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Li L, Rispoli R, Patient R, Ciau-Uitz A, Porcher C. Etv6 activates vegfa expression through positive and negative transcriptional regulatory networks in Xenopus embryos. Nat Commun 2019; 10:1083. [PMID: 30842454 PMCID: PMC6403364 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-09050-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2018] [Accepted: 02/15/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
VEGFA signaling controls physiological and pathological angiogenesis and hematopoiesis. Although many context-dependent signaling pathways downstream of VEGFA have been uncovered, vegfa transcriptional regulation in vivo remains unclear. Here, we show that the ETS transcription factor, Etv6, positively regulates vegfa expression during Xenopus blood stem cell development through multiple transcriptional inputs. In agreement with its established repressive functions, Etv6 directly inhibits expression of the repressor foxo3, to prevent Foxo3 from binding to and repressing the vegfa promoter. Etv6 also directly activates expression of the activator klf4; reflecting a genome-wide paucity in ETS-binding motifs in Etv6 genomic targets, Klf4 then recruits Etv6 to the vegfa promoter to activate its expression. These two mechanisms (double negative gate and feed-forward loop) are classic features of gene regulatory networks specifying cell fates. Thus, Etv6's dual function, as a transcriptional repressor and activator, controls a major signaling pathway involved in endothelial and blood development in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Li
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Rossella Rispoli
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK
- Division of Genetics and Molecular Medicine, NIHR Biomedical Research Centre, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust and King's College London, London, SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Roger Patient
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
| | - Aldo Ciau-Uitz
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
| | - Catherine Porcher
- MRC Molecular Haematology Unit, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 9DS, UK.
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The significance of the increased expression of phosphorylated MeCP2 in the membranes from patients with proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Sci Rep 2016; 6:32850. [PMID: 27616658 PMCID: PMC5018725 DOI: 10.1038/srep32850] [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: 01/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to evaluate the correlation of expression of phosphorylated methyl-CpG binding protein 2-Ser421 (MeCP2-S421) and VEGF in the membranes of patients with PDR. We examined the expression of phospho-MeCP2-S80, S421, VEGF and PEDF in surgically excised PDR membranes from 33 patients with diabetes, and idiopathic epiretinal membranes from 11 patients without diabetes, using immunohistochemistry and western blot. The colocalization of MeCP2-S421 with VEGF, PEDF, CD31, GFAP and αSMA was revealed by fluorescent double labeling. The effect of CoCl2 and knock down MeCP2 using specific siRNA on the expression of MeCP2 and VEGF were analyzed in HUCAC cells by Western blot. We found that phospho-MeCP2-S421 was significantly increased in the membranes from the patients with PDR compared with the specimens from patients without diabetes (P < 0.01). The expression of phospho-MeCP2-S421 was much stronger than that of phospho-MeCP2-S80 in the PDR membranes. Double labeling showed that the high phospho-MeCP2-S421 expression was associated with strong expression of VEGF, but not PEDF. Further, phospho-MeCP2-S421 and VEGF were increased by the stimulation of CoCl2 and knock down MeCP2 inhibited the expression of VEGF. Our result suggests that phospho-MeCP2-S421 might involve in the pathogenesis of PDR.
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Understanding the pathogenesis of Kawasaki disease by network and pathway analysis. COMPUTATIONAL AND MATHEMATICAL METHODS IN MEDICINE 2013; 2013:989307. [PMID: 23533546 PMCID: PMC3606754 DOI: 10.1155/2013/989307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2012] [Accepted: 01/04/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Kawasaki disease (KD) is a complex disease, leading to the damage of multisystems. The pathogen that triggers this sophisticated disease is still unknown since it was first reported in 1967. To increase our knowledge on the effects of genes in KD, we extracted statistically significant genes so far associated with this mysterious illness from candidate gene studies and genome-wide association studies. These genes contributed to susceptibility to KD, coronary artery lesions, resistance to initial IVIG treatment, incomplete KD, and so on. Gene ontology category and pathways were analyzed for relationships among these statistically significant genes. These genes were represented in a variety of functional categories, including immune response, inflammatory response, and cellular calcium ion homeostasis. They were mainly enriched in the pathway of immune response. We further highlighted the compelling immune pathway of NF-AT signal and leukocyte interactions combined with another transcription factor NF- κ B in the pathogenesis of KD. STRING analysis, a network analysis focusing on protein interactions, validated close contact between these genes and implied the importance of this pathway. This data will contribute to understanding pathogenesis of KD.
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Bruneau S, Datta D, Flaxenburg JA, Pal S, Briscoe DM. TRAF6 inhibits proangiogenic signals in endothelial cells and regulates the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2012; 419:66-71. [PMID: 22326918 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2012.01.128] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2012] [Accepted: 01/26/2012] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
TNF-family molecules induce the expression Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF) in endothelial cells (EC) and elicit signaling responses that result in angiogenesis. However, the role of TNF-receptor associated factors (TRAFs) as upstream regulators of VEGF expression or as mediators of angiogenesis is not known. In this study, HUVEC were cotransfected with a full-length VEGF promoter-luciferase construct and siRNAs to TRAF 1, -2, -3, -5, -6, and promoter activity was measured. Paradoxically, rather than inhibiting VEGF expression, we found that knockdown of TRAF6 resulted in a 4-6-fold increase in basal VEGF promoter activity compared to control siRNA-transfected EC (P<0.0001). In addition, knockdown of TRAF 1, -2, -3 or -5 resulted in a slight increase or no change in VEGF promoter activation. Using [(3)H]thymidine incorporation assays as well as the in vitro wound healing assay, we also found that basal rates of EC proliferation and migration were increased following TRAF6 knockdown; and this response was inhibited by the addition of a blocking anti-VEGF antibody into cell cultures. Using a limited protein array to gain insight into TRAF6-dependent intermediary signaling responses, we observed that TRAF6 knockdown resulted in an increase in the activity of Src family kinases. In addition, we found that treatment with AZD-0530, a pharmacological Src inhibitor, reduced the regulatory effect of TRAF6 knockdown on VEGF promoter activity. Collectively, these findings define a novel pro-angiogenic signaling response in EC that is regulated by TRAF6.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah Bruneau
- Transplantation Research Center, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Boston, MA 02115, United States
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Jin X, Jin HR, Jung HS, Lee SJ, Lee JH, Lee JJ. An atypical E3 ligase zinc finger protein 91 stabilizes and activates NF-kappaB-inducing kinase via Lys63-linked ubiquitination. J Biol Chem 2010; 285:30539-47. [PMID: 20682767 PMCID: PMC2945548 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m110.129551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2010] [Revised: 07/11/2010] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The NF-κB transcription factors control many physiological processes, including inflammation, immunity, and apoptosis. Its activity contributes to the development of various cell malignancies. NF-κB-inducing kinase (NIK) plays a pivotal role in NF-κB activation. However, the molecular mechanism to stabilize and activate NIK remains elusive, although it is known that cIAP1/2 (cellular inhibitor of apoptosis 1 and 2) ubiquitinate NIK for degradation. Here, we report a novel NF-κB-related zinc finger protein 91 (ZFP91) that stabilizes and activates NIK in a ubiquitination-dependent manner. We show that ZFP91 interacts with and promotes the Lys(63)-linked ubiquitination of NIK and subsequent processing of p100 to p52. The results of in vitro biochemical assays indicate that ZFP91 functions as an E3 ligase directly to NIK. Remarkably, the ubiquitination of NIK coincides with its Thr(559) phosphorylation. Furthermore, knockdown of ZFP91 expression by RNA interference inhibits the CD40 ligation-induced activation of NIK and p100 processing as well as the expression of noncanonical NF-κB target genes. These data clearly indicate that ZFP91 is an important regulator of the noncanonical NF-κB pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuejun Jin
- From the Center for Molecular Cancer Research, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungbuk 363-883, Republic of Korea
- Key Laboratory for Natural Resources of Changbai Mountain and Functional Molecules, Yanbian University, Yanji, China, and
| | - Hong Ri Jin
- From the Center for Molecular Cancer Research, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungbuk 363-883, Republic of Korea
- Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-333, Republic of Korea
| | - Haeng Sun Jung
- From the Center for Molecular Cancer Research, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungbuk 363-883, Republic of Korea
| | - Se Jeong Lee
- From the Center for Molecular Cancer Research, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungbuk 363-883, Republic of Korea
| | - Jeong-Hyung Lee
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Natural Sciences, Kangwon National University, Chuncheon, Kangwon 200-701, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung Joon Lee
- From the Center for Molecular Cancer Research, Korea Research Institute of Bioscience and Biotechnology, Ochang, Chungbuk 363-883, Republic of Korea
- Korea University of Science and Technology, Daejeon 305-333, Republic of Korea
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Chatzigeorgiou A, Lyberi M, Chatzilymperis G, Nezos A, Kamper E. CD40/CD40L signaling and its implication in health and disease. Biofactors 2009; 35:474-83. [PMID: 19904719 DOI: 10.1002/biof.62] [Citation(s) in RCA: 117] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
CD40, a transmembrane receptor of the tumor necrosis factor gene superfamily is expressed on a variety of cells, such as monocytes, B-cells, antigen presenting cells, endothelial, smooth muscle cells, and fibroblasts. The interaction between CD40 and CD40 ligand (CD40L) enhances the expression of cytokines, chemokines, matrix metalloproteinases, growth factors, and adhesion molecules, mainly through the stimulation of nuclear factor kappa B. The aim of this review is to summarize the molecular and cellular characteristics of CD40 and CD40L, the mechanisms that regulate their expression, the cellular responses they stimulate and finally their implication in the pathophysiology of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonios Chatzigeorgiou
- Department of Experimental Physiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Athens, Greece
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Dormond O, Contreras AG, Meijer E, Datta D, Flynn E, Pal S, Briscoe DM. CD40-induced signaling in human endothelial cells results in mTORC2- and Akt-dependent expression of vascular endothelial growth factor in vitro and in vivo. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2008; 181:8088-95. [PMID: 19018001 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.181.11.8088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
We have examined CD40-dependent signals in endothelial cells (EC) mediating the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) and VEGF-induced angiogenesis. We treated confluent cultures of EC with soluble CD40L (sCD40L), and by Western blot found a marked increase in the phosphorylation of Akt, 4EBP-1, and S6K1, compared with untreated cells. EC were transfected with a full-length VEGF promoter-luciferase construct and cultured in the absence or presence of rapamycin and sCD40L. We found that rapamycin, which blocks mTORC1 and mTORC2 signaling, inhibited sCD40L-mediated transactivation of VEGF. In addition, by Western blot, we found that the transfection of EC with small interfering RNA (siRNA) to rictor (to inhibit mTORC2), and not raptor (to inhibit mTORC1), inhibited sCD40L-dependent protein expression of VEGF. In additions, we found that basal levels of phosphorylated Akt as well as VEGF were increased in EC transfected with the raptor siRNA. Also, rapamycin failed to inhibit VEGF promoter activation, as well as VEGF protein expression in EC transfected with a constitutively active construct of Akt, further demonstrating that mTORC1 is not necessary for CD40- and Akt-induced expression of VEGF. Finally, we injected human CD40L-transfected fibroblasts or mock transfectants into human skin on SCID mice. We found that the injection of CD40L transfectants, but not mock cells, resulted in VEGF expression and mediated a marked angiogenesis reaction, and this response was reduced in mice treated with rapamycin. Together, these observations indicate that mTORC2 and Akt facilitate CD40-inducible expression of VEGF in EC, which is of clinical importance in tumor growth and the progression of chronic inflammatory diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Olivier Dormond
- Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Transplantation Research Center, Children's Hospital Boston, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
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Xu L, Jain RK. Down-regulation of placenta growth factor by promoter hypermethylation in human lung and colon carcinoma. Mol Cancer Res 2007; 5:873-80. [PMID: 17704140 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-06-0141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Two recent clinical trials have shown that the placenta growth factor (PlGF) is up-regulated after bevacizumab treatment in colorectal cancer and after SU11248 treatment in metastatic renal cell carcinoma. The regulation of expression for the vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has been well documented in human tumors; however, the data for PlGF are lacking. We investigated the epigenetic regulation of PlGF and correlated the results with clinicopathologic features. We used plgf promoter analysis, cDNA microarray, immunohistochemistry, and Northern blot analysis to determine the expression level of PlGF in 22 human lung carcinoma and 11 colorectal tumors and in 12 cell lines. Sodium bisulfite modification of genomic DNA followed by methylation-specific PCR (MSP) and sequencing were used to determine the methylation status of the PlGF promoter. Treatments with 5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine and trichostatin A (TSA) were used to reactivate PlGF expression. Significance analysis showed that PlGF expression level was low in human lung and colorectal tumor tissues and in cell lines. PlGF gene promoter was hypermethylated. Treatment with the demethylating agent 5-Aza-dC restored PlGF transcript expression in the lung and colon carcinoma cell lines. By combining the results from cDNA microarray, immunohistochemistry, and MSP, we report, for the first time, that the PlGF gene promoter is methylated, and methylation may be one of the mechanisms that contributes to the low PlGF expression level in human lung and colorectal tumor tissues and cell lines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Xu
- Edwin L. Steele Laboratory, Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital, 100 Blossom Street, Cox-7, Boston, MA 02114, USA.
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Salto-Tellez M, Nga ME, Han HC, Wong ASC, Lee CK, Anuar D, Ng SS, Ho M, Wee A, Chan YH, Soong R. Tissue microarrays characterise the clinical significance of a VEGF-A protein expression signature in gastrointestinal stromal tumours. Br J Cancer 2007; 96:776-82. [PMID: 17299397 PMCID: PMC2360083 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6603551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
A tissue microarray analysis of 22 proteins in gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST), followed by an unsupervised, hierarchical monothetic cluster statistical analysis of the results, allowed us to detect a vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) protein overexpression signature discriminator of prognosis in GIST, and discover novel VEGF-A DNA variants that may have functional significance.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Salto-Tellez
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074
- Oncology Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Level 5 CRC Building, MD11, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597
- E-mail:
| | - M E Nga
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074
| | - H C Han
- Oncology Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Level 5 CRC Building, MD11, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597
| | - A S-C Wong
- Department of Hematology Oncology, National University Hospital, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074
| | - C K Lee
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074
| | - D Anuar
- Oncology Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Level 5 CRC Building, MD11, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597
| | - S S Ng
- Oncology Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Level 5 CRC Building, MD11, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597
| | - M Ho
- Oncology Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Level 5 CRC Building, MD11, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597
| | - A Wee
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074
| | - Y H Chan
- Biostatistics Unit, Yong Loo Lin Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, CRC Building, MD11, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597
| | - R Soong
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin Faculty of Medicine, National University of Singapore, 5 Lower Kent Ridge Road, Singapore 119074
- Oncology Research Institute, National University of Singapore, Level 5 CRC Building, MD11, 10 Medical Drive, Singapore 117597
- E-mail:
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