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Miyazawa K, Itoh Y, Fu H, Miyazono K. Receptor-activated transcription factors and beyond: multiple modes of Smad2/3-dependent transmission of TGF-β signaling. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107256. [PMID: 38569937 PMCID: PMC11063908 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107256] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2024] [Revised: 02/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) is a pleiotropic cytokine that is widely distributed throughout the body. Its receptor proteins, TGF-β type I and type II receptors, are also ubiquitously expressed. Therefore, the regulation of various signaling outputs in a context-dependent manner is a critical issue in this field. Smad proteins were originally identified as signal-activated transcription factors similar to signal transducer and activator of transcription proteins. Smads are activated by serine phosphorylation mediated by intrinsic receptor dual specificity kinases of the TGF-β family, indicating that Smads are receptor-restricted effector molecules downstream of ligands of the TGF-β family. Smad proteins have other functions in addition to transcriptional regulation, including post-transcriptional regulation of micro-RNA processing, pre-mRNA splicing, and m6A methylation. Recent technical advances have identified a novel landscape of Smad-dependent signal transduction, including regulation of mitochondrial function without involving regulation of gene expression. Therefore, Smad proteins are receptor-activated transcription factors and also act as intracellular signaling modulators with multiple modes of function. In this review, we discuss the role of Smad proteins as receptor-activated transcription factors and beyond. We also describe the functional differences between Smad2 and Smad3, two receptor-activated Smad proteins downstream of TGF-β, activin, myostatin, growth and differentiation factor (GDF) 11, and Nodal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keiji Miyazawa
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan.
| | - Yuka Itoh
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Hao Fu
- Department of Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, University of Yamanashi, Yamanashi, Japan
| | - Kohei Miyazono
- Department of Applied Pathology, Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan; Laboratory for Cancer Invasion and Metastasis, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences, Yokohama, Japan
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2
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Chakraborty C, Nissen I, Vincent CA, Hägglund AC, Hörnblad A, Remeseiro S. Rewiring of the promoter-enhancer interactome and regulatory landscape in glioblastoma orchestrates gene expression underlying neurogliomal synaptic communication. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6446. [PMID: 37833281 PMCID: PMC10576091 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41919-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2023] [Indexed: 10/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Chromatin organization controls transcription by modulating 3D-interactions between enhancers and promoters in the nucleus. Alterations in epigenetic states and 3D-chromatin organization result in gene expression changes contributing to cancer. Here, we map the promoter-enhancer interactome and regulatory landscape of glioblastoma, the most aggressive primary brain tumour. Our data reveals profound rewiring of promoter-enhancer interactions, chromatin accessibility and redistribution of histone marks in glioblastoma. This leads to loss of long-range regulatory interactions and overall activation of promoters, which orchestrate changes in the expression of genes associated to glutamatergic synapses, axon guidance, axonogenesis and chromatin remodelling. SMAD3 and PITX1 emerge as major transcription factors controlling genes related to synapse organization and axon guidance. Inhibition of SMAD3 and neuronal activity stimulation cooperate to promote proliferation of glioblastoma cells in co-culture with glutamatergic neurons, and in mice bearing patient-derived xenografts. Our findings provide mechanistic insight into the regulatory networks that mediate neurogliomal synaptic communication.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chaitali Chakraborty
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Itzel Nissen
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Craig A Vincent
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Anna-Carin Hägglund
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Andreas Hörnblad
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden
| | - Silvia Remeseiro
- Umeå Centre for Molecular Medicine (UCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
- Wallenberg Centre for Molecular Medicine (WCMM), Umeå University, Umeå, Sweden.
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3
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Folding Keratin Gene Clusters during Skin Regional Specification. Dev Cell 2021; 53:561-576.e9. [PMID: 32516596 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2020.05.007] [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: 08/21/2019] [Revised: 02/19/2020] [Accepted: 05/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Regional specification is critical for skin development, regeneration, and evolution. The contribution of epigenetics in this process remains unknown. Here, using avian epidermis, we find two major strategies regulate β-keratin gene clusters. (1) Over the body, macro-regional specificities (scales, feathers, claws, etc.) established by typical enhancers control five subclusters located within the epidermal differentiation complex on chromosome 25; (2) within a feather, micro-regional specificities are orchestrated by temporospatial chromatin looping of the feather β-keratin gene cluster on chromosome 27. Analyses suggest a three-factor model for regional specification: competence factors (e.g., AP1) make chromatin accessible, regional specifiers (e.g., Zic1) target specific genome regions, and chromatin regulators (e.g., CTCF and SATBs) establish looping configurations. Gene perturbations disrupt morphogenesis and histo-differentiation. This chicken skin paradigm advances our understanding of how regulation of big gene clusters can set up a two-dimensional body surface map.
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4
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Wang B, Suen CW, Ma H, Wang Y, Kong L, Qin D, Lee YWW, Li G. The Roles of H19 in Regulating Inflammation and Aging. Front Immunol 2020; 11:579687. [PMID: 33193379 PMCID: PMC7653221 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.579687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2020] [Accepted: 10/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Accumulating evidence suggests that long non-coding RNA H19 correlates with several aging processes. However, the role of H19 in aging remains unclear. Many studies have elucidated a close connection between H19 and inflammatory genes. Chronic systemic inflammation is an established factor associated with various diseases during aging. Thus, H19 might participate in the development of age-related diseases by interplay with inflammation and therefore provide a protective function against age-related diseases. We investigated the inflammatory gene network of H19 to understand its regulatory mechanisms. H19 usually controls gene expression by acting as a microRNA sponge, or through mir-675, or by leading various protein complexes to genes at the chromosome level. The regulatory gene network has been intensively studied, whereas the biogenesis of H19 remains largely unknown. This literature review found that the epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and an imprinting gene network (IGN) might link H19 with inflammation. Evidence indicates that EMT and IGN are also tightly controlled by environmental stress. We propose that H19 is a stress-induced long non-coding RNA. Because environmental stress is a recognized age-related factor, inflammation and H19 might serve as a therapeutic axis to fight against age-related diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Wang
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)-Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GDL), Advanced Institute for Regenerative MedicineBioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, China.,Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Chun Wai Suen
- Department of Haematology, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Haibin Ma
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)-Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GDL), Advanced Institute for Regenerative MedicineBioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, China
| | - Yan Wang
- Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Kong
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)-Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GDL), Advanced Institute for Regenerative MedicineBioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, China
| | - Dajiang Qin
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)-Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GDL), Advanced Institute for Regenerative MedicineBioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, China.,Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Yuk Wai Wayne Lee
- Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China
| | - Gang Li
- The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK)-Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory (GDL), Advanced Institute for Regenerative MedicineBioland Laboratory (Guangzhou Regenerative Medicine and Health Guangdong Laboratory), Guangzhou, China.,Department of Orthopaedics & Traumatology, Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Li Ka Shing Institute of Health Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Prince of Wales Hospital, Shatin, Hong Kong, China.,Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Regenerative Medicine, School of Biomedical Sciences, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.,Innovation Center for Translational Medicine, The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou, China
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5
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Du X, Liu L, Li Q, Zhang L, Pan Z, Li Q. NORFA, long intergenic noncoding RNA, maintains sow fertility by inhibiting granulosa cell death. Commun Biol 2020; 3:131. [PMID: 32188888 PMCID: PMC7080823 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-020-0864-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Long intergenic non-coding RNAs (lincRNAs) have been proved to be involved in regulating female reproduction. However, to what extent lincRNAs are involved in ovarian functions and fertility is incompletely understood. Here we show that a lincRNA, NORFA is involved in granulosa cell apoptosis, follicular atresia and sow fertility. We found that NORFA was down-regulated during follicular atresia, and inhibited granulosa cell apoptosis. NORFA directly interacted with miR-126 and thereby preventing it from binding to TGFBR2 3'-UTR. miR-126 enhanced granulosa cell apoptosis by attenuating NORFA-induced TGF-β signaling pathway. Importantly, a breed-specific 19-bp duplication was detected in NORFA promoter, which proved association with sow fertility through enhancing transcription activity of NORFA by recruiting transcription factor NFIX. In summary, our findings identified a candidate lincRNA for sow prolificacy, and provided insights into the mechanism of follicular atresia and female fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xing Du
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, China
| | - Lu Liu
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, China
| | - Qiqi Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, China
| | - Lifan Zhang
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, China
| | - Zengxiang Pan
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, China
| | - Qifa Li
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, 210095, Nanjing, China.
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6
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Steuernagel L, Meckbach C, Heinrich F, Zeidler S, Schmitt AO, Gültas M. Computational identification of tissue-specific transcription factor cooperation in ten cattle tissues. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0216475. [PMID: 31095599 PMCID: PMC6522001 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0216475] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2018] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Transcription factors (TFs) are a special class of DNA-binding proteins that orchestrate gene transcription by recruiting other TFs, co-activators or co-repressors. Their combinatorial interplay in higher organisms maintains homeostasis and governs cell identity by finely controlling and regulating tissue-specific gene expression. Despite the rich literature on the importance of cooperative TFs for deciphering the mechanisms of individual regulatory programs that control tissue specificity in several organisms such as human, mouse, or Drosophila melanogaster, to date, there is still need for a comprehensive study to detect specific TF cooperations in regulatory processes of cattle tissues. To address the needs of knowledge about specific combinatorial gene regulation in cattle tissues, we made use of three publicly available RNA-seq datasets and obtained tissue-specific gene (TSG) sets for ten tissues (heart, lung, liver, kidney, duodenum, muscle tissue, adipose tissue, colon, spleen and testis). By analyzing these TSG-sets, tissue-specific TF cooperations of each tissue have been identified. The results reveal that similar to the combinatorial regulatory events of model organisms, TFs change their partners depending on their biological functions in different tissues. Particularly with regard to preferential partner choice of the transcription factors STAT3 and NR2C2, this phenomenon has been highlighted with their five different specific cooperation partners in multiple tissues. The information about cooperative TFs could be promising: i) to understand the molecular mechanisms of regulating processes; and ii) to extend the existing knowledge on the importance of single TFs in cattle tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lukas Steuernagel
- Breeding Informatics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August University, Margarethe von Wrangell-Weg 7, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Cornelia Meckbach
- Institute of Medical Bioinformatics, Goldschmidtstraße 1, University Medical Center Göttingen, Georg-August-University, 37077 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Felix Heinrich
- Breeding Informatics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August University, Margarethe von Wrangell-Weg 7, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sebastian Zeidler
- Breeding Informatics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August University, Margarethe von Wrangell-Weg 7, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
| | - Armin O. Schmitt
- Breeding Informatics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August University, Margarethe von Wrangell-Weg 7, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, Georg-August University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Mehmet Gültas
- Breeding Informatics Group, Department of Animal Sciences, Georg-August University, Margarethe von Wrangell-Weg 7, 37075 Göttingen, Germany
- Center for Integrated Breeding Research (CiBreed), Albrecht-Thaer-Weg 3, Georg-August University, 37075, Göttingen, Germany
- * E-mail:
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7
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A stress-induced response complex (SIRC) shuttles miRNAs, siRNAs, and oligonucleotides to the nucleus. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:E5756-E5765. [PMID: 29866826 PMCID: PMC6016802 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1721346115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The deregulation of miRNA function is critical in the pathogenesis of cancer and other diseases. miRNAs and other noncoding RNAs (ncRNAs) tightly regulate gene expression, often in the cell nucleus. Heretofore, there has been no understanding that there exists a general shuttling mechanism that brings miRNAs, in addition to therapeutic oligonucleotides and siRNAs, from the cytoplasm into the nucleus. We have identified this shuttling mechanism, which occurs in response to cell stress. Nuclear imported miRNAs are functional, can potentially alter gene expression, and participate in cell stress response mechanisms. This shuttling mechanism can be augmented to target specific RNAs, including miRNA sponges, and long ncRNAs like Malat-1, which have been implicated in promoting tumor metastasis. Although some information is available for specific subsets of miRNAs and several factors have been shown to bind oligonucleotides (ONs), no general transport mechanism for these molecules has been identified to date. In this work, we demonstrate that the nuclear transport of ONs, siRNAs, and miRNAs responds to cellular stress. Furthermore, we have identified a stress-induced response complex (SIRC), which includes Ago-1 and Ago-2 in addition to the transcription and splicing regulators YB1, CTCF, FUS, Smad1, Smad3, and Smad4. The SIRC transports endogenous miRNAs, siRNAs, and ONs to the nucleus. We show that cellular stress can significantly increase ON- or siRNA-directed splicing switch events and endogenous miRNA targeting of nuclear RNAs.
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8
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Abadir P, Hosseini S, Faghih M, Ansari A, Lay F, Smith B, Beselman A, Vuong D, Berger A, Tian J, Rini D, Keenahan K, Budman J, Inagami T, Fedarko N, Marti G, Harmon J, Walston J. Topical Reformulation of Valsartan for Treatment of Chronic Diabetic Wounds. J Invest Dermatol 2018; 138:434-443. [PMID: 29078982 PMCID: PMC10941026 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2017.09.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2017] [Revised: 09/05/2017] [Accepted: 09/07/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Chronic wounds are among the most devastating and difficult to treat consequences of diabetes. Dysregulation of the skin renin-angiotensin system is implicated in abnormal wound healing in diabetic and older adults. Given this, we sought to determine the effects of topical reformulations of the angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers losartan and valsartan and the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor captopril on wound healing in diabetic and aged mice with further validation in older diabetic pigs. The application of 1% valsartan gel compared with other tested formulations and placebo facilitated and significantly accelerated closure time and increased tensile strength in mice, and was validated in the porcine model. One percent of valsartan gel-treated wounds also exhibited higher mitochondrial content, collagen deposition, phosphorylated mothers against decapentaplegic homologs 2 and 3 and common mothers against decapentaplegic homolog 4, alpha-smooth muscle actin, CD31, phospho-vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2, and p42/44 mitogen-activated protein kinase. Knockout of the angiotensin subtype 2 receptors abolished the beneficial effects of angiotensin type 1 receptor blockers, suggesting a role for angiotensin subtype 2 receptors in chronic wound healing.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Abadir
- Division of Geriatrics Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA.
| | - Sayed Hosseini
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Mahya Faghih
- Division of Geriatrics Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Amir Ansari
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Frank Lay
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Barbara Smith
- Cell Biology Imaging Facility, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Aleksandra Beselman
- Investigational Drug Service Pharmacy, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Diep Vuong
- Division of Geriatrics Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Alan Berger
- Division of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jing Tian
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - David Rini
- Art as Applied to Medicine, Division of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Kevin Keenahan
- Department of Bioengineering Innovation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Joshua Budman
- Department of Bioengineering Innovation, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Tadashi Inagami
- Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Neal Fedarko
- Division of Geriatrics Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Guy Marti
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA; Clinique Saint Jean, Melun, France
| | - John Harmon
- Department of Surgery, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Jeremy Walston
- Division of Geriatrics Medicine and Gerontology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
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9
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Fedotova AA, Bonchuk AN, Mogila VA, Georgiev PG. C2H2 Zinc Finger Proteins: The Largest but Poorly Explored Family of Higher Eukaryotic Transcription Factors. Acta Naturae 2017; 9:47-58. [PMID: 28740726 PMCID: PMC5509000] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of whole-genome assays has initiated numerous genome-wide studies of transcription factor localizations at genomic regulatory elements (enhancers, promoters, silencers, and insulators), as well as facilitated the uncovering of some of the key principles of chromosomal organization. However, the proteins involved in the formation and maintenance of the chromosomal architecture and the organization of regulatory domains remain insufficiently studied. This review attempts to collate the available data on the abundant but still poorly understood family of proteins with clusters of the C2H2 zinc finger domains. One of the best known proteins of this family is a well conserved protein known as CTCF, which plays a key role in the establishment of the chromosomal architecture in vertebrates. The distinctive features of C2H2 zinc finger proteins include strong and specific binding to a long and unique DNA recognition target sequence and rapid expansion within various animal taxa during evolution. The reviewed data support a proposed model according to which many of the C2H2 proteins have functions that are similar to those of the CTCF in the organization of the chromatin architecture.
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Affiliation(s)
- A. A. Fedotova
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str., 34/5, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - A. N. Bonchuk
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str., 34/5, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - V. A. Mogila
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str., 34/5, Moscow, 119334, Russia
| | - P. G. Georgiev
- Institute of Gene Biology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Vavilov Str., 34/5, Moscow, 119334, Russia
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Abstract
Wounds are among the most common, painful, debilitating and costly conditions in older adults. Disruption of the angiotensin type 1 receptors (AT1R), has been associated with impaired wound healing, suggesting a critical role for AT1R in this repair process. Biological functions of angiotensin type 2 receptors (AT2R) are less studied. We investigated effects of genetically disrupting AT2R on rate and quality of wound healing. Our results suggest that AT2R effects on rate of wound closure depends on the phase of wound healing. We observed delayed healing during early phase of wound healing (inflammation). An accelerated healing rate was seen during later stages (proliferation and remodeling). By day 12, fifty percent of AT2R−/− mice had complete wound closure as compared to none in either C57/BL6 or AT1R−/− mice. There was a significant increase in AT1R, TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 expression during the proliferative and remodeling phases in AT2R−/− mice. Despite the accelerated closure rate, AT2R−/− mice had more fragile healed skin. Our results suggest that in the absence of AT2R, wound healing rate is accelerated, but yielded worse skin quality. Elucidating the contribution of both of the angiotensin receptors may help fine tune future intervention aimed at wound repair in older individuals.
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Van Grembergen O, Bizet M, de Bony EJ, Calonne E, Putmans P, Brohée S, Olsen C, Guo M, Bontempi G, Sotiriou C, Defrance M, Fuks F. Portraying breast cancers with long noncoding RNAs. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2016; 2:e1600220. [PMID: 27617288 PMCID: PMC5010371 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.1600220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 86] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Evidence is emerging that long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) may play a role in cancer development, but this role is not yet clear. We performed a genome-wide transcriptional survey to explore the lncRNA landscape across 995 breast tissue samples. We identified 215 lncRNAs whose genes are aberrantly expressed in breast tumors, as compared to normal samples. Unsupervised hierarchical clustering of breast tumors on the basis of their lncRNAs revealed four breast cancer subgroups that correlate tightly with PAM50-defined mRNA-based subtypes. Using multivariate analysis, we identified no less than 210 lncRNAs prognostic of clinical outcome. By analyzing the coexpression of lncRNA genes and protein-coding genes, we inferred potential functions of the 215 dysregulated lncRNAs. We then associated subtype-specific lncRNAs with key molecular processes involved in cancer. A correlation was observed, on the one hand, between luminal A-specific lncRNAs and the activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase, fibroblast growth factor, and transforming growth factor-β pathways and, on the other hand, between basal-like-specific lncRNAs and the activation of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)-dependent pathways and of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Finally, we showed that a specific lncRNA, which we called CYTOR, plays a role in breast cancer. We confirmed its predicted functions, showing that it regulates genes involved in the EGFR/mammalian target of rapamycin pathway and is required for cell proliferation, cell migration, and cytoskeleton organization. Overall, our work provides the most comprehensive analyses for lncRNA in breast cancers. Our findings suggest a wide range of biological functions associated with lncRNAs in breast cancer and provide a foundation for functional investigations that could lead to new therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Van Grembergen
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB–Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Martin Bizet
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB–Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Machine Learning Group, Computer Science Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics Brussels, Université Libre de Bruxelles–Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Eric J. de Bony
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB–Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Emilie Calonne
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB–Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Pascale Putmans
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB–Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sylvain Brohée
- Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Catharina Olsen
- Machine Learning Group, Computer Science Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mingzhou Guo
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Chinese People’s Liberation Army General Hospital, Beijing 100853, China
| | - Gianluca Bontempi
- Machine Learning Group, Computer Science Department, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
- Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics Brussels, Université Libre de Bruxelles–Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Christos Sotiriou
- Breast Cancer Translational Research Laboratory, Jules Bordet Institute, Université Libre de Bruxelles, 1000 Brussels, Belgium
| | - Matthieu Defrance
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB–Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
- Interuniversity Institute of Bioinformatics Brussels, Université Libre de Bruxelles–Vrije Universiteit Brussel, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
| | - François Fuks
- Laboratory of Cancer Epigenetics, Faculty of Medicine, ULB–Cancer Research Center (U-CRC), Université Libre de Bruxelles (ULB), 1070 Brussels, Belgium
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Abstract
Ghirlando and Felsenfeld review recent major advances in understanding the multiple roles of CTCF in gene regulation and genome organization and especially in how such domains are generated and organized. The role of the zinc finger protein CTCF in organizing the genome within the nucleus is now well established. Widely separated sites on DNA, occupied by both CTCF and the cohesin complex, make physical contacts that create large loop domains. Additional contacts between loci within those domains, often also mediated by CTCF, tend to be favored over contacts between loci in different domains. A large number of studies during the past 2 years have addressed the questions: How are these loops generated? What are the effects of disrupting them? Are there rules governing large-scale genome organization? It now appears that the strongest and evolutionarily most conserved of these CTCF interactions have specific rules for the orientation of the paired CTCF sites, implying the existence of a nonequilibrium mechanism of generation. Recent experiments that invert, delete, or inactivate one of a mating CTCF pair result in major changes in patterns of organization and gene expression in the surrounding regions. What remain to be determined are the detailed molecular mechanisms for re-establishing loop domains and maintaining them after replication and mitosis. As recently published data show, some mechanisms may involve interactions with noncoding RNAs as well as protein cofactors. Many CTCF sites are also involved in other functions such as modulation of RNA splicing and specific regulation of gene expression, and the relationship between these activities and loop formation is another unanswered question that should keep investigators occupied for some time.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rodolfo Ghirlando
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
| | - Gary Felsenfeld
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892, USA
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Deignan L, Pinheiro MT, Sutcliffe C, Saunders A, Wilcockson SG, Zeef LAH, Donaldson IJ, Ashe HL. Regulation of the BMP Signaling-Responsive Transcriptional Network in the Drosophila Embryo. PLoS Genet 2016; 12:e1006164. [PMID: 27379389 PMCID: PMC4933369 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1006164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2016] [Accepted: 06/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The BMP signaling pathway has a conserved role in dorsal-ventral axis patterning during embryonic development. In Drosophila, graded BMP signaling is transduced by the Mad transcription factor and opposed by the Brinker repressor. In this study, using the Drosophila embryo as a model, we combine RNA-seq with Mad and Brinker ChIP-seq to decipher the BMP-responsive transcriptional network underpinning differentiation of the dorsal ectoderm during dorsal-ventral axis patterning. We identify multiple new BMP target genes, including positive and negative regulators of EGF signaling. Manipulation of EGF signaling levels by loss- and gain-of-function studies reveals that EGF signaling negatively regulates embryonic BMP-responsive transcription. Therefore, the BMP gene network has a self-regulating property in that it establishes a balance between its activity and that of the antagonistic EGF signaling pathway to facilitate correct patterning. In terms of BMP-dependent transcription, we identify key roles for the Zelda and Zerknüllt transcription factors in establishing the resulting expression domain, and find widespread binding of insulator proteins to the Mad and Brinker-bound genomic regions. Analysis of embryos lacking the BEAF-32 insulator protein shows reduced transcription of a peak BMP target gene and a reduction in the number of amnioserosa cells, the fate specified by peak BMP signaling. We incorporate our findings into a model for Mad-dependent activation, and discuss its relevance to BMP signal interpretation in vertebrates. Embryogenesis involves the patterning of many different cell fates by a limited number of types of signals. One way that these signals promote a particular cell fate is through the induction of a complex, yet highly reproducible, gene expression programme that instructs changes in the cell. For example, there is a conserved role for BMP signals in specifying cell fates during dorsal-ventral axis patterning. Here, we have used genomics approaches to identify the gene expression programme implemented in response to BMP signaling during axis patterning in the Drosophila embryo. Part of the gene network downstream of BMP signaling includes members of the EGF signaling pathway, with our data highlighting reciprocal interactions between these two pathways. We have also determined genome-wide binding of BMP-responsive transcription factors to gain new insights into how the BMP gene network is activated. Our data reveal roles for specific transcription factors and insulator binding proteins, with the latter traditionally associated with the separation of transcriptional domains. Overall, our data will provide a platform for exploiting the tractability of the Drosophila embryo to determine which features of the network are critical drivers of BMP-induced cell fate changes during embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lisa Deignan
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Marco T. Pinheiro
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Catherine Sutcliffe
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Abbie Saunders
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Scott G. Wilcockson
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Leo A. H. Zeef
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ian J. Donaldson
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Hilary L. Ashe
- Faculty of Life Sciences, University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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14
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Van Bortle K, Peterson AJ, Takenaka N, O'Connor MB, Corces VG. CTCF-dependent co-localization of canonical Smad signaling factors at architectural protein binding sites in D. melanogaster. Cell Cycle 2016; 14:2677-87. [PMID: 26125535 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2015.1053670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
The transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) and bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) pathways transduce extracellular signals into tissue-specific transcriptional responses. During this process, signaling effector Smad proteins translocate into the nucleus to direct changes in transcription, but how and where they localize to DNA remain important questions. We have mapped Drosophila TGF-β signaling factors Mad, dSmad2, Medea, and Schnurri genome-wide in Kc cells and find that numerous sites for these factors overlap with the architectural protein CTCF. Depletion of CTCF by RNAi results in the disappearance of a subset of Smad sites, suggesting Smad proteins localize to CTCF binding sites in a CTCF-dependent manner. Sensitive Smad binding sites are enriched at low occupancy CTCF peaks within topological domains, rather than at the physical domain boundaries where CTCF may function as an insulator. In response to Decapentaplegic, CTCF binding is not significantly altered, whereas Mad, Medea, and Schnurri are redirected from CTCF to non-CTCF binding sites. These results suggest that CTCF participates in the recruitment of Smad proteins to a subset of genomic sites and in the redistribution of these proteins in response to BMP signaling.
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15
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Ali T, Renkawitz R, Bartkuhn M. Insulators and domains of gene expression. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2016; 37:17-26. [PMID: 26802288 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2015.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/04/2015] [Revised: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/25/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
Abstract
The genomic organization into active and inactive chromatin domains imposes specific requirements for having domain boundaries to prohibit interference between the opposing activities of neighbouring domains. These boundaries provide an insulator function by binding architectural proteins that mediate long-range interactions. Among these, CTCF plays a prominent role in establishing chromatin loops (between pairs of CTCF binding sites) through recruiting cohesin. CTCF-mediated long-range interactions are integral for a multitude of topological features of interphase chromatin, such as the formation of topologically associated domains, domain insulation, enhancer blocking and even enhancer function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamer Ali
- Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, D35392 Giessen, Germany
| | - Rainer Renkawitz
- Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, D35392 Giessen, Germany.
| | - Marek Bartkuhn
- Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University, Heinrich-Buff-Ring 58, D35392 Giessen, Germany
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16
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Fresán U, Cuartero S, O'Connor MB, Espinàs ML. The insulator protein CTCF regulates Drosophila steroidogenesis. Biol Open 2015; 4:852-7. [PMID: 25979705 PMCID: PMC4571099 DOI: 10.1242/bio.012344] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The steroid hormone ecdysone is a central regulator of insect development. In this report we show that CTCF expression in the prothoracic gland is required for full transcriptional activation of the Halloween genes spookier, shadow and noppera-bo, which encode ecdysone biosynthetic enzymes, and for proper timing of ecdysone-responsive gene expression. Loss of CTCF results in delayed and less synchronized larval development that can only be rescued by feeding larvae with both, the steroid hormone 20-hydroxyecdysone and cholesterol. Moreover, CTCF-knockdown in prothoracic gland cells leads to increased lipid accumulation. In conclusion, the insulator protein CTCF is required for Halloween gene expression and cholesterol homeostasis in ecdysone-producing cells controlling steroidogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ujué Fresán
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, IBMB-CSIC, and Institute for Research in Biomedicine IRB, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Sergi Cuartero
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, IBMB-CSIC, and Institute for Research in Biomedicine IRB, Barcelona 08028, Spain
| | - Michael B O'Connor
- Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - M Lluisa Espinàs
- Institute of Molecular Biology of Barcelona, IBMB-CSIC, and Institute for Research in Biomedicine IRB, Barcelona 08028, Spain Department of Genetics, Cell Biology and Development, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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17
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Tan EJ, Kahata K, Idås O, Thuault S, Heldin CH, Moustakas A. The high mobility group A2 protein epigenetically silences the Cdh1 gene during epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition. Nucleic Acids Res 2014; 43:162-78. [PMID: 25492890 PMCID: PMC4288184 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gku1293] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The loss of the tumour suppressor E-cadherin (Cdh1) is a key event during tumourigenesis and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Transforming growth factor-β (TGFβ) triggers EMT by inducing the expression of non-histone chromatin protein High Mobility Group A2 (HMGA2). We have previously shown that HMGA2, together with Smads, regulate a network of EMT-transcription factors (EMT-TFs) like Snail1, Snail2, ZEB1, ZEB2 and Twist1, most of which are well-known repressors of the Cdh1 gene. In this study, we show that the Cdh1 promoter is hypermethylated and epigenetically silenced in our constitutive EMT cell model, whereby HMGA2 is ectopically expressed in mammary epithelial NMuMG cells and these cells are highly motile and invasive. Furthermore, HMGA2 remodels the chromatin to favour binding of de novo DNA methyltransferase 3A (DNMT3A) to the Cdh1 promoter. E-cadherin expression could be restored after treatment with the DNA de-methylating agent 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine. Here, we describe a new epigenetic role for HMGA2, which follows the actions that HMGA2 initiates via the EMT-TFs, thus achieving sustained silencing of E-cadherin expression and promoting tumour cell invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- E-Jean Tan
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
| | - Kaoru Kahata
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
| | - Oskar Idås
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
| | - Sylvie Thuault
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
| | - Carl-Henrik Heldin
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden
| | - Aristidis Moustakas
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75124, Sweden Department of Medical Biochemistry and Microbiology, Science for Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala SE-75123, Sweden
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18
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Dhaouadi N, Li JY, Feugier P, Gustin MP, Dab H, Kacem K, Bricca G, Cerutti C. Computational identification of potential transcriptional regulators of TGF-ß1 in human atherosclerotic arteries. Genomics 2014; 103:357-70. [PMID: 24819318 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2014.05.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2014] [Revised: 03/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/03/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
TGF-ß is protective in atherosclerosis but deleterious in metastatic cancers. Our aim was to determine whether TGF-ß transcriptional regulation is tissue-specific in early atherosclerosis. The computational methods included 5 steps: (i) from microarray data of human atherosclerotic carotid tissue, to identify the 10 best co-expressed genes with TGFB1 (TGFB1 gene cluster), (ii) to choose the 11 proximal promoters, (iii) to predict the TFBS shared by the promoters, (iv) to identify the common TFs co-expressed with the TGFB1 gene cluster, and (v) to compare the common TFs in the early lesions to those identified in advanced atherosclerotic lesions and in various cancers. Our results show that EGR1, SP1 and KLF6 could be responsible for TGFB1 basal expression, KLF6 appearing specific to atherosclerotic lesions. Among the TFs co-expressed with the gene cluster, transcriptional activators (SLC2A4RG, MAZ) and repressors (ZBTB7A, PATZ1, ZNF263) could be involved in the fine-tuning of TGFB1 expression in atherosclerosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nedra Dhaouadi
- EA 4173 Génomique Fonctionnelle de l'Hypertension Artérielle, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Hôpital Nord-Ouest Villefranche-sur-Saône, 8 avenue Rockefeller, F-69373 Lyon, France; Unité de Physiologie Intégrée, Laboratoire de Pathologies Vasculaires, Université de Carthage, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Bizerte, Tunisia
| | - Jacques-Yuan Li
- EA 4173 Génomique Fonctionnelle de l'Hypertension Artérielle, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Hôpital Nord-Ouest Villefranche-sur-Saône, 8 avenue Rockefeller, F-69373 Lyon, France
| | - Patrick Feugier
- EA 4173 Génomique Fonctionnelle de l'Hypertension Artérielle, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Hôpital Nord-Ouest Villefranche-sur-Saône, 8 avenue Rockefeller, F-69373 Lyon, France
| | - Marie-Paule Gustin
- EA 4173 Génomique Fonctionnelle de l'Hypertension Artérielle, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Hôpital Nord-Ouest Villefranche-sur-Saône, 8 avenue Rockefeller, F-69373 Lyon, France
| | - Houcine Dab
- Unité de Physiologie Intégrée, Laboratoire de Pathologies Vasculaires, Université de Carthage, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Bizerte, Tunisia
| | - Kamel Kacem
- Unité de Physiologie Intégrée, Laboratoire de Pathologies Vasculaires, Université de Carthage, Faculté des Sciences de Bizerte, Bizerte, Tunisia
| | - Giampiero Bricca
- EA 4173 Génomique Fonctionnelle de l'Hypertension Artérielle, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Hôpital Nord-Ouest Villefranche-sur-Saône, 8 avenue Rockefeller, F-69373 Lyon, France
| | - Catherine Cerutti
- EA 4173 Génomique Fonctionnelle de l'Hypertension Artérielle, Université de Lyon, Université Lyon 1, Hôpital Nord-Ouest Villefranche-sur-Saône, 8 avenue Rockefeller, F-69373 Lyon, France.
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19
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Bai G, Hock TD, Logsdon N, Zhou Y, Thannickal VJ. A far-upstream AP-1/Smad binding box regulates human NOX4 promoter activation by transforming growth factor-β. Gene 2014; 540:62-7. [PMID: 24560583 PMCID: PMC4009368 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2014.02.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2013] [Revised: 01/09/2014] [Accepted: 02/18/2014] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
NADPH oxidase 4 (NOX4) is a member of the NADPH oxidase gene family that regulates cellular differentiation, innate immunity and tissue fibrosis. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β1) is known to induce expression of NOX4 mRNA in mesenchymal cells. However, the mechanisms of transcriptional regulation of NOX4 are not well understood. In this study, we examined the transcriptional regulation of NOX4 in human lung fibroblasts by TGF-β1. Five promoter-reporter constructs containing DNA fragments of 0.74kb, 1.35kb, 1.84kb, 3.97kb and 4.76kb upstream from the transcriptional start site (TSS) of the human NOX4 gene were generated and their relative responsiveness to TGF-β1 analyzed. TGF-β1-induced NOX4 gene promoter activation requires a region between -3.97kb and -4.76kb. Bioinformatics analysis revealed a 15bp AP-1/Smad binding element in this region. Mutation or deletion of either the AP-1 or the Smad element attenuated TGF-β1 responsiveness of the -4.76kb NOX4 promoter. Furthermore, insertion of this AP-1/Smad box conferred TGF-β1 inducibility to the non-responsive -3.97kb NOX4 promoter construct. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis indicated that phospho-Smad3 and cJun associate with this element in a TGF-β1-inducible manner. These results demonstrate that the AP-1/Smad box located between 3.97kb and 4.76kb upstream of the TSS site of the NOX4 promoter is essential for NOX4 gene transcription induced by TGF-β1 in human lung fibroblasts. Our study provides insights into the molecular mechanisms of NOX4 gene expression, informing novel therapeutic approaches to interfere with upregulation of NOX4 in diseases characterized by activation of the TGF-β1/NOX4 pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangxing Bai
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Thomas D Hock
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Naomi Logsdon
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Yong Zhou
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA
| | - Victor J Thannickal
- Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL 35294, USA.
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20
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Caliebe A, Richter J, Ammerpohl O, Kanber D, Beygo J, Bens S, Haake A, Jüttner E, Korn B, Mackay DJG, Martin-Subero JI, Nagel I, Sebire NJ, Seidmann L, Vater I, von Kaisenberg CS, Temple IK, Horsthemke B, Buiting K, Siebert R. A familial disorder of altered DNA-methylation. J Med Genet 2014; 51:407-12. [DOI: 10.1136/jmedgenet-2013-102149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/04/2022]
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21
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Kobayashi H. Imprinting genes associated with endometriosis. EXCLI JOURNAL 2014; 13:252-64. [PMID: 26417259 PMCID: PMC4464490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Accepted: 02/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Much work has been carried out to investigate the genetic and epigenetic basis of endometriosis and proposed that endometriosis has been described as an epigenetic disease. The purpose of this study was to extract the imprinting genes that are associated with endometriosis development. METHODS The information on the imprinting genes can be accessed publicly from a web-based interface at http://www.geneimprint.com/site/genes-by-species. RESULTS In the current version, the database contains 150 human imprinted genes derived from the literature. We searched gene functions and their roles in particular biological processes or events, such as development and pathogenesis of endometriosis. From the genomic imprinting database, we picked 10 genes that were highly associated with female reproduction; prominent among them were paternally expressed genes (DIRAS3, BMP8B, CYP1B1, ZFAT, IGF2, MIMT1, or MIR296) and maternally expressed genes (DVL1, FGFRL1, or CDKN1C). These imprinted genes may be associated with reproductive biology such as endometriosis, pregnancy loss, decidualization process and preeclampsia. DISCUSSION This study supports the possibility that aberrant epigenetic dysregulation of specific imprinting genes may contribute to endometriosis predisposition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiroshi Kobayashi
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Nara Medical University, Nara, Japan
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22
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Van Bortle K, Corces VG. The role of chromatin insulators in nuclear architecture and genome function. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2013; 23:212-8. [PMID: 23298659 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2012.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2012] [Accepted: 11/08/2012] [Indexed: 10/27/2022]
Abstract
Eukaryotic genomes are intricately arranged into highly organized yet dynamic structures that underlie patterns of gene expression and cellular identity. The recent adaptation of novel genomic strategies for assaying nuclear architecture has significantly extended and accelerated our ability to query the nature of genome organization and the players involved. In particular, recent explorations of physical arrangements and chromatin landscapes in higher eukaryotes have demonstrated that chromatin insulators, which mediate functional interactions between regulatory elements, appear to play an important role in these processes. Here we reflect on current findings and our rapidly expanding understanding of insulators and their role in nuclear architecture and genome function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kevin Van Bortle
- Department of Biology, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322, United States
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23
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Weth O, Renkawitz R. CTCF function is modulated by neighboring DNA binding factors. Biochem Cell Biol 2011; 89:459-68. [PMID: 21895576 DOI: 10.1139/o11-033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The zinc-finger protein CTCF was originally identified in the context of gene silencing and gene repression (Baniahmad et al. 1990; Lobanenkov et al. 1990). CTCF was later shown to be involved in several transcriptional mechanisms such as gene activation (Vostrov et al. 2002) and enhancer blocking (Filippova et al. 2001; Hark et al. 2000; Kanduri et al. 2000; Lutz et al. 2003; Szabó et al. 2000; Tanimoto et al. 2003; Phillips and Corces 2009; Bell et al. 1999; Zlatanova and Caiafa 2009a, 2009b). Insulators block the action of enhancers when positioned between enhancer and promoter. CTCF was found to be required in almost all cases of enhancer blocking tested in vertebrates. This CTCF-mediated enhancer blocking is in many instances conferred by constitutive CTCF action. For some examples however, a modulation of the enhancer blocking activity was documented (Lutz et al. 2003; Weth et al. 2010). One mechanism is achieved by regulation of binding to DNA. It was shown that CTCF is not able to bind to those binding-sites containing methylated CpG sequences. At the imprinting control region (ICR) of the Igf2/H19 locus the binding-site for CTCF on the paternal allele is methylated. This prevents DNA-binding of CTCF, resulting in the loss of enhancer blocking (Bell and Felsenfeld 2000; Chao et al. 2002; Filippova et al. 2001; Hark et al. 2000; Kanduri et al. 2000, 2002; Szabó et al. 2000; Takai et al. 2001). Not only can DNA methylation interfere with CTCF binding to DNA, it was also shown in one report that RNA transcription through the CTCF binding site results in CTCF eviction (Lefevre et al. 2008). In contrast to these cases most of the DNA sites are not differentially bound by CTCF. Even CTCF interaction with its cofactor cohesin does not seem to differ in different cell types (Schmidt et al. 2010). These results indicate that regulation of CTCF activity might be achieved by neighboring factors bound to DNA. In fact, whole genome analyses of CTCF binding sites identified several classes of neighboring sequences (Dickson et al. 2010; Boyle et al. 2010; Essien et al. 2009). Therefore, in this review we will summarize those results for which a combined action of CTCF with factors bound adjacently was found. These neighboring factors include the RNA polymerases I, II and III, another zinc finger factor VEZF1 and the factors YY1, SMAD, TR and Oct4. Each of these seems to influence, modulate or determine the function of CTCF. Thereby, at least some of the pleiotropic effects of CTCF can be explained.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oliver Weth
- Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig-University Giessen, D35392 Giessen, Germany.
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Lennerz JKM, Chapman WC, Brunt EM. Keratin 19 epithelial patterns in cirrhotic stroma parallel hepatocarcinogenesis. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2011; 179:1015-29. [PMID: 21704007 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2011.04.040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2010] [Revised: 03/19/2011] [Accepted: 04/14/2011] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cirrhotic septa harbor vessels and inflammatory, fibrogenic, and ductular epithelial cells, collectively referred to as the ductular reaction (DR). Lack of the DR in the stromal compartment around hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has been documented; however, the relationship of epithelial keratin 19 (K19) structures to progression of intralesional carcinogenesis has not been explored. K19 immunoreactivity in the stromal compartment around 176 nodules in cirrhotic explants was examined. Quantitative differences (P < 0.0001) were manifested in three distinct histologically identifiable patterns: "complex" around cirrhotic nodules (CN), "attenuated" around dysplastic nodules (DN), and "absent" around HCC. Markers of necrosis or apoptosis could not explain the perinodular K19 epithelial loss; however, multicolor immunolabeling for K19, vimentin, E-Cadherin, SNAIL, and fibroblast-specific protein 1 (FSP-1) demonstrated discrepancies in immunophenotype and cytomorphologic features. Variability of cellular features was accompanied by an overall decrease in epithelial markers and significantly increased fractions of SNAIL- and FSP-1-positive cells in the DR around DN when compared with CN (P < 0.0001). Immunolabeling of transforming growth factor-β signaling components (TGFβR1, SMAD3, and pSMAD2/3) demonstrated increased percentages of pSMAD2/3 around DN when compared with CN (P < 0.0001). These findings collectively suggest marked alterations in cellular identity as an underlying mechanism for the reproducible extralesional K19 pattern that parallels progressive stages of intranodular hepatocarcinogenesis. Paracrine signaling is proposed as a link that emphasizes the importance of the epithelial-stromal compartment in malignant progression of HCC in cirrhosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jochen K M Lennerz
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
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Abstract
Genomic imprinting is an epigenetic marking of genes in the parental germline that ensures the stable transmission of monoallelic gene expression patterns in a parent-of-origin-specific manner. Epigenetic marking systems are thus able to regulate gene activity independently of the underlying DNA sequence. Several imprinted gene products regulate cell proliferation and fetal growth; loss of their imprinted state, which effectively alters their dosage, might promote or suppress tumourigenic processes. Conversely, global epigenetic changes that underlie tumourigenesis might affect imprinted gene expression. Here, we review imprinted genes with regard to their roles in epigenetic predisposition to cancer, and discuss acquired epigenetic changes (DNA methylation, histone modifications and chromatin conformation) either as a result of cancer or as an early event in neoplasia. We also address recent work showing the potential role of noncoding RNA in modifying chromatin and affecting imprinted gene expression, and summarise the effects of loss of imprinting in cancer with regard to the roles that imprinted genes play in regulating growth signalling cascades. Finally, we speculate on the clinical applications of epigenetic drugs in cancer.
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Gardner S, Alzhanov D, Knollman P, Kuninger D, Rotwein P. TGF-β inhibits muscle differentiation by blocking autocrine signaling pathways initiated by IGF-II. Mol Endocrinol 2010; 25:128-37. [PMID: 21106882 DOI: 10.1210/me.2010-0292] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Skeletal muscle differentiation and regeneration are regulated by interactions between exogenous hormone- and growth factor-activated signaling cascades and endogenous muscle-specific transcriptional programs. IGF-I and IGF-II can promote muscle differentiation in vitro and can enhance muscle maintenance and repair in vivo. In contrast, members of the TGF-β superfamily prominently inhibit muscle differentiation and regeneration. In this study, we have evaluated functional interactions between IGF- and TGF-β-regulated signaling pathways during skeletal muscle differentiation. In the mouse C2 muscle cell line and in human myoblasts in primary culture, addition of TGF-β1 blocked differentiation in a dose-dependent way, inhibited expression of muscle-specific mRNAs and proteins, and impaired myotube formation. TGF-β1 also diminished stimulation of IGF-II gene expression in myoblasts, decreased IGF-II secretion, and reduced IGF-I receptor activation. To test the hypothesis that TGF-β1 prevents muscle differentiation primarily by blocking IGF-II production, we examined effects of IGF analogues on TGF-β actions in myoblasts. Although both IGF-I and IGF-II restored muscle gene and protein expression, and stimulated myotube formation in the presence of TGF-β1, they did not reduce TGF-β1-stimulated signaling, as measured by no decline in phosphorylation of SMA and mothers against decapentaplegic homolog (Smad)3, or in induction of TGF-β-activated target genes, including a Smad-dependent promoter-reporter plasmid. Our results demonstrate that TGF-β disrupts an IGF-II-stimulated autocrine amplification cascade that is necessary for muscle differentiation in vitro. Because this inhibitory pathway can be overcome by exogenous IGFs, our observations point toward potential strategies to counteract disorders that reduce muscle mass and strength.
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Affiliation(s)
- Samantha Gardner
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Oregon Health and Science University, 3181 SW Sam Jackson Park Road, Portland, OR 97239-3098, USA
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Jung YH, Gupta MK, Shin JY, Uhm SJ, Lee HT. MicroRNA signature in testes-derived male germ-line stem cells. Mol Hum Reprod 2010; 16:804-10. [PMID: 20610616 DOI: 10.1093/molehr/gaq058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The testis-derived male germ-line stem (GS) cell, the in vitro counterpart of spermatogonial stem cell (SSC), can initiate donor-derived spermatogenesis in recipient testes and therefore, has been viewed as a future therapeutic modality for treatment of male infertility in azoospermic patients and in cancer patients who are expecting chemotherapy. Upon extended in vitro culture, GS cells also generate a second cell type called multipotent adult germ-line stem (maGS) cell which, upon testicular transplantation, produces teratoma instead of initiating spermatogenesis. Here, we show that expressions of both Let-7a and Let-7d were consistently higher while that of miR-294 (embryonic stem cell-cycle-regulating miRNA; ESCC) was lower in GS cells than in maGS cells. Furthermore, among several putative targets of Let-7 identified by in silico bioinformatics, expressions of Igf2 and H19 mRNA targets significantly differed between GS and maGS cells. However, although the CTCF binding factor (a component of DNA methylation machinery at Igf2-H19 cluster) was also a putative target for Let-7, the difference in expressions of Igf2 and H19 between GS and maGS cells was not mediated through a change in DNA methylation. Both GS and maGS cells maintained androgenetic imprinting at the Igf2-H19 imprinting control region and Peg1 differentially methylated region. In conclusion, our study suggests that high Let-7 expression may be a unique property of GS cells and expressions of Let-7 and ESCC miRNAs may serve as miRNA signatures to distinguish them from maGS cells during clinical transplantation, to avoid the likelihood of teratoma formation due to maGS cells generated during extended in vitro culture of GS cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoon Hee Jung
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Konkuk University, 1, Hwayang-dong, Gwangjin-gu, Seoul 143 701, South Korea
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