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Katsuda T, Sussman JH, Ito K, Katznelson A, Yuan S, Takenaka N, Li J, Merrell AJ, Cure H, Li Q, Rasool RU, Asangani IA, Zaret KS, Stanger BZ. Cellular reprogramming in vivo initiated by SOX4 pioneer factor activity. Nat Commun 2024; 15:1761. [PMID: 38409161 PMCID: PMC10897393 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-45939-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Tissue damage elicits cell fate switching through a process called metaplasia, but how the starting cell fate is silenced and the new cell fate is activated has not been investigated in animals. In cell culture, pioneer transcription factors mediate "reprogramming" by opening new chromatin sites for expression that can attract transcription factors from the starting cell's enhancers. Here we report that SOX4 is sufficient to initiate hepatobiliary metaplasia in the adult mouse liver, closely mimicking metaplasia initiated by toxic damage to the liver. In lineage-traced cells, we assessed the timing of SOX4-mediated opening of enhancer chromatin versus enhancer decommissioning. Initially, SOX4 directly binds to and closes hepatocyte regulatory sequences via an overlapping motif with HNF4A, a hepatocyte master regulatory transcription factor. Subsequently, SOX4 exerts pioneer factor activity to open biliary regulatory sequences. The results delineate a hierarchy by which gene networks become reprogrammed under physiological conditions, providing deeper insight into the basis for cell fate transitions in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Katsuda
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Chemical System Engineering, Graduate School of Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Jonathan H Sussman
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Graduate Group in Genomics and Computational Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kenji Ito
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Andrew Katznelson
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Salina Yuan
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Naomi Takenaka
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Allyson J Merrell
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Hector Cure
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Qinglan Li
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Reyaz Ur Rasool
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Irfan A Asangani
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Department of Cancer Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kenneth S Zaret
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
| | - Ben Z Stanger
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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2
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Katsuda T, Sussman J, Ito K, Katznelson A, Yuan S, Li J, Merrell AJ, Takenaka N, Cure H, Li Q, Rasool RU, Asangani IA, Zaret KS, Stanger BZ. Physiological reprogramming in vivo mediated by Sox4 pioneer factor activity. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.02.14.528556. [PMID: 36824858 PMCID: PMC9948957 DOI: 10.1101/2023.02.14.528556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/17/2023]
Abstract
Tissue damage elicits cell fate switching through a process called metaplasia, but how the starting cell fate is silenced and the new cell fate is activated has not been investigated in animals. In cell culture, pioneer transcription factors mediate "reprogramming" by opening new chromatin sites for expression that can attract transcription factors from the starting cell's enhancers. Here we report that Sox4 is sufficient to initiate hepatobiliary metaplasia in the adult liver. In lineage-traced cells, we assessed the timing of Sox4-mediated opening of enhancer chromatin versus enhancer decommissioning. Initially, Sox4 directly binds to and closes hepatocyte regulatory sequences via a motif it overlaps with Hnf4a, a hepatocyte master regulator. Subsequently, Sox4 exerts pioneer factor activity to open biliary regulatory sequences. The results delineate a hierarchy by which gene networks become reprogrammed under physiological conditions, providing deeper insight into the basis for cell fate transitions in animals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Takeshi Katsuda
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jonathan Sussman
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kenji Ito
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
| | - Andrew Katznelson
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
| | - Salina Yuan
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Jinyang Li
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Allyson J. Merrell
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Naomi Takenaka
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
| | - Hector Cure
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Qinglan Li
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
| | - Reyaz Ur Rasool
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Irfan A. Asangani
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kenneth S. Zaret
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
- Penn Epigenetics Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Ben Z. Stanger
- Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
- The Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Philadelphia, PA
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Fröhlich J, Rose K, Hecht A. Transcriptional activity mediated by β-CATENIN and TCF/LEF family members is completely dispensable for survival and propagation of multiple human colorectal cancer cell lines. Sci Rep 2023; 13:287. [PMID: 36609428 PMCID: PMC9822887 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-27261-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Accepted: 12/29/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Unrestrained transcriptional activity of β-CATENIN and its binding partner TCF7L2 frequently underlies colorectal tumor initiation and is considered an obligatory oncogenic driver throughout intestinal carcinogenesis. Yet, the TCF7L2 gene carries inactivating mutations in about 10% of colorectal tumors and is non-essential in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell lines. To determine whether CRC cells acquire TCF7L2-independence through cancer-specific compensation by other T-cell factor (TCF)/lymphoid enhancer-binding factor (LEF) family members, or rather lose addiction to β-CATENIN/TCF7L2-driven gene expression altogether, we generated multiple CRC cell lines entirely negative for TCF/LEF or β-CATENIN expression. Survival of these cells and the ability to propagate them demonstrate their complete β-CATENIN- and TCF/LEF-independence. Nonetheless, one β-CATENIN-deficient cell line eventually became senescent, and absence of TCF/LEF proteins and β-CATENIN consistently impaired CRC cell proliferation, reminiscent of mitogenic effects of WNT/β-CATENIN signaling in the healthy intestine. Despite this common phenotype, β-CATENIN-deficient cells exhibited highly cell-line-specific gene expression changes with little overlap between β-CATENIN- and TCF7L2-dependent transcriptomes. Apparently, β-CATENIN and TCF7L2 independently control sizeable fractions of their target genes. The observed divergence of β-CATENIN and TCF7L2 transcriptional programs, and the finding that neither β-CATENIN nor TCF/LEF activity is strictly required for CRC cell survival has important implications when evaluating these factors as potential drug targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna Fröhlich
- grid.5963.9Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104 Freiburg, Germany ,grid.5963.9Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katja Rose
- grid.5963.9Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104 Freiburg, Germany
| | - Andreas Hecht
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany. .,Faculty of Biology, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany. .,BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, Albert-Ludwigs-University Freiburg, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
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Canonical TGFβ signaling induces collective invasion in colorectal carcinogenesis through a Snail1- and Zeb1-independent partial EMT. Oncogene 2022; 41:1492-1506. [PMID: 35075245 PMCID: PMC8897192 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02190-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Local invasion is the initial step towards metastasis, the main cause of cancer mortality. In human colorectal cancer (CRC), malignant cells predominantly invade as cohesive collectives and may undergo partial epithelial-mesenchymal transition (pEMT) at the invasive front. How this particular mode of stromal infiltration is generated is unknown. Here we investigated the impact of oncogenic transformation and the microenvironment on tumor cell invasion using genetically engineered organoids as CRC models. We found that inactivation of the Apc tumor suppressor combined with expression of oncogenic KrasG12D and dominant-negative Trp53R172H did not cell-autonomously induce invasion in vitro. However, oncogenic transformation primed organoids for activation of a collective invasion program upon exposure to the prototypical microenvironmental factor TGFβ1. Execution of this program co-depended on a permissive extracellular matrix which was further actively remodeled by invading organoids. Although organoids shed some epithelial properties particularly at the invasive edge, TGFβ1-stimulated organoids largely maintained epithelial gene expression while additionally implementing a mesenchymal transcription pattern, resulting in a pEMT phenotype that did not progress to a fully mesenchymal state. Notably, while TGFβ1 induced pEMT and promoted collective invasion, it abrogated self-renewal capacity of TKA organoids which correlated with the downregulation of intestinal stem cell (ISC) marker genes. Mechanistically, induction of the non-progressive pEMT required canonical TGFβ signaling mediated by Smad transcription factors (TFs), whereas the EMT master regulators Snail1 and Zeb1 were dispensable. Gene expression profiling provided further evidence for pEMT of TGFβ1-treated organoids and showed that their transcriptomes resemble those of human poor prognosis CMS4 cancers which likewise exhibit pEMT features. We propose that collective invasion in colorectal carcinogenesis is triggered by microenvironmental stimuli through activation of a novel, transcription-mediated form of non-progressive pEMT independently of classical EMT regulators.
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Deregulation of Transcriptional Enhancers in Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13143532. [PMID: 34298745 PMCID: PMC8303223 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13143532] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2021] [Revised: 06/29/2021] [Accepted: 07/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary One of the major challenges in cancer treatments is the dynamic adaptation of tumor cells to cancer therapies. In this regard, tumor cells can modify their response to environmental cues without altering their DNA sequence. This cell plasticity enables cells to undergo morphological and functional changes, for example, during the process of tumour metastasis or when acquiring resistance to cancer therapies. Central to cell plasticity, are the dynamic changes in gene expression that are controlled by a set of molecular switches called enhancers. Enhancers are DNA elements that determine when, where and to what extent genes should be switched on and off. Thus, defects in enhancer function can disrupt the gene expression program and can lead to tumour formation. Here, we review how enhancers control the activity of cancer-associated genes and how defects in these regulatory elements contribute to cell plasticity in cancer. Understanding enhancer (de)regulation can provide new strategies for modulating cell plasticity in tumour cells and can open new research avenues for cancer therapy. Abstract Epigenetic regulations can shape a cell’s identity by reversible modifications of the chromatin that ultimately control gene expression in response to internal and external cues. In this review, we first discuss the concept of cell plasticity in cancer, a process that is directly controlled by epigenetic mechanisms, with a particular focus on transcriptional enhancers as the cornerstone of epigenetic regulation. In the second part, we discuss mechanisms of enhancer deregulation in adult stem cells and epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), as two paradigms of cell plasticity that are dependent on epigenetic regulation and serve as major sources of tumour heterogeneity. Finally, we review how genetic variations at enhancers and their epigenetic modifiers contribute to tumourigenesis, and we highlight examples of cancer drugs that target epigenetic modifications at enhancers.
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6
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Lazar SB, Pongor L, Li XL, Grammatikakis I, Muys BR, Dangelmaier EA, Redon CE, Jang SM, Walker RL, Tang W, Ambs S, Harris CC, Meltzer PS, Aladjem MI, Lal A. Genome-Wide Analysis of the FOXA1 Transcriptional Network Identifies Novel Protein-Coding and Long Noncoding RNA Targets in Colorectal Cancer Cells. Mol Cell Biol 2020; 40:e00224-20. [PMID: 32839292 PMCID: PMC7556848 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.00224-20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 06/12/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Differentiation status of tumors is correlated with metastatic potential and malignancy. FOXA1 (forkhead box A1) is a transcription factor known to regulate differentiation in certain tissues. Here, we investigate FOXA1 function in human colorectal cancer (CRC). We found that FOXA1 is robustly expressed in the normal human colon but significantly downregulated in colon adenocarcinoma. Applying FOXA1 chromatin immunoprecipitation coupled with deep sequencing and transcriptome analysis upon FOXA1 knockdown in well-differentiated CRC cells and FOXA1 overexpression in poorly differentiated CRC cells, we identified novel protein-coding and lncRNA genes regulated by FOXA1. Among the numerous novel FOXA1 targets we identified, we focused on CEACAM5, a tumor marker and facilitator of cell adhesion. We show that FOXA1 binds to a distal enhancer downstream of CEACAM5 and strongly activates its expression. Consistent with these data, we show that FOXA1 inhibits anoikis in CRC cells. Collectively, our results uncover novel protein-coding and noncoding targets of FOXA1 and suggest a vital role of FOXA1 in enhancing CEACAM5 expression and anoikis resistance in CRC cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah B Lazar
- Regulatory RNAs and Cancer Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Lorinc Pongor
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Xiao Ling Li
- Regulatory RNAs and Cancer Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ioannis Grammatikakis
- Regulatory RNAs and Cancer Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Bruna R Muys
- Regulatory RNAs and Cancer Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Emily A Dangelmaier
- Regulatory RNAs and Cancer Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Christophe E Redon
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Sang-Min Jang
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Robert L Walker
- Molecular Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Wei Tang
- Molecular Epidemiology Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Stefan Ambs
- Molecular Epidemiology Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Curtis C Harris
- Molecular Genetics and Carcinogenesis Section, Laboratory of Human Carcinogenesis, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Paul S Meltzer
- Molecular Genetics Section, Genetics Branch, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Mirit I Aladjem
- Developmental Therapeutics Branch, Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland, USA
| | - Ashish Lal
- Regulatory RNAs and Cancer Section, Genetics Branch, Center for Cancer Research (CCR), National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, Maryland, USA
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7
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Diverse LEF/TCF Expression in Human Colorectal Cancer Correlates with Altered Wnt-Regulated Transcriptome in a Meta-Analysis of Patient Biopsies. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11050538. [PMID: 32403323 PMCID: PMC7288467 DOI: 10.3390/genes11050538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Revised: 04/27/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrantly activated Wnt signaling causes cellular transformation that can lead to human colorectal cancer. Wnt signaling is mediated by Lymphoid Enhancer Factor/T-Cell Factor (LEF/TCF) DNA-binding factors. Here we investigate whether altered LEF/TCF expression is conserved in human colorectal tumor sample and may potentially be correlated with indicators of cancer progression. We carried out a meta-analysis of carefully selected publicly available gene expression data sets with paired tumor biopsy and adjacent matched normal tissues from colorectal cancer patients. Our meta-analysis confirms that among the four human LEF/TCF genes, LEF1 and TCF7 are preferentially expressed in tumor biopsies, while TCF7L2 and TCF7L1 in normal control tissue. We also confirm positive correlation of LEF1 and TCF7 expression with hallmarks of active Wnt signaling (i.e., AXIN2 and LGR5). We are able to correlate differential LEF/TCF gene expression with distinct transcriptomes associated with cell adhesion, extracellular matrix organization, and Wnt receptor feedback regulation. We demonstrate here in human colorectal tumor sample correlation of altered LEF/TCF gene expression with quantitatively and qualitatively different transcriptomes, suggesting LEF/TCF-specific transcriptional regulation of Wnt target genes relevant for cancer progression and survival. This bioinformatics analysis provides a foundation for future more detailed, functional, and molecular analyses aimed at dissecting such functional differences.
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8
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Wenzel J, Rose K, Haghighi EB, Lamprecht C, Rauen G, Freihen V, Kesselring R, Boerries M, Hecht A. Loss of the nuclear Wnt pathway effector TCF7L2 promotes migration and invasion of human colorectal cancer cells. Oncogene 2020; 39:3893-3909. [PMID: 32203164 PMCID: PMC7203011 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-020-1259-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/27/2019] [Revised: 03/03/2020] [Accepted: 03/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor TCF7L2 is indispensable for intestinal tissue homeostasis where it transmits mitogenic Wnt/β-Catenin signals in stem and progenitor cells, from which intestinal tumors arise. Yet, TCF7L2 belongs to the most frequently mutated genes in colorectal cancer (CRC), and tumor-suppressive functions of TCF7L2 were proposed. This apparent paradox warrants to clarify the role of TCF7L2 in colorectal carcinogenesis. Here, we investigated TCF7L2 dependence/independence of CRC cells and the cellular and molecular consequences of TCF7L2 loss-of-function. By genome editing we achieved complete TCF7L2 inactivation in several CRC cell lines without loss of viability, showing that CRC cells have widely lost the strict requirement for TCF7L2. TCF7L2 deficiency impaired G1/S progression, reminiscent of the physiological role of TCF7L2. In addition, TCF7L2-negative cells exhibited morphological changes, enhanced migration, invasion, and collagen adhesion, albeit the severity of the phenotypic alterations manifested in a cell-line-specific fashion. To provide a molecular framework for the observed cellular changes, we performed global transcriptome profiling and identified gene-regulatory networks in which TCF7L2 positively regulates the proto-oncogene MYC, while repressing the cell cycle inhibitors CDKN2C/CDKN2D. Consistent with its function in curbing cell motility and invasion, TCF7L2 directly suppresses the pro-metastatic transcription factor RUNX2 and impinges on the expression of cell adhesion molecules. Altogether, we conclude that the proliferation-stimulating activity of TCF7L2 persists in CRC cells. In addition, TCF7L2 acts as invasion suppressor. Despite its negative impact on cell cycle progression, TCF7L2 loss-of-function may thereby increase malignancy, which could explain why TCF7L2 is mutated in a sizeable fraction of colorectal tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janna Wenzel
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Katja Rose
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Elham Bavafaye Haghighi
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacherstr. 153, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Constanze Lamprecht
- Institute of Physics, University of Freiburg, Hermann-Herder-Str. 3a, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- Freiburg Center for Interactive Materials and Bioinspired Technology (FIT), University of Freiburg, Georges-Köhler-Allee 105, 79110, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Gilles Rauen
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Vivien Freihen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Rebecca Kesselring
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, Center for Surgery, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Boerries
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and Systems Medicine, Medical Center, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Breisacherstr. 153, 79104, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Hugstetter Straße 55, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Im Neuenheimer Feld 280, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Hecht
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Stefan-Meier-Str. 17, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 1, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Schänzlestraße 18, 79104, Freiburg, Germany.
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9
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Liang CY, Li ZY, Gan TQ, Fang YY, Gan BL, Chen WJ, Dang YW, Shi K, Feng ZB, Chen G. Downregulation of hsa-microRNA-204-5p and identification of its potential regulatory network in non-small cell lung cancer: RT-qPCR, bioinformatic- and meta-analyses. Respir Res 2020; 21:60. [PMID: 32102656 PMCID: PMC7045575 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-020-1274-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2019] [Accepted: 12/31/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pulmonary malignant neoplasms have a high worldwide morbidity and mortality, so the study of these malignancies using microRNAs (miRNAs) has attracted great interest and enthusiasm. The aim of this study was to determine the clinical effect of hsa-microRNA-204-5p (miR-204-5p) and its underlying molecular mechanisms in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Methods Expression of miR-204-5p was investigated by real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR). After data mining from public online repositories, several integrative assessment methods, including receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves, hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), and comprehensive meta-analyses, were conducted to explore the expression and clinical utility of miR-204-5p. The potential objects regulated and controlled by miR-204-5p in the course of NSCLC were identified by estimated target prediction and analysis. The regulatory network of miR-204-5p, with its target genes and transcription factors (TFs), was structured from database evidence and literature references. Results The expression of miR-204-5p was downregulated in NSCLC, and the downtrend was related to gender, histological type, vascular invasion, tumor size, clinicopathologic grade and lymph node metastasis (P<0.05). MiR-204-5p was useful in prognosis, but was deemed unsuitable at present as an auxiliary diagnostic or prognostic risk factor for NSCLC due to the lack of statistical significance in meta-analyses and absence of large-scale investigations. Gene enrichment and annotation analyses identified miR-204-5p candidate targets that took part in various genetic activities and biological functions. The predicted TFs, like MAX, MYC, and RUNX1, interfered in regulatory networks involving miR-204-5p and its predicted hub genes, though a modulatory loop or axis of the miRNA-TF-gene that was out of range with shortage in database prediction, experimental proof and literature confirmation. Conclusions The frequently observed decrease in miR-204-5p was helpful for NSCLC diagnosis. The estimated target genes and TFs contributed to the anti-oncogene effects of miR-204-5p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Yu Liang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Zu-Yun Li
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ting-Qing Gan
- Department of Medical Oncology, Second Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530007, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ye-Ying Fang
- Department of Radiotherapy, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Bin-Liang Gan
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Wen-Jie Chen
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Yi-Wu Dang
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Ke Shi
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhen-Bo Feng
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
| | - Gang Chen
- Department of Pathology, First Affiliated Hospital of Guangxi Medical University, Nanning, 530021, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, People's Republic of China.
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10
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Freihen V, Rönsch K, Mastroianni J, Frey P, Rose K, Boerries M, Zeiser R, Busch H, Hecht A. SNAIL1 employs β‐Catenin‐LEF1 complexes to control colorectal cancer cell invasion and proliferation. Int J Cancer 2019; 146:2229-2242. [DOI: 10.1002/ijc.32644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Revised: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/06/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Vivien Freihen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Kerstin Rönsch
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Justin Mastroianni
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell TransplantationMedical Center ‐ University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Patrick Frey
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Spemann Graduate School of Biology and Medicine (SGBM)University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Katja Rose
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Melanie Boerries
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) Freiburg Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) Heidelberg Germany
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics and System Medicine, University Medical Center FreiburgFaculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Robert Zeiser
- Department of Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell TransplantationMedical Center ‐ University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling StudiesUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
| | - Hauke Busch
- Institute of Experimental Dermatology and Institute of CardiogeneticsUniversity of Lübeck Lübeck Germany
| | - Andreas Hecht
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of MedicineUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- Faculty of BiologyUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling StudiesUniversity of Freiburg Freiburg Germany
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11
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Genome-wide mapping of DNA-binding sites identifies stemness-related genes as directly repressed targets of SNAIL1 in colorectal cancer cells. Oncogene 2019; 38:6647-6661. [DOI: 10.1038/s41388-019-0905-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2018] [Revised: 06/18/2019] [Accepted: 07/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
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12
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Vermunt MW, Zhang D, Blobel GA. The interdependence of gene-regulatory elements and the 3D genome. J Cell Biol 2018; 218:12-26. [PMID: 30442643 PMCID: PMC6314554 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.201809040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Revised: 10/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/29/2018] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Vermunt et al. discuss the relationship between gene-regulatory elements and nuclear architectural features in transcription. Imaging studies, high-resolution chromatin conformation maps, and genome-wide occupancy data of architectural proteins have revealed that genome topology is tightly intertwined with gene expression. Cross-talk between gene-regulatory elements is often organized within insulated neighborhoods, and regulatory cues that induce transcriptional changes can reshape chromatin folding patterns and gene positioning within the nucleus. The cause–consequence relationship of genome architecture and gene expression is intricate, and its molecular mechanisms are under intense investigation. Here, we review the interdependency of transcription and genome organization with emphasis on enhancer–promoter contacts in gene regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marit W Vermunt
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Di Zhang
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA.,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Gerd A Blobel
- Division of Hematology, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA .,Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA
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13
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Hirsch TZ, Martin-Lannerée S, Reine F, Hernandez-Rapp J, Herzog L, Dron M, Privat N, Passet B, Halliez S, Villa-Diaz A, Lacroux C, Klein V, Haïk S, Andréoletti O, Torres JM, Vilotte JL, Béringue V, Mouillet-Richard S. Epigenetic Control of the Notch and Eph Signaling Pathways by the Prion Protein: Implications for Prion Diseases. Mol Neurobiol 2018; 56:2159-2173. [PMID: 29998397 DOI: 10.1007/s12035-018-1193-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Among the ever-growing number of self-replicating proteins involved in neurodegenerative diseases, the prion protein PrP remains the most infamous for its central role in transmissible spongiform encephalopathies (TSEs). In these diseases, pathogenic prions propagate through a seeding mechanism, where normal PrPC molecules are converted into abnormally folded scrapie isoforms termed PrPSc. Since its discovery over 30 years ago, much advance has contributed to define the host-encoded cellular prion protein PrPC as a critical relay of prion-induced neuronal cell demise. A current consensual view is that the conversion of PrPC into PrPSc in neuronal cells diverts the former from its normal function with subsequent molecular alterations affecting synaptic plasticity. Here, we report that prion infection is associated with reduced expression of key effectors of the Notch pathway in vitro and in vivo, recapitulating changes fostered by the absence of PrPC. We further show that both prion infection and PrPC depletion promote drastic alterations in the expression of a defined set of Eph receptors and their ephrin ligands, which represent important players in synaptic function. Our data indicate that defects in the Notch and Eph axes can be mitigated in response to histone deacetylase inhibition in PrPC-depleted as well as prion-infected cells. We thus conclude that infectious prions cause a loss-of-function phenotype with respect to Notch and Eph signaling and that these alterations are sustained by epigenetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Théo Z Hirsch
- INSERM UMR 1124, 75006, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, 75006, Paris, France
- INSERM U1162, 75010, Paris, France
| | - Séverine Martin-Lannerée
- INSERM UMR 1124, 75006, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Fabienne Reine
- INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, UR 892 Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Julia Hernandez-Rapp
- INSERM UMR 1124, 75006, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, 75006, Paris, France
- Centre de Recherche du CHU de Québec, Université Laval, Québec, G1V4G2, Québec, Canada
| | - Laetitia Herzog
- INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, UR 892 Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Michel Dron
- INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, UR 892 Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Nicolas Privat
- INSERM UMR 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, 75013, Paris, France
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France
| | - Bruno Passet
- INRA UMR1313, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | - Sophie Halliez
- INRA, Université Paris-Saclay, UR 892 Virologie Immunologie Moléculaires, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
- INSERM, UMR-S1172, Lille University, 59045, Lille, France
| | - Ana Villa-Diaz
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal-INIA, 28130, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Victor Klein
- INSERM UMR 1124, 75006, Paris, France
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, 75006, Paris, France
| | - Stéphane Haïk
- INSERM UMR 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, 75013, Paris, France
- Institut du Cerveau et de la Moelle épinière, ICM, Inserm U 1127, CNRS UMR 7225, Sorbonne Université, F-75013, Paris, France
| | | | - Juan-Maria Torres
- Centro de Investigación en Sanidad Animal-INIA, 28130, Madrid, Spain
| | - Jean-Luc Vilotte
- INRA UMR1313, Génétique Animale et Biologie Intégrative, 78350, Jouy-en-Josas, France
| | | | - Sophie Mouillet-Richard
- INSERM UMR 1124, 75006, Paris, France.
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris Cité, UMR 1124, 75006, Paris, France.
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14
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Jägle S, Busch H, Freihen V, Beyes S, Schrempp M, Boerries M, Hecht A. SNAIL1-mediated downregulation of FOXA proteins facilitates the inactivation of transcriptional enhancer elements at key epithelial genes in colorectal cancer cells. PLoS Genet 2017; 13:e1007109. [PMID: 29155818 PMCID: PMC5714381 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2016] [Revised: 12/04/2017] [Accepted: 11/08/2017] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic conversion of tumor cells through epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) requires massive gene expression changes. How these are brought about is not clear. Here we examined the impact of the EMT master regulator SNAIL1 on the FOXA family of transcription factors which are distinguished by their particular competence to induce chromatin reorganization for the activation of transcriptional enhancer elements. We show that the expression of SNAIL1 and FOXA genes is anticorrelated in transcriptomes of colorectal tumors and cell lines. In cellular EMT models, ectopically expressed Snail1 directly represses FOXA1 and triggers downregulation of all FOXA family members, suggesting that loss of FOXA expression promotes EMT. Indeed, cells with CRISPR/Cas9-induced FOXA-deficiency acquire mesenchymal characteristics. Furthermore, ChIP-seq data analysis of FOXA chromosomal distribution in relation to chromatin structural features which characterize distinct states of transcriptional activity, revealed preferential localization of FOXA factors to transcriptional enhancers at signature genes that distinguish epithelial from mesenchymal colon tumors. To validate the significance of this association, we investigated the impact of FOXA factors on structure and function of enhancers at the CDH1, CDX2 and EPHB3 genes. FOXA-deficiency and expression of dominant negative FOXA2 led to chromatin condensation at these enhancer elements. Site-directed mutagenesis of FOXA binding sites in reporter gene constructs and by genome-editing in situ impaired enhancer activity and completely abolished the active chromatin state of the EPHB3 enhancer. Conversely, expression of FOXA factors in cells with inactive CDX2 and EPHB3 enhancers led to chromatin opening and de novo deposition of the H3K4me1 and H3K27ac marks. These findings establish the pioneer function of FOXA factors at enhancer regions of epithelial genes and demonstrate their essential role in maintaining enhancer structure and function. Thus, by repressing FOXA family members, SNAIL1 targets transcription factors at strategically important positions in gene-regulatory hierarchies, which may facilitate transcriptional reprogramming during EMT. Cancer patient mortality is overwhelmingly due to distant organ metastases. Epithelial-mesenchymal transition is a process thought to facilitate local invasion and dissemination of cancer cells, thereby promoting metastasis. The conversion of epithelial cells into mesenchymal, fibroblast-like cells requires profound gene expression changes. A few transcription factors like SNAIL1 can initiate these changes, but are unlikely to be solely responsible for all of them. In our study we asked, whether destabilization of epithelial gene expression programs could involve FOXA transcription factors. FOXA factors represent a special subgroup of regulatory proteins, so-called pioneer factors, with unique roles in the activation of transcriptional enhancers which are key regulatory DNA elements that orchestrate spatio-temporal gene expression. In a model of colorectal cancer we found that SNAIL1 represses FOXA factors, and demonstrate that FOXA factors are associated with enhancer elements at epithelial signature genes. Indeed, FOXA factors are sufficient to initiate enhancer activation and necessary to maintain their activity. Our findings indicate that SNAIL1 induces pervasive repression of epithelial genes through a hierarchical scheme of alterations in transcription factor expression which may be applicable to other instances of cell fate changes and transcriptional reprogramming.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Jägle
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Hauke Busch
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Experimental Dermatology and Institute of Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Vivien Freihen
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Sven Beyes
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Monika Schrempp
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Melanie Boerries
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Freiburg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Hecht
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- Faculty of Biology, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- BIOSS Centre for Biological Signalling Studies, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
- * E-mail:
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15
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ZEB1 is neither sufficient nor required for epithelial-mesenchymal transition in LS174T colorectal cancer cells. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2016; 482:1226-1232. [PMID: 27923654 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2016.12.017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2016] [Accepted: 12/02/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is implicated in metastases formation and acquired therapy resistance in several tumor entities. The two transcription factors SNAIL1 and ZEB1 are thought to be master regulators of EMT and to form a core regulatory network required for EMT-associated transcriptional reprogramming. Yet, inducible EMT models show the sequential upregulation first of SNAIL1 and only subsequently of ZEB1. Therefore, SNAIL1 and ZEB1 might be differentially needed for the onset and propagation of EMT. Here we used LS174T colorectal adenocarcinoma cells which do not express endogenous EMT-inducing transcription factors, to investigate whether ZEB1 is an obligatory downstream mediator of Snail1-induced EMT, and to test whether ZEB1 could elicit an EMT in a background of naïve epithelial cells by itself. However, CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knockout of ZEB1 did not affect the ability of ectopically expressed Snail1 to trigger a complete EMT in ZEB1-deficient LS174T cells. In contrast to Snail1, ectopic ZEB1 had only minor effects on cell morphology and invasive growth in three-dimensional spheroid cultures. In agreement with this, expression of ZEB1 did not lead to repression of epithelial marker genes, and mesenchymal markers were not upregulated by ZEB1. Likewise, ectopic ZEB1 expression did not confer increased chemoresistance. We conclude that ZEB1 is neither required nor sufficient for EMT in LS174T colorectal cancer cells.
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