1
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Yustis JC, Devoucoux M, Côté J. The Functional Relationship Between RNA Splicing and the Chromatin Landscape. J Mol Biol 2024; 436:168614. [PMID: 38762032 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2024.168614] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/27/2024] [Accepted: 05/13/2024] [Indexed: 05/20/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin is a highly regulated and dynamic structure that has been shown to play an essential role in transcriptional and co-transcriptional regulation. In the context of RNA splicing, early evidence suggested a loose connection between the chromatin landscape and splicing. More recently, it has been shown that splicing occurs in a co-transcriptional manner, meaning that the splicing process occurs in the context of chromatin. Experimental and computational evidence have also shown that chromatin dynamics can influence the splicing process and vice versa. However, much of this evidence provides mainly correlative relationships between chromatin and splicing with just a few concrete examples providing defined molecular mechanisms by which these two processes are functionally related. Nevertheless, it is clear that chromatin and RNA splicing are tightly interconnected to one another. In this review, we highlight the current state of knowledge of the relationship between chromatin and splicing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan-Carlos Yustis
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Laval University Cancer Research Center, Oncology Division of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Maëva Devoucoux
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Laval University Cancer Research Center, Oncology Division of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada
| | - Jacques Côté
- St-Patrick Research Group in Basic Oncology, Laval University Cancer Research Center, Oncology Division of the CHU de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Quebec City, Quebec G1R 3S3, Canada.
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2
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Saulnier O, Zagozewski J, Liang L, Hendrikse LD, Layug P, Gordon V, Aldinger KA, Haldipur P, Borlase S, Coudière-Morrison L, Cai T, Martell E, Gonzales NM, Palidwor G, Porter CJ, Richard S, Sharif T, Millen KJ, Doble BW, Taylor MD, Werbowetski-Ogilvie TE. A group 3 medulloblastoma stem cell program is maintained by OTX2-mediated alternative splicing. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:1233-1246. [PMID: 39025928 PMCID: PMC11321995 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01460-5] [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: 06/17/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 07/20/2024]
Abstract
OTX2 is a transcription factor and known driver in medulloblastoma (MB), where it is amplified in a subset of tumours and overexpressed in most cases of group 3 and group 4 MB. Here we demonstrate a noncanonical role for OTX2 in group 3 MB alternative splicing. OTX2 associates with the large assembly of splicing regulators complex through protein-protein interactions and regulates a stem cell splicing program. OTX2 can directly or indirectly bind RNA and this may be partially independent of its DNA regulatory functions. OTX2 controls a pro-tumorigenic splicing program that is mirrored in human cerebellar rhombic lip origins. Among the OTX2-regulated differentially spliced genes, PPHLN1 is expressed in the most primitive rhombic lip stem cells, and targeting PPHLN1 splicing reduces tumour growth and enhances survival in vivo. These findings identify OTX2-mediated alternative splicing as a major determinant of cell fate decisions that drive group 3 MB progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Saulnier
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Genomics and Development of Childhood Cancers, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
- INSERM U830, Cancer, Heterogeneity, Instability and Plasticity, Institut Curie, PSL University, Paris, France
- SIREDO Oncology Center, Institut Curie, Paris, France
| | - Jamie Zagozewski
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Lisa Liang
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Liam D Hendrikse
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Paul Layug
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Victor Gordon
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kimberly A Aldinger
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Parthiv Haldipur
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephanie Borlase
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ludivine Coudière-Morrison
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Ting Cai
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Departments of Biochemistry, Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Emma Martell
- Department of Pathology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Naomi M Gonzales
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Gareth Palidwor
- Ottawa Bioinformatics Core Facility, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Christopher J Porter
- Ottawa Bioinformatics Core Facility, Ottawa Hospital Research Institute, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Stéphane Richard
- Segal Cancer Center, Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research and Gerald Bronfman Department of Oncology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
- Departments of Biochemistry, Human Genetics and Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Tanveer Sharif
- Department of Pathology, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Human Anatomy and Cell Science, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Kathleen J Millen
- Center for Integrative Brain Research, Seattle Children's Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Genetic Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Brotman Baty Institute for Precision Medicine, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Brad W Doble
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
- Department of Pediatrics and Child Health, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Department of Surgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
- Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Neurosurgery, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
| | - Tamra E Werbowetski-Ogilvie
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.
- Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX, USA.
- Department of Pediatrics, Hematology/Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
- Texas Children's Cancer and Hematology Center, Houston, TX, USA.
- Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA.
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3
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Srivastava A, Ahmad R, Yadav K, Siddiqui S, Trivedi A, Misra A, Mehrotra S, Ahmad B, Ali Khan M. An update on existing therapeutic options and status of novel anti-metastatic agents in breast cancer: Elucidating the molecular mechanisms underlying the pleiotropic action of Withania somnifera (Indian ginseng) in breast cancer attenuation. Int Immunopharmacol 2024; 136:112232. [PMID: 38815352 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2024.112232] [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: 01/02/2024] [Revised: 04/14/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 06/01/2024]
Abstract
Major significant advancements in pharmacology and drug technology have been made to heighten the impact of cancer therapies, improving the life expectancy of subjects diagnosed with malignancy. Statistically, 99% of breast cancers occur in women while 0.5-1% occur in men, the female gender being the strongest breast cancer risk factor. Despite several breakthroughs, breast cancer continues to have a worldwide impact and is one of the leading causes of mortality. Additionally, resistance to therapy is a crucial factor enabling cancer cell persistence and resurgence. As a result, the search and discovery of novel modulatory agents and effective therapies capable of controlling tumor progression and cancer cell proliferation is critical. Withania somnifera (L.) Dunal (WS), commonly known as Indian ginseng, has long been used traditionally for the treatment of several ailments in the Indian context. Recently, WS and its phytoconstituents have shown promising anti-breast cancer properties and, as such, can be employed as prophylactic as well as therapeutic adjuncts to the main line of breast cancer treatment. The present review is an attempt to explore and provide experimental evidences in support of the prophylactic and therapeutic potential of WS in breast cancer, along with a deeper insight into the multiple molecular mechanisms and novel targets through which it acts against breast and other hormonally-induced cancers viz. ovarian, uterine and cervical. This exploration might prove crucial in providing better understanding of breast cancer progression and metastasis and its use as an adjunct in improving disease prognosis and therapeutic outcome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aditi Srivastava
- Dept. of Biochemistry, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow 226003, UP., India.
| | - Rumana Ahmad
- Dept. of Biochemistry, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow 226003, UP., India.
| | - Kusum Yadav
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, UP., India.
| | - Sahabjada Siddiqui
- Dept. of Biotechnology, Era's Lucknow Medical College & Hospital, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow 226003, UP., India.
| | - Anchal Trivedi
- Dept. of Biochemistry, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow 226003, UP., India.
| | - Aparna Misra
- Dept. of Biochemistry, Era's Lucknow Medical College and Hospital, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow 226003, UP., India.
| | - Sudhir Mehrotra
- Dept. of Biochemistry, University of Lucknow, Lucknow 226007, UP., India.
| | - Bilal Ahmad
- Research Cell, Era University, Sarfarazganj, Hardoi Road, Lucknow 226003, UP., India.
| | - Mohsin Ali Khan
- Dept. of Research & Development, Era University, Lucknow 226003, UP., India.
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Bonnet C, Dian AL, Espie-Caullet T, Fabbri L, Lagadec L, Pivron T, Dutertre M, Luco R, Navickas A, Vagner S, Verga D, Uguen P. Post-transcriptional gene regulation: From mechanisms to RNA chemistry and therapeutics. Bull Cancer 2024; 111:782-790. [PMID: 38824069 DOI: 10.1016/j.bulcan.2024.04.005] [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: 02/13/2024] [Revised: 03/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/03/2024]
Abstract
A better understanding of the RNA biology and chemistry is necessary to then develop new RNA therapeutic strategies. This review is the synthesis of a series of conferences that took place during the 6th international course on post-transcriptional gene regulation at Institut Curie. This year, the course made a special focus on RNA chemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Bonnet
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France
| | - Ana Luisa Dian
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France
| | - Tristan Espie-Caullet
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France
| | - Lucilla Fabbri
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France
| | - Lucie Lagadec
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France
| | - Thibaud Pivron
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France
| | - Martin Dutertre
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France
| | - Reini Luco
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France
| | - Albertas Navickas
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France
| | - Stephan Vagner
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France
| | - Daniela Verga
- CNRS UMR9187, Inserm U1196, Chemistry and Modelling for the Biology of Cancer, Institut Curie, université Paris-Saclay, 91405 Orsay, France
| | - Patricia Uguen
- CNRS UMR3348 Genome integrity, RNA and Cancer, Institut Curie, University Paris-Saclay, 91401 Orsay, France.
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5
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Riccardi F, Romano G, Licastro D, Pagani F. Age-dependent regulation of ELP1 exon 20 splicing in Familial Dysautonomia by RNA Polymerase II kinetics and chromatin structure. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0298965. [PMID: 38829854 PMCID: PMC11146744 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0298965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Familial Dysautonomia (FD) is a rare disease caused by ELP1 exon 20 skipping. Here we clarify the role of RNA Polymerase II (RNAPII) and chromatin on this splicing event. A slow RNAPII mutant and chromatin-modifying chemicals that reduce the rate of RNAPII elongation induce exon skipping whereas chemicals that create a more relaxed chromatin exon inclusion. In the brain of a mouse transgenic for the human FD-ELP1 we observed on this gene an age-dependent decrease in the RNAPII density profile that was most pronounced on the alternative exon, a robust increase in the repressive marks H3K27me3 and H3K9me3 and a decrease of H3K27Ac, together with a progressive reduction in ELP1 exon 20 inclusion level. In HEK 293T cells, selective drug-induced demethylation of H3K27 increased RNAPII elongation on ELP1 and SMN2, promoted the inclusion of the corresponding alternative exons, and, by RNA-sequencing analysis, induced changes in several alternative splicing events. These data suggest a co-transcriptional model of splicing regulation in which age-dependent changes in H3K27me3/Ac modify the rate of RNAPII elongation and affect processing of ELP1 alternative exon 20.
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Affiliation(s)
- Federico Riccardi
- Human Molecular Genetics, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Padriciano, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giulia Romano
- Human Molecular Genetics, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Padriciano, Trieste, Italy
| | - Danilo Licastro
- Laboratorio di Genomica ed Epigenomica, AREA Science Park, Padriciano, Trieste, Italy
| | - Franco Pagani
- Human Molecular Genetics, International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology, Padriciano, Trieste, Italy
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6
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Youssef A, Paul I, Crovella M, Emili A. DESP demixes cell-state profiles from dynamic bulk molecular measurements. CELL REPORTS METHODS 2024; 4:100729. [PMID: 38490205 PMCID: PMC10985230 DOI: 10.1016/j.crmeth.2024.100729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 02/16/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Understanding the dynamic expression of proteins and other key molecules driving phenotypic remodeling in development and pathobiology has garnered widespread interest, yet the exploration of these systems at the foundational resolution of the underlying cell states has been significantly limited by technical constraints. Here, we present DESP, an algorithm designed to leverage independent estimates of cell-state proportions, such as from single-cell RNA sequencing, to resolve the relative contributions of cell states to bulk molecular measurements, most notably quantitative proteomics, recorded in parallel. We applied DESP to an in vitro model of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and demonstrated its ability to accurately reconstruct cell-state signatures from bulk-level measurements of both the proteome and transcriptome, providing insights into transient regulatory mechanisms. DESP provides a generalizable computational framework for modeling the relationship between bulk and single-cell molecular measurements, enabling the study of proteomes and other molecular profiles at the cell-state level using established bulk-level workflows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmed Youssef
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Network Systems Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Indranil Paul
- Center for Network Systems Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark Crovella
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Computer Science Department, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Andrew Emili
- Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Center for Network Systems Biology, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Faculty of Computing and Data Sciences, Boston University, Boston, MA, USA; Knight Cancer Institute, Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR, USA.
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7
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Marie P, Bazire M, Ladet J, Ameur LB, Chahar S, Fontrodona N, Sexton T, Auboeuf D, Bourgeois CF, Mortreux F. Gene-to-gene coordinated regulation of transcription and alternative splicing by 3D chromatin remodeling upon NF-κB activation. Nucleic Acids Res 2024; 52:1527-1543. [PMID: 38272542 PMCID: PMC10899780 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkae015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2023] [Revised: 12/13/2023] [Accepted: 01/05/2024] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
The NF-κB protein p65/RelA plays a pivotal role in coordinating gene expression in response to diverse stimuli, including viral infections. At the chromatin level, p65/RelA regulates gene transcription and alternative splicing through promoter enrichment and genomic exon occupancy, respectively. The intricate ways in which p65/RelA simultaneously governs these functions across various genes remain to be fully elucidated. In this study, we employed the HTLV-1 Tax oncoprotein, a potent activator of NF-κB, to investigate its influence on the three-dimensional organization of the genome, a key factor in gene regulation. We discovered that Tax restructures the 3D genomic landscape, bringing together genes based on their regulation and splicing patterns. Notably, we found that the Tax-induced gene-gene contact between the two master genes NFKBIA and RELA is associated with their respective changes in gene expression and alternative splicing. Through dCas9-mediated approaches, we demonstrated that NFKBIA-RELA interaction is required for alternative splicing regulation and is caused by an intragenic enrichment of p65/RelA on RELA. Our findings shed light on new regulatory mechanisms upon HTLV-1 Tax and underscore the integral role of p65/RelA in coordinated regulation of NF-κB-responsive genes at both transcriptional and splicing levels in the context of the 3D genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Marie
- Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, 46 Allée d’Italie Site Jacques Monod, F-69007 Lyon, France
| | - Matéo Bazire
- Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, 46 Allée d’Italie Site Jacques Monod, F-69007 Lyon, France
| | - Julien Ladet
- Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, 46 Allée d’Italie Site Jacques Monod, F-69007 Lyon, France
| | - Lamya Ben Ameur
- Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, 46 Allée d’Italie Site Jacques Monod, F-69007 Lyon, France
| | - Sanjay Chahar
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), UMR7104, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, U1258, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, University of Strasbourg, 6704 Illkirch, France
| | - Nicolas Fontrodona
- Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, 46 Allée d’Italie Site Jacques Monod, F-69007 Lyon, France
| | - Tom Sexton
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular and Cellular Biology (IGBMC), UMR7104, Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique, U1258, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, University of Strasbourg, 6704 Illkirch, France
| | - Didier Auboeuf
- Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, 46 Allée d’Italie Site Jacques Monod, F-69007 Lyon, France
| | - Cyril F Bourgeois
- Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, 46 Allée d’Italie Site Jacques Monod, F-69007 Lyon, France
| | - Franck Mortreux
- Univ Lyon, ENS de Lyon, Univ Claude Bernard, CNRS UMR 5239, INSERM U1210, Laboratory of Biology and Modelling of the Cell, 46 Allée d’Italie Site Jacques Monod, F-69007 Lyon, France
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8
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Young CM, Beziaud L, Dessen P, Madurga Alonso A, Santamaria-Martínez A, Huelsken J. Metabolic dependencies of metastasis-initiating cells in female breast cancer. Nat Commun 2023; 14:7076. [PMID: 37925484 PMCID: PMC10625534 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-42748-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the mechanisms that enable cancer cells to metastasize is essential in preventing cancer progression. Here we examine the metabolic adaptations of metastasis-initiating cells (MICs) in female breast cancer and how those shape their metastatic phenotype. We find that endogenous MICs depend on the oxidative tricarboxylic acid cycle and fatty acid usage. Sorting tumor cells based upon solely mitochondrial membrane potential or lipid storage is sufficient at identifying MICs. We further identify that mitochondrially-generated citrate is exported to the cytoplasm to yield acetyl-CoA, and this is crucial to maintaining heightened levels of H3K27ac in MICs. Blocking acetyl-CoA generating pathways or H3K27ac-specific epigenetic writers and readers reduces expression of epithelial-to-mesenchymal related genes, MIC frequency, and metastatic potential. Exogenous supplementation of a short chain carboxylic acid, acetate, increases MIC frequency and metastasis. In patient cohorts, we observe that higher expression of oxidative phosphorylation related genes is associated with reduced distant relapse-free survival. These data demonstrate that MICs specifically and precisely alter their metabolism to efficiently colonize distant organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Megan Young
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Rue du Bugnon 25A, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Laurent Beziaud
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Rue du Bugnon 25A, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Pierre Dessen
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Rue du Bugnon 25A, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Angela Madurga Alonso
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Rue du Bugnon 25A, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Albert Santamaria-Martínez
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Joerg Huelsken
- École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), ISREC (Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research), 1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Agora Cancer Research Center, Rue du Bugnon 25A, 1011, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- Swiss Cancer Center Léman, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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9
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Batra SS, Cabrera A, Spence JP, Hilton IB, Song YS. Predicting the effect of CRISPR-Cas9-based epigenome editing. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.10.03.560674. [PMID: 37873127 PMCID: PMC10592942 DOI: 10.1101/2023.10.03.560674] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2023]
Abstract
Epigenetic regulation orchestrates mammalian transcription, but functional links between them remain elusive. To tackle this problem, we here use epigenomic and transcriptomic data from 13 ENCODE cell types to train machine learning models to predict gene expression from histone post-translational modifications (PTMs), achieving transcriptome-wide correlations of ~ 0.70 - 0.79 for most samples. In addition to recapitulating known associations between histone PTMs and expression patterns, our models predict that acetylation of histone subunit H3 lysine residue 27 (H3K27ac) near the transcription start site (TSS) significantly increases expression levels. To validate this prediction experimentally and investigate how engineered vs. natural deposition of H3K27ac might differentially affect expression, we apply the synthetic dCas9-p300 histone acetyltransferase system to 8 genes in the HEK293T cell line. Further, to facilitate model building, we perform MNase-seq to map genome-wide nucleosome occupancy levels in HEK293T. We observe that our models perform well in accurately ranking relative fold changes among genes in response to the dCas9-p300 system; however, their ability to rank fold changes within individual genes is noticeably diminished compared to predicting expression across cell types from their native epigenetic signatures. Our findings highlight the need for more comprehensive genome-scale epigenome editing datasets, better understanding of the actual modifications made by epigenome editing tools, and improved causal models that transfer better from endogenous cellular measurements to perturbation experiments. Together these improvements would facilitate the ability to understand and predictably control the dynamic human epigenome with consequences for human health.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Isaac B. Hilton
- Department of Bioengineering, Rice University
- Department of BioSciences, Rice University
| | - Yun S. Song
- Computer Science Division, University of California, Berkeley
- Department of Statistics, University of California, Berkeley
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10
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Haerinck J, Goossens S, Berx G. The epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity landscape: principles of design and mechanisms of regulation. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:590-609. [PMID: 37169858 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-023-00601-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal plasticity (EMP) enables cells to interconvert between several states across the epithelial-mesenchymal landscape, thereby acquiring hybrid epithelial/mesenchymal phenotypic features. This plasticity is crucial for embryonic development and wound healing, but also underlies the acquisition of several malignant traits during cancer progression. Recent research using systems biology and single-cell profiling methods has provided novel insights into the main forces that shape EMP, which include the microenvironment, lineage specification and cell identity, and the genome. Additionally, key roles have emerged for hysteresis (cell memory) and cellular noise, which can drive stochastic transitions between cell states. Here, we review these forces and the distinct but interwoven layers of regulatory control that stabilize EMP states or facilitate epithelial-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) and discuss the therapeutic potential of manipulating the EMP landscape.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jef Haerinck
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
| | - Steven Goossens
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium
- Unit for Translational Research in Oncology, Department of Diagnostic Sciences, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Geert Berx
- Molecular and Cellular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium.
- Cancer Research Institute Ghent (CRIG), Ghent, Belgium.
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11
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Do HTT, Shanak S, Barghash A, Helms V. Differential exon usage of developmental genes is associated with deregulated epigenetic marks. Sci Rep 2023; 13:12256. [PMID: 37507411 PMCID: PMC10382575 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-38879-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Alternative exon usage is known to affect a large portion of genes in mammalian genomes. Importantly, different splice isoforms sometimes possess distinctly different protein functions. Here, we analyzed data from the Human Epigenome Atlas for 11 different human adult tissues and for 8 cultured cells that mimic early developmental stages. We found a significant enrichment of cases where differential usage of exons in various developmental stages of human cells and tissues is associated with differential epigenetic modifications in the flanking regions of individual exons. Many of the genes that were differentially regulated at the exon level and showed deregulated histone marks at the respective exon flanks are functionally associated with development and metabolism.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Siba Shanak
- Department of Biology and Biotechnology, Arab American University, Jenin, Palestine
| | - Ahmad Barghash
- Department of Computer Science, German Jordanian University, Amman, Jordan
| | - Volkhard Helms
- Center for Bioinformatics, Saarland University, Saarbrücken, Germany.
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12
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Rogalska ME, Vivori C, Valcárcel J. Regulation of pre-mRNA splicing: roles in physiology and disease, and therapeutic prospects. Nat Rev Genet 2023; 24:251-269. [PMID: 36526860 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-022-00556-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 58.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
The removal of introns from mRNA precursors and its regulation by alternative splicing are key for eukaryotic gene expression and cellular function, as evidenced by the numerous pathologies induced or modified by splicing alterations. Major recent advances have been made in understanding the structures and functions of the splicing machinery, in the description and classification of physiological and pathological isoforms and in the development of the first therapies for genetic diseases based on modulation of splicing. Here, we review this progress and discuss important remaining challenges, including predicting splice sites from genomic sequences, understanding the variety of molecular mechanisms and logic of splicing regulation, and harnessing this knowledge for probing gene function and disease aetiology and for the design of novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Malgorzata Ewa Rogalska
- Genome Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Claudia Vivori
- Genome Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain
- The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Juan Valcárcel
- Genome Biology Program, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Department of Medicine and Life Sciences, Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain.
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain.
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13
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Marasco LE, Kornblihtt AR. The physiology of alternative splicing. Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 2023; 24:242-254. [PMID: 36229538 DOI: 10.1038/s41580-022-00545-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 128] [Impact Index Per Article: 128.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Alternative splicing is a substantial contributor to the high complexity of transcriptomes of multicellular eukaryotes. In this Review, we discuss the accumulated evidence that most of this complexity is reflected at the protein level and fundamentally shapes the physiology and pathology of organisms. This notion is supported not only by genome-wide analyses but, mainly, by detailed studies showing that global and gene-specific modulations of alternative splicing regulate highly diverse processes such as tissue-specific and species-specific cell differentiation, thermal regulation, neuron self-avoidance, infrared sensing, the Warburg effect, maintenance of telomere length, cancer and autism spectrum disorders (ASD). We also discuss how mastering the control of alternative splicing paved the way to clinically approved therapies for hereditary diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Luciano E Marasco
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Moleculary Celular and CONICET-UBA, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Sir William Dunn School of Pathology, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Alberto R Kornblihtt
- Universidad de Buenos Aires (UBA), Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Moleculary Celular and CONICET-UBA, Instituto de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Neurociencias (IFIBYNE), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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14
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Agosto LM, Mallory MJ, Ferretti MB, Blake D, Krick KS, Gazzara MR, Garcia BA, Lynch KW. Alternative splicing of HDAC7 regulates its interaction with 14-3-3 proteins to alter histone marks and target gene expression. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112273. [PMID: 36933216 PMCID: PMC10113009 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112273] [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: 08/31/2022] [Revised: 01/28/2023] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromatin regulation and alternative splicing are both critical mechanisms guiding gene expression. Studies have demonstrated that histone modifications can influence alternative splicing decisions, but less is known about how alternative splicing may impact chromatin. Here, we demonstrate that several genes encoding histone-modifying enzymes are alternatively spliced downstream of T cell signaling pathways, including HDAC7, a gene previously implicated in controlling gene expression and differentiation in T cells. Using CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing and cDNA expression, we show that differential inclusion of HDAC7 exon 9 controls the interaction of HDAC7 with protein chaperones, resulting in changes to histone modifications and gene expression. Notably, the long isoform, which is induced by the RNA-binding protein CELF2, promotes expression of several critical T cell surface proteins including CD3, CD28, and CD69. Thus, we demonstrate that alternative splicing of HDAC7 has a global impact on histone modification and gene expression that contributes to T cell development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Agosto
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Michael J Mallory
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Max B Ferretti
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pathology, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Davia Blake
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Immunology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Keegan S Krick
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Matthew R Gazzara
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Genomic and Computational Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Benjamin A Garcia
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Epigenetics Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kristen W Lynch
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Immunology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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15
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Thakur C, Qiu Y, Fu Y, Bi Z, Zhang W, Ji H, Chen F. Epigenetics and environment in breast cancer: New paradigms for anti-cancer therapies. Front Oncol 2022; 12:971288. [PMID: 36185256 PMCID: PMC9520778 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.971288] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women worldwide. Delayed presentation of the disease, late stage at diagnosis, limited therapeutic options, metastasis, and relapse are the major factors contributing to breast cancer mortality. The development and progression of breast cancer is a complex and multi-step process that incorporates an accumulation of several genetic and epigenetic alterations. External environmental factors and internal cellular microenvironmental cues influence the occurrence of these alterations that drives tumorigenesis. Here, we discuss state-of-the-art information on the epigenetics of breast cancer and how environmental risk factors orchestrate major epigenetic events, emphasizing the necessity for a multidisciplinary approach toward a better understanding of the gene-environment interactions implicated in breast cancer. Since epigenetic modifications are reversible and are susceptible to extrinsic and intrinsic stimuli, they offer potential avenues that can be targeted for designing robust breast cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chitra Thakur
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Yiran Qiu
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Yao Fu
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Zhuoyue Bi
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Wenxuan Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Haoyan Ji
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY, United States
| | - Fei Chen
- Department of Pathology, Stony Brook Cancer Center, Stony Brook, NY, United States
- Department of Pathology, Renaissance School of Medicine, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY, United States
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16
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Yuan J, Mo Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Q. Nickel nanoparticles induce epithelial-mesenchymal transition in human bronchial epithelial cells via the HIF-1α/HDAC3 pathway. Nanotoxicology 2022; 16:695-712. [PMID: 36345150 PMCID: PMC9892310 DOI: 10.1080/17435390.2022.2142169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 10/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
We and others have previously demonstrated that exposure to nickel nanoparticles (Nano-Ni) caused fibrogenic and carcinogenic effects; however, the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood. This study aimed to investigate the effects of Nano-Ni on epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) and its underlying mechanisms since EMT is involved in both cancer pathogenesis and tissue fibrosis. Our results showed that exposure to Nano-Ni, compared to the control Nano-TiO2, caused a remarkable decrease in the expression of E-cadherin and an increase in the expression of vimentin and α-SMA, indicating an inducible role of Nano-Ni in EMT development in human bronchial epithelial cells. HIF-1α nuclear accumulation, HDAC3 upregulation, and decreased histone acetylation were also observed in the cells exposed to Nano-Ni, but not in those exposed to Nano-TiO2. Pretreatment of the cells with a specific HIF-1α inhibitor, CAY10585, or HIF-1α-specific siRNA transfection prior to Nano-Ni exposure resulted in the restoration of E-cadherin and abolished Nano-Ni-induced upregulation of vimentin and α-SMA, suggesting a crucial role of HIF-1α in Nano-Ni-induced EMT development. CAY10585 pretreatment also attenuated the HDAC3 upregulation and increased histone acetylation. Inhibition of HDAC3 with specific siRNA significantly restrained Nano-Ni-induced reduction in histone acetylation and restored EMT-related protein expression to near control levels. In summary, our findings suggest that exposure to Nano-Ni promotes the development of EMT in human bronchial epithelial cells by decreasing histone acetylation through HIF-1α-mediated HDAC3 upregulation. Our findings may provide information for further understanding of the molecular mechanisms of Nano-Ni-induced fibrosis and carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yuanbao Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, 485 E. Gray Street, Louisville, KY 40209, USA
| | - Yue Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, 485 E. Gray Street, Louisville, KY 40209, USA
| | - Qunwei Zhang
- Department of Epidemiology and Population Health, School of Public Health and Information Sciences, University of Louisville, 485 E. Gray Street, Louisville, KY 40209, USA
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17
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Imbriano C, Belluti S. Histone Marks-Dependent Effect on Alternative Splicing: New Perspectives for Targeted Splicing Modulation in Cancer? Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23158304. [PMID: 35955433 PMCID: PMC9368390 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23158304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2022] [Revised: 07/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative splicing (AS) is a tightly regulated mechanism that generates the complex human proteome from a small number of genes. Cis-regulatory RNA motifs in exons and introns control AS, recruiting positive and negative trans-acting splicing regulators. At a higher level, chromatin affects splicing events. Growing evidence indicates that the popular histone code hypothesis can be extended to RNA-level processes, such as AS. In addition to nucleosome positioning, which can generate transcriptional barriers to shape the final splicing outcome, histone post-translational modifications can contribute to the detailed regulation of single exon inclusion/exclusion. A histone-based system can identify alternatively spliced chromatin stretches, affecting RNAPII elongation locally or recruiting splicing components via adaptor complexes. In tumor cells, several mechanisms trigger misregulated AS events and produce cancer-associated transcripts. On a genome-wide level, aberrant AS can be the consequence of dysfunctional epigenetic splicing code, including altered enrichment in histone post-translational modifications. This review describes the main findings related to the effect of histone modifications and variants on splicing outcome and how a dysfunctional epigenetic splicing code triggers aberrant AS in cancer. In addition, it highlights recent advances in programmable DNA-targeting technologies and their possible application for AS targeted epigenetic modulation.
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