Fra-1 a target for cancer prevention or intervention

Prioritizing drug targets by perturbing biological network response functions

Therapeutic interventions are designed to perturb the function of a biological system. However, there are many types of proteins that cannot be targeted with conventional small molecule drugs. Accordingly, many identified gene-regulatory drivers and downstream effectors are currently undruggable. Drivers and effectors are often connected by druggable signaling and regulatory intermediates. Methods to identify druggable intermediates therefore have general value in expanding the set of targets available for hypothesis-driven validation. Here we identify and prioritize potential druggable intermediates by developing a network perturbation theory, termed NetPert, for response functions of biological networks. Dynamics are defined by a network structure in which vertices represent genes and proteins, and edges represent gene-regulatory interactions and protein-protein interactions. Perturbation theory for network dynamics prioritizes targets that interfere with signaling from driver to response genes. Applications to organoid models for metastatic breast cancer demonstrate the ability of this mathematical framework to identify and prioritize druggable intermediates. While the short-time limit of the perturbation theory resembles betweenness centrality, NetPert is superior in generating target rankings that correlate with previous wet-lab assays and are more robust to incomplete or noisy network data. NetPert also performs better than a related graph diffusion approach. Wet-lab assays demonstrate that drugs for targets identified by NetPert, including targets that are not themselves differentially expressed, are active in suppressing additional metastatic phenotypes.

Mutant p53 and ELK1 co-drive FRA-1 expression to induce metastasis in breast cancer

Tumor-associated p53 mutations induce activities different from wild-type p53, thus causing loss of the protein's tumor inhibition function. The cells carrying p53 mutations have more aggressive characteristics related to invasion, metastasis, proliferation, and cell survival. By comparing the gene expression profiles of mutant p53 (mutp53) and mutp53 silenced cohorts, we found that FOS-related antigen-1 (FRA-1), which is encoded by FOSL1, is a potential effector of mutp53-mediated metastasis. We demonstrate that the expression of FRA-1, a gatekeeper of mesenchymal-epithelial transition, is elevated in the presence of p53 mutations. Mechanistically, mutant p53 cooperates with the transcription factor ELK1 in binding and activating the promoter of FOSL1, thus fostering lung metastasis. This study reveals new insights into how mutant p53 contributes to metastasis in breast cancer.

Shear Stress Drives the Cleavage Activation of Protease-Activated Receptor 2 by PRSS3/Mesotrypsin to Promote Invasion and Metastasis of Circulating Lung Cancer Cells

When circulating tumor cells (CTCs) travel in circulation, they can be killed by detachment-induced anoikis and fluidic shear stress (SS)-mediated apoptosis. Circulatory treatment, which can make CTCs detached but also generate SS, can increase metastasis of cancer cells. To identify SS-specific mechanosensors without detachment impacts, a microfluidic circulatory system is used to generate arteriosus SS and compare transcriptome profiles of circulating lung cancer cells with suspended cells. Half of the cancer cells can survive SS damage and show higher invasion ability. Mesotrypsin (PRSS3), protease-activated receptor 2 (PAR2), and the subunit of activating protein 1, Fos-related antigen 1 (FOSL1), are upregulated by SS, and their high expression is responsible for promoting invasion and metastasis. SS triggers PRSS3 to cleave the N-terminal inhibitory domain of PAR2 within 2 h. As a G protein-coupled receptor, PAR2 further activates the Gαi protein to turn on the Src-ERK/p38/JNK-FRA1/cJUN axis to promote the expression of epithelial-mesenchymal transition markers, and also PRSS3, which facilitates metastasis. Enriched PRSS3, PAR2, and FOSL1 in human tumor samples and their correlations with worse outcomes reveal their clinical significance. PAR2 may serve as an SS-specific mechanosensor cleavable by PRSS3 in circulation, which provides new insights for targeting metastasis-initiating CTCs.

FOSL2 participates in renal fibrosis via SGK1-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition of proximal tubular epithelial cells

Background

Fos-related antigen 2 (FOSL2) plays a facilitative role in fibrotic disease; however, its role in renal fibrosis remains unclear. This study aimed to clarify the role and underlying mechanisms of FOSL2 in renal fibrosis.

Methods

Upregulated genes in unilateral ureteral obstruction (UUO)-injured kidneys were screened in Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases, and overlapping genes were identified using Venn diagram software. Gene Ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathway analyses were performed for these genes. The UUO-induced mouse model and transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1)-induced cell model were used for the in vivo and in vitro studies.

Results

A total of 43 commonly upregulated genes were identified. GO and KEGG pathway analyses indicated that FOSL2 may be involved in fibrosis. Furthermore, FOSL2 was confirmed to be upregulated in UUO-injured kidneys and TGF-β1-induced cells. Knockdown of FOSL2 ameliorated interstitial fibrosis, extracellular matrix deposition, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition via the downregulation of fibronectin, α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen type I (Col1a1 and Col1a2), and Col5a1 and upregulation of E-cadherin. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that serum/glucocorticoid regulated kinase 1 (SGK1) may be regulated by FOSL2 and involved in renal fibrosis. Further experiments confirmed that TGF-β1 enhanced SGK1 expression and transcription, which were reversed by FOSL2 silencing. Moreover, FOSL2 was bound to the SGK1 promoter, and SGK1 overexpression reversed the effects of FOSL2 silencing in TGF-β1-induced cells.

Conclusion

FOSL2 plays an essential role in promoting renal fibrosis in an SGK1-dependent manner, and targeting the FOSL2/SGK1 signaling axis may offer a potential strategy for the treatment of renal fibrosis.

Multiple Fra-1-bound enhancers showing different molecular and functional features can cooperate to repress gene transcription

BACKGROUND

How transcription factors (TFs) down-regulate gene expression remains ill-understood, especially when they bind to multiple enhancers contacting the same gene promoter. In particular, it is not known whether they exert similar or significantly different molecular effects at these enhancers.

RESULTS

To address this issue, we used a particularly well-suited study model consisting of the down-regulation of the TGFB2 gene by the TF Fra-1 in Fra-1-overexpressing cancer cells, as Fra-1 binds to multiple enhancers interacting with the TGFB2 promoter. We show that Fra-1 does not repress TGFB2 transcription via reducing RNA Pol II recruitment at the gene promoter but by decreasing the formation of its transcription-initiating form. This is associated with complex long-range chromatin interactions implicating multiple molecularly and functionally heterogeneous Fra-1-bound transcriptional enhancers distal to the TGFB2 transcriptional start site. In particular, the latter display differential requirements upon the presence and the activity of the lysine acetyltransferase p300/CBP. Furthermore, the final transcriptional output of the TGFB2 gene seems to depend on a balance between the positive and negative effects of Fra-1 at these enhancers.

CONCLUSION

Our work unveils complex molecular mechanisms underlying the repressive actions of Fra-1 on TGFB2 gene expression. This has consequences for our general understanding of the functioning of the ubiquitous transcriptional complex AP-1, of which Fra-1 is the most documented component for prooncogenic activities. In addition, it raises the general question of the heterogeneity of the molecular functions of TFs binding to different enhancers regulating the same gene.

FRA-1 as a Regulator of EMT and Metastasis in Breast Cancer

Among FOS-related components of the dimeric AP-1 transcription factor, the oncoprotein FRA-1 (encoded by FOSL1) is a key regulator of invasion and metastasis. The well-established FRA-1 pro-invasive activity in breast cancer, in which FOSL1 is overexpressed in the TNBC (Triple Negative Breast Cancer)/basal subtypes, correlates with the FRA-1-dependent transcriptional regulation of EMT (Epithelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition). After summarizing the major findings on FRA-1 in breast cancer invasiveness, we discuss the FRA-1 mechanistic links with EMT and cancer cell stemness, mediated by transcriptional and posttranscriptional interactions between FOSL1/FRA-1 and EMT-regulating transcription factors, miRNAs, RNA binding proteins and cytokines, along with other target genes involved in EMT. In addition to the FRA-1/AP-1 effects on the architecture of target promoters, we discuss the diagnostic and prognostic significance of the EMT-related FRA-1 transcriptome, along with therapeutic implications. Finally, we consider several novel perspectives regarding the less explored roles of FRA-1 in the tumor microenvironment and in control of the recently characterized hybrid EMT correlated with cancer cell plasticity, stemness, and metastatic potential. We will also examine the application of emerging technologies, such as single-cell analyses, along with animal models of TNBC and tumor-derived CTCs and PDXs (Circulating Tumor Cells and Patient-Derived Xenografts) for studying the FRA-1-mediated mechanisms in in vivo systems of EMT and metastasis.

Global Impairment of Immediate-Early Genes Expression in Rett Syndrome Models and Patients Linked to Myelination Defects

Rett syndrome (RTT) is a severe neurodevelopmental disease caused almost exclusively by mutations to the MeCP2 gene. This disease may be regarded as a synaptopathy, with impairments affecting synaptic plasticity, inhibitory and excitatory transmission and network excitability. The complete understanding of the mechanisms behind how the transcription factor MeCP2 so profoundly affects the mammalian brain are yet to be determined. What is known, is that MeCP2 involvement in activity-dependent expression programs is a critical link between this protein and proper neuronal activity, which allows the correct maturation of connections in the brain. By using RNA-sequencing analysis, we found several immediate-early genes (IEGs, key mediators of activity-dependent responses) directly bound by MeCP2 at the chromatin level and upregulated in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex of the Mecp2-KO mouse. Quantification of the IEGs response to stimulus both in vivo and in vitro detected an aberrant expression pattern in MeCP2-deficient neurons. Furthermore, altered IEGs levels were found in RTT patient's peripheral blood and brain regions of post-mortem samples, correlating with impaired expression of downstream myelination-related genes. Altogether, these data indicate that proper IEGs expression is crucial for correct synaptic development and that MeCP2 has a key role in the regulation of IEGs.

Multiomic characterization of oncogenic signaling mediated by wild-type and mutant RIT1

Aberrant activation of the RAS family of guanosine triphosphatases (GTPases) is prevalent in lung adenocarcinoma, with somatic mutation of KRAS occurring in ~30% of tumors. We previously identified somatic mutations and amplifications of the gene encoding RAS family GTPase RIT1 in lung adenocarcinomas. To explore the biological pathways regulated by RIT1 and how they relate to the oncogenic KRAS network, we performed quantitative proteomic, phosphoproteomic, and transcriptomic profiling of isogenic lung epithelial cells in which we ectopically expressed wild-type or cancer-associated variants of RIT1 and KRAS. We found that both mutant KRAS and mutant RIT1 promoted canonical RAS signaling and that overexpression of wild-type RIT1 partially phenocopied oncogenic RIT1 and KRAS, including induction of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Our findings suggest that RIT1 protein abundance is a factor in its pathogenic function. Therefore, chromosomal amplification of wild-type RIT1 in lung and other cancers may be tumorigenic.

Temporal transcriptomic alterations of cadmium exposed human iPSC-derived renal proximal tubule-like cells

Cadmium is a well-studied environmental pollutant where the kidney and particularly the proximal tubule cells are especially sensitive as they are exposed to higher concentrations of cadmium than other tissues. Here we investigated the temporal transcriptomic alterations (TempO-Seq) of human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC)-derived renal proximal tubule-like (PTL) cells exposed to 5 μM cadmium chloride for 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 72 and 168 h. There was an early activation (within 4 h) of the metal and oxidative stress responses (metal-responsive transcription factor-1 (MTF1) and nuclear factor erythroid-2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) genes). The Nrf2 response returned to baseline within 24 h. The Activator Protein 1 (AP-1) regulated genes HSPA6 and FOSL-1 followed the Nrf2 time course. While the MTF1 genes also spiked at 4 h, they remained strongly elevated over the entire exposure period. The data and cell culture model utilised will be useful in further research aimed at the refinement of safe human exposure limits for cadmium, other metals and their mixtures.

Fosl1 is vital to heart regeneration upon apex resection in adult Xenopus tropicalis

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the world due to losing regenerative capacity in the adult heart. Frogs possess remarkable capacities to regenerate multiple organs, including spinal cord, tail, and limb, but the response to heart injury and the underlying molecular mechanism remains largely unclear. Here we demonstrated that cardiomyocyte proliferation greatly contributes to heart regeneration in adult X. tropicalis upon apex resection. Using RNA-seq and qPCR, we found that the expression of Fos-like antigen 1 (Fosl1) was dramatically upregulated in early stage of heart injury. To study Fosl1 function in heart regeneration, its expression was modulated in vitro and in vivo. Overexpression of X. tropicalis Fosl1 significantly promoted the proliferation of cardiomyocyte cell line H9c2. Consistently, endogenous Fosl1 knockdown suppressed the proliferation of H9c2 cells and primary cardiomyocytes isolated from neonatal mice. Taking use of a cardiomyocyte-specific dominant-negative approach, we show that blocking Fosl1 function leads to defects in cardiomyocyte proliferation during X. tropicalis heart regeneration. We further show that knockdown of Fosl1 can suppress the capacity of heart regeneration in neonatal mice, but overexpression of Fosl1 can improve the cardiac function in adult mouse upon myocardium infarction. Co-immunoprecipitation, luciferase reporter, and ChIP analysis reveal that Fosl1 interacts with JunB and promotes the expression of Cyclin-T1 (Ccnt1) during heart regeneration. In conclusion, we demonstrated that Fosl1 plays an essential role in cardiomyocyte proliferation and heart regeneration in vertebrates, at least in part, through interaction with JunB, thereby promoting expression of cell cycle regulators including Ccnt1.

Specific activation of glycolytic enzyme enolase 2 in BRAF V600E-mutated colorectal cancer

The BRAF V600E mutation occurs in approximately 10% of patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) and constitutes a distinct subtype of the disease with extremely poor prognosis. To address this refractory disease, we investigated the unique metabolic gene profile of BRAF V600E‐mutated tumors via in silico analysis using a large‐scale clinical database. We found that BRAF V600E‐mutated tumors exhibited a specific metabolic gene expression signature, including some genes that are associated with poor prognosis in CRC. We discovered that BRAF V600E‐mutated tumors expressed high levels of glycolytic enzyme enolase 2 (ENO2), which is mainly expressed in neuronal tissues under physiological conditions. In vitro experiments using CRC cells demonstrated that BRAF V600E‐mutated cells exhibited enhanced dependency on ENO2 compared to BRAF wild‐type cancer cells and that knockdown of ENO2 led to the inhibition of proliferation and migration of BRAF V600E‐mutated cancer cells. Moreover, inhibition of ENO2 resulted in enhanced sensitivity to vemurafenib, a selective inhibitor of BRAF V600E. We identified AP‐1 transcription factor subunit (FOSL1) as being involved in the transcription of ENO2 in CRC cells. In addition, both MAPK and PI3K/Akt signaling were suppressed upon inhibition of ENO2, implying an additional oncogenic role of ENO2. These results suggest the crucial role of ENO2 in the progression of BRAF V600E‐mutated CRC and indicate the therapeutic implications of targeting this gene.

Combined computational and intracellular peptide library screening: towards a potent and selective Fra1 inhibitor

To date, most research into the inhibition of oncogenic transcriptional regulator, Activator Protein 1 (AP-1), has focused on heterodimers of cJun and cFos. However, the Fra1 homologue remains an important cancer target. Here we describe library design coupled with computational and intracellular screening as an effective methodology to derive an antagonist that is selective for Fra1 relative to Jun counterparts. To do so the isCAN computational tool was used to rapidly screen >75 million peptide library members, narrowing the library size by >99.8% to one accessible to intracellular PCA selection. The resulting 131 072-member library was predicted to contain high quality binders with both a high likelihood of target engagement, while simultaneously avoiding homodimerization and off-target interaction with Jun homologues. PCA screening was next performed to enrich those members that meet these criteria. In particular, optimization was achieved via inclusion of options designed to generate the potential for compromised intermolecular contacts in both desired and non-desired species. This is an often-overlooked prerequisite in the conflicting design requirement of libraries that must be selective for their target in the context of a range of alternative potential interactions. Here we demonstrate that specificity is achieved via a combination of both hydrophobic and electrostatic contacts as exhibited by the selected peptide (Fra1W). In vitro analysis of the desired Fra1-Fra1W interaction further validates high Fra1 affinity (917 nM) yet selective binding relative to Fra1W homodimers or affinity for cJun. The isCAN → PCA based multidisciplinary approach provides a robust screening pipeline in generating target-specific hits, as well as new insight into rational peptide design in the search for novel bZIP family inhibitors.

Blocking Fra-1 sensitizes triple-negative breast cancer to PARP inhibitor

The AP-1 member Fra-1 is overexpressed in TNBC and plays crucial roles in tumor progression and treatment resistance. In a previous large-scale screen, we identified PARP1 to be among 118 proteins that interact with endogenous chromatin-bound Fra-1 in TNBC cells. PARP1 inhibitor (olaparib) is currently in clinical use for treatment of BRCA-mutated TNBC breast cancer. Here, we demonstrate that the Fra-1-PARP1 interaction impacts the efficacy of olaparib treatment. We show that PARP1 interacts with and downregulates Fra-1, thereby reducing AP-1 transcriptional activity. Olaparib treatment, or silencing of PARP1, consequently, increases Fra-1 levels and enhances its transcriptional activity. Increased Fra-1 can have adverse effect, including treatment resistance. We also found that a large fraction of PARP1-regulated genes was dependent on Fra-1. We show that by inhibiting Fra-1/AP-1, non-BRCA-mutated TNBC cells can become sensitized to olaparib treatment. We identify that high PARP1 expression is indicative of a poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients overall (P = 0.01), but not for HER-2 positive patients. In conclusion, by exploring the functionality of the Fra-1 and PARP1 interaction, we propose that targeting Fra-1 could serve as a combinatory therapeutic approach to improve olaparib treatment outcome for TNBC patients.

Accelerator or Brake: Immune Regulators in Malaria

Malaria is a life-threatening infectious disease, affecting over 250 million individuals worldwide each year, eradicating malaria has been one of the greatest challenges to public health for a century. Growing resistance to anti-parasitic therapies and lack of effective vaccines are major contributing factors in controlling this disease. However, the incomplete understanding of parasite interactions with host anti-malaria immunity hinders vaccine development efforts to date. Recent studies have been unveiling the complexity of immune responses and regulators against Plasmodium infection. Here, we summarize our current understanding of host immune responses against Plasmodium-derived components infection and mainly focus on the various regulatory mechanisms mediated by recent identified immune regulators orchestrating anti-malaria immunity.

The Model of PPARγ-Downregulated Signaling in Psoriasis

Interactions of genes in intersecting signaling pathways, as well as environmental influences, are required for the development of psoriasis. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) is a nuclear receptor and transcription factor which inhibits the expression of many proinflammatory genes. We tested the hypothesis that low levels of PPARγ expression promote the development of psoriatic lesions. We combined experimental results and network functional analysis to reconstruct the model of PPARγ-downregulated signaling in psoriasis. We hypothesize that the expression of IL17, STAT3, FOXP3, and RORC and FOSL1 genes in psoriatic skin is correlated with the level of PPARγ expression, and they belong to the same signaling pathway that regulates the development of psoriasis lesion.

Equine penile squamous cell carcinoma: expression of biomarker proteins and EcPV2

Equine penile squamous cell carcinoma (EpSCC) is a relatively common cutaneous neoplasm with a poor prognosis. In this study, we aimed to determine the protein expression and colocalisation of FRA1, c-Myc, Cyclin D1, and MMP7 in normal (NT), tumour (T), hyperplastic epidermis and/or squamous papilloma (Hyp/Pap), poorly-differentiated (PDSCC), or well-differentiated (WDSCC) EpSCC using a tissue array approach. Further objectives were to correlate protein expression to (i) levels of inflammation, using a convolutional neural network (ii) equine papillomavirus 2 (EcPV2) infection, detected using PCR amplification. We found an increase in expression of FRA1 in EpSCC compared to NT samples. c-Myc expression was higher in Hyp/Pap and WDSCC but not PDSCC whereas MMP7 was reduced in WDSCC compared with NT. There was a significant increase in the global intersection coefficient (GIC) of FRA1 with MMP7, c-Myc, and Cyclin D1 in EpSCC. Conversely, GIC for MMP7 with c-Myc was reduced in EpSCC tissue. Inflammation was positively associated with EcPV2 infection in both NT and EpSCC but not Hyp/Pap. Changes in protein expression could be correlated with EcPV2 for Cyclin D1 and c-Myc. Our results evaluate novel biomarkers of EpSCC and a putative correlation between the expression of biomarkers, EcPV2 infection and inflammation.

Activator Protein-1 Transcriptional Activity Drives Soluble Micrograft-Mediated Cell Migration and Promotes the Matrix Remodeling Machinery

Impaired wound healing and tissue regeneration have severe consequences on the patient's quality of life. Micrograft therapies are emerging as promising and affordable alternatives to improve skin regeneration by enhancing the endogenous wound repair processes. However, the molecular mechanisms underpinning the beneficial effects of the micrograft treatments remain largely unknown. In this study, we identified the active protein-1 (AP-1) member Fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1) to play a central role in the extracellular signal-regulated kinase- (ERK-) mediated enhanced cell migratory capacity of soluble micrograft-treated mouse adult fibroblasts and in the human keratinocyte cell model. Accordingly, we show that increased micrograft-dependent in vitro cell migration and matrix metalloprotease activity is abolished upon inhibition of AP-1. Furthermore, soluble micrograft treatment leads to increased expression and posttranslational phosphorylation of Fra-1 and c-Jun, resulting in the upregulation of wound healing-associated genes mainly involved in the regulation of cell migration. Collectively, our work provides insights into the molecular mechanisms behind the cell-free micrograft treatment, which might contribute to future advances in wound repair therapies.

FOS-like antigen 1 is a prognostic biomarker in hepatocellular carcinoma

BACKGROUND/AIM

The prognosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is very dismal and the targeted drugs of HCC are limited. Studies of HCC prognostic biomarkers have made little progress, though many new techniques such as high-throughput sequencing have been applied. FOS-like antigen 1 (FOSL1) is generally accepted as a proto-oncogene but its clinical significance in HCC has never been elucidated.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

In our study, we investigated the expression of FOSL1 in 114 paraffin-embedded HCC tissues, and detected FOSL1 mRNA levels in 20 pairs of fresh HCC tissues and their corresponding tumor adjacent tissues. The correlations between FOSL1 expression and clinicopathological factors were analyzed and the prognostic significance of FOSL1 was evaluated with univariate and multivariate analysis. Moreover, we detected the function of FOSL1 in HCC proliferation with experiments in vitro.

RESULTS

FOSL1 mRNAs in HCCs were significantly higher than those in tumor adjacent tissues. The percentage of high expression and low expression of FOSL1 accounted for 46% (53/114) and 54% (61/114), respectively. High expression of FOSL1 was significantly associated with larger tumor size (P = 0.021), hepatitis B virus infection (P = 0.014), advanced T stage (P = 0.014), and tumor necrosis metastasis stage (P = 0.014). Moreover, high expression of FOSL1 was significantly correlated with poor prognosis of HCC and could be identified as an independent prognostic biomarker of HCC (hazard ratio = 5.60, 95% confidence interval = 3.00-10.45, P < 0.001). With in vitro function assay, we demonstrated that FOSL1 played an essential role in HCC proliferation.

CONCLUSIONS

High expression of FOSL1 is an independent risk factor of HCC predicting unfavorable prognosis, indicating that FOSL1 detection could stratify patients with high risk, and anti-FOSL1 therapy may be a promising way to treat HCC.

TLR7 and TLR8 activate distinct pathways in monocytes during RNA virus infection

Human blood CD14+monocytes are bone marrow–derived white blood cells that sense and respond to pathogens. Although innate immune activation by RNA viruses preferentially occurs through intracellular RIG-I–like receptors, other nucleic acid recognition receptors, such as Toll-like receptors (TLRs), play a role in finely programming the final outcome of virus infection. Here, we dissected how human monocytes respond to infection with either Coxsackie (CV), encephalomyocarditis (EMCV), influenza A (IAV), measles (MV), Sendai (SV), or vesicular stomatitis (VSV) virus. We found that in monocytes, type I interferon (IFN) and cytokine responses to infection were RNA virus specific and differentially involved TLR7 and TLR8, which sense single-stranded RNA. These TLRs activated distinct signaling cascades in monocytes, which correlated with differences in the production of cytokines involved in the polarization of CD4+T helper cells. Furthermore, we found that TLR7 signaling specifically increased expression of the transcription factor FOSL1, which reduced IL-27 and TNFα production by monocytes. TLR7, but not TLR8, activation of monocytes also stimulated Ca2+flux that prevented type I IFN responses. Our work demonstrates that in human monocytes, TLR7 and TLR8 triggered different signaling pathways that contribute to distinct phenotypes during RNA virus infection. In addition, we defined individual targets within these pathways that promoted specific T helper and antiviral responses.

Fra-1 and c-Fos N-Terminal Deletion Mutants Impair Breast Tumor Cell Proliferation by Blocking Lipid Synthesis Activation

Tumor cells require high rates of lipid synthesis to support membrane biogenesis for their exacerbated growth. The only two proteins known that activate phospholipid synthesis are Fra-1 and c-Fos, two members of the AP-1 family of transcription factors. These proteins that are overexpressed in human breast malignant tumors increase the rate of phospholipid synthesis at the endoplasmic reticulum through a mechanism independent of their nuclear function. The aim of this study was to inhibit breast tumor cell proliferation by modulating c-Fos and Fra-1 and regulate membrane biogenesis by controlling lipid synthesis rates. The molecular mechanism by which Fra-1 and c-Fos activate phospholipid synthesis was examined. Both proteins physically associate with the rate limiting enzyme CDP-DAG synthase through their N-terminus domain and activate it through their basic domain; neither protein associates to or activates the enzyme phosphatidylinositol synthase as determined through in vitro enzymatic reactions and FRET experiments. The N-terminus domain of both proteins act as negative dominant peptides that physically associate with CDP-DAG synthase but do not activate it. Proliferation of MDA-MB231 and 4T1 cells was impaired in vitro after inducing them to proliferate in the presence of the negative dominant peptides derived from Fra-1 and c-Fos. When tumors generated in Balb/c mice with the breast tumor cell line 4T1 were treated with these negative dominant peptides, a significant reduction in tumor growth was observed. Consequently, these Fra-1 and c-Fos negative dominant peptides can be exploited as a new therapeutic strategy to impair breast tumor cell proliferation.

Microarray and pattern miner analysis of AXL and VIM gene networks in MDA‑MB‑231 cells

MDA‑MB‑231 cells represent malignant triple‑negative breast cancer, which overexpress epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and two genes (AXL and VIM) associated with poor prognosis. The present study aimed to identify novel therapeutic targets and elucidate the functional networks for the AXL and VIM genes in MDA‑MB‑231 cells. We identified 71 genes upregulated in MDA‑MB‑231 vs. MCF7 cells using BRB‑Array tool to re‑analyse microarray data from six GEO datasets. Gene ontology and STRING analysis showed that 43/71 genes upregulated in MDA‑MB‑231 compared with MCF7 cells, regulate cell survival and migration. Another 19 novel genes regulate migration, metastases, senescence, autophagy and chemoresistance. The Pattern Miner systems biology tool uses specific genes as inputs or 'baits' to identify outputs from the NCI‑60 database. Using five genes regulating cancer cell migration (AXL, VIM, EGFR, CAPN2, and COL4A1) as input 'baits', we used pattern miner to identify statistically significant, co‑expressed genes from the list of 71 genes upregulated in MDA‑MB‑231 compared with MCF7 cells. Outputs were subsets of the 71 genes, which showed significant co‑expression with one or more of the five input genes. These outputs were used to develop functional networks for AXL and VIM. Analysis of these networks verified known properties of AXL and VIM, and suggested novel functions for these two genes. Thus, genes in the AXL network promote migration, metastasis and chemoresistance, whereas the VIM gene network regulates novel tumorigenic processes, such as lipogenesis, senescence and autophagy. Notably, these two networks contain 12 genes not reported for TNBC.

microRNA-130a suppresses breast cancer cell migration and invasion by targeting FOSL1 and upregulating ZO-1

FOSL1 is frequently overexpressed in multiple types of human cancers including invasive breast cancers and implicated in cancer invasion and metastasis. However, how FOSL1 is overexpressed in cancers remains to be elucidated. Several microRNAs (miRNAs) have been shown to target FOSL1 and are downregulated in human cancers. Here, we report that miR-130a is a novel FOSL1 targeting miRNA. Using gene expression microarray analysis, we found that FOSL1 is among the most up-regulated genes in cells transfected with miR-130a inhibitors. Transient transfection-immunoblot, RNA-immunoprecipitation, and luciferase reporter assays revealed that miR-130a directly targets FOSL1 mRNA at its 3'-UTR. Overexpression of miR-130a significantly reduced the levels of FOSL1 in invasive breast cancer MDA-MB-231 and Hs578T cell lines and suppresses their migration and invasion. This inhibition can be rescued by ectopic expression of miR-130a-resistant FOSL1. Interestingly, we show that overexpression of miR-130a increased the levels of tight-junction protein ZO-1 while inhibition of miR-130a reduced the levels of ZO-1. We further show that miR-130a expression is significantly reduced in cancer tissues from triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients, correlating significantly with the upregulation of FOSL1 expression, compared to non-TNBC tissues. Together, our results reveal that miR-130a directly targets FOSL1 and suppresses the inhibition of ZO-1, thus inhibiting cancer cell migration and invasion, in TNBCs.

FOSL1 Promotes Kras-induced Lung Cancer through Amphiregulin and Cell Survival Gene Regulation

The FOSL1/AP-1 transcription factor regulates gene expression, thereby controlling various pathophysiological processes. It is a major effector of RAS-ERK1/2 signaling and is activated in human lung epithelia by tumorigenic stimuli. Recent evidence shows an inverse correlation between FOSL1 expression and the survival of patients with lung cancer and adenocarcinomas; however, its role in lung tumorigenesis remains elusive. In this work, we sought to determine the role of FOSL1 in Kras-induced lung adenocarcinoma in vivo and its downstream effector mechanisms. We used mice expressing the Kras oncogene in the lung with concomitant Fosl1 deletion, Kras-activated murine alveolar epithelial cells (mAECs) with Fosl1 deletion, and KRAS mutant human lung adenocarcinoma (HLAC) cells with FOSL1 deficiency, and performed cell proliferation and gene expression analyses. Mutant Kras induced Fosl1 expression in vitro (mAECs) and in vivo (lung tissue), and mice with Fosl1 deletion showed reduced levels of mutant Kras-induced lung tumorigenesis and survived longer than Fosl1-sufficient mice. Studies with mutant Kras-activated mAECs and KRAS-mutant HLAC cells revealed that FOSL1 regulates mutant KRAS-induced gene expression, thereby controlling cell proliferation and survival. In contrast, FOSL1 depletion in non-KRAS-mutant HLAC cells and nonmalignant human lung epithelia had no effect. Our data support the notion that FOSL1-mediated expression of amphiregulin and apoptotic and antioxidative genes plays a role in regulating HLAC cell proliferation and survival. FOSL1 is a determinant of lung cancer in vivo and regulates HLAC cell proliferation and survival, largely in the context of KRAS mutations. Activation of FOSL1 in adenocarcinomas may be a prognostic marker and potential target for human lung cancer with KRAS mutations.

Fra‑1 enhances the radioresistance of colon cancer cells to X‑ray or C‑ion radiation

Fos-related antigen 1 (Fra-1) has roles in a variety of cell functions, including cell proliferation, differentiation, transformation, and invasiveness, and it is upregulated in various cancers. We investigated the role of Fra-1 in cellular radioresistance using cells of two human colorectal cancer cell lines, SW620 and SW480. We found that SW620 cells are more sensitive than SW480 cells at doses greater than 6 Gy for X-ray or 3 Gy for carbon-ion (C-ion) radiation. Fra-1 expression tended to be decreased by the radiation in a dose-dependent manner in both cell lines; of note, a greater reduction of Fra-1 expression was observed in SW620 cells, especially at 6 Gy of X-ray or 3 Gy of C-ion irradiation, than in SW480 cells, indicating a possible association between Fra-1 downregulation and cellular radiosensitivity. Knockdown of Fra-1 in SW480 cells significantly increased the radiosensitivity to X-ray or C-ion radiation. On the other hand, overexpression of Fra-1 in SW620 cells significantly enhanced the radioresistance to C-ion radiation, suggesting a role of Fra-1 in radioresistance. Furthermore, we found that downregulation of Fra-1 protein in irradiated SW620 cells was regulated via protein degradation through a proteasome-dependent pathway. Overall, our results indicate a role of Fra-1 in radioresistance to both X-ray and C-ion radiation for colorectal cancer cell lines.

Identification of FRA-1 as a novel player in pancreatic cancer in cooperation with a MUC1: ERK signaling axis

The MUC1 glycoprotein is overexpressed and aberrantly glycosylated in >90% of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma cases and impacts tumor progression by initiating downstream signaling through phosphorylation of its cytoplasmic tail. Previous studies have demonstrated that MUC1 alters expression of known targets of activator protein 1 (AP-1); however, no studies have evaluated the precise impact of MUC1 signaling on the activity and formation of AP-1. Given the known role of these proteins in modulating migration, invasion, and tumor progression, we explored the effects of MUC1 on AP-1 dimer formation and function. We determined that MUC1 increased the protein levels of c-Jun, the major component of AP-1, and promoted dimerization of c-Jun with the Fos-protein FRA-1. We demonstrate that FRA-1 acts as a potent mediator of migration and invasion in a manner that is modulated by signals through MUC1, which acts as a dominant regulator of specific AP-1 and FRA-1 target genes. Our results provide the first in vivo evidence of a FRA-1 mediated expression profile that impacts pancreatic tumor growth properties. In summary, we show that MUC1 enhancement of ERK activation influences FRA-1 activity to modulate tumor migration, invasion and metastasis in a subset of pancreatic cancer cases.

Hijacking of the AP-1 Signaling Pathway during Development of ATL

Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is the causative agent of a fatal malignancy known as adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). One way to address the pathology of the disease lies on conducting research with a molecular approach. In addition to the analysis of ATL-relevant signaling pathways, understanding the regulation of important and relevant transcription factors allows researchers to reach this fundamental objective. HTLV-1 encodes for two oncoproteins, Tax and HTLV-1 basic leucine-zipper factor, which play significant roles in the cellular transformation and the activation of the host's immune responses. Activating protein-1 (AP-1) transcription factor has been linked to cancer and neoplastic transformation ever since the first representative members of the Jun and Fos gene family were cloned and shown to be cellular homologs of viral oncogenes. AP-1 is a dimeric transcription factor composed of proteins belonging to the Jun (c-Jun, JunB, and JunD), Fos (c-Fos, FosB, Fra1, and Fra2), and activating transcription factor protein families. Activation of AP-1 transcription factor family by different stimuli, such as inflammatory cytokines, stress inducers, or pathogens, results in innate and adaptive immunity. AP-1 is also involved in various cellular events including differentiation, proliferation, survival, and apoptosis. Deregulated expression of AP-1 transcription factors is implicated in various lymphomas such as classical Hodgkin lymphomas, anaplastic large cell lymphomas, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas, and adult T-cell leukemia. Here, we review the current thinking behind deregulation of the AP-1 pathway and its contribution to HTLV-induced cellular transformation.

Enhancer transcription reveals subtype-specific gene expression programs controlling breast cancer pathogenesis

Noncoding transcription is a defining feature of active enhancers, linking transcription factor (TF) binding to the molecular mechanisms controlling gene expression. To determine the relationship between enhancer activity and biological outcomes in breast cancers, we profiled the transcriptomes (using GRO-seq and RNA-seq) and epigenomes (using ChIP-seq) of 11 different human breast cancer cell lines representing five major molecular subtypes of breast cancer, as well as two immortalized (“normal”) human breast cell lines. In addition, we developed a robust and unbiased computational pipeline that simultaneously identifies putative subtype-specific enhancers and their cognate TFs by integrating the magnitude of enhancer transcription, TF mRNA expression levels, TF motif P-values, and enrichment of H3K4me1 and H3K27ac. When applied across the 13 different cell lines noted above, the Total Functional Score of Enhancer Elements (TFSEE) identified key breast cancer subtype-specific TFs that act at transcribed enhancers to dictate gene expression patterns determining growth outcomes, including Forkhead TFs, FOSL1, and PLAG1. FOSL1, a Fos family TF, (1) is highly enriched at the enhancers of triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) cells, (2) acts as a key regulator of the proliferation and viability of TNBC cells, but not Luminal A cells, and (3) is associated with a poor prognosis in TNBC breast cancer patients. Taken together, our results validate our enhancer identification pipeline and reveal that enhancers transcribed in breast cancer cells direct critical gene regulatory networks that promote pathogenesis.

Synergistic role of nanoceria on the ability of tobacco smoke to induce carcinogenic hallmarks in lung epithelial cells

AIM

Since controversial results have been obtained in studies dealing with nanoceria usefulness in biomedical applications, the transforming effects of long-term exposure to nanoceria in lung epithelial cells, alone or together with cigarette smoke condensate (CSC), were evaluated.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In vitro cell transformation techniques were used to study several hallmarks of carcinogenesis. Morphology, cell proliferation, gene expression, cell migration, anchorage-independent cell growth and cell secretome were analyzed.

RESULTS & CONCLUSION

Data evidence no transforming ability of nanoceria, but support a synergistic role on CSC's transforming ability. A more noticeable spindle-like phenotype, increased proliferation rate, higher degree of differentiation status dysregulation, higher migration capacity, increased anchorage-independent cell growth and higher levels of MMP-9 and cell growth promoting capability, were observed. In addition, nanoceria co-exposure exacerbates the expression of FRA-1.

Rasd1 is an estrogen-responsive immediate early gene and modulates expression of late genes in rat anterior pituitary cells

Dexamethasone-induced Ras-related protein 1 (Rasd1) is a member of the Ras superfamily of monomeric G proteins that have a regulatory function in signal transduction. Here we investigated the role of Rasd1 in regulating estrogen-induced gene expression in primary cultures of rat anterior pituitary cells. Rasd1 mRNA expression in anterior pituitary cells decreased after treatment with forskolin or serum and increased after treatment with 17β-estradiol (E2). Increases in Rasd1 mRNA expression occurred as early as 0.5 h after E2 treatment, peaked at 1 h and were sustained for as long as 96 h. This rapid and profound increase in Rasd1 mRNA expression induced by E2 was also seen in GH4C1 cells, an estrogen receptor-positive somatolactotroph cell line. Among pituitary estrogen-responsive late genes studied, basal mRNA expression of Pim3 and Igf1 genes was decreased by RNA interference-mediated knockdown of Rasd1 expression, whereas basal expression of the Giot1 gene was increased. Moreover, Rasd1 knockdown enhanced stimulation of Pim3 mRNA expression and attenuated inhibition of Fosl1 mRNA expression 24 h after E2 treatment. These changes in mRNA expression were accompanied by enhanced activity of promoters containing CRE, AP-1 and SRE binding sequences. These results suggest that Rasd1 is an estrogen-responsive immediate early gene and modulates E2 induction of at least several late genes in anterior pituitary cells.

The Emerging Role of Polo-Like Kinase 1 in Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition and Tumor Metastasis

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a serine/threonine kinase that plays a key role in the regulation of the cell cycle. PLK1 is overexpressed in a variety of human tumors, and its expression level often correlates with increased cellular proliferation and poor prognosis in cancer patients. It has been suggested that PLK1 controls cancer development through multiple mechanisms that include canonical regulation of mitosis and cytokinesis, modulation of DNA replication, and cell survival. However, emerging evidence suggests novel and previously unanticipated roles for PLK1 during tumor development. In this review, we will summarize the recent advancements in our understanding of the oncogenic functions of PLK1, with a focus on its role in epithelial-mesenchymal transition and tumor invasion. We will further discuss the therapeutic potential of these functions.

MLK3 regulates FRA-1 and MMPs to drive invasion and transendothelial migration in triple-negative breast cancer cells

Mixed-lineage kinase 3 (MLK3), a mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase kinase (MAP3K), has critical roles in metastasis of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), in part by regulating paxillin phosphorylation and focal adhesion turnover. However the mechanisms and the distinct step(s) of the metastatic processes through which MLK3 exerts its influence are not fully understood. Here we report that in non-metastatic, estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer (ER+ BC) cells, induced MLK3 expression robustly upregulates the oncogenic transcription factor, FOS-related antigen-1 (FRA-1), which is accompanied by elevation of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-1 and MMP-9. MLK3-induced ER+ BC cell invasion is abrogated by FRA-1 silencing, demonstrating that MLK3 drives invasion through FRA-1. Conversely, in metastatic TNBC models, high FRA-1 levels are significantly reduced upon depletion of MLK3 by either gene silencing or by the CRISPR/Cas9n editing approach. Furthermore, ablation of MLK3 or MLK inhibitor treatment decreases expression of both MMP-1 and MMP-9. Consistent with the role of tumor cell-derived MMP-1 in endothelial permeability and transendothelial migration, both of these are reduced in MLK3-depleted TNBC cells. In addition, MLK inhibitor treatment or MLK3 depletion, which downregulates MMP-9 expression, renders TNBC cells defective in Matrigel invasion. Furthermore, circulating tumor cells derived from TNBC-bearing mice display increased levels of FRA-1 and MMP-1 compared with parental cells, supporting a role for the MLK3–FRA-1–MMP-1 signaling axis in vascular intravasation. Our results demonstrating the requirement for MLK3 in controlling the FRA-1/MMPs axis suggest that MLK3 is a promising therapeutic target for treatment of TNBC.

Activated MEK cooperates with Cdkn2a and Pten loss to promote the development and maintenance of melanoma

The development of targeted inhibitors, vemurafenib and dabrafenib, has led to improved clinical outcome for melanoma patients with BRAF^V600E mutations. Although the initial response to these inhibitors can be dramatic, sometimes causing complete tumor regression, the majority of melanomas eventually become resistant. Mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) mutations are found in primary melanomas and frequently reported in BRAF melanomas that develop resistance to targeted therapy; however, melanoma is a molecularly heterogeneous cancer, and which mutations are drivers and which are passengers remains to be determined. In this study, we demonstrate that in BRAF^V600E melanoma cell lines, activating MEK mutations drive resistance and contribute to suboptimal growth of melanoma cells following the withdrawal of BRAF inhibition. In this manner, the cells are drug-addicted, suggesting that melanoma cells evolve a ‘just right’ level of mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling and the additive effects of MEK and BRAF mutations are counterproductive. We also used a novel mouse model of melanoma to demonstrate that several of these MEK mutants promote the development, growth and maintenance of melanoma in vivo in the context of Cdkn2a and Pten loss. By utilizing a genetic approach to control mutant MEK expression in vivo, we were able to induce tumor regression and significantly increase survival; however, after a long latency, all tumors subsequently became resistant. These data suggest that resistance to BRAF or MEK inhibitors is probably inevitable, and novel therapeutic approaches are needed to target dormant tumors.

An integrative approach unveils FOSL1 as an oncogene vulnerability in KRAS-driven lung and pancreatic cancer

KRAS mutated tumours represent a large fraction of human cancers, but the vast majority remains refractory to current clinical therapies. Thus, a deeper understanding of the molecular mechanisms triggered by KRAS oncogene may yield alternative therapeutic strategies. Here we report the identification of a common transcriptional signature across mutant KRAS cancers of distinct tissue origin that includes the transcription factor FOSL1. High FOSL1 expression identifies mutant KRAS lung and pancreatic cancer patients with the worst survival outcome. Furthermore, FOSL1 genetic inhibition is detrimental to both KRAS-driven tumour types. Mechanistically, FOSL1 links the KRAS oncogene to components of the mitotic machinery, a pathway previously postulated to function orthogonally to oncogenic KRAS. FOSL1 targets include AURKA, whose inhibition impairs viability of mutant KRAS cells. Lastly, combination of AURKA and MEK inhibitors induces a deleterious effect on mutant KRAS cells. Our findings unveil KRAS downstream effectors that provide opportunities to treat KRAS-driven cancers.

Oncogenic Effects of High MAPK Activity in Colorectal Cancer Mark Progenitor Cells and Persist Irrespective of RAS Mutations

About 40% of colorectal cancers have mutations in KRAS accompanied by downstream activation of MAPK signaling, which promotes tumor invasion and progression. Here, we report that MAPK signaling shows strong intratumoral heterogeneity and unexpectedly remains regulated in colorectal cancer irrespective of KRAS mutation status. Using primary colorectal cancer tissues, xenograft models, and MAPK reporter constructs, we showed that tumor cells with high MAPK activity resided specifically at the leading tumor edge, ceased to proliferate, underwent epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and expressed markers related to colon cancer stem cells. In KRAS-mutant colon cancer, regulation of MAPK signaling was preserved through remaining wild-type RAS isoforms. Moreover, using a lineage tracing strategy, we provide evidence that high MAPK activity marked a progenitor cell compartment of growth-fueling colon cancer cells in vivo Our results imply that differential MAPK signaling balances EMT, cancer stem cell potential, and tumor growth in colorectal cancer. Cancer Res; 77(7); 1763-74. ©2017 AACR.

A functional SNP rs1892901 in FOSL1 is associated with gastric cancer in Chinese population

FOSL1 (FOS like antigen 1) is one kind of proto-oncogene, and may play a vital role in carcinogenesis of multiple cancers. However, studies about the relationship between SNPs in FOSL1 and gastric cancer are still lacking. Thus, we investigated the association of seven SNPs in FOSL1 with gastric cancer using case-control design in a two-stage strategy (Screening stage: 1,140 gastric cancer cases and 1,547 controls; Replication stage: 1,006 cases and 2,273 controls). We found that rs1892901 was significantly associated with increased risk of gastric cancer in additive model (adjusted OR = 1.25, 95%CI: 1.06–1.47, P = 0.008) in first stage. Following replication results revealed that the relationship between rs1892901 and gastric cancer risk was consistent with our primary results. In silico analysis showed that rs1892901 might alter multiple regulatory motifs, disturb protein binding, and affect the expression of FOSL1 and other important gastric cancer-related genes such as EGR1, CHD, EP300, FOS, JUN and FOSL2. Our findings indicated that functional SNP rs1892901 in FOSL1 might affect the expression of FOSL1, and ultimately increase the risk of gastric cancer. Further functional studies and large-scale population studies are warranted to confirm our findings.

FOSL1 Inhibits Type I Interferon Responses to Malaria and Viral Infections by Blocking TBK1 and TRAF3/TRIF Interactions

Innate immune response plays a critical role in controlling invading pathogens, but such an immune response must be tightly regulated. Insufficient or overactivated immune responses may lead to harmful or even fatal consequences. To dissect the complex host-parasite interactions and the molecular mechanisms underlying innate immune responses to infections, here we investigate the role of FOS-like antigen 1 (FOSL1) in regulating the host type I interferon (IFN-I) response to malaria parasite and viral infections. FOSL1 is known as a component of a transcription factor but was recently implicated in regulating the IFN-I response to malaria parasite infection. Here we show that FOSL1 can act as a negative regulator of IFN-I signaling. Upon stimulation with poly(I:C), malaria parasite-infected red blood cells (iRBCs), or vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV), FOSL1 "translocated" from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, where it inhibited the interactions between TNF receptor-associated factor 3 (TRAF3), TIR domain-containing adapter inducing IFN-β (TRIF), and Tank-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) via impairing K63-linked polyubiquitination of TRAF3 and TRIF. Importantly, FOSL1 knockout chimeric mice had lower levels of malaria parasitemia or VSV titers in peripheral blood and decreased mortality compared with wild-type (WT) mice. Thus, our findings have identified a new role for FOSL1 in negatively regulating the host IFN-I response to malaria and viral infections and have identified a potential drug target for controlling malaria and other diseases.

IMPORTANCE

Infections of pathogens can trigger vigorous host immune responses, including activation and production of type I interferon (IFN-I). In this study, we investigated the role of FOSL1, a molecule previously known as a transcription factor, in negatively regulating IFN-I responses to malaria and viral infections. We showed that FOSL1 was upregulated and translocated into the cytoplasm of cells after stimulation for IFN-I production. FOSL1 could affect TRAF3 and TRIF ubiquitination and consequently impaired the association of TRAF3, TRIF, and TBK1, leading to inhibition of IFN-I signaling. In vivo experiments with FOSL1 knockout chimeric mice further validated the negative role of FOSL1 in IFN-I production and antimicrobial responses. This report reveals a new functional role for FOSL1 in IFN-I signaling and dissects the mechanism by which FOSL1 regulates IFN-I responses to malaria and viral infections, which can be explored as a potential drug target for disease control and management.

PKCθ-induced phosphorylations control the ability of Fra-1 to stimulate gene expression and cancer cell migration

The AP-1 transcription factor Fra-1 is aberrantly expressed in a large number of cancers and plays crucial roles in cancer development and progression by stimulating the expression of genes involved in these processes. However, the control of Fra-1 transactivation ability is still unclear and here we hypothesized that PKCθ-induced phosphorylation could be necessary to obtain a fully active Fra-1 protein. Using MCF7 stable cells overexpressing equivalent levels of unphosphorylated Fra-1 or PKCθ-phosphorylated Fra-1, we showed that PKCθ-induced phosphorylation of Fra-1 was crucial for the stimulation of MMP1 and IL6 expression. Consistently, we found a significant positive correlation between PRKCQ (coding for PKCθ) and MMP1 mRNA expression levels in human breast cancer samples. PKCθ-induced phosphorylations, in part at T217 and T227 residues, strongly and specifically increased Fra-1 transcriptional activity through the stimulation of Fra-1 transactivation domain, without affecting JUN factors. More importantly, these phosphorylations were required for Fra-1-induced migration of breast cancer cells and phosphorylated Fra-1 expression was enriched at the invasion front of human breast tumors. Taken together, our findings indicate that PKCθ-induced phosphorylation could be important for the function of Fra-1 in cancer progression.

miR-497 suppresses epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in colorectal cancer cells by targeting fos-related antigen-1

Objective

MicroRNAs have key roles in tumor metastasis. The acquisition of metastatic capability by cancer cells is associated with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Here, we describe the role and molecular mechanism of miR-497 in colorectal cancer (CRC) cell EMT, migration, and invasion.

Methods

Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot assays were performed to detect the expression levels of miR-497 and Fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1) in the CRC cells. HCT116 and SW480 cells with miR-497 overexpression or Fra-1 low expression were constructed by lipofection. Target prediction and luciferase reporter assays were performed to investigate whether Fra-1 is one of the targets of miR-497. Western blot and Transwell assays were performed to detect the effects of miR-497 and Fra-1 on CRC cell EMT, migration and invasion.

Results

We searched the miRanda, TargetScan, and PicTar databases and found that Fra-1, a key driver of CRC metastasis, is a potential target of miR-497. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and Western blot analysis verified downregulation of miR-497 and upregulation of Fra-1 in CRC cells. Western blot and Transwell assays showed that overexpression of miR-497 suppresses CRC cell EMT, migration, and invasion. Luciferase gene reporter assay revealed that Fra-1 is a downstream target of miR-497 as miR-497 bound directly to the 3′ untranslated region of Fra-1 messenger RNA. An inverse correlation was also found between miR-497 and Fra-1 in HCT116 and SW480 cells. Furthermore, knockdown of Fra-1 recuperated the effects of miR-497 overexpression.

Conclusion

miR-497 suppresses CRC cell EMT, migration, and invasion partly by targeting Fra-1.

FOSL1 immunohistochemistry clarifies the distinction between desmoplastic fibroblastoma and fibroma of tendon sheath

AIMS

Although desmoplastic fibroblastoma (DFB) and fibroma of tendon sheath (FTS) are well-established entities, they may show overlapping clinicopathological features. In addition, cytogenetic data showing a shared 11q12 rearrangement in a small number of cases suggest a close link between these entities. A recent microarray study revealed up-regulation of FOSL1 mRNA in DFBs with 11q12 rearrangement. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationship between DFB and FTS.

METHODS AND RESULTS

We tested 42 cases diagnosed originally as either DFBs or FTSs for interobserver concordance based on the existing histological criteria and correlated the diagnosis with FOSL1 immunohistochemistry. In addition, FOSL1 gene status was determined by chromogenic in-situ hybridization (CISH). Using joint histological evaluation, 41 of 42 tumours were classified unanimously by three pathologists into 25 DFBs and 16 FTSs, whereas only one case received discordant opinions. Immunohistochemically, all DFBs showed diffuse, strong FOSL1 nuclear immunoreactivity (25 of 25, 100%), while none of the FTSs showed such overexpression. None of the selected 42 DFB mimics overexpressed FOSL1. FOSL1 was not rearranged in seven DFBs tested by CISH.

CONCLUSIONS

We confirm here that DFB and FTS are two distinct entities that can be distinguished using the existing histological criteria. This distinction corresponds perfectly with FOSL1 immunohistochemical expression status, and diffuse strong FOSL1 expression specific to DFBs sharpens the border between the two categories. FOSL1 overexpression in DFB may not be caused directly by FOSL1 gene rearrangement. FOSL1 may also be a diagnostic aid for differentiating DFB from other histological mimics.

Quantitative Expression and Co-Localization of Wnt Signalling Related Proteins in Feline Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Feline oral squamous cell carcinoma (FOSCC) is an aggressive neoplasm in cats. Little is known about the possible molecular mechanisms that may be involved in the initiation, maintenance and progression of FOSCC. Wnt signalling is critical in development and disease, including many mammalian cancers. In this study, we have investigated the expression of Wnt signalling related proteins using quantitative immunohistochemical techniques on tissue arrays. We constructed tissue arrays with 58 individual replicate tissue samples. We tested for the expression of four key Wnt/ß-catenin transcription targets, namely Cyclin D1 (CCND1 or CD1), FRA1, c-Myc and MMP7. All antibodies showed cross reactivity in feline tissue except MMP7. Quantitative immunohistochemical analysis of single proteins (expressed as area fraction / amount of tissue for normal vs tumor, mean ± SE) showed that the expression of CD1 (3.9 ± 0.5 vs 12.2 ± 0.9), FRA1 (5.5 ± 0.6 vs 16.8 ± 1.1) and c-Myc (5.4 ± 0.5 vs 12.5 ± 0.9) was increased in FOSCC tissue by 2.3 to 3 fold compared to normal controls (p<0.0001). By using a multilabel, quantitative fluorophore technique we further investigated if the co-localization of these proteins (all transcription factors) with each other and in the nucleus (stained with 4',6-diamidino-2-phenylindole, DAPI) was altered in FOSCC compared to normal tissue. The global intersection coefficients, a measure of the proximity of two fluorophore labeled entities, showed that there was a significant change (p < 0.01) in the co-localization for all permutations (e.g. CD1/FRA1 etc), except for the nuclear localization of CD1. Our results show that putative targets of Wnt signalling transcription are up-regulated in FOSCC with alterations in the co-localization of these proteins and could serve as a useful marker for the disease.

Polo-like kinase 1 induces epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition and promotes epithelial cell motility by activating CRAF/ERK signaling

Polo-like kinase 1 (PLK1) is a key cell cycle regulator implicated in the development of various cancers, including prostate cancer. However, the functions of PLK1 beyond cell cycle regulation remain poorly characterized. Here, we report that PLK1 overexpression in prostate epithelial cells triggers oncogenic transformation. It also results in dramatic transcriptional reprogramming of the cells, leading to epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stimulation of cell migration and invasion. Consistently, PLK1 downregulation in metastatic prostate cancer cells enhances epithelial characteristics and inhibits cell motility. The signaling mechanisms underlying the observed cellular effects of PLK1 involve direct PLK1-dependent phosphorylation of CRAF with subsequent stimulation of the MEK1/2-ERK1/2-Fra1-ZEB1/2 signaling pathway. Our findings highlight novel non-canonical functions of PLK1 as a key regulator of EMT and cell motility in normal prostate epithelium and prostate cancer. This study also uncovers a previously unanticipated role of PLK1 as a potent activator of MAPK signaling.

SIRT1 promotes epithelial-mesenchymal transition and metastasis in colorectal cancer by regulating Fra-1 expression

Understanding molecular mechanisms of colorectal cancer (CRC) metastasis is urgently required for targeted therapy and prognosis of metastatic CRC. In this study, we explored potential effects of silent mating type information regulation 2 homolog 1 (SIRT1) on CRC metastasis. Our data showed that ectopic expression of SIRT1 markedly increased the migration and invasion of CRC cells. In contrast, silencing SIRT1 repressed this behavior in aggressive CRC cells. Tumor xenograft experiments revealed that knockdown of SIRT1 impaired CRC metastasis in vivo. Silencing SIRT1 in CRC cells induced mesenchymal-epithelial transition (MET), which is the reverse process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and characterized by a gain of epithelial and loss of mesenchymal markers. We provided a mechanistic insight toward regulation of Fra-1 by SIRT1 and demonstrated a direct link between the SIRT1-Fra-1 axis and EMT. Moreover, SIRT1 expression correlated positively with Fra-1 expression, metastasis and overall survival in patients with CRC. Taken together, our data provide a novel mechanistic role of SIRT1 in CRC metastasis, suggesting that SIRT1 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for metastatic CRC.

Fra-1 is a key driver of colon cancer metastasis and a Fra-1 classifier predicts disease-free survival

Fra-1 (Fos-related antigen-1) is a member of the AP-1 (activator protein-1) family of transcription factors. We previously showed that Fra-1 is necessary for breast cancer cells to metastasize in vivo, and that a classifier comprising genes that are expressed in a Fra-1-dependent fashion can predict breast cancer outcome. Here, we show that Fra-1 plays an important role also in colon cancer progression. Whereas Fra-1 depletion does not affect 2D proliferation of human colon cancer cells, it impairs growth in soft agar and in suspension. Consistently, subcutaneous tumors formed by Fra-1-depleted colon cancer cells are three times smaller than those produced by control cells. Most remarkably, when injected intravenously, Fra-1 depletion causes a 200-fold reduction in tumor burden. Moreover, a Fra-1 classifier generated by comparing RNA profiles of parental and Fra-1-depleted colon cancer cells can predict the prognosis of colon cancer patients. Functional pathway analysis revealed Wnt as one of the central pathways in the classifier, suggesting a possible mechanism of Fra-1 function in colon cancer metastasis. Our results demonstrate that Fra-1 is an important determinant of the metastatic potential of human colon cancer cells, and that the Fra-1 classifier can be used as a prognostic predictor in colon cancer patients.

Effect of vitrification using the Cryotop method on the gene expression profile of in vitro-produced bovine embryos

The present study analyzed the changes in gene expression induced by the Cryotop vitrification technique in bovine blastocyst-stage embryos, using Agilent EmbryoGENE microarray slides. Bovine in vitro-produced embryos were vitrified and compared with nonvitrified (control) embryos. After vitrification, embryos were warmed and cultured for an additional 4 hours. Survived embryos were used for microarray analysis and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) quantification. Survival rates were higher (P < 0.05) in the control embryos (100%) than in the vitrified embryos (87%). Global gene expression analysis revealed that only 43 out of 21,139 genes exhibited significantly altered expression in the vitrified embryos compared to the control embryos, with a very limited fold change (P < 0.05). A total of 10 genes were assessed by qPCR. Only the FOS-like antigen 1 (FOSL1) gene presented differential expression (P < 0.05) according to both the array and qPCR methods, and it was overexpressed in vitrified embryos. Although, the major consequence of vitrification seems to be the activation of the apoptosis pathway in some cells. Indeed, FOSL1 is part of the activating protein 1 transcription factor complex and is implicated in a variety of cellular processes, including proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. Therefore, our results suggest that a limited increase in the rate of apoptosis was the only detectable response of the embryos to vitrification stress.

Fra-1 is upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and affects the PI3K/Akt and p53 signaling pathway in gastric cancer

Gastric cancer is an aggressive disease that continues to have a daunting impact on global health. Fra-1 (FOSL1) plays important roles in oncogenesis in various malignancies. We investigated the expression of Fra-1 in gastric cancer (GC) tissues by qPCR, immunohistochemistry (IHC) and western blot technologies. The results showed that Fra-1 was overexpressed in gastric cancer tissues compared with the adjacent non‑cancerous tissues. To explore the possible mechanism of Fra-1 in GC, we elucidated the effect of Fra-1 in the apoptosis and cell cycle of gastric cancer cells, AGS, and found that a considerable decrease in apoptotic cells and increase of S phase rate were observed for AGS cells with Fra-1 overexpession. We identified and confirmed that Fra-1 affected the expression level of CTTN and EZR in vitro through LC-MS/MS analyses and western blot technology. Furthermore, we found that Fra-1 was correlated with dysregulation PI3K/Akt and p53 signaling pathway in gastric cancer tissues in vitro. Moreover, we found that Fra-1 overexpression affected the expression of PI3K, Akt, MDM2 and p53 in vivo. In summary, our results suggest that Fra-1 is upregulated in gastric cancer tissues and plays its function by affecting the PI3K/Akt and p53 signaling pathway in gastric cancer.

Promoter-level expression clustering identifies time development of transcriptional regulatory cascades initiated by ErbB receptors in breast cancer cells

The analysis of CAGE (Cap Analysis of Gene Expression) time-course has been proposed by the FANTOM5 Consortium to extend the understanding of the sequence of events facilitating cell state transition at the level of promoter regulation. To identify the most prominent transcriptional regulations induced by growth factors in human breast cancer, we apply here the Complexity Invariant Dynamic Time Warping motif EnRichment (CIDER) analysis approach to the CAGE time-course datasets of MCF-7 cells stimulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) or heregulin (HRG). We identify a multi-level cascade of regulations rooted by the Serum Response Factor (SRF) transcription factor, connecting the MAPK-mediated transduction of the HRG stimulus to the negative regulation of the MAPK pathway by the members of the DUSP family phosphatases. The finding confirms the known primary role of FOS and FOSL1, members of AP-1 family, in shaping gene expression in response to HRG induction. Moreover, we identify a new potential regulation of DUSP5 and RARA (known to antagonize the transcriptional regulation induced by the estrogen receptors) by the activity of the AP-1 complex, specific to HRG response. The results indicate that a divergence in AP-1 regulation determines cellular changes of breast cancer cells stimulated by ErbB receptors.

Aberrantly expressed Fra-1 by IL-6/STAT3 transactivation promotes colorectal cancer aggressiveness through epithelial-mesenchymal transition

The pro-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-6 (IL-6) in tumor microenvironment has been suggested to promote development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In this study, we demonstrate that fos-related antigen-1 (Fra-1) plays a critical role in IL-6 induced CRC aggressiveness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). In CRC cell lines, the expression of Fra-1 gene was found significantly upregulated during IL-6-driven EMT process. The Fra-1 induction occurred at transcriptional level in a manner dependent on signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), during which both phosphorylated and acetylated post-translational modifications were required for STAT3 activation to directly bind to the Fra-1 promoter. Importantly, RNA interference-based attenuation of either STAT3 or Fra-1 prevented IL-6-induced EMT, cell migration and invasion, whereas ectopic expression of Fra-1 markedly reversed the STAT3-knockdown effect and enhanced CRC cell aggressiveness by regulating the expression of EMT-promoting factors (ZEB1, Snail, Slug, MMP-2 and MMP-9). Furthermore, Fra-1 levels were positively correlated with the local invasion depth as well as lymph node and liver metastasis in a total of 229 CRC patients. Intense immunohistochemical staining of Fra-1 was observed at the tumor marginal area adjacent to inflammatory cells and in parallel with IL-6 secretion and STAT3 activation in CRC tissues. Together, this study proposes the existence of an aberrant IL-6/STAT3/Fra-1 signaling axis leading to CRC aggressiveness through EMT induction, which suggests novel therapeutic opportunities for the malignant disease.