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Nagel S. The Role of NKL Homeobox Genes in T-Cell Malignancies. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9111676. [PMID: 34829904 PMCID: PMC8615965 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9111676] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 11/08/2021] [Accepted: 11/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeobox genes encode transcription factors controlling basic developmental processes. The homeodomain is encoded by the homeobox and mediates sequence-specific DNA binding and interaction with cofactors, thus operating as a basic regulatory platform. Similarities in their homeobox sequences serve to arrange these genes in classes and subclasses, including NKL homeobox genes. In accordance with their normal functions, deregulated homeobox genes contribute to carcinogenesis along with hematopoietic malignancies. We have recently described the physiological expression of eleven NKL homeobox genes in the course of hematopoiesis and termed this gene expression pattern NKL-code. Due to the developmental impact of NKL homeobox genes these data suggest a key role for their activity in the normal regulation of hematopoietic cell differentiation including T-cells. On the other hand, aberrant overexpression of NKL-code members or ectopical activation of non-code members has been frequently reported in lymphoid and myeloid leukemia/lymphoma, demonstrating their oncogenic impact in the hematopoietic compartment. Here, we provide an overview of the NKL-code in normal hematopoiesis and discuss the oncogenic role of deregulated NKL homeobox genes in T-cell malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ, 38124 Braunschweig, Germany
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2
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Ho KWG, Bale T, Grommes C, Bhatia A, Malani R. Use of circulating tumor DNA to guide treatment of primary central nervous system lymphoma: a case report. Neurooncol Adv 2021; 3:vdab143. [PMID: 34729485 PMCID: PMC8557694 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdab143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Ka-Wai Grace Ho
- Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Neurology, MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
| | - Tejus Bale
- Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Christian Grommes
- Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
| | - Ankush Bhatia
- Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA.,Department of Neurology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, USA
| | - Rachna Malani
- Department of Neurology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA
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3
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DLX Genes: Roles in Development and Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13123005. [PMID: 34203994 PMCID: PMC8232755 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13123005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2021] [Revised: 06/10/2021] [Accepted: 06/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary DLX homeobox family genes encode transcription factors that have indispensable roles in embryonic and postnatal development. These genes are critically linked to the morphogenesis of craniofacial structures, branchial arches, forebrain, and sensory organs. DLX genes are also involved in postnatal homeostasis, particularly hematopoiesis and, when dysregulated, oncogenesis. DLX1/2, DLX3/4, and DLX5/6 exist as bigenes on different chromosomes, sharing intergenic enhancers between gene pairs, which allows orchestrated spatiotemporal expression. Genomic alterations of human DLX gene enhancers or coding sequences result in congenital disorders such as split-hand/foot malformation. Aberrant postnatal expression of DLX genes is associated with hematological malignancies, including leukemias and lymphomas. In several mouse models of T-cell lymphoma, Dlx5 has been shown to act as an oncogene by cooperating with activated Akt, Notch1/3, and/or Wnt to drive tumor formation. In humans, DLX5 is aberrantly expressed in lung and ovarian carcinomas and holds promise as a therapeutic target. Abstract Homeobox genes control body patterning and cell-fate decisions during development. The homeobox genes consist of many families, only some of which have been investigated regarding a possible role in tumorigenesis. Dysregulation of HOX family genes have been widely implicated in cancer etiology. DLX homeobox genes, which belong to the NK-like family, exert dual roles in development and cancer. The DLX genes are the key transcription factors involved in regulating the development of craniofacial structures in vertebrates. The three DLX bigenes have overlapping expression in the branchial arches. Disruption of DLX function has destructive consequences in organogenesis and is associated with certain congenital disorders in humans. The role of DLX genes in oncogenesis is only beginning to emerge. DLX2 diminishes cellular senescence by regulating p53 function, whereas DLX4 has been associated with metastasis in breast cancer. In human ovarian cancer cells, DLX5 is essential for regulating AKT signaling, thereby promoting cell proliferation and survival. We previously implicated Dlx5 as an oncogene in murine T-cell lymphoma driven by a constitutively active form of Akt2. In this mouse model, overexpression of Dlx5 was caused by a chromosomal rearrangement that juxtaposed the Tcr-beta promoter region near the Dlx5 locus. Moreover, transgenic mice overexpressing Dlx5, specifically in immature T-cells, develop spontaneous thymic lymphomas. Oncogenesis in this mouse model involves binding of Dlx5 to the Notch1 and Notch3 gene loci to activate their transcription. Dlx5 also cooperates with Akt signaling to accelerate lymphomagenesis by activating Wnt signaling. We also discuss the fact that human DLX5 is aberrantly expressed in several human malignancies.
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4
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Tao T, Shi H, Wang M, Perez-Atayde AR, London WB, Gutierrez A, Lemos B, Durbin AD, Look AT. Ganglioneuromas are driven by activated AKT and can be therapeutically targeted with mTOR inhibitors. J Exp Med 2021; 217:151986. [PMID: 32728700 PMCID: PMC7537400 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20191871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Peripheral sympathetic nervous system tumors are the most common extracranial solid tumors of childhood and include neuroblastoma, ganglioneuroblastoma, and ganglioneuroma. Surgery is the only effective therapy for ganglioneuroma, which may be challenging due to the location of the tumor and involvement of surrounding structures. Thus, there is a need for well-tolerated presurgical therapies that could reduce the size and extent of ganglioneuroma and therefore limit surgical morbidity. Here, we found that an AKT–mTOR–S6 pathway was active in human ganglioneuroma but not neuroblastoma samples. Zebrafish transgenic for constitutively activated myr-Akt2 in the sympathetic nervous system were found to develop ganglioneuroma without progression to neuroblastoma. Inhibition of the downstream AKT target, mTOR, in zebrafish with ganglioneuroma effectively reduced the tumor burden. Our results implicate activated AKT as a tumorigenic driver in ganglioneuroma. We propose a clinical trial of mTOR inhibitors as a means to shrink large ganglioneuromas before resection in order to reduce surgical morbidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ting Tao
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Hui Shi
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Meng Wang
- Department of Environmental Health & Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences Program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | | | - Wendy B London
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Alejandro Gutierrez
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
| | - Bernardo Lemos
- Department of Environmental Health & Molecular and Integrative Physiological Sciences Program, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA
| | - Adam D Durbin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.,Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA.,The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - A Thomas Look
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA
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5
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Wnt signaling mediates oncogenic synergy between Akt and Dlx5 in T-cell lymphomagenesis by enhancing cholesterol synthesis. Sci Rep 2020; 10:15837. [PMID: 32985581 PMCID: PMC7522078 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-72822-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2020] [Accepted: 09/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The Dlx5 homeobox gene was first implicated as an oncogene in a T-ALL mouse model expressing myristoylated (Myr) Akt2. Furthermore, overexpression of Dlx5 was sufficient to drive T-ALL in mice by directly activating Akt and Notch signaling. These findings implied that Akt2 cooperates with Dlx5 in T-cell lymphomagenesis. To test this hypothesis, Lck-Dlx5;Lck-MyrAkt2 transgenic mice were generated. MyrAkt2 synergized with Dlx5 to greatly accelerate and enhance the dissemination of T-lymphomagenesis. RNA-seq analysis performed on lymphomas from Lck-Dlx5;Lck-MyrAkt mice revealed upregulation of genes involved in the Wnt and cholesterol biosynthesis pathways. Combined RNA-seq and ChIP-seq analysis of lymphomas from Lck-Dlx5;Lck-MyrAkt mice demonstrated that β-catenin directly regulates genes involved in sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 2 (Srebf2)-cholesterol synthesis. These lymphoma cells had high Lef1 levels and were highly sensitive to β-catenin and Srebf2-cholesterol synthesis inhibitors. Similarly, human T-ALL cell lines with activated NOTCH and AKT and elevated LEF1 levels were sensitive to inhibition of β-catenin and cholesterol pathways. Furthermore, LEF1 expression positively correlated with expression of genes involved in the cholesterol synthesis pathway in primary human T-ALL specimens. Together, these data suggest that targeting β-catenin and/or cholesterol biosynthesis, together with AKT, could have therapeutic efficacy in a subset of T-ALL patients.
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6
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Gary JM, Simmons JK, Xu J, Zhang S, Peat TJ, Watson N, Gamache BJ, Zhang K, Kovalchuk AL, Michalowski AM, Chen JQ, Thaiwong T, Kiupel M, Gaikwad S, Etienne M, Simpson RM, Dubois W, Testa JR, Mock BA. Hypomorphic mTOR Downregulates CDK6 and Delays Thymic Pre-T LBL Tumorigenesis. Mol Cancer Ther 2020; 19:2221-2232. [PMID: 32747423 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-19-0671] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2019] [Revised: 01/14/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway hyperactivation is frequent in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL/LBL). To model inhibition of mTOR, pre-T-cell lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (pre-T LBL) tumor development was monitored in mice with T lymphocyte-specific, constitutively active AKT (Lck-MyrAkt2) that were either crossed to mTOR knockdown (KD) mice or treated with the mTOR inhibitor everolimus. Lck-MyrAkt2;mTOR KD mice lived significantly longer than Lck-MyrAkt2;mTOR wild-type (WT) mice, although both groups ultimately developed thymic pre-T LBL. An increase in survival was also observed when Lck-MyrAkt2;mTOR WT mice were treated for 8 weeks with everolimus. The transcriptional profiles of WT and KD thymic lymphomas were compared, and Ingenuity Pathway Upstream Regulator Analysis of differentially expressed genes in tumors from mTOR WT versus KD mice identified let-7 and miR-21 as potential regulatory genes. mTOR KD mice had higher levels of let-7a and miR-21 than mTOR WT mice, and rapamycin induced their expression in mTOR WT cells. CDK6 was one of the most downregulated targets of both let-7 and miR21 in mTOR KD tumors. CDK6 overexpression and decreased expression of let-7 in mTOR KD cells rescued a G1 arrest phenotype. Combined mTOR (rapamycin) and CDK4/6 (palbociclib) inhibition decreased tumor size and proliferation in tumor flank transplants, increased survival in an intravenous transplant model of disseminated leukemia compared with single agent treatment, and cooperatively decreased cell viability in human T-ALL/LBL cell lines. Thus, mTOR KD mice provide a model to explore drug combinations synergizing with mTOR inhibitors and can be used to identify downstream targets of inhibition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joy M Gary
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - John K Simmons
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Jinfei Xu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shuling Zhang
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Tyler J Peat
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Nicholas Watson
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Benjamin J Gamache
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.,American University, Washington, DC
| | - Ke Zhang
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | | | | | - Jin-Qiu Chen
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Tuddow Thaiwong
- Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Matti Kiupel
- Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation, Michigan State University, East Lansing, Michigan
| | - Snehal Gaikwad
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Maudeline Etienne
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - R Mark Simpson
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Wendy Dubois
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Joseph R Testa
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
| | - Beverly A Mock
- Laboratory of Cancer Biology and Genetics, CCR, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland.
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7
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MacKenzie RK, Sankar PR, Bendall AJ. Dlx5 and Dlx6 can antagonize cell division at the G 1/S checkpoint. BMC Mol Cell Biol 2019; 20:8. [PMID: 31041891 PMCID: PMC6460778 DOI: 10.1186/s12860-019-0191-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 04/02/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Dlx5 and Dlx6 stimulate differentiation of diverse progenitors during embryonic development. Their actions as pro-differentiation transcription factors includes the up-regulation of differentiation markers but the extent to which differentiation may also be stimulated by regulation of the cell cycle has not been addressed. Results We document that expression of Dlx5 and Dlx6 antagonizes cell proliferation in a variety of cell types without inducing apoptosis or promoting cell cycle exit. Rather, a variety of evidence indicates that elevated Dlx5 and Dlx6 expression reduces the proportion of cells in S phase and affects the length of the cell cycle. Conclusions Antagonism of S-phase entry by Dlx5 and Dlx6 proteins likely represents a lineage-independent function to effect Dlx-mediated differentiation in multiple progenitor cell types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel K MacKenzie
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Parvathy Ravi Sankar
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada
| | - Andrew J Bendall
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of Guelph, 50 Stone Rd East, Guelph, Ontario, N1G 2W1, Canada.
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8
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Jones RA, Franks SE, Moorehead RA. Comparative mRNA and miRNA transcriptome analysis of a mouse model of IGFIR-driven lung cancer. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0206948. [PMID: 30412601 PMCID: PMC6226179 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0206948] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2018] [Accepted: 10/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Mouse models of cancer play an important role in elucidating the molecular mechanisms that contribute to tumorigenesis. The extent to which these models resemble one another and their human counterparts at the molecular level is critical in understanding tumorigenesis. In this study, we carried out a comparative gene expression analysis to generate a detailed molecular portrait of a transgenic mouse model of IGFIR-driven lung cancer. IGFIR-driven tumors displayed a strong resemblance with established mouse models of lung adenocarcinoma, particularly EGFR-driven models highlighted by elevated levels of the EGFR ligands Ereg and Areg. Cross-species analysis revealed a shared increase in human lung adenocarcinoma markers including Nkx2.1 and Napsa as well as alterations in a subset of genes with oncogenic and tumor suppressive properties such as Aurka, Ret, Klf4 and Lats2. Integrated miRNA and mRNA analysis in IGFIR-driven tumors identified interaction pairs with roles in ErbB signaling while cross-species analysis revealed coordinated expression of a subset of conserved miRNAs and their targets including miR-21-5p (Reck, Timp3 and Tgfbr3). Overall, these findings support the use of SPC-IGFIR mice as a model of human lung adenocarcinoma and provide a comprehensive knowledge base to dissect the molecular pathogenesis of tumor initiation and progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert A. Jones
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Sarah E. Franks
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
| | - Roger A. Moorehead
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Ontario Veterinary College, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, Canada
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9
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Tan Y, Sementino E, Xu J, Pei J, Liu Z, Ito TK, Cai KQ, Peri S, Klein-Szanto AJP, Wiest DL, Testa JR. The homeoprotein Dlx5 drives murine T-cell lymphomagenesis by directly transactivating Notch and upregulating Akt signaling. Oncotarget 2017; 8:14941-14956. [PMID: 28122332 PMCID: PMC5362456 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.14784] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 01/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeobox genes play a critical role in embryonic development, but they have also been implicated in cancer through mechanisms that are largely unknown. While not expressed during normal T-cell development, homeobox transcription factor genes can be reactivated via recurrent chromosomal rearrangements in human T-cell acute leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL), a malignancy often associated with activated Notch and Akt signaling. To address how epigenetic reprogramming via an activated homeobox gene might contribute to T-lymphomagenesis, we investigated a transgenic mouse model with thymocyte-specific overexpression of the Dlx5 homeobox gene. We demonstrate for the first time that Dlx5 induces T-cell lymphomas with high penetrance. Integrated ChIP-seq and mRNA microarray analyses identified Notch1/3 and Irs2 as direct transcriptional targets of Dlx5, a gene signature unique to lymphomas from Lck-Dlx5 mice as compared to T-cell lymphomas from Lck-MyrAkt2 mice, which were previously reported by our group. Moreover, promoter/enhancer studies confirmed that Dlx5 directly transactivates Notch expression. Notch1/3 expression and Irs2-induced Akt signaling were upregulated throughout early stages of T-cell development, which promoted cell survival during β-selection of T lymphocytes. Dlx5 was required for tumor maintenance via its activation of Notch and Akt, as tumor cells were highly sensitive to Notch and Akt inhibitors. Together, these findings provide unbiased genetic and mechanistic evidence that Dlx5 acts as an oncogene when aberrantly expressed in T cells, and that it is a novel discovery that Notch is a direct target of Dlx5. These experimental findings provide mechanistic insights about how reactivation of the Dlx5 gene can drive T-ALL by aberrant epigenetic reprogramming of the T-cell genome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinfei Tan
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Eleonora Sementino
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Jinfei Xu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Jianming Pei
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Zemin Liu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Timothy K Ito
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Kathy Q Cai
- Histopathology Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Suraj Peri
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Andres J P Klein-Szanto
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
- Histopathology Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - David L Wiest
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Joseph R Testa
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
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10
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Rao S, Cai KQ, Stadanlick JE, Greenberg-Kushnir N, Solanki-Patel N, Lee SY, Fahl SP, Testa JR, Wiest DL. Ribosomal Protein Rpl22 Controls the Dissemination of T-cell Lymphoma. Cancer Res 2016; 76:3387-96. [PMID: 27197189 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-15-2698] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2015] [Accepted: 03/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Mutations in ribosomal proteins cause bone marrow failure syndromes associated with increased cancer risk, but the basis by which they do so remains unclear. We reported previously that the ribosomal protein Rpl22 is a tumor suppressor in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia/lymphoma (T-ALL), and that loss of just one Rpl22 allele accelerates T-cell lymphomagenesis by activating NF-κB and inducing the stem cell factor Lin28B. Here, we show that, paradoxically, loss of both alleles of Rpl22 restricts lymphoma progression through a distinct effect on migration of malignant cells out of the thymus. Lymphoma-prone AKT2-transgenic or PTEN-deficient mice on an Rpl22(-/-) background developed significantly larger and markedly more vascularized thymic tumors than those observed in Rpl22(+/+) control mice. But, unlike Rpl22(+/+) or Rpl22(+/-) tumors, Rpl22(-/-) lymphomas did not disseminate to the periphery and were retained in the thymus. We traced the defect in the Rpl22(-/-) lymphoma migratory capacity to downregulation of the KLF2 transcription factor and its targets, including the key migratory factor sphingosine 1-phosphate receptor 1 (S1PR1). Indeed, reexpression of S1PR1 in Rpl22-deficient tumor cells restores their migratory capacity in vitro The regulation of KLF2 and S1PR1 by Rpl22 appears to be proximal as Rpl22 reexpression in Rpl22-deficient lymphoma cells restores expression of KLF2 and S1P1R, while Rpl22 knockdown in Rpl22-sufficient lymphomas attenuates their expression. Collectively, these data reveal that, while loss of one copy of Rpl22 promotes lymphomagenesis and disseminated disease, loss of both copies impairs responsiveness to migratory cues and restricts malignant cells to the thymus. Cancer Res; 76(11); 3387-96. ©2016 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuyun Rao
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Kathy Q Cai
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jason E Stadanlick
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Noa Greenberg-Kushnir
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Nehal Solanki-Patel
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Sang-Yun Lee
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Shawn P Fahl
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Joseph R Testa
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - David L Wiest
- Blood Cell Development and Function Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
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11
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Oncogenic PTEN functions and models in T-cell malignancies. Oncogene 2015; 35:3887-96. [PMID: 26616857 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.462] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 10/07/2015] [Accepted: 10/13/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
PTEN is a protein phosphatase that is crucial to prevent the malignant transformation of T-cells. Although a numerous mechanisms regulate its expression and function, they are often altered in T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukaemias and T-cell lymphomas. As such, PTEN inactivation frequently occurs in these malignancies, where it can be associated with chemotherapy resistance and poor prognosis. Different Pten knockout models recapitulated the development of T-cell leukaemia/lymphoma, demonstrating that PTEN loss is at the center of a complex oncogenic network that sustains and drives tumorigenesis via the activation of multiple signalling pathways. These aspects and their therapeutic implications are discussed in this review.
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12
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Li J, Li P, Zhao W, Yang R, Chen S, Bai Y, Dun S, Chen X, Du Y, Wang Y, Zang W, Zhao G, Zhang G. Expression of long non-coding RNA DLX6-AS1 in lung adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cell Int 2015; 15:48. [PMID: 26052251 PMCID: PMC4458341 DOI: 10.1186/s12935-015-0201-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2014] [Accepted: 04/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Lung adenocarcinoma (LAC), the primary histological type of non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), has displayed an increasing incidence and mortality worldwide. However, therapeutic approaches were limited. Dysregulation of some lncRNAs has been shown in various types of cancers including LAC. The aim of the present study was to vertify lncRNA DLX6-AS1 expression in LAC. Methods Microarray assay revealed expression profile of lncRNAs in LAC. qRT-PCR ( quantitative reverse transcription PCR) was performed to identify lncRNA DLX6-AS1 expression level in 72 paired LAC and adjacent normal lung tissues. qRT-PCR and Western blotting were used to verify that down-regulation lncRNA DLX6-AS1 decreased DLX6 (distal-less homeobox 6) mRNA and protein expression. Results Microarray analysis identified up-regulation of 272 lncRNAs and down-regulation of 635 lncRNAs in LAC tissues. The expression level of lncRNA DLX6-AS1 in LAC tissues was significantly higher compared to paired adjacent normal lung tissues (P< 0.05). In addition, its expression level was closed correlated with both histological differentiation (P = 0.004) and TNM stage (P = 0.033). qRT-PCR and Western blotting analysis showed that DLX6 mRNA and protein levels were lower in si-LncRNA group than in the NC (negative control) and Blank groups. Conclusions Microarray analysis identified that lncRNA DLX6-AS1 was up-regulated in LAC tissues. High DLX6-AS1 expression levels were significantly associated with both histological differentiation and TNM stage. Down-regulation of lncRNA DLX6-AS1 expression decreased the DLX6 mRNA and protein levels.
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Affiliation(s)
- Juan Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Ping Li
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Wei Zhao
- Department of Pediatric Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Rui Yang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Shanshan Chen
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Yong Bai
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Shaozhi Dun
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Xiaonan Chen
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Yuwen Du
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Yuanyuan Wang
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Wenqiao Zang
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Guoqiang Zhao
- College of Basic Medical Sciences, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
| | - Guojun Zhang
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital of Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan China
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13
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Tan Y, Sementino E, Pei J, Kadariya Y, Ito TK, Testa JR. Co-targeting of Akt and Myc inhibits viability of lymphoma cells from Lck-Dlx5 mice. Cancer Biol Ther 2015; 16:580-8. [PMID: 25793663 DOI: 10.1080/15384047.2015.1018495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Constitutive activation of AKT is a frequent occurrence in the development of human T-cell acute lymphocytic leukemia/lymphomas (T-ALLs), due largely to inactivation of PTEN. Up regulation of MYC is also commonly observed in human T-ALLs. We previously demonstrated that expression of a constitutively active form of Lck-Akt2 alone is sufficient to initiate T-cell lymphoma in mice, and that tumor formation typically requires up regulation of Myc or Dlx5 caused by specific chromosomal rearrangements. Furthermore, Lck-Dlx5 mice develop T-ALLs that consistently acquire overexpression of Myc and activation of Akt, the latter due to loss of Pten expression. Proliferation of T-ALL cells from Lck-Dlx5 mice was found to be highly sensitive to the Akt pathway inhibitors BEZ235 and RAD001, as well as to JQ1, an inhibitor of bromodomain proteins, one of which (BRD4) regulates Myc transcription. Additionally, low concentrations of BEZ235 were found to cooperate with JQ1 to enhance cell cycle arrest. Higher concentrations of BEZ235 (≥0.5 µM) promoted cell death, although the addition of JQ1 did not result in a further increase in apoptosis. In contrast, the specific Myc inhibitor 10058-F4 caused apoptosis, and when combined with BEZ235 (≥0.5 µM), an enhanced effect on apoptosis was consistently observed. In addition, BEZ235 and RAD001 potentiated vincristine-induced apoptosis when the cells were treated with both drugs simultaneously, whereas pretreatment with BEZ235 antagonized the cell-killing effect of vincristine. Collectively, these experimental findings provide rationale for the design of novel combination therapies for T-ALL that includes targeting of AKT and MYC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinfei Tan
- a Cancer Biology Program; Fox Chase Cancer Center ; Philadelphia , PA USA
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Silva IT, Rosales RA, Holanda AJ, Nussenzweig MC, Jankovic M. Identification of chromosomal translocation hotspots via scan statistics. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2014; 30:2551-8. [PMID: 24860160 DOI: 10.1093/bioinformatics/btu351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
MOTIVATION The detection of genomic regions unusually rich in a given pattern is an important undertaking in the analysis of next-generation sequencing data. Recent studies of chromosomal translocations in activated B lymphocytes have identified regions that are frequently translocated to c-myc oncogene. A quantitative method for the identification of translocation hotspots was crucial to this study. Here we improve this analysis by using a simple probabilistic model and the framework provided by scan statistics to define the number and location of translocation breakpoint hotspots. A key feature of our method is that it provides a global chromosome-wide nominal control level to clustering, as opposed to previous methods based on local criteria. While being motivated by a specific application, the detection of unusual clusters is a widespread problem in bioinformatics. We expect our method to be useful in the analysis of data from other experimental approaches such as of ChIP-seq and 4C-seq. RESULTS The analysis of translocations from B lymphocytes with the method described here reveals the presence of longer hotspots when compared with those defined previously. Further, we show that the hotspot size changes substantially in the absence of DNA repair protein 53BP1. When 53BP1 deficiency is combined with overexpression of activation-induced cytidine deaminase, the hotspot length increases even further. These changes are not detected by previous methods that use local significance criteria for clustering. Our method is also able to identify several exclusive translocation hotspots located in genes of known tumor supressors. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION The detection of translocation hotspots is done with hot_scan, a program implemented in R and Perl. Source code and documentation are freely available for download at https://github.com/itojal/hot_scan.
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Affiliation(s)
- Israel T Silva
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA, Departamento de Computação e Matemática, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14049-901 and National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cell and Cell Therapy and Center for Cell Based Therapy. Rua Catão Roxo, 2501, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14051-140, SP, Brazil Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA, Departamento de Computação e Matemática, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14049-901 and National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cell and Cell Therapy and Center for Cell Based Therapy. Rua Catão Roxo, 2501, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14051-140, SP, Brazil
| | - Rafael A Rosales
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA, Departamento de Computação e Matemática, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14049-901 and National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cell and Cell Therapy and Center for Cell Based Therapy. Rua Catão Roxo, 2501, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14051-140, SP, Brazil
| | - Adriano J Holanda
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA, Departamento de Computação e Matemática, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14049-901 and National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cell and Cell Therapy and Center for Cell Based Therapy. Rua Catão Roxo, 2501, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14051-140, SP, Brazil
| | - Michel C Nussenzweig
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA, Departamento de Computação e Matemática, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14049-901 and National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cell and Cell Therapy and Center for Cell Based Therapy. Rua Catão Roxo, 2501, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14051-140, SP, Brazil
| | - Mila Jankovic
- Laboratory of Molecular Immunology, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Avenue, New York, NY 10065, USA, Departamento de Computação e Matemática, Universidade de São Paulo. Av. Bandeirantes, 3900, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14049-901 and National Institute of Science and Technology in Stem Cell and Cell Therapy and Center for Cell Based Therapy. Rua Catão Roxo, 2501, Ribeirão Preto, CEP 14051-140, SP, Brazil
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15
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Torresan C, Oliveira MMC, Pereira SRF, Ribeiro EMSF, Marian C, Gusev Y, Lima RS, Urban CA, Berg PE, Haddad BR, Cavalli IJ, Cavalli LR. Increased copy number of the DLX4 homeobox gene in breast axillary lymph node metastasis. Cancer Genet 2014; 207:177-87. [PMID: 24947980 DOI: 10.1016/j.cancergen.2014.04.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2014] [Revised: 04/08/2014] [Accepted: 04/20/2014] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
DLX4 is a homeobox gene strongly implicated in breast tumor progression and invasion. Our main objective was to determine the DLX4 copy number status in sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastasis to assess its involvement in the initial stages of the axillary metastatic process. A total of 37 paired samples of SLN metastasis and primary breast tumors (PBT) were evaluated by fluorescence in situ hybridization, quantitative polymerase chain reaction and array comparative genomic hybridization assays. DLX4 increased copy number was observed in 21.6% of the PBT and 24.3% of the SLN metastasis; regression analysis demonstrated that the DLX4 alterations observed in the SLN metastasis were dependent on the ones in the PBT, indicating that they occur in the primary tumor cell populations and are maintained in the early axillary metastatic site. In addition, regression analysis demonstrated that DLX4 alterations (and other DLX and HOXB family members) occurred independently of the ones in the HER2/NEU gene, the main amplification driver on the 17q region. Additional studies evaluating DLX4 copy number in non-SLN axillary lymph nodes and/or distant breast cancer metastasis are necessary to determine if these alterations are carried on and maintained during more advanced stages of tumor progression and if could be used as a predictive marker for axillary involvement.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clarissa Torresan
- Department of Genetics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | | | - Silma R F Pereira
- Department of Biology, Federal University of Maranhão, São Luis, MA, Brazil
| | | | - Catalin Marian
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timisoara, Romania
| | - Yuriy Gusev
- Innovation Center for Biomedical Informatics, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Rubens S Lima
- Breast Unit, Hospital Nossa Senhora das Graças, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Cicero A Urban
- Breast Unit, Hospital Nossa Senhora das Graças, Curitiba, PR, Brazil; Positivo University, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Patricia E Berg
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Medicine, George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Bassem R Haddad
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Iglenir J Cavalli
- Department of Genetics, Federal University of Paraná, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
| | - Luciane R Cavalli
- Department of Oncology, Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, Georgetown University, Washington, DC, USA.
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Abstract
Well-differentiated liposarcoma (WDLPS), one of the most common human sarcomas, is poorly responsive to radiation and chemotherapy, and the lack of animal models suitable for experimental analysis has seriously impeded functional investigation of its pathobiology and development of effective targeted therapies. Here, we show that zebrafish expressing constitutively active Akt2 in mesenchymal progenitors develop WDLPS that closely resembles the human disease. Tumor incidence rates were 8% in p53 wild-type zebrafish, 6% in p53 heterozygotes, and 29% in p53-homozygous mutant zebrafish (P = 0.013), indicating that aberrant Akt activation collaborates with p53 mutation in WDLPS pathogenesis. Analysis of primary clinical specimens of WDLPS, and of the closely related dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDLPS) subtype, revealed immunohistochemical evidence of AKT activation in 27% of cases. Western blot analysis of a panel of cell lines derived from patients with WDLPS or DDLPS revealed robust AKT phosphorylation in all cell lines examined, even when these cells were cultured in serum-free media. Moreover, BEZ235, a small molecule inhibitor of PI3K and mammalian target of rapamycin that effectively inhibits AKT activation in these cells, impaired viability at nanomolar concentrations. Our findings are unique in providing an animal model to decipher the molecular pathogenesis of WDLPS, and implicate AKT as a previously unexplored therapeutic target in this chemoresistant sarcoma.
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Lee SY, Jeon HM, Kim CH, Ju MK, Bae HS, Park HG, Lim SC, Han SI, Kang HS. Homeobox gene Dlx-2 is implicated in metabolic stress-induced necrosis. Mol Cancer 2011; 10:113. [PMID: 21917150 PMCID: PMC3181206 DOI: 10.1186/1476-4598-10-113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2011] [Accepted: 09/14/2011] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND In contrast to tumor-suppressive apoptosis and autophagic cell death, necrosis promotes tumor progression by releasing the pro-inflammatory and tumor-promoting cytokine high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), and its presence in tumor patients is associated with poor prognosis. Thus, necrosis has important clinical implications in tumor development; however, its molecular mechanism remains poorly understood. RESULTS In the present study, we show that Distal-less 2 (Dlx-2), a homeobox gene of the Dlx family that is involved in embryonic development, is induced in cancer cell lines dependently of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in response to glucose deprivation (GD), one of the metabolic stresses occurring in solid tumors. Increased Dlx-2 expression was also detected in the inner regions, which experience metabolic stress, of human tumors and of a multicellular tumor spheroid, an in vitro model of solid tumors. Dlx-2 short hairpin RNA (shRNA) inhibited metabolic stress-induced increase in propidium iodide-positive cell population and HMGB1 and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release, indicating the important role(s) of Dlx-2 in metabolic stress-induced necrosis. Dlx-2 shRNA appeared to exert its anti-necrotic effects by preventing metabolic stress-induced increases in mitochondrial ROS, which are responsible for triggering necrosis. CONCLUSIONS These results suggest that Dlx-2 may be involved in tumor progression via the regulation of metabolic stress-induced necrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Su Yeon Lee
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea
| | - Hyun Min Jeon
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea
| | - Cho Hee Kim
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea
- DNA Identification Center, National Forensic Service, Seoul 158-707, Korea
| | - Min Kyung Ju
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea
| | - Hye Sun Bae
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea
| | - Hye Gyeong Park
- Nanobiotechnology Center, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea
| | - Sung-Chul Lim
- Research Center for Resistant Cells, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Korea
- Department of Pathology, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Korea
| | - Song Iy Han
- Research Center for Resistant Cells, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju 501-759, Korea
| | - Ho Sung Kang
- Department of Molecular Biology, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Pusan 609-735, Korea
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18
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Abstract
The AKT signalling pathway is a major regulator of protein synthesis that impinges on multiple cellular processes frequently altered in cancer, such as proliferation, cell growth, survival, and angiogenesis. AKT controls protein synthesis by regulating the multistep process of mRNA translation at every stage from ribosome biogenesis to translation initiation and elongation. Recent studies have highlighted the ability of oncogenic AKT to drive cellular transformation by altering gene expression at the translational level. Oncogenic AKT signalling leads to both global changes in protein synthesis as well as specific changes in the translation of select mRNAs. New and developing technologies are significantly advancing our ability to identify and functionally group these translationally controlled mRNAs into gene networks based on their modes of regulation. How oncogenic AKT activates ribosome biogenesis, translation initiation, and translational elongation to regulate these translational networks is an ongoing area of research. Currently, the majority of therapeutics targeting translational control are focused on blocking translation initiation through inhibition of eIF4E hyperactivity. However, it will be important to determine whether combined inhibition of ribosome biogenesis, translation initiation, and translation elongation can demonstrate improved therapeutic efficacy in tumours driven by oncogenic AKT.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Hsieh
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, Helen Diller Family Cancer Research Building, Room 386, 1450 3rd Street, San Francisco, CA 94158-3110, USA
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Gutierrez A, Grebliunaite R, Feng H, Kozakewich E, Zhu S, Guo F, Payne E, Mansour M, Dahlberg SE, Neuberg DS, den Hertog J, Prochownik EV, Testa JR, Harris M, Kanki JP, Look AT. Pten mediates Myc oncogene dependence in a conditional zebrafish model of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2011; 208:1595-603. [PMID: 21727187 PMCID: PMC3149218 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20101691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in pten genes, or expression of a constitutively active version of Akt2, render T-ALL cell survival and disease progression independent of Myc. The MYC oncogenic transcription factor is overexpressed in most human cases of T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), often downstream of mutational NOTCH1 activation. Genetic alterations in the PTEN–PI3K–AKT pathway are also common in T-ALL. We generated a conditional zebrafish model of T-ALL in which 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4HT) treatment induces MYC activation and disease, and withdrawal of 4HT results in T-ALL apoptosis and tumor regression. However, we found that loss-of-function mutations in zebrafish pten genes, or expression of a constitutively active Akt2 transgene, rendered tumors independent of the MYC oncogene and promoted disease progression after 4HT withdrawal. Moreover, MYC suppresses pten mRNA levels, suggesting that Akt pathway activation downstream of MYC promotes tumor progression. Our findings indicate that Akt pathway activation is sufficient for tumor maintenance in this model, even after loss of survival signals driven by the MYC oncogene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandro Gutierrez
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02115, USA.
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20
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Ex vivo γ-retroviral gene therapy of dogs with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency and the development of a thymic T cell lymphoma. Vet Immunol Immunopathol 2011; 142:36-48. [PMID: 21536334 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetimm.2011.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2010] [Revised: 03/08/2011] [Accepted: 04/06/2011] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
We have previously shown that in vivo γ-retroviral gene therapy of dogs with X-linked severe combined immunodeficiency (XSCID) results in sustained T cell reconstitution and sustained marking in myeloid and B cells for up to 4 years with no evidence of any serious adverse effects. The purpose of this study was to determine whether ex vivo γ-retroviral gene therapy of XSCID dogs results in a similar outcome. Eight of 12 XSCID dogs treated with an average of dose of 5.8 × 10(6) transduced CD34(+) cells/kg successfully engrafted producing normal numbers of gene-corrected CD45RA(+) (naïve) T cells. However, this was followed by a steady decrease in CD45RA(+) T cells, T cell diversity, and thymic output as measured by T cell receptor excision circles (TRECs) resulting in a T cell lymphopenia. None of the dogs survived past 11 months post treatment. At necropsy, few gene-corrected thymocytes were observed correlating with the TREC levels and one of the dogs was diagnosed with a thymic T cell lymphoma that was attributed to the gene therapy. This study highlights the outcome differences between the ex vivo and in vivo approach to γ-retroviral gene therapy and is the first to document a serious adverse event following gene therapy in a canine model of a human genetic disease.
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21
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Morini M, Astigiano S, Gitton Y, Emionite L, Mirisola V, Levi G, Barbieri O. Mutually exclusive expression of DLX2 and DLX5/6 is associated with the metastatic potential of the human breast cancer cell line MDA-MB-231. BMC Cancer 2010; 10:649. [PMID: 21108812 PMCID: PMC3003273 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-10-649] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2009] [Accepted: 11/25/2010] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The DLX gene family encodes for homeobox transcription factors involved in the control of morphogenesis and tissue homeostasis. Their expression can be regulated by Endothelin1 (ET1), a peptide associated with breast cancer invasive phenotype. Deregulation of DLX gene expression was found in human solid tumors and hematologic malignancies. In particular, DLX4 overexpression represents a possible prognostic marker in ovarian cancer. We have investigated the role of DLX genes in human breast cancer progression. Methods MDA-MB-231 human breast carcinoma cells were grown in vitro or injected in nude mice, either subcutaneously, to mimic primary tumor growth, or intravenously, to mimic metastatic spreading. Expression of DLX2, DLX5 and DLX6 was assessed in cultured cells, either treated or not with ET1, tumors and metastases by RT-PCR. In situ hybridization was used to confirm DLX gene expression in primary tumors and in lung and bone metastases. The expression of DLX2 and DLX5 was evaluated in 408 primary human breast cancers examining the GSE1456 and GSE3494 microarray datasets. Kaplan-Meier estimates for disease-free survival were calculated for the patients grouped on the basis of DLX2/DLX5 expression. Results Before injection, or after subcutaneous growth, MDA-MB-231 cells expressed DLX2 but neither DLX5 nor DLX6. Instead, in bone and lung metastases resulting from intravenous injection we detected expression of DLX5/6 but not of DLX2, suggesting that DLX5/6 are activated during metastasis formation, and that their expression is alternative to that of DLX2. The in vitro treatment of MDA-MB-231 cells with ET1, resulted in switch from DLX2 to DLX5 expression. By data mining in microarray datasets we found that expression of DLX2 occurred in 21.6% of patients, and was significantly correlated with prolonged disease-free survival and reduced incidence of relapse. Instead, DLX5 was expressed in a small subset of cases, 2.2% of total, displaying reduced disease-free survival and high incidence of relapse which was, however, non-significantly different from the other groups due to the small size of the DLX+ cohort. In all cases, we found mutually exclusive expression of DLX2 and DLX5. Conclusions Our studies indicate that DLX genes are involved in human breast cancer progression, and that DLX2 and DLX5 genes might serve as prognostic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monica Morini
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Genova, Largo R, Benzi 10, 16132 Genova, Italy
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22
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Tan Y, Cheung M, Pei J, Menges CW, Godwin AK, Testa JR. Upregulation of DLX5 promotes ovarian cancer cell proliferation by enhancing IRS-2-AKT signaling. Cancer Res 2010; 70:9197-206. [PMID: 21045156 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-10-1568] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The distal-less homeobox gene (dlx) 5 encodes a transcription factor that controls jaw formation and appendage differentiation during embryonic development. We had previously found that Dlx5 is overexpressed in an Akt2 transgenic model of T-cell lymphoma. To investigate if DLX5 is involved in human cancer, we screened its expression in the NCI 60 cancer cell line panel. DLX5 was frequently upregulated in cell lines derived from several tumor types, including ovarian cancer. We next validated its upregulation in primary ovarian cancer specimens. Stable knockdown of DLX5 by lentivirus-mediated transduction of short hairpin RNA (shRNA) resulted in reduced proliferation of ovarian cancer cells due to inhibition of cell cycle progression in connection with the downregulation of cyclins A, B1, D1, D2, and E, and decreased phosphorylation of AKT. Cell proliferation resumed following introduction of a DLX5 cDNA harboring wobbled mutations at the shRNA-targeting sites. Cell proliferation was also rescued by transduction of a constitutively active form of AKT. Intriguingly, downregulation of IRS-2 and MET contributed to the suppression of AKT signaling. Moreover, DLX5 was found to directly bind to the IRS-2 promoter and augmented its transcription. Knockdown of DLX5 in xenografts of human ovarian cancer cells resulted in markedly diminished tumor size. In addition, DLX5 was found to cooperate with HRAS in the transformation of human ovarian surface epithelial cells. Together, these data suggest that DLX5 plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of some ovarian cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yinfei Tan
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111, USA
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Altomare DA, Zhang L, Deng J, Di Cristofano A, Klein-Szanto AJ, Kumar R, Testa JR. GSK690693 delays tumor onset and progression in genetically defined mouse models expressing activated Akt. Clin Cancer Res 2010; 16:486-96. [PMID: 20075391 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-09-1026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE Akt plays a central role in regulating tumor cell survival and cell cycle progression and is regarded as a promising therapeutic target. We used genetically defined mouse models that develop spontaneous tumors exhibiting activated Akt to determine if Akt inhibition by GSK690693 is effective in the treatment of cancer. The broad long-term objective of this project was to use preclinical cancer models with precisely defined genetic lesions to elucidate the efficacy of targeting Akt with GSK690693. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN We tested the in vivo effects of GSK690693 in Lck-MyrAkt2 transgenic mice that develop lymphomas, heterozygous Pten(+/-) knockout mice that exhibit endometrial tumors, and TgMISIIR-TAg-DR26 mice that develop ovarian carcinomas, all of which exhibit hyperactivation of Akt. In addition to standard disease onset and histology, tumors arising in treated animals were examined by immunohistochemistry to verify downregulated Akt signaling relative to placebo-treated mice. When possible, drug response was evaluated in tumor cell cultures by standard proliferation and apoptosis assays and by immunoblotting with various phosphospecific antibodies. RESULTS GSK690693 exhibited efficacy irrespective of the mechanism of Akt activation involved. Interestingly, GSK690693 was most effective in delaying tumor progression in Lck-MyrAkt2 mice expressing a membrane-bound, constitutively active form of Akt. Both tumors and primary cell cultures displayed downregulation of the Akt pathway, increased apoptosis, and primarily decreased cell proliferation. CONCLUSION These results suggest that GSK690693 or other Akt inhibitors might have therapeutic efficacy in human cancers with hyperactivated Akt and/or a dependence on Akt signaling for tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deborah A Altomare
- Women's Cancer, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111, USA
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Hsieh AC, Costa M, Zollo O, Davis C, Feldman ME, Testa JR, Meyuhas O, Shokat KM, Ruggero D. Genetic dissection of the oncogenic mTOR pathway reveals druggable addiction to translational control via 4EBP-eIF4E. Cancer Cell 2010; 17:249-61. [PMID: 20227039 PMCID: PMC2901095 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccr.2010.01.021] [Citation(s) in RCA: 368] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2009] [Revised: 10/28/2009] [Accepted: 01/29/2010] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
We genetically dissect the contribution of the most prominent downstream translational components of mTOR signaling toward Akt-driven lymphomagenesis. While phosphorylation of rpS6 is dispensable for cancer formation, 4EBP-eIF4E exerts significant control over cap-dependent translation, cell growth, cancer initiation, and progression. This effect is mediated at least in part through 4EBP-dependent control of Mcl-1 expression, a key antiapoptotic protein. By using an active site inhibitor of mTOR, PP242, we show a marked therapeutic response in rapamycin-resistant tumors. The therapeutic benefit of PP242 is mediated through inhibition of mTORC1-dependent 4EBP-eIF4E hyperactivation. Thus, the 4EBP-eIF4E axis downstream of mTOR is a druggable mediator of translational control and Akt-mediated tumorigenesis that has important implications for the treatment of human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew C. Hsieh
- School of Medicine and Department of Urology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Maria Costa
- School of Medicine and Department of Urology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Ornella Zollo
- School of Medicine and Department of Urology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Cole Davis
- School of Medicine and Department of Urology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Morris E. Feldman
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Joseph R. Testa
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Oded Meyuhas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Institute for Medical Research-Israel-Canada, Hebrew University-Hadassah Medical School, Jerusalem 91120, Israel
| | - Kevan M. Shokat
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Davide Ruggero
- School of Medicine and Department of Urology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Correspondence:
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Timakhov RA, Tan Y, Rao M, Liu Z, Altomare DA, Pei J, Wiest DL, Favorova OO, Knepper JE, Testa JR. Recurrent chromosomal rearrangements implicate oncogenes contributing to T-cell lymphomagenesis in Lck-MyrAkt2 transgenic mice. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2009; 48:786-94. [PMID: 19530243 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.20683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The oncogene v-akt was isolated from a retrovirus that induced naturally occurring thymic lymphomas in AKR mice. We hypothesized that constitutive activation of Akt2 could serve as a first hit for the clonal expansion of malignant T-cells by promoting cell survival and genomic instability, leading to chromosome alterations. Furthermore, genes that cooperate with Akt2 to promote malignant transformation may reside at translocation/inversion junctions found in spontaneous thymic lymphomas from transgenic mice expressing constitutively active Akt2 specifically in T cells. Cytogenetic analysis revealed that thymic tumors from multiple founder lines exhibited either of two recurrent chromosomal rearrangements, inv(6)(A2B1) or t(14;15)(C2;D1). Fluorescence in situ hybridization, array CGH, and PCR analysis were used to delineate the inv(6) and t(14;15) breakpoints. Both rearrangements involved T-cell receptor loci. The inv(6) results in robust upregulation of the homeobox/transcription factor gene Dlx5 because of its relocation near the Tcrb enhancer. The t(14;15) places the Tcra enhancer in the vicinity of the Myc proto-oncogene, resulting in upregulated Myc expression. These findings suggest that activation of the Akt pathway can act as the initial hit to promote cell survival and genomic instability, whereas the acquisition of T-cell-specific overexpression of Dlx5 or Myc leads to lymphomagenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roman A Timakhov
- Human Genetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
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Xu J, Testa JR. DLX5 (distal-less homeobox 5) promotes tumor cell proliferation by transcriptionally regulating MYC. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:20593-601. [PMID: 19497851 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.021477] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
The human DLX homeobox genes, which are related to Dll (Drosophila distal-less gene), encode transcription factors that are expressed primarily in embryonic development. Recently, DLX5 was reported to act as an oncogene in lymphomas and lung cancers, although the mechanism is not known. The identification of target genes of DLX5 can facilitate our understanding of oncogenic mechanisms driven by overexpression of DLX5. The MYC oncogene is aberrantly expressed in many human cancers and regulates transcription of numerous target genes involved in tumorigenesis. Here we demonstrate by luciferase assay that the MYC promoter is specifically activated by overexpression of DLX5 and that two DLX5 binding sites in the MYC promoter are important for transcriptional activation of MYC. We also show that DLX5 binds to the MYC promoter both in vitro and in vivo and that transfection of a DLX5 expression plasmid promotes the expression of MYC in a dose-dependent manner in mammalian cells. Furthermore, overexpression of DLX5 results in increased cell proliferation by up-regulating MYC. Knockdown of DLX5 in lung cancer cells overexpressing DLX5 resulted in decreased expression of MYC and reduced cell proliferation, which was rescued by overexpression of MYC. Because DLX5 has a restricted pattern of expression in adult tissues, it may serve as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of cancers that overexpress DLX5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinfei Xu
- Cancer Signaling and Genetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19111, USA
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Kim S, Lee J, Kim JY, Lim B, Shin EK, Han YM, Kim SS, Song JH, Kim J. Mutation in the DNA-binding domain of the EWS-Oct-4 oncogene results in dominant negative activity that interferes with EWS-Oct-4-mediated transactivation. Int J Cancer 2009; 124:2312-22. [PMID: 19170206 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.24228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The EWS-Oct-4 protein is a chimeric molecule in which the amino terminal domain (NTD) of the EWS becomes fused to the carboxy terminal domain (CTD) of the Oct-4 transcription factor. It was identified in human bone and soft-tissue tumors associated with t(6;22)(p21;q12). Using in vitro and in vivo systems, we found that the EWS-Oct-4 protein self-associates. The major domains required for self-association mapped to the EWS NTD (amino acids 70-163) and the POU DNA-binding domain. EWS-Oct-4 protein also associated with EWS-Oct-4 (V351P), which contains a mutation in the POU DNA-binding domain. Using electrophoretic mobility shift assays, we found that the EWS-Oct-4 (V351P) mutant interfered with wild-type EWS-Oct-4 DNA-binding activity. In addition, we found that EWS-Oct-4-mediated transcriptional activation was inhibited by EWS-Oct-4 (V351P) protein in vivo. Thus, this mutation in the POU DNA-binding domain results in a dominant negative protein. These findings suggest that the biological functions of the EWS-Oct-4 oncogene can be modulated by the dominant negative mutant EWS-Oct-4 (V351P).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sol Kim
- Laboratory of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Department of Life Science, Sogang University, Seoul, Korea
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