SOX9 is controlled by the BRD4 inhibitor JQ1 via multiple regulation mechanisms

Aloe emodin promotes mucosal healing by modifying the differentiation fate of enteroendocrine cells via regulating cellular free fatty acid sensitivity

The proper differentiation and reorganization of the intestinal epithelial cell population is critical to mucosal regeneration post injury. Label retaining cells (LRCs) expressing SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9) promote epithelial repair by replenishing LGR5+ intestinal stem cells (ISCs). While, LRCs are also considered precursor cells for enteroendocrine cells (EECs) which exacerbate mucosal damage in inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The factors that determine LRC-EEC differentiation and the effect of intervening in LRC-EEC differentiation on IBD remain unclear. In this study, we investigated the effects of a natural anthraquinone called aloe emodin (derived from the Chinese herb rhubarb) on mucosal healing in IBD models. Our findings demonstrated that aloe emodin effectively interfered with the differentiation to EECs and preserved a higher number of SOX9+ LRCs, thereby promoting mucosal healing. Furthermore, we discovered that aloe emodin acted as an antagonist of free fatty acid receptors (FFAR1), suppressing the FFAR1-mediated Gβγ/serine/threonine-protein kinase (AKT) pathway and promoting the translocation of forkhead box protein O1 (FOXO1) into the nucleus, ultimately resulting in the intervention of differentiation fate. These findings reveal the effect of free fatty acid accessibility on EEC differentiation and introduce a strategy for promoting mucosal healing in IBD by regulating the FFAR1/AKT/FOXO1 signaling pathway.

Type IV Collagen and SOX9 Are Molecular Targets of BET Inhibition in Experimental Glomerulosclerosis

Progressive glomerulonephritis (GN) is characterized by an excessive accumulation of extracellular (ECM) proteins, mainly type IV collagen (COLIV), in the glomerulus leading to glomerulosclerosis. The current therapeutic approach to GN is suboptimal. Epigenetic drugs could be novel therapeutic options for human disease. Among these drugs, bromodomain and extra-terminal domain (BET) inhibitors (iBETs) have shown beneficial effects in experimental kidney disease and fibrotic disorders. Sex-determining region Y-box 9 (SOX9) is a transcription factor involved in regulating proliferation, migration, and regeneration, but its role in kidney fibrosis is still unclear. We investigated whether iBETs could regulate ECM accumulation in experimental GN and evaluated the role of SOX9 in this process. For this purpose, we tested the iBET JQ1 in mice with anti-glomerular basement membrane nephritis induced by nephrotoxic serum (NTS). In NTS-injected mice, JQ1 treatment reduced glomerular ECM deposition, mainly by inhibiting glomerular COLIV accumulation and Col4a3 gene overexpression. Moreover, chromatin immunoprecipitation assays demonstrated that JQ1 inhibited the recruitment and binding of BRD4 to the Col4a3 promoter and reduced its transcription. Active SOX9 was found in the nuclei of glomerular cells of NTS-injured kidneys, mainly in COLIV-stained regions. JQ1 treatment blocked SOX9 nuclear translocation in injured kidneys. Moreover, in vitro JQ1 blocked TGF-β1-induced SOX9 activation and ECM production in cultured mesangial cells. Additionally, SOX9 gene silencing inhibited ECM production, including COLIV production. Our results demonstrated that JQ1 inhibited SOX9/COLIV, to reduce experimental glomerulosclerosis, supporting further research of iBET as a potential therapeutic option in progressive glomerulosclerosis.

Brd4 is required for chondrocyte differentiation and endochondral ossification

Differentiation of multi-potent mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) is directed by the activities of lineage-specific transcription factors and co-factors. A subset of these proteins controls the accessibility of chromatin by recruiting histone acetyl transferases or deacetylases that regulate acetylation of the N-termini of H3 and H4 histone proteins. Bromodomain (BRD) proteins recognize these acetylation marks and recruit the RNA pol II containing transcriptional machinery. Our previous studies have shown that Brd4 is required for osteoblast differentiation in vitro. Here, we investigated the role of Brd4 on endochondral ossification in C57BL/6 mice and chondrogenic differentiation in cell culture models. Conditional loss of Brd4 in the mesenchyme (Brd4 cKO, Brd4^fl/fl: Prrx1-Cre) yields smaller mice that exhibit alteration in endochondral ossification. Importantly, abnormal growth plate morphology and delayed long bone formation is observed in juvenile Brd4 cKO mice. One week old Brd4 cKO mice have reduced proliferative and hypertrophic zones within the physis and exhibit a delay in the formation of the secondary ossification center. At the cellular level, Brd4 function is required for chondrogenic differentiation and maturation of both ATDC5 cells and immature mouse articular chondrocytes. Mechanistically, Brd4 loss suppresses Sox9 levels and reduces expression of Sox9 and Runx2 responsive endochondral genes (e.g., Col2a1, Acan, Mmp13 and Sp7/Osx). Collectively, our results indicate that Brd4 is a key epigenetic regulator required for normal chondrogenesis and endochondral ossification.

Oncogenic role of SOX9-DHCR24-cholesterol biosynthesis axis in IGH-BCL2 positive diffuse large B-cell lymphomas

SOX9 plays an oncogenic role in germinal center B-cell type, IGH-BCL2⁺ DLBCL, by promoting cell proliferation and inhibiting apoptosis.

SOX9 drives lymphomagenesis through upregulation of DHCR24, the key final enzyme in the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway.

Although oncogenicity of the stem cell regulator SOX9 has been implicated in many solid tumors, its role in lymphomagenesis remains largely unknown. In this study, SOX9 was overexpressed preferentially in a subset of diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (DLBCLs) that harbor IGH-BCL2 translocations. SOX9 positivity in DLBCL correlated with an advanced stage of disease. Silencing of SOX9 decreased cell proliferation, induced G₁/S arrest, and increased apoptosis of DLBCL cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Whole-transcriptome analysis and chromatin immunoprecipitation–sequencing assays identified DHCR24, a terminal enzyme in cholesterol biosynthesis, as a direct target of SOX9, which promotes cholesterol synthesis by increasing DHCR24 expression. Enforced expression of DHCR24 was capable of rescuing the phenotypes associated with SOX9 knockdown in DLBCL cells. In models of DLBCL cell line xenografts, SOX9 knockdown resulted in a lower DHCR24 level, reduced cholesterol content, and decreased tumor load. Pharmacological inhibition of cholesterol synthesis also inhibited DLBCL xenograft tumorigenesis, the reduction of which is more pronounced in DLBCL cell lines with higher SOX9 expression, suggesting that it may be addicted to cholesterol. In summary, our study demonstrated that SOX9 can drive lymphomagenesis through DHCR24 and the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway. This SOX9-DHCR24-cholesterol biosynthesis axis may serve as a novel treatment target for DLBCLs.

Identification of Potential Genes in Pathogenesis and Diagnostic Value Analysis of Partial Androgen Insensitivity Syndrome Using Bioinformatics Analysis

BACKGROUND

Androgen insensitivity syndrome (AIS) is a rare X-linked genetic disease and one of the causes of 46,XY disorder of sexual development. The unstraightforward diagnosis of AIS and the gender assignment dilemma still make a plague for this disorder due to the overlapping clinical phenotypes.

METHODS

Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) of partial AIS (PAIS) patients and healthy controls were separated, and RNA-seq was performed to investigate transcriptome variance. Then, tissue-specific gene expression, functional enrichment, and protein-protein interaction (PPI) network analyses were performed; and the key modules were identified. Finally, the RNA expression of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) of interest was validated by quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR).

RESULTS

In our dataset, a total of 725 DEGs were captured, with functionally enriched reproduction and immune-related pathways and Gene Ontology (GO) functions. The most highly specific systems centered on hematologic/immune and reproductive/endocrine systems. We finally filtered out CCR1, PPBP, PF4, CLU, KMT2D, GP6, and SPARC by the key gene clusters of the PPI network and manual screening of tissue-specific gene expression. These genes provide novel insight into the pathogenesis of AIS in the immune system or metabolism and bring forward possible molecular markers for clinical screening. The qRT-PCR results showed a consistent trend in the expression levels of related genes between PAIS patients and healthy controls.

CONCLUSION

The present study sheds light on the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis and progression of AIS, providing potential targets for diagnosis and future investigation.

KEAP1 Mutations Drive Tumorigenesis by Suppressing SOX9 Ubiquitination and Degradation

The transcription factor SOX9 is frequently amplified in diverse advanced-stage human tumors. Its stability has been shown to be tightly controlled by ubiquitination-dependent proteasome degradation. However, the exact underlying molecular mechanisms remain unclear. This work reports that SOX9 protein abundance is regulated by the Cullin 3-based ubiquitin ligase KEAP1 via proteasome-mediated degradation. Loss-of-function mutations in KEAP1 compromise polyubiquitination-mediated SOX9 degradation, leading to increased protein levels, which facilitate tumorigenesis. Moreover, the loss of critical ubiquitination residues in SOX9, by either a SOX9 (ΔK2) truncation or K249R mutation, leads to elevated protein stability. Furthermore, it is shown that the KEAP1/SOX9 interaction is modulated by CKIγ-mediated phosphorylation. Importantly, it is demonstrated that DNA damage drugs, topoisomerase inhibitors, can trigger CKI activation to restore the KEAP1/SOX9 interaction and its consequent degradation. Collectively, herein the findings uncover a novel molecular mechanism through which SOX9 protein stability is negatively regulated by KEAP1 to control tumorigenesis. Thus, these results suggest that mitigating SOX9 resistance to KEAP1-mediated degradation can represent a novel therapeutic strategy for cancers with KEAP1 mutations.