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Kang BK, Jung YT. A Replication-Competent Retroviral Vector Expressing the HERV-W Envelope Glycoprotein is a Potential Tool for Cancer Gene Therapy. J Microbiol Biotechnol 2024; 34:280-288. [PMID: 38247210 PMCID: PMC10940750 DOI: 10.4014/jmb.2309.09022] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 11/22/2023] [Indexed: 01/23/2024]
Abstract
The fusogenic membrane glycoprotein (FMG) derived from the human endogenous retrovirus-W (HERV-W) exhibits fusogenic properties, making it a promising candidate for cancer gene therapy. When cells are transfected with HERV-W FMG, they can fuse with neighboring cells expressing the receptor, resulting in the formation of syncytia. These syncytia eventually undergo cell death within a few days. In addition, it has been observed that an HERV-W env mutant, which is truncated after amino acid 483, displays increased fusogenicity compared to the wild-type HERV-W env. In this study, we observed syncytium formation upon transfection of HeLa and TE671 human cancer cells with plasmids containing the HERV-W 483 gene. To explore the potential of a semi-replication-competent retroviral (s-RCR) vector encoding HERV-W 483 for FMG-mediated cancer gene therapy, we developed two replication-defective retroviral vectors: a gag-pol vector encoding HERV-W 483 (MoMLV-HERV-W 483) and an env vector encoding VSV-G (pCLXSN-VSV-G-EGFP). When MoMLV-HERV-W 483 and pCLXSN-VSV-G-EGFP were co-transfected into HEK293T cells to produce the s-RCR vector, gradual syncytium formation was observed. However, the titers of the s-RCR virus remained consistently low. To enhance gene transfer efficiency, we constructed an RCR vector encoding HERV-W 483 (MoMLV-10A1-HERV-W 483), which demonstrated replication ability in HEK293T cells. Infection of A549 and HT1080 human cancer cell lines with this RCR vector induced syncytium formation and subsequent cell death. Consequently, both the s-RCR vector and RCR encoding HERV-W 483 hold promise as valuable tools for cancer gene therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Byoung Kwon Kang
- Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
| | - Yong-Tae Jung
- Department of Microbiology, Dankook University, Cheonan 31116, Republic of Korea
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Sakurai T, Kusama K, Imakawa K. Progressive Exaptation of Endogenous Retroviruses in Placental Evolution in Cattle. Biomolecules 2023; 13:1680. [PMID: 38136553 PMCID: PMC10741562 DOI: 10.3390/biom13121680] [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: 10/16/2023] [Revised: 11/17/2023] [Accepted: 11/19/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Viviparity is made possible by the placenta, a structure acquired relatively recently in the evolutionary history of eutherian mammals. Compared to oviparity, it increases the survival rate of the fetus, owing to the eutherian placenta. Questions such as "How was the placenta acquired?" and "Why is there diversity in placental morphology among mammalian species?" remain largely unsolved. Our present understanding of the molecules regulating placental development remains unclear, owing in no small part to the persistent obscurity surrounding the molecular mechanisms underlying placental acquisition. Numerous genes associated with the development of eutherian placental morphology likely evolved to function at the fetal-maternal interface in conjunction with those participating in embryogenesis. Therefore, identifying these genes, how they were acquired, and how they came to be expressed specifically at the fetal-maternal interface will shed light on some crucial molecular mechanisms underlying placental evolution. Exhaustive studies support the hypothesis that endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) could be evolutional driving forces for trophoblast cell fusion and placental structure in mammalian placentas including those of the bovine species. This review focuses on bovine ERVs (BERVs) and their expression and function in the placenta.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toshihiro Sakurai
- School of Pharmaceutical Science, Ohu University, 31-1 Misumido, Koriyama 963-8611, Fukushima, Japan
| | - Kazuya Kusama
- Department of Endocrine Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, 1432-1 Horinouchi, Hachioji 192-0392, Tokyo, Japan;
| | - Kazuhiko Imakawa
- Research Institute of Agriculture, Tokai University, 9-1-1 Toroku, Higashi-Ku, Kumamoto 862-8652, Japan;
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Liu S, Heumüller SE, Hossinger A, Müller SA, Buravlova O, Lichtenthaler SF, Denner P, Vorberg IM. Reactivated endogenous retroviruses promote protein aggregate spreading. Nat Commun 2023; 14:5034. [PMID: 37596282 PMCID: PMC10439213 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-40632-z] [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: 06/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Prion-like spreading of protein misfolding is a characteristic of neurodegenerative diseases, but the exact mechanisms of intercellular protein aggregate dissemination remain unresolved. Evidence accumulates that endogenous retroviruses, remnants of viral germline infections that are normally epigenetically silenced, become upregulated in neurodegenerative diseases such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and tauopathies. Here we uncover that activation of endogenous retroviruses affects prion-like spreading of proteopathic seeds. We show that upregulation of endogenous retroviruses drastically increases the dissemination of protein aggregates between cells in culture, a process that can be inhibited by targeting the viral envelope protein or viral protein processing. Human endogenous retrovirus envelopes of four different clades also elevate intercellular spreading of proteopathic seeds, including pathological Tau. Our data support a role of endogenous retroviruses in protein misfolding diseases and suggest that antiviral drugs could represent promising candidates for inhibiting protein aggregate spreading.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Liu
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Bonn (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/ 99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment (BfR), German Centre for the Protection of Laboratory Animals (Bf3R), Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - André Hossinger
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Bonn (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/ 99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Stephan A Müller
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
| | - Oleksandra Buravlova
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Bonn (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/ 99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Stefan F Lichtenthaler
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), Munich, Germany
- Neuroproteomics, School of Medicine, Klinikum rechts der Isar, Technical University of Munich, 81675, Munich, Germany
- Munich Cluster for Systems Neurology (SyNergy), Munich, Germany
| | - Philip Denner
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Bonn (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/ 99, 53127, Bonn, Germany
| | - Ina M Vorberg
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases Bonn (DZNE), Venusberg Campus 1/ 99, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
- Department of Neurology, Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn, Germany, Venusberg-Campus 1, 53127, Bonn, Germany.
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Shoji H, Kitao K, Miyazawa T, Nakagawa S. Potentially reduced fusogenicity of syncytin-2 in New World monkeys. FEBS Open Bio 2023; 13:459-467. [PMID: 36647789 PMCID: PMC9989925 DOI: 10.1002/2211-5463.13555] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/08/2022] [Revised: 01/04/2023] [Accepted: 01/12/2023] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Syncytin-2 is a membrane fusion protein involved in placenta development that is derived from the endogenous retrovirus envelope gene acquired in the common ancestral lineage of New World and Old World monkeys (OWMs). It is known that syncytin-2 is conserved between apes and OWMs, suggesting its functional importance; however, syncytin-2 of common marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) exhibits lower fusogenic activity than those of humans and OWMs in human cell lines. To obtain insight into the functional diversity of syncytin-2 genes in primates, we examined the syncytin-2 gene in New World monkeys (NWMs). We experimentally evaluated the cell fusion ability of syncytin-2 in humans, C. jacchus, and tufted capuchins (Sapajus apella). We found that the cell fusion ability of S. apella was lower than that of human syncytin-2. Chimeric syncytin-2 constructs revealed that the amino acid differences in the surface unit of S. apella syncytin-2 were responsible for the weak cell fusion activity. In addition, genomic sequence analyses of syncytin-2 revealed that the open reading frames (ORFs) of syncytin-2 were highly conserved in seven apes and 22 OWMs; however, the syncytin-2 ORFs of three of 12 NWM species were truncated. Our results suggest that syncytin-2 in several NWMs may be of less importance than in OWMs and apes, and other syncytin-like genes may be required for placental development in various NWM species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiyori Shoji
- Laboratory of Virus-Host Coevolution, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan
| | - Koichi Kitao
- Laboratory of Virus-Host Coevolution, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan
| | - Takayuki Miyazawa
- Laboratory of Virus-Host Coevolution, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Japan
| | - So Nakagawa
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Japan
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Imakawa K, Kusama K, Kaneko-Ishino T, Nakagawa S, Kitao K, Miyazawa T, Ishino F. Endogenous Retroviruses and Placental Evolution, Development, and Diversity. Cells 2022; 11:cells11152458. [PMID: 35954303 PMCID: PMC9367772 DOI: 10.3390/cells11152458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2022] [Revised: 08/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The main roles of placentas include physical protection, nutrient and oxygen import, export of gasses and fetal waste products, and endocrinological regulation. In addition to physical protection of the fetus, the placentas must provide immune protection throughout gestation. These basic functions are well-conserved; however, placentas are undoubtedly recent evolving organs with structural and cellular diversities. These differences have been explained for the last two decades through co-opting genes and gene control elements derived from transposable elements, including endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). However, the differences in placental structures have not been explained or characterized. This manuscript addresses the sorting of ERVs and their integration into the mammalian genomes and provides new ways to explain why placental structures have diverged.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuhiko Imakawa
- Research Institute of Agriculture, Tokai University, Kumamoto 862-8652, Japan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-96-386-2652
| | - Kazuya Kusama
- Department of Endocrine Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Sciences, Tokyo 192-0392, Japan
| | | | - So Nakagawa
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Nakagawa 259-1193, Japan
| | - Koichi Kitao
- Laboratory of Virus-Host Coevolution, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Takayuki Miyazawa
- Laboratory of Virus-Host Coevolution, Institute for Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Fumitoshi Ishino
- Institute of Research, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo 113-8510, Japan
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Zhang H, Ma H, Yang X, Fan L, Tian S, Niu R, Yan M, Zheng M, Zhang S. Cell Fusion-Related Proteins and Signaling Pathways, and Their Roles in the Development and Progression of Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 9:809668. [PMID: 35178400 PMCID: PMC8846309 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.809668] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Cell fusion is involved in many physiological and pathological processes, including gamete binding, and cancer development. The basic processes of cell fusion include membrane fusion, cytoplasmic mixing, and nuclear fusion. Cell fusion is regulated by different proteins and signaling pathways. Syncytin-1, syncytin-2, glial cell missing 1, galectin-1 and other proteins (annexins, myomaker, myomerger etc.) involved in cell fusion via the cyclic adenosine-dependent protein kinase A, mitogen-activated protein kinase, wingless/integrase-1, and c-Jun N-terminal kinase signaling pathways. In the progression of malignant tumors, cell fusion is essential during the organ-specific metastasis, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation, the formation of cancer stem cells (CSCs), cancer angiogenesis and cancer immunity. In addition, diploid cells can be induced to form polyploid giant cancer cells (PGCCs) via cell fusion under many kinds of stimuli, including cobalt chloride, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and traditional Chinese medicine. PGCCs have CSC-like properties, and the daughter cells derived from PGCCs have a mesenchymal phenotype and exhibit strong migration, invasion, and proliferation abilities. Therefore, exploring the molecular mechanisms of cell fusion can enable us better understand the development of malignant tumors. In this review, the basic process of cell fusion and its significance in cancer is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hao Zhang
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Hong Ma
- Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Xiaohui Yang
- Nankai University School of Medicine, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Linlin Fan
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Shifeng Tian
- Graduate School, Tianjin Medical University, Tianjin, China
| | - Rui Niu
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Man Yan
- Graduate School, Tianjin University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Tianjin, China
| | - Minying Zheng
- Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
| | - Shiwu Zhang
- Tianjin Union Medical Center, Nankai University, Tianjin, China
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Kitao K, Nakagawa S, Miyazawa T. An ancient retroviral RNA element hidden in mammalian genomes and its involvement in co-opted retroviral gene regulation. Retrovirology 2021; 18:36. [PMID: 34753509 PMCID: PMC8579622 DOI: 10.1186/s12977-021-00580-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Retroviruses utilize multiple unique RNA elements to control RNA processing and translation. However, it is unclear what functional RNA elements are present in endogenous retroviruses (ERVs). Gene co-option from ERVs sometimes entails the conservation of viral cis-elements required for gene expression, which might reveal the RNA regulation in ERVs. Results Here, we characterized an RNA element found in ERVs consisting of three specific sequence motifs, called SPRE. The SPRE-like elements were found in different ERV families but not in any exogenous viral sequences examined. We observed more than a thousand of copies of the SPRE-like elements in several mammalian genomes; in human and marmoset genomes, they overlapped with lineage-specific ERVs. SPRE was originally found in human syncytin-1 and syncytin-2. Indeed, several mammalian syncytin genes: mac-syncytin-3 of macaque, syncytin-Ten1 of tenrec, and syncytin-Car1 of Carnivora, contained the SPRE-like elements. A reporter assay revealed that the enhancement of gene expression by SPRE depended on the reporter genes. Mutation of SPRE impaired the wild-type syncytin-2 expression while the same mutation did not affect codon-optimized syncytin-2, suggesting that SPRE activity depends on the coding sequence. Conclusions These results indicate multiple independent invasions of various mammalian genomes by retroviruses harboring SPRE-like elements. Functional SPRE-like elements are found in several syncytin genes derived from these retroviruses. This element may facilitate the expression of viral genes, which were suppressed due to inefficient codon frequency or repressive elements within the coding sequences. These findings provide new insights into the long-term evolution of RNA elements and molecular mechanisms of gene expression in retroviruses. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12977-021-00580-2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Kitao
- Laboratory of Virus-Host Coevolution, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan
| | - So Nakagawa
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, 259-1193, Japan
| | - Takayuki Miyazawa
- Laboratory of Virus-Host Coevolution, Institute for Frontier Life and Medical Sciences, Kyoto University, 53 Shogoin-Kawaharacho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto, 606-8507, Japan.
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