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Gautam S, Fenner JL, Wang B, Range RC. Evolutionarily conserved Wnt/Sp5 signaling is critical for anterior-posterior axis patterning in sea urchin embryos. iScience 2024; 27:108616. [PMID: 38179064 PMCID: PMC10765061 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108616] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 11/30/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Studies across a diverse group of metazoan embryos indicate that Wnt signaling often activates the transcription factor Sp5, forming a signaling 'cassette' that plays critical roles in many developmental processes. This study explores the role of Wnt/Sp5 signaling during the specification and patterning of the primary germ layers during early anterior-posterior axis formation in the deuterostome sea urchin embryo. Our functional analyses show that Sp5 is critical for endomesoderm specification downstream of Wnt/β-catenin in posterior cells as well as anterior neuroectoderm patterning downstream of non-canonical Wnt/JNK signaling in anterior cells. Interestingly, expression and functional data comparisons show that Wnt/Sp5 signaling often plays similar roles in posterior endomesoderm as well as neuroectoderm patterning along the AP axis of several deuterostome embryos, including vertebrates. Thus, our findings provide strong support for the idea that Wnt-Sp5 signaling cassettes were critical for the establishment of early germ layers in the common deuterostome ancestor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sujan Gautam
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Jennifer L. Fenner
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Boyuan Wang
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
| | - Ryan C. Range
- Department of Biological Sciences, Auburn University, Auburn, AL 36849, USA
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2
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Folkerts EJ, Snihur KN, Zhang Y, Martin JW, Alessi DS, Goss GG. Embryonic cardio-respiratory impairments in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) following exposure to hydraulic fracturing flowback and produced water. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2022; 310:119886. [PMID: 35934150 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119886] [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: 01/04/2022] [Revised: 07/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
During hydraulic fracturing, wastewaters - termed flowback and produced water (FPW) - are created as a by-product during hydrocarbon extraction. Given the large volumes of FPW that a single well can produce, and the history of FPW release to surface water bodies, it is imperative to understand the hazards that hydraulic fracturing and FPW pose to aquatic biota. Using rainbow trout embryos as model organisms, we investigated impacts to cardio-respiratory system development and function following acute (48 h) and sub-chronic (28-day) FPW exposure by examining occurrences of developmental deformities, rates of embryonic respiration (MO2), and changes in expression of critical cardiac-specific genes. FPW-exposed embryos had significantly increased rates of pericardial edema, yolk-sac edema, and tail/trunk curvatures at hatch. Furthermore, when exposed at three days post-fertilization (dpf), acute 5% FPW exposures significantly increased embryonic MO2 through development until 15 dpf, where a switch to significantly reduced MO2 rates was subsequently recorded. A similar trend was observed during sub-chronic 1% FPW exposures. Interestingly, at certain specific developmental timepoints, previous salinity exposure seemed to affect embryonic MO2; a result not previously observed. Following acute FPW exposures, embryonic genes for cardiac development and function were significantly altered, although at termination of sub-chronic exposures, significant changes to these same genes were not found. Together, our evidence of induced developmental deformities, modified embryonic MO2, and altered cardiac transcript expression suggest that cardio-respiratory tissues are toxicologically targeted following FPW exposure in developing rainbow trout. These results may be helpful to regulatory bodies when developing hazard identification and risk management protocols concerning hydraulic fracturing activities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erik J Folkerts
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada.
| | - Katherine N Snihur
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Yifeng Zhang
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2G3, Alberta, Canada
| | - Jonathan W Martin
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, T6G 2G3, Alberta, Canada; Department of Environmental Science, Stockholm University, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Daniel S Alessi
- Department of Earth and Atmospheric Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E3, Canada
| | - Greg G Goss
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2E9, Canada; NRC- University of Alberta Nanotechnology Initiative, Edmonton, AB, T6G 2M9, Canada
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3
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Song M, Yuan X, Racioppi C, Leslie M, Stutt N, Aleksandrova A, Christiaen L, Wilson MD, Scott IC. GATA4/5/6 family transcription factors are conserved determinants of cardiac versus pharyngeal mesoderm fate. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabg0834. [PMID: 35275720 PMCID: PMC8916722 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abg0834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/14/2023]
Abstract
GATA4/5/6 transcription factors play essential, conserved roles in heart development. To understand how GATA4/5/6 modulates the mesoderm-to-cardiac fate transition, we labeled, isolated, and performed single-cell gene expression analysis on cells that express gata5 at precardiac time points spanning zebrafish gastrulation to somitogenesis. We found that most mesendoderm-derived lineages had dynamic gata5/6 expression. In the absence of Gata5/6, the population structure of mesendoderm-derived cells was substantially altered. In addition to the expected absence of cardiac mesoderm, we confirmed a concomitant expansion of cranial-pharyngeal mesoderm. Moreover, Gata5/6 loss led to extensive changes in chromatin accessibility near cardiac and pharyngeal genes. Functional analyses in zebrafish and the tunicate Ciona, which has a single GATA4/5/6 homolog, revealed that GATA4/5/6 acts upstream of tbx1 to exert essential and cell-autonomous roles in promoting cardiac and inhibiting pharyngeal mesoderm identity. Overall, cardiac and pharyngeal mesoderm fate choices are achieved through an evolutionarily conserved GATA4/5/6 regulatory network.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mengyi Song
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Xuefei Yuan
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Claudia Racioppi
- Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Meaghan Leslie
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Nathan Stutt
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anastasiia Aleksandrova
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
| | - Lionel Christiaen
- Center for Developmental Genetics, Department of Biology, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Sars International Centre for Marine Molecular Biology, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Heart Disease, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Michael D. Wilson
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Corresponding author. (M.D.W.); (I.C.S.)
| | - Ian C. Scott
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
- Corresponding author. (M.D.W.); (I.C.S.)
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4
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Figiel DM, Elsayed R, Nelson AC. Investigating the molecular guts of endoderm formation using zebrafish. Brief Funct Genomics 2021:elab013. [PMID: 33754635 DOI: 10.1093/bfgp/elab013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2020] [Revised: 01/27/2021] [Accepted: 02/19/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The vertebrate endoderm makes major contributions to the respiratory and gastrointestinal tracts and all associated organs. Zebrafish and humans share a high degree of genetic homology and strikingly similar endodermal organ systems. Combined with a multitude of experimental advantages, zebrafish are an attractive model organism to study endoderm development and disease. Recent functional genomics studies have shed considerable light on the gene regulatory programs governing early zebrafish endoderm development, while advances in biological and technological approaches stand to further revolutionize our ability to investigate endoderm formation, function and disease. Here, we discuss the present understanding of endoderm specification in zebrafish compared to other vertebrates, how current and emerging methods will allow refined and enhanced analysis of endoderm formation, and how integration with human data will allow modeling of the link between non-coding sequence variants and human disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela M Figiel
- Medical Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research at Warwick Medical School
| | - Randa Elsayed
- Medical Research Council Doctoral Training Partnership in Interdisciplinary Biomedical Research at Warwick Medical School
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5
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Wu S, Yang W, Cheng C, Lin K, Sampurna BP, Chan S, Yuh C. Low molecular weight fucoidan inhibits hepatocarcinogenesis and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease in zebrafish via ASGR/STAT3/HNF4A signaling. Clin Transl Med 2020; 10:e252. [PMID: 33377648 PMCID: PMC7752165 DOI: 10.1002/ctm2.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Revised: 11/03/2020] [Accepted: 11/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hepatocellular carcinoma ranks fourth in cancer-related mortality currently lacks effective therapeutics. Fucoidan is sulfated polysaccharide that is mainly found in brown seaweeds. In this study, we investigated the effects and mechanisms of low molecular weight fucoidan (i.e. oligo-fucoidan [OF]) preventing hepatocarcinogenesis. METHODS We used [HBx,src], [HBx,src,p53-/+ ], and [CD36] transgenic zebrafish liver cancer model treated with OF, and performed molecular and histopathological analysis. Transcriptomic and pathways analysis was performed. RESULTS Decreased expression of lipogenic enzymes, fibrosis markers, and cell cycle/proliferation markers by OF in [HBx,src] and [HBx,src,p53-/+ ] transgenic fish. Liver fibrosis was decreased as revealed by Sirius Red staining, and the liver cancer formation was eventually reduced by feeding OF. OF was also found to be capable of reducing lipid accumulation and cancer formation in non-B non-C Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) model in CD36 transgenic zebrafish. Whole-genome expression analysis showed that 661 genes were up-regulated, and 451 genes were downregulated by feeding OF. Upregulated genes were mostly found in protein transporter activity, and downregulated genes were enriched with response to extracellular stimulus and metal binding in gene ontology analysis. The driver gene was HNF4A revealed by NetworkAnalyst from OF differential regulated genes at various insults. OF is able to bind the asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGR) in hepatoma cells, and increased the phosphorylation of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in both hepatoma cells and [HBx,src,p53-/+ ] transgenic fish liver cancer model. Using chromatin-immunoprecipitation, we found pSTAT3 could associate with the P1 promoter of HNF4A. Knockdown of either ASGR or HNF4A reversed OF mediated anti-cancer cell proliferation. CONCLUSIONS Taken together, we provide evidence that OF exhibits the anti-HCC, anti-steatosis, and anti-fibrosis effect for liver in zebrafish models, and the anti-cancer potential of OF attributed to the binding to ASGR and activation of STAT3/HNF4A signaling. OF might be potentially valuable for the management of HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Szu‐Yuan Wu
- Department of Food Nutrition and Health Biotechnology, College of Medical and Health ScienceAsia UniversityTaichung41354Taiwan
- Big Data Center, Lo‐Hsu Medical FoundationLotung Poh‐Ai HospitalYilan26546Taiwan
- Division of Radiation Oncology, Lo‐Hsu Medical FoundationLotung Poh‐Ai HospitalYilan26546Taiwan
- Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Medical and Health ScienceAsia UniversityTaichungTaiwan
- Graduate Institute of Business AdministrationFu Jen Catholic UniversityTaipei24205Taiwan
| | - Wan‐Yu Yang
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic MedicineNational Health Research InstitutesZhunan35053Taiwan
| | - Chun‐Chia Cheng
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic MedicineNational Health Research InstitutesZhunan35053Taiwan
- Radiation Biology Research Center, Institute for Radiological ResearchChang Gung University/Chang Gung Memorial Hospital at LinkouTaoyuan33302Taiwan
| | - Kuan‐Hao Lin
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic MedicineNational Health Research InstitutesZhunan35053Taiwan
| | | | - Suat‐Ming Chan
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic MedicineNational Health Research InstitutesZhunan35053Taiwan
| | - Chiou‐Hwa Yuh
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic MedicineNational Health Research InstitutesZhunan35053Taiwan
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural BiologyNational Tsing‐Hua UniversityHsinchu30013Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science & TechnologyNational Chiao Tung UniversityHsinchu30010Taiwan
- PhD Program in Environmental and Occupational MedicineKaohsiung Medical UniversityKaohsiung80708Taiwan
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7
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smarce1 mutants have a defective endocardium and an increased expression of cardiac transcription factors in zebrafish. Sci Rep 2018; 8:15369. [PMID: 30337622 PMCID: PMC6194089 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33746-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
SWI/SNF or BAF chromatin-remodeling complexes are polymorphic assemblies of homologous subunit families that remodel nucleosomes and facilitate tissue-specific gene regulation during development. BAF57/SMARCE1 is a BAF complex subunit encoded in animals by a single gene and is a component of all mammalian BAF complexes. In vivo, the loss of SMARCE1 would lead to the formation of deficient combinations of the complex which might present limited remodeling activities. To address the specific contribution of SMARCE1 to the function of the BAF complex, we generated CRISPR/Cas9 mutations of smarce1 in zebrafish. Smarce1 mutants showed visible defects at 72 hpf, including smaller eyes, abnormal body curvature and heart abnormalities. Gene expression analysis revealed that the mutant embryos displayed defects in endocardial development since early stages, which led to the formation of a misshapen heart tube. The severe morphological and functional cardiac problems observed at 4 dpf were correlated with the substantially increased expression of different cardiac transcription factors. Additionally, we showed that Smarce1 binds to cis-regulatory regions of the gata5 gene and is necessary for the recruitment of the BAF complex to these regions.
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8
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Charney RM, Paraiso KD, Blitz IL, Cho KWY. A gene regulatory program controlling early Xenopus mesendoderm formation: Network conservation and motifs. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2017; 66:12-24. [PMID: 28341363 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2017.03.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2017] [Revised: 03/12/2017] [Accepted: 03/20/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Germ layer formation is among the earliest differentiation events in metazoan embryos. In triploblasts, three germ layers are formed, among which the endoderm gives rise to the epithelial lining of the gut tube and associated organs including the liver, pancreas and lungs. In frogs (Xenopus), where early germ layer formation has been studied extensively, the process of endoderm specification involves the interplay of dozens of transcription factors. Here, we review the interactions between these factors, summarized in a transcriptional gene regulatory network (GRN). We highlight regulatory connections conserved between frog, fish, mouse, and human endodermal lineages. Especially prominent is the conserved role and regulatory targets of the Nodal signaling pathway and the T-box transcription factors, Vegt and Eomes. Additionally, we highlight network topologies and motifs, and speculate on their possible roles in development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rebekah M Charney
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Ayala School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Kitt D Paraiso
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Ayala School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Ira L Blitz
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Ayala School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA
| | - Ken W Y Cho
- Department of Developmental and Cell Biology, Ayala School of Biological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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9
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Miyagi H, Nag K, Sultana N, Munakata K, Hirose S, Nakamura N. Characterization of the zebrafish cx36.7 gene promoter: Its regulation of cardiac-specific expression and skeletal muscle-specific repression. Gene 2016; 577:265-74. [PMID: 26692140 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2015.12.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2015] [Revised: 10/28/2015] [Accepted: 12/03/2015] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
Zebrafish connexin 36.7 (cx36.7/ecx) has been identified as a key molecule in the early stages of heart development in this species. A defect in cx36.7 causes severe heart malformation due to the downregulation of nkx2.5 expression, a result which resembles congenital heart disease in humans. It has been shown that cx36.7 is expressed specifically in early developing heart cardiomyocytes. However, the regulatory mechanism for the cardiac-restricted expression of cx36.7 remains to be elucidated. In this study we isolated the 5'-flanking promoter region of the cx36.7 gene and characterized its promoter activity in zebrafish embryos. Deletion analysis showed that a 316-bp upstream region is essential for cardiac-restricted expression. This region contains four GATA elements, the proximal two of which are responsible for promoter activation in the embryonic heart and serve as binding sites for gata4. When gata4, gata5 and gata6 were simultaneously knocked down, the promoter activity was significantly decreased. Moreover, the deletion of the region between -316 and -133bp led to EGFP expression in the embryonic trunk muscle. The distal two GATA and A/T-rich elements in this region act as repressors of promoter activity in skeletal muscle. These results suggest that cx36.7 expression is directed by cardiac promoter activation via the two proximal GATA elements as well as by skeletal muscle-specific promoter repression via the two distal GATA elements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hisako Miyagi
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259-B13 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
| | - Kakon Nag
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259-B13 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
| | - Naznin Sultana
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259-B13 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
| | - Keijiro Munakata
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259-B13 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
| | - Shigehisa Hirose
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259-B13 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
| | - Nobuhiro Nakamura
- Department of Biological Sciences, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 4259-B13 Nagatsuta-cho, Midori-ku, Yokohama 226-8501, Japan.
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10
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Lai JG, Tsai SM, Tu HC, Chen WC, Kou FJ, Lu JW, Wang HD, Huang CL, Yuh CH. Zebrafish WNK lysine deficient protein kinase 1 (wnk1) affects angiogenesis associated with VEGF signaling. PLoS One 2014; 9:e106129. [PMID: 25171174 PMCID: PMC4149531 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0106129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2013] [Accepted: 08/01/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The WNK1 (WNK lysine deficient protein kinase 1) protein is a serine/threonine protein kinase with emerging roles in cancer. WNK1 causes hypertension and hyperkalemia when overexpressed and cardiovascular defects when ablated in mice. In this study, the role of Wnk1 in angiogenesis was explored using the zebrafish model. There are two zebrafish wnk1 isoforms, wnk1a and wnk1b, and both contain all the functional domains found in the human WNK1 protein. Both isoforms are expressed in the embryo at the initiation of angiogenesis and in the posterior cardinal vein (PCV), similar to fms-related tyrosine kinase 4 (flt4). Using morpholino antisense oligonucleotides against wnk1a and wnk1b, we observed that wnk1 morphants have defects in angiogenesis in the head and trunk, similar to flk1/vegfr2 morphants. Furthermore, both wnk1a and wnk1b mRNA can partially rescue the defects in vascular formation caused by flk1/vegfr2 knockdown. Mutation of the kinase domain or the Akt/PI3K phosphorylation site within wnk1 destroys this rescue capability. The rescue experiments provide evidence that wnk1 is a downstream target for Vegfr2 (vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2) and Akt/PI3K signaling and thereby affects angiogenesis in zebrafish embryos. Furthermore, we found that knockdown of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (flk1/vegfr2) or vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (flt4/vegfr3) results in a decrease in wnk1a expression, as assessed by insitu hybridization and q-RT-PCR analysis. Thus, the Vegf/Vegfr signaling pathway controls angiogenesis in zebrafish via Akt kinase-mediated phosphorylation and activation of Wnk1 as well as transcriptional regulation of wnk1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ju-Geng Lai
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Su-Mei Tsai
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Hsiao-Chen Tu
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Wen-Chuan Chen
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Fong-Ji Kou
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Jeng-Wei Lu
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Horng-Dar Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
| | - Chou-Long Huang
- Departments of Medicine, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, United States of America
- * E-mail: (CHY); (CLH)
| | - Chiou-Hwa Yuh
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan Town, Miaoli, Taiwan, ROC
- College of Life Science and Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing-Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan, ROC
- College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung, Taiwan, ROC
- * E-mail: (CHY); (CLH)
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11
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Aronson BE, Stapleton KA, Krasinski SD. Role of GATA factors in development, differentiation, and homeostasis of the small intestinal epithelium. Am J Physiol Gastrointest Liver Physiol 2014; 306:G474-90. [PMID: 24436352 PMCID: PMC3949026 DOI: 10.1152/ajpgi.00119.2013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
The small intestinal epithelium develops from embryonic endoderm into a highly specialized layer of cells perfectly suited for the digestion and absorption of nutrients. The development, differentiation, and regeneration of the small intestinal epithelium require complex gene regulatory networks involving multiple context-specific transcription factors. The evolutionarily conserved GATA family of transcription factors, well known for its role in hematopoiesis, is essential for the development of endoderm during embryogenesis and the renewal of the differentiated epithelium in the mature gut. We review the role of GATA factors in the evolution and development of endoderm and summarize our current understanding of the function of GATA factors in the mature small intestine. We offer perspective on the application of epigenetics approaches to define the mechanisms underlying context-specific GATA gene regulation during intestinal development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Boaz E. Aronson
- 1Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; ,2Department of Pediatrics, Emma Children's Hospital, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands; and
| | - Kelly A. Stapleton
- 1Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts;
| | - Stephen D. Krasinski
- 1Division of Gastroenterology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts; ,3Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy, Tufts University, Boston, Massachusetts
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12
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Lu JW, Liao CY, Yang WY, Lin YM, Jin SLC, Wang HD, Yuh CH. Overexpression of endothelin 1 triggers hepatocarcinogenesis in zebrafish and promotes cell proliferation and migration through the AKT pathway. PLoS One 2014; 9:e85318. [PMID: 24416389 PMCID: PMC3885696 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0085318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 12/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Hepatocarcinogenesis commonly involves the gradual progression from hepatitis to fibrosis and cirrhosis, and ultimately to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Endothelin 1 (Edn1) has been identified as a gene that is significantly up-regulated in HBx-induced HCC in mice. In this study, we further investigated the role of edn1 in hepatocarcinogenesis using a transgenic zebrafish model and a cell culture system. Liver-specific edn1 expression caused steatosis, fibrosis, glycogen accumulation, bile duct dilation, hyperplasia, and HCC in zebrafish. Overexpression of EDN1 in 293T cells enhanced cell proliferation and cell migration in in vitro and xenotransplantation assays and was accompanied with up-regulation of several cell cycle/proliferation- and migration-specific genes. Furthermore, expression of the unfolded protein response (UPR) pathway-related mediators, such as spliced XBP1, ATF6, IRE1, and PERK, was also up-regulated at both the RNA and protein levels. In the presence of an EDN1 inhibitor or an AKT inhibitor, these increases were diminished and the EDN1-induced migration ability also was disappeared, suggesting that the EDN1 effects act through activation of the AKT pathway to enhance the UPR and subsequently activate the expression of downstream genes. Additionally, p-AKT is enhanced in the edn1 transgenic fish compared to the GFP-mCherry control. The micro RNA miR-1 was found to inhibit the expression of EDN1. We also observed an inverse correlation between EDN1 and miR-1 expression in HCC patients. In conclusion, our data suggest that EDN1 plays an important role in HCC progression by activating the PI3K/AKT pathway and is regulated by miR-1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeng-Wei Lu
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jhongli City, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Chung-Yi Liao
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Yu Yang
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Min Lin
- Department of Pathology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Changhua County, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Technology, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | | | - Horng-Dar Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Chiou-Hwa Yuh
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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13
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Lu JW, Yang WY, Tsai SM, Lin YM, Chang PH, Chen JR, Wang HD, Wu JL, Jin SLC, Yuh CH. Liver-specific expressions of HBx and src in the p53 mutant trigger hepatocarcinogenesis in zebrafish. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76951. [PMID: 24130815 PMCID: PMC3793937 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076951] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2013] [Accepted: 08/29/2013] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Hepatocarcinogenesis is a multistep process that starts from fatty liver and transitions to fibrosis and, finally, into cancer. Many etiological factors, including hepatitis B virus X antigen (HBx) and p53 mutations, have been implicated in hepatocarcinogenesis. However, potential synergistic effects between these two factors and the underlying mechanisms by which they promote hepatocarcinogenesis are still unclear. In this report, we show that the synergistic action of HBx and p53 mutation triggers progressive hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) formation via src activation in zebrafish. Liver-specific expression of HBx in wild-type zebrafish caused steatosis, fibrosis and glycogen accumulation. However, the induction of tumorigenesis by HBx was only observed in p53 mutant fish and occurred in association with the up-regulation and activation of the src tyrosine kinase pathway. Furthermore, the overexpression of src in p53 mutant zebrafish also caused hyperplasia, HCC, and sarcomatoid HCC, which were accompanied by increased levels of the signaling proteins p-erk, p-akt, myc, jnk1 and vegf. Increased expression levels of lipogenic factors and the genes involved in lipid metabolism and glycogen storage were detected during the early stages of hepatocarcinogenesis in the HBx and src transgenic zebrafish. The up-regulation of genes involved in cell cycle regulation, tumor progression and other molecular hallmarks of human liver cancer were found at later stages in both HBx and src transgenic, p53 mutant zebrafish. Together, our study demonstrates that HBx and src overexpression induced hepatocarcinogenesis in p53 mutant zebrafish. This phenomenon mimics human HCC formation and provides potential in vivo platforms for drug screening for therapies for human liver cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeng-Wei Lu
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
- Department of Life Sciences, National Central University, Jhongli City, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Wan-Yu Yang
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Su-Mei Tsai
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
| | - Yueh-Min Lin
- Department of Pathology, Changhua Christian Hospital, Changhua City, Changhua County, Taiwan
- Department of Medical Technology, Jen-Teh Junior College of Medicine, Nursing and Management, Hou-Loung Town, Miaoli County, Taiwan
| | - Pen-Heng Chang
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Jim-Ray Chen
- Department of Pathology, Chang Gung Memorial Hospital, Keelung, Taiwan
- College of Medicine, Chang Gung University, Taoyuan, Taiwan
| | - Horng-Dar Wang
- Institute of Biotechnology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
| | - Jen-Leih Wu
- Institute of Cellular and Organismic Biology, Academia Sinica, Nangang District, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | - Chiou-Hwa Yuh
- Institute of Molecular and Genomic Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, Zhunan, Miaoli, Taiwan
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- Department of Biological Science and Technology, National Chiao Tung University, Hsinchu, Taiwan
- * E-mail:
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14
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Lu JW, Yang WY, Lin YM, Jin SLC, Yuh CH. Hepatitis B virus X antigen and aflatoxin B1 synergistically cause hepatitis, steatosis and liver hyperplasia in transgenic zebrafish. Acta Histochem 2013; 115:728-39. [PMID: 23499292 DOI: 10.1016/j.acthis.2013.02.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2012] [Revised: 02/14/2013] [Accepted: 02/18/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) and the hepatitis B virus X antigen (HBx) are linked to the formation of liver diseases and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The aim of this study was to investigate the synergistic effects between HBx and AFB1 in causing liver disorders using a transgenic zebrafish animal model. Histopathology, Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS) staining, Sirius red staining, TdT-mediated dUTP Nick End Labeling (TUNEL) assay, immunohistochemistry, and quantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (Q-RT-PCR) were used to examine the livers of the HBx transgenic fish injected with AFB1. We found that HBx and AFB1 synergistically promoted steatosis as indicated by histopathological examinations and the increased expression of lipogenic factors, enzymes, and genes related to lipid metabolism. Moreover, treatment of AFB1 in HBx transgenic fish accelerated the development of liver hyperplasia and enhanced the expression of cell cycle related genes. PCNA was co-localized with active caspase 3 protein expression in HBx zebrafish liver samples and human HBV positive HCC samples by double fluorescence immunostaining. Finally, we found that in human patients with liver disease, significant glycogen accumulated in the inflammation, cirrhosis stage, and all cases of hepatocellular and cholangiocellular carcinoma showed a moderate cytoplasmic accumulation of glycogen. Our data demonstrated a synergistic effect of AFB1 and HBx on the regulation of lipid metabolism related genes and cell cycle/division-related genes which might contribute to enhanced steatosis and hyperplasia at 5.75months.
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The bilaterian head patterning gene six3/6 controls aboral domain development in a cnidarian. PLoS Biol 2013; 11:e1001488. [PMID: 23483856 PMCID: PMC3586664 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.1001488] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2012] [Accepted: 01/09/2013] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The origin of the bilaterian head is a fundamental question for the evolution of animal body plans. The head of bilaterians develops at the anterior end of their primary body axis and is the site where the brain is located. Cnidarians, the sister group to bilaterians, lack brain-like structures and it is not clear whether the oral, the aboral, or none of the ends of the cnidarian primary body axis corresponds to the anterior domain of bilaterians. In order to understand the evolutionary origin of head development, we analysed the function of conserved genetic regulators of bilaterian anterior development in the sea anemone Nematostella vectensis. We show that orthologs of the bilaterian anterior developmental genes six3/6, foxQ2, and irx have dynamic expression patterns in the aboral region of Nematostella. Functional analyses reveal that NvSix3/6 acts upstream of NvFoxQ2a as a key regulator of the development of a broad aboral territory in Nematostella. NvSix3/6 initiates an autoregulatory feedback loop involving positive and negative regulators of FGF signalling, which subsequently results in the downregulation of NvSix3/6 and NvFoxQ2a in a small domain at the aboral pole, from which the apical organ develops. We show that signalling by NvFGFa1 is specifically required for the development of the apical organ, whereas NvSix3/6 has an earlier and broader function in the specification of the aboral territory. Our functional and gene expression data suggest that the head-forming region of bilaterians is derived from the aboral domain of the cnidarian-bilaterian ancestor.
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