1
|
Elder N, Fattahi F, McDevitt TC, Zholudeva LV. Diseased, differentiated and difficult: Strategies for improved engineering of in vitro neurological systems. Front Cell Neurosci 2022; 16:962103. [PMID: 36238834 PMCID: PMC9550918 DOI: 10.3389/fncel.2022.962103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
The rapidly growing field of cellular engineering is enabling scientists to more effectively create in vitro models of disease and develop specific cell types that can be used to repair damaged tissue. In particular, the engineering of neurons and other components of the nervous system is at the forefront of this field. The methods used to engineer neural cells can be largely divided into systems that undergo directed differentiation through exogenous stimulation (i.e., via small molecules, arguably following developmental pathways) and those that undergo induced differentiation via protein overexpression (i.e., genetically induced and activated; arguably bypassing developmental pathways). Here, we highlight the differences between directed differentiation and induced differentiation strategies, how they can complement one another to generate specific cell phenotypes, and impacts of each strategy on downstream applications. Continued research in this nascent field will lead to the development of improved models of neurological circuits and novel treatments for those living with neurological injury and disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nicholas Elder
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Faranak Fattahi
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Todd C. McDevitt
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA, United States
- Sana Biotechnology, Inc., South San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Lyandysha V. Zholudeva
- Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, United States
- *Correspondence: Lyandysha V. Zholudeva,
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Coughlan E, Garside VC, Wong SFL, Liang H, Kraus D, Karmakar K, Maheshwari U, Rijli FM, Bourne J, McGlinn E. A Hox Code Defines Spinocerebellar Neuron Subtype Regionalization. Cell Rep 2019; 29:2408-2421.e4. [DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2019.10.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2019] [Revised: 08/12/2019] [Accepted: 10/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
|
3
|
Mishra NK, Southekal S, Guda C. Survival Analysis of Multi-Omics Data Identifies Potential Prognostic Markers of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma. Front Genet 2019; 10:624. [PMID: 31379917 PMCID: PMC6659773 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2019.00624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the most common and among the deadliest of pancreatic cancers. Its 5-year survival is only ∼8%. Pancreatic cancers are a heterogeneous group of diseases, of which PDAC is particularly aggressive. Like many other cancers, PDAC also starts as a pre-invasive precursor lesion (known as pancreatic intraepithelial neoplasia, PanIN), which offers an opportunity for both early detection and early treatment. Even advanced PDAC can benefit from prognostic biomarkers. However, reliable biomarkers for early diagnosis or those for prognosis of therapy remain an unfulfilled goal for PDAC. In this study, we selected 153 PDAC patients from the TCGA database and used their clinical, DNA methylation, gene expression, and micro-RNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) expression data for multi-omics analysis. Differential methylations at about 12,000 CpG sites were observed in PDAC tumor genomes, with about 61% of them hypermethylated, predominantly in the promoter regions and in CpG-islands. We correlated promoter methylation and gene expression for mRNAs and identified 17 genes that were previously recognized as PDAC biomarkers. Similarly, several genes (B3GNT3, DMBT1, DEPDC1B) and lncRNAs (PVT1, and GATA6-AS) are strongly correlated with survival, which have not been reported in PDAC before. Other genes such as EFR3B, whose biological roles are not well known in mammals are also found to strongly associated with survival. We further identified 406 promoter methylation target loci associated with patients survival, including known esophageal squamous cell carcinoma biomarkers, cg03234186 (ZNF154), and cg02587316, cg18630667, and cg05020604 (ZNF382). Overall, this is one of the first studies that identified survival associated genes using multi-omics data from PDAC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nitish Kumar Mishra
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Siddesh Southekal
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Chittibabu Guda
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Anatomy, University of Nebraska Medical Center, Omaha, NE, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Godfrey TC, Wildman BJ, Beloti MM, Kemper AG, Ferraz EP, Roy B, Rehan M, Afreen LH, Kim E, Lengner CJ, Hassan Q. The microRNA-23a cluster regulates the developmental HoxA cluster function during osteoblast differentiation. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:17646-17660. [PMID: 30242124 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003052] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2018] [Revised: 08/22/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRs) and Hox transcription factors have decisive roles in postnatal bone formation and homeostasis. In silico analysis identified extensive interaction between HOXA cluster mRNA and microRNAs from the miR-23a cluster. However, Hox regulation by the miR-23a cluster during osteoblast differentiation remains undefined. We examined this regulation in preosteoblasts and in a novel miR-23a cluster knockdown mouse model. Overexpression and knockdown of the miR-23a cluster in preosteoblasts decreased and increased, respectively, the expression of the proteins HOXA5, HOXA10, and HOXA11; these proteins' mRNAs exhibited significant binding with the miR-23a cluster miRNAs, and miRNA 3'-UTR reporter assays confirmed repression. Importantly, during periods correlating with development and differentiation of bone cells, we found an inverse pattern of expression between HoxA factors and members of the miR-23a cluster. HOXA5 and HOXA11 bound to bone-specific promoters, physically interacted with transcription factor RUNX2, and regulated bone-specific genes. Depletion of HOXA5 or HOXA11 in preosteoblasts also decreased cellular differentiation. Additionally, stable overexpression of the miR-23a cluster in osteoblasts decreased the recruitment of HOXA5 and HOXA11 to osteoblast gene promoters, significantly inhibiting histone H3 acetylation. Heterozygous miR-23a cluster knockdown female mice (miR-23a ClWT/ZIP) had significantly increased trabecular bone mass when compared with WT mice. Furthermore, miR-23a cluster knockdown in calvarial osteoblasts of these mice increased the recruitment of HOXA5 and HOXA11, with a substantial enrichment of promoter histone H3 acetylation. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that the miR-23a cluster is required for maintaining stage-specific HoxA factor expression during osteogenesis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tanner C Godfrey
- From the RNA Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Benjamin J Wildman
- From the RNA Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Marcio M Beloti
- the School of Dentistry of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP 14040-904, Brazil, and
| | - Austin G Kemper
- From the RNA Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Emanuela P Ferraz
- the School of Dentistry of Ribeirao Preto, University of Sao Paulo, Ribeirao Preto, SP 14040-904, Brazil, and
| | - Bhaskar Roy
- From the RNA Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Mohammad Rehan
- From the RNA Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Lubana H Afreen
- From the RNA Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Eddy Kim
- From the RNA Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294
| | - Christopher J Lengner
- the Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, and Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104
| | - Quamarul Hassan
- From the RNA Biology and Epigenetics Laboratory, Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, School of Dentistry, University of Alabama Birmingham, Birmingham, Alabama 35294,
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
|
6
|
The miR-196b miRNA inhibits the GATA6 intestinal transcription factor and is upregulated in colon cancer patients. Oncotarget 2018; 8:4747-4759. [PMID: 27902469 PMCID: PMC5354868 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.13580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2016] [Accepted: 11/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To explore the possible misexpression of the microRNA miR-196b in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its role in controlling the expression of GATA6, a putative target gene crucial to intestinal cell homeostasis and tumorigenesis. Design The expression of miR-196b was analysed by qRT-PCR in surgical resection samples from a cohort of sporadic colon cancer patients. Manipulations of miR-196b expression were performed to demonstrate its inhibition of GATA6 protein levels. Results We found that miR-196b is significantly upregulated in pre-treatment surgical resection samples from a cohort of sporadic colon cancer patients. The upregulation of miR-196b correlates with less severe clinicopathological characteristics, such as early tumor stage and absence of lymph node metastases. We show that in CRC cells, miR-196b targets the mRNA of GATA6, a transcription factor involved in the homeostasis and differentiation of intestinal epithelial cells, and a positive regulator of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. We moreover found that the increase of miR-196b correlates with a reduced GATA6 protein expression in colon cancer patients. Conclusion Our results establish miR-196b as a post-transcriptional inhibitor of GATA6 in CRC cells, implicating miR-196b function in gene regulatory pathways crucial to intestinal cell homeostasis and tumorigenesis. Our results furthermore suggest a role of miR-196b expression in CRC, as an antagonist of GATA6 function in tumor cells, thus providing the basis for a potential targeting strategy for the treatment of CRC.
Collapse
|
7
|
Pérez MG, Macchiaroli N, Lichtenstein G, Conti G, Asurmendi S, Milone DH, Stegmayer G, Kamenetzky L, Cucher M, Rosenzvit MC. microRNA analysis of Taenia crassiceps cysticerci under praziquantel treatment and genome-wide identification of Taenia solium miRNAs. Int J Parasitol 2017; 47:643-653. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2017.04.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2017] [Revised: 03/31/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
|
8
|
MicroRNA filters Hox temporal transcription noise to confer boundary formation in the spinal cord. Nat Commun 2017; 8:14685. [PMID: 28337978 PMCID: PMC5376671 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms14685] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/24/2017] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
The initial rostrocaudal patterning of the neural tube leads to differential expression of Hox genes that contribute to the specification of motor neuron (MN) subtype identity. Although several 3' Hox mRNAs are expressed in progenitors in a noisy manner, these Hox proteins are not expressed in the progenitors and only become detectable in postmitotic MNs. MicroRNA biogenesis impairment leads to precocious expression and propagates the noise of Hoxa5 at the protein level, resulting in an imprecise Hoxa5-Hoxc8 boundary. Here we uncover, using in silico simulation, two feed-forward Hox-miRNA loops accounting for the precocious and noisy Hoxa5 expression, as well as an ill-defined boundary phenotype in Dicer mutants. Finally, we identify mir-27 as a major regulator coordinating the temporal delay and spatial boundary of Hox protein expression. Our results provide a novel trans Hox-miRNA circuit filtering transcription noise and controlling the timing of protein expression to confer robust individual MN identity.
Collapse
|
9
|
Giusti J, Pinhal D, Moxon S, Campos CL, Münsterberg A, Martins C. MicroRNA-10 modulates Hox genes expression during Nile tilapia embryonic development. Mech Dev 2016; 140:12-8. [DOI: 10.1016/j.mod.2016.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2015] [Revised: 02/12/2016] [Accepted: 03/11/2016] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
|
10
|
Fantini S, Salsi V, Vitobello A, Rijli FM, Zappavigna V. MicroRNA-196b is transcribed from an autonomous promoter and is directly regulated by Cdx2 and by posterior Hox proteins during embryogenesis. BIOCHIMICA ET BIOPHYSICA ACTA-GENE REGULATORY MECHANISMS 2015; 1849:1066-80. [PMID: 26141604 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagrm.2015.06.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2015] [Revised: 06/25/2015] [Accepted: 06/28/2015] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
The miR-196 miRNA gene family located within the Hox gene clusters has been shown to function during embryogenesis and to be aberrantly expressed in various malignancies, including leukaemia, melanoma, and colorectal cancer. Despite its involvement in numerous biological processes, the control of miR-196 expression is still poorly defined. We identified the miR-196b promoter and found that the mature miR-196b originates from a large, non-coding primary transcript, which starts within an autonomous TATA box promoter and is not in physical continuity with either the Hoxa10 or Hoxa9 main primary transcripts. A ~680bp genomic fragment, spanning the pri-miR-196b transcription start site, is sufficient to recapitulate the neural tube expression pattern of miR-196 during embryogenesis. This region contains potential binding sites for Cdx and 5'Hox transcription factors. Two of these sites revealed to be necessary for neural tube expression and were bound in vivo by Cdx2 and Hoxd13. We show that Cdx2 is required for miR-196 expression and that both Cdx2 and 5'Hox, but not 3'Hox, are able to activate the miR-196b promoter. The possible role of Cdx2- and 5'Hox-mediated regulation of miR-196 expression in vertebrate anterior-posterior (AP) axis formation during embryogenesis is discussed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sebastian Fantini
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/d, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Valentina Salsi
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/d, Modena 41125, Italy
| | - Antonio Vitobello
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Filippo M Rijli
- Friedrich Miescher Institute for Biomedical Research, Maulbeerstrasse 66, CH-4058 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Vincenzo Zappavigna
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, Via G. Campi 213/d, Modena 41125, Italy.
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Cucher M, Macchiaroli N, Kamenetzky L, Maldonado L, Brehm K, Rosenzvit MC. High-throughput characterization of Echinococcus spp. metacestode miRNomes. Int J Parasitol 2015; 45:253-67. [PMID: 25659494 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2014.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Revised: 12/04/2014] [Accepted: 12/08/2014] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Echinococcosis is a worldwide zoonosis of great public health concern, considered a neglected disease by the World Health Organisation. The cestode parasites Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato (s. l.) and Echinococcus multilocularis are the main aetiological agents. In the intermediate host, these parasites display particular developmental traits that lead to different patterns of disease progression. In an attempt to understand the causes of these differences, we focused on the analysis of microRNAs (miRNAs), small non-coding regulatory RNAs with major roles in development of animals and plants. In this work, we analysed the small RNA expression pattern of the metacestode, the stage of sanitary relevance, and provide a detailed description of Echinococcus miRNAs. Using high-throughput small RNA sequencing, we believe that we have carried out the first experimental identification of miRNAs in E. multilocularis and have expanded the Echinococcus miRNA catalogue to 38 miRNA genes, including one miRNA only present in E. granulosus s. l. Our findings show that although both species share the top five highest expressed miRNAs, 13 are differentially expressed, which could be related to developmental differences. We also provide evidence that uridylation is the main miRNA processing mechanism in Echinococcus spp. These results provide detailed information on Echinococcus miRNAs, which is the first step in understanding their role in parasite biology and disease establishment and/or progression, and their future potential use as drug or diagnostic targets.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Marcela Cucher
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Natalia Macchiaroli
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Laura Kamenetzky
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Lucas Maldonado
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Klaus Brehm
- Institute of Hygiene and Microbiology, University of Würzburg, Würzburg, Germany
| | - Mara Cecilia Rosenzvit
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Microbiología y Parasitología Médica (IMPaM), Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA)-Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Tecnológicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Moran Y, Fredman D, Praher D, Li XZ, Wee LM, Rentzsch F, Zamore PD, Technau U, Seitz H. Cnidarian microRNAs frequently regulate targets by cleavage. Genome Res 2014; 24:651-63. [PMID: 24642861 PMCID: PMC3975064 DOI: 10.1101/gr.162503.113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 90] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
In bilaterians, which comprise most of extant animals, microRNAs (miRNAs) regulate the majority of messenger RNAs (mRNAs) via base-pairing of a short sequence (the miRNA “seed”) to the target, subsequently promoting translational inhibition and transcript instability. In plants, many miRNAs guide endonucleolytic cleavage of highly complementary targets. Because little is known about miRNA function in nonbilaterian animals, we investigated the repertoire and biological activity of miRNAs in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, a representative of Cnidaria, the sister phylum of Bilateria. Our work uncovers scores of novel miRNAs in Nematostella, increasing the total miRNA gene count to 87. Yet only a handful are conserved in corals and hydras, suggesting that microRNA gene turnover in Cnidaria greatly exceeds that of other metazoan groups. We further show that Nematostella miRNAs frequently direct the cleavage of their mRNA targets via nearly perfect complementarity. This mode of action resembles that of small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and plant miRNAs. It appears to be common in Cnidaria, as several of the miRNA target sites are conserved among distantly related anemone species, and we also detected miRNA-directed cleavage in Hydra. Unlike in bilaterians, Nematostella miRNAs are commonly coexpressed with their target transcripts. In light of these findings, we propose that post-transcriptional regulation by miRNAs functions differently in Cnidaria and Bilateria. The similar, siRNA-like mode of action of miRNAs in Cnidaria and plants suggests that this may be an ancestral state.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yehu Moran
- Department for Molecular Evolution and Development, Center for Organismal Systems Biology, Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
13
|
Mallo M, Alonso CR. The regulation of Hox gene expression during animal development. Development 2013; 140:3951-63. [PMID: 24046316 DOI: 10.1242/dev.068346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 223] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Hox genes encode a family of transcriptional regulators that elicit distinct developmental programmes along the head-to-tail axis of animals. The specific regional functions of individual Hox genes largely reflect their restricted expression patterns, the disruption of which can lead to developmental defects and disease. Here, we examine the spectrum of molecular mechanisms controlling Hox gene expression in model vertebrates and invertebrates and find that a diverse range of mechanisms, including nuclear dynamics, RNA processing, microRNA and translational regulation, all concur to control Hox gene outputs. We propose that this complex multi-tiered regulation might contribute to the robustness of Hox expression during development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Moisés Mallo
- Instituto Gulbenkian de Ciência, Rua da Quinta Grande 6, 2780-156 Oeiras, Portugal
| | | |
Collapse
|
14
|
Cañestro C, Albalat R, Irimia M, Garcia-Fernàndez J. Impact of gene gains, losses and duplication modes on the origin and diversification of vertebrates. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2013; 24:83-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2012.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 74] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2012] [Accepted: 12/25/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
|
15
|
Epigenetic deregulation of microRNAs in rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma and translational perspectives. Int J Mol Sci 2012; 13:16554-79. [PMID: 23443118 PMCID: PMC3546707 DOI: 10.3390/ijms131216554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2012] [Revised: 11/21/2012] [Accepted: 11/21/2012] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gene expression control mediated by microRNAs and epigenetic remodeling of chromatin are interconnected processes often involved in feedback regulatory loops, which strictly guide proper tissue differentiation during embryonal development. Altered expression of microRNAs is one of the mechanisms leading to pathologic conditions, such as cancer. Several lines of evidence pointed to epigenetic alterations as responsible for aberrant microRNA expression in human cancers. Rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma are pediatric cancers derived from cells presenting features of skeletal muscle and neuronal precursors, respectively, blocked at different stages of differentiation. Consistently, tumor cells express tissue markers of origin but are unable to terminally differentiate. Several microRNAs playing a key role during tissue differentiation are often epigenetically downregulated in rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma and behave as tumor suppressors when re-expressed. Recently, inhibition of epigenetic modulators in adult tumors has provided encouraging results causing re-expression of anti-tumor master gene pathways. Thus, a similar approach could be used to correct the aberrant epigenetic regulation of microRNAs in rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma. The present review highlights the current insights on epigenetically deregulated microRNAs in rhabdomyosarcoma and neuroblastoma and their role in tumorigenesis and developmental pathways. The translational clinical implications and challenges regarding modulation of epigenetic chromatin remodeling/microRNAs interconnections are also discussed.
Collapse
|