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Wilkinson EJ, Raspin K, Malley RC, Donovan S, Nott LM, Holloway AF, Dickinson JL. WNT5A is a putative epi-driver of prostate cancer metastasis to the bone. Cancer Med 2024; 13:e70122. [PMID: 39164966 PMCID: PMC11335815 DOI: 10.1002/cam4.70122] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2024] [Revised: 08/07/2024] [Accepted: 08/09/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Current diagnostic tools are unable to distinguish low-grade indolent prostate cancer (PrCa) from that with a propensity to become metastatic and/or lethal. Recent evidence suggests that reprogramming of the transcriptome may drive the metastatic phenotype, and that this reprogramming is controlled, at least in part, by epigenetic changes to the DNA of cancer cells, including methylation. These changes, referred to as 'epigenetic drivers,' have previously been associated with cancer cell survival. METHODS Here, using Illumina Methylation EPIC array data of paired primary PrCa and metastatic bone samples, we identified WNT5A as a putative epi-driver of PrCa metastasis to the bone, which was further validated in vitro. RESULTS Significantly higher WNT5A methylation was observed in primary PrCa samples and 22Rv1 cells compared to metastatic bone samples and PC-3 cells. This higher methylation was associated with significantly lower WNT5A gene expression. CONCLUSION Given the limited effective therapies available for metastatic cancer sufferers, particularly those whose disease has metastasised to the bone, WNT5A presents as a potential putative target for therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J. Wilkinson
- Tasmanian School of MedicineUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
- Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Kelsie Raspin
- Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Roslyn C. Malley
- Tasmanian School of MedicineUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
- Anatomical PathologyRoyal Hobart HospitalHobartTasmaniaAustralia
- Diagnostic ServicesSonic HealthcareHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Shaun Donovan
- Diagnostic ServicesSonic HealthcareHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Louise M. Nott
- Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
- Icon Cancer CentreHobartTasmaniaAustralia
- Oncology and HaematologyRoyal Hobart HospitalHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Adele F. Holloway
- Tasmanian School of MedicineUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
| | - Joanne L. Dickinson
- Menzies Institute for Medical ResearchUniversity of TasmaniaHobartTasmaniaAustralia
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Liu D, Du J, Xie H, Tian H, Lu L, Zhang C, Xu GT, Zhang J. Wnt5a/β-catenin-mediated epithelial-mesenchymal transition: a key driver of subretinal fibrosis in neovascular age-related macular degeneration. J Neuroinflammation 2024; 21:75. [PMID: 38532410 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-024-03068-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2023] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 03/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD), accounts for up to 90% of AMD-associated vision loss, ultimately resulting in the formation of fibrotic scar in the macular region. The pathogenesis of subretinal fibrosis in nAMD involves the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) occurring in retinal pigment epithelium (RPE). Here, we aim to investigate the underlying mechanisms involved in the Wnt signaling during the EMT of RPE cells and in the pathological process of subretinal fibrosis secondary to nAMD. METHODS In vivo, the induction of subretinal fibrosis was performed in male C57BL/6J mice through laser photocoagulation. Either FH535 (a β-catenin inhibitor) or Box5 (a Wnt5a inhibitor) was intravitreally administered on the same day or 14 days following laser induction. The RPE-Bruch's membrane-choriocapillaris complex (RBCC) tissues were collected and subjected to Western blot analysis and immunofluorescence to examine fibrovascular and Wnt-related markers. In vitro, transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1)-treated ARPE-19 cells were co-incubated with or without FH535, Foxy-5 (a Wnt5a-mimicking peptide), Box5, or Wnt5a shRNA, respectively. The changes in EMT- and Wnt-related signaling molecules, as well as cell functions were assessed using qRT-PCR, nuclear-cytoplasmic fractionation assay, Western blot, immunofluorescence, scratch assay or transwell migration assay. The cell viability of ARPE-19 cells was determined using Cell Counting Kit (CCK)-8. RESULTS The in vivo analysis demonstrated Wnt5a/ROR1, but not Wnt3a, was upregulated in the RBCCs of the laser-induced CNV mice compared to the normal control group. Intravitreal injection of FH535 effectively reduced Wnt5a protein expression. Both FH535 and Box5 effectively attenuated subretinal fibrosis and EMT, as well as the activation of β-catenin in laser-induced CNV mice, as evidenced by the significant reduction in areas positive for fibronectin, alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), collagen I, and active β-catenin labeling. In vitro, Wnt5a/ROR1, active β-catenin, and some other Wnt signaling molecules were upregulated in the TGFβ1-induced EMT cell model using ARPE-19 cells. Co-treatment with FH535, Box5, or Wnt5a shRNA markedly suppressed the activation of Wnt5a, nuclear translocation of active β-catenin, as well as the EMT in TGFβ1-treated ARPE-19 cells. Conversely, treatment with Foxy-5 independently resulted in the activation of abovementioned molecules and subsequent induction of EMT in ARPE-19 cells. CONCLUSIONS Our study reveals a reciprocal activation between Wnt5a and β-catenin to mediate EMT as a pivotal driver of subretinal fibrosis in nAMD. This positive feedback loop provides valuable insights into potential therapeutic strategies to treat subretinal fibrosis in nAMD patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dandan Liu
- Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jingxiao Du
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai Eye Research Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Hai Xie
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai Eye Research Institute, Shanghai, China
| | - Haibin Tian
- Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Lixia Lu
- Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Chaoyang Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai Eye Research Institute, Shanghai, China.
| | - Guo-Tong Xu
- Department of Ophthalmology of Tongji Hospital and Laboratory of Clinical and Visual Sciences of Tongji Eye Institute, School of Medicine, Tongji University, Shanghai, China.
| | - Jingfa Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology, Shanghai General Hospital (Shanghai First People's Hospital), Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Ocular Fundus Diseases, National Clinical Research Center for Eye Diseases, Shanghai Engineering Center for Visual Science and Photomedicine, Shanghai Engineering Center for Precise Diagnosis and Treatment of Eye Diseases, Shanghai Eye Research Institute, Shanghai, China.
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Mueller LM, Isaacson A, Wilson H, Salowka A, Tay I, Gong M, Elbarbary NS, Raile K, Spagnoli FM. Heterozygous missense variant in GLI2 impairs human endocrine pancreas development. Nat Commun 2024; 15:2483. [PMID: 38509065 PMCID: PMC10954617 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-46740-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Missense variants are the most common type of coding genetic variants. Their functional assessment is fundamental for defining any implication in human diseases and may also uncover genes that are essential for human organ development. Here, we apply CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing on human iPSCs to study a heterozygous missense variant in GLI2 identified in two siblings with early-onset and insulin-dependent diabetes of unknown cause. GLI2 is a primary mediator of the Hedgehog pathway, which regulates pancreatic β-cell development in mice. However, neither mutations in GLI2 nor Hedgehog dysregulation have been reported as cause or predisposition to diabetes. We establish and study a set of isogenic iPSC lines harbouring the missense variant for their ability to differentiate into pancreatic β-like cells. Interestingly, iPSCs carrying the missense variant show altered GLI2 transcriptional activity and impaired differentiation of pancreatic progenitors into endocrine cells. RNASeq and network analyses unveil a crosstalk between Hedgehog and WNT pathways, with the dysregulation of non-canonical WNT signaling in pancreatic progenitors carrying the GLI2 missense variant. Collectively, our findings underscore an essential role for GLI2 in human endocrine development and identify a gene variant that may lead to diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura M Mueller
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Abigail Isaacson
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Heather Wilson
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Anna Salowka
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Isabel Tay
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom
| | - Maolian Gong
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Charité, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), Charité Medical Faculty, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Nancy Samir Elbarbary
- Department of Pediatrics, Diabetes and Endocrine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt
| | - Klemens Raile
- Department of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetology, Charité, Berlin, Germany
- Experimental and Clinical Research Center (ECRC), Charité Medical Faculty, Max-Delbrueck-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Francesca M Spagnoli
- Centre for Gene Therapy and Regenerative Medicine, King's College London, Great Maze Pond, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom.
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Stevenson MJ, Phanor SK, Patel U, Gisselbrecht SS, Bulyk ML, O'Brien LL. Altered binding affinity of SIX1-Q177R correlates with enhanced WNT5A and WNT pathway effector expression in Wilms tumor. Dis Model Mech 2023; 16:dmm050208. [PMID: 37815464 PMCID: PMC10668032 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.050208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Wilms tumors present as an amalgam of varying proportions of tissues located within the developing kidney, one being the nephrogenic blastema comprising multipotent nephron progenitor cells (NPCs). The recurring missense mutation Q177R in NPC transcription factors SIX1 and SIX2 is most correlated with tumors of blastemal histology and is significantly associated with relapse. Yet, the transcriptional regulatory consequences of SIX1/2-Q177R that might promote tumor progression and recurrence have not been investigated extensively. Utilizing multiple Wilms tumor transcriptomic datasets, we identified upregulation of the gene encoding non-canonical WNT ligand WNT5A in addition to other WNT pathway effectors in SIX1/2-Q177R mutant tumors. SIX1 ChIP-seq datasets from Wilms tumors revealed shared binding sites for SIX1/SIX1-Q177R within a promoter of WNT5A and at putative distal cis-regulatory elements (CREs). We demonstrate colocalization of SIX1 and WNT5A in Wilms tumor tissue and utilize in vitro assays that support SIX1 and SIX1-Q177R activation of expression from the WNT5A CREs, as well as enhanced binding affinity within the WNT5A promoter that may promote the differential expression of WNT5A and other WNT pathway effectors associated with SIX1-Q177R tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew J. Stevenson
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Sabrina K. Phanor
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Urvi Patel
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Stephen S. Gisselbrecht
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Martha L. Bulyk
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Lori L. O'Brien
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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Ballante F, Turkina MV, Ntzouni M, Magnusson KE, Vikström E. Modified N-acyl-L-homoserine lactone compounds abrogate Las-dependent quorum-sensing response in human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Front Mol Biosci 2023; 10:1264773. [PMID: 37908228 PMCID: PMC10613653 DOI: 10.3389/fmolb.2023.1264773] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Quorum sensing (QS) is a mode of cell-cell communication that bacteria use to sense population density and orchestrate collective behaviors. The common opportunistic human pathogen Pseudomonas aeruginosa employs QS to regulate a large set of genes involved in virulence and host-pathogen interactions. The Las circuit positioned on the top of the QS hierarchy in P. aeruginosa makes use of N-acyl-L-homoserine lactones (AHLs) as signal molecules, like N-3-oxo-dodecanoyl-L-homoserine lactone (3O-C12-HSL). Disabling QS circuits by certain small-molecule compounds, known as quorum-sensing inhibitors (QSIs), has been proposed as a strategy to attenuate bacterial pathogenicity. In this study, four new AHL analogs were designed by incorporating a tert-butoxycarbonyl Boc group in amide and β-keto (3-oxo) moiety. Compounds were evaluated on a molecular and phenotypic basis as a QSI using the screening strategy linked to the assignment of the Las QS system in P. aeruginosa. Using a LasR-based bioreporter, we found that the compounds decreased LasR-controlled light activity and competed efficiently with natural 3O-C12-HSL. The compounds reduced the production of the cognate 3O-C12-HSL and certain virulence traits, like total protease activity, elastase activity, pyocyanin production, and extracellular DNA release. Furthermore, a quantitative proteomic approach was used to study the effect of the compounds on QS-regulated extracellular proteins. Among the four compounds tested, one of them showed the most significant difference in the appearance of the 3O-C12-HSL-responsive reference proteins related to QS communication and virulence, i.e., a distinct activity as a QSI. Moreover, by combining experimental data with computational chemistry, we addressed the effect of LasR protein flexibility on docking precision and assessed the advantage of using a multi-conformational docking procedure for binding mode prediction of LasR modulators. Thus, the four new AHL compounds were tested for their interaction with the AHL-binding site in LasR to identify the key interferences with the activity of LasR. Our study provides further insight into molecular features that are required for small-molecule modulation of LasR-dependent QS communication in P. aeruginosa. This should facilitate rational design of the next generation of antivirulence tools to study and manipulate QS-controlled fitness in bacteria and, thereby, handle bacterial infections in a new way.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flavio Ballante
- Chemical Biology Consortium Sweden (CBCS), Science for Life Laboratory, Department of Medical Biochemistry and Biophysics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria V. Turkina
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Maria Ntzouni
- Core Facility, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Karl-Eric Magnusson
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
| | - Elena Vikström
- Department of Biomedical and Clinical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Linköping University, Linköping, Sweden
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Githaka JM, Pirayeshfard L, Goping IS. Cancer invasion and metastasis: Insights from murine pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2023; 1867:130375. [PMID: 37150225 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2023.130375] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2022] [Revised: 04/20/2023] [Accepted: 05/02/2023] [Indexed: 05/09/2023]
Abstract
Cancer invasion and metastasis accounts for the majority of cancer related mortality. A better understanding of the players that drive the aberrant invasion and migration of tumors cells will provide critical targets to inhibit metastasis. Postnatal pubertal mammary gland morphogenesis is characterized by highly proliferative, invasive, and migratory normal epithelial cells. Identifying the molecular regulators of pubertal gland development is a promising strategy since tumorigenesis and metastasis is postulated to be a consequence of aberrant reactivation of developmental stages. In this review, we summarize the pubertal morphogenesis regulators that are involved in cancer metastasis and revisit pubertal mammary gland transcriptome profiling to uncover both known and unknown metastasis genes. Our updated list of pubertal morphogenesis regulators shows that most are implicated in invasion and metastasis. This review highlights molecular linkages between development and metastasis and provides a guide for exploring novel metastatic drivers.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Maringa Githaka
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
| | - Leila Pirayeshfard
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada
| | - Ing Swie Goping
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada; Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2H7, Canada.
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7
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cRel and Wnt5a/Frizzled 5 Receptor-Mediated Inflammatory Regulation Reveal Novel Neuroprotectin D1 Targets for Neuroprotection. Cell Mol Neurobiol 2023; 43:1077-1096. [PMID: 35622188 PMCID: PMC10006067 DOI: 10.1007/s10571-022-01231-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Wnt5a triggers inflammatory responses and damage via NFkB/p65 in retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells undergoing uncompensated oxidative stress (UOS) and in experimental ischemic stroke. We found that Wnt5a-Clathrin-mediated uptake leads to NFkB/p65 activation and that Wnt5a is secreted in an exosome-independent fashion. We uncovered that docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and its derivative, Neuroprotectin D1 (NPD1), upregulate c-Rel expression that, as a result, blunts Wnt5a abundance by competing with NFkB/p65 on the Wnt5a promoter A. Wnt5a increases in ischemic stroke penumbra and blood, while DHA reduces Wnt5a abundance with concomitant neuroprotection. Peptide inhibitor of Wnt5a binding, Box5, is also neuroprotective. DHA-decreased Wnt5a expression is concurrent with a drop in NFkB-driven inflammatory cytokine expression, revealing mechanisms after stroke, as in RPE cells exposed to UOS. Limiting the Wnt5a activity via Box5 reduces stroke size, suggesting neuroprotection pertinent to onset and progression of retinal degenerations and stroke consequences. NPD1 disrupts Wnt5a feedback loop at two sites: (1) decreasing FZD5, thus Wnt5a internalization, and (2) by enhancing cREL activity, which competes with p65/NFkB downstream endocytosis. As a result, Wnt5a expression is reduced, and so is its inflammatory signaling in RPE cells and neurons in ischemic stroke.
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8
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WNT5A in tumor development and progression: A comprehensive review. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 155:113599. [PMID: 36089446 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113599] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/18/2022] [Accepted: 08/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The investigation of tumor microenvironment (TME) is essential to better characterize the complex cellular crosstalk and to identify important immunological phenotypes and biomarkers. The niche is a crucial contributor to neoplasm initiation, maintenance and progression. Therefore, a deeper analysis of tumor surroundings could improve cancer diagnosis, prognosis and assertive treatment. Thus, the WNT family exerts a critical action in tumorigenesis of different types of neoplasms due to dysregulations in the TME. WNT5A, an evolutionary WNT member, is involved in several cellular and physiopathological processes, in addition to tissue homeostasis. The WNT5A protein exerts paradoxical effects while acting as both an oncogene or tumor suppressor by regulating several non-canonical signaling pathways, and consequently interfering in cell growth, cytoskeletal remodeling, migration and invasiveness. This review focuses on a thorough characterization of the role of WNT5A in neoplastic transformation and progression, which may help to understand the prognostic potentiality of WNT5A and its features as a therapeutic target in several cancers. Additionally, we herein summarized novel findings on the mechanisms by which WNT5A might favor tumorigenesis or suppression of cancer progression and discussed the recently developed treatment strategies using WNT5A as a protagonist.
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Gurgul I, Janczy-Cempa E, Mazuryk O, Lekka M, Łomzik M, Suzenet F, Gros PC, Brindell M. Inhibition of Metastasis by Polypyridyl Ru(II) Complexes through Modification of Cancer Cell Adhesion - In Vitro Functional and Molecular Studies. J Med Chem 2022; 65:10459-10470. [PMID: 35895090 PMCID: PMC9376949 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jmedchem.2c00580] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
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The effect of polypyridyl Ru(II) complexes on the ability
of cancer
cells to migrate and invade, two features important in the formation
of metastases, is evaluated. In vitro studies are
carried out on breast cancer cell lines, MDA-MB-231 and MCF-7, as
well as melanoma cell lines A2058 and A375. Three Ru(II) complexes
comprising two 4,7-diphenyl-1,10-phenanthroline (dip) ligands and
as a third ligand 2,2′-bipyridine (bpy), or its derivative
with either 4-[3-(2-nitro-1H-imidazol-1-yl)propyl] (bpy-NitroIm),
or 5-(4-{4′-methyl-[2,2′-bipyridine]-4-yl}but-1-yn-1-yl)pyridine-2-carbaldehyde
semicarbazone (bpy-SC) moiety attached are examined. The low sub-toxic
doses of the studied compounds greatly affected the cancer cells by
inhibiting cell detachment, migration, invasion, transmigration, and
re-adhesion, as well as increasing cell elasticity. The molecular
studies revealed that the Ru(II) polypyridyl complexes impact the
activity of the selected integrins and upregulate the expression of
focal adhesion components such as vinculin and paxillin, leading to
an increased number of focal adhesion contacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilona Gurgul
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Ewelina Janczy-Cempa
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Olga Mazuryk
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
| | - Małgorzata Lekka
- Department of Biophysical Microstructures, Institute of Nuclear Physics, Polish Academy of Sciences, PL-31342 Krakow, Poland
| | - Michał Łomzik
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland.,Department of Organic Chemistry, Faculty of Chemistry, University of Łódź, ul. Tamka 12, 91-403 Łódź, Poland
| | - Franck Suzenet
- Institute of Organic and Analytical Chemistry, University of Orléans, UMR-CNRS 7311, rue de Chartres, BP 6759, 45067 Orléans Cedex 2, France
| | | | - Małgorzata Brindell
- Faculty of Chemistry, Jagiellonian University in Krakow, Gronostajowa 2, 30-387 Krakow, Poland
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Zhao H, Ming T, Tang S, Ren S, Yang H, Liu M, Tao Q, Xu H. Wnt signaling in colorectal cancer: pathogenic role and therapeutic target. Mol Cancer 2022; 21:144. [PMID: 35836256 PMCID: PMC9281132 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-022-01616-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 266] [Impact Index Per Article: 133.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background The Wnt signaling pathway is a complex network of protein interactions that functions most commonly in embryonic development and cancer, but is also involved in normal physiological processes in adults. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway regulates cell pluripotency and determines the differentiation fate of cells during development. The canonical Wnt signaling pathway (also known as the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway) is a recognized driver of colon cancer and one of the most representative signaling pathways. As a functional effector molecule of Wnt signaling, the modification and degradation of β-catenin are key events in the Wnt signaling pathway and the development and progression of colon cancer. Therefore, the Wnt signaling pathway plays an important role in the pathogenesis of diseases, especially the pathogenesis of colorectal cancer (CRC). Objective Inhibit the Wnt signaling pathway to explore the therapeutic targets of colorectal cancer. Methods Based on studying the Wnt pathway, master the biochemical processes related to the Wnt pathway, and analyze the relevant targets when drugs or inhibitors act on the Wnt pathway, to clarify the medication ideas of drugs or inhibitors for the treatment of diseases, especially colorectal cancer. Results Wnt signaling pathways include: Wnt/β-catenin or canonical Wnt signaling pathway, planar cell polarity (Wnt-PCP) pathway and Wnt-Ca2+ signaling pathway. The Wnt signaling pathway is closely related to cancer cell proliferation, stemness, apoptosis, autophagy, metabolism, inflammation and immunization, microenvironment, resistance, ion channel, heterogeneity, EMT/migration/invasion/metastasis. Drugs/phytochemicals and molecular preparations for the Wnt pathway of CRC treatment have now been developed. Wnt inhibitors are also commonly used clinically for the treatment of CRC. Conclusion The development of drugs/phytochemicals and molecular inhibitors targeting the Wnt pathway can effectively treat colorectal cancer clinically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Tianqi Ming
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Shun Tang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Shan Ren
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Han Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Maolun Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Qiu Tao
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China
| | - Haibo Xu
- State Key Laboratory of Southwestern Chinese Medicine Resources, Department of Pharmacology, Chengdu University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Chengdu, 611137, China.
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11
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Xie YK, Luo H, Zhang SX, Chen XY, Guo R, Qiu XY, Liu S, Wu H, Chen WB, Zhen XH, Ma Q, Tian JL, Li S, Chen X, Han Q, Duan S, Shen C, Yang F, Xu ZZ. GPR177 in A-fiber sensory neurons drives diabetic neuropathic pain via WNT-mediated TRPV1 activation. Sci Transl Med 2022; 14:eabh2557. [PMID: 35385340 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abh2557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Diabetic neuropathic pain (DNP) is a common and devastating complication in patients with diabetes. The mechanisms mediating DNP are not completely elucidated, and effective treatments are lacking. A-fiber sensory neurons have been shown to mediate the development of mechanical allodynia in neuropathic pain, yet the molecular basis underlying the contribution of A-fiber neurons is still unclear. Here, we report that the orphan G protein-coupled receptor 177 (GPR177) in A-fiber neurons drives DNP via WNT5a-mediated activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid receptor-1 (TRPV1) ion channel. GPR177 is mainly expressed in large-diameter A-fiber dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and required for the development of DNP in mice. Mechanistically, we found that GPR177 mediated the secretion of WNT5a from A-fiber DRG neurons into cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which was necessary for the maintenance of DNP. Extracellular perfusion of WNT5a induced rapid currents in both TRPV1-expressing heterologous cells and nociceptive DRG neurons. Computer simulations revealed that WNT5a has the potential to bind the residues at the extracellular S5-S6 loop of TRPV1. Using a peptide able to disrupt the predicted WNT5a/TRPV1 interaction suppressed DNP- and WNT5a-induced neuropathic pain symptoms in rodents. We confirmed GPR177/WNT5A coexpression in human DRG neurons and WNT5A secretion in CSF from patients with DNP. Thus, our results reveal a role for WNT5a as an endogenous and potent TRPV1 agonist, and the GPR177-WNT5a-TRPV1 axis as a driver of DNP pathogenesis in rodents. Our findings identified a potential analgesic target that might relieve neuropathic pain in patients with diabetes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ya-Kai Xie
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Hao Luo
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Shan-Xin Zhang
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xiao-Ying Chen
- Department of Biophysics, and Kidney Disease Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Ran Guo
- Department of Pain, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Xiao-Yun Qiu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Shuai Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Hui Wu
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Wen-Bo Chen
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Xing-Hua Zhen
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Qiang Ma
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Jin-Lan Tian
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Shun Li
- Department of Pain, Zhejiang Provincial People's Hospital, Hangzhou Medical College, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310014, China
| | - Xinzhong Chen
- Department of Anesthesia, Women's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Qingjian Han
- State Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology and MOE Frontier Center for Brain Science, Institutes of Brain Science, Fudan University, Shanghai 200433, China
| | - Shumin Duan
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Chengyong Shen
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Fan Yang
- Department of Biophysics, and Kidney Disease Center of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
| | - Zhen-Zhong Xu
- Department of Neurobiology and Department of Anesthesiology of First Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China.,NHC and CAMS Key Laboratory of Medical Neurobiology, MOE Frontier Science Center for Brain Research and Brain-Machine Integration, School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310058, China
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12
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Fan L, Li W, Ma J, Cheng M, Xie L, Ye Z, Xie Y, Wang B, Yu L, Zhou Y, Chen W. Benzo(a)pyrene induces airway epithelial injury through Wnt5a-mediated non-canonical Wnt-YAP/TAZ signaling. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 815:151965. [PMID: 34838920 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.151965] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2021] [Revised: 11/10/2021] [Accepted: 11/21/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Wnt5a is a key mediator of non-canonical Wnt signaling, and an early indicator of epithelial injury and lung dysfunction. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) could induce acute pulmonary pathogenesis, of which the underlying mechanism remains unclear. To elucidate the potential role of Wnt5a-mediated non-canonical Wnt-YAP/TAZ signaling in the lung injury induced by short-term exposure of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP, a representative PAHs), intratracheally instilled mouse model was used and further interfered with its Wnt5a level by small molecule antagonists and agonists. Our data revealed that BaP exposure induced the lung inflammatory response and reduced the expression of Clara cell secretory protein (CC16) in a dose-dependent manner. More importantly, the activation of Wnt5a and downstream YAP/TAZ were accompanied with the enhanced release of epithelial-derived thymic stromal lymphopoietin and interleukin-33, which acted as pro-inflammatory cytokines. Functionally, inhibition of Wnt5a attenuated the BaP-induced inflammation and recuperated CC16 expression, as well as suppressed the epithelial cytokines release. Whereas promoting Wnt5a expression affected the toxic effects of BaP oppositely. Our findings together suggest that Wnt5a is a potential endogenous regulator in lung inflammation and airway epithelial injury, and Wnt5a-YAP/TAZ signaling contributes to lung dysfunction in acute exposure to BaP.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lieyang Fan
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Wei Li
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; School of Public Health, Xuzhou Medical University, Xuzhou 221004, China
| | - Jixuan Ma
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Man Cheng
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Li Xie
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Zi Ye
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yujia Xie
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Linling Yu
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China
| | - Yun Zhou
- School of Public Health, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510120, China.
| | - Weihong Chen
- Department of Occupational & Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China; Key Laboratory of Environment and Health, Ministry of Education & Ministry of Environmental Protection, and State Key Laboratory of Environmental Health (Incubating), School of Public Health, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, China.
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13
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Ji XF, Fan YC, Sun F, Wang JW, Wang K. Noncanonical Wnt5a/JNK Signaling Contributes to the Development of D-Gal/LPS-Induced Acute Liver Failure. Inflammation 2022; 45:1362-1373. [PMID: 35098406 DOI: 10.1007/s10753-022-01627-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 01/12/2022] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
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14
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Exosomes isolated during dopaminergic neuron differentiation suppressed neuronal inflammation in a rodent model of Parkinson's disease. Neurosci Lett 2021; 771:136414. [PMID: 34954117 DOI: 10.1016/j.neulet.2021.136414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2021] [Revised: 12/15/2021] [Accepted: 12/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Our previous investigation showed Wnt signal pathway was significantly activated during DA neuron differentiation of epiblast-derived stem cells. In this study, we next attempt to examine the therapeutic potential of the purified exosomes derived bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (BMSCs) by administrating exosomes into the rat striatum of parkinson's disease (PD) animal model. Results revealed that the protein levels of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-1β, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), and reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the substantia nigra of PD rats were down regulated after injection of BMSC induced-Exosomes into the striatum of PD model compared to BMSC quiescent-Exosomes. In addition, the expression of ionized calcium binding adaptor molecule 1 (Iba1) mRNA was significantly decreased, while the expression of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) mRNA was increased after injection of BMSC induced-Exosomes. Injection of BMSC induced-Exosomes into the striatum rescued the rotation behavior and climbing speed in the PD rats. More importantly, Wnt5a was found to be enriched in BMSC induced Exosomes, which could be effectively transferred to the substantia nigra of PD rats. In conclusion, these findings demonstrated that exosomes isolated during dopaminergic neuron differentiation could rescue the pathogenic features of Parkinson's disease by reshaping the inflammatory microenvironment in the substantia nigra and repairing the injury to DA nerves.
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15
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Ning X, Zhang D, Wang Y, Huo J, Huang Y, Guo Y, Li Z, Zhang Y. The Levels of Wnt5a and Its Receptors Frizzled5 and Frizzled2 as Immunohistochemical Biomarkers of Severity of Psoriasis. Clin Cosmet Investig Dermatol 2021; 14:1651-1656. [PMID: 34785924 PMCID: PMC8590942 DOI: 10.2147/ccid.s334866] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2021] [Accepted: 10/18/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Psoriasis is a systemic, chronic and inflammatory condition. The exact pathogenesis is unclear. The abnormal expression of Wnt5a pathway in psoriasis vulgaris has been confirmed. Whether it is related to the severity of psoriasis is unclear. Methods Thirty-eight skin lesions from psoriasis vulgaris patients and 22 healthy adult skin tissues were taken. The semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry score of Wnt5a, Frizzled5 and Frizzled2 was evaluated under a microscope by two independent dermatologists. Psoriasis area and severity index (PASI) score system was used to evaluate the disease severity. Results The average PASI score of the patients was 16.25 ± 7.8, and the average duration of disease was 19.6 ± 10.4 months. Wnt5a, Frizzled5 and Frizzled2 were highly expressed in psoriasis lesions. The semi-quantitative immunohistochemistry scores of Wnt5a, Frizzled5 and Frizzled2 were positively correlated with PASI scores (r = 0.71, r = 0.46, r = 0.65, respectively, all P-value < 0.01), but not correlated with duration of disease (r = 0.11, r = 0.17, r = 0.29, respectively, all P-value > 0.05). There were significant positive correlations between Wnt5a and Frizzled5 (r = 0.57, P-value < 0.01), as well as Wnt5a and Frizzled2 (r = 0.59, P-value < 0.01). Conclusion Wnt5a and its receptors play an important role in pathogenesis of psoriasis vulgaris and are positively correlated with the severity of psoriasis, and may be one of the immunohistochemical predictors of the severity of the disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoying Ning
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Dingwei Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Jia Huo
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Huang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Ying Guo
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhengxiao Li
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Yanfei Zhang
- Department of Dermatology, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi'an Jiaotong University, Xian, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
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16
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Astudillo P. An emergent Wnt5a/YAP/TAZ regulatory circuit and its possible role in cancer. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 125:45-54. [PMID: 34764023 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2021.10.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Accepted: 10/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Wnt5a is a ligand that plays several roles in development, homeostasis, and disease. A growing body of evidence indicates that Wnt5a is involved in cancer progression. Despite extensive research in this field, our knowledge about how Wnt5a is precisely involved in cancer is still incomplete. It is usually thought that certain combinations of Frizzled receptors and co-receptors might explain the observed effects of Wnt5a either as a tumor suppressor or by promoting migration and invasion. While accepting this 'receptor context' model, this review proposes that Wnt5a is integrated within a larger regulatory circuit involving β-catenin, YAP/TAZ, and LATS1/2. Remarkably, WNT5A and YAP1 are transcriptionally regulated by the Hippo and Wnt pathways, respectively, and might form a regulatory circuit acting through LATS kinases and secreted Wnt/β-catenin inhibitors, including Wnt5a itself. Therefore, understanding the precise role of Wnt5a and YAP in cancer requires a systems biology perspective.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Astudillo
- Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile.
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17
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Long-Term Hypoxia Maintains a State of Dedifferentiation and Enhanced Stemness in Fetal Cardiovascular Progenitor Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22179382. [PMID: 34502291 PMCID: PMC8431563 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22179382] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2021] [Revised: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 08/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-stage mammalian embryos survive within a low oxygen tension environment and develop into fully functional, healthy organisms despite this hypoxic stress. This suggests that hypoxia plays a regulative role in fetal development that influences cell mobilization, differentiation, proliferation, and survival. The long-term hypoxic environment is sustained throughout gestation. Elucidation of the mechanisms by which cardiovascular stem cells survive and thrive under hypoxic conditions would benefit cell-based therapies where stem cell survival is limited in the hypoxic environment of the infarcted heart. The current study addressed the impact of long-term hypoxia on fetal Islet-1+ cardiovascular progenitor cell clones, which were isolated from sheep housed at high altitude. The cells were then cultured in vitro in 1% oxygen and compared with control Islet-1+ cardiovascular progenitor cells maintained at 21% oxygen. RT-PCR, western blotting, flow cytometry, and migration assays evaluated adaptation to long term hypoxia in terms of survival, proliferation, and signaling. Non-canonical Wnt, Notch, AKT, HIF-2α and Yap1 transcripts were induced by hypoxia. The hypoxic niche environment regulates these signaling pathways to sustain the dedifferentiation and survival of fetal cardiovascular progenitor cells.
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18
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Jobe NP, Åsberg L, Andersson T. Reduced WNT5A signaling in melanoma cells favors an amoeboid mode of invasion. Mol Oncol 2021; 15:1835-1848. [PMID: 33969605 PMCID: PMC8253101 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2020] [Revised: 02/25/2021] [Accepted: 04/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells invade and spread via either a mesenchymal or an amoeboid mode of migration. Amoeboid tumor cells have a rounded morphology and pronounced RhoA activity. Here, we investigate how WNT5A signaling, a tumor promotor in melanoma, relates to Rho GTPase activity and amoeboid migration. We compared melanoma cells with low (HTB63 cells) and high (WM852 cells) WNT5A expression. HTB63 cells exhibited an amoeboid morphology and had higher RhoA activity but lower invasiveness than WM852 cells in a three‐dimensional (3D) collagen matrix. We next explored the relationships between WNT5A, morphology, and invasive behavior. WNT5A knockdown impaired Rho GTPase Cdc42 activity, resulting in reduced invasion of amoeboid and mesenchymal melanoma cells. Interestingly, knockdown of WNT5A or inhibition of its secretion in WM852 cells expressing wild‐type BRAF also led to increased RhoA activity via decreased RND3 expression, resulting in predominantly amoeboid morphology. In contrast, such treatments had the opposite effects on RND3 expression and RhoA activity in HTB63 cells expressing the active BRAFV600 mutation. However, treatment of HTB63 cells with a BRAF inhibitor made them respond to WNT5A knockdown in a similar manner as WM852 cells expressing wild‐type BRAF. We next found that dual targeting of WNT5A and RhoA more effectively reduced melanoma cell invasion than targeting either protein individually. Taken together, our results suggest that low WNT5A signaling in melanoma cells promotes a rounded amoeboid type of invasion, which quite likely serves as a compensatory response to decreased WNT5A/Cdc42‐driven invasion. This phenomenon partially explains the enduring melanoma cell invasion observed after impaired WNT5A signaling and has therapeutic implications. Our results suggest that dual targeting of WNT5A and RhoA signaling is a more effective strategy for controlling the invasion of BRAF wild‐type and BRAFV600 mutated melanomas treated with a BRAF inhibitor than targeting either of the proteins individually.
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Affiliation(s)
- Njainday Pulo Jobe
- Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Lisa Åsberg
- Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Tommy Andersson
- Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
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19
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Astudillo P. A Non-canonical Wnt Signature Correlates With Lower Survival in Gastric Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:633675. [PMID: 33869179 PMCID: PMC8047116 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.633675] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Genetic evidence suggests a role for the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in gastric cancer. However, Wnt5a, regarded as a prototypical non-canonical Wnt ligand, has also been extensively associated with this disease. Therefore, the roles of the Wnt signaling pathway in gastric cancer initiation and progression, and particularly the precise mechanisms by which the non-canonical Wnt pathway might promote the development and progression of gastric cancer, are not entirely well understood. This article analyzes publicly available gene and protein expression data and reveals the existence of a WNT5A/FZD2/FZD7/ROR2 signature, which correlates with tumor-infiltrating and mesenchymal cell marker expression. High expression of FZD7 and ROR2 correlates with a shared gene and protein expression profile, which in turn correlates with poor prognosis. In summary, the findings presented in this article provide an updated view of the relative contributions of the Wnt/β-catenin and non-canonical Wnt pathways in gastric cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Astudillo
- Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Ciencias Biomédicas, Universidad Autónoma de Chile, Santiago, Chile
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20
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Azimian-Zavareh V, Dehghani-Ghobadi Z, Ebrahimi M, Mirzazadeh K, Nazarenko I, Hossein G. Wnt5A modulates integrin expression in a receptor-dependent manner in ovarian cancer cells. Sci Rep 2021; 11:5885. [PMID: 33723319 PMCID: PMC7970989 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-85356-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt5A signals through various receptors that confer versatile biological functions. Here, we used Wnt5A overexpressing human ovarian SKOV-3 and OVCAR-3 stable clones for assessing integrin expression, cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and the ability of multicellular aggregates (MCAs) formation. We found here, that Wnt5A regulates differently the expression of its receptors in the stable Wnt5A overexpressing clones. The expression levels of Frizzled (FZD)-2 and -5, were increased in different clones. However ROR-1, -2 expression levels were differently regulated in clones. Wnt5A overexpressing clones showed increased cell proliferation, migration, and clonogenicity. Moreover, Wnt5A overexpressing SKOV-3 clone showed increased MCAs formation ability. Cell invasion had been increased in OVCAR-3-derived clones, while this was decreased in SKOV-3-derived clone. Importantly, αv integrin expression levels were increased in all assessed clones, accompanied by increased cell attachment to fibronectin and focal adhesion kinase activity. Moreover, the treatment of clones with Box5 as a Wnt5A/FZD5 antagonist abrogates ITGAV increase, cell proliferation, migration, and their attachment to fibronectin. Accordingly, we observed significantly higher expression levels of ITGAV and ITGB3 in human high-grade serous ovarian cancer specimens and ITGAV correlated positively with Wnt5A in metastatic serous type ovarian cancer. In summary, we hypothesize here, that Wnt5A/FZD-5 signaling modulate αv integrin expression levels that could be associated with ovarian cancer cell proliferation, migration, and fibronectin attachment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vajihe Azimian-Zavareh
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran.,Applied Physiology Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
| | - Zeinab Dehghani-Ghobadi
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Marzieh Ebrahimi
- Department of Stem Cells and Developmental Biology, Cell Science Research Center, Royan Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Technology, ACECR, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Kian Mirzazadeh
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Irina Nazarenko
- Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ghamartaj Hossein
- Department of Animal Biology, School of Biology, University College of Science, University of Tehran, Tehran, Iran. .,Institute for Infection Prevention and Hospital Epidemiology, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, 79106, Freiburg, Germany.
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21
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Lopez-Bergami P, Barbero G. The emerging role of Wnt5a in the promotion of a pro-inflammatory and immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2021; 39:933-952. [PMID: 32435939 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-020-09878-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Wnt5a is the prototypical activator of the non-canonical Wnt pathways, and its overexpression has been implicated in the progression of several tumor types by promoting cell motility, invasion, EMT, and metastasis. Recent evidences have revealed a novel role of Wnt5a in the phosphorylation of the NF-κB subunit p65 and the activation of the NF-κB pathway in cancer cells. In this article, we review the molecular mechanisms and mediators defining a Wnt5a/NF-κB signaling pathway and propose that the aberrant expression of Wnt5a in some tumors drives a Wnt5a/NF-κB/IL-6/STAT3 positive feedback loop that amplifies the effects of Wnt5a. The evidences discussed here suggest that Wnt5a has a double effect on the tumor microenvironment. First, it activates an autocrine ROR1/Akt/p65 pathway that promotes inflammation and chemotaxis of immune cells. Then, Wnt5a activates a TLR/MyD88/p50 pathway exclusively in myelomonocytic cells promoting the synthesis of the anti-inflammatory cytokine IL-10 and a tolerogenic phenotype. As a result of these mechanisms, Wnt5a plays a negative role on immune cell function that contributes to an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment and would contribute to resistance to immunotherapy. Finally, we summarized the development of different strategies targeting either Wnt5a or the Wnt5a receptor ROR1 that can be helpful for cancer therapy by contributing to generate a more immunostimulatory tumor microenvironment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Lopez-Bergami
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimonides, Hidalgo 775, Buenos Aires, Argentina. .,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Gastón Barbero
- Centro de Estudios Biomédicos, Básicos, Aplicados y Desarrollo (CEBBAD), Universidad Maimonides, Hidalgo 775, Buenos Aires, Argentina.,Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONICET), Buenos Aires, Argentina
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22
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Yadav V, Jobe N, Mehdawi L, Andersson T. Targeting Oncogenic WNT Signalling with WNT Signalling-Derived Peptides. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 269:279-303. [PMID: 34455485 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_528] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
WNT signalling is known to be a crucial regulator of embryonic development and tissue homeostasis. Aberrant expression of WNT signalling elements or their mutations has been implicated in carcinogenesis and/or the progression of several different cancer types. Investigations of how WNT signalling affects carcinogenesis and cancer progression have revealed that it has essential roles in the regulation of proliferation, apoptosis, and cancer stemness and in angiogenesis and metastasis. Consequently, WNT-targeted therapy has gained much attention and has resulted in the development of several small molecules, the majority of which act as inhibitors of different WNT signalling events. However, although numerous inhibitory WNT signalling drug candidates have been included in clinical trials, no significant breakthroughs have been made. This could possibly be due to problems with inefficient binding to the target, compensatory signalling mechanisms and toxicity towards normal cells. Therapeutic peptides targeting WNT signalling in cancer cells have been developed as an alternative approach, with the hope that they might overcome the limitations reported for small WNT inhibitory molecules. In this chapter, we describe recent developments made in the design and characterization of WNT signalling-derived peptides aiming at their use as alternative cancer therapeutics and/or combined adjuvant therapy to conventional therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vikas Yadav
- Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Njainday Jobe
- Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Lubna Mehdawi
- Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Tommy Andersson
- Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Lund University, Skåne University Hospital, Malmö, Sweden.
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23
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Sonavane PR, Willert K. Controlling Wnt Signaling Specificity and Implications for Targeting WNTs Pharmacologically. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 269:3-28. [PMID: 34463853 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signaling is critical for proper development of the embryo and for tissue homeostasis in the adult. Activation of this signaling cascade is initiated by binding of the secreted Wnts to their receptors. With the mammalian genome encoding multiple Wnts and Wnt receptors, a longstanding question in the field has been how Wnt-receptor specificities are achieved. Emerging from these studies is a picture of exquisite control over Wnt protein production, secretion, distribution, and receptor interactions, culminating in activation of downstream signaling cascades that control a myriad of biological processes. Here we discuss mechanisms by which Wnt protein activities are tuned and illustrate how the multiple layers of regulation can be leveraged for therapeutic interventions in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja R Sonavane
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Karl Willert
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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24
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Wang J, Feng D, Gao B. An Overview of Potential Therapeutic Agents Targeting WNT/PCP Signaling. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 269:175-213. [PMID: 34463852 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of the proto-oncogene Wnt1 (Int1) in 1982, WNT signaling has been identified as one of the most important pathways that regulates a wide range of fundamental developmental and physiological processes in multicellular organisms. The canonical WNT signaling pathway depends on the stabilization and translocation of β-catenin and plays important roles in development and homeostasis. The WNT/planar cell polarity (WNT/PCP) signaling, also known as one of the β-catenin-independent WNT pathways, conveys directional information to coordinate polarized cell behaviors. Similar to WNT/β-catenin signaling, disruption or aberrant activation of WNT/PCP signaling also underlies a variety of developmental defects and cancers. However, the pharmacological targeting of WNT/PCP signaling for therapeutic purposes remains largely unexplored. In this review, we briefly discuss WNT/PCP signaling in development and disease and summarize the known drugs/inhibitors targeting this pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jin Wang
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Di Feng
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Bo Gao
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Pokfulam, Hong Kong SAR, China.
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25
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Yang GJ, Wang W, Lei PM, Leung CH, Ma DL. A 7-methoxybicoumarin derivative selectively inhibits BRD4 BD2 for anti-melanoma therapy. Int J Biol Macromol 2020; 164:3204-3220. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2020.08.194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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26
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Ackers I, Szymanski C, Silver MJ, Malgor R. Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Induces WNT5A Signaling Activation in THP-1 Derived Macrophages and a Human Aortic Vascular Smooth Muscle Cell Line. Front Cardiovasc Med 2020; 7:567837. [PMID: 33330641 PMCID: PMC7710548 DOI: 10.3389/fcvm.2020.567837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2020] [Accepted: 10/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of atherosclerosis is complex, evolves, and involves many cell types. Macrophages and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are critically involved in atherosclerosis development and progression. Several studies have shown that WNT5A protein is abundantly expressed in human atherosclerotic lesions; however, the mechanism and role of WNT signaling pathway activation is not clearly known. Using THP-1 derived macrophages, and human aortic VSMC cells, we evaluated in vitro how oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and WNT5A signaling interact in these two cell lines. We used western blot, scratch assay, metabolic proliferation assay, as well as immunostaining to analyze the effect of Wnt signaling activation. The results demonstrated that oxLDL, as well as WNT5A (control), induced Disheveled-2 (DVL2) activation and Kif26b degradation, indicating activation of non-canonical Wnt signaling. We found that oxLDL and WNT5A induced FZD5-ROR2 co-localization at the cellular membrane in vitro in THP-1 derived macrophages. Box5 (FZD5 receptor antagonist) inhibited oxLDL-induced DVL2/JNK activation secondary to newly secreted WNT protein from THP-1 derived macrophages. We found that WNT3A (canonical Wnt) and WNT5A showed different roles in this VSMC cell line. These findings indicate that WNT5A is upregulated by oxLDL, promotes foam cell formation, and affects VSMC phenotype and migration in these two cell lines. Also, in these cell lines FZD5 signaling seems to be necessary for lipid accumulation and, through this mechanism, WNT5A could modulate foam cell formation. Thus, our results suggest that WNT5A may contribute to the pathogenesis of vascular disease through modulating macrophage and VSMC behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Ackers
- Osteopathic Heritage Foundation, Translational Biomedical Sciences Program, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
| | - Candice Szymanski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
| | | | - Ramiro Malgor
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
- The Diabetes Institute, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Ohio University, Athens, OH, United States
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27
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Luo C, Balsa E, Perry EA, Liang J, Tavares CD, Vazquez F, Widlund HR, Puigserver P. H3K27me3-mediated PGC1α gene silencing promotes melanoma invasion through WNT5A and YAP. J Clin Invest 2020; 130:853-862. [PMID: 31929186 DOI: 10.1172/jci130038] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2019] [Accepted: 10/30/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Oncogene-targeted and immune checkpoint therapies have revolutionized the clinical management of malignant melanoma and now offer hope to patients with advanced disease. Intimately connected to patients' overall clinical risk is whether the initial primary melanoma lesion will metastasize and cause advanced disease, but underlying mechanisms are not entirely understood. A subset of melanomas display heightened peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ coactivator 1-α (PGC1α) expression that maintains cell survival cues by promoting mitochondrial function, but also suppresses metastatic spread. Here, we show that PGC1α expression in melanoma cells was silenced by chromatin modifications that involve promoter H3K27 trimethylation. Pharmacological EZH2 inhibition diminished H3K27me3 histone markers, increased PGC1α expression, and functionally suppressed invasion within PGC1α-silenced melanoma cells. Mechanistically, PGC1α silencing activated transcription factor 12 (TCF12), to increase expression of WNT5A, which in turn stabilized YAP protein levels to promote melanoma migration and metastasis. Accordingly, inhibition of components of this transcription-signaling axis, including TCF12, WNT5A, or YAP, blocked melanoma migration in vitro and metastasis in vivo. These results indicate that epigenetic control of melanoma metastasis involved altered expression of PGC1α and an association with the inherent metabolic state of the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chi Luo
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Eduardo Balsa
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elizabeth A Perry
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jiaxin Liang
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Clint D Tavares
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | | | - Hans R Widlund
- Department of Dermatology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pere Puigserver
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, Massachusetts, USA.,Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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28
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Trivedi G, Inoue D, Chen C, Bitner L, Chung YR, Taylor J, Gönen M, Wess J, Abdel-Wahab O, Zhang L. Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor regulates self-renewal of early erythroid progenitors. Sci Transl Med 2020; 11:11/511/eaaw3781. [PMID: 31554738 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.aaw3781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2018] [Revised: 05/22/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Adult stem and progenitor cells are uniquely capable of self-renewal, and targeting this process represents a potential therapeutic opportunity. The early erythroid progenitor, burst-forming unit erythroid (BFU-E), has substantial self-renewal potential and serves as a key cell type for the treatment of anemias. However, our understanding of mechanisms underlying BFU-E self-renewal is extremely limited. Here, we found that the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor, cholinergic receptor, muscarinic 4 (CHRM4), pathway regulates BFU-E self-renewal and that pharmacological inhibition of CHRM4 corrects anemias of myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), aging, and hemolysis. Genetic down-regulation of CHRM4 or pharmacologic inhibition of CHRM4 using the selective antagonist PD102807 promoted BFU-E self-renewal, whereas deletion of Chrm4 increased erythroid cell production under stress conditions in vivo. Moreover, muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists corrected anemias in mouse models of MDS, aging, and hemolysis in vivo, extending the survival of mice with MDS relative to that of controls. The effects of muscarinic receptor antagonism on promoting expansion of BFU-Es were mediated by cyclic AMP induction of the transcription factor CREB, whose targets up-regulated key regulators of BFU-E self-renewal. On the basis of these data, we propose a model of hematopoietic progenitor self-renewal through a cholinergic-mediated "hematopoietic reflex" and identify muscarinic acetylcholine receptor antagonists as potential therapies for anemias associated with MDS, aging, and hemolysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaurang Trivedi
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, One Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY 11724, USA
| | - Daichi Inoue
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Cynthia Chen
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, One Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY 11724, USA
| | - Lillian Bitner
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Young Rock Chung
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Justin Taylor
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA.,Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Mithat Gönen
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Jürgen Wess
- Molecular Signaling Section, Laboratory of Bioorganic Chemistry, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, Bethesda, MD 20814, USA
| | - Omar Abdel-Wahab
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA. .,Leukemia Service, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Lingbo Zhang
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, One Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, New York, NY 11724, USA.
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Abstract
Ca2+ is a ubiquitous and dynamic second messenger molecule that is induced by many factors including receptor activation, environmental factors, and voltage, leading to pleiotropic effects on cell function including changes in migration, metabolism and transcription. As such, it is not surprising that aberrant regulation of Ca2+ signals can lead to pathological phenotypes, including cancer progression. However, given the highly context-specific nature of Ca2+-dependent changes in cell function, delineation of its role in cancer has been a challenge. Herein, we discuss the distinct roles of Ca2+ signaling within and between each type of cancer, including consideration of the potential of therapeutic strategies targeting these signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott Gross
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Pranava Mallu
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Hinal Joshi
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Bryant Schultz
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Christina Go
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Jonathan Soboloff
- Fels Institute for Cancer Research and Molecular Biology, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States; Department of Medical Genetics & Molecular Biochemistry, Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
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30
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Liu X, Hao Y, Li Z, Zhou J, Zhu H, Bu G, Liu Z, Hou X, Zhang X, Miao YL. Maternal Cytokines CXCL12, VEGFA, and WNT5A Promote Porcine Oocyte Maturation via MAPK Activation and Canonical WNT Inhibition. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:578. [PMID: 32733887 PMCID: PMC7358312 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.00578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Maternal regulatory factors endow the oocyte with developmental competence in vivo, which might be absent in current in vitro maturation (IVM) systems, thereby compromising oocyte quality. In the present study, by employing RNA sequencing data analysis, we expect to identify potential contributing factors to support porcine oocyte maturation through binding to their receptors on the oolemma. Here, C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 12 (CXCL12), vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGFA), and Wingless-type MMTV integration site family member 5A (WNT5A), termed CVW, are selected and confirmed to be important maternal cytokines for porcine oocyte maturation. Combined supplementation of CVW promotes the nuclear maturation percentage from 57.2% in controls to 75.9%. More importantly, these maternal cytokines improve the developmental potential of matured oocytes by parthenogenesis, fertilization, and cloning, as their blastocyst formation efficiencies and total cell numbers are increased. CVW supplementation also enlarges perivitelline space and promotes cumulus expansion, which results in a more complete transzonal projection retraction on the zona pellucida, and a reduced incidence of polyspermy in fertilized oocytes. Meanwhile, inhibiting the CVW receptor-mediated signaling pathways severely impairs oocyte meiotic resumption and cumulus expansion during IVM. We further determine that maturation improvement by CVW is achieved through activating the MAPK pathway in advance and inhibiting the canonical WNT pathway at the end of the IVM period. These findings provide a new combination of three cytokines to promote the porcine IVM process, which also holds potential to be used in human assisted reproduction technologies as well as in other species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xin Liu
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Yuchen Hao
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhekun Li
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Jilong Zhou
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Hongmei Zhu
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Guowei Bu
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Zhiting Liu
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China
| | - Xudong Hou
- College of Life Science and Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Xia Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
| | - Yi-Liang Miao
- Institute of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, College of Animal Science and Veterinary Medicine, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China.,Key Laboratory of Agricultural Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction (Huazhong Agricultural University), Ministry of Education, Wuhan, China.,The Cooperative Innovation Center for Sustainable Pig Production, Huazhong Agricultural University, Wuhan, China
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31
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Spinal Wnt5a Plays a Key Role in Spinal Dendritic Spine Remodeling in Neuropathic and Inflammatory Pain Models and in the Proalgesic Effects of Peripheral Wnt3a. J Neurosci 2020; 40:6664-6677. [PMID: 32616667 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.2942-19.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2019] [Revised: 04/21/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling represents a highly versatile signaling system, which plays critical roles in developmental morphogenesis as well as synaptic physiology in adult life and is implicated in a variety of neural disorders. Recently, we demonstrated that Wnt3a is able to recruit multiple noncanonical signaling pathways to alter peripheral sensory neuron function in a nociceptive modality-specific manner. Furthermore, several studies recently reported an important role for Wnt5a acting via canonical and noncanonical signaling in spinal processing of nociception in a number of pathologic pain disorders. Here, using diverse molecular, genetic, and behavioral approaches in mouse models of pain in vivo, we report a novel role for Wnt5a signaling in nociceptive modulation at the structural level. In models of chronic pain, using male and female mice, we found that Wnt5a is released spinally from peripheral sensory neurons, where it recruits the tyrosine kinase receptors Ror2 and Ryk to modulate dendritic spine rearrangement. Blocking the Wnt5a-Ryk/Ror2 axis in spinal dorsal horn neurons prevented activity-dependent dendritic spine remodeling and significantly reduced mechanical hypersensitivity induced by peripheral injury as well as inflammation. Moreover, we observed that peripheral Wnt3a signaling triggers the release of Wnt5a in the spinal cord, and inhibition of spinal Wnt5a signaling attenuates the functional impact of peripheral Wnt3a on nociceptive sensitivity. In conclusion, this study reports a novel role for the Wnt signaling axis in coordinating peripheral and spinal sensitization and shows that targeting Wnt5a-Ryk/ROR2 signaling alleviates both structural and functional mechanisms of nociceptive hypersensitivity in models of chronic pain in vivo SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT There is a major need to elucidate molecular mechanisms underlying chronic pain disorders to develop novel therapeutic approaches. Wnt signaling represents a highly versatile signaling system, which plays critical roles during development and adult physiology, and it was implicated in several diseases, including chronic pain conditions. Using mouse models, our study identifies a novel role for Wnt5a signaling in nociceptive modulation at the spinal cord level. We observed that Wnt5a recruits Ror2 and Ryk receptors to enhance dendritic spine density, leading to nociceptive sensitization. Blocking the Wnt5a-Ryk/Ror2 interaction in the spinal dorsal horn prevented spine remodeling and significantly reduced inflammatory and neuropathic hypersensitivity. These findings provide proof-of-concept for targeting spinal Wnt signaling for alleviating nociceptive hypersensitivity in vivo.
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32
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Shi Y, Yuan S, Tang SJ. Morphine and HIV-1 gp120 cooperatively promote pathogenesis in the spinal pain neural circuit. Mol Pain 2020; 15:1744806919868380. [PMID: 31368399 PMCID: PMC6676262 DOI: 10.1177/1744806919868380] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Opioids are common analgesics for pain relief in HIV patients. Ironically, emerging clinical data indicate that repeated use of opioid analgesics in fact leads to a heightened chronic pain state. To understand the underlying pathogenic mechanism, we generated a mouse model to study the interactive effect of morphine and HIV-1 gp120 on pain pathogenesis. We simulated chronic pain in the model by showing that repeated morphine administrations potentiated HIV-1 intrathecal gp120-induced pain. Several spinal cellular and molecular pathologies that are implicated in the development of HIV-associated pain are exacerbated by morphine, including astroglial activation, pro-inflammatory cytokine expression and Wnt5a signaling. We further demonstrated that inhibition of Wnt5a not only reversed the glial activation and cytokine upregulation but also the exacerbation of gp120-induced pain. These studies establish a mouse model for the opioid exacerbation of HIV-associated pain and reveal potential cellular and molecular mechanisms by which morphine enhances the pain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuqiang Shi
- 1 Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Subo Yuan
- 1 Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
| | - Shao-Jun Tang
- 1 Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, USA
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33
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Mohapatra P, Yadav V, Toftdahl M, Andersson T. WNT5A-Induced Activation of the Protein Kinase C Substrate MARCKS Is Required for Melanoma Cell Invasion. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:cancers12020346. [PMID: 32033033 PMCID: PMC7072258 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12020346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/04/2020] [Revised: 01/21/2020] [Accepted: 01/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
WNT5A is a well-known mediator of melanoma cell invasion and metastasis via its ability to activate protein kinase C (PKC), which is monitored by phosphorylation of the endogenous PKC substrate myristoylated alanine-rich c-kinase substrate (MARCKS). However, a possible direct contribution of MARCKS in WNT5A-mediated melanoma cell invasion has not been investigated. Analyses of melanoma patient databases suggested that similar to WNT5A expression, MARCKS expression appears to be associated with increased metastasis. A relationship between the two is suggested by the findings that recombinant WNT5A (rWNT5A) induces both increased expression and phosphorylation of MARCKS, whereas WNT5A silencing does the opposite. Moreover, WNT5A-induced invasion of melanoma cells was blocked by siRNA targeting MARCKS, indicating a crucial role of MARCKS expression and/or its phosphorylation. Next, we employed a peptide inhibitor of MARCKS phosphorylation that did not affect MARCKS expression and found that it abolished WNT5A-induced melanoma cell invasion. Similarly, rWNT5A induced the accumulation of phosphorylated MARCKS in membrane protrusions at the leading edge of melanoma cells. Our results demonstrate that WNT5A-induced phosphorylation of MARCKS is not only an indicator of PKC activity but also a crucial regulator of the metastatic behavior of melanoma and therefore an attractive future antimetastatic target in melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Tommy Andersson
- Correspondence: (P.M.); (T.A.); Tel.: +46-40-391167 (P.M. & T.A.)
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Gonzalez-Fernandez C, González P, Rodríguez FJ. New insights into Wnt signaling alterations in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis: a potential therapeutic target? Neural Regen Res 2020; 15:1580-1589. [PMID: 32209757 PMCID: PMC7437582 DOI: 10.4103/1673-5374.276320] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis is a fatal neurodegenerative disorder characterized by upper and lower motor neuron degeneration, which leads to progressive paralysis of skeletal muscles and, ultimately, respiratory failure between 2–5 years after symptom onset. Unfortunately, currently accepted treatments for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis are extremely scarce and only provide modest benefit. As a consequence, a great effort is being done by the scientific community in order to achieve a better understanding of the different molecular and cellular processes that influence the progression and/or outcome of this neuropathological condition and, therefore, unravel new potential targets for therapeutic intervention. Interestingly, a growing number of experimental evidences have recently shown that, besides its well-known physiological roles in the developing and adult central nervous system, the Wnt family of proteins is involved in different neuropathological conditions, including amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. These proteins are able to modulate, at least, three different signaling pathways, usually known as canonical (β-catenin dependent) and non-canonical (β-catenin independent) signaling pathways. In the present review, we aim to provide a general overview of the current knowledge that supports the relationship between the Wnt family of proteins and its associated signaling pathways and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis pathology, as well as their possible mechanisms of action. Altogether, the currently available knowledge suggests that Wnt signaling modulation might be a promising therapeutic approach to ameliorate the histopathological and functional deficits associated to amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and thus improve the progression and outcome of this neuropathology.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Pau González
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos (HNP), Toledo, Spain
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An Autocrine Wnt5a Loop Promotes NF-κB Pathway Activation and Cytokine/Chemokine Secretion in Melanoma. Cells 2019; 8:cells8091060. [PMID: 31510045 PMCID: PMC6770184 DOI: 10.3390/cells8091060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt5a signaling has been implicated in the progression of cancer by regulating multiple cellular processes, largely migration and invasion, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and metastasis. Since Wnt5a signaling has also been involved in inflammatory processes in infectious and inflammatory diseases, we addressed the role of Wnt5a in regulating NF-κB, a pivotal mediator of inflammatory responses, in the context of cancer. The treatment of melanoma cells with Wnt5a induced phosphorylation of the NF-κB subunit p65 as well as IKK phosphorylation and IκB degradation. By using cDNA overexpression, RNA interference, and dominant negative mutants we determined that ROR1, Dvl2, and Akt (from the Wnt5a pathway) and TRAF2 and RIP (from the NF-κB pathway) are required for the Wnt5a/NF-κB crosstalk. Wnt5a also induced p65 nuclear translocation and increased NF-κB activity as evidenced by reporter assays and a NF-κB-specific upregulation of RelB, Bcl-2, and Cyclin D1. Further, stimulation of melanoma cells with Wnt5a increased the secretion of cytokines and chemokines, including IL-6, IL-8, IL-11, and IL-6 soluble receptor, MCP-1, and TNF soluble receptor I. The inhibition of endogenous Wnt5a demonstrated that an autocrine Wnt5a loop is a major regulator of the NF-κB pathway in melanoma. Taken together, these results indicate that Wnt5a activates the NF-κB pathway and has an immunomodulatory effect on melanoma through the secretion of cytokines and chemokines.
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Moran JD, Kim HH, Li Z, Moreno CS. SOX4 regulates invasion of bladder cancer cells via repression of WNT5a. Int J Oncol 2019; 55:359-370. [PMID: 31268162 PMCID: PMC6615919 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2018] [Accepted: 05/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Sry-Related HMG-BOX-4 (SOX4) is a developmental transcription factor that is overexpressed in as many as 23% of bladder cancer patients; however, the role of SOX4 in bladder cancer tumorigenesis is not yet well understood. Given the many roles of SOX4 in embryonic development and the context-dependent regulation of gene expression, in this study, we sought to determine the role of SOX4 in bladder cancer and to identify SOX4-regulated genes that may contribute to tumorigenesis. For this purpose, we employed a CRISPR interference (CRISPRi) method to transcriptionally repress SOX4 expression in T24 bladder cancer cell lines, 'rescued' these cell lines with the lentiviral-mediated expression of SOX4, and performed whole genome expression profiling. The cells in which SOX4 was knocked down (T24-SOX4-KD) exhibited decreased invasive capabilities, but no changes in migration or proliferation, whereas rescue experiments with SOX4 lentiviral vector restored the invasive phenotype. Gene expression profiling revealed 173 high confidence SOX4-regulated genes, including WNT5a as a potential target of repression by SOX4. Treatment of the T24-SOX4-KD cells with a WNT5a antagonist restored the invasive phenotype observed in the T24-scramble control cells and the SOX4 lentiviral-rescued cells. High WNT5a expression was associated with a decreased invasion and WNT5a expression inversely correlated with SOX4 expression, suggesting that SOX4 can negatively regulate WNT5a levels either directly or indirectly and that WNT5a likely plays a protective role against invasion in bladder cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Josue D Moran
- Graduate Program in Cancer Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Hannah H Kim
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Zhenghong Li
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Carlos S Moreno
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
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Gao Y, Wen Q, Hu S, Zhou X, Xiong W, Du X, Zhang L, Fu Y, Yang J, Zhou C, Zhang Z, Li Y, Liu H, Huang Y, Ma L. IL-36γ Promotes Killing of Mycobacterium tuberculosis by Macrophages via WNT5A-Induced Noncanonical WNT Signaling. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2019; 203:922-935. [PMID: 31235551 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1900169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Accepted: 06/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mycobacterium tuberculosis, which primarily infects mononuclear phagocytes, remains the leading bacterial cause of enormous morbidity and mortality because of bacterial infections in humans throughout the world. The IL-1 family of cytokines is critical for host resistance to M. tuberculosis As a newly discovered subgroup of the IL-1 family, although IL-36 cytokines have been proven to play roles in protection against M. tuberculosis infection, the antibacterial mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that IL-36γ conferred to human monocyte-derived macrophages bacterial resistance through activation of autophagy as well as induction of WNT5A, a reported downstream effector of IL-1 involved in several inflammatory diseases. Further studies showed that WNT5A could enhance autophagy of monocyte-derived macrophages by inducing cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) expression and in turn decrease phosphorylation of AKT/mTOR via noncanonical WNT signaling. Consistently, the underlying molecular mechanisms of IL-36γ function are also mediated by the COX-2/AKT/mTOR signaling axis. Altogether, our findings reveal a novel activity for IL-36γ as an inducer of autophagy, which represents a critical inflammatory cytokine that control the outcome of M. tuberculosis infection in human macrophages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchi Gao
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Qian Wen
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Shengfeng Hu
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xinying Zhou
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Wenjing Xiong
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Xialin Du
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Lijie Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yuling Fu
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Jiahui Yang
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Chaoying Zhou
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Zelin Zhang
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yanfen Li
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Honglin Liu
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Yulan Huang
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
| | - Li Ma
- Institute of Molecular Immunology, School of Laboratory Medicine and Biotechnology, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, China
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Wang Z, Zhao J, Wang T, Du X, Xie J. Fine-particulate matter aggravates cigarette smoke extract-induced airway inflammation via Wnt5a-ERK pathway in COPD. Int J Chron Obstruct Pulmon Dis 2019; 14:979-994. [PMID: 31190784 PMCID: PMC6512785 DOI: 10.2147/copd.s195794] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Exposure to environmental particulate matter (PM) ≤2.5 μm in diameter (PM2.5) and smoking are common contributors to COPD, and pertinent research implicates both factors in pulmonary inflammation. Using in vivo mouse and in vitro human cellular models, we investigated the joint impact of PM2.5 pollution, and cigarette smoke (CS) in mice or cigarette-smoke extract (CSE) in cells on COPD inflammation, and explored potential mechanisms. Methods Tissue changes in lungs of C57BL/6 mice exposed to PM2.5 and CS were studied by light microscopy, H&E, immunochemistry, and immunofluorescence-stained sections. Levels of inflammatory factors induced by PM2.5/CS in mice and PM2.5/CSE in 16HBE cells were also monitored by quantitative reverse-transcription (qRT)-PCR and ELISA. Expression of genes related to the Wnt5a-signaling pathway was assessed at transcriptional and protein levels using immunofluorescence, qRT-PCR, and Western blotting. Results Inflammatory response to combined exposure of PM2.5 and CS or CSE in mouse and 16HBE cells surpassed responses incited separately. Although separate PM2.5 and CS/CSE exposure upregulated the expression of Wnt5a (a member of the Wnt-secreted glycoprotein family), combined PM2.5 and CS/CSE exposure produced a steeper rise in Wnt5a levels. Use of a Wnt5a antagonist (BOX5) successfully blocked related inflammatory effects. ERK phosphorylation appeared to mediate the effects of Wnt5a in the COPD model, promoting PM2.5 aggravation of CS/CSE-induced airway inflammation. Conclusion Our findings suggest that combined PM2.5 and CS/CSE exposure induce airway inflammation and Wnt5a expression in vivo in mice and in vitro in 16HBE cells. Furthermore, PM2.5 seems to aggravate CS/CSE-induced inflammation via the Wnt5a–ERK pathway in the context of COPD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhihua Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China,
| | - Junling Zhao
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China,
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China,
| | - Xiaohui Du
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China,
| | - Jungang Xie
- Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, National Clinical Research Center of Respiratory Disease, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan 430030, People's Republic of China,
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Mohapatra P, Prasad CP, Andersson T. Combination therapy targeting the elevated interleukin-6 level reduces invasive migration of BRAF inhibitor-resistant melanoma cells. Mol Oncol 2019; 13:480-494. [PMID: 30582770 PMCID: PMC6360505 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12433] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Revised: 11/22/2018] [Accepted: 12/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of novel antimetastatic therapeutic targets is necessary for improved treatment of patients with acquired BRAF inhibitor‐resistant (BRAFi‐R) melanoma, in whom metastasis is a major concern. Our present study focused on the identification of such targets to explore novel antimetastatic therapeutic options for BRAFi‐R melanoma patients. We confirmed the development of BRAFi resistance in our BRAFi‐treated melanoma cell lines by demonstrating reduced sensitivity to BRAF inhibitors, increased ERK1/2 activity and increased WNT5A expression. Here, we demonstrated for the first time that high secretion of interleukin‐6 (IL‐6) was associated with increased invasive migration of BRAFi‐R melanoma cells. This finding could be readily explained by the increased expression of WNT5A in BRAFi‐R melanoma cells and the presence of an IL‐6/WNT5A positive feedback loop in parental melanoma cells. Surprisingly, however, we found that the IL‐6/WNT5A positive feedback loop present in parental melanoma cells was lost during the development of acquired BRAFi resistance, meaning that IL‐6 and WNT5A signalling were independent events in BRAFi‐R melanoma cells. Despite the absence of an IL‐6/WNT5A loop, we found that both an IL‐6 blocking antibody and the WNT5A antagonist Box5 alone impaired the elevated invasive migration of BRAFi‐R melanoma cells, but combined use of the two was more effective. This impaired invasive migration of BRAFi‐R melanoma cells correlated well with the reduction in Cdc42‐GTPase activity and alterations of the actin cytoskeleton in these cells. In summary, our novel identification of IL‐6 as a key independent promoter of the invasive migration of BRAFi‐R melanoma cells stresses that a combination of a blocking IL‐6 antibody and administration of the WNT5A antagonist Box5 might be an attractive antimetastatic approach for future treatment of BRAFi‐R melanoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purusottam Mohapatra
- Cell and Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Chandra Prakash Prasad
- Cell and Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
| | - Tommy Andersson
- Cell and Experimental Pathology, Department of Translational Medicine, Clinical Research Centre, Skåne University Hospital, Lund University, Malmö, Sweden
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Safian D, Ryane N, Bogerd J, Schulz RW. Fsh stimulates Leydig cell Wnt5a production, enriching zebrafish type A spermatogonia. J Endocrinol 2018; 239:351-363. [PMID: 30400013 DOI: 10.1530/joe-18-0447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2018] [Accepted: 09/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Follicle-stimulating hormone (Fsh) modulates vertebrate spermatogenesis by regulating somatic cell functions in the testis. We have found previously that zebrafish Fsh stimulated the differentiating proliferation of type A undifferentiated spermatogonia (Aund) in an androgen-independent manner by regulating the production of growth factors and other signaling molecules in both Sertoli (SCs) and Leydig cells (LCs). For example, Fsh triggered the release of Igf3 that subsequently activated β-catenin signaling to promote the differentiating proliferation of Aund. In the present study, we report that Fsh moreover uses the non-canonical Wnt pathway to promote the proliferation and accumulation of Aund. Initially, we found that the stimulatory effect of Fsh on the proliferation activity of Aund was further strengthened when β-catenin signaling was inhibited, resulting in an accumulation of Aund. We then showed that this Fsh-induced accumulation of Aund was associated with increased transcript levels of the non-canonical Wnt ligand, wnt5a. In situ hybridization of insl3 mRNA, a gene expressed in LCs, combined with Wnt5a immunocytochemistry identified LCs as the cellular source of Wnt5a in the adult zebrafish testis. Addition of an antagonist of Wnt5a to incubations with Fsh decreased both the proliferation activity and the relative section area occupied by Aund, while an agonist of Wnt5a increased these same parameters for Aund. Taken together, our data suggest that Fsh triggered LCs to release Wnt5a, which then promoted the proliferation and accumulation of Aund. Hence, Fsh uses non-canonical Wnt signaling to ensure the production of Aund, while also triggering β-catenin signaling via Igf3 to ensure spermatogonial differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Diego Safian
- Reproductive Biology Group, Division Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Faculty of Science, University of Utrecht, NL-3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Najoua Ryane
- Reproductive Biology Group, Division Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Faculty of Science, University of Utrecht, NL-3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Jan Bogerd
- Reproductive Biology Group, Division Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Faculty of Science, University of Utrecht, NL-3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Rüdiger W Schulz
- Reproductive Biology Group, Division Developmental Biology, Department of Biology, Institute of Biodynamics and Biocomplexity, Faculty of Science, University of Utrecht, NL-3584 CH Utrecht, The Netherlands
- Reproduction and Developmental Biology Group, Institute of Marine Research, Nordnes, Bergen, Norway
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Schulte G, Wright SC. Frizzleds as GPCRs - More Conventional Than We Thought! Trends Pharmacol Sci 2018; 39:828-842. [PMID: 30049420 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2018.07.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Revised: 06/27/2018] [Accepted: 07/02/2018] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
For more than 30 years, WNT/β-catenin and planar cell polarity signaling has formed the basis for what we understand to be the primary output of the interaction between WNTs and their cognate receptors known as Frizzleds (FZDs). In the shadow of these pathways, evidence for the involvement of heterotrimeric G proteins in WNT signaling has grown substantially over the years - redefining the complexity of the WNT signaling network. Moreover, the distinct characteristics of FZD paralogs are becoming better understood, and we can now apply concepts valid for classical GPCRs to grasp FZDs as molecular machines at the interface of ligand binding and intracellular effects. This review discusses recent developments in the field of WNT/FZD signaling in the context of GPCR pharmacology, and identifies remaining mysteries with an emphasis on structural and kinetic components that support this dogma shift.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Schulte
- Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedicum 6D, Tomtebodavägen 16, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden.
| | - Shane C Wright
- Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Biomedicum 6D, Tomtebodavägen 16, Karolinska Institutet, S-171 65 Stockholm, Sweden
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Ackers I, Szymanski C, Duckett KJ, Consitt LA, Silver MJ, Malgor R. Blocking Wnt5a signaling decreases CD36 expression and foam cell formation in atherosclerosis. Cardiovasc Pathol 2018; 34:1-8. [PMID: 29474941 DOI: 10.1016/j.carpath.2018.01.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2017] [Revised: 01/12/2018] [Accepted: 01/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Wnt5a is a highly studied member of the Wnt family and recently has been implicated in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, but its precise role is unknown. Foam cell development is a critical process to atherosclerotic plaque formation. In the present study, we investigated the role of noncanonical Wnt5a signaling in the development of foam cells. METHODS Human carotid atherosclerotic tissue and THP-1-derived macrophages were used to investigate the contribution of Wnt5a signaling in the formation of foam cells. Immunohistochemistry was used to evaluate protein expression of scavenger receptors and noncanonical Wnt5a receptors [frizzled 5 (Fz5) and receptor tyrosine kinase-like orphan receptor 2 (Ror2)] in human atherosclerotic macrophages/foam cells. Changes in protein expression in response to Wnt5a stimulation/inhibition were determined by Western blot, and lipid accumulation was evaluated by fluorescent lipid droplet staining. RESULTS Wnt5a (P<.05), Fz5 (P<.01), and Ror2 (P<.01) were significantly expressed in advanced atherosclerotic lesions compared to less advanced lesions (N=10). Wnt5a, Fz5, and Ror2 were expressed in macrophages/foam cells within the plaque. In vitro studies revealed that Wnt5a significantly increased the expression of the lipid uptake receptor CD36 (P<.05) but not the lipid efflux receptor ATP-binding cassette transporter (P>.05). rWnt5a also significantly increased lipid accumulation in THP-1 macrophages (P<.05). Furthermore, inhibition of Wnt5a signaling with Box5 prevented lipid accumulation (P<.01) and prevented CD36 up-regulation (P<.01). CONCLUSIONS These results suggest a direct role for Wnt5a signaling in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis, specifically the accumulation of lipid in macrophages and the formation of foam cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ian Ackers
- Heritage Fellow, Translational Biomedical Sciences Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Candice Szymanski
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - K Jordan Duckett
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | - Leslie A Consitt
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA; The Diabetes Institute, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA
| | | | - Ramiro Malgor
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA; The Diabetes Institute, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA; Molecular and Cellular Biology Graduate Program, Ohio University, Athens, Ohio, USA.
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Skronska-Wasek W, Gosens R, Königshoff M, Baarsma HA. WNT receptor signalling in lung physiology and pathology. Pharmacol Ther 2018; 187:150-166. [PMID: 29458107 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2018.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The WNT signalling cascades have emerged as critical regulators of a wide variety of biological aspects involved in lung development as well as in physiological and pathophysiological processes in the adult lung. WNTs (secreted glycoproteins) interact with various transmembrane receptors and co-receptors to activate signalling pathways that regulate transcriptional as well as non-transcriptional responses within cells. In physiological conditions, the majority of WNT receptors and co-receptors can be detected in the adult lung. However, dysregulation of WNT signalling pathways contributes to the development and progression of chronic lung pathologies, including idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma and lung cancer. The interaction between a WNT and the (co-)receptor(s) present at the cell surface is the initial step in transducing an extracellular signal into an intracellular response. This proximal event in WNT signal transduction with (cell-specific) ligand-receptor interactions is of great interest as a potential target for pharmacological intervention. In this review we highlight the diverse expression of various WNT receptors and co-receptors in the aforementioned chronic lung diseases and discuss the currently available biologicals and pharmacological tools to modify proximal WNT signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wioletta Skronska-Wasek
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Research Unit Lung Repair and Regeneration, Helmholtz Center Munich, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, University Hospital Grosshadern, Munich, Germany
| | - Reinoud Gosens
- Department of Molecular Pharmacology, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands; GRIAC Research Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands
| | - Melanie Königshoff
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Research Unit Lung Repair and Regeneration, Helmholtz Center Munich, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, University Hospital Grosshadern, Munich, Germany; Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, CO, USA.
| | - Hoeke Abele Baarsma
- Comprehensive Pneumology Center, Research Unit Lung Repair and Regeneration, Helmholtz Center Munich, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Ludwig Maximilians University Munich, University Hospital Grosshadern, Munich, Germany; GRIAC Research Institute, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Groningen, The Netherlands.
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Yuan S, Shi Y, Guo K, Tang SJ. Nucleoside Reverse Transcriptase Inhibitors (NRTIs) Induce Pathological Pain through Wnt5a-Mediated Neuroinflammation in Aging Mice. J Neuroimmune Pharmacol 2018; 13:230-236. [PMID: 29429030 DOI: 10.1007/s11481-018-9777-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 01/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART) has significantly contributed to the increase of HIV-infected survivors over 50 years of age. Unfortunately, patients are required to stay on long-term HAART, which may be causally related to the development of neurological problems such as chronic pain. Little is known about the contribution of HAART or its therapeutic agents to the pathogenesis of pain during aging. In this study, we determined the effect of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on the development of mechanical allodynia and the potential underlying mechanism in aging mice (15.5 months). We found that systemic administration of individual NRTIs, including ddC (2'-3'-dideoxycytidine), ddI (didanosine), AZT (3'-azido-3'-deoxythymidine) and d4T (2', 3'-didehydro-2', 3'-dideoxythymidine), induced allodynia in similar magnitudes and temporal profiles. We used ddC as a representative to investigate cellular and molecular processes induced by NRTIs in the spinal cord that probably underlie the development of allodynia. The results showed that ddC caused evident neuroinflammation in the spinal cord, suggested by the up-regulation of proinflammatory cytokines TNF-α and IL-1β and the reactions of microglia and astrocytes. In addition, we found that Wnt5a, a critical regulator of neuroinflammation, was also up-regulated. Pharmacological inhibition of Wnt5a blocked ddC-induced up-regulation of TNF-α and astrocyte reaction, while activation of Wnt5a signaling potentiated these processes. Furthermore, our data showed that inhibition of Wnt5a significantly reversed ddC-induced mechanical allodynia in aging mice. The results collectively suggest that NRTIs may contribute to the development of chronic pain in aging patients by inducing Wnt5a-regulated neuroinflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subo Yuan
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Yuqiang Shi
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA
| | - Kaiwen Guo
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.,Department of Immunology, Medical College, Wuhan University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, 430065, People's Republic of China
| | - Shao-Jun Tang
- Department of Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX, 77555, USA.
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Demonstration of a WNT5A-IL-6 positive feedback loop in melanoma cells: Dual interference of this loop more effectively impairs melanoma cell invasion. Oncotarget 2018; 7:37790-37802. [PMID: 27191257 PMCID: PMC5122349 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.9332] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2015] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased expression and signalling of WNT5A and interleukin-6 (IL-6) have both been shown to promote melanoma progression. Here, we investigated the proposed existence of a WNT5A-IL-6 positive feedback loop that drives melanoma migration and invasion. First, the HOPP algorithm revealed that the invasive phenotype of cultured melanoma cells was significantly correlated with increased expression of WNT5A or IL-6. In three invasive melanoma cell lines, endogenous WNT5A protein expression was related to IL-6 protein secretion. Knockdown with anti-IL-6 siRNAs or treating WM852 melanoma cells with a neutralising anti-IL-6 antibody reduced WNT5A protein expression. Conversely, the silencing of WNT5A expression by WNT5A siRNAs or treating WM852 melanoma cells with Box5 (a WNT5A antagonist) significantly reduced IL-6 secretion. Interestingly, these effects occurred at the protein level but not at the transcriptional levels. Functionally, we demonstrated that combined siRNA knockdown of WNT5A and IL-6 expression or the simultaneous inhibition of WNT5A and IL-6 signalling inhibited melanoma cell invasion more effectively than suppressing each factor individually. Together, our results demonstrate that WNT5A and IL-6 are connected through a positive feedback loop in melanoma cells and that the combined targeting of both molecules could serve as an effective therapeutic means to reduce melanoma metastasis.
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Foulquier S, Daskalopoulos EP, Lluri G, Hermans KCM, Deb A, Blankesteijn WM. WNT Signaling in Cardiac and Vascular Disease. Pharmacol Rev 2018; 70:68-141. [PMID: 29247129 PMCID: PMC6040091 DOI: 10.1124/pr.117.013896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 233] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
WNT signaling is an elaborate and complex collection of signal transduction pathways mediated by multiple signaling molecules. WNT signaling is critically important for developmental processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and tissue patterning. Little WNT signaling activity is present in the cardiovascular system of healthy adults, but reactivation of the pathway is observed in many pathologies of heart and blood vessels. The high prevalence of these pathologies and their significant contribution to human disease burden has raised interest in WNT signaling as a potential target for therapeutic intervention. In this review, we first will focus on the constituents of the pathway and their regulation and the different signaling routes. Subsequently, the role of WNT signaling in cardiovascular development is addressed, followed by a detailed discussion of its involvement in vascular and cardiac disease. After highlighting the crosstalk between WNT, transforming growth factor-β and angiotensin II signaling, and the emerging role of WNT signaling in the regulation of stem cells, we provide an overview of drugs targeting the pathway at different levels. From the combined studies we conclude that, despite the sometimes conflicting experimental data, a general picture is emerging that excessive stimulation of WNT signaling adversely affects cardiovascular pathology. The rapidly increasing collection of drugs interfering at different levels of WNT signaling will allow the evaluation of therapeutic interventions in the pathway in relevant animal models of cardiovascular diseases and eventually in patients in the near future, translating the outcomes of the many preclinical studies into a clinically relevant context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Foulquier
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
| | - Evangelos P Daskalopoulos
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
| | - Gentian Lluri
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
| | - Kevin C M Hermans
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
| | - Arjun Deb
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
| | - W Matthijs Blankesteijn
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
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Toledo EM, Gyllborg D, Arenas E. Translation of WNT developmental programs into stem cell replacement strategies for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:4716-4724. [PMID: 28547771 PMCID: PMC5727333 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2017] [Revised: 05/15/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signalling is a highly conserved pathway across species that is critical for normal development and is deregulated in multiple disorders including cancer and neurodegenerative diseases. Wnt signalling is critically required for midbrain dopaminergic (mDA) neuron development and maintenance. Understanding the molecular processes controlled by Wnt signalling may thus hold the key to understand the physiopathology and to develop novel therapies aimed at preventing the loss of mDA neurons in Parkinson's disease (PD). Pharmacological tools to activate Wnt signalling have been used to translate in vivo developmental processes into protocols for the generation of bona fide mDA neurons from human pluripotent stem cells. Moreover, these protocols are currently being fine-tuned to generate mDA neurons for clinical trials in PD. At the same time, a vast amount of molecular details of Wnt signalling continues to emerge and remains to be implemented into new protocols. We hereby review novel pharmacological tools to activate Wnt signalling and how single-cell RNA-sequencing is contributing to unravel the complexity of this pathway in the developing human ventral midbrain, generating novel hypotheses and identifying new players and opportunities to further improve cell replacement therapy for PD. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on WNT Signalling: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.24/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enrique M Toledo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and BiophysicsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Daniel Gyllborg
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and BiophysicsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
| | - Ernest Arenas
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurobiology, Department of Medical Biochemistry and BiophysicsKarolinska InstitutetStockholmSweden
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Zhang H, Yan X, Ke J, Zhang Y, Dai C, Zhu M, Jiang F, Wan X. ROR1 promotes the proliferation of endometrial cancer cells. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF CLINICAL AND EXPERIMENTAL PATHOLOGY 2017; 10:10603-10610. [PMID: 31966402 PMCID: PMC6965769] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2016] [Accepted: 07/13/2017] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Endometrial cancer (EC) is the most common gynecological malignant tumor. The canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway plays a key role in regulating carcinogenesis, and the noncanonical Wnt5a-ROR1 pathway is an important regulator of Wnt signaling. However, the molecular mechanism by which ROR1 influences Wnt signaling in EC is not known. In this study, we found that ROR1 is expressed at higher levels in tumor tissues and blood samples from patients with stage II EC compared with patients with stage I disease. In vitro, human EC cell lines stably overexpressing ROR1 proliferated more rapidly and formed larger colonies than control cells. Consistent with this, overexpression or knockdown of ROR1 increased or decreased, respectively, the percentage of EC cells in M phase of the cell cycle. Elevated levels of ROR1 were associated with increased expression of Wnt5a and of cyclin D1 and c-Myc, two components of the Wnt signaling pathway. Finally, nude mice grew significantly larger tumors after subcutaneous injection of ROR1-overexpressing EC cells compared with control cells. These findings indicate a novel role for ROR1 in promoting EC cell proliferation by upregulating Wnt5a and stimulating the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huilin Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital of Nanjing Medical UnicersityShanghai, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nanjing Maternity and Child Health Care Hospital, Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjing, Jiangsu, China
| | - Xiaofang Yan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital of Nanjing Medical UnicersityShanghai, China
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Yixing People’s HospitalYixing, Jiangsu Province, China
| | - Jieqi Ke
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital of Nanjing Medical UnicersityShanghai, China
| | - Yongli Zhang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Chenyun Dai
- Department of Translation Medicine, Shanghai First People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Mei Zhu
- Department of Translation Medicine, Shanghai First People’s Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai, China
| | - Feizhou Jiang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow UniversitySuzhou, China
| | - Xiaoping Wan
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai General Hospital of Nanjing Medical UnicersityShanghai, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, School of Medicine, Tongji UniversityShanghai, China
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Wnt5a induces catabolic signaling and matrix metalloproteinase production in human articular chondrocytes. Osteoarthritis Cartilage 2017; 25:1505-1515. [PMID: 28587781 PMCID: PMC5565712 DOI: 10.1016/j.joca.2017.05.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/11/2016] [Revised: 05/19/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE Aberrant Wnt signaling may contribute to osteoarthritis (OA) but the Wnt family members involved have not been fully identified. The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of Wnt5a as a potential mediator of cartilage destruction in OA. DESIGN Immunohistochemistry to detect Wnt5a was performed using normal and OA human articular cartilage. Cultured normal human chondrocytes were treated with fibronectin fragments (FN-f) as a catabolic stimulus or recombinant Wnt5a protein with or without pretreatment using a panel of signaling inhibitors. Expression of Wnt5a, anabolic genes and catabolic genes were determined by quantitative real-time PCR. Production of Wnt5a protein and matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) as well as activation of signaling proteins were analyzed by immunoblotting. RESULTS Wnt5a was present in human articular cartilage with OA changes and its expression and secretion were increased in FN-f stimulated chondrocytes. FN-f stimulated Wnt5a production through the c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) and extracellular signal-related kinase (ERK) pathways. Wnt5a reduced aggrecan gene expression after 48 h of treatment. Wnt5a seemed to promote MMP1, -3, and -13 expression as well as MMP1 and MMP13 protein production in normal human chondrocytes. Wnt5a inhibitor peptides did not affect FN-f induced MMP production. Wnt5a activated β-catenin independent signaling including calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII), JNK, p38, ERK1/2, p65 and Akt. Inhibition of JNK, p38, ERK, PI-3 kinase and CaMKII by specific signaling inhibitors suppressed Wnt5a mediated MMP1 and MMP13 production. CONCLUSIONS Wnt5a is present in human OA cartilage and can promote chondrocyte catabolic activity through non-canonical Wnt signaling, which suggests a potential role in OA.
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Dietrich L, Rathmer B, Ewan K, Bange T, Heinrichs S, Dale TC, Schade D, Grossmann TN. Cell Permeable Stapled Peptide Inhibitor of Wnt Signaling that Targets β-Catenin Protein-Protein Interactions. Cell Chem Biol 2017; 24:958-968.e5. [PMID: 28757184 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2017.06.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2017] [Revised: 05/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/27/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway plays a critical role in cell proliferation and differentiation, thus it is often associated with diseases such as cancers. Unfortunately, although attractive, developing anti-cancer strategy targeting Wnt signaling has been challenging given that the most attractive targets are involved in protein-protein interactions (PPIs). Here, we develop a stapled peptide inhibitor that targets the interaction between β-catenin and T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer-binding factor transcription factors, which are crucially involved in Wnt signaling. Our integrative approach combines peptide stapling to optimize proteolytic stability, with lessons learned from cell-penetrating peptide (CPP) design to maximize cellular uptake resulting in NLS-StAx-h, a selective, cell permeable, stapled peptide inhibitor of oncogenic Wnt signaling that efficiently inhibits β-catenin-transcription factor interactions. We expect that this type of integrative strategy that endows stapled peptides with CPP features will be generally useful for developing inhibitors of intracellular PPIs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Dietrich
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, 44227 Dortmund, Germany; Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Bernd Rathmer
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Kenneth Ewan
- School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Tanja Bange
- Department of Mechanistic Cell Biology, Max-Planck-Institute of Molecular Physiology, 44227 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Stefan Heinrichs
- Institute for Transfusion Medicine, University Hospital Essen, 45147 Essen, Germany
| | - Trevor C Dale
- School of Bioscience, Cardiff University, Cardiff CF10 3AX, UK
| | - Dennis Schade
- Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, TU Dortmund University, 44227 Dortmund, Germany; Institute of Pharmacy, Department of Pharmaceutical & Medicinal Chemistry, University of Greifswald, 17489 Greifswald, Germany
| | - Tom N Grossmann
- Chemical Genomics Centre of the Max Planck Society, 44227 Dortmund, Germany; Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, VU University Amsterdam, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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