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Du HQ, Zhao XD. Current understanding of ELF4 deficiency: a novel inborn error of immunity. World J Pediatr 2024; 20:444-450. [PMID: 38733460 DOI: 10.1007/s12519-024-00807-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 03/12/2024] [Indexed: 05/13/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND ELF4 deficiency has been recently recognized as a novel disorder within the spectrum of inborn errors of immunity (IEIs), specifically categorized as a "disease of immune dysregulation." Cases of this condition, reported by our team and others, are very limited worldwide. As such, our current knowledge of this new disease remains preliminary. This review aims to provide a brief overview of the clinical manifestations, pathogenesis, and treatment strategies for this novel IEI. DATA SOURCES A comprehensive review was conducted after an extensive literature search in the PubMed/Medline database and websites concerning transcriptional factor ELF4 and reports concerning patients with ELF4 deficiency. Our search strategy was "ELF4 OR ETS-related transcription factor Elf-4 OR EL4-like factor 4 OR myeloid Elf-1-like factor" as of the time of manuscript submission. RESULTS The current signature manifestations of ELF4 deficiency disorder are recurrent and prolonged oral ulcer, abdominal pain, and diarrhea in pediatric males. In some cases, immunodeficiency and autoimmunity can also be prominent. Targeted Sanger sequencing or whole exome sequencing can be used to detect variation in ELF4 gene. Western blotting for ELF4 expression of the patient's cells can confirm the pathogenic effect of the variant. To fully confirm the pathogenicity of the variant, further functional test is strongly advised. Glucocorticoid and biologics are the mainstream management of ELF4 deficiency disorder. CONCLUSIONS Pediatric males presenting with recurring ulcerations in digestive tract epithelium with or without recurrent fever should be suspected of DEX. When atypical presentations are prominent, variations in ELF4 gene should be carefully evaluated functionally due to the complex nature of ELF4 function. Experience of treating DEX includes use of glucocorticoid and biologics and more precise treatment needs more patients to identify and further mechanistic study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong-Qiang Du
- Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Rare Diseases in Infection and Immunity, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Zhongshan Er Road 136Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiao-Dong Zhao
- Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Rare Diseases in Infection and Immunity, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Zhongshan Er Road 136Yuzhong District, Chongqing, China.
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2
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Sun G, Wu M, Lv Q, Yang X, Wu J, Tang W, Dai R, Zhou L, Ding Y, Zhang Z, An Y, Tang X, Zheng X, Wang Z, Sun L, Xie Y, Zhao X, Du H. A Multicenter Cohort Study of Immune Dysregulation Disorders Caused by ELF4 Variants in China. J Clin Immunol 2023; 43:933-939. [PMID: 36823308 DOI: 10.1007/s10875-023-01453-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2022] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2023]
Abstract
Patients with DEX (deficiency in ELF4, X-linked) were recently reported by our team and others, and cases are very limited worldwide. Our knowledge of this new disease is currently preliminary. In this study, we described 5 more cases presenting mainly with oral ulcer, inflammatory bowel disease-like symptoms, fever of unknown origin, anemia, or systemic lupus erythematosus. Whole exome sequencing identified potential pathogenic ELF4 variants in all cases. The pathogenicity of these variants was confirmed by the detection of ELF4 expression in peripheral blood mononuclear cells from patients and utilizing a simple IFN-b luciferase reporter assay, as previously reported. Our findings significantly contribute to the current understanding of DEX.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gan Sun
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Maolan Wu
- Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China
| | - Qianying Lv
- Department of Rheumatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Pediatric Medical Center of China, Shanghai, China
| | - Xi Yang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Junfeng Wu
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Wenjing Tang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Rongxin Dai
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Lina Zhou
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yuan Ding
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Zhiyong Zhang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Yunfei An
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xuemei Tang
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Xiangrong Zheng
- Department of Pediatrics, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, China.
| | - Zhaoxia Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology, Shenzhen Children's Hospital, Shenzhen, China.
| | - Li Sun
- Department of Rheumatology, Children's Hospital of Fudan University, National Pediatric Medical Center of China, Shanghai, China.
| | - Yongmei Xie
- Department of Pediatrics, West China Second University Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan province, Chengdu, China.
| | - Xiaodong Zhao
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
- The Second Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
| | - Hongqiang Du
- National Clinical Research Center for Child Health and Disorders (Chongqing), Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Child Development and Disorders, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Child Infection and Immunity, Department of Rheumatology & Immunology, Children's Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing, China.
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3
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Shi L, Zhai Y, Zhao Y, Kong X, Zhang D, Yu H, Li Z. ELF4 is critical to zygotic gene activation and epigenetic reprogramming during early embryonic development in pigs. Front Vet Sci 2022; 9:954601. [PMID: 35928113 PMCID: PMC9343831 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2022.954601] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Zygotic gene activation (ZGA) and epigenetic reprogramming are critical in early embryonic development in mammals, and transcription factors are involved in regulating these events. However, the effects of ELF4 on porcine embryonic development remain unclear. In this study, the expression of ELF4 was detected in early porcine embryos and different tissues. By knocking down ELF4, the changes of H3K9me3 modification, DNA methylation and ZGA-related genes were analyzed. Our results showed that ELF4 was expressed at all stages of early porcine embryos fertilized in vitro (IVF), with the highest expression level at the 8-cell stage. The embryonic developmental competency and blastocyst quality decreased after ELF4 knockdown (20.70% control vs. 17.49% si-scramble vs. 2.40% si-ELF4; p < 0.001). Knockdown of ELF4 induced DNA damage at the 4-cell stage. Interfering with ELF4 resulted in abnormal increases in H3K9me3 and DNA methylation levels at the 4-cell stage and inhibited the expression of genes related to ZGA. These results suggest that ELF4 affects ZGA and embryonic development competency in porcine embryos by maintaining genome integrity and regulating dynamic changes of H3K9me3 and DNA methylation, and correctly activating ZGA-related genes to promote epigenetic reprogramming. These results provide a theoretical basis for further studies on the regulatory mechanisms of ELF4 in porcine embryos.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lijing Shi
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yanhui Zhai
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Yuanshen Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Xiangjie Kong
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Daoyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
| | - Hao Yu
- College of Animal Science, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- Hao Yu
| | - Ziyi Li
- Key Laboratory of Organ Regeneration and Transplantation of Ministry of Education, First Hospital, Jilin University, Changchun, China
- *Correspondence: Ziyi Li
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4
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MicroRNA let-7 and viral infections: focus on mechanisms of action. Cell Mol Biol Lett 2022; 27:14. [PMID: 35164678 PMCID: PMC8853298 DOI: 10.1186/s11658-022-00317-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 27.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are fundamental post-transcriptional modulators of several critical cellular processes, a number of which are involved in host defense mechanisms. In particular, miRNA let-7 functions as an essential regulator of the function and differentiation of both innate and adaptive immune cells. Let-7 is involved in several human diseases, including cancer and viral infections. Several viral infections have found ways to dysregulate the expression of miRNAs. Extracellular vesicles (EV) are membrane-bound lipid structures released from many types of human cells that can transport proteins, lipids, mRNAs, and miRNAs, including let-7. After their release, EVs are taken up by the recipient cells and their contents released into the cytoplasm. Let-7-loaded EVs have been suggested to affect cellular pathways and biological targets in the recipient cells, and can modulate viral replication, the host antiviral response, and the action of cancer-related viruses. In the present review, we summarize the available knowledge concerning the expression of let-7 family members, functions, target genes, and mechanistic involvement in viral pathogenesis and host defense. This may provide insight into the development of new therapeutic strategies to manage viral infections.
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5
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Nonphosphorylatable PEA15 mutant inhibits epithelial-mesenchymal transition in triple-negative breast cancer partly through the regulation of IL-8 expression. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2021; 189:333-345. [PMID: 34241740 PMCID: PMC8357760 DOI: 10.1007/s10549-021-06316-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 06/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Background Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype that lacks targeted therapies. Patients with TNBC have a very poor prognosis because the disease often metastasizes. New treatment approaches addressing drivers of metastasis and tumor growth are crucial to improving patient outcomes. Developing targeted gene therapy is thus a high priority for TNBC patients. PEA15 (phosphoprotein enriched in astrocytes, 15 kDa) is known to bind to ERK, preventing ERK from being translocated to the nucleus and hence blocking its activity. The biological function of PEA15 is tightly regulated by its phosphorylation at Ser104 and Ser116. However, the function and impact of phosphorylation status of PEA15 in the regulation of TNBC metastasis and in epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) are not well understood. Methods We established stable cell lines overexpressing nonphosphorylatable (PEA15-AA) and phospho-mimetic (PEA15-DD) mutants. To dissect specific cellular mechanisms regulated by PEA15 phosphorylation status, we performed RT-PCR immune and metastasis arrays. In vivo mouse models were used to determine the effects of PEA15 phosphorylation on tumor growth and metastasis. Results We found that the nonphosphorylatable mutant PEA15-AA prevented formation of mammospheres and expression of EMT markers in vitro and decreased tumor growth and lung metastasis in in vivo experiments when compared to control, PEA15-WT and phosphomimetic PEA15-DD. However, phosphomimetic mutant PEA15-DD promoted migration, mesenchymal marker expression, tumorigenesis, and lung metastasis in the mouse model. PEA15-AA-mediated inhibition of breast cancer cell migratory capacity and tumorigenesis was the partial result of decreased expression of interleukin-8 (IL-8). Further, we identified that expression of IL-8 was possibly mediated through one of the ERK downstream molecules, Ets-1. Conclusions Our results show that PEA15 phosphorylation status serves as an important regulator for PEA15’s dual role as an oncogene or tumor suppressor and support the potential of PEA15-AA as a therapeutic strategy for treatment of TNBC. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s10549-021-06316-2.
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6
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Kang Y, Wu T, He Y, He Y, Zhao D. Elf4 regulates lysosomal biogenesis and the mTOR pathway to promote clearance of Staphylococcus aureus in macrophages. FEBS Lett 2021; 595:881-891. [PMID: 33423322 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14037] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/28/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
Staphylococcus aureus is a major cause of infectious disease. Macrophages can directly destroy most of the invading bacteria through the phagolysosomal pathway. E74-like factor 4 (Elf4) is one of the important transcription factors that controls diverse pathogens, but the role of Elf4 in macrophage-mediated S. aureus eradication is unknown. Our data show that Elf4 is induced by S. aureus in macrophages. Elevated expression of Elf4 results in decreased bacterial load and inflammatory responses during S. aureus infection in vivo and in vitro. Elf4-overexpressed macrophages have decreased mTOR activity and increased lysosomal mass. Collectively, these results suggest that S. aureus induces Elf4 expression, which enhances lysosomal function and increases the capacity of macrophages to eliminate intracellular pathogens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhua Kang
- Hangzhou Key Lab of Inflammation and Immunoregulation, Department of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, China
| | - Tingyue Wu
- Hangzhou Key Lab of Inflammation and Immunoregulation, Department of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, China
| | - Yan He
- Hangzhou Key Lab of Inflammation and Immunoregulation, Department of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, China
| | - Yunfan He
- Hangzhou Key Lab of Inflammation and Immunoregulation, Department of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, China
| | - Dongjiu Zhao
- Hangzhou Key Lab of Inflammation and Immunoregulation, Department of Basic Medical Science, School of Medicine, Hangzhou Normal University, China
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7
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Suico MA, Shuto T, Kai H. Roles and regulations of the ETS transcription factor ELF4/MEF. J Mol Cell Biol 2018; 9:168-177. [PMID: 27932483 PMCID: PMC5907832 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjw051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2016] [Accepted: 12/21/2016] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Most E26 transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factors are involved in the pathogenesis and progression of cancer. This is in part due to the roles of ETS transcription factors in basic biological processes such as growth, proliferation, and differentiation, and also because of their regulatory functions that have physiological relevance in tumorigenesis, immunity, and basal cellular homoeostasis. A member of the E74-like factor (ELF) subfamily of the ETS transcription factor family—myeloid elf-1-like factor (MEF), designated as ELF4—has been shown to be critically involved in immune response and signalling, osteogenesis, adipogenesis, cancer, and stem cell quiescence. ELF4 carries out these functions as a transcriptional activator or through interactions with its partner proteins. Mutations in ELF4 cause aberrant interactions and induce downstream processes that may lead to diseased cells. Knowing how ELF4 impinges on certain cellular processes and how it is regulated in the cells can lead to a better understanding of the physiological and pathological consequences of modulated ELF4 activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann Suico
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Shuto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Kai
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, 5-1 Oe-honmachi, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
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8
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Tanaka H, Sagisaka A, Suzuki N, Yamakawa M. Bombyx mori E26 transformation-specific 2 (BmEts2), an Ets family protein, represses Bombyx mori Rels (BmRels)-mediated promoter activation of antimicrobial peptide genes in the silkworm Bombyx mori. INSECT MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2016; 25:566-579. [PMID: 27227900 DOI: 10.1111/imb.12244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
E26 transformation-specific (Ets) family transcription factors are known to play roles in various biological phenomena, including immunity, in vertebrates. However, the mechanisms by which Ets proteins contribute to immunity in invertebrates remain poorly understood. In this study, we identified a cDNA encoding BmEts2, which is a putative orthologue of Drosophila Yan and human translocation-ets-leukemia/Ets-variant gene 6, from the silkworm Bombyx mori. Expression of the BmEts2 gene was significantly increased in the fat bodies of silkworm larvae in response to injection with Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. BmEts2 overexpression dramatically repressed B. mori Rels (BmRels)-mediated promoter activation of antimicrobial peptide genes in silkworm cells. Conversely, gene knockdown of BmEts2 significantly enhanced BmRels activity. In addition, two κB sites located on the 5' upstream region of cecropin B1 were found to be involved in the repression of BmRels-mediated promoter activation. Protein-competition analysis further demonstrated that BmEts2 competitively inhibited binding of BmRels to κB sites. Overall, BmEts2 acts as a repressor of BmRels-mediated transactivation of antimicrobial protein genes by inhibiting the binding of BmRels to κB sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Tanaka
- Insect-Microbe Research Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - A Sagisaka
- Insect-Microbe Research Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - N Suzuki
- Division of Insect Sciences, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan
| | - M Yamakawa
- Division of Insect Sciences, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, Ibaraki, Japan
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9
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Feitelson MA, Arzumanyan A, Kulathinal RJ, Blain SW, Holcombe RF, Mahajna J, Marino M, Martinez-Chantar ML, Nawroth R, Sanchez-Garcia I, Sharma D, Saxena NK, Singh N, Vlachostergios PJ, Guo S, Honoki K, Fujii H, Georgakilas AG, Bilsland A, Amedei A, Niccolai E, Amin A, Ashraf SS, Boosani CS, Guha G, Ciriolo MR, Aquilano K, Chen S, Mohammed SI, Azmi AS, Bhakta D, Halicka D, Keith WN, Nowsheen S. Sustained proliferation in cancer: Mechanisms and novel therapeutic targets. Semin Cancer Biol 2015; 35 Suppl:S25-S54. [PMID: 25892662 PMCID: PMC4898971 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2015.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 426] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2014] [Revised: 02/20/2015] [Accepted: 02/23/2015] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Proliferation is an important part of cancer development and progression. This is manifest by altered expression and/or activity of cell cycle related proteins. Constitutive activation of many signal transduction pathways also stimulates cell growth. Early steps in tumor development are associated with a fibrogenic response and the development of a hypoxic environment which favors the survival and proliferation of cancer stem cells. Part of the survival strategy of cancer stem cells may manifested by alterations in cell metabolism. Once tumors appear, growth and metastasis may be supported by overproduction of appropriate hormones (in hormonally dependent cancers), by promoting angiogenesis, by undergoing epithelial to mesenchymal transition, by triggering autophagy, and by taking cues from surrounding stromal cells. A number of natural compounds (e.g., curcumin, resveratrol, indole-3-carbinol, brassinin, sulforaphane, epigallocatechin-3-gallate, genistein, ellagitannins, lycopene and quercetin) have been found to inhibit one or more pathways that contribute to proliferation (e.g., hypoxia inducible factor 1, nuclear factor kappa B, phosphoinositide 3 kinase/Akt, insulin-like growth factor receptor 1, Wnt, cell cycle associated proteins, as well as androgen and estrogen receptor signaling). These data, in combination with bioinformatics analyses, will be very important for identifying signaling pathways and molecular targets that may provide early diagnostic markers and/or critical targets for the development of new drugs or drug combinations that block tumor formation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark A Feitelson
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States.
| | - Alla Arzumanyan
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Rob J Kulathinal
- Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, United States
| | - Stacy W Blain
- Department of Pediatrics, State University of New York, Downstate Medical Center, Brooklyn, NY, United States
| | - Randall F Holcombe
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, United States
| | - Jamal Mahajna
- MIGAL-Galilee Technology Center, Cancer Drug Discovery Program, Kiryat Shmona, Israel
| | - Maria Marino
- Department of Science, University Roma Tre, V.le G. Marconi, 446, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Maria L Martinez-Chantar
- Metabolomic Unit, CIC bioGUNE, Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Hepáticas y Digestivas, Technology Park of Bizkaia, Bizkaia, Spain
| | - Roman Nawroth
- Department of Urology, Klinikum rechts der Isar der Technischen Universität München, Munich, Germany
| | - Isidro Sanchez-Garcia
- Experimental Therapeutics and Translational Oncology Program, Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular del Cáncer, CSIC/Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Dipali Sharma
- Department of Medicine, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Neeraj K Saxena
- Department of Oncology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine and the Sidney Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Neetu Singh
- Tissue and Cell Culture Unit, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Council of Scientific & Industrial Research, Lucknow, India
| | | | - Shanchun Guo
- Department of Microbiology, Biochemistry & Immunology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kanya Honoki
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Hiromasa Fujii
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Nara Medical University, Kashihara 634-8521, Japan
| | - Alexandros G Georgakilas
- Physics Department, School of Applied Mathematical and Physical Sciences, National Technical University of Athens, Zografou 15780, Athens, Greece
| | - Alan Bilsland
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Amedeo Amedei
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Elena Niccolai
- Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, University of Florence, 50134 Florence, Italy
| | - Amr Amin
- Department of Biology, College of Science, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - S Salman Ashraf
- Department of Chemistry, College of Science, UAE University, Al-Ain, United Arab Emirates
| | - Chandra S Boosani
- Department of BioMedical Sciences, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, United States
| | - Gunjan Guha
- School of Chemical and Bio Technology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Maria Rosa Ciriolo
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Katia Aquilano
- Department of Biology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata", 00133 Rome, Italy
| | - Sophie Chen
- Department of Research and Development, Ovarian and Prostate Cancer Research Trust Laboratory, Guildford, Surrey GU2 7YG, United Kingdom
| | - Sulma I Mohammed
- Department of Comparative Pathobiology, Purdue University Center for Cancer Research, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | - Asfar S Azmi
- Department of Pathology, Karmonas Cancer Institute, Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, United States
| | - Dipita Bhakta
- School of Chemical and Bio Technology, SASTRA University, Thanjavur, India
| | - Dorota Halicka
- Brander Cancer Research Institute, Department of Pathology, New York Medical College, Valhalla, NY, United States
| | - W Nicol Keith
- Institute of Cancer Sciences, University of Glasgow, UK
| | - Somaira Nowsheen
- Mayo Graduate School, Mayo Medical School, Mayo Clinic Medical Scientist Training Program, Rochester, MN, United States
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10
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Kvist J, Mattila ALK, Somervuo P, Ahola V, Koskinen P, Paulin L, Salmela L, Fountain T, Rastas P, Ruokolainen A, Taipale M, Holm L, Auvinen P, Lehtonen R, Frilander MJ, Hanski I. Flight-induced changes in gene expression in the Glanville fritillary butterfly. Mol Ecol 2015; 24:4886-900. [DOI: 10.1111/mec.13359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2014] [Revised: 08/24/2015] [Accepted: 08/25/2015] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jouni Kvist
- Institute of Biotechnology; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 9) Helsinki Finland
| | - Anniina L. K. Mattila
- Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
| | - Panu Somervuo
- Institute of Biotechnology; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 9) Helsinki Finland
- Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
- Institute of Biotechnology; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 4) Helsinki Finland
| | - Virpi Ahola
- Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
| | - Patrik Koskinen
- Institute of Biotechnology; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 9) Helsinki Finland
- Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
- Institute of Biotechnology; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 4) Helsinki Finland
| | - Lars Paulin
- Institute of Biotechnology; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 4) Helsinki Finland
| | - Leena Salmela
- Department of Computer Science and Helsinki Institute for Information Technology HIIT; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 68 (Gustaf Hällströmin katu 2b) Helsinki Finland
| | - Toby Fountain
- Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
| | - Pasi Rastas
- Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
| | - Annukka Ruokolainen
- Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
| | - Minna Taipale
- Science for Life Laboratory; Department of Biosciences and Nutrition; Karolinska Institutet (Hälsovägen 7); SE-14157 Huddinge Sweden
| | - Liisa Holm
- Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
- Institute of Biotechnology; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 4) Helsinki Finland
| | - Petri Auvinen
- Institute of Biotechnology; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 4) Helsinki Finland
| | - Rainer Lehtonen
- Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
| | - Mikko J. Frilander
- Institute of Biotechnology; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 56 (Viikinkaari 9) Helsinki Finland
| | - Ilkka Hanski
- Department of Biosciences; University of Helsinki; P.O. Box 65 (Viikinkaari 1) Helsinki FI-00014 Finland
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11
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Warner N, Burberry A, Pliakas M, McDonald C, Núñez G. A genome-wide small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen reveals nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB)-independent regulators of NOD2-induced interleukin-8 (IL-8) secretion. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:28213-24. [PMID: 25170077 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.574756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
NOD2 encodes an intracellular multidomain pattern recognition receptor that is the strongest known genetic risk factor in the pathogenesis of Crohn disease (CD), a chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder of the intestinal tract. NOD2 functions as a sensor for bacterial cell wall components and activates proinflammatory and antimicrobial signaling pathways. Here, using a genome-wide small interfering RNA (siRNA) screen, we identify numerous genes that regulate secretion of the proinflammatory cytokine IL-8 in response to NOD2 activation. Moreover, many of the identified IL-8 regulators are linked by protein-protein interactions, revealing subnetworks of highly connected IL-8 regulators implicated in processes such as vesicle formation, mRNA stability, and protein ubiquitination and trafficking. A TNFα counterscreen to induce IL-8 secretion in an NOD2-independent manner reveals that the majority of the identified regulators affect IL-8 secretion irrespective of the initiating stimuli. Using immortalized macrophages, we validate the ubiquitin protease, USP8, and the endosomal sorting protein, VPS28, as negative regulators of NOD2-induced cytokine secretion. Interestingly, several genes that affect NOD2-induced IL-8 secretion are present in loci associated with CD risk by genome-wide association studies, supporting a role for the NOD2/IL-8 pathway, and not just NOD2, in the pathogenesis of CD. Overall, this screen provides a valuable resource in the advancement of our understanding of the genes that regulate the secretion of IL-8.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Maria Pliakas
- the Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 and
| | - Christine McDonald
- the Department of Pathobiology, Lerner Research Institute, Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland, Ohio 44195
| | - Gabriel Núñez
- From the Department of Pathology and the Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109 and
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12
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Suico MA, Fukuda R, Miyakita R, Koyama K, Taura M, Shuto T, Kai H. The transcription factor MEF/Elf4 is dually modulated by p53-MDM2 axis and MEF-MDM2 autoregulatory mechanism. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:26143-26154. [PMID: 25081543 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.580209] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid Elf-1-like factor (MEF) or Elf4 is an ETS transcription factor that activates innate immunity-associated genes such as lysozyme (LYZ), human β-defensin 2 (HβD2), and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in epithelial cells and is also known to influence cell cycle progression. MEF is transcriptionally activated by E2F1, but the E2F1-mediated transcriptional activation is inhibited by p53 through E2F1-p53 protein interaction. Although the transcriptional activation of MEF has been investigated in depth, its post-translational regulation is not well explored. By overexpressing MEF cDNA in human cell lines, here we show that MEF protein expression is suppressed by p53. By screening a number of E3 ligases regulated by p53, we found that MDM2 is involved in the effect of p53 on MEF. MDM2 is transcriptionally activated by p53 and interacts with MEF protein to enhance MEF degradation. MDM2 reduces MEF protein expression, as well as stability and function of MEF as transcriptional activator. Furthermore, MDM2 was able to down-regulate MEF in the absence of p53, indicating a p53-independent effect on MEF. Notably, MEF transcriptionally activates MDM2, which was previously demonstrated to be the mechanism by which MEF suppresses the p53 protein. These results reveal that in addition to the potential of MEF to down-regulate p53 by transcriptionally activating E3 ligase MDM2, MEF participates with MDM2 in a novel autoregulatory feedback loop to regulate itself. Taken together with the findings on the effect of p53 on MEF, these data provide evidence that the p53-MDM2-MEF axis is a feedback mechanism that exquisitely controls the balance of these transcriptional regulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mary Ann Suico
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan.
| | - Ryosuke Fukuda
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Rui Miyakita
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Kosuke Koyama
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Manabu Taura
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Tsuyoshi Shuto
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
| | - Hirofumi Kai
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
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13
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Ando K, Tsushima H, Matsuo E, Horio K, Tominaga-Sato S, Imanishi D, Imaizumi Y, Iwanaga M, Itonaga H, Yoshida S, Hata T, Moriuchi R, Kiyoi H, Nimer S, Mano H, Naoe T, Tomonaga M, Miyazaki Y. Mutations in the nucleolar phosphoprotein, nucleophosmin, promote the expression of the oncogenic transcription factor MEF/ELF4 in leukemia cells and potentiates transformation. J Biol Chem 2013; 288:9457-67. [PMID: 23393136 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m112.415703] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid ELF1-like factor (MEF/ELF4), a member of the ETS transcription factors, can function as an oncogene in murine cancer models and is overexpressed in various human cancers. Here, we report a mechanism by which MEF/ELF4 may be activated by a common leukemia-associated mutation in the nucleophosmin gene. By using a tandem affinity purification assay, we found that MEF/ELF4 interacts with multifactorial protein nucleophosmin (NPM1). Coimmunoprecipitation and GST pull-down experiments demonstrated that MEF/ELF4 directly forms a complex with NPM1 and also identified the region of NPM1 that is responsible for this interaction. Functional analyses showed that wild-type NPM1 inhibited the DNA binding and transcriptional activity of MEF/ELF4 on the HDM2 promoter, whereas NPM1 mutant protein (Mt-NPM1) enhanced these activities of MEF/ELF4. Induction of Mt-NPM1 into MEF/ELF4-overexpressing NIH3T3 cells facilitated malignant transformation. In addition, clinical leukemia samples with NPM1 mutations had higher human MDM2 (HDM2) mRNA expression. Our data suggest that enhanced HDM2 expression induced by mutant NPM1 may have a role in MEF/ELF4-dependent leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koji Ando
- Department of Hematology, Atomic Bomb Disease and Hibakusha Medicine Unit, Nagasaki University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, 1-12-4 Sakamoto, Nagasaki, Nagasaki 852-8523, Japan
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14
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Bakre A, Mitchell P, Coleman JK, Jones LP, Saavedra G, Teng M, Tompkins SM, Tripp RA. Respiratory syncytial virus modifies microRNAs regulating host genes that affect virus replication. J Gen Virol 2012; 93:2346-2356. [PMID: 22894925 PMCID: PMC3542124 DOI: 10.1099/vir.0.044255-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) causes substantial morbidity and life-threatening lower respiratory tract disease in infants, young children and the elderly. Understanding the host response to RSV infection is critical for developing disease-intervention approaches. The role of microRNAs (miRNAs) in post-transcriptional regulation of host genes responding to RSV infection is not well understood. In this study, it was shown that RSV infection of a human alveolar epithelial cell line (A549) induced five miRNAs (let-7f, miR-24, miR-337-3p, miR-26b and miR-520a-5p) and repressed two miRNAs (miR-198 and miR-595), and showed that RSV G protein triggered let-7f expression. Luciferase–untranslated region reporters and miRNA mimics and inhibitors validated the predicted targets, which included cell-cycle genes (CCND1, DYRK2 and ELF4), a chemokine gene (CCL7) and the suppressor of cytokine signalling 3 gene (SOCS3). Modulating let-7 family miRNA levels with miRNA mimics and inhibitors affected RSV replication, indicating that RSV modulates host miRNA expression to affect the outcome of the antiviral host response, and this was mediated in part through RSV G protein expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abhijeet Bakre
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Patricia Mitchell
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Jonathan K Coleman
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Les P Jones
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Geraldine Saavedra
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Michael Teng
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Internal Medicine, USF Health, Tampa, FL 33612, USA
| | - S Mark Tompkins
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
| | - Ralph A Tripp
- Department of Infectious Diseases, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA
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15
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Tanaka H, Sagisaka A, Fujita K, Furukawa S, Ishibashi J, Yamakawa M. BmEts upregulates promoter activity of lebocin in Bombyx mori. INSECT BIOCHEMISTRY AND MOLECULAR BIOLOGY 2012; 42:474-481. [PMID: 22484450 DOI: 10.1016/j.ibmb.2012.03.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2012] [Revised: 03/15/2012] [Accepted: 03/20/2012] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
The Ets family protein BmEts is assumed to be implicated in determination of diapause in the embryogenesis of Bombyx mori. In this study, we found that expression of BmEts was increased in the fat body and other tissues of the 5th instar larvae in response to Escherichia coli injection. Cotransfection experiments using a silkworm cell line revealed that overexpression of BmEts significantly elevated the activity of lebocin promoter but not of cecropin B1, cecropin D, attacin, and moricin promoters. Activation of the lebocin promoter by BmEts was dependent on at least two κB elements and the most proximal GGAA/T motif located on the 5'-upstream region. BmEts further synergistically enhanced E. coli or BmRelish1-d2 (active form)-stimulated lebocin promoter activation. Two κB elements were also found to be involved in promoter activation by BmRelish1-d2 and in synergistic promoter activation by BmEts and BmRelish1-d2 in the silkworm cells. Specific binding of recombinant BmEts to the proximal κB element and the most proximal GGAA/T motif and interaction between BmEts and BmRelish1 were also observed. To our knowledge, this is the first report of an Ets family protein directly regulating immune-related genes in invertebrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiromitsu Tanaka
- Insect Mimetics Research Unit, National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences, 1-2 Owashi, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8634, Japan.
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16
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Abstract
Cancer cells silence autosomal tumor suppressor genes by Knudson's two-hit mechanism in which loss-of-function mutations and then loss of heterozygosity occur at the tumor suppressor gene loci. However, the identification of X-linked tumor suppressor genes has challenged the traditional theory of 'two-hit inactivation' in tumor suppressor genes, introducing the novel concept that a single genetic hit can cause loss of tumor suppressor function. The mechanism through which these genes are silenced in human cancer is unclear, but elucidating the details will greatly enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of human cancer. Here, we review the identification of X-linked tumor suppressor genes and discuss the potential mechanisms of their inactivation. In addition, we also discuss how the identification of X-linked tumor suppressor genes can potentially lead to new approaches in cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Runhua Liu
- Division of Immunotherapy, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Mandy Kain
- Division of Immunotherapy, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Lizhong Wang
- Division of Immunotherapy, Department of Surgery, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Birmingham, AL, USA
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17
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Integration of Elf-4 into stem/progenitor and erythroid regulatory networks through locus-wide chromatin studies coupled with in vivo functional validation. Mol Cell Biol 2011; 32:763-73. [PMID: 22158964 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.05745-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The ETS transcription factor Elf-4 is an important regulator of hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) and T cell homeostasis. To gain insights into the transcriptional circuitry within which Elf-4 operates, we used comparative sequence analysis coupled with chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) with microarray technology (ChIP-chip) assays for specific chromatin marks to identify three promoters and two enhancers active in hematopoietic and endothelial cell lines. Comprehensive functional validation of each of these regulatory regions in transgenic mouse embryos identified a tissue-specific enhancer (-10E) that displayed activity in fetal liver, dorsal aorta, vitelline vessels, yolk sac, and heart. Integration of a ChIP-sequencing (ChIP-Seq) data set for 10 key stem cell transcription factors showed Pu.1, Fli-1, and Erg were bound to the -10E element, and mutation of three highly conserved ETS sites within the enhancer abolished its activity. Finally, the transcriptional repressor Gfi1b was found to bind to and repress one of the Elf-4 promoters (-30P), and we show that this repression of Elf-4 is important for the maturation of primary fetal liver erythroid cells. Taken together, our results provide a comprehensive overview of the transcriptional control of Elf-4 within the hematopoietic system and, thus, integrate Elf-4 into the wider transcriptional regulatory networks that govern hematopoietic development.
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18
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Sashida G, Bae N, Di Giandomenico S, Asai T, Gurvich N, Bazzoli E, Liu Y, Huang G, Zhao X, Menendez S, Nimer SD. The mef/elf4 transcription factor fine tunes the DNA damage response. Cancer Res 2011; 71:4857-65. [PMID: 21616937 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-11-0455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The ATM kinase plays a critical role in initiating the DNA damage response that is triggered by genotoxic stresses capable of inducing DNA double-strand breaks. Here, we show that ELF4/MEF, a member of the ETS family of transcription factors, contributes to the persistence of γH2AX DNA damage foci and promotes the DNA damage response leading to the induction of apoptosis. Conversely, the absence of ELF4 promotes the faster repair of damaged DNA and more rapid disappearance of γH2AX foci in response to γ-irradiation, leading to a radio-resistant phenotype despite normal ATM phosphorylation. Following γ-irradiation, ATM phosphorylates ELF4, leading to its degradation; a mutant form of ELF4 that cannot be phosphorylated by ATM persists following γ-irradiation, delaying the resolution of γH2AX foci and triggering an excessive DNA damage response. Thus, although ELF4 promotes the phosphorylation of H2AX by ATM, its activity must be dampened by ATM-dependent phosphorylation and degradation to avoid an excessive DNA damage response.
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Affiliation(s)
- Goro Sashida
- Molecular Pharmacology and Chemistry Program of the Sloan-Kettering Institute, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
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19
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Seul KJ, Cho HS, Heo SH, Baek WY, Kim JE, Park EK, Choi JY, Ryoo HM, Cho JY. Osteoblast-specific expression of MEF induces osteopenia through downregulation of osteoblastogenesis and upregulation of osteoclastogenesis. J Bone Miner Res 2011; 26:341-50. [PMID: 20715187 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
In bone remodeling, various transcriptional factors are involved, and the deficiency or overexpression of some of these factors results in bone defects. Myeloid elf-1-like factor (MEF) is one of the Ets transcription factors that control the expression of genes that are critical for biologic processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation, and death. Previously, we reported that MEF promotes cell proliferation and functions as a negative regulator of osteogenic differentiation by interacting directly with Runx2 and suppressing its transcriptional activity. To investigate the in vivo function of MEF in bone formation and bone remodeling in vivo, we generated transgenic mice that overexpress MEF in osteoblasts under the control of the 2.3-kb Col1α1 promoter, named Col1α1-MEF. Femoral bone in Col1α1-MEF transgenic mice exhibited low bone mass with fewer trabecular bones and thinner and less developed cortical bones. The mineralized volume fraction (BV/TV) and bone-forming rate (BFR) were remarkably decreased to about 63% and 40%, respectively, in 6-week-old MEF transgenic mice compared with wild-type mice. In addition, reduced bone mineral density was observed in lumbar vertebrae of Col1α1-MEF transgenic mice. The number of TRACP(+) osteoclasts was increased in Col1α1-MEF transgenic mice and MEF-overexpressing MC3T3-E1 cells. All these in vivo results suggest that MEF suppresses bone formation by osteoblasts and facilitates bone resorption by activating osteoclasts indirectly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Keyung-Jo Seul
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Dentistry, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
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20
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Taura M, Suico MA, Fukuda R, Koga T, Shuto T, Sato T, Morino-Koga S, Okada S, Kai H. MEF/ELF4 transactivation by E2F1 is inhibited by p53. Nucleic Acids Res 2010; 39:76-88. [PMID: 20805247 PMCID: PMC3017608 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkq762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Myeloid elf-1-like factor (MEF) or Elf4 is an E-twenty-six (ETS)-related transcription factor with strong transcriptional activity that influences cellular senescence by affecting tumor suppressor p53. MEF downregulates p53 expression and inhibits p53-mediated cellular senescence by transcriptionally activating MDM2. However, whether p53 reciprocally opposes MEF remains unex-plored. Here, we show that MEF is modulated by p53 in human cells and mice tissues. MEF expression and promoter activity were suppressed by p53. While we found that MEF promoter does not contain p53 response elements, intriguingly, it contains E2F consensus sites. Subsequently, we determined that E2F1 specifically binds to MEF promoter and transactivates MEF. Nevertheless, E2F1 DNA binding and transactivation of MEF promoter was inhibited by p53 through the association between p53 and E2F1. Furthermore, we showed that activation of p53 in doxorubicin-induced senescent cells increased E2F1 and p53 interaction, diminished E2F1 recruitment to MEF promoter and reduced MEF expression. These observations suggest that p53 downregulates MEF by associating with and inhibiting the binding activity of E2F1, a novel transcriptional activator of MEF. Together with previous findings, our present results indicate that a negative regulatory mechanism exists between p53 and MEF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manabu Taura
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Global COE 'Cell Fate Regulation Research and Education Unit', Kumamoto University, Kumamoto 862-0973, Japan
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21
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Lee JM, Libermann TA, Cho JY. The synergistic regulatory effect of Runx2 and MEF transcription factors on osteoblast differentiation markers. J Periodontal Implant Sci 2010; 40:39-44. [PMID: 20498758 PMCID: PMC2872803 DOI: 10.5051/jpis.2010.40.1.39] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2009] [Accepted: 02/05/2010] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Bone tissues for clinical application can be improved by studies on osteoblast differentiation. Runx2 is known to be an important transcription factor for osteoblast differentiation. However, bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2 treatment to stimulate Runx2 is not sufficient to acquire enough bone formation in osteoblasts. Therefore, it is necessary to find other regulatory factors which can improve the transcriptional activity of Runx2. The erythroblast transformation-specific (ETS) transcription factor family is reported to be involved in various aspects of cellular proliferation and differentiation. Methods We have noticed that the promoters of osteoblast differentiation markers such as alkaline phosphatase (Alp), osteopontin (Opn), and osteocalcin (Oc) contain Ets binding sequences which are also close to Runx2 binding elements. Luciferase assays were performed to measure the promoter activities of these osteoblast differentiation markers after the transfection of Runx2, myeloid Elf-1-like factor (MEF), and Runxs+MEF. Reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction was also done to check the mRNA levels of Opn after Runx2 and MEF transfection into rat osteoblast (ROS) cells. Results We have found that MEF, an Ets transcription factor, increased the transcriptional activities of Alp, Opn, and Oc. The addition of Runx2 resulted in the 2- to 6-fold increase of the activities. This means that these two transcription factors have a synergistic effect on the osteoblast differentiation markers. Furthermore, early introduction of these two Runx2 and MEF factors significantly elevated the expression of the Opn mRNA levels in ROS cells. We also showed that Runx2 and MEF proteins physically interact with each other. Conclusions Runx2 interacts with MEF proteins and binds to the promoters of the osteoblast markers such as Opn nearby MEF to increase its transcriptional activity. Our results also imply that osteoblast differentiation and bone formation can be increased by activating MEF to elicit the synergistic effect of Runx2 and MEF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jae-Mok Lee
- Department of Periodontology, Kyungpook National University School of Dentistry, Daegu, Korea
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22
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Häsler R, Begun A, Freitag-Wolf S, Kerick M, Mah N, Zvirbliene A, Spehlmann ME, von Wurmb-Schwark N, Kupcinskas L, Rosenstiel P, Schreiber S. Genetic control of global gene expression levels in the intestinal mucosa: a human twin study. Physiol Genomics 2009; 38:73-9. [DOI: 10.1152/physiolgenomics.00010.2009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Phenotypic variation between individuals, such as different mRNA expression levels, is influenced by genetic and nongenetic factors. Although several studies have addressed the interplay between genotypes and expression profiles in various model organisms in the recent years, the detailed and relative contributions of genetic and nongenetic factors in regulating plasticity of gene expression in barrier organs (e.g., skin, gut), which are exposed to continuous environmental challenge, are still poorly understood. Here we systematically monitored the level of genetic control over genomewide mRNA expression profiles in the healthy intestinal mucosa of 10 monozygotic and 10 dizygotic human twin pairs with microarray analyses. Our results, which are supported by real-time PCR and analysis of molecular phylogenetic conservation, indicate that genes associated with energy metabolism and cell and tissue regeneration pathways are under strong genetic control. Conversely, genes associated with immune response seem to be mainly controlled by exogenous factors. Further insights into the relative extent of genetic and nongenetic determinants of transcriptomal profiles and their influence on physiological and pathophysiological mechanisms are crucial to understanding the key role played by gene-environment interactions in health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Häsler
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Alexander Begun
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Sandra Freitag-Wolf
- Institute of Medical Informatics and Statistics, Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Martin Kerick
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Nancy Mah
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Aida Zvirbliene
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Martina E. Spehlmann
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | | | - Limas Kupcinskas
- Department of Gastroenterology, Kaunas University of Medicine, Kaunas, Lithuania
| | - Philip Rosenstiel
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
| | - Stefan Schreiber
- Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Center for Molecular Biosciences (ZMB), Christian Albrechts University of Kiel, Kiel, Germany
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23
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ELF4/MEF activates MDM2 expression and blocks oncogene-induced p16 activation to promote transformation. Mol Cell Biol 2009; 29:3687-99. [PMID: 19380490 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.01551-08] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Several ETS transcription factors, including ELF4/MEF, can function as oncogenes in murine cancer models and are overexpressed in human cancer. We found that Elf4/Mef activates Mdm2 expression; thus, lack of or knockdown of Elf4/Mef reduces Mdm2 levels in mouse embryonic fibroblasts (mef's), leading to enhanced p53 protein accumulation and p53-dependent senescence. Even though p53 is absent in Elf4(-/-) p53(-/-) mef's, neither oncogenic H-Ras(V12) nor c-myc can induce transformation of these cells. This appears to relate to the INK4a/ARF locus; both p19(ARF) and p16 are increased in Elf4(-/-) p53(-/-) mef's, and expression of Bmi-1 or knockdown of p16 in this context restores H-Ras(V12)-induced transformation. Thus, ELF4/MEF promotes tumorigenesis by inhibiting both the p53 and p16/Rb pathways.
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Yuan L, Nikolova-Krstevski V, Zhan Y, Kondo M, Bhasin M, Varghese L, Yano K, Carman CV, Aird WC, Oettgen P. Antiinflammatory effects of the ETS factor ERG in endothelial cells are mediated through transcriptional repression of the interleukin-8 gene. Circ Res 2009; 104:1049-57. [PMID: 19359602 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.108.190751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
ERG (Ets-related gene) is an ETS transcription factor that has recently been shown to regulate a number of endothelial cell (EC)-restricted genes including VE-cadherin, von Willebrand factor, endoglin, and intercellular adhesion molecule-2. Our preliminary data demonstrate that unlike other ETS factors, ERG exhibits a highly EC-restricted pattern of expression in cultured primary cells and several adult mouse tissues including the heart, lung, and brain. In response to inflammatory stimuli, such as tumor necrosis factor-alpha, we observed a marked reduction of ERG expression in ECs. To further define the role of ERG in the regulation of normal EC function, we used RNA interference to knock down ERG. Microarray analysis of RNA derived from ERG small interfering RNA- or tumor necrosis factor-alpha-treated human umbilical vein (HUV)ECs revealed significant overlap (P<0.01) in the genes that are up- or downregulated. Of particular interest to us was a significant change in expression of interleukin (IL)-8 at both protein and RNA levels. Exposure of ECs to tumor necrosis factor-alpha is known to be associated with increased neutrophil attachment. We observed that knockdown of ERG in HUVECs is similarly associated with increased neutrophil attachment compared to control small interfering RNA-treated cells. This enhanced adhesion could be blocked with IL-8 neutralizing or IL-8 receptor blocking antibodies. ERG can inhibit the activity of the IL-8 promoter in a dose dependent manner. Direct binding of ERG to the IL-8 promoter in ECs was confirmed by chromatin immunoprecipitation. In summary, our findings support a role for ERG in promoting antiinflammatory effects in ECs through repression of inflammatory genes such as IL-8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Yuan
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Medicine, and the Center for Vascular Biology Research, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
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Berge T, Matre V, Brendeford EM, Saether T, Lüscher B, Gabrielsen OS. Revisiting a selection of target genes for the hematopoietic transcription factor c-Myb using chromatin immunoprecipitation and c-Myb knockdown. Blood Cells Mol Dis 2007; 39:278-86. [PMID: 17587615 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcmd.2007.05.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2007] [Accepted: 05/21/2007] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
The transcription factor c-Myb is an important regulator of hematopoiesis required for proper development of most blood cell lineages in vertebrates. An increasing number of target genes for c-Myb are being published, although with little or no overlap between the lists of genes reported. This raises the question of which criteria a bona fide c-Myb-target gene should satisfy. In the present paper, we have analyzed a set of previously reported target genes using chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) and siRNA-mediated knockdown. Among the seven well-studied c-Myb target genes that we analyzed by ChIP, only ADA, c-MYC and MAT2A seemed to be occupied by c-Myb under our experimental settings in the Myb-positive cell lines Jurkat and HL60. After siRNA-mediated knockdown of c-Myb expression, the expression levels of two out of three ChIP positive Myb target genes, ADA and c-MYC, were strongly affected. These results clearly demonstrate the importance of combining different methods for target gene validation and suggest that a combination of ChIP and c-Myb knockdown may represent a powerful approach to identify a core collection of c-Myb target genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tone Berge
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, University of Oslo, N-0316 Oslo, Norway
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Qiao J, Kang JH, Cree J, Evers BM, Chung DH. Ets1 transcription factor mediates gastrin-releasing peptide-induced IL-8 regulation in neuroblastoma cells. Neoplasia 2007; 9:184-91. [PMID: 17401458 PMCID: PMC1838576 DOI: 10.1593/neo.06841] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2006] [Revised: 01/29/2007] [Accepted: 01/31/2007] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Angiogenesis plays a critical role in tumor progression in various cancers, including neuroblastoma. We have previously shown that gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) stimulates neuroblastoma growth and that its cell surface receptors, gastrin-releasing peptide receptors (GRP-R), are overexpressed in advanced-stage human neuroblastomas; however, the effects of GRP on angiogenesis are not clearly elucidated. Interleukin (IL) 8, a proinflammatory chemokine, plays an important role during tumor angiogenesis. Ets transcription factors, such as oncoproteins, cause tumor development and are also known to induce IL-8 expression. In the present study, we found an increased expression of Ets1 in more undifferentiated human neuroblastomas. Stable transfection of SK-N-SH human neuroblastoma cells with Ets1 plasmid resulted in increased IL-8 luciferase activity and IL-8 secretion into cell culture media. Conversely, silencing of Ets1 resulted in a significant decrease in IL-8 secretion in SK-N-SH cells. Moreover, exogenous GRP treatment increased Ets1 (T38) phosphorylation and Ets1 nuclear accumulation, and enhanced Ets1 binding to its DNA consensus sequence, resulting in the stimulation of IL-8 mRNA expression and protein secretion. Our findings demonstrate that GRP upregulates proangiogenic IL-8 expression in an Ets1-dependent manner, suggesting a critical role of this process during GRP-induced neuroblastoma angiogenesis and metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingbo Qiao
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0353, USA
| | - Jung-Hee Kang
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0353, USA
| | - Jeremy Cree
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0353, USA
| | - B Mark Evers
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0353, USA
- Sealy Center for Cancer Cell Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0353, USA
| | - Dai H. Chung
- Department of Surgery, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0353, USA
- Sealy Center for Cancer Cell Biology, The University of Texas Medical Branch, 301 University Boulevard, Galveston, TX 77555-0353, USA
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Kim YJ, Kim BG, Lee SJ, Lee HK, Lee SH, Ryoo HM, Cho JY. The suppressive effect of myeloid Elf-1-like factor (MEF) in osteogenic differentiation. J Cell Physiol 2007; 211:253-60. [PMID: 17167770 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.20933] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Myeloid Elf-1 like factor (MEF) is a member of the Ets transcription factor family. Ets family proteins control the expression of genes that are critical for biological processes such as proliferation, differentiation, and cell death. Some of Ets factors are also known to regulate bone development. In this study, we investigated the role of MEF in osteoblast differentiation. MEF expression was highest early in the differentiation of MC3T3-E1 osteoblasts and was reduced by treatment with BMP-2. The expression of MEF suppressed the alkaline phosphatase activity and expression induced by BMP-2 stimulation and mediated by Runx2. The expression of MEF also reduces osteocalcin mRNA levels, and mineralization in MC3T3-E1 cells. We found that the MEF-mediated suppression of osteogenic differentiation was critically related to Runx2 regulation. The MEF and Runx2 proteins physically interact to form a complex, and this interaction interferes with Runx2 binding to the cis-acting element OSE2 derived from the osteocalcin promoter. Co-transfection of MEF inhibited the 6xOSE2-luciferase reporter activity induced by Runx2. In addition, MEF stimulated the transcription of a negative mediator Msx2, and a transcriptional repressor, Mab21L1, and suppressed the transcription of a positive mediator, Dlx5 in osteoblast differentiation. MEF overexpression stimulated C2C12 cell proliferation. Together, our findings suggest that MEF promotes cell proliferation and functions as a negative regulator of osteogenic differentiation by directly interacting with Runx2 and suppressing its transcriptional activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Youn-Jeong Kim
- Department of Biochemistry and BK 21 Program, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
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Abstract
The ETS (E26 Transformation-specific Sequence) factors are comprised of a family of transcription factors that share a highly conserved DNA binding domain. Although originally described for their role as protooncogenes in the development of several types of human cancer, they have subsequently been shown to regulate a wide variety of biological processes including cellular growth and differentiation under normal and pathological conditions. As transcription factors, they can either function as activators or repressors of gene expression. Several ETS family members are expressed in cells of vascular origin, including endothelial cells and vascular smooth muscle cells, where they regulate the expression of a number of vascular-specific genes. In the past few years, emerging evidence supports a novel role for selected ETS family members in the regulation of vascular inflammation and remodeling. ETS factor expression can be induced by proinflammatory cytokines, growth factors, and vasoactive peptides. Examples of some of the target genes regulated by ETS factors include adhesion molecules, chemokines, and matrix metalloproteinases. Targeted disruption of selected ETS family members such as Ets-1 in mice is associated with marked reductions in the recruitment of inflammatory cells and vascular remodeling in response to systemic administration of the vasoactive peptide angiotensin II. The purpose of this review is to provide an overview of recent advances that have been made in defining a role for selected members of the ETS transcription factor family in the regulation of vascular-specific gene expression, vascular inflammation, and remodeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Peter Oettgen
- Division of Cardiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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Yao JJ, Liu Y, Lacorazza HD, Soslow RA, Scandura JM, Nimer SD, Hedvat CV. Tumor promoting properties of the ETS protein MEF in ovarian cancer. Oncogene 2007; 26:4032-7. [PMID: 17213815 DOI: 10.1038/sj.onc.1210170] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/28/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown that MEF (myeloid ELF1-like factor, also known as ELF4) functions as a transcriptional activator of the interleukin (IL)-8, perforin, granulocyte macrophage-colony stimulating factor (GM-CSF) and IL-3 genes in hematopoietic cells. MEF is also expressed in non-hematopoietic tissues including certain ovarian cancer cells. To define the function of MEF in these cells, we examined primary human ovarian epithelial tumors and found that MEF is expressed in a significant proportion of ovarian carcinomas, and in the CAOV3 and SKOV3 ovarian cancer cell lines, but not in normal ovarian surface epithelium. Manipulating MEF levels in these cell lines altered their behavior; reducing MEF levels, using short hairpin RNA expressing vectors, significantly inhibited the proliferation of SKOV3 and CAOV3 cells in culture, and impaired the anchorage-independent growth of CAOV3 cells. Overexpression of MEF in SKOV3 cells (via retroviral transduction) significantly increased their growth rate, enhanced colony formation in soft agar and promoted tumor formation in nude mice. The oncogenic activity of MEF was further shown by the ability of MEF to transform NIH3T3 cells, and induce their tumor formation in nude mice. MEF is an important regulator of the tumorigenic properties of ovarian cancer cells and could be used a therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- J J Yao
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
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Penkowa M, Cáceres M, Borup R, Nielsen FC, Poulsen CB, Quintana A, Molinero A, Carrasco J, Florit S, Giralt M, Hidalgo J. Novel roles for metallothionein-I + II (MT-I + II) in defense responses, neurogenesis, and tissue restoration after traumatic brain injury: Insights from global gene expression profiling in wild-type and MT-I + II knockout mice. J Neurosci Res 2006; 84:1452-74. [PMID: 16941634 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.21043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Traumatic injury to the brain is one of the leading causes of injury-related death or disability, especially among young people. Inflammatory processes and oxidative stress likely underlie much of the damage elicited by injury, but the full repertoire of responses involved is not well known. A genomic approach, such as the use of microarrays, provides much insight in this regard, especially if combined with the use of gene-targeted animals. We report here the results of one of these studies comparing wild-type and metallothionein-I + II knockout mice subjected to a cryolesion of the somatosensorial cortex and killed at 0, 1, 4, 8, and 16 days postlesion (dpl) using Affymetrix genechips/oligonucleotide arrays interrogating approximately 10,000 different murine genes (MG_U74Av2). Hierarchical clustering analysis of these genes readily shows an orderly pattern of gene responses at specific times consistent with the processes involved in the initial tissue injury and later regeneration of the parenchyma, as well as a prominent effect of MT-I + II deficiency. The results thoroughly confirmed the importance of the antioxidant proteins MT-I + II in the response of the brain to injury and opened new avenues that were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. Data in KO, MT-I-overexpressing, and MT-II-injected mice strongly suggest a role of these proteins in postlesional activation of neural stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Milena Penkowa
- Section of Neuroprotection, Centre of Inflammation and Metabolism, The Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Kageyama SI, Liu H, Nagata M, Aoki F. The role of ETS transcription factors in transcription and development of mouse preimplantation embryos. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2006; 344:675-9. [PMID: 16630543 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2006.03.192] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/20/2006] [Accepted: 03/26/2006] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Embryonic transcription is a crucial process for the creation of new life. To clarify the mechanism of embryonic transcription, we investigated the expression and function of the erythroblast transformation specific (ETS) domain containing transcription factors (TFs) during preimplantation development in mice. The expression levels of several ETS TFs, i.e., etsrp71, elf3, and spic, increased after fertilization and remained at a high level until the blastocyst stage. To clarify the function of these TFs, we performed gene suppression using RNA interference, which revealed that they were involved in regulating development to the blastocyst stage. Furthermore, we found that suppression of ETS TFs affected the transcription of eIF-1A and oct3/4 genes whose expression is regulated by TATA-less promoters in the embryos. These results suggest that ETS TFs function in the regulation of transcription with TATA-less promoters in preimplantation embryos, which is essential in preimplantation development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shun-ichiro Kageyama
- Department of Integrated Biosciences, Graduate School of Frontier Sciences, University of Tokyo, Kashiwa, Chiba 277-8571, Japan
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Liu Y, Hedvat CV, Mao S, Zhu XH, Yao J, Nguyen H, Koff A, Nimer SD. The ETS protein MEF is regulated by phosphorylation-dependent proteolysis via the protein-ubiquitin ligase SCFSkp2. Mol Cell Biol 2006; 26:3114-23. [PMID: 16581786 PMCID: PMC1446966 DOI: 10.1128/mcb.26.8.3114-3123.2006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
MEF is an ETS-related transcription factor with strong transcriptional activating activity that affects hematopoietic stem cell behavior and is required for normal NK cell and NK T-cell development. The MEF (also known as ELF4) gene is repressed by several leukemia-associated fusion transcription factor proteins (PML-retinoic acid receptor alpha and AML1-ETO), but it is also activated by retroviral insertion in several cancer models. We have previously shown that cyclin A-dependent phosphorylation of MEF largely restricts its activity to the G(1) phase of the cell cycle; we now show that MEF is a short-lived protein whose expression level also peaks during late G(1) phase. Mutagenesis studies show that the rapid turnover of MEF in S phase is dependent on the specific phosphorylation of threonine 643 and serine 648 at the C terminus of MEF by cdk2 and on the Skp1/Cul1/F-box (SCF) E3 ubiquitin ligase complex SCF(Skp2), which targets MEF for ubiquitination and proteolysis. Overexpression of MEF drives cells through the G(1)/S transition, thereby promoting cell proliferation. The tight regulation of MEF levels during the cell cycle contributes to its effects on regulating cell cycle entry and cell proliferation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Liu
- Division of Hematologic Oncology, Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Avenue, Box 575, New York, NY 10021, USA
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Azzoni C, Bottarelli L, Pizzi S, D'Adda T, Rindi G, Bordi C. Xq25 and Xq26 identify the common minimal deletion region in malignant gastroenteropancreatic endocrine carcinomas. Virchows Arch 2005; 448:119-26. [PMID: 16244870 DOI: 10.1007/s00428-005-0058-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2005] [Accepted: 08/03/2005] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) for markers on X chromosome are associated with malignancy in endocrine tumors of the stomach and pancreas. The aim of this work is to investigate low-grade, well-differentiated endocrine carcinomas (WDEC) vs high-grade, poorly differentiated endocrine carcinomas (PDEC) of the gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) tract for common deletion regions on X chromosome. We performed a comparative allelotyping analysis with 24 highly polymorphic markers for the X chromosome in 12 WDECs and 5 PDECs. Overall, the LOH frequency in all informative loci investigated was 59% in primary and 61% in metastasis, with a significantly higher rate in PDECs than in WDECs (p<0.015 for primary and p<0.00005 for metastasis). In both WDECs and PDECs, the small Xq25 region as defined by DXS8059, DXS8098, and DXS8009 markers showed higher LOH rate as compared to the rest of the chromosome markers (p<0.04). In addition, LOH was very frequently elevated also in DXS294 and in DXS102 loci mapping the chromosomal region Xq26. In no instances differences were found between primary tumors and metastases. Methylation analysis revealed that Xq25 loss preferentially occurred on the inactive X chromosome, a feature in agreement with findings from other human cancers suggesting escape of tumor suppressor genes to X chromosome inactivation at this region. Overall, our data indicate that the two chromosomal regions, Xq25 and Xq26, may participate to the malignant progression of GEP endocrine carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cinzia Azzoni
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Section of Pathological Anatomy, University of Parma, Via Gramsci 14, 43100 Parma, Italy
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Suzuki K, Adachi R, Hirayama A, Watanabe H, Otani S, Watanabe Y, Kasahara T. Indirubin, a Chinese anti-leukaemia drug, promotes neutrophilic differentiation of human myelocytic leukaemia HL-60 cells. Br J Haematol 2005; 130:681-90. [PMID: 16115123 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2141.2005.05655.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Indirubin, a purple vegetable dye, is a traditional Chinese medicine for myelocytic leukaemia. Indirubin inhibits cyclin-dependent protein kinases (CDKs) and is present in human urine and serum. When indirubin was present during the neutrophilic differentiation of human myelocytic leukaemia HL-60 cells, it augmented superoxide production triggered by opsonized zymosan (OZ) by the terminally differentiated HL-60 cells. It also augmented the calcium response to OZ stimulation, and HL-60 cell chemotaxis evoked by interleukin-8 (IL-8, CXCL8) and formylpeptide. In addition, indirubin induced marked IL-8 release by the cells during differentiation and the cells differentiated with indirubin had typical neutrophilic properties, deformed nuclei and granules. Use of stable cloned HL-60 cells that contained a reporter vector for monitoring the activity of the transcription factor PU.1, which acts specifically at the stage of promyelocyte differentiation into neutrophils and monocytes, revealed that indirubin has a potent promoting activity on intracellular PU.1. Indirubin enhanced the expression of typical neutrophil proteins, including granulocyte-colony stimulating factor receptor, the beta2-integrin subunit CD18, the NADPH-oxidase subunit p47phox, and the IL-8 receptor CXCR1, all are controlled by PU.1. Indirubin also inhibited CDK2-dependent phosphorylation of retinoblastoma protein during neutrophilic differentiation. These results suggest that indirubin augments the neutrophilic differentiation of human myelocytic leukaemia HL-60 cells through inhibition of CDK2 and activation of PU.1.
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Qiao J, Cree J, Kang J, Kim S, Evers BM, Chung DH. Ets transcriptional regulation of gastrin-releasing peptide receptor in neuroblastomas. Surgery 2004; 136:489-94. [PMID: 15300220 DOI: 10.1016/j.surg.2004.05.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND We have demonstrated that gastrin-releasing peptide (GRP) binds specifically to its cell surface receptor, GRP-R, to act as an autocrine/paracrine growth factor for neuroblastomas (NBs); an increased expression of GRP-R was found in more advanced-stage NBs. Ets family proteins are nuclear targets for intracellular kinase pathways that can lead to cell proliferation; however, a potential role of Ets in the expression of GRP-R in NBs is unknown. Therefore, the purpose of our study was to determine whether Ets regulates transcriptional activity of GRP-R in NBs. METHODS We identified multiple DNA-binding sites for various nuclear transcription factors in the proximal (ie, 263 bp) GRP-R promoter. Luciferase assay was performed to measure GRP-R promoter activity that contained site-specific mutations of various binding elements. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay was performed to determine transcription factor-binding activity. RESULTS Mutation of a consensus Ets-binding site in the GRP-R promoter significantly decreased GRP-R promoter activity. Electrophoretic mobility shift assay demonstrated a decrease in Ets nuclear protein-binding activity. Furthermore, overexpression of Ets1 resulted in upregulation of GRP-R promoter activity. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that Ets is a transcription factor that significantly contributes to the GRP-R transcription in NBs. This finding may allow us to develop novel molecular tools to downregulate expression of GRP-R and hence inhibit mitogenic effects of GRP in NBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jingbo Qiao
- Department of Surgery and the Sealy Center for Cancer Cell Biology, the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, TX 77555-0353, USA
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