2.0, KM-Plotter, cBioPortal, ImmuCellAI. We investigated correlations between ZNF32 expression and various factors such as prognosis, immune infiltration, immunotherapy, DNA methylation, and biological functions. Furthermore, we performed in vitro research to validate the significance of ZNF32 in head and neck cancer (HNSC). Our study revealed that ZNF32 was high in various types of cancer, including ACC, BRCA, and others, indicating its important potential as a prognostic biomarker. Significant changes in CNA and DNA methylation were associated with high ZNF32 expression. ZNF32 was notably linked to various immune characteristics, including immune cell infiltration, MSI, TMB and immune checkpoint gene expression, indicating its potential in informing immunotherapy approaches. Interestingly, in FaDu and CAL27 cell lines, the group with elevated ZNF32 expression exhibited increased levels of immune checkpoint markers, such as CTLA-4 and PD-L1. Overexpression of ZNF32 significantly enhanced proliferation and migration in FaDu and CAL27 cell lines, as demonstrated through CCK-8 assays, colony formation, flow cytometry, Transwell migration, and Boyden invasion assays. Our in vitro experiments confirmed that ZNF32 promotes malignant behavior by driving HNSC cell proliferation and migration. These results imply that ZNF32 might be a promising target for tumor prognosis and immunotherapy. Our results highlight the important role of ZNF32 in tumorigenesis and provide novel perspectives for potential cancer treatment strategies.

TRIM40 interacts with ROCK1 directly and inhibits colorectal cancer cell proliferation through the c-Myc/p21 axis

BACKGROUND

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the most common malignancy of the digestive tract, and to date, morbidity and mortality rates remain high. While existing therapeutic methods have achieved certain effective outcomes, there are still many problems in treating this disease. Therefore, it is still urgent to constantly find new therapeutic targets in CRC that could lead to new therapeutics.

METHODS

Immunohistochemistry, Real-time PCR and Western Blot were employed to measure mRNA and protein levels of the target protein, respectively. The proliferation ability of CRC cells was evaluated using ATP assay, Soft agar assay, and nude mouse subcutaneous tumorigenesis assay. Protein Degradation Assay was conducted to determine protein degradation rate, while Ubiquitination assay was used to assess the ubiquitination modification level of target proteins. Immunoprecipitation assay was used to study protein interactions, and pull-down assay was employed to investigate direct interactions between proteins.

RESULTS

TRIM40 was significantly down-regulated in CRC tissues, with its expression levels positively correlating with disease prognosis. Using both in vitro and in vivo approaches, it was demonstrated that TRIM40 could significantly inhibit the proliferation of CRC cells. Molecular mechanism studies showed that TRIM40 directly binds to and ubiquitinates ROCK1 protein, accelerating its degradation and subsequently reducing the stability of c-Myc protein. This cascade of events results in the release of transcriptional inhibition of p21 by c-Myc, leading to increased p21 expression and G0/G1 phase arrest in CRC cells.

CONCLUSION

This research suggests that TRIM40 could be a valuable therapeutic target for the treatment of CRC.

A massively parallel reporter assay library to screen short synthetic promoters in mammalian cells

Cellular responses to stimuli underpin discoveries in drug development, synthetic biology, and general life sciences. We introduce a library comprising 6144 synthetic promoters, each shorter than 250 bp, designed as transcriptional readouts of cellular stimulus responses in massively parallel reporter assay format. This library facilitates precise detection and amplification of transcriptional activity from our promoters, enabling the systematic development of tunable reporters with dynamic ranges of 50-100 fold. Our library proved functional in numerous cell lines and responsive to a variety of stimuli, including metabolites, mitogens, toxins, and pharmaceutical agents, generating robust and scalable reporters effective in screening assays, biomarkers, and synthetic circuits attuned to endogenous cellular activities. Particularly valuable in therapeutic development, our library excels in capturing candidate reporters to signals mediated by drug targets, a feature we illustrate across nine diverse G-protein coupled receptors (GPCRs), critical targets in drug development. We detail how this tool isolates and defines discrete signaling pathways associated with specific GPCRs, elucidating their transcriptional signatures. With its ease of implementation, broad utility, publicly available data, and comprehensive documentation, our library will be beneficial in synthetic biology, cellular engineering, ligand exploration, and drug development.

KLF9 regulates osteogenic differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells

Osteoporosis is a progressive skeletal disease which is characterized by reduced bone mass and degradation of bone microstructure. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have the potential to inhibit osteoporosis since they are multipotent stem cells that can differentiate into multiple types of cells including osteoblasts. Hence the mechanism of osteogenic differentiation of MSCs deserves comprehensive study. Here we report that KLF9 is a novel regulator in osteogenic differentiation of MSCs. We observed that depletion of KLF9 can largely compromise the osteogenic differentiation ability of MSCs. In addition, we revealed that inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway could also affect osteogenic differentiation since KLF9 depletion inhibits PI3K expression. Finally, we discovered that KLF9 expression can be induced by dexamethasone which is an essential component in osteogenic induction medium. Taken together, our study provides new insights into the regulatory role of KLF9 in osteogenic differentiation of MSCs.

Position-dependent function of human sequence-specific transcription factors

Patterns of transcriptional activity are encoded in our genome through regulatory elements such as promoters or enhancers that, paradoxically, contain similar assortments of sequence-specific transcription factor (TF) binding sites1-3. Knowledge of how these sequence motifs encode multiple, often overlapping, gene expression programs is central to understanding gene regulation and how mutations in non-coding DNA manifest in disease4,5. Here, by studying gene regulation from the perspective of individual transcription start sites (TSSs), using natural genetic variation, perturbation of endogenous TF protein levels and massively parallel analysis of natural and synthetic regulatory elements, we show that the effect of TF binding on transcription initiation is position dependent. Analysing TF-binding-site occurrences relative to the TSS, we identified several motifs with highly preferential positioning. We show that these patterns are a combination of a TF's distinct functional profiles-many TFs, including canonical activators such as NRF1, NFY and Sp1, activate or repress transcription initiation depending on their precise position relative to the TSS. As such, TFs and their spacing collectively guide the site and frequency of transcription initiation. More broadly, these findings reveal how similar assortments of TF binding sites can generate distinct gene regulatory outcomes depending on their spatial configuration and how DNA sequence polymorphisms may contribute to transcription variation and disease and underscore a critical role for TSS data in decoding the regulatory information of our genome.

Toll-interacting protein is activated by the transcription factor GATA1 and Sp1 to negatively regulate NF-κB and MAPK pathways in the Japanese eel (Anguilla japonica)

Toll-interacting protein (Tollip) serves as a crucial inhibitory factor in the modulation of Toll-like receptor (TLR)-mediated innate immunological responses. The structure and function of Tollip have been well documented in mammals, yet the information in teleost remained limited. This work employed in vitro overexpression and RNA interference in vivo and in vitro to comprehensively examine the regulatory effects of AjTollip on NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways. The levels of p65, c-Fos, c-Jun, IL-1, IL-6, and TNF-α were dramatically reduced following overexpression of AjTollip, whereas knocking down AjTollip in vivo and in vitro enhanced those genes' expression. Protein molecular docking simulations showed AjTollip interacts with AjTLR2, AjIRAK4a, and AjIRAK4b. A better understanding of the transcriptional regulation of AjTollip is crucial to elucidating the role of Tollip in fish antibacterial response. Herein, we cloned and characterized a 2.2 kb AjTollip gene promoter sequence. The transcription factors GATA1 and Sp1 were determined to be associated with the activation of AjTollip expression by using promoter truncation and targeted mutagenesis techniques. Collectively, our results indicate that AjTollip suppresses the NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, leading to the decreased expression of the downstream inflammatory factors, and GATA1 and Sp1 play a vital role in regulating AjTollip expression.

MicroRNAs as the critical regulators of epithelial mesenchymal transition in pancreatic tumor cells

Pancreatic cancer (PC), as one of the main endocrine and digestive systems malignancies has the highest cancer related mortality in the world. Lack of the evident clinical symptoms and appropriate diagnostic markers in the early stages of tumor progression are the main reasons of the high mortality rate among PC patients. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate the molecular pathways involved in the PC progression, in order to introduce novel early diagnostic methods. Epithelial mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a critical cellular process associated with pancreatic tumor cells invasion and distant metastasis. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are also important regulators of EMT process. In the present review, we discussed the role of miRNAs in regulation of EMT process during PC progression. It has been reported that the miRNAs mainly regulate the EMT process in pancreatic tumor cells through the regulation of EMT-specific transcription factors and several signaling pathways such as WNT, NOTCH, TGF-β, JAK/STAT, and PI3K/AKT. Considering the high stability of miRNAs in body fluids and their role in regulation of EMT process, they can be introduced as the non-invasive diagnostic markers in the early stages of malignant pancreatic tumors. This review paves the way to introduce a non-invasive EMT based panel marker for the early tumor detection among PC patients.

Deficiency of Transcription Factor Sp1 Contributes to Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy

BACKGROUND

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most prevalent monogenic heart disorder. However, the pathogenesis of HCM, especially its nongenetic mechanisms, remains largely unclear. Transcription factors are known to be involved in various biological processes including cell growth. We hypothesized that SP1 (specificity protein 1), the first purified TF in mammals, plays a role in the cardiomyocyte growth and cardiac hypertrophy of HCM.

METHODS

Cardiac-specific conditional knockout of Sp1 mice were constructed to investigate the role of SP1 in the heart. The echocardiography, histochemical experiment, and transmission electron microscope were performed to analyze the cardiac phenotypes of cardiac-specific conditional knockout of Sp1 mice. RNA sequencing, chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing, and adeno-associated virus experiments in vivo were performed to explore the downstream molecules of SP1. To examine the therapeutic effect of SP1 on HCM, an SP1 overexpression vector was constructed and injected into the mutant allele of Myh6 R404Q/+ (Myh6 c. 1211C>T) HCM mice. The human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) from a patient with HCM were used to detect the potential therapeutic effects of SP1 in human HCM.

RESULTS

The cardiac-specific conditional knockout of Sp1 mice developed a typical HCM phenotype, displaying overt myocardial hypertrophy, interstitial fibrosis, and disordered myofilament. In addition, Sp1 knockdown dramatically increased the cell area of hiPSC-CMs and caused intracellular myofibrillar disorganization, which was similar to the hypertrophic cardiomyocytes of HCM. Mechanistically, Tuft1 was identified as the key target gene of SP1. The hypertrophic phenotypes induced by Sp1 knockdown in both hiPSC-CMs and mice could be rescued by TUFT1 (tuftelin 1) overexpression. Furthermore, SP1 overexpression suppressed the development of HCM in the mutant allele of Myh6 R404Q/+ mice and also reversed the hypertrophic phenotype of HCM hiPSC-CMs.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that SP1 deficiency leads to HCM. SP1 overexpression exhibits significant therapeutic effects on both HCM mice and HCM hiPSC-CMs, suggesting that SP1 could be a potential intervention target for HCM.

HOOK3 suppresses proliferation and metastasis in gastric cancer via the SP1/VEGFA axis

HOOK3, a member of the human hook microtubule-tethering protein family, has been implicated in the progression of cancer. However, the role of HOOK3 in the pathogenesis of gastric cancer (GC) remains incompletely understood. In this study, we investigated the expression of HOOK3 protein in GC tissues using immunohistochemistry (IHC). The findings of our study indicate that the expression levels of HOOK3 in GC tissues were relatively low. Furthermore, a significant negative association was seen between HOOK3 expression and the prognosis of patients with GC. The suppression of HOOK3 resulted in a notable increase in the proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival of GC cells. Conversely, the overexpression of HOOK3 had the opposite impact, reducing these cellular processes. Moreover, in vivo tests have shown evidence that the overexpression of HOOK3 significantly inhibited the formation of tumors and the spread of GC cells to the lungs. In a mechanistic manner, the analysis of RNA-seq data demonstrated that the knockdown of HOOK3 resulted in a notable increase in the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA) in GC cells. Furthermore, the upregulation of VEGFA counteracted the impacts of HOOK3 upregulation on the proliferation, migration, invasion, and survival of GC cells. Furthermore, it was revealed that specificity protein 1 (SP1) exhibited the ability to bind to the promoter region of VEGFA. Moreover, the overexpression of SP1 successfully counteracted the inhibitory impact of HOOK3 overexpression on the expression of VEGFA in GC cells. In summary, the results of our study indicate that HOOK3 has a role in inhibiting the growth, migration, invasion, and survival of GC cells by modulating the SP1/VEGFA pathway. These findings contribute significant knowledge to our understanding of the underlying mechanisms involved in the development of GC.

Krüppel-like Factor-9 and Krüppel-like Factor-13: Highly Related, Multi-Functional, Transcriptional Repressors and Activators of Oncogenesis

Specificity Proteins/Krüppel-like Factors (SP/KLF family) are a conserved family of transcriptional regulators. These proteins share three highly conserved, contiguous zinc fingers in their carboxy-terminus, requisite for binding to cis elements in DNA. Each SP/KLF protein has unique primary sequence within its amino-terminal and carboxy-terminal regions, and it is these regions which interact with co-activators, co-repressors, and chromatin-modifying proteins to support the transcriptional activation and repression of target genes. Krüppel-like Factor 9 (KLF9) and Krüppel-like Factor 13 (KLF13) are two of the smallest members of the SP/KLF family, are paralogous, emerged early in metazoan evolution, and are highly conserved. Paradoxically, while most similar in primary sequence, KLF9 and KLF13 display many distinct roles in target cells. In this article, we summarize the work that has identified the roles of KLF9 (and to a lesser degree KLF13) in tumor suppression or promotion via unique effects on differentiation, pro- and anti-inflammatory pathways, oxidative stress, and tumor immune cell infiltration. We also highlight the great diversity of miRNAs, lncRNAs, and circular RNAs which provide mechanisms for the ubiquitous tumor-specific suppression of KLF9 mRNA and protein. Elucidation of KLF9 and KLF13 in cancer biology is likely to provide new inroads to the understanding of oncogenesis and its prevention and treatments.

Sp1-mediated miR-193b suppresses atopic dermatitis by regulating HMGB1

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and recurrent inflammatory skin disease. Keratinocyte dysfunction plays a central role in AD development. MicroRNA is a novel player in many inflammatory and immune skin diseases. In this study, we investigated the potential function and regulatory mechanism of miR-193b in AD. Inflamed human keratinocytes (HaCaT) were established by tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α/interferon (IFN)-γ stimulation. Cell viability was measured using MTT assay, while the cell cycle was analyzed using flow cytometry. The cytokine levels were examined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The interaction between Sp1, miR-193b, and HMGB1 was analyzed using dual luciferase reporter and/or chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assays. Our results revealed that miR-193b upregulation enhanced the proliferation of TNF-α/IFN-γ-treated keratinocytes and repressed inflammatory injury. miR-193b negatively regulated high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) expression by directly targeting HMGB1. Furthermore, HMGB1 knockdown promoted keratinocyte proliferation and inhibited inflammatory injury by repressing nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) activation. During AD progression, HMGB1 overexpression abrogated increase of keratinocyte proliferation and repression of inflammatory injury caused by miR-193b overexpression. Moreover, transcription factor Sp1 was identified as the biological partner of the miR-193b promoter in promoting miR-193b expression. Therefore, Sp1 upregulation promotes keratinocyte proliferation and represses inflammatory injury during AD development via promoting miR-193b expression and repressing HMGB1/NF-κB activation.

Discovery and Validation of Context-Dependent Synthetic Mammalian Promoters

Cellular transcription enables cells to adapt to various stimuli and maintain homeostasis. Transcription factors bind to transcription response elements (TREs) in gene promoters, initiating transcription. Synthetic promoters, derived from natural TREs, can be engineered to control exogenous gene expression using endogenous transcription machinery. This technology has found extensive use in biological research for applications including reporter gene assays, biomarker development, and programming synthetic circuits in living cells. However, a reliable and precise method for selecting minimally-sized synthetic promoters with desired background, amplitude, and stimulation response profiles has been elusive. In this study, we introduce a massively parallel reporter assay library containing 6184 synthetic promoters, each less than 250 bp in length. This comprehensive library allows for rapid identification of promoters with optimal transcriptional output parameters across multiple cell lines and stimuli. We showcase this library's utility to identify promoters activated in unique cell types, and in response to metabolites, mitogens, cellular toxins, and agonism of both aminergic and non-aminergic GPCRs. We further show these promoters can be used in luciferase reporter assays, eliciting 50-100 fold dynamic ranges in response to stimuli. Our platform is effective, easily implemented, and provides a solution for selecting short-length promoters with precise performance for a multitude of applications.

Participation of Krüppel-like Factors in Atherogenesis

Atherosclerosis is an important problem in modern medicine, the keys to understanding many aspects of which are still not available to clinicians. Atherosclerosis develops as a result of a complex chain of events in which many cells of the vascular wall and peripheral blood flow are involved. Endothelial cells, which line the vascular wall in a monolayer, play an important role in vascular biology. A growing body of evidence strengthens the understanding of the multifaceted functions of endothelial cells, which not only organize the barrier between blood flow and tissues but also act as regulators of hemodynamics and play an important role in regulating the function of other cells in the vascular wall. Krüppel-like factors (KLFs) perform several biological functions in various cells of the vascular wall. The large family of KLFs in humans includes 18 members, among which KLF2 and KLF4 are at the crossroads between endothelial cell mechanobiology and immunometabolism, which play important roles in both the normal vascular wall and atherosclerosis.

DNA Methylation of the Dopamine Transporter DAT1 Gene—Bliss Seekers in the Light of Epigenetics

DNA methylation (leading to gene silencing) is one of the best-studied epigenetic mechanisms. It is also essential in regulating the dynamics of dopamine release in the synaptic cleft. This regulation relates to the expression of the dopamine transporter gene (DAT1). We examined 137 people addicted to nicotine, 274 addicted subjects, 105 sports subjects and 290 people from the control group. After applying the Bonferroni correction, our results show that as many as 24 out of 33 examined CpG islands had statistically significantly higher methylation in the nicotine-dependent subjects and athletes groups compared to the control group. Analysis of total DAT1 methylation revealed a statistically significant increase in the number of total methylated CpG islands in addicted subjects (40.94%), nicotine-dependent subjects (62.84%) and sports subjects (65.71%) compared to controls (42.36%). The analysis of the methylation status of individual CpG sites revealed a new direction of research on the biological aspects of regulating dopamine release in people addicted to nicotine, people practicing sports and people addicted to psychoactive substances.

Krüppel-like factor 15 in liver diseases: Insights into metabolic reprogramming

Liver diseases, characterized by metabolic disorder, have become a global public health problem with high morbidity and mortality. Krüppel-like factor 15 (KLF15) is a zinc-finger transcription factor mainly enriched in liver. Increasing evidence suggests that hepatic KLF15 is activated rapidly during fasting, and contributes to the regulation of gluconeogenesis, lipid, amino acid catabolism, bile acids, endobiotic and xenobiotic metabolism. This review summarizes the latest advances of KLF15 in metabolic reprogramming, and explore the function of KLF15 in acute liver injury, hepatitis B virus, and autoimmune hepatitis. which aims to evaluate the potential of KLF15 as a therapeutic target and prognostic biomarker for liver diseases.

Targeting the Major Groove of the Palindromic d(GGCGCC)2 Sequence by Oligopeptide Derivatives of Anthraquinone Intercalators

GC-rich sequences are recurring motifs in oncogenes and retroviruses and could be targeted by noncovalent major-groove therapeutic ligands. We considered the palindromic sequence d(G₁G₂C₃G₄C₅C₆)₂, and designed several oligopeptide derivatives of the anticancer intercalator mitoxantrone. The stability of their complexes with an 18-mer oligonucleotide encompassing this sequence in its center was validated using polarizable molecular dynamics. We report the most salient structural features of two novel compounds, having a dialkylammonium group as a side chain on both arms. The anthraquinone ring is intercalated in the central d(CpG)₂ sequence with its long axis perpendicular to that of the two base pairs. On each strand, this enables each ammonium group to bind in-register to O₆/N₇ of the two facing G bases upstream. We subsequently designed tris-intercalating derivatives, each dialkylammonium substituted with a connector to an N₉-aminoacridine intercalator extending our target range from a six- to a ten-base-pair palindromic sequence, d(C₁G₂G₃G₄C₅G₆C₇C₈C₉G₁₀)₂. The structural features of the complex of the most promising derivative are reported. The present design strategy paves the way for designing intercalator-oligopeptide derivatives with even higher selectivity, targeting an increased number of DNA bases, going beyond ten.

Kruppel-like Factors in Skeletal Physiology and Pathologies

Kruppel-like factors (KLFs) belong to a large group of zinc finger-containing transcription factors with amino acid sequences resembling the Drosophila gap gene Krüppel. Since the first report of molecular cloning of the KLF family gene, the number of KLFs has increased rapidly. Currently, 17 murine and human KLFs are known to play crucial roles in the regulation of transcription, cell proliferation, cellular differentiation, stem cell maintenance, and tissue and organ pathogenesis. Recent evidence has shown that many KLF family molecules affect skeletal cells and regulate their differentiation and function. This review summarizes the current understanding of the unique roles of each KLF in skeletal cells during normal development and skeletal pathologies.

The genetic polymorphisms in the SP4 gene and the risk of gastric cancer

Aim: Gastric cancer (GC) is the leading cause of cancer death, and is associated with host genetic factors. This study aimed to determine the impact of SP4 polymorphisms on GC. Materials & methods: Four hundred and eighty-nine GC patients and 481 healthy subjects were recruited. The association between single nucleotide polymorphisms and GC risk was investigated by logistic regression analysis. Results: It was observed that rs39302 and rs7811417 were related to a decreased GC risk. Stratified analyses showed that rs39302 decreased GC susceptibility at ages ≤60 years, in men, GC patients who had previously smoked and drank. rs7811417 had a risk-decreasing impact on the patients aged ≤60 years, in men, GC patients who were nonsmoking and nondrinking. rs35929923 decreased the GC risk of patients in grade III-IV and the lymph node metastasis subgroup. Conclusion: SP4 gene polymorphisms are associated with GC risk.

Methylation in the Promoter Region of the Dopamine Transporter DAT1 Gene in People Addicted to Nicotine

The dopaminergic system is a crucial element of the addiction processes. The dopamine transporter modulates the dynamics and levels of released dopamine in the synaptic cleft. Therefore, regulation of dopamine transporter (DAT1) gene expression is critical for maintaining homeostasis in the dopaminergic system. The aim of our study is evaluation of the methylation status of 33 CpG islands located in the DAT1 gene promoter region related to nicotine dependency. We investigated 142 nicotine-dependent subjects and 238 controls. Our results show that as many as 14 of the 33 CpG islands tested had statistically significantly higher methylation in the nicotine-dependent group compared to the control group. After applying Bonferroni correction, the total number of methylation sites was also significantly higher in the dependent subjects group. The analysis of the methylation status of particular CpG sites revealed a new direction of research regarding the biological aspects of nicotine addiction.

A Novel SNP in the Promoter Region of IGF1 Associated With Yunshang Black Goat Kidding Number via Promoting Transcription Activity by SP1

IGF1, a member of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF) superfamily, is also known as the growth-promoting factor (somatomedin C). IGF1 is involved in vertebrate growth and development, immunity, cell metabolism, reproduction, and breeding. However, there are relatively few studies on the relationship between IGF1 and goat reproduction. In this study, a new transcription factor SP1 bound to the IGF1 g. 64943050T>C promoted granulosa cell (GC) proliferation. A mutation g.64943050T>C located in the promoter region of IGF1 was identified. Association analysis revealed that the kidding number in the first and second litters and the average number of first three litters of the CC genotype (2.206 ± 0.044, 2.254 ± 0.056, and 2.251 ± 0.031) were significantly higher than those in the TC genotype (1.832 ± 0.049, 1.982 ± 0.06, and 1.921 ± 0.034) and TT genotype (1.860 ± 0.090, 1.968 ± 0.117, and 1.924 ± 0.062) (p < 0.05). The kidding number in the third litter of the CC genotype (2.355 ± 0.057) was significantly higher than that in the TT genotype (2.000 ± 0.107) (p < 0.05). Then, the function of this mutation was validated by the dual-luciferase reporter assay and EMSA. The results showed that the luciferase activity of IGF1-mutant-C was significantly higher than that of IGF1-Wild-T (p < 0.05). The EMSA also showed that the binding ability of IGF1-mutant-C was higher than that of IGF1-Wild-T (p < 0.05). Subsequently, the transcription factor SP1 was predicted to bind to the mutation of IGF1 (g.64943050T>C). Overexpression of SP1 promotes the expression of IGF1 in the primary granulosa cells (GCs). The results of the CCK-8 assay and the expression of GC proliferation factors (CDK4, cyclin D1, and cyclin D2) demonstrated that SP1 promoted GC proliferation by regulating IGF1 expression. Our results suggested that the IGF1 g.64943050T>C was significantly associated with the kidding number of Yunshang black goats, and SP1 as a transcription factor of IGF1 binding to the mutation T>C regulated the expression of IGF1. Furthermore, SP1 promoted goat GC proliferation by regulating the expression of IGF1, which provides a new insight for the goat fertility trait.

SWI/SNF senses carbon starvation with a pH-sensitive low complexity sequence

It is increasingly appreciated that intracellular pH changes are important biological signals. This motivates the elucidation of molecular mechanisms of pH sensing. We determined that a nucleocytoplasmic pH oscillation was required for the transcriptional response to carbon starvation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complex is a key mediator of this transcriptional response. A glutamine-rich low-complexity domain (QLC) in the SNF5 subunit of this complex, and histidines within this sequence, was required for efficient transcriptional reprogramming. Furthermore, the SNF5 QLC mediated pH-dependent recruitment of SWI/SNF to an acidic transcription factor in a reconstituted nucleosome remodeling assay. Simulations showed that protonation of histidines within the SNF5 QLC leads to conformational expansion, providing a potential biophysical mechanism for regulation of these interactions. Together, our results indicate that pH changes are a second messenger for transcriptional reprogramming during carbon starvation and that the SNF5 QLC acts as a pH sensor.

ZNF32 promotes the self-renewal of colorectal cancer cells by regulating the LEPR-STAT3 signaling pathway

Due to the self-renewal characteristics and tumorigenic abilities of cancer stem cells (CSCs), CSCs have been demonstrated to play vital roles in carcinogenesis and antitumor therapy. Our previous report found that Krüppel-like family members (KLFs) and zinc finger protein 32 (ZNF32) play oncogenic roles in carcinogenesis. However, the roles and mechanism of ZNF32 in CSCs are still unknown. Our study demonstrated that ZNF32 was highly expressed in colorectal CSCs, which promoted their self-renewal capacity and tumorigenicity. Overexpression of ZNF32 in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells increased their self-renewal capacity. Furthermore, we identified the leptin receptor (LEPR) as the downstream target gene of ZNF32 and verified that the ZNF32-mediated regulation of CRC self-renewal is achieved via the LEPR- signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) pathway. Moreover, ZNF32 regulated the expression of SOX2, a core transcription factor in stem cells. Finally, we demonstrated that ZNF32 and LEPR were positively correlated in CRC tissues. ZNF32 expression was negatively correlated with the prognosis of CRC patients. Therefore, therapeutically targeting the ZNF32-LEPR-STAT3 pathway in the clinic is tempting.

The androgen receptor inhibits transcription of GPER1 by preventing Sp1 and Sp3 from binding to the promoters in prostate cancer cells

G-1, a GPER1 agonist, was shown to inhibit the growth of castration-resistant mouse xenografts but not their parental androgen-dependent tumors. It is currently unknown how the androgen receptor (AR) represses GPER1 expression. Here, we found that two GPER1 mRNA variants (GPER1v2 and GPER1v4) were transcriptionally repressed, not via transcript destabilization, by the androgen-activated AR. Although no AR binding was found in all active promoters near GPER1, data from promoter assays suggested that both variants' promoters were inhibited by androgen treatment. Site-directed mutagenesis on Sp1/Sp3 binding sites revealed their role in supporting the basal expression of GPER1. Knockdown of Sp1 and Sp3 together but not separately repressed GPER1 expression whereas overexpression of both Sp1 and Sp3 together was required to alleviate AR repression of GPER1. Based on the chromatin immunoprecipitation data, Sp3 was found to bind to the promoters prior to the binding of Sp1 and RNA polymerase II. However, the binding of all three transcription factors was inhibited by DHT treatment. Concordantly, DHT treatment induced nuclear interactions between AR and Sp1 or Sp3. Taken together, these results indicate that AR represses transcription of GPER1 by binding to Sp1 and Sp3 independently to prevent their transactivation of the GPER1 promoters.

Beyond HAT Adaptor: TRRAP Liaisons with Sp1-Mediated Transcription

The members of the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinase (PIKK) family play vital roles in multiple biological processes, including DNA damage response, metabolism, cell growth, mRNA decay, and transcription. TRRAP, as the only member lacking the enzymatic activity in this family, is an adaptor protein for several histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes and a scaffold protein for multiple transcription factors. TRRAP has been demonstrated to regulate various cellular functions in cell cycle progression, cell stemness maintenance and differentiation, as well as neural homeostasis. TRRAP is known to be an important orchestrator of many molecular machineries in gene transcription by modulating the activity of some key transcription factors, including E2F1, c-Myc, p53, and recently, Sp1. This review summarizes the biological and biochemical studies on the action mode of TRRAP together with the transcription factors, focusing on how TRRAP-HAT mediates the transactivation of Sp1-governing biological processes, including neurodegeneration.

Different SP1 binding dynamics at individual genomic loci in human cells

Using a tamoxifen-inducible time-course ChIP-sequencing (ChIP-seq) approach, we show that the ubiquitous transcription factor SP1 has different binding dynamics at its target sites in the human genome. SP1 very rapidly reaches maximal binding levels at some sites, but binding kinetics at other sites is biphasic, with rapid half-maximal binding followed by a considerably slower increase to maximal binding. While ∼70% of SP1 binding sites are located at promoter regions, loci with slow SP1 binding kinetics are enriched in enhancer and Polycomb-repressed regions. Unexpectedly, SP1 sites with fast binding kinetics tend to have higher quality and more copies of the SP1 sequence motif. Different cobinding factors associate near SP1 binding sites depending on their binding kinetics and on their location at promoters or enhancers. For example, NFY and FOS are preferentially associated near promoter-bound SP1 sites with fast binding kinetics, whereas DNA motifs of ETS and homeodomain proteins are preferentially observed at sites with slow binding kinetics. At promoters but not enhancers, proteins involved in sumoylation and PML bodies associate more strongly with slow SP1 binding sites than with the fast binding sites. The speed of SP1 binding is not associated with nucleosome occupancy, and it is not necessarily coupled to higher transcriptional activity. These results with SP1 are in contrast to those of human TBP, indicating that there is no common mechanism affecting transcription factor binding kinetics. The biphasic kinetics at some SP1 target sites suggest the existence of distinct chromatin states at these loci in different cells within the overall population.

Head and Neck Cancers Are Not Alike When Tarred with the Same Brush: An Epigenetic Perspective from the Cancerization Field to Prognosis

Simple Summary

Squamous cell carcinomas affect different head and neck subsites and, although these tumors arise from the same epithelial lining and share risk factors, they differ in terms of clinical behavior and molecular carcinogenesis mechanisms. Differences between HPV-negative and HPV-positive tumors are those most frequently explored, but further data suggest that the molecular heterogeneity observed among head and neck subsites may go beyond HPV infection. In this review, we explore how alterations of DNA methylation and microRNA expression contribute to head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) development and progression. The association of these epigenetic alterations with risk factor exposure, early carcinogenesis steps, transformation risk, and prognosis are described. Finally, we discuss the potential application of the use of epigenetic biomarkers in HNSCC.

Abstract

Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) are among the ten most frequent types of cancer worldwide and, despite all efforts, are still diagnosed at late stages and show poor overall survival. Furthermore, HNSCC patients often experience relapses and the development of second primary tumors, as a consequence of the field cancerization process. Therefore, a better comprehension of the molecular mechanisms involved in HNSCC development and progression may enable diagnosis anticipation and provide valuable tools for prediction of prognosis and response to therapy. However, the different biological behavior of these tumors depending on the affected anatomical site and risk factor exposure, as well as the high genetic heterogeneity observed in HNSCC are major obstacles in this pursue. In this context, epigenetic alterations have been shown to be common in HNSCC, to discriminate the tumor anatomical subsites, to be responsive to risk factor exposure, and show promising results in biomarker development. Based on this, this review brings together the current knowledge on alterations of DNA methylation and microRNA expression in HNSCC natural history, focusing on how they contribute to each step of the process and on their applicability as biomarkers of exposure, HNSCC development, progression, and response to therapy.

Transcription factors specificity protein and nuclear receptor 4A1 in pancreatic cancer

Specificity protein (Sp) transcription factors (TFs) Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4, and the orphan nuclear receptor 4A1 (NR4A1) are highly expressed in pancreatic tumors and Sp1 is a negative prognostic factor for pancreatic cancer patient survival. Results of knockdown and overexpression of Sp1, Sp3 and Sp4 in pancreatic and other cancer lines show that these TFs are individually pro-oncogenic factors and loss of one Sp TF is not compensated by other members. NR4A1 is also a pro-oncogenic factor and both NR4A1 and Sp TFs exhibit similar functions in pancreatic cancer cells and regulate cell growth, survival, migration and invasion. There is also evidence that Sp TFs and NR4A1 regulate some of the same genes including survivin, epidermal growth factor receptor, PAX3-FOXO1, α5- and α6-integrins, β1-, β3- and β4-integrins; this is due to NR4A1 acting as a cofactor and mediating NR4A1/Sp1/4-regulated gene expression through GC-rich gene promoter sites. Several studies show that drugs targeting Sp downregulation or NR4A1 antagonists are highly effective inhibitors of Sp/NR4A1-regulated pathways and genes in pancreatic and other cancer cells, and the triterpenoid celastrol is a novel dual-acting agent that targets both Sp TFs and NR4A1.

Sp1-Induced FNBP1 Drives Rigorous 3D Cell Motility in EMT-Type Gastric Cancer Cells

Cancer is heterogeneous among patients, requiring a thorough understanding of molecular subtypes and the establishment of therapeutic strategies based on its behavior. Gastric cancer (GC) is adenocarcinoma with marked heterogeneity leading to different prognoses. As an effort, we previously identified a stem-like subtype, which is prone to metastasis, with the worst prognosis. Here, we propose FNBP1 as a key to high-level cell motility, present only in aggressive GC cells. FNBP1 is also up-regulated in both the GS subtype from the TCGA project and the EMT subtype from the ACRG study, which include high portions of diffuse histologic type. Ablation of FNBP1 in the EMT-type GC cell line brought changes in the cell periphery in transcriptomic analysis. Indeed, loss of FNBP1 resulted in the loss of invasive ability, especially in a three-dimensional culture system. Live imaging indicated active movement of actin in FNBP1-overexpressed cells cultured in an extracellular matrix dome. To find the transcription factor which drives FNBP1 expression in an EMT-type GC cell line, the FNBP1 promoter region and DNA binding motifs were analyzed. Interestingly, the Sp1 motif was abundant in the promoter, and pharmacological inhibition and knockdown of Sp1 down-regulated FNBP1 promoter activity and the transcription level, respectively. Taken together, our results propose Sp1-driven FNBP1 as a key molecule explaining aggressiveness in EMT-type GC cells.

Kaempferol Regulates the Expression of Airway MUC5AC Mucin Gene via IκBα-NF-κB p65 and p38-p44/42-Sp1 Signaling Pathways

In the present study, kaempferol, a flavonoidal natural compound found in Polygonati Rhizoma, was investigated for its potential effect on the gene expression and production of airway MUC5AC mucin. A human respiratory epithelial NCI-H292 cells was pretreated with kaempferol for 30 min and stimulated with epidermal growth factor (EGF) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA), for the following 24 h. The effect on PMA-induced nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway or EGF-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway was investigated. Kaempferol suppressed the production and gene expression of MUC5AC mucins, induced by PMA through the inhibition of degradation of inhibitory kappa Bα (IκBα), and NF-κB p65 nuclear translocation. Also, kaempferol inhibited EGF-induced gene expression and production of MUC5AC mucin through regulating the phosphorylation of EGFR, phosphorylation of p38 MAPK and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 (p44/42), and the nuclear expression of specificity protein-1 (Sp1). These results suggest kaempferol regulates the gene expression and production of mucin through regulation of NF-κB and MAPK signaling pathways, in human airway epithelial cells.

A sequence-based prediction of Kruppel-like factors proteins using XGBoost and optimized features

Krüppel-like factors (KLF) refer to a group of conserved zinc finger-containing transcription factors that are involved in various physiological and biological processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation, development, and apoptosis. Some bioinformatics methods such as sequence similarity searches, multiple sequence alignment, phylogenetic reconstruction, and gene synteny analysis have also been proposed to broaden our knowledge of KLF proteins. In this study, we proposed a novel computational approach by using machine learning on features calculated from primary sequences. To detail, our XGBoost-based model is efficient in identifying KLF proteins, with accuracy of 96.4% and MCC of 0.704. It also holds a promising performance when testing our model on an independent dataset. Therefore, our model could serve as an useful tool to identify new KLF proteins and provide necessary information for biologists and researchers in KLF proteins. Our machine learning source codes as well as datasets are freely available at https://github.com/khanhlee/KLF-XGB.

Mithramycin and Analogs for Overcoming Cisplatin Resistance in Ovarian Cancer

Ovarian cancer is a highly deadly malignancy in which recurrence is considered incurable. Resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy bodes a particularly abysmal prognosis, underscoring the need for novel therapeutic agents and strategies. The use of mithramycin, an antineoplastic antibiotic, has been previously limited by its narrow therapeutic window. Recent advances in semisynthetic methods have led to mithramycin analogs with improved pharmacological profiles. Mithramycin inhibits the activity of the transcription factor Sp1, which is closely linked with ovarian tumorigenesis and platinum-resistance. This article summarizes recent clinical developments related to mithramycin and postulates a role for the use of mithramycin, or its analog, in the treatment of platinum-resistant ovarian cancer.

A novel mode of interaction between intrinsically disordered proteins

An increasing number of proteins, which have neither regular secondary nor well-defined tertiary structures, have been found to be present in cells. The structure of these proteins is highly flexible and disordered under physiological (native) conditions, and they are called “intrinsically disordered” proteins (IDPs). Many of the IDPs are involved in interactions with other biomolecules such as DNA, RNA, carbohydrates, and proteins. While these IDPs are largely unstructured by themselves, marked conformational changes often occur upon binding to an interacting partner, which is known as the “coupled folding and binding mechanism”, which enable them to change the conformation to become compatible with the shape of the multiple target biomolecules. We have studied the structure and interaction of eukaryotic transcription factors Sp1 and TAF4, and found that both of them have long intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). One of the IDRs in Sp1 exhibited homo-oligomer formation. In addition, the same region was used for the interaction with another IDR found in the TAF4 molecule. In both cases, we have not detected any significant conformational change in that region, suggesting a prominent and novel binding mode for IDPs/IDRs, which are not categorized by the well-accepted concept of the coupled folding and binding mechanism.

MYCT1 inhibits the EMT and migration of laryngeal cancer cells via the SP1/miR-629-3p/ESRP2 pathway

MYCT1 has an inhibitory effect on the migration of laryngeal cancer cells, although the underlying molecular mechanism remains unknown. In this study, we aimed to explore the mechanism of MYCT1 in the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migration of laryngeal cancer cells. We found that MYCT1 significantly decreased the expression of miR-629-3p but increased the expression of ESRP2 in laryngeal cancer cells. The expression of miR-629-3p and ESRP2 in laryngeal cancer tissues showed significantly positive and negative correlations with patient metastasis, respectively. miR-629-3p was confirmed to repress the expression of ESRP2 by targeting its 3'UTR. SP1 was verified to be a direct transcription factor for miR-629-3p and a downstream target of MYCT1. Moreover, MYCT1 inhibited the EMT and migration of laryngeal cancer cells through the SP1/miR-629-3p/ESRP2 pathway. Taken together, our results establish a novel MYCT1 signaling pathway in the EMT and migration of laryngeal cancer cells, thus providing important insights for further studying the pathway in the diagnosis and treatment of laryngeal cancer.

Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens suppress Foxp3 promoter activity via a SP1-dependent mechanism

Toxoplasma gondii excreted-secreted antigens (ESA) could result in adverse outcomes of pregnancy including abortion, stillbirth, foetal infection or teratogenesis in mice during early stage of pregnancy. Defective generation or function of regulatory T cells (Tregs) may account for those adverse pregnancy outcomes. Forkhead box p3 (Foxp3), which is the key transcriptional factor of Tregs, modulates its development and maintains inhibitory function. We previously demonstrated that ESA inhibited Foxp3 expression by attenuating transforming growth factor β RII/Smad2/Smad3/Smad4 pathway. In this study, we propose to study the role of ESA on the activity of Foxp3 promoter and explore potential mechanisms. We demonstrated that ESA suppressed Foxp3 promoter activity using dual-luciferase reporter assay. ESA functioned at -443/-96 region of Foxp3 promoter to suppress its activity using truncated fragments of Foxp3 promoter. Further analysis revealed that suppressive role of ESA on Foxp3 promoter activity is related to specificity protein 1 (SP1). Transfection of expression plasmid of pcDNA3.1-SP1 could restore the down-regulation of Foxp3 induced by ESA. In conclusion, this study provides a new mechanism by which ESA could inhibit the Foxp3 promoter activity via SP1.

A frameshift variant in specificity protein 1 triggers superactivation of Sp1-mediated transcription in familial bone marrow failure

Inherited bone marrow failure (BMF) syndromes are a heterogeneous group of diseases characterized by defective hematopoiesis and often predisposing to myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and acute myelogenous leukemia. We have studied a large family consisting of several affected individuals with hematologic abnormalities, including one family member who died of acute leukemia. By whole-exome sequencing, we identified a novel frameshift variant in the ubiquitously expressed transcription factor specificity protein 1 (SP1). This heterozygous variant (c.1995delA) truncates the canonical Sp1 molecule in the highly conserved C-terminal DNA-binding zinc finger domains. Transcriptomic analysis and gene promoter characterization in patients' blood revealed a hypermorphic effect of this Sp1 variant, triggering superactivation of Sp1-mediated transcription and driving significant up-regulation of Sp1 target genes. This familial genetic study indicates a central role for Sp1 in causing autosomal dominant transmission of BMF, thereby confirming its critical role in hematopoiesis in humans.

miR‑539 suppresses the proliferation, migration, invasion and epithelial mesenchymal transition of pancreatic cancer cells through targeting SP1

MicroRNA (miR)‑539 has inhibitory effects on certain types of cancer, but its role in pancreatic cancer (PCa) remains unclear. The present study investigated the effects of miR‑539 on PCa, and aimed to determine possible therapeutic targets for the treatment of PCa. The expression of miR‑539 in PCa tissues, paired normal adjacent tissues and PCa cell lines (CAPAN‑2, BxPC3, CFPAC1, SW1990 and PANC1), and human non‑cancerous pancreatic cells (hTRET‑HPNE) was determined and compared. The effects of upregulation and downregulation of miR‑539 on proliferation, apoptosis, cell cycle, invasion, migration and epithelial‑mesenchymal transition (EMT) of PCa cells were investigated. Additionally, the target gene of miR‑539 was predicted and its effects on PCa cells were further investigated. The results revealed low expression of miR‑539 in PCa tissues and cell lines. Additionally, increasing miR‑539 expression inhibited the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT of PCa cells and induced apoptosis by blocking G1 phase of the cell cycle, while reducing miR‑539 expression had the opposite results. Furthermore, specificity protein 1 (SP1) was found to be the target gene of miR‑539. SP1 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion and EMT transformation of PCa cells, but these effects were reversed by high expression of miR‑539. Additionally, miR‑539 suppressed the proliferation, metastasis, invasion and EMT transformation of PCa cells through targeting SP1. Therefore, miR‑539 overexpression may contribute toward development of novel therapeutic strategies for PCa in the future.

Expression of the zinc finger transcription factor Sp6-9 in the velvet worm Euperipatoides kanangrensis suggests a conserved role in appendage development in Panarthropoda

The Sp-family genes encode important transcription factors in animal development. Here we investigate the embryonic expression patterns of the complete set of Sp-genes in the velvet worm Euperipatoides kanangrensis (Onychophora), with a special focus on the Sp6-9 ortholog. In arthropods, Sp6-9, the ortholog of the Drosophila melanogaster D-Sp1 gene plays a conserved role in appendage development. Our data show that the expression of Sp6-9 during the development of the velvet worm is conserved, suggesting that the key function of the Sp6-9 gene dates back to at least the last common ancestor of arthropods and onychophorans and thus likely the last common ancestor of Panarthropoda.

Transcriptional Regulation of Osteoclastogenesis: The Emerging Role of KLF2

Dysregulation of osteoclastic differentiation and its activity is a hallmark of various musculoskeletal disease states. In this review, the complex molecular factors underlying osteoclastic differentiation and function are evaluated. The emerging role of KLF2 in regulation of osteoclastic differentiation is examined, specifically in the context of rheumatoid arthritis in which it has been most extensively studied among the musculoskeletal diseases. The therapies that exist to manage diseases associated with osteoclastogenesis are numerous and diverse. They are varied in their mechanisms of action and in the outcomes they produce. For this review, therapies targeting osteoclasts will be emphasized, though it should be noted that many therapies exist which bolster the action of osteoblasts. A new targeted molecular approach is under investigation for the future potential therapeutic development of rheumatoid arthritis.

Hypoxia and the hypoxia inducible factor 1α activate protein kinase A by repressing RII beta subunit transcription

Overactivation of the cAMP signal transduction pathway plays a central role in the pathogenesis of endocrine tumors. Genetic aberrations leading to increased intracellular cAMP or directly affecting PKA subunit expression have been identified in inherited and sporadic endocrine tumors, but are rare indicating the presence of nongenomic pathological PKA activation. In the present study, we examined the impact of hypoxia on PKA activation using human growth hormone (GH)-secreting pituitary tumors as a model of an endocrine disease displaying PKA-CREB overactivation. We show that hypoxia activates PKA and enhances CREB transcriptional activity and subsequently GH oversecretion. This is due to a previously uncharacterized ability of HIF-1α to suppress the transcription of the PKA regulatory subunit 2B (PRKAR2B) by sequestering Sp1 from the PRKAR2B promoter. The present study reveals a novel mechanism through which the transcription factor HIF-1α transduces environmental signals directly onto PKA activity, without affecting intracellular cAMP concentrations. By identifying a point of interaction between the cellular microenvironment and intracellular enzyme activation, neoplastic, and nonneoplastic diseases involving overactivated PKA pathway may be more efficiently targeted.

LncRNA AK045171 protects the heart from cardiac hypertrophy by regulating the SP1/MG53 signalling pathway

Hearts often undergo abnormal remodelling and hypertrophic growth in response to pathological stress. Long non-coding RNAs (LncRNAs) can change cardiac function and participate in regulation of cardiac hypertrophy. The present study aims to identify the role of AK045171 in cardiac hypertrophy and the underlying mechanism in hypertrophic cascades. Mice with cardiac hypertrophy were established through transverse aortic constriction (TAC). Cardiac hypertrophy in cardiomyocytes was induced by angiotensin II (angII). The expression of AK045171 and its target gene SP1 was examined in cardiomyocytes transfected with miRNA. The AK045171 expression level was downregulated in mice after TAC surgery. Overexpression of AK045171 attenuated cardiac hypertrophy both in vitro and in vivo. The mechanism study indicated that AK045171 binds with SP1, which promotes transcription activation of MEG3. It is suggested that overexpression of AK045171 might have clinical potential to suppress cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure.

T-2 toxin upregulates the expression of human cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1) by enhancing NRF1 and Sp1 interaction

T-2 toxin is a major pollutant in crops and feedstuffs. Due to its high toxicity in a variety of organisms, T-2 toxin is of great concern as a threat to humans and to animal breeding. Overexpression of CYP1A1 may contribute to carcinogenesis, and CYP1A1 may be a promising target for the prevention and treatment of human malignancies. Therefore, it is essential to understand the regulatory mechanism by which T-2 toxin induces CYP1A1 expression in human cells. In this study, we confirmed that T-2 toxin (100 ng/mL) induced the expression of CYP1A1 in HepG2 cells through NRF1 and Sp1 bound to the promoter instead of through the well-recognized Aromatic hydrocarbon receptors (AhR). In cells treated with T-2 toxin, Sp1, but not NRF1, was significantly upregulated. However, T-2 toxin apparently promoted the interaction between NRF1 and Sp1 proteins, as revealed by IP analysis. Furthermore, in T-2 toxin-treated HepG2 cells, nuclear translocation of NRF1 was enhanced, while knockdown of Sp1 ablated NRF1 nuclear enrichment. Our results revealed that the upregulation of CYP1A1 by T-2 toxin in HepG2 cells depended on enhanced interaction between Sp1 and NRF1. This finding suggests the tumorigenic features of T-2 toxin might be related to the CYP1A1, which provides new insights to understand the toxicological effect of T-2 toxin.

Validated inference of smoking habits from blood with a finite DNA methylation marker set

Inferring a person’s smoking habit and history from blood is relevant for complementing or replacing self-reports in epidemiological and public health research, and for forensic applications. However, a finite DNA methylation marker set and a validated statistical model based on a large dataset are not yet available. Employing 14 epigenome-wide association studies for marker discovery, and using data from six population-based cohorts (N = 3764) for model building, we identified 13 CpGs most suitable for inferring smoking versus non-smoking status from blood with a cumulative Area Under the Curve (AUC) of 0.901. Internal fivefold cross-validation yielded an average AUC of 0.897 ± 0.137, while external model validation in an independent population-based cohort (N = 1608) achieved an AUC of 0.911. These 13 CpGs also provided accurate inference of current (average AUC_{crossvalidation} 0.925 ± 0.021, AUC_{externalvalidation}0.914), former (0.766 ± 0.023, 0.699) and never smoking (0.830 ± 0.019, 0.781) status, allowed inferring pack-years in current smokers (10 pack-years 0.800 ± 0.068, 0.796; 15 pack-years 0.767 ± 0.102, 0.752) and inferring smoking cessation time in former smokers (5 years 0.774 ± 0.024, 0.760; 10 years 0.766 ± 0.033, 0.764; 15 years 0.767 ± 0.020, 0.754). Model application to children revealed highly accurate inference of the true non-smoking status (6 years of age: accuracy 0.994, N = 355; 10 years: 0.994, N = 309), suggesting prenatal and passive smoking exposure having no impact on model applications in adults. The finite set of DNA methylation markers allow accurate inference of smoking habit, with comparable accuracy as plasma cotinine use, and smoking history from blood, which we envision becoming useful in epidemiology and public health research, and in medical and forensic applications.

A 50 year history of technologies that drove discovery in eukaryotic transcription regulation

Transcription regulation is critical to organism development and homeostasis. Control of expression of the 20,000 genes in human cells requires many hundreds of proteins acting through sophisticated multistep mechanisms. In this Historical Perspective, I highlight the progress that has been made in elucidating eukaryotic transcriptional mechanisms through an array of disciplines and approaches, and how this concerted effort has been driven by the development of new technologies.

Inhibitor of growth 4 affects hypoxia-induced migration and angiogenesis regulation in retinal pigment epithelial cells

Inhibitor of growth 4 (ING4), a potential tumor suppressor, is implicated in cell migration and angiogenesis. However, its effects on diabetic retinopathy (DR) have not been elucidated. In this study, we aimed to evaluate ING4 expression in normal and diabetic rats and clarify its effects on hypoxia-induced dysfunction in human retinal pigment epithelial (ARPE-19) cells. A Type 1 diabetic model was generated by injecting rats intraperitoneally with streptozotocin and then killed them 4, 8, or 12 weeks later. ING4 expression in retinal tissue was detected using western blot analysis, reverse transcription quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR), and immunohistochemistry assays. After transfection with an ING4 overexpression lentiviral vector or small interfering RNA (siRNA), ARPE-19 migration under hypoxia was tested using wound healing and transwell assays. The angiogenic effect of conditioned medium (CM) from ARPE-19 cells was examined by assessing human retinal endothelial cell (HREC) capillary tube formation. Additionally, western blot analysis and RT-qPCR were performed to investigate the signaling pathways in which ING4, specificity protein 1 (Sp1), matrix metalloproteinase 2 (MMP-2), MMP-9, and vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A) were involved. Here, we found that ING4 expression was significantly reduced in the diabetic rats' retinal tissue. Silencing ING4 aggravated hypoxia-induced ARPE-19 cell migration. CM collected from ING4 siRNA-transfected ARPE-19 cells under hypoxia promoted HREC angiogenesis. These effects were reversed by ING4 overexpression. Furthermore, ING4 suppressed MMP-2, MMP-9, and VEGF-A expression in an Sp1-dependent manner in hypoxia-conditioned ARPE-19 cells. Overall, our results provide valuable mechanistic insights into the protective effects of ING4 on hypoxia-induced migration and angiogenesis regulation in ARPE-19 cells. Restoring ING4 may be a novel strategy for treating DR.

Role of Sp1 expression in gastric cancer: A meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis

Sp1 (specificity protein 1) is an important transcription factor that regulates multiple cancer-related genes. A number of published studies have explored the relationship between Sp1 expression and prognosis in gastric cancer. Therefore, a deeper level of understanding is required into the molecular biological mechanism of gastric cancer. Finding new tumor biomarkers for the accurate prediction of occurrence, recurrence and metastasis of gastric cancer are of great significance. The present study uses a systematic meta-analysis and bioinformatics analysis to acquire evidence for a prognosis marker based on Sp1 expression in gastric cancer. A literature search was performed using PubMed and China National Knowledge Infrastructure on 8th June, 2018. A total of 13 studies were included in the meta-analysis. The meta-analysis showed that the expression of Sp1 was significantly higher in gastric cancer tissue, compared with that of normal mucosa [odds ratio (OR), −0.53; 95% CI, −0.62–0.44; P<0.0001] and dysplasia (OR, 0.24; 95% CI, 0.13–0.44; P<0.0001). A positive association was found Sp1 expression and depth of invasion (OR, 0.31; 95% CI, 0.11–0.86), lymph node metastasis (OR, 0.36; 95% CI, 0.22–0.59), TNM staging of gastric cancer (OR, 0.43; 95% CI, 0.24–0.79) and Lauren's classification (OR, 0.83; 95% CI, 0.51–1.36), but not with sex or tumor differentiation (OR, 1.34; 95% CI, 0.95–1.88). According to the Oncomine database, Sp1 mRNA expression is significantly higher in gastric cancer tissues compared with that in normal tissues (P<0.05), including that of intestinal, diffuse and mixed-type gastric carcinomas (P<0.05). Kaplan-Meier plots show that the expression of Sp1 mRNA is negatively associated with overall and progression-free survival rates of patients with gastric cancer, even when stratified according to expression level (P<0.05). The selected prediction parameter is overall survival or progressive-free survival rate. The expression level of Sp1 was divided into high expression group and low expression group according to the best cut off value provided on the Kaplan-Meier plotter. However, Sp1 protein expression is upregulated in gastric cancer tissues compared with normal tissues and is positively associated with depth of invasion and TNM stage of gastric cancer. The high protein expression of Sp1 might make it a good potential marker for the prognosis of patients with gastric cancer.

2HybridTools, a handy software to facilitate clone identification and mutation mapping from yeast two-hybrid screening

Yeast Two-Hybrid (Y2H) and reverse Two-Hybrid (RY2H) are powerful protein–protein interaction screening methods that rely on the interaction of bait and prey proteins fused to DNA binding (DB) and activation domains (AD), respectively. Y2H allows identification of protein interaction partners using screening libraries, while RY2H is used to determine residues critical to a given protein–protein interaction by exploiting site-directed mutagenesis. Currently, both these techniques still rely on sequencing of positive clones using conventional Sanger sequencing. For Y2H, a screen can yield several positives; the identification of such clones is further complicated by the fact that sequencing products usually contain vector sequence. For RY2H, obtaining a complete sequence is required to identify the full range of residues involved in protein–protein interactions. However, with Sanger sequencing limited to 500–800 nucleotides, sequencing is usually carried from both ends for clones greater than this length. Analysis of such RY2H data thus requires assembly of sequencing products combined with trimming of vector sequences and of low-quality bases at the beginning and ends of sequencing products. Further, RY2H analysis requires collation of mutations that abrogate a DB/AD interaction. Here, we present 2HybridTools, a Java program with a user-friendly interface that allows addressing all these issues inherent to both Y2H and RY2H. Specifically, for Y2H, 2HybridTools enables automated identification of positive clones, while for RY2H, 2HybridTools provides detailed mutation reports as a basis for further investigation of given protein–protein interactions.

The Possible Pathogenesis of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis considering MUC5B

Background

Overexpression of the MUC5B protein is associated with idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), but little information is available regarding the pathogenic effects and regulatory mechanisms of overexpressed MUC5B in IPF.

Main Body

The overexpression of MUC5B in terminal bronchi and honeycomb cysts produces mucosal host defensive dysfunction in the distal airway which may play an important role in the development of IPF. This review addresses the possible association of overexpression of MUC5B, with MUC5B promoter polymorphism, MUC5B gene epigenetic changes, effects of some transcriptional factors, and inflammatory mediators in IPF. In addition, the associated signaling pathways which may influence the expression of MUC5B are also discussed.

Conclusion

This work has important implications for further exploration of the mechanisms of overexpression of MUC5B in IPF, and future personalized treatment.

Hypermethylation of mitochondrial transcription factor A induced by cigarette smoke is associated with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Purpose of the study: Cigarette smoking is a leading environmental contributor to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but its epigenetic regulation of mtTFA gene remains elusive. This study aims to explore the relationship of DNA methylation of mtTFA and cigarette smoking in COPD. Materials and Methods: We analyzed DNA methylation on mtTFA promoters in clinical samples from COPD patients and subjects with normal pulmonary function. Expression of mtTFA mRNA in the clinical samples and mtTFA mRNA and protein in human umbilical vein endothelial cells(HUVECs) treated with cigarette smoke extract (CSE) was evaluated. mtTFA mRNA and protein levels were measured to determine effects of demethylation agents on CSE-treated HUVECs. Results: The DNA methylation level of the mtTFA promoter was significantly increased in COPD group. Expression of mtTFA mRNA was downregulated in the lungs as a consequence of hypermethylation of mtTFA promoter. Expression of mtTFA mRNA and protein was downregulated in CSE-treated HUVECs as a consequence of hypermethylation of the mtTFA promoter. mtTFA expression in CSE-treated HUVECs was restored by the methylation inhibitor, 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine(AZA). Conclusions: Cigarette smoke-induced hypermethylation of the mtTFA promoter is related to the initiation and progression of COPD. Our finding may provide a new strategy for the intervention of COPD by developing demethylation agents targeting mtTFA hypermethylation.

Histone Deacetylation in the Promoter of p16 Is Involved in Fluoride-Induced Human Osteoblast Activation via the Inhibition of Sp1 Binding

Chronic fluorosis is a systemic condition which principally manifests as defects in the skeleton and teeth. Skeletal fluorosis is characterized by aberrant proliferation and activation of osteoblasts, however, the underlying mechanisms of osteoblast activation induced by fluoride are not fully understood. Therefore, we investigated the pathogenic mechanism of human primary osteoblast proliferation and activation in relation to histone acetylation of the promoter p16, a well-known cell cycle regulation-related gene. The results showed that sodium fluoride (NaF) induced deacetylation and decreased expression of the p16 gene via inhibition of specificity protein 1 (Sp1) binding to its response element, which accounts for NaF increasing cell viability and promoting proliferation in human primary osteoblasts. These results reveal the regulatory mechanism of histone acetylation of the p16 gene on osteoblast activation in skeletal fluorosis.