Wntless (GPR177) expression correlates with poor prognosis in B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia via Wnt signaling

AID-induced CXCL12 upregulation enhances castration-resistant prostate cancer cell metastasis by stabilizing β-catenin expression

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common malignant diseases of urinary system and has poor prognosis after progression to castration-resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), and increased cytosine methylation heterogeneity is associated with the more aggressive phenotype of PCa cell line. Activation-induced cytidine deaminase (AID) is a multifunctional enzyme and contributes to antibody diversification. However, the dysregulation of AID participates in the progression of multiple diseases and related with certain oncogenes through demethylation. Nevertheless, the role of AID in PCa remains elusive. We observed a significant upregulation of AID expression in PCa samples, which exhibited a negative correlation with E-cadherin expression. Furthermore, AID expression is remarkably higher in CRPC cells than that in HSPC cells, and AID induced the demethylation of CXCL12, which is required to stabilize the Wnt signaling pathway executor β-catenin and EMT procedure. Our study suggests that AID drives CRPC metastasis by demethylation and can be a potential therapeutic target for CRPC.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor-kynurenine axis promotes oncogenic activity in BCP-ALL

B-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia (BCP-ALL), the most common childhood cancer, originates from lymphoid precursor cells in bone marrow committed to the B-cell lineage. Environmental factors and genetic abnormalities disturb the normal maturation of these precursor cells, promoting the formation of leukemia cells and suppressing normal hematopoiesis. The underlying mechanisms of progression are unclear, but BCP-ALL incidence seems to be increasing in parallel with the adoption of modern lifestyles. This study hypothesized that air pollution and haze are risk factors for BCP-ALL progression. The current study revealed that indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene (IP), a major component of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in air, promotes oncogenic activities (proliferation, transformation, and disease relapse) in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, IP treatment activated the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR)-indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDOs) axis, thereby enhancing tryptophan metabolism and kynurenine (KYN) level and consequent promoting the KYN-AHR feedback loop. IP treatment decreased the time to disease relapse and increased the BCP-ALL cell count in an orthotopic xenograft mouse model. Additionally, in 50 clinical BCP-ALL samples, AHR and IDO were co-expressed in a disease-specific manner at mRNA and protein levels, while their mRNA levels showed a significant correlation with disease-free survival duration. These results indicated that PAH/IP exposure promotes BCP-ALL disease progression.

HCV Core Protein-ISX Axis Promotes Chronic Liver Disease Progression via Metabolic Remodeling and Immune Suppression

Chronic hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection is an important public health issue. However, knowledge on how the virus remodels the metabolic and immune response toward hepatic pathologic environment is limited. The transcriptomic and multiple evidences reveal that the HCV core protein-intestine-specific homeobox (ISX) axis promotes a spectrum of metabolic, fibrogenic, and immune modulators (e.g., kynurenine, PD-L1, and B7-2), regulating HCV-infection relevant pathogenic phenotype in vitro and in vivo. In a transgenic mice model, the HCV core protein-ISX axis enhance metabolic disturbance (particularly lipid and glucose metabolism) and immune suppression, and finally, chronic liver fibrosis in a high-fat diet (HFD)-induced disease model. Mechanistically, cells with HCV JFH-1 replicons upregulate ISX and, consequently, the expressions of metabolic, fibrosis progenitor, and immune modulators via core protein-induced nuclear factor-κB signaling. Conversely, cells with specific ISX shRNAi inhibit HCV core protein-induced metabolic disturbance and immune suppression. Clinically, the HCV core level is significantly correlated with ISX, IDOs, PD-L1, and B7-2 levels in HCC patients with HCV infection. Therefore, it highlights the significance of HCV core protein-ISX axis as an important mechanism in the development of HCV-induced chronic liver disease and can be a specific therapeutic target clinically.

The role of Evi/Wntless in exporting Wnt proteins

Intercellular communication by Wnt proteins governs many essential processes during development, tissue homeostasis and disease in all metazoans. Many context-dependent effects are initiated in the Wnt-producing cells and depend on the export of lipidated Wnt proteins. Although much focus has been on understanding intracellular Wnt signal transduction, the cellular machinery responsible for Wnt secretion became better understood only recently. After lipid modification by the acyl-transferase Porcupine, Wnt proteins bind their dedicated cargo protein Evi/Wntless for transport and secretion. Evi/Wntless and Porcupine are conserved transmembrane proteins, and their 3D structures were recently determined. In this Review, we summarise studies and structural data highlighting how Wnts are transported from the ER to the plasma membrane, and the role of SNX3-retromer during the recycling of its cargo receptor Evi/Wntless. We also describe the regulation of Wnt export through a post-translational mechanism and review the importance of Wnt secretion for organ development and cancer, and as a future biomarker.

WLS/wntless is essential in controlling dendritic cell homeostasis via a WNT signaling-independent mechanism

We propose that beyond its role in WNT secretion, WLS/GPR177 (wntless, WNT ligand secretion mediator) acts as an essential regulator controlling protein glycosylation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) homeostasis, and dendritic cell (DC)-mediated immunity. WLS deficiency in bone marrow-derived DCs (BMDCs) resulted in poor growth and an inability to mount cytokine and T-cell responses in vitro, phenotypes that were irreversible by the addition of exogenous WNTs. In fact, WLS was discovered to integrate a protein complex in N-glycan-dependent and WLS domain-selective manners, comprising ER stress sensors and lectin chaperones. WLS deficiency in BMDCs led to increased ER stress response and macroautophagy/autophagy, decreased calcium efflux from the ER, and the loss of CALR (calreticulin)-CANX (calnexin) cycle, and hence protein hypo-glycosylation. Consequently, DC-specific wls-null mice were unable to develop both Th1-, Th2- and Th17-associated responses in the respective autoimmune and allergic disease models. These results suggest that WLS is a critical chaperone in maintaining ER homeostasis, glycoprotein quality control and calcium dynamics in DCs.Abbreviations: ATF6: activating transcription factor 6; ATG5: autophagy related 5; ATG12: autophagy related 12; ATG16L1: autophagy related 16 like 1; ATP2A1/SERCA1: ATPase sarcoplasmic/endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ transporting 1; BALF: bronchoalveolar lavage fluid; BFA: brefeldin A; BMDC: bone marrow-derived dendritic cell; CALR: calreticulin; CANX: calnexin; CCL2/MCP-1: C-C motif chemokine ligand 2; CNS: central nervous system; CT: C-terminal domain; DTT: dithiothreitol; DNAJB9/ERDJ4: DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member B9; EAE: experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis; EIF2A/eIF2α: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2A; EIF2AK3/PERK: eukaryotic translation initiation factor 2 alpha kinase 3; ERN1/IRE1: endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to nucleus signaling 1; GFP: green fluorescent protein; HSPA5/GRP78/BiP: heat shock protein A5; IFNA: interferon alpha; IFNAR1: interferon alpha and beta receptor subunit 1; IFNB: interferon beta; IFNG/INFγ: interferon gamma; IFNGR2: interferon gamma receptor 2; IL6: interleukin 6; IL10: interleukin 10; IL12A: interleukin 12A; IL23A: interleukin 23 subunit alpha; ITGAX/CD11c: integrin subunit alpha X; ITPR1/InsP3R1: inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate receptor type 1; MAP1LC3B/LC3B: microtubule associated protein 1 light chain 3 beta; OVA: ovalbumin; PIK3C3/VPS34: phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase catalytic subunit type 3; PLF: predicted lipocalin fold; PPP1R15A/GADD34: protein phosphatase 1 regulatory subunit 15A; RYR1/RyanR1: ryanodine receptor 1, skeletal muscle; SD: signal domain; TGFB/TGF-β: transforming growth factor beta family; Th1: T helper cell type 1; Th17: T helper cell type 17; TM: tunicamycin; TNF/TNF-α: tumor necrosis factor; UPR: unfolded protein response; WLS/wntless: WNT ligand secretion mediator.

Phosphorylation of intestine-specific homeobox by ERK1 modulates oncogenic activity and sorafenib resistance

Nuclear translocation regulated by phosphorylation is a key step in providing activated mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) access to their nuclear targets; however, the mechanisms linking MAPK-induced nuclear translocation and target gene expression mediating oncologic activity remain obscure. Here, we show that the MAPK extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1, but not ERK2, phosphorylated intestine-specific homeobox (ISX), leading to its nuclear translocation and downstream oncogenic signaling. Mechanistically, ERK1 phosphorylated serine 183 of ISX, facilitating its nuclear translocation and downstream target gene expression. In contrast, dominant-negative ERK1 expression in hepatoma cells inhibited the nuclear translocation of ISX and the expression of downstream genes involved in cell proliferation, malignant transformation, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition in vitro and in vivo. An activating mutation in ISX (S183D) exhibited a constitutive nuclear localization and resistance to sorafenib. Additionally, in 576 paired clinical hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) samples and adjacent normal tissues, ERK1 and ISX were co-expressed in a tumor-specific manner at mRNA and protein levels, while their mRNA levels showed significant correlation with survival duration, tumor size, number, and stage. These results highlight the significance of ERK1/ISX signaling in HCC progression and its potential as a prognostic and therapeutic target in HCC.

FZD6 triggers Wnt-signalling driven by WNT10BIVS1 expression and highlights new targets in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Wnt/Fzd signaling has been implicated in hematopoietic stem cell maintenance and in acute leukemia establishment. In our previous work, we described a recurrent rearrangement involving the WNT10B locus (WNT10B^R), characterized by the expression of WNT10B^IVS1 transcript variant, in acute myeloid leukemia. To determine the occurrence of WNT10B^R in T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL), we retrospectively analyzed an Italian cohort of patients (n = 20) and detected a high incidence (13/20) of WNT10B^IVS1 expression. To address genes involved in WNT10B molecular response, we have designed a Wnt‐targeted RNA sequencing panel. Identifying Wnt agonists and antagonists, it results that the expression of FZD6, LRP5, and PROM1 genes stands out in WNT10B^IVS1 positive patients compared to negative ones. Using MOLT4 and MUTZ‐2 as leukemic cell models, which are characterized by the expression of WNT10B^IVS1, we have observed that WNT10B drives major Wnt activation to the FZD6 receptor complex through receipt of ligand. Additionally, short hairpin RNAs (shRNAs)‐mediated gene silencing and small molecule‐mediated inhibition of WNTs secretion have been observed to interfere with the WNT10B/FZD6 interaction. We have therefore identified that WNT10B^IVS1 knockdown, or pharmacological interference by the LGK974 porcupine (PORCN) inhibitor, reduces WNT10B/FZD6 protein complex formation and significantly impairs intracellular effectors and leukemic expansion. These results describe the molecular circuit induced by WNT10B and suggest WNT10B/FZD6 as a new target in the T‐ALL treatment strategy.

YJ5 as an immunohistochemical marker of osteogenic lineage

Overexpression of WLS, an upstream protein in the Wnt pathway, has been implicated in several non-osteogenic tumours. This study represents the first attempt at evaluating WLS expression in various bone and soft tissue tumours using YJ5, a monoclonal antibody specific to WLS, with the aim of elucidating its utility in discerning tumours with aberrant Wnt signalling and as a marker of osteogenic lineage in challenging cases. Tumour tissue sections of 144 bone mass lesions and 63 soft tissue mass lesions were immunostained with the YJ5 antibody following standardised protocols. Subsequent assessment of immunoreactivity segregated cases into one of three groups: absent/weak, moderate, or strong YJ5 immunoreactivity. For the bone tumours, strong YJ5 immunoreactivity was seen in almost all osteosarcomas and chondroblastomas, all osteoblastomas and osteoid osteomas. In contrast, all other cartilaginous tumours, chordomas, aneurysmal bone cysts, chondromyxoid fibromas, most fibrous dysplasias and most giant cell tumours exhibited absent/weak YJ5 immunostaining. For the soft tissue tumours, a more heterogeneous pattern of YJ5 immunoreactivity was observed. Because diffuse and strong YJ5 expression is identified in almost all benign and malignant bone tumours with osteoblastic activity, it can be potentially utilised as an immunohistochemical marker to support osteogenic lineage. If interpreted in the appropriate context, this marker is useful in determining whether a malignant bone tumour is an osteosarcoma, particularly in those subtypes with no or minimal osteoid or unusual morphological features. This marker can also complement SATB2 to denote osteogenic lineage.

The multiple ways Wnt signaling contributes to acute leukemia pathogenesis

WNT proteins constitute a very conserved family of secreted glycoproteins that act as short-range ligands for signaling with critical roles in hematopoiesis, embryonic development, and tissue homeostasis. These proteins transduce signals via the canonical pathway, which is β-catenin-mediated and better-characterized, or via more diverse noncanonical pathways that are β-catenin independent and comprise the planar cell polarity (PCP) pathway and the WNT/Ca⁺⁺ pathways. Several proteins regulate Wnt signaling through a variety of sophisticated mechanisms. Disorders within the pathway can contribute to various human diseases, and the dysregulation of Wnt pathways by different molecular mechanisms is implicated in the pathogenesis of many types of cancer, including the hematological malignancies. The types of leukemia differ considerably and can be subdivided into chronic, myeloid or lymphocytic, and acute, myeloid or lymphocytic, leukemia, according to the differentiation stage of the predominant cells, the progenitor lineage, the diagnostic age strata, and the specific molecular drivers behind their development. Here, we review the role of Wnt signaling in normal hematopoiesis and discuss in detail the multiple ways canonical Wnt signaling can be dysregulated in acute leukemia, including alterations in gene expression and protein levels, epigenetic regulation, and mutations. Furthermore, we highlight the different impacts of these alterations, considering the distinct forms of the disease, and the therapeutic potential of targeting Wnt signaling.

Risk stratification of triple-negative breast cancer with core gene signatures associated with chemoresponse and prognosis

PURPOSE

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy studies have consistently reported a strong correlation between pathologic response and long-term outcome in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). We aimed to define minimal gene signatures for predicting chemoresponse by a three-step approach and to further develop a risk-stratification method of TNBC.

METHODS

The first step involved the detection of genes associated with resistance to docetaxel in eight TNBC cell lines, leading to identification of thousands of candidate genes. Through subsequent second and third step analyses with gene set enrichment analysis and survival analysis using public expression profiles, the candidate gene list was reduced to prognostic core gene signatures comprising ten or four genes.

RESULTS

The prognostic core gene signatures include three up-regulated (CEBPD, MMP20, and WLS) and seven down-regulated genes (ASF1A, ASPSCR1, CHAF1B, DNMT1, GINS2, GOLGA2P5, and SKA1). We further develop a simple risk-stratification method based on expression profiles of the core genes. Relative expression values of the up-regulated and down-regulated core genes were averaged into two scores, Up and Down scores, respectively; then samples were stratified by a diagonal line in a xy plot of the Up and Down scores. Based on this method, the patients were successfully divided into subgroups with distinct chemoresponse and prognosis. The prognostic power of the method was validated in three independent public datasets containing 230, 141, and 117 TNBC patients with chemotherapy. In multivariable Cox regression analysis, the core gene signatures were significantly associated with prognosis independent of tumor stage and age at diagnosis. In meta-analysis, we found that five core genes (CEBPD, WLS, CHAF1B, GINS2, and SKA1) play opposing roles, either tumor promoter or suppressor, in TNBC and non-TNBC tumors respectively, depending on estrogen receptor status.

CONCLUSIONS

The results may provide a promising prognostic tool for predicting chemotherapy responders among TNBC patients prior to initiation of chemotherapeutic treatment.

GPR177 promotes gastric cancer proliferation by suppressing endoplasmic reticulum stress-induced cell death

Gastric cancer is the fourth most common cancer worldwide. Despite the high incidence of gastric cancer, efficient chemotherapy treatments still need to be developed. In this study, we examined the anticancer effects of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress inducer tunicamycin in gastric cancer. Previously, we found that overexpression of WLS1/GPR177 correlated with poor prognosis in patients with gastric cancer. Furthermore, tunicamycin treatment downregulated GPR177 expression in a dose-dependent manner. GPR177 transports WNT ligand from ER to the plasma membrane, mediating its secretion to the extracellular matrix. In gastric cancer cells, GPR177 preferentially localizes to the ER. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of GPR177 leads to sensitization to ER stress and induces apoptosis of cancer cells along with tunicamycin treatment. GPR177 suppression promoted the ER stress-mediated proapoptotic pathway, such as PERK-CHOP cascade. Furthermore, fluorouracil treatment combined with tunicamycin dramatically reduced cancer cell proliferation. Efficacy of tunicamycin chemotherapy treatments depended on GPR177 expression in gastric cancer cell lines. Together, our results indicate that ER stress can potentiate anticancer effects and suggest GPR177 as a potential gastric cancer therapeutic target.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor promotes hepatocellular carcinoma tumorigenesis by targeting intestine-specific homeobox expression

The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), a major chemical sensor, is thought to play a role in various biological contexts, including cell cycle regulation and tumorigenesis. However, its regulatory mechanisms remain unclear. We propose herein a novel mechanism through which AHR promotes tumorigenesis by targeting expression of the oncogene intestine-specific homeobox (ISX) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Compared to paired tumor-adjacent tissues and non-HCC tumors, HCCs exhibited an increased and hierarchical pattern of AHR expression. Patients exhibiting high AHR expression had a significantly shorter survival duration, compared to those with low and medium expression. Functionally, AHR was found to target the newly discovered proto-oncogene, ISX, resulting in the increased expression of this gene and its downstream targets, CCND1 and E2F1. Ablation of AHR or ISX in hepatoma cells suppressed cell growth, whereas overexpression promoted cell proliferation and led to enhanced tumorigenic activity in vitro and in vivo. These results provide evidence to support a critical role for the AHR/ISX axis in HCC tumorigenesis and suggest its potential utility as a new therapeutic and prognostic target for HCC.

Aryl hydrocarbon receptor regulates histone deacetylase 8 expression to repress tumor suppressive activity in hepatocellular carcinoma

Histone deacetylase 8 (HDAC8), a unique member of class I histone deacetylases, shows remarkable correlation with advanced disease stage and multiple malignant tumors However, little is known about the contribution of HDAC8 to the tumorigenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The present study investigated the expression of HDAC8 regulated by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) in HCC cell lines and tissues, and the roles of HDAC8 overexpression in cell proliferation, including potentially underlying mechanisms. We assessed the correlation between the clinic-pathological parameters and the expression of AHR and HDAC8. Further, we analyzed the AHR siRNA transfection and HDAC8 inhibitors to explore the functions of HDAC8 in HCC progression in vitro and in vivo. In a panel of 289 HCC patients, HDAC8 was shown to be highly correlated with AHR expression at both mRNA and protein levels. HCC patients with high AHR expression showed a shorter survival time than that with low AHR expression. We then found that the expression of both AHR and HDAC8 was significantly upregulated in both HCC cell lines and tumor tissues compared to human normal hepatocytes and matched non-tumor tissues. Furthermore, HDAC8 inhibition remarkably inhibited hepatoma cell proliferation and transformation activity via upregulation of RB1 in vitro and in vivo. Our data revealed an important role of the AHR-HDAC8 axis in promoting HCC tumorigenesis, thus identifying HDAC8 as a potential therapeutic target for HCC treatment.

The evolving roles of canonical WNT signaling in stem cells and tumorigenesis: implications in targeted cancer therapies

The canonical WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway governs a myriad of biological processes underlying the development and maintenance of adult tissue homeostasis, including regulation of stem cell self-renewal, cell proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis. WNTs are secreted lipid-modified glycoproteins that act as short-range ligands to activate receptor-mediated signaling pathways. The hallmark of the canonical pathway is the activation of β-catenin-mediated transcriptional activity. Canonical WNTs control the β-catenin dynamics as the cytoplasmic level of β-catenin is tightly regulated via phosphorylation by the 'destruction complex', consisting of glycogen synthase kinase 3β (GSK3β), casein kinase 1α (CK1α), the scaffold protein AXIN, and the tumor suppressor adenomatous polyposis coli (APC). Aberrant regulation of this signaling cascade is associated with varieties of human diseases, especially cancers. Over the past decade, significant progress has been made in understanding the mechanisms of canonical WNT signaling. In this review, we focus on the current understanding of WNT signaling at the extracellular, cytoplasmic membrane, and intracellular/nuclear levels, including the emerging knowledge of cross-talk with other pathways. Recent progresses in developing novel WNT pathway-targeted therapies will also be reviewed. Thus, this review is intended to serve as a refresher of the current understanding about the physiologic and pathogenic roles of WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway, and to outline potential therapeutic opportunities by targeting the canonical WNT pathway.