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Small spleen peptides prevent development of psoriatic arthritis via restoration of peripheral tolerance. Mol Ther 2022; 30:745-762. [PMID: 34450252 PMCID: PMC8821926 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2021.08.030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2021] [Revised: 07/15/2021] [Accepted: 08/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The major challenge in the treatment of autoimmune diseases is the restoration of the impaired peripheral immune tolerance that always accompanies the development of such diseases. Here, we show that small splenic peptides (SSPs) of whole spleen extract efficiently suppress the development of psoriatic arthritis in vivo, even in the presence of sustained levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines. SSPs target dendritic cells (DCs) and convert them into tolerogenic cells, which in turn differentiate naive CD4+ cells into Foxp3-expressing T regulatory cells (Tregs). The latter requires direct contact between SSP-activated DCs and naive CD4+ T cells via PD-1 and CTLA4 immune checkpoint receptors of T cells. Finally, depletion of Foxp3+ Tregs in vivo abrogated the protective effect of SSPs on psoriatic arthritis development. We hypothesize that SSPs represent an intrinsic component of the adaptive immune system responsible for the physiological maintenance of peripheral tolerance and that therapeutically administered SSPs are able to restore imbalanced peripheral tolerance in autoimmune diseases.
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2
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Perivolidi VI, Violitzi F, Ioannidou E, Rinotas V, Stamatakis G, Samiotaki M, Panayotou G, Douni E. Proteomic Identification of the SLC25A46 Interactome in Transgenic Mice Expressing SLC25A46-FLAG. J Proteome Res 2022; 21:375-394. [PMID: 34983179 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.1c00728] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
The outer mitochondrial membrane protein SLC25A46 has been recently identified as a novel genetic cause of a wide spectrum of neurological diseases. The aim of the present work was to elucidate the physiological role of SLC25A46 through the identification of its interactome with immunoprecipitation and proteomic analysis in whole cell extracts from the cerebellum, cerebrum, heart, and thymus of transgenic mice expressing ubiquitously SLC25A46-FLAG. Our analysis identified 371 novel putative interactors of SLC25A46 and confirmed 17 known ones. A total of 79 co-immunoprecipitated proteins were common in two or more tissues, mainly participating in mitochondrial activities such as oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) and ATP production, active transport of ions or molecules, and the metabolism. Tissue-specific co-immunoprecipitated proteins were enriched for synapse annotated proteins in the cerebellum and cerebrum for metabolic processes in the heart and for nuclear processes and proteasome in the thymus. Our proteomic approach confirmed known mitochondrial interactors of SLC25A46 including MICOS complex subunits and also OPA1 and VDACs, while we identified novel interactors including the ADP/ATP translocases SLC25A4 and SLC25A5, subunits of the OXPHOS complexes and F1Fo-ATP synthase, and components of the mitochondria-ER contact sites. Our results show that SLC25A46 interacts with a large number of proteins and protein complexes involved in the mitochondria architecture, energy production, and flux and also in inter-organellar contacts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasiliki-Iris Perivolidi
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.,Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Fleming 34, 16672 Vari, Greece
| | - Foteini Violitzi
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.,Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Fleming 34, 16672 Vari, Greece
| | - Elisavet Ioannidou
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Fleming 34, 16672 Vari, Greece
| | - Vagelis Rinotas
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Fleming 34, 16672 Vari, Greece
| | - George Stamatakis
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Fleming 34, 16672 Vari, Greece
| | - Martina Samiotaki
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Fleming 34, 16672 Vari, Greece
| | - George Panayotou
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Fleming 34, 16672 Vari, Greece
| | - Eleni Douni
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855 Athens, Greece.,Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center "Alexander Fleming", Fleming 34, 16672 Vari, Greece
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3
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Riemslagh FW, van der Toorn EC, Verhagen RFM, Maas A, Bosman LWJ, Hukema RK, Willemsen R. Inducible expression of human C9ORF72 36x G 4C 2 hexanucleotide repeats is sufficient to cause RAN translation and rapid muscular atrophy in mice. Dis Model Mech 2021; 14:dmm.044842. [PMID: 33431483 PMCID: PMC7903916 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.044842] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The hexanucleotide G4C2 repeat expansion in the first intron of the C9ORF72 gene explains the majority of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) cases. Numerous studies have indicated the toxicity of dipeptide repeats (DPRs) which are produced via repeat-associated non-AUG (RAN) translation from the repeat expansion and accumulate in the brain of C9FTD/ALS patients. Mouse models expressing the human C9ORF72 repeat and/or DPRs show variable pathological, functional, and behavioral characteristics of FTD and ALS. Here, we report a new Tet-on inducible mouse model that expresses 36x pure G4C2 repeats with 100bp upstream and downstream human flanking regions. Brain specific expression causes the formation of sporadic sense DPRs aggregates upon 6 months dox induction but no apparent neurodegeneration. Expression in the rest of the body evokes abundant sense DPRs in multiple organs, leading to weight loss, neuromuscular junction disruption, myopathy, and a locomotor phenotype within the time frame of four weeks. We did not observe any RNA foci or pTDP-43 pathology. Accumulation of DPRs and the myopathy phenotype could be prevented when 36x G4C2 repeat expression was stopped after 1 week. After 2 weeks of expression, the phenotype could not be reversed, even though DPR levels were reduced. In conclusion, expression of 36x pure G4C2 repeats including 100bp human flanking regions is sufficient for RAN translation of sense DPRs and evokes a functional locomotor phenotype. Our inducible mouse model suggests early diagnosis and treatment are important for C9FTD/ALS patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- F W Riemslagh
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - E C van der Toorn
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R F M Verhagen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - A Maas
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - L W J Bosman
- Department of Neuroscience, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R K Hukema
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - R Willemsen
- Department of Clinical Genetics, Erasmus University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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4
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Leite Dantas R, Bettenworth D, Varga G, Weinhage T, Wami HT, Dobrindt U, Roth J, Vogl T, Ludwig S, Wixler V. Spontaneous onset of TNFα-triggered colonic inflammation depends on functional T lymphocytes, S100A8/A9 alarmins, and MHC H-2 haplotype. J Pathol 2020; 251:388-399. [PMID: 32449525 DOI: 10.1002/path.5473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2019] [Revised: 05/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we established a doxycycline-inducible human tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα)-transgenic mouse line, ihTNFtg. Non-induced young and elderly mice showed low but constitutive expression of hTNFα due to promoter leakiness. The persistently present hTNFα stimulated endogenous pro-inflammatory mouse mS100A8/A9 alarmins. Secreted mS100A8/A9 in turn induced the expression and release of mouse mTNFα. The continuous upregulation of pro-inflammatory mTNFα and mS100A8/A9 proteins, due to their mutual expression dependency, gradually led to increased levels in colon tissue and blood. This finally exceeded the threshold levels tolerated by the healthy organism, leading to the onset of intestinal inflammation. Here, recombinant hTNFα functioned as an initial trigger for the development of chronic inflammation. Crossing ihTNFtg mice with S100A9KO mice lacking active S100A8/A9 alarmins or with Rag1KO mice lacking T and B lymphocytes completely abrogated the development of colonic inflammation, despite the still leaky hTNFα promoter. Furthermore, both the intensity of the immune response and the strength of immunosuppressive Treg induction was found to depend on the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) genetic composition. In summary, the onset of intestinal inflammation in elderly mice depends on at least four factors that have to be present simultaneously: TNFα upregulation, S100A8/A9 protein expression, functional T lymphocytes and genetic composition, with the MHC haplotype being of central importance. Only joint action of these factors leads to chronic intestinal inflammation, while absence of any of these determinants abrogates the development of the autoimmune disorder. © 2020 The Authors. The Journal of Pathology published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Pathological Society of Great Britain and Ireland.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Leite Dantas
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Westfaelische Wilhelms University, Muenster, Germany
| | - Dominik Bettenworth
- Department of Medicine B, Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
| | - Georg Varga
- Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, Westfaelische Wilhelms University, Muenster, Germany
| | - Toni Weinhage
- Pediatric Rheumatology and Immunology, Westfaelische Wilhelms University, Muenster, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Dobrindt
- Institute of Hygiene, Westfaelische Wilhelms University, Muenster, Germany
| | - Johannes Roth
- Institute of Immunology, Westfaelische Wilhelms University, Muenster, Germany
| | - Thomas Vogl
- Institute of Immunology, Westfaelische Wilhelms University, Muenster, Germany
| | - Stephan Ludwig
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Westfaelische Wilhelms University, Muenster, Germany
| | - Viktor Wixler
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Westfaelische Wilhelms University, Muenster, Germany
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Violitzi F, Perivolidi VI, Thireou T, Grivas I, Haralambous S, Samiotaki M, Panayotou G, Douni E. Mapping Interactome Networks of DNAJC11, a Novel Mitochondrial Protein Causing Neuromuscular Pathology in Mice. J Proteome Res 2019; 18:3896-3912. [DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.9b00338] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Foteini Violitzi
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming”, Fleming 34, 16672, Vari, Greece
| | - Vasiliki-Iris Perivolidi
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming”, Fleming 34, 16672, Vari, Greece
| | - Trias Thireou
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece
| | - Ioannis Grivas
- Transgenic Technology Lab and Inflammation Research Group, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Vas. Sofias 127, 11521, Athens, Greece
| | - Sylva Haralambous
- Transgenic Technology Lab and Inflammation Research Group, Hellenic Pasteur Institute, Vas. Sofias 127, 11521, Athens, Greece
| | - Martina Samiotaki
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming”, Fleming 34, 16672, Vari, Greece
| | - George Panayotou
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming”, Fleming 34, 16672, Vari, Greece
| | - Eleni Douni
- Laboratory of Genetics, Department of Biotechnology, Agricultural University of Athens, Iera Odos 75, 11855, Athens, Greece
- Institute for Bioinnovation, Biomedical Sciences Research Center “Alexander Fleming”, Fleming 34, 16672, Vari, Greece
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6
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Lillehaug S, Yetman MJ, Puchades MA, Checinska MM, Kleven H, Jankowsky JL, Bjaalie JG, Leergaard TB. Brain-wide distribution of reporter expression in five transgenic tetracycline-transactivator mouse lines. Sci Data 2019; 6:190028. [PMID: 30806643 PMCID: PMC6390708 DOI: 10.1038/sdata.2019.28] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2018] [Accepted: 12/19/2018] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The spatial pattern of transgene expression in tetracycline-controlled mouse models is governed primarily by the driver line used to introduce the tetracycline-controlled transactivator (tTA). Detailed maps showing where each tTA driver activates expression are therefore essential for designing and using tet-regulated models, particularly in brain research where cell type and regional specificity determine the circuits affected by conditional gene expression. We have compiled a comprehensive online repository of serial microscopic images showing brain-wide reporter expression for five commonly used tTA driver lines. We have spatially registered all images to a common three-dimensional mouse brain anatomical reference atlas for direct comparison of spatial distribution across lines. The high-resolution images and associated metadata are shared via the web page of the EU Human Brain Project. Images can be inspected using an interactive viewing tool that includes an optional overlay feature providing anatomical delineations and reference atlas coordinates. Interactive viewing is supplemented by semi-quantitative analyses of expression levels within anatomical subregions for each tTA driver line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sveinung Lillehaug
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Michael J. Yetman
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Maja A. Puchades
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Martyna M. Checinska
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Heidi Kleven
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Joanna L. Jankowsky
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Departments of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Neurology, and Neurosurgery, Huffington Center on Aging, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Jan G. Bjaalie
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
| | - Trygve B. Leergaard
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway
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7
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Christodoulou-Vafeiadou E, Ioakeimidis F, Andreadou M, Giagkas G, Stamatakis G, Reczko M, Samiotaki M, Papanastasiou AD, Karakasiliotis I, Kontoyiannis DL. Divergent Innate and Epithelial Functions of the RNA-Binding Protein HuR in Intestinal Inflammation. Front Immunol 2018; 9:2732. [PMID: 30532756 PMCID: PMC6265365 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2018.02732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
HuR is an abundant RNA-binding protein acting as a post-transcriptional regulator of many RNAs including mRNAs encoding inflammatory mediators, cytokines, death signalers and cell cycle regulators. In the context of intestinal pathologies, elevated HuR is considered to enhance the stability and the translation of pro-tumorigenic mRNAs providing the rationale for its pharmacological targeting. However, HuR also possesses specific regulatory functions for innate immunity and cytokine mRNA control which can oppose intestinal inflammation and tumor promotion. Here, we aim to identify contexts of intestinal inflammation where the innate immune and the epithelial functions of HuR converge or diverge. To address this, we use a disease-oriented phenotypic approach using mice lacking HuR either in intestinal epithelia or myeloid-derived immune compartments. These mice were compared for their responses to (a) Chemically induced Colitis; (b) Colitis- associated Cancer (CAC); (c) T-cell mediated enterotoxicity; (d) Citrobacter rodentium-induced colitis; and (e) TNF-driven inflammatory bowel disease. Convergent functions of epithelial and myeloid HuR included their requirement for suppressing inflammation in chemically induced colitis and their redundancies in chronic TNF-driven IBD and microbiota control. In the other contexts however, their functions diversified. Epithelial HuR was required to protect the epithelial barrier from acute inflammatory or infectious degeneration but also to promote tumor growth. In contrast, myeloid HuR was required to suppress the beneficial inflammation for pathogen clearance and tumor suppression. This cellular dichotomy in HuR's functions was validated further in mice engineered to express ubiquitously higher levels of HuR which displayed diminished pathologic and beneficial inflammatory responses, resistance to epithelial damage yet a heightened susceptibility to CAC. Our study demonstrates that epithelial and myeloid HuR affect different cellular dynamics in the intestine that need to be carefully considered for its pharmacological exploitation and points toward potential windows for harnessing HuR functions in intestinal inflammation.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Fotis Ioakeimidis
- Division of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece
| | - Margarita Andreadou
- Division of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece
| | - Giorgos Giagkas
- Division of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece
| | - George Stamatakis
- Division of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece
| | - Martin Reczko
- Division of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece
| | - Martina Samiotaki
- Division of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece
| | | | - Ioannis Karakasiliotis
- Division of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece
| | - Dimitris L Kontoyiannis
- Division of Immunology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center Alexander Fleming, Vari, Greece.,Department of Genetics, Development and Molecular Biology, School of Biology, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Thessaloniki, Greece
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8
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Leite Dantas R, Brachvogel B, Schied T, Bergmeier V, Skryabin B, Vogl T, Ludwig S, Wixler V. The LIM-Only Protein Four and a Half LIM Domain Protein 2 Attenuates Development of Psoriatic Arthritis by Blocking Adam17-Mediated Tumor Necrosis Factor Release. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2017; 187:2388-2398. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2017.07.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 07/21/2017] [Accepted: 07/26/2017] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
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9
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Cao W, Chen K, Bolkestein M, Yin Y, Verstegen MMA, Bijvelds MJC, Wang W, Tuysuz N, Ten Berge D, Sprengers D, Metselaar HJ, van der Laan LJW, Kwekkeboom J, Smits R, Peppelenbosch MP, Pan Q. Dynamics of Proliferative and Quiescent Stem Cells in Liver Homeostasis and Injury. Gastroenterology 2017; 153:1133-1147. [PMID: 28716722 DOI: 10.1053/j.gastro.2017.07.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Revised: 07/05/2017] [Accepted: 07/06/2017] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & AIMS Adult liver stem cells are usually maintained in a quiescent/slow-cycling state. However, a proliferative population, marked by leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (LGR5), was recently identified as an important liver stem cell population. We aimed to investigate the dynamics and functions of proliferative and quiescent stem cells in healthy and injured livers. METHODS We studied LGR5-positive stem cells using diphtheria toxin receptor and green fluorescent protein (GFP) knock-in mice. In these mice, LGR5-positive cells specifically coexpress diphtheria toxin receptor and the GFP reporter. Lineage-tracing experiments were performed in mice in which LGR5-positive stem cells and their daughter cells expressed a yellow fluorescent protein/mTmG reporter. Slow-cycling stem cells were investigated using GFP-based, Tet-on controlled transgenic mice. We studied the dynamics of both stem cell populations during liver homeostasis and injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. Stem cells were isolated from mouse liver and organoid formation assays were performed. We analyzed hepatocyte and cholangiocyte lineage differentiation in cultured organoids. RESULTS We did not detect LGR5-expressing stem cells in livers of mice at any stage of a lifespan, but only following liver injury induced by carbon tetrachloride. In the liver stem cell niche, where the proliferating LGR5+ cells are located, we identified a quiescent/slow-cycling cell population, called label-retaining cells (LRCs). These cells were present in the homeostatic liver, capable of retaining the GFP label over 1 year, and expressed a panel of progenitor/stem cell markers. Isolated single LRCs were capable of forming organoids that could be carried in culture, expanded for months, and differentiated into hepatocyte and cholangiocyte lineages in vitro, demonstrating their bona fide stem cell properties. More interestingly, LRCs responded to liver injury and gave rise to LGR5-expressing stem cells, as well as other potential progenitor/stem cell populations, including SOX9- and CD44-positive cells. CONCLUSIONS Proliferative LGR5 cells are an intermediate stem cell population in the liver that emerge only during tissue injury. In contrast, LRCs are quiescent stem cells that are present in homeostatic liver, respond to tissue injury, and can give rise to LGR5 stem cells, as well as SOX9- and CD44-positive cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanlu Cao
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Kan Chen
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang Sci-Tech University, Hangzhou, China
| | - Michiel Bolkestein
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands; Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Yuebang Yin
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Monique M A Verstegen
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marcel J C Bijvelds
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Wenshi Wang
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Nesrin Tuysuz
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Derk Ten Berge
- Department of Cell Biology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dave Sprengers
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Herold J Metselaar
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Luc J W van der Laan
- Department of Surgery, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jaap Kwekkeboom
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ron Smits
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Maikel P Peppelenbosch
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Qiuwei Pan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC-University Medical Center, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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10
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Chatzinikolaou G, Apostolou Z, Aid-Pavlidis T, Ioannidou A, Karakasilioti I, Papadopoulos GL, Aivaliotis M, Tsekrekou M, Strouboulis J, Kosteas T, Garinis GA. ERCC1-XPF cooperates with CTCF and cohesin to facilitate the developmental silencing of imprinted genes. Nat Cell Biol 2017; 19:421-432. [PMID: 28368372 DOI: 10.1038/ncb3499] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2016] [Accepted: 02/24/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Inborn defects in DNA repair are associated with complex developmental disorders whose causal mechanisms are poorly understood. Using an in vivo biotinylation tagging approach in mice, we show that the nucleotide excision repair (NER) structure-specific endonuclease ERCC1-XPF complex interacts with the insulator binding protein CTCF, the cohesin subunits SMC1A and SMC3 and with MBD2; the factors co-localize with ATRX at the promoters and control regions (ICRs) of imprinted genes during postnatal hepatic development. Loss of Ercc1 or exposure to MMC triggers the localization of CTCF to heterochromatin, the dissociation of the CTCF-cohesin complex and ATRX from promoters and ICRs, altered histone marks and the aberrant developmental expression of imprinted genes without altering DNA methylation. We propose that ERCC1-XPF cooperates with CTCF and cohesin to facilitate the developmental silencing of imprinted genes and that persistent DNA damage triggers chromatin changes that affect gene expression programs associated with NER disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Georgia Chatzinikolaou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Zivkos Apostolou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, GR71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Tamara Aid-Pavlidis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Anna Ioannidou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, GR71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Ismene Karakasilioti
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Giorgio L Papadopoulos
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, GR71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center 'Alexander Fleming', GR 16672 Vari, Greece
| | - Michalis Aivaliotis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - Maria Tsekrekou
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, GR71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - John Strouboulis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Division of Molecular Oncology, Biomedical Sciences Research Center 'Alexander Fleming', GR 16672 Vari, Greece
| | - Theodore Kosteas
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
| | - George A Garinis
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, Foundation for Research and Technology-Hellas, Nikolaou Plastira 100, 70013 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
- Department of Biology, University of Crete, Vassilika Vouton, GR71409 Heraklion, Crete, Greece
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Leite Dantas R, Masemann D, Schied T, Bergmeier V, Vogl T, Loser K, Brachvogel B, Varga G, Ludwig S, Wixler V. Macrophage-mediated psoriasis can be suppressed by regulatory T lymphocytes. J Pathol 2016; 240:366-377. [DOI: 10.1002/path.4786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2016] [Revised: 07/27/2016] [Accepted: 08/17/2016] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Leite Dantas
- Institute of Molecular Virology, ZMBE; University Hospital Muenster; 48149 Muenster Germany
| | - Dörthe Masemann
- Institute of Molecular Virology, ZMBE; University Hospital Muenster; 48149 Muenster Germany
| | - Tanja Schied
- Institute of Molecular Virology, ZMBE; University Hospital Muenster; 48149 Muenster Germany
| | - Vera Bergmeier
- Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty; University of Cologne; 50931 Cologne Germany
| | - Thomas Vogl
- Institute of Immunology; University Hospital Muenster; 48149 Muenster Germany
| | - Karin Loser
- Institute of Dermatology; University Hospital Muenster; 48149 Muenster Germany
| | - Bent Brachvogel
- Center for Biochemistry, Medical Faculty; University of Cologne; 50931 Cologne Germany
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine; University Hospital of Cologne; 50931 Cologne Germany
| | - Georg Varga
- Department of Pediatrics, Rheumatology and Immunology; University Hospital Muenster; 48149 Muenster Germany
| | - Stephan Ludwig
- Institute of Molecular Virology, ZMBE; University Hospital Muenster; 48149 Muenster Germany
| | - Viktor Wixler
- Institute of Molecular Virology, ZMBE; University Hospital Muenster; 48149 Muenster Germany
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12
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Nanou A, Toumpeki C, Lavigne MD, Lazou V, Demmers J, Paparountas T, Thanos D, Katsantoni E. The dual role of LSD1 and HDAC3 in STAT5-dependent transcription is determined by protein interactions, binding affinities, motifs and genomic positions. Nucleic Acids Res 2016; 45:142-154. [PMID: 27651463 PMCID: PMC5224505 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkw832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2016] [Revised: 09/08/2016] [Accepted: 09/11/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
STAT5 interacts with other factors to control transcription, and the mechanism of regulation is of interest as constitutive active STAT5 has been reported in malignancies. Here, LSD1 and HDAC3 were identified as novel STAT5a interacting partners in pro-B cells. Characterization of STAT5a, LSD1 and HDAC3 target genes by ChIP-seq and RNA-seq revealed gene subsets regulated by independent or combined action of the factors and LSD1/HDAC3 to play dual role in their activation or repression. Genes bound by STAT5a alone or in combination with weakly associated LSD1 or HDAC3 were enriched for the canonical STAT5a GAS motif, and such binding induced activation or repression. Strong STAT5 binding was seen more frequently in intergenic regions, which might function as distal enhancer elements. Groups of genes bound weaker by STAT5a and stronger by LSD1/HDAC3 showed an absence of the GAS motif, and were differentially regulated based on their genomic binding localization and binding affinities. These genes exhibited increased binding frequency in promoters, and in conjunction with the absence of GAS sites, the data indicate a requirement for stabilization by additional factors, which might recruit LSD1/HDAC3. Our study describes an interaction network of STAT5a/LSD1/HDAC3 and a dual function of LSD1/HDAC3 on STAT5-dependent transcription, defined by protein–protein interactions, genomic binding localization/affinity and motifs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aikaterini Nanou
- Basic Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou tou Ephessiou 4, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Chrisavgi Toumpeki
- Basic Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou tou Ephessiou 4, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Matthieu D Lavigne
- Basic Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou tou Ephessiou 4, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Lazou
- Basic Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou tou Ephessiou 4, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Jeroen Demmers
- Proteomics Center, Erasmus Medical Center, Wytemaweg 80, 3015 CN Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Triantafillos Paparountas
- Basic Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou tou Ephessiou 4, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Dimitris Thanos
- Basic Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou tou Ephessiou 4, 115 27 Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Katsantoni
- Basic Research Center, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Soranou tou Ephessiou 4, 115 27 Athens, Greece
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Hukema RK, Buijsen RAM, Raske C, Severijnen LA, Nieuwenhuizen-Bakker I, Minneboo M, Maas A, de Crom R, Kros JM, Hagerman PJ, Berman RF, Willemsen R. Induced expression of expanded CGG RNA causes mitochondrial dysfunction in vivo. Cell Cycle 2015; 13:2600-8. [PMID: 25486200 DOI: 10.4161/15384101.2014.943112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fragile X-associated tremor/ataxia syndrome (FXTAS) is a late-onset neurodegenerative disorder affecting carriers of premutation forms of the FMR1 gene, resulting in a progressive development of tremor, ataxia and neuropsychological problems. The disease is caused by an expanded CGG repeat in the FMR1 gene, leading to an RNA gain-of-function toxicity mechanism. In order to study the pathogenesis of FXTAS, new inducible transgenic mouse models have been developed that expresses either 11CGGs or 90CGGs at the RNA level under control of a Tet-On promoter. When bred to an hnRNP-rtTA driver line, doxycycline (dox) induced expression of the transgene could be found in almost all tissues. Dox exposure resulted in loss of weight and death within 5 d for the 90CGG RNA expressing mice. Immunohistochemical examination of tissues of these mice revealed steatosis and apoptosis in the liver. Decreased expression of GPX1 and increased expression of cytochrome C is found. These effects were not seen in mice expressing a normal sized 11CGG repeat. In conclusion, we were able to show in vivo that expression of an expanded CGG-repeat rather than overexpression of a normal CGG-repeat causes pathology. In addition, we have shown that expanded CGG RNA expression can cause mitochondrial dysfunction by regulating expression levels of several markers. Although FTXAS patients do not display liver abnormalities, our findings contribute to understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying toxicity of CGG repeat RNA expression in an animal model. In addition, the dox inducible mouse lines offer new opportunities to study therapeutic interventions for FXTAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renate K Hukema
- a Department of Clinical Genetics ; Erasmus MC ; Rotterdam , The Netherlands
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14
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Betts Z, Croxford AS, Dickson AJ. Evaluating the interaction between UCOE and DHFR-linked amplification and stability of recombinant protein expression. Biotechnol Prog 2015; 31:1014-25. [DOI: 10.1002/btpr.2083] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2015] [Revised: 03/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Zeynep Betts
- Faculty of Life Sciences; University of Manchester; Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT UK
| | - Alexandra S Croxford
- Faculty of Life Sciences; University of Manchester; Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT UK
| | - Alan J Dickson
- Faculty of Life Sciences; University of Manchester; Michael Smith Building, Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT UK
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15
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Wixler V, Cromme C, Retser E, Meyer LH, Smyth N, Mühlenberg K, Korb-Pap A, Koers-Wunrau C, Sotsios Y, Bassel-Duby R, Baeten D, Tak PP, Niederreiter B, Redlich K, Bertrand J, Skryabin BV, Ludwig S, Pap T. FHL2 regulates the resolution of tissue damage in chronic inflammatory arthritis. Ann Rheum Dis 2014; 74:2216-23. [DOI: 10.1136/annrheumdis-2013-205061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2013] [Accepted: 07/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/22/2023]
Abstract
ObjectiveWe analysed the role of the adaptor molecule four-and-a-half Lin11, Isl-1 & Mec-3 (LIM) domain protein 2 (FHL2) in the activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes in human rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and tumour necrosis factor α (TNFα)-dependent animal models of the disease.MethodsSynovial tissues of patients with RA and osteoarthritis (OA) as well as hind paw sections from arthritic human TNFα transgenic (hTNFtg) mice and synovial fibroblasts from these were analysed. The effects of cytokines on the expression of FHL2 and disease-relevant matrixmetalloproteases (MMPs) were determined. Analyses of human tissue specimens from patients treated with anti-TNFα as well as anti-TNFα treatment of hTNFtg mice were performed to substantiate the TNFα effects on FHL2 levels. FHL2−/− mice and hTNFtg mice (with constitutive or inducible transgene expression) were crossbred to generate TNFα overexpressing FHL2-deficient animals. Signalling pathways were analysed in cells from these mice and in human cells after knock down of FHL2 by western blot.ResultsFHL2 levels were higher in RA than in OA and in hTNFtg than in wild-type mice. Surprisingly, while transforming growth factor (TGF)β-induced FHL2 expression, TNFα suppressed FHL2. In vivo, anti-TNFα treatment led to higher FHL2 levels both in RA patients and hTNFtg mice. The loss of FHL2 increased joint destruction in hTNFtg mice, which was accompanied by elevated MMP-13. In vitro, TNFα-mediated MMP-13 was significantly higher in FHL2−/− cells and after knock down of FHL2, which was caused by prolonged p38 MAPK activation.ConclusionsThese data suggest that FHL2 serves as a protective factor and that, rather than promoting the pathology, the upregulation of FHL2 in RA occurs in frame of a regenerative attempt.
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16
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Friis S, Sales KU, Schafer JM, Vogel LK, Kataoka H, Bugge TH. The protease inhibitor HAI-2, but not HAI-1, regulates matriptase activation and shedding through prostasin. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:22319-32. [PMID: 24962579 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.574400] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The membrane-anchored serine proteases, matriptase and prostasin, and the membrane-anchored serine protease inhibitors, hepatocyte growth factor activator inhibitor (HAI)-1 and HAI-2, are critical effectors of epithelial development and postnatal epithelial homeostasis. Matriptase and prostasin form a reciprocal zymogen activation complex that results in the formation of active matriptase and prostasin that are targets for inhibition by HAI-1 and HAI-2. Conflicting data, however, have accumulated as to the existence of auxiliary functions for both HAI-1 and HAI-2 in regulating the intracellular trafficking and activation of matriptase. In this study, we, therefore, used genetically engineered mice to determine the effect of ablation of endogenous HAI-1 and endogenous HAI-2 on endogenous matriptase expression, subcellular localization, and activation in polarized intestinal epithelial cells. Whereas ablation of HAI-1 did not affect matriptase in epithelial cells of the small or large intestine, ablation of HAI-2 resulted in the loss of matriptase from both tissues. Gene silencing studies in intestinal Caco-2 cell monolayers revealed that this loss of cell-associated matriptase was mechanistically linked to accelerated activation and shedding of the protease caused by loss of prostasin regulation by HAI-2. Taken together, these data indicate that HAI-1 regulates the activity of activated matriptase, whereas HAI-2 has an essential role in regulating prostasin-dependent matriptase zymogen activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stine Friis
- From the Proteases and Tissue Remodeling Section, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, and the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Katiuchia Uzzun Sales
- From the Proteases and Tissue Remodeling Section, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, and Clinical Research Core, NIDCR, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
| | - Jeffrey Martin Schafer
- From the Proteases and Tissue Remodeling Section, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, and the College of Medicine, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio 43210, and
| | - Lotte K Vogel
- the Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, Faculty of Health Science, University of Copenhagen, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Hiroaki Kataoka
- the Section of Oncopathology and Regenerative Biology, Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Miyazaki, 5200 Kihara, Kiyotake, Miyazaki 889-1692, Japan
| | - Thomas H Bugge
- From the Proteases and Tissue Remodeling Section, Oral and Pharyngeal Cancer Branch, and
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Antoniou MN, Skipper KA, Anakok O. Optimizing retroviral gene expression for effective therapies. Hum Gene Ther 2014; 24:363-74. [PMID: 23517535 DOI: 10.1089/hum.2013.062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
With their ability to integrate their genetic material into the target cell genome, retroviral vectors (RV) of both the gamma-retroviral (γ-RV) and lentiviral vector (LV) classes currently remain the most efficient and thus the system of choice for achieving transgene retention and therefore potentially long-term expression and therapeutic benefit. However, γ-RV and LV integration comes at a cost in that transcription units will be present within a native chromatin environment and thus be subject to epigenetic effects (DNA methylation, histone modifications) that can negatively impact on their function. Indeed, highly variable expression and silencing of γ-RV and LV transgenes especially resulting from promoter DNA methylation is well documented and was the cause of the failure of gene therapy in a clinical trial for X-linked chronic granulomatous disease. This review will critically explore the use of different classes of genetic control elements that can in principle reduce vector insertion site position effects and epigenetic-mediated silencing. These transcriptional regulatory elements broadly divide themselves into either those with a chromatin boundary or border function (scaffold/matrix attachment regions, insulators) or those with a dominant chromatin remodeling and transcriptional activating capability (locus control regions,, ubiquitous chromatin opening elements). All these types of elements have their strengths and weaknesses within the constraints of a γ-RV and LV backbone, showing varying degrees of efficacy in improving reproducibility and stability of transgene function. Combinations of boundary and chromatin remodeling; transcriptional activating elements, which do not impede vector production; transduction efficiency; and stability are most likely to meet the requirements within a gene therapy context especially when targeting a stem cell population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael N Antoniou
- Gene Expression and Therapy Group, King's College London School of Medicine, Department of Medical and Molecular Genetics, Guy's Hospital, London, SE1 9RT, United Kingdom.
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18
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Retser E, Schied T, Skryabin BV, Vogl T, Kanczler JM, Hamann N, Niehoff A, Hermann S, Eisenblätter M, Wachsmuth L, Pap T, van Lent PLEM, Loser K, Roth J, Zaucke F, Ludwig S, Wixler V. Doxycycline-induced expression of transgenic human tumor necrosis factor α in adult mice results in psoriasis-like arthritis. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2013; 65:2290-300. [PMID: 23740547 PMCID: PMC3798087 DOI: 10.1002/art.38026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2012] [Accepted: 05/14/2013] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Objective To generate doxycycline-inducible human tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα)–transgenic mice to overcome a major disadvantage of existing transgenic mice with constitutive expression of TNFα, which is the limitation in crossing them with various knockout or transgenic mice. Methods A transgenic mouse line that expresses the human TNFα cytokine exclusively after doxycycline administration was generated and analyzed for the onset of diseases. Results Doxycycline-inducible human TNFα–transgenic mice developed an inflammatory arthritis– and psoriasis-like phenotype, with fore and hind paws being prominently affected. The formation of “sausage digits” with characteristic involvement of the distal interphalangeal joints and nail malformation was observed. Synovial hyperplasia, enthesitis, cartilage and bone alterations, formation of pannus tissue, and inflammation of the skin epidermis and nail matrix appeared as early as 1 week after the treatment of mice with doxycycline and became aggravated over time. The abrogation of human TNFα expression by the removal of doxycycline 6 weeks after beginning stimulation resulted in fast resolution of the most advanced macroscopic and histologic disorders, and 3–6 weeks later, only minimal signs of disease were visible. Conclusion Upon doxycycline administration, the doxycycline-inducible human TNFα–transgenic mouse displays the major features of inflammatory arthritis. It represents a unique animal model for studying the molecular mechanisms of arthritis, especially the early phases of disease genesis and tissue remodeling steps upon abrogation of TNFα expression. Furthermore, unlimited crossing of doxycycline-inducible human TNFα–transgenic mice with various knockout or transgenic mice opens new possibilities for unraveling the role of various signaling molecules acting in concert with TNFα.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugen Retser
- ZMBE and University Hospital Muenster, Muenster, Germany
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19
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Theodorou M, Speletas M, Mamara A, Papachristopoulou G, Lazou V, Scorilas A, Katsantoni E. Identification of a STAT5 target gene, Dpf3, provides novel insights in chronic lymphocytic leukemia. PLoS One 2013; 8:e76155. [PMID: 24155890 PMCID: PMC3796511 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0076155] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 08/20/2013] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
STAT5 controls essential cellular functions and is encoded by two genes, Stat5a and Stat5b. To provide insight to the mechanisms linking hematologic malignancy to STAT5 activation/regulation of target genes, we identified STAT5 target genes and focused on Dpf3 gene, which encodes for an epigenetic factor. Dpf3 expression was induced upon IL-3 stimulation in Ba/F3 cells, while strong binding of both STAT5a and STAT5b was detected in its promoter. Reduced expression of Dpf3 was detected in Ba/F3 cells with Stat5a and Stat5b knock-down, suggesting that this gene is positively regulated by STAT5, upon IL-3 stimulation. Furthermore, this gene was significantly up-regulated in CLL patients, where DPF3 gene/protein up-regulation and strong STAT5 binding to the DPF3 promoter, correlated with increased STAT5 activation, mainly in non-malignant myeloid cells (granulocytes). Our findings provide insights in the STAT5 dependent transcriptional regulation of Dpf3, and demonstrate for the first time increased STAT5 activation in granulocytes of CLL patients. Novel routes of investigation are opened to facilitate the understanding of the role of STAT5 activation in the communication between non-malignant myeloid and malignant B-cells, and the functions of STAT5 target genes networks in CLL biology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Theodorou
- Hematology/Oncology Division, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Matthaios Speletas
- Department of Immunology and Histocompatibility, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Antigoni Mamara
- Department of Immunology and Histocompatibility, Medical School, University of Thessaly, Larissa, Greece
| | - Georgia Papachristopoulou
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Vassiliki Lazou
- Hematology/Oncology Division, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Andreas Scorilas
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Faculty of Biology, University of Athens, Athens, Greece
| | - Eleni Katsantoni
- Hematology/Oncology Division, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Athens, Greece
- * E-mail:
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Bakker ERM, Das AM, Helvensteijn W, Franken PF, Swagemakers S, van der Valk MA, ten Hagen TLM, Kuipers EJ, van Veelen W, Smits R. Wnt5a promotes human colon cancer cell migration and invasion but does not augment intestinal tumorigenesis in Apc1638N mice. Carcinogenesis 2013; 34:2629-38. [PMID: 23764752 DOI: 10.1093/carcin/bgt215] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Whereas aberrant activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling underlies the majority of colorectal cancer cases, the contribution of non-canonical Wnt signaling is unclear. As enhanced expression of the most extensively studied non-canonical Wnt ligand WNT5A is observed in various diseases including colon cancer, WNT5A is gaining attention nowadays. Numerous in vitro studies suggest modulating capacities of WNT5A on proliferation, differentiation, migration and invasion, affecting tumor and non-mutant cells. However, a possible contribution of WNT5A to colorectal cancer remains to be elucidated. We have analyzed WNT5A expression in colorectal cancer profiling data sets, altered WNT5A expression in colon cancer cells and used our inducible Wnt5a transgenic mouse model to gain more insight into the role of WNT5A in intestinal cancer. We observed that increased WNT5A expression is associated with poor prognosis of colorectal cancer patients. WNT5A knockdown in human colon cancer cells caused reduced directional migration, deregulated focal adhesion site formation and reduced invasion, whereas Wnt5a administration promoted the directional migration of colon cancer cells. Despite these observed protumorigenic activities of WNT5A, the induction of Wnt5a expression in intestinal tumors of Apc1638N mice was not sufficient to augment malignancy or metastasis by itself. In conclusion, WNT5A promotes adhesion sites to form in a focal fashion and promotes the directional migration and invasion of colon cancer cells. Although these activities appear insufficient by themselves to augment malignancy or metastasis in Apc1638N mice, they might explain the poor colon cancer prognosis associated with enhanced WNT5A expression.
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21
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Wang Y, Sacchetti A, van Dijk MR, van der Zee M, van der Horst PH, Joosten R, Burger CW, Grootegoed JA, Blok LJ, Fodde R. Identification of quiescent, stem-like cells in the distal female reproductive tract. PLoS One 2012; 7:e40691. [PMID: 22848396 PMCID: PMC3404087 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0040691] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2012] [Accepted: 06/11/2012] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
In fertile women, the endometrium undergoes regular cycles of tissue build-up and regression. It is likely that uterine stem cells are involved in this remarkable turn over. The main goal of our current investigations was to identify slow-cycling (quiescent) endometrial stem cells by means of a pulse-chase approach to selectively earmark, prospectively isolate, and characterize label-retaining cells (LRCs). To this aim, transgenic mice expressing histone2B-GFP (H2B-GFP) in a Tet-inducible fashion were administered doxycycline (pulse) which was thereafter withdrawn from the drinking water (chase). Over time, dividing cells progressively loose GFP signal whereas infrequently dividing cells retain H2B-GFP expression. We evaluated H2B-GFP retaining cells at different chase time points and identified long-term (LT; >12 weeks) LRCs. The LT-LRCs are negative for estrogen receptor-α and express low levels of progesterone receptors. LRCs sorted by FACS are able to form spheroids capable of self-renewal and differentiation. Upon serum stimulation spheroid cells are induced to differentiate and form glandular structures which express markers of mature Műllerian epithelial cells. Overall, the results indicate that quiescent cells located in the distal oviduct have stem-like properties and can differentiate into distinct cell lineages specific of endometrium, proximal and distal oviduct. Future lineage-tracing studies will elucidate the role played by these cells in homeostasis, tissue injury and cancer of the female reproductive tract in the mouse and eventually in man.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongyi Wang
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Andrea Sacchetti
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Matthijs R. van Dijk
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marten van der Zee
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Paul H. van der Horst
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Rosalie Joosten
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Curt W. Burger
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - J. Anton Grootegoed
- Department of Reproduction and Development, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leen J. Blok
- Departments of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (RF); (LJB)
| | - Riccardo Fodde
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, Erasmus MC, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
- * E-mail: (RF); (LJB)
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Roth S, Franken P, Monkhorst K, Kong a San J, Fodde R. Generation and characterization of an inducible transgenic model for studying mouse esophageal biology. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2012; 12:18. [PMID: 22690876 PMCID: PMC3483200 DOI: 10.1186/1471-213x-12-18] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2011] [Accepted: 05/22/2012] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Background To facilitate the in vivo study of esophageal (stem) cell biology in homeostasis and cancer, novel mouse models are necessary to elicit expression of candidate genes in a tissue-specific and inducible fashion. To this aim, we developed and studied a mouse model to allow labeling of esophageal cells with the histone 2B-GFP (H2B-GFP) fusion protein. Results First, we generated a transgenic mouse model expressing the reverse tetracycline transactivator rtTA2-M2 under control of the promoter (ED-L2) of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) gene encoding the latent membrane protein-1 (LMP-1). The newly generated ED-L2-rtTA2-M2 (ED-L2-rtTA) mice were then bred with the previously developed tetO-HIST1H2BJ/GFP (tetO-H2B-GFP) model to assess inducibility and tissue-specificity. Expression of the H2B-GFP fusion protein was observed upon doxycycline induction but was restricted to the terminally differentiated cells above the basal cell layer. To achieve expression in the basal compartment of the esophagus, we subsequently employed a different transgenic model expressing the reverse transactivator rtTA2S-M2 under the control of the ubiquitous, methylation-free CpG island of the human hnRNPA2B1-CBX3 gene (hnRNP-rtTA). Upon doxycycline administration to the compound hnRNP-rtTA/tetO-H2B-GFP mice, near-complete labeling of all esophageal cells was achieved. Pulse-chase experiments confirmed that complete turnover of the esophageal epithelium in the adult mouse is achieved within 7–10 days. Conclusions We show that the esophagus-specific promoter ED-L2 is expressed only in the differentiated cells above the basal layer. Moreover, we confirmed that esophageal turn-over in the adult mouse does not exceed 7–10 days.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Roth
- Department of Pathology, Josephine Nefkens Institute, PO Box 2040, 3000 CA, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Bakker ERM, Raghoebir L, Franken PF, Helvensteijn W, van Gurp L, Meijlink F, van der Valk MA, Rottier RJ, Kuipers EJ, van Veelen W, Smits R. Induced Wnt5a expression perturbs embryonic outgrowth and intestinal elongation, but is well-tolerated in adult mice. Dev Biol 2012; 369:91-100. [PMID: 22691362 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2012.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2012] [Revised: 06/01/2012] [Accepted: 06/04/2012] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Wnt5a is essential during embryonic development, as indicated by mouse Wnt5a knockout embryos displaying outgrowth defects of multiple structures including the gut. The dynamics of Wnt5a involvement in these processes is unclear, and perinatal lethality of Wnt5a knockout embryos has hampered investigation of Wnt5a during postnatal stages in vivo. Although in vitro studies have suggested a relevant role for Wnt5a postnatally, solid evidence for a significant impact of Wnt5a within the complexity of an adult organism is lacking. We generated a tightly-regulated inducible Wnt5a transgenic mouse model and investigated the effects of Wnt5a induction during different time-frames of embryonic development and in adult mice, focusing on the gastrointestinal tract. When induced in embryos from 10.5 dpc onwards, Wnt5a expression led to severe outgrowth defects affecting the gastrointestinal tracts, limbs, facial structures and tails, closely resembling the defects observed in Wnt5a knockout mice. However, Wnt5a induction from 13.5 dpc onwards did not cause this phenotype, indicating that the most critical period for Wnt5a in embryonic development is prior to 13.5 dpc. In adult mice, induced Wnt5a expression did not reveal abnormalities, providing the first in vivo evidence that Wnt5a has no major impact on mouse intestinal homeostasis postnatally. Protein expression of Wnt5a receptor Ror2 was strongly reduced in adult intestine compared to embryonic stages. Moreover, we uncovered a regulatory process where induction of Wnt5a causes downregulation of its receptor Ror2. Taken together, our results indicate a role for Wnt5a during a restricted time-frame of embryonic development, but suggest no impact during homeostatic postnatal stages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elvira R M Bakker
- Departments of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Erasmus MC University Medical Center Rotterdam, 's Gravendijkwal 230, 3015 CE Rotterdam, The Netherlands
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Miró-Murillo M, Elorza A, Soro-Arnáiz I, Albacete-Albacete L, Ordoñez A, Balsa E, Vara-Vega A, Vázquez S, Fuertes E, Fernández-Criado C, Landázuri MO, Aragonés J. Acute Vhl gene inactivation induces cardiac HIF-dependent erythropoietin gene expression. PLoS One 2011; 6:e22589. [PMID: 21811636 PMCID: PMC3141062 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0022589] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2010] [Accepted: 06/29/2011] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Von Hippel Lindau (Vhl) gene inactivation results in embryonic lethality. The consequences of its inactivation in adult mice, and of the ensuing activation of the hypoxia-inducible factors (HIFs), have been explored mainly in a tissue-specific manner. This mid-gestation lethality can be also circumvented by using a floxed Vhl allele in combination with an ubiquous tamoxifen-inducible recombinase Cre-ERT2. Here, we characterize a widespread reduction in Vhl gene expression in Vhlfloxed-UBC-Cre-ERT2 adult mice after dietary tamoxifen administration, a convenient route of administration that has yet to be fully characterized for global gene inactivation. Vhl gene inactivation rapidly resulted in a marked splenomegaly and skin erythema, accompanied by renal and hepatic induction of the erythropoietin (Epo) gene, indicative of the in vivo activation of the oxygen sensing HIF pathway. We show that acute Vhl gene inactivation also induced Epo gene expression in the heart, revealing cardiac tissue to be an extra-renal source of EPO. Indeed, primary cardiomyocytes and HL-1 cardiac cells both induce Epo gene expression when exposed to low O2 tension in a HIF-dependent manner. Thus, as well as demonstrating the potential of dietary tamoxifen administration for gene inactivation studies in UBC-Cre-ERT2 mouse lines, this data provides evidence of a cardiac oxygen-sensing VHL/HIF/EPO pathway in adult mice.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Ainara Elorza
- Department of Immunology, Hospital of La Princesa, Sanitary Research Institute Princesa (IP), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Inés Soro-Arnáiz
- Department of Immunology, Hospital of La Princesa, Sanitary Research Institute Princesa (IP), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Lucas Albacete-Albacete
- Department of Immunology, Hospital of La Princesa, Sanitary Research Institute Princesa (IP), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Angel Ordoñez
- Department of Immunology, Hospital of La Princesa, Sanitary Research Institute Princesa (IP), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Eduardo Balsa
- Department of Immunology, Hospital of La Princesa, Sanitary Research Institute Princesa (IP), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Alicia Vara-Vega
- Department of Immunology, Hospital of La Princesa, Sanitary Research Institute Princesa (IP), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Silvia Vázquez
- Department of Immunology, Hospital of La Princesa, Sanitary Research Institute Princesa (IP), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Esther Fuertes
- Department of Immunology, Hospital of La Princesa, Sanitary Research Institute Princesa (IP), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Manuel O. Landázuri
- Department of Immunology, Hospital of La Princesa, Sanitary Research Institute Princesa (IP), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julián Aragonés
- Department of Immunology, Hospital of La Princesa, Sanitary Research Institute Princesa (IP), Autonomous University of Madrid, Madrid, Spain
- * E-mail:
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Wörtge S, Eshkind L, Cabezas-Wallscheid N, Lakaye B, Kim J, Heck R, Abassi Y, Diken M, Sprengel R, Bockamp E. Tetracycline-controlled transgene activation using the ROSA26-iM2-GFP knock-in mouse strain permits GFP monitoring of DOX-regulated transgene-expression. BMC DEVELOPMENTAL BIOLOGY 2010; 10:95. [PMID: 20815887 PMCID: PMC2944160 DOI: 10.1186/1471-213x-10-95] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2010] [Accepted: 09/03/2010] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Background Conditional gene activation is an efficient strategy for studying gene function in genetically modified animals. Among the presently available gene switches, the tetracycline-regulated system has attracted considerable interest because of its unique potential for reversible and adjustable gene regulation. Results To investigate whether the ubiquitously expressed Gt(ROSA)26Sor locus enables uniform DOX-controlled gene expression, we inserted the improved tetracycline-regulated transcription activator iM2 together with an iM2 dependent GFP gene into the Gt(ROSA)26Sor locus, using gene targeting to generate ROSA26-iM2-GFP (R26t1Δ) mice. Despite the presence of ROSA26 promoter driven iM2, R26t1Δ mice showed very sparse DOX-activated expression of different iM2-responsive reporter genes in the brain, mosaic expression in peripheral tissues and more prominent expression in erythroid, myeloid and lymphoid lineages, in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells and in olfactory neurons. Conclusions The finding that gene regulation by the DOX-activated transcriptional factor iM2 in the Gt(ROSA)26Sor locus has its limitations is of importance for future experimental strategies involving transgene activation from the endogenous ROSA26 promoter. Furthermore, our ROSA26-iM2 knock-in mouse model (R26t1Δ) represents a useful tool for implementing gene function in vivo especially under circumstances requiring the side-by-side comparison of gene manipulated and wild type cells. Since the ROSA26-iM2 mouse allows mosaic gene activation in peripheral tissues and haematopoietic cells, this model will be very useful for uncovering previously unknown or unsuspected phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Wörtge
- Max Planck Institute for Medical Research, Jahnstrasse 29, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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26
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Zhou H, Liu Y, He F, Mo L, Sun TT, Wu XR. Temporally and spatially controllable gene expression and knockout in mouse urothelium. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol 2010; 299:F387-95. [PMID: 20427471 DOI: 10.1152/ajprenal.00185.2010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Urothelium that lines almost the entire urinary tract performs important functions and is prone to assaults by urinary microbials, metabolites, and carcinogens. To improve our understanding of urothelial physiology and disease pathogenesis, we sought to develop two novel transgenic systems, one that would allow inducible and urothelium-specific gene expression, and another that would allow inducible and urothelium-specific knockout. Toward this end, we combined the ability of the mouse uroplakin II promoter (mUPII) to drive urothelium-specific gene expression with a versatile tetracycline-mediated inducible system. We found that, when constructed under the control of mUPII, only a modified, reverse tetracycline trans-activator (rtTA-M2), but not its original version (rtTA), could efficiently trans-activate reporter gene expression in mouse urothelium on doxycycline (Dox) induction. The mUPII/rtTA-M2-inducible system retained its strict urothelial specificity, had no background activity in the absence of Dox, and responded rapidly to Dox administration. Using a reporter gene whose expression was secondarily controlled by histone remodeling, we were able to identify, colocalize with 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine incorporation, and semiquantify newly divided urothelial cells. Finally, we established that, when combined with a Cre recombinase under the control of the tetracycline operon, the mUPII-driven rtTA-M2 could inducibly inactivate any gene of interest in mouse urothelium. The establishment of these two new transgenic mouse systems enables the manipulation of gene expression and/or inactivation in adult mouse urothelium at any given time, thus minimizing potential compensatory effects due to gene overexpression or loss and allowing more accurate modeling of urothelial diseases than previously reported constitutive systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiping Zhou
- Departments of Urology, New York Univ. School of Medicine, New York, 10010, USA
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27
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Brown JP, Bullwinkel J, Baron-Lühr B, Billur M, Schneider P, Winking H, Singh PB. HP1gamma function is required for male germ cell survival and spermatogenesis. Epigenetics Chromatin 2010; 3:9. [PMID: 20423503 PMCID: PMC2877046 DOI: 10.1186/1756-8935-3-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2009] [Accepted: 04/27/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND HP1 proteins are conserved components of eukaryotic constitutive heterochromatin. In mammals, there are three genes that encode HP1-like proteins, termed HP1alpha, HP1beta and HP1gamma, which have a high degree of homology This paper describes for the first time, to our knowledge, the physiological function of HP1gamma using a gene-targeted mouse. RESULTS While targeting the Cbx3 gene (encoding the HP1gamma protein) with a conditional targeting vector, we generated a hypomorphic allele (Cbx3hypo), which resulted in much reduced (barely detectable) levels of HP1gamma protein. Homozygotes for the hypomorphic allele (Cbx3hypo/hypo) are rare, with only 1% of Cbx3hypo/hypo animals reaching adulthood. Adult males exhibit a severe hypogonadism that is associated with a loss of germ cells, with some seminiferous tubules retaining only the supporting Sertoli cells (Sertoli cell-only phenotype). The percentage of seminiferous tubules that are positive for L1 ORF1 protein (ORF1p) in Cbx3hypo/hypo testes is greater than that for wild-type testes, indicating that L1 retrotransposon silencing is reversed, leading to ectopic expression of ORF1p in Cbx3hypo/hypo germ cells. CONCLUSIONS The Cbx3 gene product (the HP1gamma protein) has a non-redundant function during spermatogenesis that cannot be compensated for by the other two HP1 isotypes. The Cbx3hypo/hypo spermatogenesis defect is similar to that found in Miwi2 and Dnmt3L mutants. The Cbx3 gene-targeted mice generated in this study provide an appropriate model for the study of HP1gamma in transposon silencing and parental imprinting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jeremy P Brown
- Division of Immunoepigenetics, Department of Immunology and Cell Biology, Research Center Borstel, D-23845 Borstel, Germany.
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Zou Y, Chen CH, Fike JR, Huang TT. A new mouse model for temporal- and tissue-specific control of extracellular superoxide dismutase. Genesis 2009; 47:142-54. [PMID: 19165829 DOI: 10.1002/dvg.20470] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The extracellular isoform of superoxide dismutase (EC-SOD, Sod3) plays a protective role against various diseases and injuries mediated by oxidative stress. To investigate the pathophysiological roles of EC-SOD, we generated tetracycline-inducible Sod3 transgenic mice and directed the tissue-specific expression of transgenes by crossing Sod3 transgenic mice with tissue-specific transactivator transgenics. Double transgenic mice with liver-specific expression of Sod3 showed increased EC-SOD levels predominantly in the plasma as the circulating form, whereas double transgenic mice with neuronal-specific expression expressed higher levels of EC-SOD in hippocampus and cortex with intact EC-SOD as the dominant form. EC-SOD protein levels also correlated well with increased SOD activities in double transgenic mice. In addition to enabling tissue-specific expression, the transgene expression can be quickly turned on and off by doxycycline supplementation in the mouse chow. This mouse model, thus, provides the flexibility for on-off control of transgene expression in multiple target tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yani Zou
- Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
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