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Morgan R, Hunter K, Pandha HS. Downstream of the HOX genes: explaining conflicting tumour suppressor and oncogenic functions in cancer. Int J Cancer 2022; 150:1919-1932. [PMID: 35080776 PMCID: PMC9304284 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.33949] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/24/2021] [Accepted: 01/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The HOX genes are a highly conserved group of transcription factors that have key roles in early development, but which are also highly expressed in most cancers. Many studies have found strong associative relationships between the expression of individual HOX genes in tumours and clinical parameters including survival. For the majority of HOX genes, high tumour expression levels seem to be associated with a worse outcome for patients, and in some cases this has been shown to result from the activation of pro-oncogenic genes and pathways. However, there are also many studies that indicate a tumour suppressor role for some HOX genes, sometimes with conclusions that contradict earlier work. In this review, we have attempted to clarify the role of HOX genes in cancer by focusing on their downstream targets as identified in studies that provide experimental evidence for their activation or repression. On this basis, the majority of HOX genes would appear to have a pro-oncogenic function, with the notable exception of HOXD10, which acts exclusively as a tumour suppressor. HOX proteins regulate a wide range of target genes involved in metastasis, cell death, proliferation, and angiogenesis, and activate key cell signalling pathways. Furthermore, for some functionally related targets, this regulation is achieved by a relatively small subgroup of HOX genes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Richard Morgan
- School of Biomedical SciencesUniversity of West LondonLondonUK
| | - Keith Hunter
- Unit of Oral and Maxillofacial Pathology, School of Clinical DentistryUniversity of SheffieldSheffieldUK
| | - Hardev S. Pandha
- Faculty of Health and Medical SciencesUniversity of SurreyGuildfordUK
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Yu J, Wang L, Pei P, Li X, Wu J, Qiu Z, Zhang J, Ao R, Wang S, Zhang T, Xie J. Reduced H3K27me3 leads to abnormal Hox gene expression in neural tube defects. Epigenetics Chromatin 2019; 12:76. [PMID: 31856916 PMCID: PMC6921514 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-019-0318-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2019] [Accepted: 12/03/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Neural tube defects (NTDs) are severe, common birth defects that result from failure of normal neural tube closure during early embryogenesis. Accumulating strong evidence indicates that genetic factors contribute to NTDs etiology, among them, HOX genes play a key role in neural tube closure. Although abnormal HOX gene expression can lead to NTDs, the underlying pathological mechanisms have not fully been understood. Method We detected that H3K27me3 and expression of the Hox genes in a retinoic acid (RA) induced mouse NTDs model on E8.5, E9.5 and E10.5 using RNA-sequencing and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing assays. Furthermore, we quantified 10 Hox genes using NanoString nCounter in brain tissue of fetuses with 39 NTDs patients including anencephaly, spina bifida, hydrocephaly and encephalocele. Results Here, our results showed differential expression in 26 genes with a > 20-fold change in the level of expression, including 10 upregulated Hox genes. RT-qPCR revealed that these 10 Hox genes were all upregulated in RA-induced mouse NTDs as well as RA-treated embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Using ChIP-seq assays, we demonstrate that a decrease in H3K27me3 level upregulates the expression of Hox cluster A–D in RA-induced mouse NTDs model on E10.5. Interestingly, RA treatment led to attenuation of H3K27me3 due to cooperate between UTX and Suz12, affecting Hox gene regulation. Further analysis, in human anencephaly cases, upregulation of 10 HOX genes was observed, along with aberrant levels of H3K27me3. Notably, HOXB4, HOXC4 and HOXD1 expression was negatively correlated with H3K27me3 levels. Conclusion Our results indicate that abnormal HOX gene expression induced by aberrant H3K27me3 levels may be a risk factor for NTDs and highlight the need for further analysis of genome-wide epigenetic modification in NTDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Lei Wang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Pei Pei
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Xue Li
- School of Clinical Medical, Weifang Medical University, Weifang, 261053, Shandong, China
| | - Jianxin Wu
- Department of Biochemistry, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Zhiyong Qiu
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Ruifang Ao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China
| | - Shan Wang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.
| | - Ting Zhang
- Beijing Municipal Key Laboratory of Child Development and Nutriomics, Capital Institute of Pediatrics, Beijing, 100020, China.
| | - Jun Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Shanxi Medical University, Taiyuan, 030001, Shanxi, China.
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Chen F, Sun G, Peng J. RNAi-mediated HOXD3 knockdown inhibits growth in human RKO cells. Oncol Rep 2016; 36:1793-8. [PMID: 27499213 PMCID: PMC5022871 DOI: 10.3892/or.2016.4993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Numerous studies have shown that the multifunctional Homeobox-containing (HOX) D3 gene is involved in various physiological and pathological processes. To elucidate the role and mechanism of HOXD3 in colorectal cancer (CRC), we measured its expression in five CRC cell lines. After determining that HOXD3 was highly expressed in the human RKO cancer cell line, we used lentiviral-mediated small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) to knock down HOXD3 expression and assessed proliferation, cell cycle distribution, apoptosis and colony formation using cell proliferation, flow cytometric, and colony formation assays. The expression of HOXD3 was strongly suppressed in the RKO cells infected with the lentiviruse expressing an HOXD3 short hairpin RNA (shRNA). The downregulation of HOXD3 expression in RKO cells significantly decreased proliferation and colony formation, and increased apoptosis in vitro, compared to the cells infected with the mock control (p<0.01). Moreover, specific downregulation of HOXD3 led to the accumulation of cells at the G2 phase of the cell cycle. Our findings revealed that the HOXD3 gene promotes CRC cell growth and plays a pivotal role in the development and survival of malignant human colorectal cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fangjun Chen
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Guoping Sun
- Department of Oncology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui 230022, P.R. China
| | - Jun Peng
- Department of Pathology, The Affiliated Anqing Municipal Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Anqing, Anhui 246003, P.R. China
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Abe K, Takamatsu N, Ishikawa K, Tsurumi T, Tanimoto S, Sakurai Y, Lisse T, Imai K, Serikawa T, Mashimo T. Novel ENU-Induced Mutation in Tbx6 Causes Dominant Spondylocostal Dysostosis-Like Vertebral Malformations in the Rat. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0130231. [PMID: 26090680 PMCID: PMC4474719 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0130231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/27/2014] [Accepted: 05/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital vertebral malformations caused by embryonic segmentation defects are relatively common in humans and domestic animals. Although reverse genetics approaches in mice have provided information on the molecular mechanisms of embryonic somite segmentation, hypothesis-driven approaches cannot adequately reflect human dysmorphology within the population. In a N-ethyl-N-nitrosourea (ENU) mutagenesis project in Kyoto, the Oune mutant rat strain was isolated due to a short and kinked caudal vertebra phenotype. Skeletal staining of heterozygous rats showed partial loss of the cervical vertebrae as well as hemivertebrae and fused vertebral blocks in lumbar and sacral vertebrae. In homozygous embryos, severe displacement of the whole vertebrae was observed. The Oune locus was genetically mapped to rat chromosome 1 using 202 backcross animals and 50 genome-wide microsatellite markers. Subsequently, a miss-sense mutation in the Tbx6 gene was identified in the critical region. Although the mutation is located within the T-box domain near a predicted dimmer-interface, in vitro experiments revealed that the Tbx6 variant retains normal DNA binding ability and translational efficiency. However, the variant has decreased transcriptional activation potential in response to Notch-mediated signaling. Recently, it was reported that a dominant type of familial spondylocostal dysostosis is caused by a stoploss mutation in TBX6. Thus, we propose that partial dysfunction of Tbx6 leads to similar congenital vertebral malformations in both humans and rats. The Oune strain could be a unique animal model for dominant spondylocostal dysostosis and is useful for molecular dissection of the pathology of congenital vertebral malformations in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Abe
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
- * E-mail:
| | - Nobuhiko Takamatsu
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kumiko Ishikawa
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Toshiko Tsurumi
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Sho Tanimoto
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Yukina Sakurai
- Department of Biosciences, School of Science, Kitasato University, Sagamihara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Thomas Lisse
- MDI Biological Laboratory, Davis Center for Regenerative Biology and Medicine, Bar Harbor, Maine, United States of America
| | - Kenji Imai
- Department of Molecular Life Science, Tokai University School of Medicine, Isehara, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Tadao Serikawa
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Tomoji Mashimo
- Institute of Laboratory Animals, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
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Hox transcription factors: modulators of cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix adhesion. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2014; 2014:591374. [PMID: 25136598 PMCID: PMC4127299 DOI: 10.1155/2014/591374] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2014] [Accepted: 06/23/2014] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Hox genes encode homeodomain-containing transcription factors that determine cell and tissue identities in the embryo during development. Hox genes are also expressed in various adult tissues and cancer cells. In Drosophila, expression of cell adhesion molecules, cadherins and integrins, is regulated by Hox proteins operating in hierarchical molecular pathways and plays a crucial role in segment-specific organogenesis. A number of studies using mammalian cultured cells have revealed that cell adhesion molecules responsible for cell-cell and cell-extracellular matrix interactions are downstream targets of Hox proteins. However, whether Hox transcription factors regulate expression of cell adhesion molecules during vertebrate development is still not fully understood. In this review, the potential roles Hox proteins play in cell adhesion and migration during vertebrate body patterning are discussed.
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Mayol G, Martín-Subero JI, Ríos J, Queiros A, Kulis M, Suñol M, Esteller M, Gómez S, Garcia I, de Torres C, Rodríguez E, Galván P, Mora J, Lavarino C. DNA hypomethylation affects cancer-related biological functions and genes relevant in neuroblastoma pathogenesis. PLoS One 2012; 7:e48401. [PMID: 23144874 PMCID: PMC3492354 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0048401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2012] [Accepted: 10/01/2012] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Neuroblastoma (NB) pathogenesis has been reported to be closely associated with numerous genetic alterations. However, underlying DNA methylation patterns have not been extensively studied in this developmental malignancy. Here, we generated microarray-based DNA methylation profiles of primary neuroblastic tumors. Stringent supervised differential methylation analyses allowed us to identify epigenetic changes characteristic for NB tumors as well as for clinical and biological subtypes of NB. We observed that gene-specific loss of DNA methylation is more prevalent than promoter hypermethylation. Remarkably, such hypomethylation affected cancer-related biological functions and genes relevant to NB pathogenesis such as CCND1, SPRR3, BTC, EGF and FGF6. In particular, differential methylation in CCND1 affected mostly an evolutionary conserved functionally relevant 3′ untranslated region, suggesting that hypomethylation outside promoter regions may play a role in NB pathogenesis. Hypermethylation targeted genes involved in cell development and proliferation such as RASSF1A, POU2F2 or HOXD3, among others. The results derived from this study provide new candidate epigenetic biomarkers associated with NB as well as insights into the molecular pathogenesis of this tumor, which involves a marked gene-specific hypomethylation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gemma Mayol
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Fundación Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José I. Martín-Subero
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Pharmacology and Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Ríos
- Laboratory of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Clinical Pharmacology Service, IDIBAPS, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ana Queiros
- Department of Anatomic Pathology, Pharmacology and Microbiology, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Kulis
- Hematopathology Unit, Hospital Clinic, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Mariona Suñol
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Manel Esteller
- Cancer Epigenetics and Biology Program (PEBC), Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL),L'Hospitalet, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Physiological Sciences II, School of Medicine, University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
- Institució Catalana de Recerca i Estudis Avançats (ICREA), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Soledad Gómez
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Fundación Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Idoia Garcia
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Fundación Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carmen de Torres
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Fundación Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eva Rodríguez
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Fundación Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Patricia Galván
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Fundación Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jaume Mora
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Fundación Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Cinzia Lavarino
- Developmental Tumor Biology Laboratory, Hospital Sant Joan de Déu, Fundación Sant Joan de Déu, Barcelona, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Cheng X, Wang G, Ma ZL, Chen YY, Fan JJ, Zhang ZL, Lee KKH, Luo HM, Yang X. Exposure to 2,5-hexanedione can induce neural malformations in chick embryos. Neurotoxicology 2012; 33:1239-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.neuro.2012.07.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2012] [Revised: 06/18/2012] [Accepted: 07/17/2012] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
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Abe K, Araki K, Tanigawa M, Semba K, Ando T, Sato M, Sakai D, Hiyama A, Mochida J, Yamamura KI. A Cre knock-in mouse line on the Sickle tail locus induces recombination in the notochord and intervertebral disks. Genesis 2012; 50:758-65. [PMID: 22522943 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.22035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2012] [Revised: 04/11/2012] [Accepted: 04/14/2012] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Sickle tail (Skt) was originally identified by gene trap mutagenesis in mice, and the trapped gene is highly expressed in the notochord, intervertebral discs (IVD), and mesonephros. Here, we report the generation of Skt(cre) mice expressing Cre recombinase in the IVD due to target insertion of the cre gene into the Skt locus by recombinase-mediated cassette exchange. Crossing a conditional lacZ Reporter (R26R), Cre expression from the Skt(cre) allele specifically activates β-galactosidase expression in the whole notochord from E9.5 onwards. In E15.5 Skt(cre);R26R embryos, reporter activity was detected in the nucleus pulposus and in a portion of the annulus fibrosus, resulting in expansion of Cre-expressing cells in the adult IVD. Reporter activity was also seen in the Skt(cre);R26R mesonephros at E15.5. These results suggest that Skt(cre) mice are useful for exploring the fate specification of notochordal cells and creating models for IVD-related skeletal diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichiro Abe
- Division of Basic Medical Science and Molecular Medicine, Tokai University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
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