|
1
|
Li T, Conroy KL, Kim AM, Halmai J, Gao K, Moreno E, Wang A, Passerini AG, Nolta JA, Zhou P. Role of MEF2C in the Endothelial Cells Derived from Human Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Stem Cells 2023; 41:341-353. [PMID: 36639926 PMCID: PMC10128960 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxad005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 01/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) not only provide an abundant source of vascular cells for potential therapeutic applications in vascular disease but also constitute an excellent model for understanding the mechanisms that regulate the differentiation and the functionality of vascular cells. Here, we reported that myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) transcription factor, but not any other members of the MEF2 family, was robustly upregulated during the differentiation of vascular progenitors and endothelial cells (ECs) from hiPSCs. Vascular endothelial growth factors (VEGF) strongly induced MEF2C expression in endothelial lineage cells. The specific upregulation of MEF2C during the commitment of endothelial lineage was dependent on the extracellular signal regulated kinase (ERK). Moreover, knockdown of MEF2C with shRNA in hiPSCs did not affect the differentiation of ECs from these hiPSCs, but greatly reduced the migration and tube formation capacity of the hiPSC-derived ECs. Through a chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing, genome-wide RNA-sequencing, quantitative RT-PCR, and immunostaining analyses of the hiPSC-derived endothelial lineage cells with MEF2C inhibition or knockdown compared to control hiPSC-derived ECs, we identified TNF-related apoptosis inducing ligand (TRAIL) and transmembrane protein 100 (TMEM100) as novel targets of MEF2C. This study demonstrates an important role for MEF2C in regulating human EC functions and highlights MEF2C and its downstream effectors as potential targets to treat vascular malfunction-associated diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tao Li
- School of Medicine, Hunan Normal University, Changsha, Hunan, People’s Republic of China
- Stem Cell Program and Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Kelsey L Conroy
- Stem Cell Program and Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Amy M Kim
- Stem Cell Program and Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Julian Halmai
- Stem Cell Program and Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Neurology, University of California Davis School of Medicine, Sacramento, CA, USA
- University of California Davis Gene Therapy Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Kewa Gao
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Emily Moreno
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Aijun Wang
- Department of Surgery, University of California Davis, Sacramento, CA, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Anthony G Passerini
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of California Davis, Davis, CA, USA
| | - Jan A Nolta
- Stem Cell Program and Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
- University of California Davis Gene Therapy Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| | - Ping Zhou
- Stem Cell Program and Department of Internal Medicine, University of California Davis Medical Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
- University of California Davis Gene Therapy Center, Sacramento, CA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
|
2
|
STAT3 transcription factor as target for anti-cancer therapy. Pharmacol Rep 2020; 72:1101-1124. [PMID: 32880101 DOI: 10.1007/s43440-020-00156-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2020] [Revised: 08/23/2020] [Accepted: 08/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
STATs constitute a large family of transcription activators and transducers of signals that have an important role in many cell functions as regulation of proliferation and differentiation of the cell also regulation of apoptosis and angiogenesis. STAT3 as a member of that family, recently was discovered to have a vital role in progression of different types of cancers. The activation of STAT3 was observed to regulate multiple gene functions during cancer-like cell proliferation, differentiation, apoptosis, metastasis, inflammation, immunity, cell survival, and angiogenesis. The inhibition of STAT3 activation has been an important target for cancer therapy. Inhibitors of STAT3 have been used for a long time for treatment of many types of cancers like leukemia, melanoma, colon, and renal cancer. In this review article, we summarize and discuss different drugs inhibiting the action of STAT3 and used in treatment of different types of cancer.
Collapse
|