1
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Le Y, Gao H, Le J, Hornick JL, Bleday R, Wee J, Zhu Z. VentX promotes tumor specific immunity and efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. iScience 2024; 27:108731. [PMID: 38299030 PMCID: PMC10829883 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.108731] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2023] [Revised: 10/17/2023] [Accepted: 12/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Immune suppression within tumor microenvironments (TME) have been implicated in limited efficacy of immune check point inhibitors (ICIs) against solid tumors. Down-regulated VentX expression in tumor associated macrophages (TAMs) underlies phagocytotic anergic phenotype of TAMs, which govern immunological state of TME. In this study, using a tumor immune microenvironment enabling model system (TIME-EMS) of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), we found that PD-1 antibody modestly activates cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) within the NSCLC-TME but not the status of TIME. We showed that the restoration of VentX expression in TAMs reignites the phagocytotic function of TAMs, which in turn, transforms TIME, activates CTLs in a tumor-specific manner and promotes efficacy of PD-1 antibody against NSCLC but not toxicity on normal lung epithelial cells. Supported by in vivo data on NSG-PDX models of primary human NSCLC, our study revealed potential venues to promote the efficacy of ICI against solid tumors through VentX-based mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Le
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hong Gao
- Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Joanna Le
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Massachusetts Medical Center
| | - Jason L. Hornick
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ronald Bleday
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jon Wee
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhenglun Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
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2
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Le Y, Gao H, Zhu A, Felt K, Rodig S, Bleday R, Zhu Z. NF-κB-regulated VentX expression mediates tumoricidal effects of chemotherapeutics at noncytotoxic concentrations. iScience 2022; 25:105426. [DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2022.105426] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 08/09/2022] [Accepted: 10/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
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3
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Rankin SA, Zorn AM. The homeodomain transcription factor Ventx2 regulates respiratory progenitor cell number and differentiation timing during
Xenopus
lung development. Dev Growth Differ 2022; 64:347-361. [PMID: 36053777 PMCID: PMC10088502 DOI: 10.1111/dgd.12807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 08/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Ventx2 is an Antennapedia superfamily/NK-like subclass homeodomain transcription factor best known for its roles in the regulation of early dorsoventral patterning during Xenopus gastrulation and in the maintenance of neural crest multipotency. In this work we characterize the spatiotemporal expression pattern of ventx2 in progenitor cells of the Xenopus respiratory system epithelium. We find that ventx2 is directly induced by BMP signaling in the ventral foregut prior to nkx2-1, the earliest epithelial marker of the respiratory lineage. Functional studies demonstrate that Ventx2 regulates the number of Nkx2-1/Sox9+ respiratory progenitor cells induced during foregut development, the timing and level of surfactant protein gene expression, and proper tracheal-esophageal separation. Our data suggest that Ventx2 regulates the balance of respiratory progenitor cell expansion and differentiation. While the ventx gene family has been lost from the mouse genome during evolution, humans have retained a ventx2-like gene (VENTX). Finally, we discuss how our findings might suggest a possible function of VENTX in human respiratory progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott A. Rankin
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati OH
| | - Aaron M. Zorn
- Center for Stem Cell and Organoid Medicine (CuSTOM), Division of Developmental Biology Perinatal Institute, Cincinnati Children’s Hospital Medical Center Cincinnati OH
- University of Cincinnati, College of Medicine, Department of Pediatrics Cincinnati OH
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4
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Ducos B, Bensimon D, Scerbo P. Vertebrate Cell Differentiation, Evolution, and Diseases: The Vertebrate-Specific Developmental Potential Guardians VENTX/ NANOG and POU5/ OCT4 Enter the Stage. Cells 2022; 11:cells11152299. [PMID: 35892595 PMCID: PMC9331430 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 07/09/2022] [Accepted: 07/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
During vertebrate development, embryonic cells pass through a continuum of transitory pluripotent states that precede multi-lineage commitment and morphogenesis. Such states are referred to as “refractory/naïve” and “competent/formative” pluripotency. The molecular mechanisms maintaining refractory pluripotency or driving the transition to competent pluripotency, as well as the cues regulating multi-lineage commitment, are evolutionarily conserved. Vertebrate-specific “Developmental Potential Guardians” (vsDPGs; i.e., VENTX/NANOG, POU5/OCT4), together with MEK1 (MAP2K1), coordinate the pluripotency continuum, competence for multi-lineage commitment and morphogenesis in vivo. During neurulation, vsDPGs empower ectodermal cells of the neuro-epithelial border (NEB) with multipotency and ectomesenchyme potential through an “endogenous reprogramming” process, giving rise to the neural crest cells (NCCs). Furthermore, vsDPGs are expressed in undifferentiated-bipotent neuro-mesodermal progenitor cells (NMPs), which participate in posterior axis elongation and growth. Finally, vsDPGs are involved in carcinogenesis, whereby they confer selective advantage to cancer stem cells (CSCs) and therapeutic resistance. Intriguingly, the heterogenous distribution of vsDPGs in these cell types impact on cellular potential and features. Here, we summarize the findings about the role of vsDPGs during vertebrate development and their selective advantage in evolution. Our aim to present a holistic view regarding vsDPGs as facilitators of both cell plasticity/adaptability and morphological innovation/variation. Moreover, vsDPGs may also be at the heart of carcinogenesis by allowing malignant cells to escape from physiological constraints and surveillance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bertrand Ducos
- LPENS, PSL, CNRS, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
- IBENS, PSL, CNRS, 46 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
- High Throughput qPCR Core Facility, ENS, PSL, 46 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (B.D.); (D.B.); (P.S.)
| | - David Bensimon
- LPENS, PSL, CNRS, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
- IBENS, PSL, CNRS, 46 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90094, USA
- Correspondence: (B.D.); (D.B.); (P.S.)
| | - Pierluigi Scerbo
- LPENS, PSL, CNRS, 24 rue Lhomond, 75005 Paris, France
- IBENS, PSL, CNRS, 46 rue d’Ulm, 75005 Paris, France
- Correspondence: (B.D.); (D.B.); (P.S.)
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5
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Ventx Family and Its Functional Similarities with Nanog: Involvement in Embryonic Development and Cancer Progression. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23052741. [PMID: 35269883 PMCID: PMC8911082 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23052741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2021] [Revised: 02/21/2022] [Accepted: 02/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ventx family is one of the subfamilies of the ANTP (antennapedia) superfamily and belongs to the NK-like (NKL) subclass. Ventx is a homeobox transcription factor and has a DNA-interacting domain that is evolutionarily conserved throughout vertebrates. It has been extensively studied in Xenopus, zebrafish, and humans. The Ventx family contains transcriptional repressors widely involved in embryonic development and tumorigenesis in vertebrates. Several studies have documented that the Ventx family inhibited dorsal mesodermal formation, neural induction, and head formation in Xenopus and zebrafish. Moreover, Ventx2.2 showed functional similarities to Nanog and Barx1, leading to pluripotency and neural-crest migration in vertebrates. Among them, Ventx protein is an orthologue of the Ventx family in humans. Studies have demonstrated that human Ventx was strongly associated with myeloid-cell differentiation and acute myeloid leukemia. The therapeutic potential of Ventx family inhibition in combating cancer progression in humans is discussed. Additionally, we briefly discuss genome evolution, gene duplication, pseudo-allotetraploidy, and the homeobox family in Xenopus.
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6
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Le Y, Gao H, Richards W, Zhao L, Bleday R, Clancy T, Zhu Z. VentX expression in tumor-associated macrophages promotes phagocytosis and immunity against pancreatic cancers. JCI Insight 2020; 5:137088. [PMID: 32573491 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.137088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 06/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is a lethal malignancy that has no effective treatment. The tumor microenvironment (TME) of PDA employs a multitude of immune derangement strategies to protect PDA from immune elimination. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) have been implicated in the pathogenesis of immune suppression of the PDA TME; however, its underlying mechanisms remained largely unknown. Using primary patient samples, our studies showed that, in comparison with macrophages isolated from normal pancreatic tissues, the phagocytosis activity of the PDA TAMs was significantly reduced. We found that the expression of homeobox protein VentX, a master regulator of macrophage plasticity, was significantly decreased in the PDA TAMs. We demonstrated that VentX was required for phagocytosis and that restoration of VentX expression in PDA TAMs promoted phagocytosis through the regulation of the signaling cascades involved in the process. Using an ex vivo culture model of primary human PDA, we showed that VentX-modulated TAMs transformed the PDA TME from a protumor milieu to an antitumor microenvironment by rectifying differentiation, proliferation, and activation of PDA-infiltrating immune cells. Using NSG-PDX models of primary human PDAs, we showed that VentX-modulated TAMs exerted strong inhibition on PDA tumorigenesis in vivo. Taken together, our data revealed a central mechanism underlying immune evasion of PDA and a potential novel venue to improve PDA prognosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Le
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hong Gao
- Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Lei Zhao
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | | | - Zhenglun Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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7
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Le Y, Gao H, Bleday R, Zhu Z. The homeobox protein VentX reverts immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment. Nat Commun 2018; 9:2175. [PMID: 29872044 PMCID: PMC5988690 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-018-04567-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Immune suppression in the tumor microenvironment (TME) is a central obstacle to effective immunotherapy. Tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) are key components of the TME. Although TAMs have been viewed as an ideal target of intervention to steer immunity in cancer treatment, the approach has been hampered by the lack of knowledge of how TAM plasticity is controlled by cell intrinsic factors. VentX is a homeobox protein implicated in proliferation and differentiation of human hematopoietic and immune cells. Using clinical samples obtained from cancer patients, we find that VentX expression is drastically reduced in TAMs. We show here that VentX promotes M1 differentiation of TAMs, and that VentX-regulated TAMs, in turn, revert immune suppression at the TME. Using a NSG mouse model of human colon cancers, we demonstrate that VentX regulates TAM function in tumorigenesis in vivo. Our findings suggest a mechanism underlying immune suppression at TME and potential applications of VentX-regulated TAMs in cancer immunotherapy. Tumour associated macrophages (TAMs) polarize into either pro-tumor or anti-tumor phenotypes. Here the authors show that the homeobox protein VentX is downregulated in clinical samples of colorectal cancer and regulates TAMs plasticity with its forced re-expression converting TAMs into an anti-tumor phenotype.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Le
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Hong Gao
- Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Ronald Bleday
- Department of Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zhenglun Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.
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8
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Xie Y, Liu C. Xom, a ventralizing factor, regulates beta-catenin levels and cell fate. FEBS Lett 2018; 592:297-298. [PMID: 29368438 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Yanqi Xie
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Chunming Liu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biochemistry, Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
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9
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Gao H, Wu B, Le Y, Zhu Z. Homeobox protein VentX induces p53-independent apoptosis in cancer cells. Oncotarget 2018; 7:39719-39729. [PMID: 27175592 PMCID: PMC5129965 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2015] [Accepted: 04/24/2016] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Identifying novel tumor suppressors holds promise for improving cancer treatment. Our recent studies identified VentX, a homeobox transcriptional factor, as a putative tumor suppressor. Here we demonstrate that VentX exerts strong inhibitory effects on the proliferation and survival of cancer cells, but not primary transformed cells, such as 293T cells. Mechanistically, both in vitro and in vivo data showed that VentX induces apoptosis of cancer cells in a p53-independent manner. We found that VentX expression can be induced by chemotherapeutic agents. Taken together, our findings suggest that VentX may function as a novel therapeutic target in cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Gao
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA.,Current address: Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Bin Wu
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA.,Current address: Department of Gastroenterology, Third Hospital, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Yi Le
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Zhenglun Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, 02115, Massachusetts, USA
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10
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Wu B, Gao H, Le Y, Wu X, Zhu Z. Xom induces proteolysis of β-catenin through GSK3β-mediated pathway. FEBS Lett 2017; 592:299-309. [PMID: 29251764 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.12949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2017] [Revised: 12/06/2017] [Accepted: 12/09/2017] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The dorsal cell fate determination factor β-catenin and its antagonist, the ventral cell fate determination factor Xom, are expressed and distributed in a polarized fashion during early vertebrate embryogenesis. Ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis has been shown to control the abundance of both β-catenin and Xom. However, the mechanism of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in regulating dorsoventral patterning remains largely unclear. Our current study shows that Xom induces proteolysis of β-catenin through GSK3-mediated phosphorylation of Ser33/37 of β-catenin. Our findings reveal a novel pathway that regulates β-catenin stability, and suggest, for the first time, a critical function of ubiquitin-mediated proteolysis in balancing the integration of dorsal-ventral signals and the polarized distribution of β-catenin and Xom during dorsoventral axis formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wu
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hong Gao
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA.,Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yi Le
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xiaoming Wu
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zhenglun Zhu
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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11
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The proteins of Vent-family and their mRNAs are located in different areas of the tails of Zebrafish and Xenopus embryos. Int J Biochem Cell Biol 2016; 79:388-392. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biocel.2016.09.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2016] [Revised: 09/02/2016] [Accepted: 09/09/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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12
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Wu X, Gao H, Bleday R, Zhu Z. Homeobox transcription factor VentX regulates differentiation and maturation of human dendritic cells. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:14633-43. [PMID: 24706756 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m113.509158] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Dendritic cells (DCs) are specialized antigen presentation cells that play critical roles in the initiation and regulation of immune responses. The molecular determinants of DC differentiation and maturation are target of extensive investigation. VentX is a human homeobox transcriptional factor that regulates proliferation and differentiation of hematopoietic cells. In the current study, we report that ablation of VentX expression in monocytes significantly impaired their differentiation into DCs. Conversely, overexpression of VentX in monocytic THP1 cells accelerated their differentiation toward DCs. We showed that VentX regulates DC differentiation, in part, through modulating IL6 expression. Clinically, we found that VentX expression was elevated in intestinal lamina propria DCs (LPDCs) of inflamed mucosa from inflammatory bowel disease patients. Knockdown experiments suggested that VentX is essential for the maturation of LPDCs. In addition, corticosteroid treatment markedly decreased VentX expression in LPDCs and enforced expression of VentX counteracted the effects of corticosteroid on DCs maturation. Our data suggest that VentX is a critical transcriptional regulator of DC differentiation and maturation, and a potential target of immune regulation and therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Wu
- From the Departments of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division and
| | - Hong Gao
- the Department of Medicine, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts 02111
| | - Ronald Bleday
- Surgery, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115 and
| | - Zhenglun Zhu
- From the Departments of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division and
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13
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Kozmikova I, Candiani S, Fabian P, Gurska D, Kozmik Z. Essential role of Bmp signaling and its positive feedback loop in the early cell fate evolution of chordates. Dev Biol 2013; 382:538-54. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2013.07.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2013] [Revised: 07/18/2013] [Accepted: 07/19/2013] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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14
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Gao H, Wu X, Sun Y, Zhou S, Silberstein LE, Zhu Z. Suppression of homeobox transcription factor VentX promotes expansion of human hematopoietic stem/multipotent progenitor cells. J Biol Chem 2012; 287:29979-87. [PMID: 22791709 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.383018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms that regulate proliferation and expansion of human hematopoietic stem/multipotent progenitor cells (HSC/MPPs) are targets of intensive investigations. Several cell intrinsic factors and signaling pathways have been implicated in the proliferation and differentiation of human HSC/MPPs. Nevertheless, expansion of human HSC/MPPs for clinical application remains a critical challenge. VentX is a human homeobox transcription factor that was recently identified as an anti-proliferation and pro-differentiation factor in human hematopoietic cells. Here, we report that VentX expression is up-regulated during ontogenesis of human hematopoietic cells. Strikingly, suppression of VentX expression led to significant expansion of HSC/MPPs ex vivo and a 20-fold increase in engraftment potential in the NOD/SCID/IL2Rγ2(null) mouse model. VentX suppression helped preserve the HSC/MPP pools and promote clonogenicity of hematopoietic progenitor cells. Mechanistically, we show that VentX regulates critical cell cycle regulators and Wnt downstream genes previously implicated in HSC/MPP proliferation and expansion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Gao
- Gastroenterology Division, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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15
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Wu X, Gao H, Ke W, Giese RW, Zhu Z. The homeobox transcription factor VentX controls human macrophage terminal differentiation and proinflammatory activation. J Clin Invest 2011; 121:2599-613. [PMID: 21670496 DOI: 10.1172/jci45556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2010] [Accepted: 04/27/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Macrophages are critical players in both innate and adaptive immunity. While the exogenous signaling events leading to the terminal differentiation of macrophages from monocytes have been studied extensively, the underlying intracellular transcriptional mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here we report that the homeobox transcription factor VentX plays a pivotal role in human macrophage terminal differentiation and proinflammatory function. Our study showed that VentX expression was upregulated upon human primary monocyte-to-macrophage differentiation induced by cytokines such as M-CSF, GM-CSF, and IL-3. Moreover, ablation of VentX expression in primary monocytes profoundly impaired their differentiation to macrophages, and ectopic expression of VentX in a myeloid progenitor cell line triggered its differentiation with prominent macrophage features. Further analysis revealed that VentX was pivotal for the proinflammatory response of terminally differentiated macrophages. Mechanistically, VentX was found to control expression of proteins key to macrophage differentiation and activation, including M-CSF receptor. Importantly, preliminary analysis of gene expression in leukocytes from patients with autoimmune diseases revealed a strong correlation between levels of VentX and those of proinflammatory cytokines. Our results provide mechanistic insight into the crucial roles of VentX in macrophage differentiation and proinflammatory activation and suggest that dysregulation of VentX may play a role in the pathogenesis of autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Wu
- Department of Medicine, Gastroenterology Division, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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16
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Wu X, Gao H, Ke W, Hager M, Xiao S, Freeman MR, Zhu Z. VentX trans-activates p53 and p16ink4a to regulate cellular senescence. J Biol Chem 2011; 286:12693-701. [PMID: 21325273 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.206078] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell senescence is a process of irreversible arrest of cell proliferation and plays an important role in tumor suppression. Recent studies showed that Wnt inhibition is a trigger of cellular senescence. Using methods of reverse genetics, we recently identified VentX, a human homolog of the vertebrate Xenopus Vent family of homeobox genes, as a novel Wnt repressor and a putative tumor suppressor in lymphocytic leukemia. Here, we show that VentX is a direct transcriptional activator of p53-p21 and p16ink4a-Rb tumor suppression pathways. Ectopic expression of VentX in cancer cells caused an irreversible cell cycle arrest with a typical senescence-like phenotype. Conversely, inhibition of VentX expression by RNA interference ameliorated chemotherapeutic agent-induced senescence in lymphocytic leukemia cells. The results of our study further reveal the mechanisms underlying tumor suppression function of VentX and suggest a role of VentX as a potential target in cancer prevention and treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoming Wu
- Gastroenterology Division, the Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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17
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Kozmikova I, Smolikova J, Vlcek C, Kozmik Z. Conservation and diversification of an ancestral chordate gene regulatory network for dorsoventral patterning. PLoS One 2011; 6:e14650. [PMID: 21304903 PMCID: PMC3033397 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0014650] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2010] [Accepted: 01/04/2011] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Formation of a dorsoventral axis is a key event in the early development of most animal embryos. It is well established that bone morphogenetic proteins (Bmps) and Wnts are key mediators of dorsoventral patterning in vertebrates. In the cephalochordate amphioxus, genes encoding Bmps and transcription factors downstream of Bmp signaling such as Vent are expressed in patterns reminiscent of those of their vertebrate orthologues. However, the key question is whether the conservation of expression patterns of network constituents implies conservation of functional network interactions, and if so, how an increased functional complexity can evolve. Using heterologous systems, namely by reporter gene assays in mammalian cell lines and by transgenesis in medaka fish, we have compared the gene regulatory network implicated in dorsoventral patterning of the basal chordate amphioxus and vertebrates. We found that Bmp but not canonical Wnt signaling regulates promoters of genes encoding homeodomain proteins AmphiVent1 and AmphiVent2. Furthermore, AmphiVent1 and AmphiVent2 promoters appear to be correctly regulated in the context of a vertebrate embryo. Finally, we show that AmphiVent1 is able to directly repress promoters of AmphiGoosecoid and AmphiChordin genes. Repression of genes encoding dorsal-specific signaling molecule Chordin and transcription factor Goosecoid by Xenopus and zebrafish Vent genes represents a key regulatory interaction during vertebrate axis formation. Our data indicate high evolutionary conservation of a core Bmp-triggered gene regulatory network for dorsoventral patterning in chordates and suggest that co-option of the canonical Wnt signaling pathway for dorsoventral patterning in vertebrates represents one of the innovations through which an increased morphological complexity of vertebrate embryo is achieved.
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18
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Gao H, Le Y, Wu X, Silberstein LE, Giese RW, Zhu Z. VentX, a novel lymphoid-enhancing factor/T-cell factor-associated transcription repressor, is a putative tumor suppressor. Cancer Res 2009; 70:202-11. [PMID: 20028861 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-09-2668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Lymphoid-enhancing factor/T-cell factors (LEF1/TCF) are a high-mobility group of transcriptional factors that play essential roles in cell fate determination during early embryogenesis and ontogenesis. Aberrant activations of LEF1/TCF-mediated transcription have been implicated in a variety of malignancies. Our recent studies on vertebrate embryogenesis identified Xom, a homeobox protein of the bone morphogenetic protein 4 pathway, as a novel LEF/TCF-associated transcriptional modulator. Here, we report that VentX, a human Xom homologue, is a LEF/TCF-associated inhibitor of canonical Wnt/beta-catenin signaling and a negative regulator of cell proliferation. VentX is predominantly expressed in hematopoietic cells, and its expression is significantly downregulated in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Altered expression of VentX is associated with corresponding changes of LEF/TCF target oncogenes such as cyclin D1, suggesting a potential role of VentX in the clinical behavior of hematopoietic malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Gao
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA
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Pshennikova ES, Voronina AS. Detection of the Xvent-2 transcription factor in early development of Xenopus laevis. Mol Biol 2008. [DOI: 10.1134/s0026893308060101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
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Ngoka LCM. Sample prep for proteomics of breast cancer: proteomics and gene ontology reveal dramatic differences in protein solubilization preferences of radioimmunoprecipitation assay and urea lysis buffers. Proteome Sci 2008; 6:30. [PMID: 18950484 PMCID: PMC2600628 DOI: 10.1186/1477-5956-6-30] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2008] [Accepted: 10/24/2008] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND An important step in the proteomics of solid tumors, including breast cancer, consists of efficiently extracting most of proteins in the tumor specimen. For this purpose, Radio-Immunoprecipitation Assay (RIPA) buffer is widely employed. RIPA buffer's rapid and highly efficient cell lysis and good solubilization of a wide range of proteins is further augmented by its compatibility with protease and phosphatase inhibitors, ability to minimize non-specific protein binding leading to a lower background in immunoprecipitation, and its suitability for protein quantitation. RESULTS In this work, the insoluble matter left after RIPA buffer extraction of proteins from breast tumors are subjected to another extraction step, using a urea-based buffer. It is shown that RIPA and urea lysis buffers fractionate breast tissue proteins primarily on the basis of molecular weights. The average molecular weight of proteins that dissolve exclusively in urea buffer is up to 60% higher than in RIPA.Gene Ontology (GO) and Directed Acyclic Graphs (DAG) are used to map the collective biological and biophysical attributes of the RIPA and urea proteomes. The Cellular Component and Molecular Function annotations reveal protein solubilization preferences of the buffers, especially the compartmentalization and functional distributions.It is shown that nearly all extracellular matrix proteins (ECM) in the breast tumors and matched normal tissues are found, nearly exclusively, in the urea fraction, while they are mostly insoluble in RIPA buffer. Additionally, it is demonstrated that cytoskeletal and extracellular region proteins are more soluble in urea than in RIPA, whereas for nuclear, cytoplasmic and mitochondrial proteins, RIPA buffer is preferred.Extracellular matrix proteins are highly implicated in cancer, including their proteinase-mediated degradation and remodelling, tumor development, progression, adhesion and metastasis. Thus, if they are not efficiently extracted by RIPA buffer, important information may be missed in cancer research. CONCLUSION For proteomics of solid tumors, a two-step extraction process is recommended. First, proteins in the tumor specimen should be extracted with RIPA buffer. Second, the RIPA-insoluble material should be extracted with the urea-based buffer employed in this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lambert C M Ngoka
- Department of Chemistry, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, 23284-2006, USA.
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Yang Y. Xom as a novel partner of Lef/Tcfs during dorsal-ventral patterning of the Xenopus embryo. Cell Res 2007; 17:307-8. [PMID: 17435774 DOI: 10.1038/cr.2007.29] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Yingzi Yang
- Genetic Disease Research Branch, National Human Genome Research Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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