The GATA transcription factor/MTA-1 homolog egr-1 promotes longevity and stress resistance in Caenorhabditis elegans

Soluble klotho induces the heat shock factor 1 through EGR1 expression

Klotho is an antiaging protein that has multiple functions. The purpose of this study is to investigate whether soluble klotho plays a role in cellular stress response pathways. We found that klotho deficiency (kl-/-) largely decreased HSF1 levels and impaired heat shock protein expression. Interestingly, recombinant soluble klotho-induced HSF1 and HSPs such as HSP90, HSP70, and HSP27 in kl-/- mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEFs). Soluble Klotho treatment also induced cell proliferation and HSF1 promoter activity in MEF kl-/- cells in a concentration-dependent manner. Furthermore, using point mutagenesis, we identified regulatory/binding sites of transcription factors EGR1 regulated by soluble klotho in the HSF1 promoter. Taken together, our findings unravel the molecular basis of klotho and provide molecular evidence supporting a direct interaction between soluble klotho and HSF1-mediated stress response pathway.

Early Growth Response Factor 1 in Aging Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Leukemia

Aging is associated with various hematological disorders and a higher risk of myeloproliferative disorders. An aged hematopoietic system can be characterized by decreased immune function and increased myeloid cell production. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) regulate the production of blood cells throughout life. The self-renewal and regenerative potential of HSCs determine the quality and quantity of the peripheral blood cells. External signals from the microenvironment under different conditions determine the fate of the HSCs to proliferate, self-renew, differentiate, or remain quiescent. HSCs respond impromptu to a vast array of extracellular signaling cascades such as cytokines, growth factors, or nutrients, which are crucial in the regulation of HSCs. Early growth response factor 1 (EGR1) is one of the key transcription factors controlling HSC proliferation and their localization in the bone marrow (BM) niche. Downregulation of Egr1 activates and recruits HSCs for their proliferation and differentiation to produce mature blood cells. Increased expression of Egr1 is implicated in immuno-aging of HSCs. However, dysregulation of Egr1 is associated with hematological malignancies such as acute myeloid leukemia (AML), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Here, we summarize the current understanding of the role of EGR1 in the regulation of HSC functionality and the manifestation of leukemia. We also discuss the alternative strategies to rejuvenate the aged HSCs by targeting EGR1 in different settings.

Intestinal stem cell aging signature reveals a reprogramming strategy to enhance regenerative potential

The impact of aging on intestinal stem cells (ISCs) has not been fully elucidated. In this study, we identified widespread epigenetic and transcriptional alterations in old ISCs. Using a reprogramming algorithm, we identified a set of key transcription factors (Egr1, Irf1, FosB) that drives molecular and functional differences between old and young states. Overall, by dissecting the molecular signature of aged ISCs, our study identified transcription factors that enhance the regenerative capacity of ISCs.

Genes and Longevity of Lifespan

Aging is a complex process indicated by low energy levels, declined physiological activity, stress induced loss of homeostasis leading to the risk of diseases and mortality. Recent developments in medical sciences and an increased availability of nutritional requirements has significantly increased the average human lifespan worldwide. Several environmental and physiological factors contribute to the aging process. However, about 40% human life expectancy is inherited among generations, many lifespan associated genes, genetic mechanisms and pathways have been demonstrated during last decades. In the present review, we have evaluated many human genes and their non-human orthologs established for their role in the regulation of lifespan. The study has included more than fifty genes reported in the literature for their contributions to the longevity of life. Intact genomic DNA is essential for the life activities at the level of cell, tissue, and organ. Nucleic acids are vulnerable to oxidative stress, chemotherapies, and exposure to radiations. Efficient DNA repair mechanisms are essential for the maintenance of genomic integrity, damaged DNA is not replicated and transferred to next generations rather the presence of deleterious DNA initiates signaling cascades leading to the cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. DNA modifications, DNA methylation, histone methylation, histone acetylation and DNA damage can eventually lead towards apoptosis. The importance of calorie restriction therapy in the extension of lifespan has also been discussed. The role of pathways involved in the regulation of lifespan such as DAF-16/FOXO (forkhead box protein O1), TOR and JNK pathways has also been particularized. The study provides an updated account of genetic factors associated with the extended lifespan and their interactive contributory role with cellular pathways.

Early Growth Response 1 (Egr-1) Is a Transcriptional Activator of β-Secretase 1 (BACE-1) in the Brain

Accumulation of amyloid-β peptide (Aβ) in the brain is regarded as central to Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis. Aβ is generated by a sequential cleavage of amyloid precursor protein (APP) by β-secretase 1 (BACE-1) followed by γ-secretase. BACE-1 cleavage of APP is the committed step in Aβ synthesis. Understanding the mechanism by which BACE-1 is activated leading to Aβ synthesis in the brain can provide better understanding of AD pathology and help to develop novel therapies. In this study, we found that the levels of Aβ and BACE-1 are significantly reduced in the brains of mice lacking transcription factor early growth response 1 (Egr-1) when compared with the WT. We demonstrate that in COS-7 cells, Egr-1 binds to the BACE-1 promoter and activates BACE-1 transcription. In rat hippocampal primary neurons, overexpression of Egr-1 induces BACE-1 expression, activates BACE-1, promotes amyloidogenic APP processing, and enhances Aβ synthesis. In mouse hippocampal primary neurons, knockdown of BACE-1 almost completely blocks Egr-1-induced amyloidogenic APP processing and Aβ synthesis. Our data indicate that Egr-1 promotes Aβ synthesis via transcriptional activation of BACE-1 and suggest that Egr-1 plays role in activation of BACE-1 and acceleration of Aβ synthesis in AD brain. Egr-1 is a potential therapeutic target for AD.

Intestinal Insulin Signaling Encodes Two Different Molecular Mechanisms for the Shortened Longevity Induced by Graphene Oxide in Caenorhabditis elegans

Graphene oxide (GO) has been shown to cause multiple toxicities in various organisms. However, the underlying molecular mechanisms for GO-induced shortened longevity are still unclear. We employed Caenorhabditis elegans to investigate the possible involvement of insulin signaling pathway in the control of GO toxicity and its underlying molecular mechanisms. Mutation of daf-2, age-1, akt-1, or akt-2 gene induced a resistant property of nematodes to GO toxicity, while mutation of daf-16 gene led to a susceptible property of nematodes to GO toxicity, suggesting that GO may dysregulate the functions of DAF-2/IGF-1 receptor, AGE-1, AKT-1 and AKT-2-mediated kinase cascade, and DAF-16/FOXO transcription factor. Genetic interaction analysis suggested the involvement of signaling cascade of DAF-2-AGE-1-AKT-1/2-DAF-16 in the control of GO toxicity on longevity. Moreover, intestinal RNA interference (RNAi) analysis demonstrated that GO reduced longevity by affecting the functions of signaling cascade of DAF-2-AGE-1-AKT-1/2-DAF-16 in the intestine. DAF-16 could also regulate GO toxicity on longevity by functioning upstream of SOD-3, which encodes an antioxidation system that prevents the accumulation of oxidative stress. Therefore, intestinal insulin signaling may encode two different molecular mechanisms responsible for the GO toxicity in inducing the shortened longevity. Our results highlight the key role of insulin signaling pathway in the control of GO toxicity in organisms.

Deactivation of the GATA Transcription Factor ELT-2 Is a Major Driver of Normal Aging in C. elegans

To understand the molecular processes underlying aging, we screened modENCODE ChIP-seq data to identify transcription factors that bind to age-regulated genes in C. elegans. The most significant hit was the GATA transcription factor encoded by elt-2, which is responsible for inducing expression of intestinal genes during embryogenesis. Expression of ELT-2 decreases during aging, beginning in middle age. We identified genes regulated by ELT-2 in the intestine during embryogenesis, and then showed that these developmental genes markedly decrease in expression as worms grow old. Overexpression of elt-2 extends lifespan and slows the rate of gene expression changes that occur during normal aging. Thus, our results identify the developmental regulator ELT-2 as a major driver of normal aging in C. elegans.

Herbal supplement extends life span under some environmental conditions and boosts stress resistance

Genetic studies indicate that aging is modulated by a great number of genetic pathways. We have used Drosophila longevity and stress assays to test a multipath intervention strategy. To carry out this strategy, we supplemented the flies with herbal extracts (SC100) that are predicted to modulate the expression of many genes involved in aging and stress resistance, such as mTOR, NOS, NF-KappaB, and VEGF. When flies were housed in large cages with SC100 added, daily mortality rates of both male and female flies were greatly diminished in mid to late life. Surprisingly, SC100 also stabilized midlife mortality rate increases so as to extend the maximum life span substantially beyond the limits previously reported for D. melanogaster. Under these conditions, SC100 also promoted robust resistance to partial starvation stress and to heat stress. Fertility was the same initially in both treated and control flies, but it became significantly higher in treated flies at older ages as the fertility of control flies declined. Mean and maximum life spans of flies in vials at the same test site were also extended by SC100, but the life spans were short in absolute terms. In contrast, at an independent test site where stress was minimized, the flies exhibited much longer mean life spans, but the survival curves became highly rectangular and the effects of SC100 on both mean and maximum life spans declined greatly or were abolished. The data indicate that SC100 is a novel herbal mix with striking effects on enhancing Drosophila stress resistance and life span in some environments, while minimizing mid to late life mortality rates. They also show that the environment and other factors can have transformative effects on both the length and distribution of survivorship, and on the ability of SC100 to extend the life span.

Replicative senescence is associated with nuclear reorganization and with DNA methylation at specific transcription factor binding sites

Background

Primary cells enter replicative senescence after a limited number of cell divisions. This process needs to be considered in cell culture experiments, and it is particularly important for regenerative medicine. Replicative senescence is associated with reproducible changes in DNA methylation (DNAm) at specific sites in the genome. The mechanism that drives senescence-associated DNAm changes remains unknown - it may involve stochastic DNAm drift due to imperfect maintenance of epigenetic marks or it is directly regulated at specific sites in the genome.

Results

In this study, we analyzed the reorganization of nuclear architecture and DNAm changes during long-term culture of human fibroblasts and mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs). We demonstrate that telomeres shorten and shift towards the nuclear center at later passages. In addition, DNAm profiles, either analyzed by MethylCap-seq or by 450k IlluminaBeadChip technology, revealed consistent senescence-associated hypermethylation in regions associated with H3K27me3, H3K4me3, and H3K4me1 histone marks, whereas hypomethylation was associated with chromatin containing H3K9me3 and lamina-associated domains (LADs). DNA hypermethylation was significantly enriched in the vicinity of genes that are either up- or downregulated at later passages. Furthermore, specific transcription factor binding motifs (e.g. EGR1, TFAP2A, and ETS1) were significantly enriched in differentially methylated regions and in the promoters of differentially expressed genes.

Conclusions

Senescence-associated DNA hypermethylation occurs at specific sites in the genome and reflects functional changes in the course of replicative senescence. These results indicate that tightly regulated epigenetic modifications during long-term culture contribute to changes in nuclear organization and gene expression.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13148-015-0057-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

A HIF-independent mediator of transcriptional responses to oxygen deprivation in Caenorhabditis elegans

The adaptive response to hypoxia is accompanied by widespread transcriptional changes that allow for prolonged survival in low oxygen. Many of these changes are directly regulated by the conserved hypoxia-inducible factor-1 (HIF-1) complex; however, even in its absence, many oxygen-sensitive transcripts in Caenorhabditis elegans are appropriately regulated in hypoxia. To identify mediators of these non-HIF-dependent responses, we established a hif-1 mutant reporter line that expresses GFP in hypoxia or when worms are treated with the hypoxia mimetic cobalt chloride (CoCl2). The reporter is selective and HIF independent, in that it remains insensitive to a number of cellular stresses, but is unaffected by mutation of the prolyl hydroxylase egl-9, suggesting that the regulators of this response pathway are different from those controlling the HIF pathway. We used the HIF-independent reporter to screen a transcription factor RNA interference (RNAi) library and identified genes that are required for hypoxia-sensitive and CoCl2-induced GFP expression. We identified the zinc finger protein BLMP-1 as a mediator of the HIF-independent response. We show that mutation of blmp-1 renders animals sensitive to hypoxic exposure and that blmp-1 is required for appropriate hypoxic-induced expression of HIF-independent transcripts. Further, we demonstrate that BLMP-1 is necessary for an increase of hypoxia-dependent histone acetylation within the promoter of a non-HIF-dependent hypoxia response gene.

Physiological functions of MTA family of proteins

Although the functional significance of the metastasic tumor antigen (MTA) family of chromatin remodeling proteins in the pathobiology of cancer is fairly well recognized, the physiological role of MTA proteins continues to be an understudied research area and is just beginning to be recognized. Similar to cancer cells, MTA1 also modulates the expression of target genes in normal cells either by acting as a corepressor or coactivator. In addition, physiological functions of MTA proteins are likely to be influenced by its differential expression, subcellular localization, and regulation by upstream modulators and extracellular signals. This review summarizes our current understanding of the physiological functions of the MTA proteins in model systems. In particular, we highlight recent advances of the role MTA proteins play in the brain, eye, circadian rhythm, mammary gland biology, spermatogenesis, liver, immunomodulation and inflammation, cellular radio-sensitivity, and hematopoiesis and differentiation. Based on the growth of knowledge regarding the exciting new facets of the MTA family of proteins in biology and medicine, we speculate that the next burst of findings in this field may reveal further molecular regulatory insights of non-redundant functions of MTA coregulators in the normal physiology as well as in pathological conditions outside cancer.