1
|
Ebrahimi N, Hakimzadeh A, Bozorgmand F, Speed S, Manavi MS, Khorram R, Farahani K, Rezaei-Tazangi F, Mansouri A, Hamblin MR, Aref AR. Role of non-coding RNAs as new therapeutic targets in regulating the EMT and apoptosis in metastatic gastric and colorectal cancers. Cell Cycle 2023; 22:2302-2323. [PMID: 38009668 PMCID: PMC10730205 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2023.2286804] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) and gastric cancer (GC), are the two most common cancers of the gastrointestinal tract, and are serious health concerns worldwide. The discovery of more effective biomarkers for early diagnosis, and improved patient prognosis is important. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs), including microRNAs (miRNAs) and long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs), can regulate cellular processes such as apoptosis and the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) leading to progression and resistance of GC and CRC tumors. Moreover these pathways (apoptosis and EMT) may serve as therapeutic targets, to prevent metastasis, and to overcome drug resistance. A subgroup of ncRNAs is common to both GC and CRC tumors, suggesting that they might be used as biomarkers or therapeutic targets. In this review, we highlight some ncRNAs that can regulate EMT and apoptosis as two opposite mechanisms in cancer progression and metastasis in GC and CRC. A better understanding of the biological role of ncRNAs could open up new avenues for the development of personalized treatment plans for GC and CRC patients.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Nasim Ebrahimi
- Genetics Division, Department of Cell and Molecular Biology and Microbiology, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of Isfahan, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Ali Hakimzadeh
- Department of Medical Biotechnologies, University of Siena, Tuscany, Italy
| | - Farima Bozorgmand
- Department of Medical Nanotechnology, Faculty of Advanced Sciences and Technology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Sepehr Speed
- Medical Campus, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi, China
| | | | - Roya Khorram
- Bone and Joint Diseases Research Center, Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Kobra Farahani
- Department of Biology, Damghan Branch, Islamic Azad University, Damghan, Iran
| | - Fatemeh Rezaei-Tazangi
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, Fasa University of Medical Sciences, Fasa, Iran
| | - Atena Mansouri
- Department of Biology, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
| | - Michael R Hamblin
- Laser Research Centre, Faculty of Health Science, University of Johannesburg, Doornfontein, South Africa
- Radiation Biology Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Amir Reza Aref
- Xsphera Biosciences, Translational Medicine group, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ramírez-Vidal L, Molina-Villa T, Mendoza V, Peralta-Álvarez CA, Poot-Hernández AC, Dotov D, López-Casillas F. Betaglycan promoter activity is differentially regulated during myogenesis in zebrafish embryo somites. Dev Dyn 2023; 252:1162-1179. [PMID: 37222488 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.602] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2022] [Revised: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 05/25/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Betaglycan, also known as the TGFβ type III receptor (Tgfbr3), is a co-receptor that modulates TGFβ family signaling. Tgfbr3 is upregulated during C2C12 myoblast differentiation and expressed in mouse embryos myocytes. RESULTS To investigate tgfbr3 transcriptional regulation during zebrafish embryonic myogenesis, we cloned a 3.2 kb promoter fragment that drives reporter transcription during C2C12 myoblasts differentiation and in the Tg(tgfbr3:mCherry) transgenic zebrafish. We detect tgfbr3 protein and mCherry expression in the adaxial cells concomitantly with the onset of their radial migration to become slow-twitch muscle fibers in the Tg(tgfbr3:mCherry). Remarkably, this expression displays a measurable antero-posterior somitic gradient expression. CONCLUSIONS tgfbr3 is transcriptionally regulated during somitic muscle development in zebrafish with an antero-posterior gradient expression that preferentially marks the adaxial cells and their descendants.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Lizbeth Ramírez-Vidal
- Departmento de Biología Celular y del Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Tonatiuh Molina-Villa
- Departmento de Biología Celular y del Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| | - Valentín Mendoza
- Departmento de Biología Celular y del Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| | | | | | - Dobromir Dotov
- Psychology, Neuroscience & Behaviour, McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada
| | - Fernando López-Casillas
- Departmento de Biología Celular y del Desarrollo, Instituto de Fisiología Celular, UNAM, Mexico City, Mexico
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Liu P, Li Y, Wang W, Bai Y, Jia H, Yuan Z, Yang Z. Role and mechanisms of the NF-ĸB signaling pathway in various developmental processes. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113513. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113513] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2022] [Revised: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
|
4
|
Lozano-Velasco E, Garcia-Padilla C, del Mar Muñoz-Gallardo M, Martinez-Amaro FJ, Caño-Carrillo S, Castillo-Casas JM, Sanchez-Fernandez C, Aranega AE, Franco D. Post-Transcriptional Regulation of Molecular Determinants during Cardiogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052839. [PMID: 35269981 PMCID: PMC8911333 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052839] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 02/19/2022] [Accepted: 02/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cardiovascular development is initiated soon after gastrulation as bilateral precardiac mesoderm is progressively symmetrically determined at both sides of the developing embryo. The precardiac mesoderm subsequently fused at the embryonic midline constituting an embryonic linear heart tube. As development progress, the embryonic heart displays the first sign of left-right asymmetric morphology by the invariably rightward looping of the initial heart tube and prospective embryonic ventricular and atrial chambers emerged. As cardiac development progresses, the atrial and ventricular chambers enlarged and distinct left and right compartments emerge as consequence of the formation of the interatrial and interventricular septa, respectively. The last steps of cardiac morphogenesis are represented by the completion of atrial and ventricular septation, resulting in the configuration of a double circuitry with distinct systemic and pulmonary chambers, each of them with distinct inlets and outlets connections. Over the last decade, our understanding of the contribution of multiple growth factor signaling cascades such as Tgf-beta, Bmp and Wnt signaling as well as of transcriptional regulators to cardiac morphogenesis have greatly enlarged. Recently, a novel layer of complexity has emerged with the discovery of non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs and lncRNAs. Herein, we provide a state-of-the-art review of the contribution of non-coding RNAs during cardiac development. microRNAs and lncRNAs have been reported to functional modulate all stages of cardiac morphogenesis, spanning from lateral plate mesoderm formation to outflow tract septation, by modulating major growth factor signaling pathways as well as those transcriptional regulators involved in cardiac development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Estefania Lozano-Velasco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18007 Granada, Spain
| | - Carlos Garcia-Padilla
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
- Department of Anatomy, Embryology and Zoology, School of Medicine, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Maria del Mar Muñoz-Gallardo
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
| | - Francisco Jose Martinez-Amaro
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
| | - Sheila Caño-Carrillo
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
| | - Juan Manuel Castillo-Casas
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
| | - Cristina Sanchez-Fernandez
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18007 Granada, Spain
| | - Amelia E. Aranega
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18007 Granada, Spain
| | - Diego Franco
- Cardiovascular Development Group, Department of Experimental Biology, University of Jaen, 23071 Jaen, Spain; (E.L.-V.); (C.G.-P.); (M.d.M.M.-G.); (F.J.M.-A.); (S.C.-C.); (J.M.C.-C.); (C.S.-F.); (A.E.A.)
- Fundación Medina, 18007 Granada, Spain
- Correspondence:
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Dronkers E, Wauters MMM, Goumans MJ, Smits AM. Epicardial TGFβ and BMP Signaling in Cardiac Regeneration: What Lesson Can We Learn from the Developing Heart? Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10030404. [PMID: 32150964 PMCID: PMC7175296 DOI: 10.3390/biom10030404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2020] [Revised: 02/29/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The epicardium, the outer layer of the heart, has been of interest in cardiac research due to its vital role in the developing and diseased heart. During development, epicardial cells are active and supply cells and paracrine cues to the myocardium. In the injured adult heart, the epicardium is re-activated and recapitulates embryonic behavior that is essential for a proper repair response. Two indispensable processes for epicardial contribution to heart tissue formation are epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and tissue invasion. One of the key groups of cytokines regulating both EMT and invasion is the transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) family, including TGFβ and Bone Morphogenetic Protein (BMP). Abundant research has been performed to understand the role of TGFβ family signaling in the developing epicardium. However, less is known about signaling in the adult epicardium. This review provides an overview of the current knowledge on the role of TGFβ in epicardial behavior both in the development and in the repair of the heart. We aim to describe the presence of involved ligands and receptors to establish if and when signaling can occur. Finally, we discuss potential targets to improve the epicardial contribution to cardiac repair as a starting point for future investigation.
Collapse
|
6
|
Abstract
The heart is lined by a single layer of mesothelial cells called the epicardium that provides important cellular contributions for embryonic heart formation. The epicardium harbors a population of progenitor cells that undergo epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition displaying characteristic conversion of planar epithelial cells into multipolar and invasive mesenchymal cells before differentiating into nonmyocyte cardiac lineages, such as vascular smooth muscle cells, pericytes, and fibroblasts. The epicardium is also a source of paracrine cues that are essential for fetal cardiac growth, coronary vessel patterning, and regenerative heart repair. Although the epicardium becomes dormant after birth, cardiac injury reactivates developmental gene programs that stimulate epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; however, it is not clear how the epicardium contributes to disease progression or repair in the adult. In this review, we will summarize the molecular mechanisms that control epicardium-derived progenitor cell migration, and the functional contributions of the epicardium to heart formation and cardiomyopathy. Future perspectives will be presented to highlight emerging therapeutic strategies aimed at harnessing the regenerative potential of the fetal epicardium for cardiac repair.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pearl Quijada
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute (P.Q., E.M.S.), University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY.,Department of Medicine (P.Q., E.M.S.), University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY
| | | | - Eric M Small
- From the Aab Cardiovascular Research Institute (P.Q., E.M.S.), University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY.,Department of Medicine (P.Q., E.M.S.), University of Rochester, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Rochester, NY
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Bejoy J, Yuan X, Song L, Hua T, Jeske R, Sart S, Sang QXA, Li Y. Genomics Analysis of Metabolic Pathways of Human Stem Cell-Derived Microglia-Like Cells and the Integrated Cortical Spheroids. Stem Cells Int 2019; 2019:2382534. [PMID: 31827525 PMCID: PMC6885849 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2382534] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2019] [Revised: 09/18/2019] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain spheroids or organoids derived from human pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) are still not capable of completely recapitulating in vivo human brain tissue, and one of the limitations is lack of microglia. To add built-in immune function, coculture of the dorsal forebrain spheroids with isogenic microglia-like cells (D-MG) was performed in our study. The three-dimensional D-MG spheroids were analyzed for their transcriptome and compared with isogenic microglia-like cells (MG). Cortical spheroids containing microglia-like cells displayed different metabolic programming, which may affect the associated phenotype. The expression of genes related to glycolysis and hypoxia signaling was increased in cocultured D-MG spheroids, indicating the metabolic shift to aerobic glycolysis, which is in favor of M1 polarization of microglia-like cells. In addition, the metabolic pathways and the signaling pathways involved in cell proliferation, cell death, PIK3/AKT/mTOR signaling, eukaryotic initiation factor 2 pathway, and Wnt and Notch pathways were analyzed. The results demonstrate the activation of mTOR and p53 signaling, increased expression of Notch ligands, and the repression of NF-κB and canonical Wnt pathways, as well as the lower expression of cell cycle genes in the cocultured D-MG spheroids. This analysis indicates that physiological 3-D microenvironment may reshape the immunity of in vitro cortical spheroids and better recapitulate in vivo brain tissue function for disease modeling and drug screening.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julie Bejoy
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Xuegang Yuan
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Liqing Song
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Thien Hua
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Richard Jeske
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
| | - Sébastien Sart
- Hydrodynamics Laboratory (LadHyX)-Department of Mechanics, Ecole Polytechnique, CNRS-UMR7646, 91128 Palaiseau, France
| | - Qing-Xiang Amy Sang
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| | - Yan Li
- Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering, FAMU-FSU College of Engineering, Florida State University, Tallahassee, FL, USA
- Institute of Molecular Biophysics, Florida State University, Tallahassee, Florida, USA
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Myocardial regeneration: role of epicardium and implicated genes. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46:6661-6674. [PMID: 31549371 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-05075-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 09/10/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Lower invertebrates' hearts such as those of zebrafish have the capacity for scarless myocardial regeneration which is lost by mammalian hearts as they form a fibrotic scar tissue instead of regenerating the injured area. However, neonatal mammalian hearts have a remarkable capacity for regeneration highlighting conserved evolutionary mechanisms underlying such a process. Studies investigated the underlying mechanism of myocardial regeneration in species capable to do so, to see its applicability on mammals. The epicardium, the mesothelial outer layer of the vertebrate heart, has proven to play an important role in the process of repair and regeneration. It serves as an important source of smooth muscle cells, cardiac fibroblasts, endothelial cells, stem cells, and signaling molecules that are involved in this process. Here we review the role of the epicardium in myocardial regeneration focusing on the different involved; Activation, epithelial to mesenchymal transition, and differentiation. In addition, we will discuss its contributory role to different aspects that support myocardial regeneration. Of these we will discuss angiogenesis and the formation of a regenerate extracellular matrix. Moreover, we will discuss several factors that act on the epicardium to affect regeneration. Finally, we will highlight the utility of the epicardium as a mode of cell therapy in the treatment of myocardial injury.
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang S, Zhou H, Wu D, Ni H, Chen Z, Chen C, Xiang Y, Dai K, Chen X, Li X. MicroRNA let-7a regulates angiogenesis by targeting TGFBR3 mRNA. J Cell Mol Med 2018; 23:556-567. [PMID: 30467960 PMCID: PMC6307798 DOI: 10.1111/jcmm.13960] [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: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 09/16/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis has a great impact on human health, owing to its participation in development, wound healing and the pathogenesis of several diseases. It has been reported that let-7a is a tumour suppressor, but whether it plays a role in angiogenesis is unclear. Here we showed that let-7a, a microRNA conserved in vertebrates, regulated angiogenesis by concomitantly down-regulating TGFBR3. Overexpression of let-7a or knockdown of TGFBR3 in cell culture inhibited the tube formation and reduced migration rate. Moreover, xenograft experiments showed that overexpression of let-7a or knockdown of TGFBR3 had smaller tumour size. Downstream genes, such as VEGFC and MMP9, were also down-regulated in let-7a overexpression or TGFBR3 knockdown groups. Therefore, our results revealed a novel mechanism that let-7a regulate angiogenesis through post-transcriptional regulation of TGFBR3.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shao Wang
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Huandong Zhou
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Dazhou Wu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Huajing Ni
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zhongliang Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Chengshui Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Youqun Xiang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Kezhi Dai
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiaoming Chen
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xi Li
- School of Mental Health, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,The Affiliated Kangning Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,The First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Functional Role of Non-Coding RNAs during Epithelial-To-Mesenchymal Transition. Noncoding RNA 2018; 4:ncrna4020014. [PMID: 29843425 PMCID: PMC6027143 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna4020014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 05/23/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a key biological process involved in a multitude of developmental and pathological events. It is characterized by the progressive loss of cell-to-cell contacts and actin cytoskeletal rearrangements, leading to filopodia formation and the progressive up-regulation of a mesenchymal gene expression pattern enabling cell migration. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is already observed in early embryonic stages such as gastrulation, when the epiblast undergoes an EMT process and therefore leads to the formation of the third embryonic layer, the mesoderm. Epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition is pivotal in multiple embryonic processes, such as for example during cardiovascular system development, as valve primordia are formed and the cardiac jelly is progressively invaded by endocardium-derived mesenchyme or as the external cardiac cell layer is established, i.e., the epicardium and cells detached migrate into the embryonic myocardial to form the cardiac fibrous skeleton and the coronary vasculature. Strikingly, the most important biological event in which EMT is pivotal is cancer development and metastasis. Over the last years, understanding of the transcriptional regulatory networks involved in EMT has greatly advanced. Several transcriptional factors such as Snail, Slug, Twist, Zeb1 and Zeb2 have been reported to play fundamental roles in EMT, leading in most cases to transcriptional repression of cell⁻cell interacting proteins such as ZO-1 and cadherins and activation of cytoskeletal markers such as vimentin. In recent years, a fundamental role for non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs and more recently long non-coding RNAs, has been identified in normal tissue development and homeostasis as well as in several oncogenic processes. In this study, we will provide a state-of-the-art review of the functional roles of non-coding RNAs, particularly microRNAs, in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition in both developmental and pathological EMT.
Collapse
|
11
|
Tao J, Barnett JV, Watanabe M, Ramírez-Bergeron D. Hypoxia Supports Epicardial Cell Differentiation in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells through the Activation of the TGFβ Pathway. J Cardiovasc Dev Dis 2018; 5:jcdd5020019. [PMID: 29652803 PMCID: PMC6023394 DOI: 10.3390/jcdd5020019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 04/04/2018] [Accepted: 04/04/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Epicardium-derived cells (EPDCs) are an important pool of multipotent cardiovascular progenitor cells. Through epithelial-to-mesenchymal-transition (EMT), EPDCs invade the subepicardium and myocardium and further differentiate into several cell types required for coronary vessel formation. We previously showed that epicardial hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) signaling mediates the invasion of vascular precursor cells critical for patterning the coronary vasculature. Here, we examine the regulatory role of hypoxia (1% oxygen) on EPDC differentiation into vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). Results: Hypoxia stimulates EMT and enhances expression of several VSMC markers in mouse epicardial cell cultures. This stimulation is specifically blocked by inhibiting transforming growth factor-beta (TGFβ) receptor I. Further analyses indicated that hypoxia increases the expression level of TGFβ-1 ligand and phosphorylation of TGFβ receptor II, suggesting an indispensable role of the TGFβ pathway in hypoxia-stimulated VSMC differentiation. We further demonstrate that the non-canonical RhoA/Rho kinase (ROCK) pathway acts as the main downstream effector of TGFβ to modulate hypoxia’s effect on VSMC differentiation. Conclusion: Our results reveal a novel role of epicardial HIF in mediating coronary vasculogenesis by promoting their differentiation into VSMCs through noncanonical TGFβ signaling. These data elucidate that patterning of the coronary vasculature is influenced by epicardial hypoxic signals.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jiayi Tao
- Case Cardiovascular Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Joey V Barnett
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA.
| | - Michiko Watanabe
- Department of Pediatrics, Rainbow Babies and Children's Hospital, The Congenital Heart Collaborative, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| | - Diana Ramírez-Bergeron
- Case Cardiovascular Research Institute, Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
- University Hospitals Harrington-McLaughlin Heart & Vascular Institute, Cleveland, OH 44106, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Metabolic Reprogramming and the Recovery of Physiological Functionality in 3D Cultures in Micro-Bioreactors. Bioengineering (Basel) 2018. [PMID: 29518979 PMCID: PMC5874888 DOI: 10.3390/bioengineering5010022] [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] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The recovery of physiological functionality, which is commonly seen in tissue mimetic three-dimensional (3D) cellular aggregates (organoids, spheroids, acini, etc.), has been observed in cells of many origins (primary tissues, embryonic stem cells (ESCs), induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), and immortal cell lines). This plurality and plasticity suggest that probably several basic principles promote this recovery process. The aim of this study was to identify these basic principles and describe how they are regulated so that they can be taken in consideration when micro-bioreactors are designed. Here, we provide evidence that one of these basic principles is hypoxia, which is a natural consequence of multicellular structures grown in microgravity cultures. Hypoxia drives a partial metabolic reprogramming to aerobic glycolysis and an increased anabolic synthesis. A second principle is the activation of cytoplasmic glutaminolysis for lipogenesis. Glutaminolysis is activated in the presence of hypo- or normo-glycaemic conditions and in turn is geared to the hexosamine pathway. The reducing power needed is produced in the pentose phosphate pathway, a prime function of glucose metabolism. Cytoskeletal reconstruction, histone modification, and the recovery of the physiological phenotype can all be traced to adaptive changes in the underlying cellular metabolism. These changes are coordinated by mTOR/Akt, p53 and non-canonical Wnt signaling pathways, while myc and NF-kB appear to be relatively inactive. Partial metabolic reprogramming to aerobic glycolysis, originally described by Warburg, is independent of the cell’s rate of proliferation, but is interwoven with the cells abilities to execute advanced functionality needed for replicating the tissues physiological performance.
Collapse
|
13
|
Dettman RW, Simon HG. Rebooting the collagen gel: Artificial hydrogels for the study of epithelial mesenchymal transformation. Dev Dyn 2017; 247:332-339. [PMID: 28786157 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 07/31/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The collagen gel has been used to study epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT) for over 30 years. With advances in the field of materials sciences, new options are available to design optically clear, three-dimensional nature-inspired matrix mimetics to study EMT. Here, we review the history of the collagen gel assay, discuss its current use and how newer artificial matrices can be built to simulate in vivo extracellular environments and investigate important current questions in the EMT field. We suggest that further collaborations between materials scientists and biologists will be critical to move the field of EMT forward. Developmental Dynamics 247:332-339, 2018. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Robert W Dettman
- Department of Urology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University and Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois
| | - Hans-Georg Simon
- Department of Pediatrics, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University and Stanley Manne Children's Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Li Y, Urban A, Midura D, Simon HG, Wang QT. Proteomic characterization of epicardial-myocardial signaling reveals novel regulatory networks including a role for NF-κB in epicardial EMT. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0174563. [PMID: 28358917 PMCID: PMC5373538 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0174563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2017] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Signaling between the epicardium and underlying myocardium is crucial for proper heart development. The complex molecular interactions and regulatory networks involved in this communication are not well understood. In this study, we integrated mass spectrometry with bioinformatics to systematically characterize the secretome of embryonic chicken EPDC-heart explant (EHE) co-cultures. The 150-protein secretome dataset established greatly expands the knowledge base of the molecular players involved in epicardial-myocardial signaling. We identified proteins and pathways that are implicated in epicardial-myocardial signaling for the first time, as well as new components of pathways that are known to regulate the crosstalk between epicardium and myocardium. The large size of the dataset enabled bioinformatics analysis to deduce networks for the regulation of specific biological processes and predicted signal transduction nodes within the networks. We performed functional analysis on one of the predicted nodes, NF-κB, and demonstrate that NF-κB activation is an essential step in TGFβ2/PDGFBB-induced cardiac epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. In summary, we have generated a global perspective of epicardial-myocardial signaling for the first time, and our findings open exciting new avenues for investigating the molecular basis of heart development and regeneration.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yanyang Li
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Alexander Urban
- Department of Pediatrics, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Devin Midura
- Department of Pediatrics, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Hans-Georg Simon
- Department of Pediatrics, The Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Stanley Manne Children’s Research Institute, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail: (QTW); (HGS)
| | - Q. Tian Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
- * E-mail: (QTW); (HGS)
| |
Collapse
|
15
|
DeLaughter DM, Clark CR, Christodoulou DC, Seidman CE, Baldwin HS, Seidman JG, Barnett JV. Transcriptional Profiling of Cultured, Embryonic Epicardial Cells Identifies Novel Genes and Signaling Pathways Regulated by TGFβR3 In Vitro. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0159710. [PMID: 27505173 PMCID: PMC4978490 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0159710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2015] [Accepted: 07/07/2016] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The epicardium plays an important role in coronary vessel formation and Tgfbr3-/- mice exhibit failed coronary vessel development associated with decreased epicardial cell invasion. Immortalized Tgfbr3-/- epicardial cells display the same defects. Tgfbr3+/+ and Tgfbr3-/- cells incubated for 72 hours with VEH or ligands known to promote invasion via TGFβR3 (TGFβ1, TGFβ2, BMP2), for 72 hours were harvested for RNA-seq analysis. We selected for genes >2-fold differentially expressed between Tgfbr3+/+ and Tgfbr3-/- cells when incubated with VEH (604), TGFβ1 (515), TGFβ2 (553), or BMP2 (632). Gene Ontology (GO) analysis of these genes identified dysregulated biological processes consistent with the defects observed in Tgfbr3-/- cells, including those associated with extracellular matrix interaction. GO and Gene Regulatory Network (GRN) analysis identified distinct expression profiles between TGFβ1-TGFβ2 and VEH-BMP2 incubated cells, consistent with the differential response of epicardial cells to these ligands in vitro. Despite the differences observed between Tgfbr3+/+ and Tgfbr3-/- cells after TGFβ and BMP ligand addition, GRNs constructed from these gene lists identified NF-ĸB as a key nodal point for all ligands examined. Tgfbr3-/- cells exhibited decreased expression of genes known to be activated by NF-ĸB signaling. NF-ĸB activity was stimulated in Tgfbr3+/+ epicardial cells after TGFβ2 or BMP2 incubation, while Tgfbr3-/- cells failed to activate NF-ĸB in response to these ligands. Tgfbr3+/+ epicardial cells incubated with an inhibitor of NF-ĸB signaling no longer invaded into a collagen gel in response to TGFβ2 or BMP2. These data suggest that NF-ĸB signaling is dysregulated in Tgfbr3-/- epicardial cells and that NF-ĸB signaling is required for epicardial cell invasion in vitro. Our approach successfully identified a signaling pathway important in epicardial cell behavior downstream of TGFβR3. Overall, the genes and signaling pathways identified through our analysis yield the first comprehensive list of candidate genes whose expression is dependent on TGFβR3 signaling.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Daniel M. DeLaughter
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Cynthia R. Clark
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Danos C. Christodoulou
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Christine E. Seidman
- Cardiology Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - H. Scott Baldwin
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville,Tennessee, United States of America
| | - J. G. Seidman
- Department of Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joey V. Barnett
- Department of Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- * E-mail:
| |
Collapse
|