1
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Szychowski KA, Skóra B. Elastin-derived peptides (EDPs) affect gene and protein expression in human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) - preliminary study. Cytokine 2024; 182:156725. [PMID: 39106575 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2024.156725] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2024] [Revised: 07/25/2024] [Accepted: 08/01/2024] [Indexed: 08/09/2024]
Abstract
During the aging process, elastin is degraded and the level of elastin-derived peptides (EDPs) successively increases. The main peptide released from elastin during its degradation is a peptide with the VGVAPG sequence. To date, several papers have described that EDPs or elastin-like peptides (ELPs) affect human mesenchymal stem cells (hMSCs) derived from different tissues. Unfortunately, despite the described effect of EDPs or ELPs on the hMSC differentiation process, the mechanism of action of these peptides has not been elucidated. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the impact of the VGVAPG and VVGPGA peptides on the hMSC stemness marker and elucidation of the mechanism of action of these peptides. Our data show that both studied peptides (VGVAPG and VVGPGA) act with the involvement of ERK1/2 and c-SRC kinases. However, their mechanism of activation is probably different in hMSCs derived from adipose tissue. Both studied peptides increase the KI67 protein level in hMSCs, but this is not accompanied with cell proliferation. Moreover, the changes in the NANOG and c-MYC protein expression and in the SOX2 and POU5F1 mRNA expression suggest that EDPs reduced the hMSC stemness properties and could initiate cell differentiation. The initiation of differentiation was evidenced by changes in the expression of AhR and PPARγ protein as well as specific genes (ACTB, TUBB3) and proteins (β-actin, RhoA) involved in cytoskeleton remodeling. Our data suggest that the presence of EDPs in tissue can initiate hMSC differentiation into more tissue-specific cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konrad A Szychowski
- Department of Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Medical College, University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow, St. Sucharskiego 2, 35-225 Rzeszow, Poland.
| | - Bartosz Skóra
- Department of Biotechnology and Cell Biology, Medical College, University of Information Technology and Management in Rzeszow, St. Sucharskiego 2, 35-225 Rzeszow, Poland
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2
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Lin YC, Ku CC, Wuputra K, Liu CJ, Wu DC, Satou M, Mitsui Y, Saito S, Yokoyama KK. Possible Strategies to Reduce the Tumorigenic Risk of Reprogrammed Normal and Cancer Cells. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:5177. [PMID: 38791215 PMCID: PMC11120835 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25105177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2024] [Revised: 04/29/2024] [Accepted: 05/07/2024] [Indexed: 05/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The reprogramming of somatic cells to pluripotent stem cells has immense potential for use in regenerating or redeveloping tissues for transplantation, and the future application of this method is one of the most important research topics in regenerative medicine. These cells are generated from normal cells, adult stem cells, or neoplastic cancer cells. They express embryonic stem cell markers, such as OCT4, SOX2, and NANOG, and can differentiate into all tissue types in adults, both in vitro and in vivo. However, tumorigenicity, immunogenicity, and heterogeneity of cell populations may hamper the use of this method in medical therapeutics. The risk of cancer formation is dependent on mutations of these stemness genes during the transformation of pluripotent stem cells to cancer cells and on the alteration of the microenvironments of stem cell niches at genetic and epigenetic levels. Recent reports have shown that the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) derived from human fibroblasts could be induced using chemicals, which is a safe, easy, and clinical-grade manufacturing strategy for modifying the cell fate of human cells required for regeneration therapies. This strategy is one of the future routes for the clinical application of reprogramming therapy. Therefore, this review highlights the recent progress in research focused on decreasing the tumorigenic risk of iPSCs or iPSC-derived organoids and increasing the safety of iPSC cell preparation and their application for therapeutic benefits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Chu Lin
- School of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Cha-Chien Ku
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-C.K.); (K.W.)
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-J.L.); (D.-C.W.)
- Cell Therapy and Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
| | - Kenly Wuputra
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-C.K.); (K.W.)
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-J.L.); (D.-C.W.)
- Cell Therapy and Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
- Waseda Research Institute for Science and Engineering, Waseda University, Tokyo 169-8555, Japan
| | - Chung-Jung Liu
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-J.L.); (D.-C.W.)
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
| | - Deng-Chyang Wu
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-J.L.); (D.-C.W.)
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
| | - Maki Satou
- Research Institute, Horus Co., Ltd., Iruma 358-0032, Saitama, Japan; (M.S.); (Y.M.)
| | - Yukio Mitsui
- Research Institute, Horus Co., Ltd., Iruma 358-0032, Saitama, Japan; (M.S.); (Y.M.)
| | - Shigeo Saito
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-C.K.); (K.W.)
- Research Institute, Horus Co., Ltd., Iruma 358-0032, Saitama, Japan; (M.S.); (Y.M.)
- Saito Laboratory of Cell Technology, Yaita 329-1571, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Kazunari K. Yokoyama
- School of Dentistry, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, Department of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-C.K.); (K.W.)
- Regenerative Medicine and Cell Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (C.-J.L.); (D.-C.W.)
- Cell Therapy and Research Center, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan
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3
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Terrazzan A, Vanini R, Ancona P, Bianchi N, Taccioli C, Aguiari G. State-of-the-art in transposable element modulation affected by drugs in malignant prostatic cancer cells. J Cell Biochem 2024; 125:e30557. [PMID: 38501160 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.30557] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2024] [Accepted: 03/07/2024] [Indexed: 03/20/2024]
Abstract
Over recent years, the investigation of transposable elements (TEs) has granted researchers a deeper comprehension of their characteristics and functions, particularly regarding their significance in the mechanisms contributing to cancer development. This manuscript focuses on prostate carcinoma cell lines and offers a comprehensive review intended to scrutinize the associations and interactions between TEs and genes, as well as their response to treatment using various chemical drugs, emphasizing their involvement in cancer progression. We assembled a compendium of articles retrieved from the PubMed database to construct networks demonstrating correlations with genes and pharmaceuticals. In doing so, we linked the transposition of certain TE types to the expression of specific transcripts directly implicated in carcinogenesis. Additionally, we underline that treatment employing different drugs revealed unique patterns of TE reactivation. Our hypothesis gathers the current understanding and guides research toward evidence-based investigations, emphasizing the association between antiviral drugs, chemotherapy, and the reduced expression of TEs in patients affected by prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Terrazzan
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
- Laboratory for Advanced Therapy Technologies (LTTA), University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Riccardo Vanini
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Pietro Ancona
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Nicoletta Bianchi
- Department of Translational Medicine, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
| | - Cristian Taccioli
- Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health (MAPS), University of Padua, Padua, Italy
| | - Gianluca Aguiari
- Department of Neuroscience and Rehabilitation, University of Ferrara, Ferrara, Italy
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4
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Ko CI, Biesiada J, Zablon HA, Zhang X, Medvedovic M, Puga A. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor directs the differentiation of murine progenitor blastomeres. Cell Biol Toxicol 2023; 39:1657-1676. [PMID: 36029422 PMCID: PMC10425484 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-022-09755-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/02/2022]
Abstract
Key regulatory decisions during cleavage divisions in mammalian embryogenesis determine the fate of preimplantation embryonic cells. Single-cell RNA sequencing of early-stage-2-cell, 4-cell, and 8-cell-blastomeres show that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR), traditionally considered as an environmental sensor, directs blastomere differentiation. Disruption of AHR functions in Ahr knockout embryos or in embryos from dams exposed to dioxin, the prototypic xenobiotic AHR agonist, significantly impairs blastocyst formation, causing repression and loss of transcriptional heterogeneity of OCT4 and CDX2 and incidence of nonspecific downregulation of pluripotency. Trajectory-the path of differentiation-and gene variability analyses further confirm that deregulation of OCT4 functions and changes of transcriptional heterogeneity resulting from disruption of AHR functions restrict the emergence of differentiating blastomeres in 4-cell embryos. It appears that AHR directs the differentiation of progenitor blastomeres and that disruption of preimplantation AHR functions may significantly perturb embryogenesis leading to long-lasting conditions at the heart of disease in offspring's adulthood.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-I Ko
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences and Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA.
| | - Jacek Biesiada
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences and Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
- Center for Biostatistics, 160 Panzeca Way, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Hesbon A Zablon
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences and Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Xiang Zhang
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences and Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
- Genomics, Epigenomics, and Sequencing Core, 160 Panzeca Way, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Mario Medvedovic
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences and Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
- Center for Biostatistics, 160 Panzeca Way, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
| | - Alvaro Puga
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences and Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH, 45267, USA
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5
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Lu D, Lu J, Liu Q, Zhang Q. Emerging role of the RNA-editing enzyme ADAR1 in stem cell fate and function. Biomark Res 2023; 11:61. [PMID: 37280687 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-023-00503-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2023] [Accepted: 05/13/2023] [Indexed: 06/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Stem cells are critical for organism development and the maintenance of tissue homeostasis. Recent studies focusing on RNA editing have indicated how this mark controls stem cell fate and function in both normal and malignant states. RNA editing is mainly mediated by adenosine deaminase acting on RNA 1 (ADAR1). The RNA editing enzyme ADAR1 converts adenosine in a double-stranded RNA (dsRNA) substrate into inosine. ADAR1 is a multifunctional protein that regulate physiological processes including embryonic development, cell differentiation, and immune regulation, and even apply to the development of gene editing technologies. In this review, we summarize the structure and function of ADAR1 with a focus on how it can mediate distinct functions in stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. Targeting ADAR1 has emerged as a potential novel therapeutic strategy in both normal and dysregulated stem cell contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Di Lu
- The Biotherapy Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Jianxi Lu
- The Biotherapy Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China
| | - Qiuli Liu
- The Biotherapy Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
| | - Qi Zhang
- The Biotherapy Center, the Third Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, 510630, China.
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6
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Ricci M, Peona V, Boattini A, Taccioli C. Comparative analysis of bats and rodents' genomes suggests a relation between non-LTR retrotransposons, cancer incidence, and ageing. Sci Rep 2023; 13:9039. [PMID: 37270634 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-36006-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 05/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence in nature of species showing drastic differences in lifespan and cancer incidence has recently increased the interest of the scientific community. In particular, the adaptations and the genomic features underlying the evolution of cancer-resistant and long-lived organisms have recently focused on transposable elements (TEs). In this study, we compared the content and dynamics of TE activity in the genomes of four rodent and six bat species exhibiting different lifespans and cancer susceptibility. Mouse, rat, and guinea pig genomes (short-lived and cancer-prone organisms) were compared with that of naked mole rat (Heterocephalus glaber) which is a cancer-resistant organism and the rodent with the longest lifespan. The long-lived bats of the genera Myotis, Rhinolophus, Pteropus and Rousettus were instead compared with Molossus molossus, which is one of the organisms with the shortest lifespan among the order Chiroptera. Despite previous hypotheses stating a substantial tolerance of TEs in bats, we found that long-lived bats and the naked mole rat share a marked decrease of non-LTR retrotransposons (LINEs and SINEs) accumulation in recent evolutionary times.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Valentina Peona
- Department of Organismal Biology, Systematic Biology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden.
| | - Alessio Boattini
- Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristian Taccioli
- Department of Animal Medicine, Health and Production, University of Padova, Padua, Italy
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7
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From Nucleus to Organs: Insights of Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Molecular Mechanisms. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms232314919. [PMID: 36499247 PMCID: PMC9738205 DOI: 10.3390/ijms232314919] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Revised: 11/23/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a markedly established regulator of a plethora of cellular and molecular processes. Its initial role in the detoxification of xenobiotic compounds has been partially overshadowed by its involvement in homeostatic and organ physiology processes. In fact, the discovery of its ability to bind specific target regulatory sequences has allowed for the understanding of how AHR modulates such processes. Thereby, AHR presents functions in transcriptional regulation, chromatin architecture modifications and participation in different key signaling pathways. Interestingly, such fields of influence end up affecting organ and tissue homeostasis, including regenerative response both to endogenous and exogenous stimuli. Therefore, from classical spheres such as canonical transcriptional regulation in embryonic development, cell migration, differentiation or tumor progression to modern approaches in epigenetics, senescence, immune system or microbiome, this review covers all aspects derived from the balance between regulation/deregulation of AHR and its physio-pathological consequences.
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8
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Liver regeneration after partial hepatectomy is improved in the absence of aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Sci Rep 2022; 12:15446. [PMID: 36104446 PMCID: PMC9474532 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-19733-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The liver is among the few organs having the ability to self-regenerate in response to a severe damage compromising its functionality. The Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (Ahr) is a transcription factor relevant for the detoxification of xenobiotics but also largely important for liver development and homeostasis. Hence, liver cell differentiation is developmentally modulated by Ahr through the controlled expression of pluripotency and stemness-inducing genes. Here, 2/3 partial hepatectomy (PH) was used as a clinically relevant approach to induce liver regeneration in Ahr-expressing (Ahr+/+) and Ahr-null (Ahr−/−) mice. Ahr expression and activity were early induced after 2/3 PH to be gradually downmodulated latter during regeneration. Ahr−/− mice triggered liver regeneration much faster than AhR+/+ animals, although both reached full regeneration at the latest times. At initial stages after PHx, earlier regenerating Ahr−/− livers had upregulation of cell proliferation markers and increased activation of signalling pathways related to stemness such as Hippo-YAP and Wnt/β-catenin, concomitantly with the induction of pro-inflammatory cytokines TNFa, IL6 and p65. These phenotypes, together with the improved metabolic adaptation of Ahr−/− mice after PHx and their induced sustained cell proliferation, could likely result from the expansion of undifferentiated stem cells residing in the liver expressing OCT4, SOX2, KLF4 and NANOG. We propose that Ahr needs to be induced early during regeneration to fine-tune liver regrowth to physiological values. Since Ahr deficiency did not result in liver overgrowth, its transient pharmacological inhibition could serve to improve liver regeneration in hepatectomized and transplanted patients and in those exposed to damaging liver toxins and carcinogens.
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9
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Nacarino-Palma A, Rico-Leo EM, Campisi J, Ramanathan A, González-Rico FJ, Rejano-Gordillo CM, Ordiales-Talavero A, Merino JM, Fernández-Salguero PM. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor blocks aging-induced senescence in the liver and fibroblast cells. Aging (Albany NY) 2022; 14:4281-4304. [PMID: 35619220 PMCID: PMC9186759 DOI: 10.18632/aging.204103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 03/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Aging impairs organismal homeostasis leading to multiple pathologies. Yet, the mechanisms and molecular intermediates involved are largely unknown. Here, we report that aged aryl hydrocarbon receptor-null mice (AhR-/-) had exacerbated cellular senescence and more liver progenitor cells. Senescence-associated markers β-galactosidase (SA-β-Gal), p16Ink4a and p21Cip1 and genes encoding senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) factors TNF and IL1 were overexpressed in aged AhR-/- livers. Chromatin immunoprecipitation showed that AhR binding to those gene promoters repressed their expression, thus adjusting physiological levels in AhR+/+ livers. MCP-2, MMP12 and FGF secreted by senescent cells were overproduced in aged AhR-null livers. Supporting the relationship between senescence and stemness, liver progenitor cells were overrepresented in AhR-/- mice, probably contributing to increased hepatocarcinoma burden. These AhR roles are not liver-specific since adult and embryonic AhR-null fibroblasts underwent senescence in culture, overexpressing SA-β-Gal, p16Ink4a and p21Cip1. Notably, depletion of senescent cells with the senolytic agent navitoclax restored expression of senescent markers in AhR-/- fibroblasts, whereas senescence induction by palbociclib induced an AhR-null-like phenotype in AhR+/+ fibroblasts. AhR levels were downregulated by senescence in mouse lungs but restored upon depletion of p16Ink4a-expressing senescent cells. Thus, AhR restricts age-induced senescence associated to a differentiated phenotype eventually inducing resistance to liver tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Nacarino-Palma
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz 06071, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz 06071, Spain
| | - Eva M Rico-Leo
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz 06071, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz 06071, Spain
| | - Judith Campisi
- Buck Institute for Research on Aging, Novato, CA 94945, USA.,Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | | | - Francisco J González-Rico
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz 06071, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz 06071, Spain
| | - Claudia M Rejano-Gordillo
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz 06071, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz 06071, Spain
| | - Ana Ordiales-Talavero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz 06071, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz 06071, Spain
| | - Jaime M Merino
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz 06071, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz 06071, Spain
| | - Pedro M Fernández-Salguero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz 06071, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz 06071, Spain
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10
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Rejano-Gordillo C, Ordiales-Talavero A, Nacarino-Palma A, Merino JM, González-Rico FJ, Fernández-Salguero PM. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor: From Homeostasis to Tumor Progression. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:884004. [PMID: 35465323 PMCID: PMC9022225 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.884004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2022] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) has emerged as one of the main regulators involved both in different homeostatic cell functions and tumor progression. Being a member of the family of basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) transcriptional regulators, this intracellular receptor has become a key member in differentiation, pluripotency, chromatin dynamics and cell reprogramming processes, with plenty of new targets identified in the last decade. Besides this role in tissue homeostasis, one enthralling feature of AHR is its capacity of acting as an oncogene or tumor suppressor depending on the specific organ, tissue and cell type. Together with its well-known modulation of cell adhesion and migration in a cell-type specific manner in epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), this duality has also contributed to the arise of its clinical interest, highlighting a new potential as therapeutic tool, diagnosis and prognosis marker. Therefore, a deregulation of AHR-controlled pathways may have a causal role in contributing to physiological and homeostatic failures, tumor progression and dissemination. With that firmly in mind, this review will address the remarkable capability of AHR to exert a different function influenced by the phenotype of the target cell and its potential consequences.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Rejano-Gordillo
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Ana Ordiales-Talavero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Ana Nacarino-Palma
- Chronic Diseases Research Centre (CEDOC), Rua Do Instituto Bacteriológico, Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Jaime M. Merino
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Francisco J. González-Rico
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- *Correspondence: Francisco J. González-Rico, ; Pedro M. Fernández-Salguero,
| | - Pedro M. Fernández-Salguero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
- *Correspondence: Francisco J. González-Rico, ; Pedro M. Fernández-Salguero,
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11
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The aryl hydrocarbon receptor promotes differentiation during mouse preimplantational embryo development. Stem Cell Reports 2021; 16:2351-2363. [PMID: 34478649 PMCID: PMC8452532 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2021.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/29/2020] [Revised: 08/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian embryogenesis is a complex process controlled by transcription factors that regulate the balance between pluripotency and differentiation. Transcription factor aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) regulates OCT4/POU5F1 and NANOG, both essential controllers of pluripotency, stemness and early embryo development. Molecular mechanisms controlling OCT4/POU5F1 and NANOG during embryogenesis remain unidentified. We show that AhR regulates pluripotency factors and maintains the metabolic activity required for proper embryo differentiation. AhR-lacking embryos (AhR−/−) showed a pluripotent phenotype characterized by a delayed expression of trophectoderm differentiation markers. Accordingly, central pluripotency factors OCT4/POU5F1 and NANOG were overexpressed in AhR−/− embryos at initial developmental stages. An altered intracellular localization of these factors was observed in the absence of AhR and, importantly, Oct4 had an opposite expression pattern with respect to AhR from the two-cell stage to blastocyst, suggesting a negative regulation of OCT4/POU5F by AhR. We propose that AhR is a regulator of pluripotency and differentiation in early mouse embryogenesis. AhR regulates pluripotency factors OCT4 and NANOG during early embryo differentiation AhR lacking embryos (AhR−/−) show a pluripotent phenotype Pluripotent phenotype of AhR−/− embryos show enhanced glycolytic metabolism
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12
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Rico-Leo EM, Lorenzo-Martín LF, Román ÁC, Bustelo XR, Merino JM, Fernández-Salguero PM. Aryl hydrocarbon receptor controls skin homeostasis, regeneration, and hair follicle cycling by adjusting epidermal stem cell function. Stem Cells 2021; 39:1733-1750. [PMID: 34423894 DOI: 10.1002/stem.3443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Skin integrity requires constant maintenance of a quiescent, yet responsive, population of stem cells. While interfollicular epidermal progenitors control normal homeostasis, hair follicle stem cells residing within the bulge provide regenerative potential during hair cycle and in response to wounding. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) modulates cell plasticity and differentiation and its overactivation results in severe skin lesions in humans. However, its physiological role in skin homeostasis and hair growth is unknown. Reconstitution assays grafting primary keratinocytes and dermal fibroblasts into nude mice and 3-D epidermal equivalents revealed a positive role for AhR in skin regeneration, epidermal differentiation, and stem cell maintenance. Furthermore, lack of receptor expression in AhR-/- mice delayed morphogenesis and impaired hair regrowth with a phenotype closely correlating with a reduction in suprabasal bulge stem cells (α6low CD34+ ). Moreover, RNA-microarray and RT-qPCR analyses of fluorescence-activated cell sorting (FACS)-isolated bulge stem cells revealed that AhR depletion impaired transcriptional signatures typical of both epidermal progenitors and bulge stem cells but upregulated differentiation markers likely compromising their undifferentiated phenotype. Altogether, our findings support that AhR controls skin regeneration and homeostasis by ensuring epidermal stem cell identity and highlights this receptor as potential target for the treatment of cutaneous pathologies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eva María Rico-Leo
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz, Spain
| | | | - Ángel Carlos Román
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Xosé Ramón Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer and CIBERONC, CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jaime María Merino
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz, Spain
| | - Pedro María Fernández-Salguero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Spain.,Instituto Universitario de Investigación Biosanitaria de Extremadura (INUBE), Badajoz, Spain
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13
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Zablon HA, Ko CI, Puga A. Converging Roles of the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor in Early Embryonic Development, Maintenance of Stemness, and Tissue Repair. Toxicol Sci 2021; 182:1-9. [PMID: 34009372 PMCID: PMC8285021 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfab050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor well-known for its adaptive role as a sensor of environmental toxicants and mediator of the metabolic detoxification of xenobiotic ligands. In addition, a growing body of experimental data has provided indisputable evidence that the AHR regulates critical functions of cell physiology and embryonic development. Recent studies have shown that the naïve AHR-that is, unliganded to xenobiotics but activated endogenously-has a crucial role in maintenance of embryonic stem cell pluripotency, tissue repair, and regulation of cancer stem cell stemness. Depending on the cellular context, AHR silences the expression of pluripotency genes Oct4 and Nanog and potentiates differentiation, whereas curtailing cellular plasticity and stemness. In these processes, AHR-mediated contextual responses and outcomes are dictated by changes of interacting partners in signaling pathways, gene networks, and cell-type-specific genomic structures. In this review, we focus on AHR-mediated changes of genomic architecture as an emerging mechanism for the AHR to regulate gene expression at the transcriptional level. Collective evidence places this receptor as a physiological hub connecting multiple biological processes whose disruption impacts on embryonic development, tissue repair, and maintenance or loss of stemness.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Alvaro Puga
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Center for Environmental Genetics, University of Cincinnati College of Medicine, Cincinnati, Ohio 45267, USA
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14
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Leclerc D, Staats Pires AC, Guillemin GJ, Gilot D. Detrimental activation of AhR pathway in cancer: an overview of therapeutic strategies. Curr Opin Immunol 2021; 70:15-26. [PMID: 33429228 DOI: 10.1016/j.coi.2020.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Sustained transcriptional activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) promotes tumour growth and impairs the immune defence, at least for cutaneous melanoma and glioma. AhR ligands are produced by the tumour microenvironment (TME) and by the tumour itself (intracrine). The recent identification of interleukin-4-induced-1 (IL4I1), a parallel pathway to indoleamine 2 3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1)/ tryptophan 2,3-dioxygenase (TDO), and its ability to generate AhR ligands, confirms that a complete inhibition of AhR ligand production might be difficult to reach. Here, we have focused on recent discoveries explaining the large varieties of AhR ligands and the functional consequences in terms of cancer cell plasticity and consecutive therapy resistance. We also examined therapeutic strategies targeting the AhR signalling pathway and their possible adverse effects. Since the end of 2019, two phase I clinical trials have investigated the ability of the AhR antagonist to 'reset' the immune system and re-sensitize the cancer cells to therapies by preventing their dedifferentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Delphine Leclerc
- Inserm U1242, Université de Rennes, France, Centre de lutte contre le cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France
| | - Ananda Christina Staats Pires
- Neuroinflammation Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Laboratório de Bioenergética e Estresse Oxidativo, Departamento de Bioquímica, Centro de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina, Florianópolis, Brazil
| | - Gilles J Guillemin
- Neuroinflammation Group, Department of Biomedical Sciences, Centre for Motor Neuron Disease Research, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Human Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - David Gilot
- Inserm U1242, Université de Rennes, France, Centre de lutte contre le cancer Eugène Marquis, Rennes, France.
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15
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Mehravar M, Ghaemimanesh F, Poursani EM. An Overview on the Complexity of OCT4: at the Level of DNA, RNA and Protein. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 17:1121-1136. [PMID: 33389631 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-10098-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OCT4 plays critical roles in self-renewal and pluripotency maintenance of embryonic stem cells, and is considered as one of the main stemness markers. It also has pivotal roles in early stages of embryonic development. Most studies on OCT4 have focused on the expression and function of OCT4A, which is the biggest isoform of OCT4 known so far. Recently, many studies have shown that OCT4 has various transcript variants, protein isoforms, as well as pseudogenes. Distinguishing the expression and function of these variants and isoforms is a big challenge in expression profiling studies of OCT4. Understanding how OCT4 is functioning in different contexts, depends on knowing of where and when each of OCT4 transcripts, isoforms and pseudogenes are expressed. Here, we review OCT4 known transcripts, isoforms and pseudogenes, as well as its interactions with other proteins, and emphasize the importance of discriminating each of them in order to understand the exact function of OCT4 in stem cells, normal development and development of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Mehravar
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Development and Stem Cells Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Fatemeh Ghaemimanesh
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ensieh M Poursani
- Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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16
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Guerrina N, Aloufi N, Shi F, Prasade K, Mehrotra C, Traboulsi H, Matthews J, Eidelman DH, Hamid Q, Baglole CJ. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor reduces LC3II expression and controls endoplasmic reticulum stress. Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol 2020; 320:L339-L355. [PMID: 33236922 DOI: 10.1152/ajplung.00122.2020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor whose physiological function is poorly understood. The AhR is highly expressed in barrier organs such as the skin, intestine, and lung. The lungs are continuously exposed to environmental pollutants such as cigarette smoke (CS) that can induce cell death mechanisms such as apoptosis, autophagy, and endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. CS also contains toxicants that are AhR ligands. We have previously shown that the AhR protects against apoptosis, but whether the AhR also protects against autophagy or ER stress is not known. Using cigarette smoke extract (CSE) as our in vitro surrogate of environmental tobacco exposure, we first assessed the conversion of LC3I to LC3II, a classic feature of both autophagic and ER stress-mediated cell death pathways. LC3II was elevated in CSE-exposed lung structural cells [mouse lung fibroblasts (MLFs), MLE12 and A549 cells] when AhR was absent. However, this heightened LC3II expression could not be explained by increased expression of key autophagy genes (Gabarapl1, Becn1, Map1lc3b), upregulation of upstream autophagic machinery (Atg5-12, Atg3), or impaired autophagic flux, suggesting that LC3II may be autophagy independent. This was further supported by the absence of autophagosomes in Ahr-/- lung cells. However, Ahr-/- lung cells had widespread ER dilation, elevated expression of the ER stress markers CHOP and GADD34, and an accumulation of ubiquitinated proteins. These findings collectively illustrate a novel role for the AhR in attenuating ER stress by a mechanism that may be autophagy independent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Necola Guerrina
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Noof Aloufi
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Fangyi Shi
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Kashmira Prasade
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Caitlin Mehrotra
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Hussein Traboulsi
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Jason Matthews
- Department of Nutrition, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway.,Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David H Eidelman
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
| | - Qutayba Hamid
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,College of Medicine, University of Sharjah, Sharjah, United Arab Emirates
| | - Carolyn J Baglole
- Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Pathology, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada.,Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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17
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Han H, Davidson LA, Fan Y, Goldsby JS, Yoon G, Jin U, Wright GA, Landrock KK, Weeks BR, Wright RC, Allred CD, Jayaraman A, Ivanov I, Roper J, Safe SH, Chapkin RS. Loss of aryl hydrocarbon receptor potentiates FoxM1 signaling to enhance self-renewal of colonic stem and progenitor cells. EMBO J 2020; 39:e104319. [PMID: 32915464 PMCID: PMC7527924 DOI: 10.15252/embj.2019104319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2019] [Revised: 06/28/2020] [Accepted: 07/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-activated transcription factor that senses xenobiotics, diet, and gut microbial-derived metabolites, is increasingly recognized as a key regulator of intestinal biology. However, its effects on the function of colonic stem and progenitor cells remain largely unexplored. Here, we observed that inducible deletion of AhR in Lgr5+ stem cells increases the percentage of colonic stem cells and enhances organoid initiating capacity and growth of sorted stem and progenitor cells, while AhR activation has the opposite effect. Moreover, intestinal-specific AhR knockout increases basal stem cell and crypt injury-induced cell proliferation and promotes colon tumorigenesis in a preclinical colitis-associated tumor model by upregulating FoxM1 signaling. Mechanistically, AhR transcriptionally suppresses FoxM1 expression. Activation of AhR in human organoids recapitulates phenotypes observed in mice, such as reduction in the percentage of colonic stem cells, promotion of stem cell differentiation, and attenuation of FoxM1 signaling. These findings indicate that the AhR-FoxM1 axis, at least in part, mediates colonic stem/progenitor cell behavior.
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Affiliation(s)
- Huajun Han
- Program in Integrative Nutrition and Complex DiseasesTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA,Department of Biochemistry & BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Laurie A Davidson
- Program in Integrative Nutrition and Complex DiseasesTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA,Department of NutritionTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Yang‐Yi Fan
- Program in Integrative Nutrition and Complex DiseasesTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA,Department of NutritionTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Jennifer S Goldsby
- Program in Integrative Nutrition and Complex DiseasesTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA,Department of NutritionTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Grace Yoon
- Department of StatisticsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Un‐Ho Jin
- Veterinary Physiology and PharmacologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Gus A Wright
- Department of Veterinary PathobiologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Kerstin K Landrock
- Program in Integrative Nutrition and Complex DiseasesTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA,Department of NutritionTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Bradley R Weeks
- Department of Veterinary PathobiologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Rachel C Wright
- Program in Integrative Nutrition and Complex DiseasesTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA,Department of NutritionTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | | | - Arul Jayaraman
- Department of Chemical EngineeringTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Ivan Ivanov
- Program in Integrative Nutrition and Complex DiseasesTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA,Veterinary Physiology and PharmacologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Jatin Roper
- Department of MedicineDivision of GastroenterologyDuke University School of MedicineDurhamNCUSA
| | - Stephen H Safe
- Veterinary Physiology and PharmacologyTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
| | - Robert S Chapkin
- Program in Integrative Nutrition and Complex DiseasesTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA,Department of Biochemistry & BiophysicsTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA,Department of NutritionTexas A&M UniversityCollege StationTXUSA
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18
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Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Connects Inflammation to Breast Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2020; 21:ijms21155264. [PMID: 32722276 PMCID: PMC7432832 DOI: 10.3390/ijms21155264] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2020] [Revised: 07/12/2020] [Accepted: 07/20/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), an evolutionary conserved transcription factor, is a pleiotropic signal transductor. Thanks to its promiscuous ligand binding domain, during the evolution of eukaryotic cells its developmental functions were integrated with biosensor functions. Its activation by a multitude of endogenous and exogenous molecules stimulates its participation in several pathways, some of which are linked to inflammation and breast cancer (BC). Over time, the study of this malignancy has led to the identification of several therapeutic targets in cancer cells. An intense area of study is dedicated to BC phenotypes lacking adequate targets. In this context, due to its high constitutive activation in BC, AhR is currently gaining more and more attention. In this review, I have considered its interactions with: 1. the immune system, whose dysregulation is a renowned cancer hallmark; 2. interleukin 6 (IL6) which is a pivotal inflammatory marker and is closely correlated to breast cancer risk; 3. NF-kB, another evolutionary conserved transcription factor, which plays a key role in immunoregulatory functions, inflammatory response and breast carcinogenesis; 4. kynurenine, a tryptophan-derived ligand that activates and bridges AhR to chronic inflammation and breast carcinogenesis. Overall, the data here presented form an interesting framework where AhR is an interesting connector between inflammation and BC.
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19
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González-Rico FJ, Vicente-García C, Fernández A, Muñoz-Santos D, Montoliu L, Morales-Hernández A, Merino JM, Román AC, Fernández-Salguero PM. Alu retrotransposons modulate Nanog expression through dynamic changes in regional chromatin conformation via aryl hydrocarbon receptor. Epigenetics Chromatin 2020; 13:15. [PMID: 32169107 PMCID: PMC7071633 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-020-00336-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2019] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional repression of Nanog is an important hallmark of stem cell differentiation. Chromatin modifications have been linked to the epigenetic profile of the Nanog gene, but whether chromatin organization actually plays a causal role in Nanog regulation is still unclear. Here, we report that the formation of a chromatin loop in the Nanog locus is concomitant to its transcriptional downregulation during human NTERA-2 cell differentiation. We found that two Alu elements flanking the Nanog gene were bound by the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and the insulator protein CTCF during cell differentiation. Such binding altered the profile of repressive histone modifications near Nanog likely leading to gene insulation through the formation of a chromatin loop between the two Alu elements. Using a dCAS9-guided proteomic screening, we found that interaction of the histone methyltransferase PRMT1 and the chromatin assembly factor CHAF1B with the Alu elements flanking Nanog was required for chromatin loop formation and Nanog repression. Therefore, our results uncover a chromatin-driven, retrotransposon-regulated mechanism for the control of Nanog expression during cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francisco J González-Rico
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de Elvas s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Cristina Vicente-García
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, C/Darwin 3, 28049, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Almudena Fernández
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, C/Darwin 3, 28049, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Diego Muñoz-Santos
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, C/Darwin 3, 28049, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lluís Montoliu
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Centro Nacional de Biotecnología (CNB), Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (CSIC), Campus de Cantoblanco, C/Darwin 3, 28049, Madrid, Spain.,Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Enfermedades Raras (CIBERER), ISCIII, Madrid, Spain
| | - Antonio Morales-Hernández
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de Elvas s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Jaime M Merino
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de Elvas s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain
| | - Angel-Carlos Román
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de Elvas s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain.
| | - Pedro M Fernández-Salguero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Av. de Elvas s/n, 06071, Badajoz, Spain.
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20
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The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: an environmental sensor integrating immune responses in health and disease. Nat Rev Immunol 2019; 19:184-197. [PMID: 30718831 DOI: 10.1038/s41577-019-0125-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 638] [Impact Index Per Article: 127.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The environment, diet, microbiota and body's metabolism shape complex biological processes in health and disease. However, our understanding of the molecular pathways involved in these processes is still limited. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that integrates environmental, dietary, microbial and metabolic cues to control complex transcriptional programmes in a ligand-specific, cell-type-specific and context-specific manner. In this Review, we summarize our current knowledge of AHR and the transcriptional programmes it controls in the immune system. Finally, we discuss the role of AHR in autoimmune and neoplastic diseases of the central nervous system, with a special focus on the gut immune system, the gut-brain axis and the therapeutic potential of targeting AHR in neurological disorders.
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21
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Petrie JL, Swan C, Ingram RM, Frame FM, Collins AT, Dumay-Odelot H, Teichmann M, Maitland NJ, White RJ. Effects on prostate cancer cells of targeting RNA polymerase III. Nucleic Acids Res 2019; 47:3937-3956. [PMID: 30820548 PMCID: PMC6486637 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkz128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2019] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 02/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
RNA polymerase (pol) III occurs in two forms, containing either the POLR3G subunit or the related paralogue POLR3GL. Whereas POLR3GL is ubiquitous, POLR3G is enriched in undifferentiated cells. Depletion of POLR3G selectively triggers proliferative arrest and differentiation of prostate cancer cells, responses not elicited when POLR3GL is depleted. A small molecule pol III inhibitor can cause POLR3G depletion, induce similar differentiation and suppress proliferation and viability of cancer cells. This response involves control of the fate-determining factor NANOG by small RNAs derived from Alu short interspersed nuclear elements. Tumour initiating activity in vivo can be reduced by transient exposure to the pol III inhibitor. Untransformed prostate cells appear less sensitive than cancer cells to pol III depletion or inhibition, raising the possibility of a therapeutic window.
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Affiliation(s)
- John L Petrie
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Caroline Swan
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Richard M Ingram
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Fiona M Frame
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Anne T Collins
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Hélène Dumay-Odelot
- Université de Bordeaux, ARNA Laboratory, F-33076 Bordeaux, France INSERM, U1212 - CNRS UMR 5320, ARNA Laboratory, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Martin Teichmann
- Université de Bordeaux, ARNA Laboratory, F-33076 Bordeaux, France INSERM, U1212 - CNRS UMR 5320, ARNA Laboratory, F-33000 Bordeaux, France
| | - Norman J Maitland
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
| | - Robert J White
- Department of Biology, University of York, Heslington, York YO10 5DD, UK
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22
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Alu RNA Modulates the Expression of Cell Cycle Genes in Human Fibroblasts. Int J Mol Sci 2019; 20:ijms20133315. [PMID: 31284509 PMCID: PMC6651528 DOI: 10.3390/ijms20133315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2019] [Revised: 06/27/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Alu retroelements, whose retrotransposition requires prior transcription by RNA polymerase III to generate Alu RNAs, represent the most numerous non-coding RNA (ncRNA) gene family in the human genome. Alu transcription is generally kept to extremely low levels by tight epigenetic silencing, but it has been reported to increase under different types of cell perturbation, such as viral infection and cancer. Alu RNAs, being able to act as gene expression modulators, may be directly involved in the mechanisms determining cellular behavior in such perturbed states. To directly address the regulatory potential of Alu RNAs, we generated IMR90 fibroblasts and HeLa cell lines stably overexpressing two slightly different Alu RNAs, and analyzed genome-wide the expression changes of protein-coding genes through RNA-sequencing. Among the genes that were upregulated or downregulated in response to Alu overexpression in IMR90, but not in HeLa cells, we found a highly significant enrichment of pathways involved in cell cycle progression and mitotic entry. Accordingly, Alu overexpression was found to promote transition from G1 to S phase, as revealed by flow cytometry. Therefore, increased Alu RNA may contribute to sustained cell proliferation, which is an important factor of cancer development and progression.
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23
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Exaptation at the molecular genetic level. SCIENCE CHINA-LIFE SCIENCES 2018; 62:437-452. [PMID: 30798493 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-018-9447-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2018] [Accepted: 12/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The realization that body parts of animals and plants can be recruited or coopted for novel functions dates back to, or even predates the observations of Darwin. S.J. Gould and E.S. Vrba recognized a mode of evolution of characters that differs from adaptation. The umbrella term aptation was supplemented with the concept of exaptation. Unlike adaptations, which are restricted to features built by selection for their current role, exaptations are features that currently enhance fitness, even though their present role was not a result of natural selection. Exaptations can also arise from nonaptations; these are characters which had previously been evolving neutrally. All nonaptations are potential exaptations. The concept of exaptation was expanded to the molecular genetic level which aided greatly in understanding the enormous potential of neutrally evolving repetitive DNA-including transposed elements, formerly considered junk DNA-for the evolution of genes and genomes. The distinction between adaptations and exaptations is outlined in this review and examples are given. Also elaborated on is the fact that such distinctions are sometimes more difficult to determine; this is a widespread phenomenon in biology, where continua abound and clear borders between states and definitions are rare.
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Shinde R, McGaha TL. The Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor: Connecting Immunity to the Microenvironment. Trends Immunol 2018; 39:1005-1020. [PMID: 30409559 DOI: 10.1016/j.it.2018.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 177] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Revised: 10/10/2018] [Accepted: 10/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a cytoplasmic receptor and transcription factor activated through cognate ligand binding. It is an important factor in immunity and tissue homeostasis, and structurally diverse compounds from the environment, diet, microbiome, and host metabolism can induce AhR activity. Emerging evidence suggests that AhR is a key sensor allowing immune cells to adapt to environmental conditions and changes in AhR activity have been associated with autoimmune disorders and cancer. Furthermore, AhR agonists or antagonists can impact immune disease outcomes identifying AhR as a potentially actionable target for immunotherapy. In this review, we describe known ligands stimulating AhR activity, downstream proinflammatory and suppressive mechanisms potentiated by AhR, and how this understanding is being applied to immunopathology to help control disease outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Shinde
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tracy L McGaha
- Tumor Immunotherapy Program, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Immunology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Rannug A, Rannug U. The tryptophan derivative 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole, FICZ, a dynamic mediator of endogenous aryl hydrocarbon receptor signaling, balances cell growth and differentiation. Crit Rev Toxicol 2018; 48:555-574. [PMID: 30226107 DOI: 10.1080/10408444.2018.1493086] [Citation(s) in RCA: 71] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is not essential to survival, but does act as a key regulator of many normal physiological events. The role of this receptor in toxicological processes has been studied extensively, primarily employing the high-affinity ligand 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). However, regulation of physiological responses by endogenous AHR ligands remains to be elucidated. Here, we review developments in this field, with a focus on 6-formylindolo[3,2-b]carbazole (FICZ), the endogenous ligand with the highest affinity to the receptor reported to date. The binding of FICZ to different isoforms of the AHR seems to be evolutionarily well conserved and there is a feedback loop that controls AHR activity through metabolic degradation of FICZ via the highly inducible cytochrome P450 1A1. Several investigations provide strong evidence that FICZ plays a critical role in normal physiological processes and can ameliorate immune diseases with remarkable efficiency. Low levels of FICZ are pro-inflammatory, providing resistance to pathogenic bacteria, stimulating the anti-tumor functions, and promoting the differentiation of cancer cells by repressing genes in cancer stem cells. In contrast, at high concentrations FICZ behaves in a manner similar to TCDD, exhibiting toxicity toward fish and bird embryos, immune suppression, and activation of cancer progression. The findings are indicative of a dual role for endogenously activated AHR in barrier tissues, aiding clearance of infections and suppressing immunity to terminate a vicious cycle that might otherwise lead to disease. There is not much support for the AHR ligand-specific immune responses proposed, the differences between FICZ and TCDD in this context appear to be explained by the rapid metabolism of FICZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Agneta Rannug
- a Karolinska Institutet, Institute of Environmental Medicine , Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Ulf Rannug
- b Department of Molecular Biosciences , The Wenner-Gren Institute, Stockholm University , Stockholm , Sweden
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Janosik T, Rannug A, Rannug U, Wahlström N, Slätt J, Bergman J. Chemistry and Properties of Indolocarbazoles. Chem Rev 2018; 118:9058-9128. [PMID: 30191712 DOI: 10.1021/acs.chemrev.8b00186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 88] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The indolocarbazoles are an important class of nitrogen heterocycles which has evolved significantly in recent years, with numerous studies focusing on their diverse biological effects, or targeting new materials with potential applications in organic electronics. This review aims at providing a broad survey of the chemistry and properties of indolocarbazoles from an interdisciplinary point of view, with particular emphasis on practical synthetic aspects, as well as certain topics which have not been previously accounted for in detail, such as the occurrence, formation, biological activities, and metabolism of indolo[3,2- b]carbazoles. The literature of the past decade forms the basis of the text, which is further supplemented with older key references.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomasz Janosik
- Research Institutes of Sweden , Bioscience and Materials, RISE Surface, Process and Formulation , SE-151 36 Södertälje , Sweden
| | - Agneta Rannug
- Institute of Environmental Medicine , Karolinska Institutet , SE-171 77 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Ulf Rannug
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute , Stockholm University , SE-106 91 Stockholm , Sweden
| | | | - Johnny Slätt
- Department of Chemistry, Applied Physical Chemistry , KTH Royal Institute of Technology , SE-100 44 Stockholm , Sweden
| | - Jan Bergman
- Karolinska Institutet , Department of Biosciences and Nutrition , SE-141 83 Huddinge , Sweden
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Gutiérrez-Vázquez C, Quintana FJ. Regulation of the Immune Response by the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor. Immunity 2018; 48:19-33. [PMID: 29343438 DOI: 10.1016/j.immuni.2017.12.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 573] [Impact Index Per Article: 95.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2017] [Revised: 10/04/2017] [Accepted: 12/21/2017] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that is activated by small molecules provided by the diet, microorganisms, metabolism, and pollutants. AhR is expressed by a number of immune cells, and thus AhR signaling provides a molecular pathway that integrates the effects of the environment and metabolism on the immune response. Studies have shown that AhR signaling plays important roles in the immune system in health and disease. As its activity is regulated by small molecules, AhR also constitutes a potential target for therapeutic immunomodulation. In this review we discuss the role of AhR in the regulation of the immune response in the context of autoimmunity, infection, and cancer, as well as the potential opportunities and challenges of developing AhR-targeted therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cristina Gutiérrez-Vázquez
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Francisco J Quintana
- Ann Romney Center for Neurologic Diseases, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA; The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA, USA.
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28
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Guichard E, Peona V, Malagoli Tagliazucchi G, Abitante L, Jagoda E, Musella M, Ricci M, Rubio-Roldán A, Sarno S, Luiselli D, Pettener D, Taccioli C, Pagani L, Garcia-Perez JL, Boattini A. Impact of non-LTR retrotransposons in the differentiation and evolution of anatomically modern humans. Mob DNA 2018; 9:28. [PMID: 30147753 PMCID: PMC6094920 DOI: 10.1186/s13100-018-0133-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Transposable elements are biologically important components of eukaryote genomes. In particular, non-LTR retrotransposons (N-LTRrs) played a key role in shaping the human genome throughout evolution. In this study, we compared retrotransposon insertions differentially present in the genomes of Anatomically Modern Humans, Neanderthals, Denisovans and Chimpanzees, in order to assess the possible impact of retrotransposition in the differentiation of the human lineage. Results We first identified species-specific N-LTRrs and established their distribution in present day human populations. These analyses shortlisted a group of N-LTRr insertions that were found exclusively in Anatomically Modern Humans. These insertions are associated with an increase in the number of transcriptional/splicing variants of those genes they inserted in. The analysis of the functionality of genes containing human-specific N-LTRr insertions reflects changes that occurred during human evolution. In particular, the expression of genes containing the most recent N-LTRr insertions is enriched in the brain, especially in undifferentiated neurons, and these genes associate in networks related to neuron maturation and migration. Additionally, we identified candidate N-LTRr insertions that have likely produced new functional variants exclusive to modern humans, whose genomic loci show traces of positive selection. Conclusions Our results strongly suggest that N-LTRr impacted our differentiation as a species, most likely inducing an increase in neural complexity, and have been a constant source of genomic variability all throughout the evolution of the human lineage. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13100-018-0133-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Etienne Guichard
- 1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Valentina Peona
- 1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy.,2Department of Evolutionary Biology (EBC), Uppsala University, SE-752 36 Uppsala, Sweden
| | | | - Lucia Abitante
- 1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Evelyn Jagoda
- 4Human Evolutionary Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138 USA
| | - Margherita Musella
- 1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Marco Ricci
- 1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Alejandro Rubio-Roldán
- 5GENYO - Pfizer - Universidad de Granada - Junta de Andalucía Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS Granada, 18007 Granada, Spain
| | - Stefania Sarno
- 1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Donata Luiselli
- 6Department of Cultural Heritage, University of Bologna, Ravenna Campus, 48121 Ravenna, Italy
| | - Davide Pettener
- 1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
| | - Cristian Taccioli
- 7Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro, Pd Italy
| | - Luca Pagani
- 8Department of Biology, University of Padova, 35131 Padova, Italy.,9Estonian Biocentre, Institute of Genomics, University of Tartu, 51010 Tartu, Estonia
| | - Jose Luis Garcia-Perez
- 5GENYO - Pfizer - Universidad de Granada - Junta de Andalucía Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research, PTS Granada, 18007 Granada, Spain.,MRC Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM), University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh, EH4 2XU UK
| | - Alessio Boattini
- 1Department of Biological, Geological and Environmental Sciences, University of Bologna, 40126 Bologna, Italy
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Whole Genome Sequence of an Edible and Potential Medicinal Fungus, Cordyceps guangdongensis. G3-GENES GENOMES GENETICS 2018; 8:1863-1870. [PMID: 29666196 PMCID: PMC5982816 DOI: 10.1534/g3.118.200287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Cordyceps guangdongensis is an edible fungus which was approved as a novel food by the Chinese Ministry of Public Health in 2013. It also has a broad prospect of application in pharmaceutical industries, with many medicinal activities. In this study, the whole genome of C. guangdongensis GD15, a single spore isolate from a wild strain, was sequenced and assembled with Illumina and PacBio sequencing technology. The generated genome is 29.05 Mb in size, comprising nine scaffolds with an average GC content of 57.01%. It is predicted to contain a total of 9150 protein-coding genes. Sequence identification and comparative analysis indicated that the assembled scaffolds contained two complete chromosomes and four single-end chromosomes, showing a high level assembly. Gene annotation revealed a diversity of transposons that could contribute to the genome size and evolution. Besides, approximately 15.57% and 12.01% genes involved in metabolic processes were annotated by KEGG and COG respectively. Genes belonging to CAZymes accounted for 3.15% of the total genes. In addition, 435 transcription factors, involved in various biological processes, were identified. Among the identified transcription factors, the fungal transcription regulatory proteins (18.39%) and fungal-specific transcription factors (19.77%) represented the two largest classes of transcription factors. This genomic resource provided a new insight into better understanding the relevance of phenotypic characters and genetic mechanisms in C. guangdongensis.
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Moreno-Marín N, Merino JM, Alvarez-Barrientos A, Patel DP, Takahashi S, González-Sancho JM, Gandolfo P, Rios RM, Muñoz A, Gonzalez FJ, Fernández-Salguero PM. Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Promotes Liver Polyploidization and Inhibits PI3K, ERK, and Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling. iScience 2018; 4:44-63. [PMID: 30240752 PMCID: PMC6147018 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2018.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 04/25/2018] [Accepted: 05/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) deficiency alters tissue homeostasis. However, how AhR regulates organ maturation and differentiation remains mostly unknown. Liver differentiation entails a polyploidization process fundamental for cell growth, metabolism, and stress responses. Here, we report that AhR regulates polyploidization during the preweaning-to-adult mouse liver maturation. Preweaning AhR-null (AhR−/−) livers had smaller hepatocytes, hypercellularity, altered cell cycle regulation, and enhanced proliferation. Those phenotypes persisted in adult AhR−/− mice and correlated with compromised polyploidy, predominance of diploid hepatocytes, and enlarged centrosomes. Phosphatidylinositol-3-phosphate kinase (PI3K), extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), and Wnt/β-catenin signaling remained upregulated from preweaning to adult AhR-null liver, likely increasing mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) activation. Metabolomics revealed the deregulation of mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation intermediates succinate and fumarate in AhR−/− liver. Consistently, PI3K, ERK, and Wnt/β-catenin inhibition partially rescued polyploidy in AhR−/− mice. Thus, AhR may integrate survival, proliferation, and metabolism for liver polyploidization. Since tumor cells tend to be polyploid, AhR modulation could have therapeutic value in the liver. AhR is required for liver polyploidization during preweaning-to-adult transition INS-R/PI3K/AKT, ERK, Wnt/β-Cat and mTOR are downregulated during liver polyploidization Reduced polyploidy relates with enhanced mitochondrial metabolism in AhR-null liver Understanding how AhR modulates polyploidy may provide strategies against cancer
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Affiliation(s)
- Nuria Moreno-Marín
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Badajoz 06071, Spain
| | - Jaime M Merino
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Badajoz 06071, Spain
| | - Alberto Alvarez-Barrientos
- Servicio de Técnicas Aplicadas a las Biociencias (STAB), Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Badajoz 06071, Spain
| | - Daxeshkumar P Patel
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Shogo Takahashi
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - José M González-Sancho
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and CIBER de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Pablo Gandolfo
- Cell Signaling Department, CABIMER-CSIC, Sevilla 41092, Spain
| | - Rosa M Rios
- Cell Signaling Department, CABIMER-CSIC, Sevilla 41092, Spain
| | - Alberto Muñoz
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas "Alberto Sols", Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas - Universidad Autónoma de Madrid, and CIBER de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Madrid 28029, Spain
| | - Frank J Gonzalez
- Laboratory of Metabolism, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Pedro M Fernández-Salguero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, Badajoz, Badajoz 06071, Spain.
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31
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Roman ÁC, Carvajal-Gonzalez JM, Merino JM, Mulero-Navarro S, Fernández-Salguero PM. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor in the crossroad of signalling networks with therapeutic value. Pharmacol Ther 2017; 185:50-63. [PMID: 29258844 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2017.12.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) is well-known for its major contributions to the cellular responses against environmental toxins and carcinogens. Notably, AhR has also emerged as a key transcription factor controlling many physiological processes including cell proliferation and apoptosis, differentiation, adhesion and migration, pluripotency and stemness. These novel functions have broadened our understanding of the signalling pathways and molecular intermediates interacting with AhR under both homeostatic and pathological conditions. Recent discoveries link AhR with the function of essential organs such as liver, skin and gonads, and with complex organismal structures including the immune and cardiovascular systems. The identification of potential endogenous ligands able to regulate AhR activity, opens the possibility of designing ad hoc molecules with pharmacological and/or therapeutic value to treat human diseases in which AhR may have a causal role. Integration of experimental data from in vitro and in vivo studies with "omic" analyses of human patients affected with cancer, immune diseases, inflammation or neurological disorders will likely contribute to validate the clinical relevance of AhR and the possible benefits of modulating its activity by pharmacologically-driven strategies. In this review, we will highlight signalling pathways involved in human diseases that could be targetable by AhR modulators and discuss the feasibility of using such molecules in therapy. The pros and cons of AhR-aimed approaches will be also mentioned.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ángel C Roman
- Champalimaud Neuroscience Programme, Champalimoud Center for the Unknown, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - José M Carvajal-Gonzalez
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Jaime M Merino
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Sonia Mulero-Navarro
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain.
| | - Pedro M Fernández-Salguero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain.
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Karakülah G. RTFAdb: A database of computationally predicted associations between retrotransposons and transcription factors in the human and mouse genomes. Genomics 2017; 110:257-262. [PMID: 29155231 DOI: 10.1016/j.ygeno.2017.11.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2017] [Revised: 10/31/2017] [Accepted: 11/14/2017] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In recent years, retrotransposons have gained increasing attention as a source of binding motifs for transcription factors (TFs). Despite the substantial roles of these mobile genetic elements in the regulation of gene expression, a comprehensive resource enabling the investigation of retrotransposon species that are bound by TFs is still lacking. Herein, I introduce for the first time a novel database called RTFAdb, which allows exploring computationally predicted associations between retrotransposons and TFs in diverse cell lines and tissues of human and mouse. My database, using over 3.000 TF ChIP-seq binding profiles collected from human and mouse samples, makes possible searching more than 1.500 retrotransposon species in the binding sites of a total of 596 TFs. RTFAdb is freely available at http://tools.ibg.deu.edu.tr/rtfa/ and has the potential to offer novel insights into mammalian transcriptional networks by providing an additional layer of information regarding the regulatory roles of retrotransposons.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gökhan Karakülah
- İzmir International Biomedicine and Genome Institute (iBG-İzmir), Dokuz Eylül University, 35340, İnciraltı, İzmir, Turkey.
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Morales-Hernández A, Nacarino-Palma A, Moreno-Marín N, Barrasa E, Paniagua-Quiñones B, Catalina-Fernández I, Alvarez-Barrientos A, Bustelo XR, Merino JM, Fernández-Salguero PM. Lung regeneration after toxic injury is improved in absence of dioxin receptor. Stem Cell Res 2017; 25:61-71. [PMID: 29107893 DOI: 10.1016/j.scr.2017.10.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2017] [Revised: 08/07/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent experimental evidences from cellular systems and from mammalian and non-mammalian animal models highlight novel functions for the aryl hydrocarbon/dioxin receptor (AhR) in maintaining cell differentiation and tissue homeostasis. Notably, AhR depletion stimulates an undifferentiated and pluripotent phenotype likely associated to a mesenchymal transition in epithelial cells and to increased primary tumorigenesis and metastasis in melanoma. In this work, we have used a lung model of epithelial regeneration to investigate whether AhR regulates proper tissue repair by adjusting the expansion of undifferentiated stem-like cells. AhR-null mice developed a faster and more efficient repair of the lung bronchiolar epithelium upon naphthalene injury that required increased cell proliferation and the earlier activation of stem-like Clara, Basal and neuroepithelial cells precursors. Increased basal content in multipotent Sca1+/CD31-/CD4- cells and in cells expressing pluripotency factors NANOG and OCT4 could also improve re-epithelialization in AhR-null lungs. The reduced response of AhR-deficient lungs to Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) repression shortly after injury may also help their improved bronchiolar epithelium repair. These results support a role for AhR in the regenerative response against toxins, and open the possibility of modulating its activation level to favor recovery from lesions caused by environmental contaminants.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ana Nacarino-Palma
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Nuria Moreno-Marín
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Eva Barrasa
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
| | - Beroé Paniagua-Quiñones
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain
| | | | | | - Xosé R Bustelo
- Centro de Investigación del Cáncer and CIBERONC, CSIC-Universidad de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain
| | - Jaime M Merino
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain.
| | - Pedro M Fernández-Salguero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura, 06071 Badajoz, Spain.
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Gao WQ, Ma J, Sun LL, Li Q, Zhu RY, Jin J. Paclitaxel-mediated human aryl hydrocarbon receptor mRNA translation by an internal ribosomal entry site-dependent mechanism. Oncol Rep 2017; 38:3211-3219. [PMID: 29048649 DOI: 10.3892/or.2017.5958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2016] [Accepted: 05/02/2017] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor that is best known in mediating the toxicities of dioxins and dioxin-like compounds. AHR is activated by a variety of endogenous ligands and participating in tumor development. Thus, it will provide a new approach for cancer prevention and treatment to study the translation mechanism of AHR in tumor cells. In this study, we show that the 5'-untranslated region (UTR) of AHR mRNA contains an internal ribosome entry site (IRES). After mapping the entire AHR 5'-UTR, we determined that the full-length 5'-UTR is indispensable for the highest IRES activity. Interestingly, we found that AHR expression is induced in ovarian (A2780), breast (MDA-MB231), hepatic (Bel7402) and colorectal cancer cells (SW620) by chemotherapeutic drug paclitaxel (PTX) through IRES-dependent translation mechanism. Moreover, IRES activity is increased in the PTX-resistant ovarian cancer cells in which AHR protein expression was also enhanced. These results strongly suggest an important role for AHR IRES-dependent translation mechanism in cancer cell response to paclitaxel treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Qing Gao
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Jing Ma
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Liu-Liu Sun
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Qi Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Rui-Yu Zhu
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
| | - Jian Jin
- Laboratory of Molecular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Jiangnan University, Wuxi, Jiangsu 214122, P.R. China
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35
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Dioxin Receptor Adjusts Liver Regeneration After Acute Toxic Injury and Protects Against Liver Carcinogenesis. Sci Rep 2017; 7:10420. [PMID: 28874739 PMCID: PMC5585208 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-10984-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) has roles in cell proliferation, differentiation and organ homeostasis, including the liver. AhR depletion induces undifferentiation and pluripotency in normal and transformed cells. Here, AhR-null mice (AhR-/-) were used to explore whether AhR controls liver regeneration and carcinogenesis by restricting the expansion of stem-like cells and the expression of pluripotency genes. Short-term CCl4 liver damage was earlier and more efficiently repaired in AhR-/- than in AhR+/+ mice. Stem-like CK14 + and TBX3 + and pluripotency-expressing OCT4 + and NANOG + cells expanded sooner in AhR-/- than in AhR+/+ regenerating livers. Stem-like side population cells (SP) isolated from AhR-/- livers had increased β-catenin (β-Cat) signaling with overexpression of Axin2, Dkk1 and Cyclin D1. Interestingly, β-Cat, Axin2 and Dkk1 also increased during regeneration but more notably in AhR-null livers. Liver carcinogenesis induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN) produced large carcinomas in all AhR-/- mice but mostly premalignant adenomas in less than half of AhR+/+ mice. AhR-null tumoral tissue, but not their surrounding non-tumoral parenchyma, had nuclear β-Cat and Axin2 overexpression. OCT4 and NANOG were nevertheless similarly expressed in AhR+/+ and AhR-/- lesions. We suggest that AhR may serve to adjust liver repair and to block tumorigenesis by modulating stem-like cells and β-Cat signaling.
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Linker SB, Marchetto MC, Narvaiza I, Denli AM, Gage FH. Examining non-LTR retrotransposons in the context of the evolving primate brain. BMC Biol 2017; 15:68. [PMID: 28800766 PMCID: PMC5554003 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-017-0409-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Researchers have long sought to understand the genetic basis of the cognitive differences between primates, with particular focus on the human brain. Although all mutational types have worked in concert with evolutionary forces to generate the current human brain, in this review we will explore the impact of mobile elements, specifically non-LTR retrotransposons. Non-LTR retrotransposons have contributed coding and regulatory sequences to the genome throughout evolution. During primate evolution there have been multiple waves of LINE retrotransposition as well as the birth of new mobile elements such as the SINEs Alu and SVA and we will explore what kinds of impacts these may have had on the evolving human brain.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sara B Linker
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037-1002, USA
| | - Maria C Marchetto
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037-1002, USA
| | - Iñigo Narvaiza
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037-1002, USA
| | - Ahmet M Denli
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037-1002, USA
| | - Fred H Gage
- Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA, 92037-1002, USA.
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37
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Abstract
Recent evidence from embryonic stem cells suggests that the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) plays a central role in the regulation of pluripotency, a short-lived property of cells in the early blastula inner cell mass (ICM). Four key observations support this conclusion. The first is the temporal association between upregulation of AHR expression and the onset of cell differentiation, which argues for the AHR as a determinant of cell fate decisions. The second is the repression of the pluripotency factors OCT4 and NANOG by the AHR, which depresses their function and contributes to the cell's exit from pluripotency. The third is the temporal association between changes in global DNA methylation and stage-dependent AHR expression, which parallel each other during embryonic development, suggesting that AHR helps configure a repressive chromatin structure that controls differentiation. The fourth is the incidence of early developmental aberrations that take place in Ahr-null mice and cause the disruption of their embryonic program, which is likely to be a consequence of the loss of pluripotency of the Ahr-/- ICM cells. In this short review, we will focus on the modulation of pluripotency as a novel function of the AHR, and on the potentially detrimental developmental outcomes that may result from exposure to environmental toxicants. This line of enquiry brings us to the tantalizing conclusion that by activating mechanisms that modulate pluripotency, AHR regulates embryonic development. The likelihood that exposure to environmental AHR ligands might disrupt developmental processes is a reasonable corollary to this conclusion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-I Ko
- Department of Environmental Health and Center for Environmental Genetics University of Cincinnati College of Medicine 160 Panzeca Way, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267, USA
| | - Alvaro Puga
- Department of Environmental Health and Center for Environmental Genetics University of Cincinnati College of Medicine 160 Panzeca Way, Cincinnati, Ohio, 45267, USA
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38
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Jordà M, Díez-Villanueva A, Mallona I, Martín B, Lois S, Barrera V, Esteller M, Vavouri T, Peinado MA. The epigenetic landscape of Alu repeats delineates the structural and functional genomic architecture of colon cancer cells. Genome Res 2016; 27:118-132. [PMID: 27999094 PMCID: PMC5204336 DOI: 10.1101/gr.207522.116] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Cancer cells exhibit multiple epigenetic changes with prominent local DNA hypermethylation and widespread hypomethylation affecting large chromosomal domains. Epigenome studies often disregard the study of repeat elements owing to technical complexity and their undefined role in genome regulation. We have developed NSUMA (Next-generation Sequencing of UnMethylated Alu), a cost-effective approach allowing the unambiguous interrogation of DNA methylation in more than 130,000 individual Alu elements, the most abundant retrotransposon in the human genome. DNA methylation profiles of Alu repeats have been analyzed in colon cancers and normal tissues using NSUMA and whole-genome bisulfite sequencing. Normal cells show a low proportion of unmethylated Alu (1%–4%) that may increase up to 10-fold in cancer cells. In normal cells, unmethylated Alu elements tend to locate in the vicinity of functionally rich regions and display epigenetic features consistent with a direct impact on genome regulation. In cancer cells, Alu repeats are more resistant to hypomethylation than other retroelements. Genome segmentation based on high/low rates of Alu hypomethylation allows the identification of genomic compartments with differential genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptomic features. Alu hypomethylated regions show low transcriptional activity, late DNA replication, and its extent is associated with higher chromosomal instability. Our analysis demonstrates that Alu retroelements contribute to define the epigenetic landscape of normal and cancer cells and provides a unique resource on the epigenetic dynamics of a principal, but largely unexplored, component of the primate genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mireia Jordà
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain.,Institute of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (IMPPC), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Anna Díez-Villanueva
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain.,Institute of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (IMPPC), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Izaskun Mallona
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain.,Institute of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (IMPPC), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Berta Martín
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain.,Institute of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (IMPPC), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Sergi Lois
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain.,Institute of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (IMPPC), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Víctor Barrera
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain.,Institute of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (IMPPC), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Barcelona 08908, Catalonia, Spain.,Department of Physiological Sciences II, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona 08907, Catalonia, Spain.,Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona 08010, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Tanya Vavouri
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain.,Josep Carreras Leukaemia Research Institute (IJC), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain
| | - Miguel A Peinado
- Germans Trias i Pujol Health Science Research Institute (IGTP), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain.,Institute of Predictive and Personalized Medicine of Cancer (IMPPC), Badalona 08916, Catalonia, Spain
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39
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Kawajiri K, Fujii-Kuriyama Y. The aryl hydrocarbon receptor: a multifunctional chemical sensor for host defense and homeostatic maintenance. Exp Anim 2016; 66:75-89. [PMID: 27980293 PMCID: PMC5411294 DOI: 10.1538/expanim.16-0092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a pivotal chemical sensor that transduces
extrinsic and intrinsic signals into cellular responses. AHR was originally thought to be
involved in not only drug metabolism but also carcinogenic and toxicological responses
against environmental contaminants, such as
2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons. However, recent studies demonstrate that the AHR plays multiple intrinsic
roles in host defense and homeostasis as well, including immunity, stem cell maintenance,
and cell differentiation, upon binding with an increasing number of newly defined dietary,
cellular, and microbe-derived ligands. In addition, AHR is a convergence point for several
signaling cascades, which may be involved in the diverse diseases caused by binding of the
persistent ligand TCDD with extremely high affinity to AHR. A comprehensive understanding
of physiological and pathological processes initiated by endogenous AHR agonists and
antagonists may allow for the therapeutic regulation of AHR activity. Thus, the AHR can be
a valuable diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for human diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaname Kawajiri
- Research Institute for Clinical Oncology, Saitama Cancer Center, 818 Komuro, Ina-machi, Saitama 362-0806, Japan
| | - Yoshiaki Fujii-Kuriyama
- Medical Research Institute, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, 1-5-45 Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
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Abstract
Despite often being classified as selfish or junk DNA, transposable elements (TEs) are a group of abundant genetic sequences that have a significant impact on mammalian development and genome regulation. In recent years, our understanding of how pre-existing TEs affect genome architecture, gene regulatory networks and protein function during mammalian embryogenesis has dramatically expanded. In addition, the mobilization of active TEs in selected cell types has been shown to generate genetic variation during development and in fully differentiated tissues. Importantly, the ongoing domestication and evolution of TEs appears to provide a rich source of regulatory elements, functional modules and genetic variation that fuels the evolution of mammalian developmental processes. Here, we review the functional impact that TEs exert on mammalian developmental processes and discuss how the somatic activity of TEs can influence gene regulatory networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jose L Garcia-Perez
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
- Department of Genomic Medicine, GENYO, Centre for Genomics & Oncology (Pfizer - University of Granada & Andalusian Regional Government), PTS Granada, Avda. de la Ilustración 114, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Thomas J Widmann
- Department of Genomic Medicine, GENYO, Centre for Genomics & Oncology (Pfizer - University of Granada & Andalusian Regional Government), PTS Granada, Avda. de la Ilustración 114, Granada 18016, Spain
| | - Ian R Adams
- Medical Research Council Human Genetics Unit, Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, University of Edinburgh, Western General Hospital, Edinburgh EH4 2XU, UK
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Mulero-Navarro S, Fernandez-Salguero PM. New Trends in Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor Biology. Front Cell Dev Biol 2016; 4:45. [PMID: 27243009 PMCID: PMC4863130 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2016.00045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 180] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/21/2016] [Accepted: 04/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditionally considered as a critical intermediate in the toxic and carcinogenic response to dioxin (2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin, TCDD), the Aryl hydrocarbon/Dioxin receptor (AhR) has proven to be also an important regulator of cell physiology and organ homeostasis. AhR has become an interesting and actual area of research mainly boosted by a significant number of recent studies analyzing its contribution to the proper functioning of the immune, hepatic, cardiovascular, vascular and reproductive systems. At the cellular level, AhR establishes functional interactions with signaling pathways governing cell proliferation and cell cycle, cell morphology, cell adhesion and cell migration. Two exciting new aspects in AhR biology deal with its implication in the control of cell differentiation and its more than likely involvement in cell pluripotency and stemness. In fact, it is possible that AhR could help modulate the balance between differentiation and pluripotency in normal and transformed tumor cells. At the molecular level, AhR regulates an increasingly large array of physiologically relevant genes either by traditional transcription-dependent mechanisms or by unforeseen processes involving genomic insulators, chromatin dynamics and the transcription of mobile genetic elements. AhR is also closely related to epigenetics, not only from the point of view of target gene expression but also with respect to its own regulation by promoter methylation. It is reasonable to consider that deregulation of these many functions could have a causative role, or at least contribute to, human disease. Consequently, several laboratories have proposed that AhR could be a valuable tool as diagnostic marker and/or therapeutic target in human pathologies. An additional point of interest is the possibility of regulating AhR activity by endogenous non-toxic low weight molecules agonist or antagonist molecules that could be present or included in the diet. In this review, we will address these molecular and functional features of AhR biology within physiological and pathological contexts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonia Mulero-Navarro
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura Badajoz, Spain
| | - Pedro M Fernandez-Salguero
- Departamento de Bioquímica y Biología Molecular y Genética, Facultad de Ciencias, Universidad de Extremadura Badajoz, Spain
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