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Adelus ML, Ding J, Tran BT, Conklin AC, Golebiewski AK, Stolze LK, Whalen MB, Cusanovich DA, Romanoski CE. Single-cell 'omic profiles of human aortic endothelial cells in vitro and human atherosclerotic lesions ex vivo reveal heterogeneity of endothelial subtype and response to activating perturbations. eLife 2024; 12:RP91729. [PMID: 38578680 PMCID: PMC10997331 DOI: 10.7554/elife.91729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Heterogeneity in endothelial cell (EC) sub-phenotypes is becoming increasingly appreciated in atherosclerosis progression. Still, studies quantifying EC heterogeneity across whole transcriptomes and epigenomes in both in vitro and in vivo models are lacking. Multiomic profiling concurrently measuring transcriptomes and accessible chromatin in the same single cells was performed on six distinct primary cultures of human aortic ECs (HAECs) exposed to activating environments characteristic of the atherosclerotic microenvironment in vitro. Meta-analysis of single-cell transcriptomes across 17 human ex vivo arterial specimens was performed and two computational approaches quantitatively evaluated the similarity in molecular profiles between heterogeneous in vitro and ex vivo cell profiles. HAEC cultures were reproducibly populated by four major clusters with distinct pathway enrichment profiles and modest heterogeneous responses: EC1-angiogenic, EC2-proliferative, EC3-activated/mesenchymal-like, and EC4-mesenchymal. Quantitative comparisons between in vitro and ex vivo transcriptomes confirmed EC1 and EC2 as most canonically EC-like, and EC4 as most mesenchymal with minimal effects elicited by siERG and IL1B. Lastly, accessible chromatin regions unique to EC2 and EC4 were most enriched for coronary artery disease (CAD)-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms from Genome Wide Association Studies (GWAS), suggesting that these cell phenotypes harbor CAD-modulating mechanisms. Primary EC cultures contain markedly heterogeneous cell subtypes defined by their molecular profiles. Surprisingly, the perturbations used here only modestly shifted cells between subpopulations, suggesting relatively stable molecular phenotypes in culture. Identifying consistently heterogeneous EC subpopulations between in vitro and ex vivo models should pave the way for improving in vitro systems while enabling the mechanisms governing heterogeneous cell state decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L Adelus
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- The Clinical Translational Sciences Graduate Program, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Jiacheng Ding
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Binh T Tran
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Austin C Conklin
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Anna K Golebiewski
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Lindsey K Stolze
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Michael B Whalen
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Darren A Cusanovich
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Casey E Romanoski
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- The Clinical Translational Sciences Graduate Program, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
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Özokan G, Cansız D, Bilginer A, Ünal İ, Beler M, Alturfan AA, Emekli-Alturfan E. Synthesis of salicylic acid from wintergreen oil by green chemistry overcomes its cytotoxicity in keratinocyte cells and teratogenicity in zebrafish embryos. Toxicol Mech Methods 2024; 34:203-213. [PMID: 37849293 DOI: 10.1080/15376516.2023.2272184] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/19/2023]
Abstract
Salicylic acid topical is used to treat variety of skin conditions. However, salicylic acid in these products is generated through industrial synthesis and has been shown to negatively impact fetal development and cause congenital abnormalities. We hypothesized that teratogenic effects reported in salicylic acid can be prevented by naturally synthesizing salicylic acid from wintergreen oil using green chemistry method. For this purpose, we investigated the effects of natural salicylic acid (NSA) synthesized from wintergreen oil using green chemistry and synthetic salicylic acid (SSA) on keratinocyte cell (HaCaT) proliferation and zebrafish embryo development. NSA structures were analyzed by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and GC/MS methods. Percentage inhibition against HaCaT cell was determined by MTS assay. xCelligence system was used for cellular activities. Zebrafish embryos were exposed to NSA and SSA for 72 h post-fertilization. Lipid peroxidation, nitric oxide, sialic acid, glutathione-S-transferase, catalase, and superoxide dismutase were evaluated using biochemical methods. Expressions of nqO1, gfap, bdnf, vtg, egr, cyp1a, and igf2 were determined by RT-PCR as developmental indicators. MTS and RT-cell analysis showed increased cell viability by NSA, whereas SSA decreased cell viability. NSA beneficially affected zebrafish embryo development while SSA exerted deleterious effects through oxidant-antioxidant status, inflammation, and development. Results of our study showed for the first time that synthesis of salicylic acid from wintergreen oil by green chemistry overcomes its cytotoxicity in keratinocyte cells and teratogenicity in zebrafish embryos. This finding is important for drug research on safe topical applications during pregnancy, when preventing exposure to drug and chemical-derived teratogens is vital.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gökhan Özokan
- BioArge Laboratories, Yıldız Technical University Technocity, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Derya Cansız
- Faculty of Medicine, Medical Biochemistry, Medipol University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Abdulkerim Bilginer
- BioArge Laboratories, Yıldız Technical University Technocity, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - İsmail Ünal
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Merih Beler
- Department of Biochemistry, Institute of Health Sciences, Faculty of Pharmacy, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - A Ata Alturfan
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Medicine, Istanbul University-Cerrahpaşa, Istanbul, Turkey
| | - Ebru Emekli-Alturfan
- Department of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Dentistry, Marmara University, Istanbul, Turkey
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Adelus ML, Ding J, Tran BT, Conklin AC, Golebiewski AK, Stolze LK, Whalen MB, Cusanovich DA, Romanoski CE. Single cell 'omic profiles of human aortic endothelial cells in vitro and human atherosclerotic lesions ex vivo reveals heterogeneity of endothelial subtype and response to activating perturbations. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2024:2023.04.03.535495. [PMID: 37066416 PMCID: PMC10104082 DOI: 10.1101/2023.04.03.535495] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/18/2023]
Abstract
Objective Endothelial cells (ECs), macrophages, and vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are major cell types in atherosclerosis progression, and heterogeneity in EC sub-phenotypes are becoming increasingly appreciated. Still, studies quantifying EC heterogeneity across whole transcriptomes and epigenomes in both in vitro and in vivo models are lacking. Approach and Results To create an in vitro dataset to study human EC heterogeneity, multiomic profiling concurrently measuring transcriptomes and accessible chromatin in the same single cells was performed on six distinct primary cultures of human aortic ECs (HAECs). To model pro-inflammatory and activating environments characteristic of the atherosclerotic microenvironment in vitro, HAECs from at least three donors were exposed to three distinct perturbations with their respective controls: transforming growth factor beta-2 (TGFB2), interleukin-1 beta (IL1B), and siRNA-mediated knock-down of the endothelial transcription factor ERG (siERG). To form a comprehensive in vivo/ex vivo dataset of human atherosclerotic cell types, meta-analysis of single cell transcriptomes across 17 human arterial specimens was performed. Two computational approaches quantitatively evaluated the similarity in molecular profiles between heterogeneous in vitro and in vivo cell profiles. HAEC cultures were reproducibly populated by 4 major clusters with distinct pathway enrichment profiles: EC1-angiogenic, EC2-proliferative, EC3-activated/mesenchymal-like, and EC4-mesenchymal. Exposure to siERG, IL1B or TGFB2 elicited mostly distinct transcriptional and accessible chromatin responses. EC1 and EC2, the most canonically 'healthy' EC populations, were affected predominantly by siERG; the activated cluster EC3 was most responsive to IL1B; and the mesenchymal population EC4 was most affected by TGFB2. Quantitative comparisons between in vitro and in vivo transcriptomes confirmed EC1 and EC2 as most canonically EC-like, and EC4 as most mesenchymal with minimal effects elicited by siERG and IL1B. Lastly, accessible chromatin regions unique to EC2 and EC4 were most enriched for coronary artery disease (CAD)-associated SNPs from GWAS, suggesting these cell phenotypes harbor CAD-modulating mechanisms. Conclusion Primary EC cultures contain markedly heterogeneous cell subtypes defined by their molecular profiles. Surprisingly, the perturbations used here, which have been reported by others to be involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis as well as induce endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), only modestly shifted cells between subpopulations, suggesting relatively stable molecular phenotypes in culture. Identifying consistently heterogeneous EC subpopulations between in vitro and in vivo models should pave the way for improving in vitro systems while enabling the mechanisms governing heterogeneous cell state decisions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria L. Adelus
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- The Clinical Translational Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Jiacheng Ding
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Binh T. Tran
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Austin C. Conklin
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Anna K. Golebiewski
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Lindsey K. Stolze
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Michael B. Whalen
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
| | - Darren A. Cusanovich
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
| | - Casey E. Romanoski
- The Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ 85721, USA
- The Clinical Translational Sciences Graduate Program, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
- Asthma and Airway Disease Research Center, The University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, 85721, USA
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Zhang Y, Tao J, Wang R, Xuan H, Chen Z, Xiao L, Ding H, Sun Z. Prognostic value of E‑26 transformation‑specific‑related gene in prostate cancer based on immunohistochemistry analysis. Oncol Lett 2023; 26:296. [PMID: 37274473 PMCID: PMC10236269 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2023.13882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/06/2023] Open
Abstract
E-26 transformation-specific-related gene (ERG) has been implicated in prostate cancer; however, its prognostic role remains unclear. Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the association of ERG with the prognosis after radical prostatectomy in patients with prostate cancer. Patient data were collected at the Huadong Hospital, affiliated with Fudan University, between January 2016 and March 2020. ERG protein expression was detected using immunohistochemistry. Independent-sample t-tests and χ2 tests were used to evaluate prostate cancer prognosis depending on ERG levels. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to estimate biochemical failure-free survival (BFFS) and the log-rank test was used to test the distribution. Prognostic factors were determined using Cox regression analysis. The median patient age was 69 years (range, 47-82 years). The median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) and free-PSA levels before treatment were 9.58 ng/ml (range, 0.003-187.400 ng/ml) and 1.13 ng/ml (range, 0.0059-30.6100 ng/ml), respectively. ERG protein expression was positive in 43 (16.6%) and negative in 216 (83.4%) cases. The median follow-up period and BFFS were 30 and 28 months, respectively. There was a significant difference in biochemical recurrence (P=0.017) between patients with positive and negative ERG expression. Patients with positive ERG expression had significantly worse BFFS curves compared with those with negative ERG expression (P=0.0038). In the multivariate Cox regression analysis, positive ERG expression was found to be an independent prognostic factor in patients with prostate cancer who underwent radical prostatectomy (hazard ratio, 4.08; 95% confidence interval, 2.03-8.17; P=0.000074). In conclusion, positive ERG expression is an independent prognostic risk factor for prostate cancer. These findings may be valuable for improvements in the clinical application of ERG immunohistochemistry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Zhang
- Department of Urology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Jing Tao
- Department of Urology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Rangrang Wang
- Department of Surgery, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Haojie Xuan
- Department of Urology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Zhihao Chen
- Department of Urology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Li Xiao
- Department of Pathology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Haiyong Ding
- Department of Urology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
| | - Zhongquan Sun
- Department of Urology, Huadong Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200040, P.R. China
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Kharwadkar R, Ulrich BJ, Chu M, Koh B, Hufford MM, Fu Y, Birdsey GM, Porse BT, Randi AM, Kaplan MH. ERG Functionally Overlaps with Other Ets Proteins in Promoting TH9 Cell Expression of Il9 during Allergic Lung Inflammation. JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY (BALTIMORE, MD. : 1950) 2023; 210:537-546. [PMID: 36637217 PMCID: PMC10230589 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2200113] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
CD4+ TH cells develop into subsets that are specialized in the secretion of particular cytokines to mediate restricted types of inflammation and immune responses. Among the subsets that promote development of allergic inflammatory responses, IL-9-producing TH9 cells are regulated by a number of transcription factors. We have previously shown that the E26 transformation-specific (Ets) family members PU.1 and Ets translocation variant 5 (ETV5) function in parallel to regulate IL-9. In this study we identified a third member of the Ets family of transcription factors, Ets-related gene (ERG), that mediates IL-9 production in TH9 cells in the absence of PU.1 and ETV5. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays revealed that ERG interaction at the Il9 promoter region is restricted to the TH9 lineage and is sustained during murine TH9 polarization. Knockdown or knockout of ERG during murine or human TH9 polarization in vitro led to a decrease in IL-9 production in TH9 cells. Deletion of ERG in vivo had modest effects on IL-9 production in vitro or in vivo. However, in the absence of PU.1 and ETV5, ERG was required for residual IL-9 production in vitro and for IL-9 production by lung-derived CD4 T cells in a mouse model of chronic allergic airway disease. Thus, ERG contributes to IL-9 regulation in TH9 cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rakshin Kharwadkar
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Benjamin J Ulrich
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Michelle Chu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Byunghee Koh
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Matthew M Hufford
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Yongyao Fu
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Graeme M Birdsey
- National Heart and Lung Institute Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, U.K
| | - Bo T Porse
- The Finsen Laboratory, Rigshospitalet, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Center, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark; and
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology, DanStem, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anna M Randi
- National Heart and Lung Institute Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London, U.K
| | - Mark H Kaplan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
- Department of Pediatrics, Herman B. Wells Center for Pediatric Research, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
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6
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PGC1 alpha coactivates ERG fusion to drive antioxidant target genes under metabolic stress. Commun Biol 2022; 5:416. [PMID: 35508713 PMCID: PMC9068611 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-03385-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2022] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
The presence of ERG gene fusion; from developing prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia (PIN) lesions to hormone resistant high grade prostate cancer (PCa) dictates disease progression, altered androgen metabolism, proliferation and metastasis1–3. ERG driven transcriptional landscape may provide pro-tumorigenic cues in overcoming various strains like hypoxia, nutrient deprivation, inflammation and oxidative stress. However, insights on the androgen independent regulation and function of ERG during stress are limited. Here, we identify PGC1α as a coactivator of ERG fusion under various metabolic stress. Deacetylase SIRT1 is necessary for PGC1α-ERG interaction and function. We reveal that ERG drives the expression of antioxidant genes; SOD1 and TXN, benefitting PCa growth. We observe increased expression of these antioxidant genes in patients with high ERG expression correlates with poor survival. Inhibition of PGC1α-ERG axis driven transcriptional program results in apoptosis and reduction in PCa xenografts. Here we report a function of ERG under metabolic stress which warrants further studies as a therapeutic target for ERG fusion positive PCa. PGC1α acts as a co-activator of the ERG transcription factor during metabolic stress resulting in antioxidant functionsand inhibition of the PGC1α-ERG driven transcriptional program reduces prostate cancer growth by inducing ROS mediated apoptosis.
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Khosh Kish E, Choudhry M, Gamallat Y, Buharideen SM, D D, Bismar TA. The Expression of Proto-Oncogene ETS-Related Gene ( ERG) Plays a Central Role in the Oncogenic Mechanism Involved in the Development and Progression of Prostate Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23094772. [PMID: 35563163 PMCID: PMC9105369 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23094772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 04/17/2022] [Accepted: 04/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The ETS-related gene (ERG) is proto-oncogene that is classified as a member of the ETS transcription factor family, which has been found to be consistently overexpressed in about half of the patients with clinically significant prostate cancer (PCa). The overexpression of ERG can mostly be attributed to the fusion of the ERG and transmembrane serine protease 2 (TMPRSS2) genes, and this fusion is estimated to represent about 85% of all gene fusions observed in prostate cancer. Clinically, individuals with ERG gene fusion are mostly documented to have advanced tumor stages, increased mortality, and higher rates of metastasis in non-surgical cohorts. In the current review, we elucidate ERG’s molecular interaction with downstream genes and the pathways associated with PCa. Studies have documented that ERG plays a central role in PCa progression due to its ability to enhance tumor growth by promoting inflammatory and angiogenic responses. ERG has also been implicated in the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) in PCa cells, which increases the ability of cancer cells to metastasize. In vivo, research has demonstrated that higher levels of ERG expression are involved with nuclear pleomorphism that prompts hyperplasia and the loss of cell polarity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ealia Khosh Kish
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada; (E.K.K.); (M.C.); (Y.G.); (S.M.B.); (D.D.)
| | - Muhammad Choudhry
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada; (E.K.K.); (M.C.); (Y.G.); (S.M.B.); (D.D.)
| | - Yaser Gamallat
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada; (E.K.K.); (M.C.); (Y.G.); (S.M.B.); (D.D.)
- Alberta Precision Laboratories, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada
| | - Sabrina Marsha Buharideen
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada; (E.K.K.); (M.C.); (Y.G.); (S.M.B.); (D.D.)
- Alberta Precision Laboratories, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada
| | - Dhananjaya D
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada; (E.K.K.); (M.C.); (Y.G.); (S.M.B.); (D.D.)
- Alberta Precision Laboratories, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada
| | - Tarek A. Bismar
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada; (E.K.K.); (M.C.); (Y.G.); (S.M.B.); (D.D.)
- Alberta Precision Laboratories, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada
- Departments of Oncology, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada
- Tom Baker Cancer Center, Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Calgary, AB T2V 1P9, Canada
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-403-943-8430; Fax: +1-403-943-3333
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Lorenzin F, Demichelis F. Past, Current, and Future Strategies to Target ERG Fusion-Positive Prostate Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14051118. [PMID: 35267426 PMCID: PMC8909394 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14051118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2022] [Revised: 02/14/2022] [Accepted: 02/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary In addition to its role in development and in the vascular and hematopoietic systems, ERG plays a central role in prostate cancer. Approximately 40–50% of prostate cancer cases are characterized by ERG gene fusions, which lead to ERG overexpression. Importantly, inhibition of ERG activity in prostate cancer cells decreases their viability. Therefore, inhibiting ERG might represent an important step to improve treatment efficacy for patients with ERG-positive prostate tumors. Here, we summarize the attempts made over the past years to repress ERG activity, the current use of ERG fusion detection and the strategies that might be utilized in the future to treat ERG fusion-positive tumors. Abstract The ETS family member ERG is a transcription factor with physiological roles during development and in the vascular and hematopoietic systems. ERG oncogenic activity characterizes several malignancies, including Ewing’s sarcoma, leukemia and prostate cancer (PCa). In PCa, ERG rearrangements with androgen-regulated genes—mostly TMPRSS2—characterize a large subset of patients across disease progression and result in androgen receptor (AR)-mediated overexpression of ERG in the prostate cells. Importantly, PCa cells overexpressing ERG are dependent on ERG activity for survival, further highlighting its therapeutic potential. Here, we review the current understanding of the role of ERG and its partners in PCa. We discuss the strategies developed in recent years to inhibit ERG activity, the current therapeutic utility of ERG fusion detection in PCa patients, and the possible future approaches to target ERG fusion-positive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Lorenzin
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.L.); (F.D.)
| | - Francesca Demichelis
- Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology, CIBIO, University of Trento, 38123 Trento, Italy
- The HRH Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud Institute for Computational Biomedicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY 10021, USA
- The Caryl and Israel Englander Institute for Precision Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY 10021, USA
- Correspondence: (F.L.); (F.D.)
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9
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Tharakan B, Hunter FA, Muthusamy S, Randolph S, Byrd C, Rao VN, Reddy ESP, Childs EW. ETS-Related Gene Activation Preserves Adherens Junctions and Permeability in Microvascular Endothelial Cells. Shock 2022; 57:309-315. [PMID: 34907119 DOI: 10.1097/shk.0000000000001899] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
ABSTRACT ERG (ETS-related gene) is a member of the ETS (Erythroblast-transformation specific) family of transcription factors abundantly present in vascular endothelial cells. Recent studies demonstrate that ERG has important roles in blood vessel stability and angiogenesis. However, it is unclear how ERG is potentially involved in microvascular barrier functions and permeability. A wide variety of diseases and clinical conditions including trauma-hemorrhagic shock and burn injury are associated with microvascular dysfunctions, which causes excessive microvascular permeability, tissue edema and eventually, multiple organ dysfunction and death. The main purpose of this study was to determine the specific role of ERG in regulating microvascular permeability in human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMEC) and to evaluate if exogenous ERG will protect the barrier. The HLMECs were grown on Transwell inserts as monolayers and were transfected with ERG CRISPR/cas9 knockdown plasmid, ERG CRISPR activation plasmid, recombinant ERG protein or their respective controls. Recombinant vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) was used as an inducer of permeability for evaluating the effect of ERG activation on permeability. Changes in barrier integrity and permeability were studied using monolayer permeability assay and immunofluorescence of adherens junction proteins (VE-cadherin and β-catenin) respectively. CRISPR/cas9-based ERG knockdown as well as VEGF treatment induced monolayer hyperpermeability, VE-cadherin, and β-catenin junctional relocation and cytoskeletal F-actin stress fiber formation. CRISPR based ERG activation and recombinant ERG transfection attenuated VEGF-induced monolayer hyperpermeability. ERG activation preserved the adherens junctions and cytoskeleton. These results demonstrate that ERG is a potent regulator of barrier integrity and permeability in human lung microvascular endothelial cells and endogenously or exogenously enhancing ERG provides protection against barrier dysfunction and hyperpermeability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Binu Tharakan
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Felicia A Hunter
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | | | - Sonya Randolph
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Crystal Byrd
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Veena N Rao
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - E Shyam P Reddy
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
| | - Ed W Childs
- Department of Surgery, Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia
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Farrar EJ, Hiriart E, Mahmut A, Jagla B, Peal DS, Milan DJ, Butcher JT, Puceat M. OCT4-mediated inflammation induces cell reprogramming at the origin of cardiac valve development and calcification. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabf7910. [PMID: 34739324 PMCID: PMC8570594 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf7910] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Cell plasticity plays a key role in embryos by maintaining the differentiation potential of progenitors. Whether postnatal somatic cells revert to an embryonic-like naïve state regaining plasticity and redifferentiate into a cell type leading to a disease remains intriguing. Using genetic lineage tracing and single-cell RNA sequencing, we reveal that Oct4 is induced by nuclear factor κB (NFκB) at embyronic day 9.5 in a subset of mouse endocardial cells originating from the anterior heart forming field at the onset of endocardial-to-mesenchymal transition. These cells acquired a chondro-osteogenic fate. OCT4 in adult valvular aortic cells leads to calcification of mouse and human valves. These calcifying cells originate from the Oct4 embryonic lineage. Genetic deletion of Pou5f1 (Pit-Oct-Unc, OCT4) in the endocardial cell lineage prevents aortic stenosis and calcification of ApoE−/− mouse valve. We established previously unidentified self-cell reprogramming NFκB- and OCT4-mediated inflammatory pathway triggering a dose-dependent mechanism of valve calcification.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emily J. Farrar
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Emilye Hiriart
- INSERM U1251, Aix-Marseille University, MMG, Marseille, France
| | - Ablajan Mahmut
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Bernd Jagla
- Pasteur Institute, Cytometry and Biomarkers Unit of Technology and Service, C2RT, & Hub de Bioinformatique et Biostatistique–Département Biologie Computationnelle, Paris, France
| | - David S. Peal
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - David J. Milan
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiology Division, Massachusetts General Hospital Research Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Jonathan T. Butcher
- Nancy E. and Peter C. Meinig School of Biomedical Engineering, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Corresponding author. (M.P.); (J.B.)
| | - Michel Puceat
- INSERM U1251, Aix-Marseille University, MMG, Marseille, France
- Corresponding author. (M.P.); (J.B.)
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11
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Chen D, Schwartz MA, Simons M. Developmental Perspectives on Arterial Fate Specification. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:691335. [PMID: 34249941 PMCID: PMC8269928 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.691335] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Blood vessel acquisition of arterial or venous fate is an adaptive phenomenon in response to increasing blood circulation during vascular morphogenesis. The past two decades of effort in this field led to development of a widely accepted paradigm of molecular regulators centering on VEGF and Notch signaling. More recent findings focused on shear stress-induced cell cycle arrest as a prerequisite for arterial specification substantially modify this traditional understanding. This review aims to summarize key molecular mechanisms that work in concert to drive the acquisition of arterial fate in two distinct developmental settings of vascular morphogenesis: de novo vasculogenesis of the dorsal aorta and postnatal retinal angiogenesis. We will also discuss the questions and conceptual controversies that potentially point to novel directions of investigation and possible clinical relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dongying Chen
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Departments of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Martin A. Schwartz
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Departments of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Yale University, New Haven, CT, United States
| | - Michael Simons
- Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Departments of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
- Department of Cell Biology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, United States
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12
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Theodoris CV, Zhou P, Liu L, Zhang Y, Nishino T, Huang Y, Kostina A, Ranade SS, Gifford CA, Uspenskiy V, Malashicheva A, Ding S, Srivastava D. Network-based screen in iPSC-derived cells reveals therapeutic candidate for heart valve disease. Science 2021; 371:eabd0724. [PMID: 33303684 PMCID: PMC7880903 DOI: 10.1126/science.abd0724] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Accepted: 12/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Mapping the gene-regulatory networks dysregulated in human disease would allow the design of network-correcting therapies that treat the core disease mechanism. However, small molecules are traditionally screened for their effects on one to several outputs at most, biasing discovery and limiting the likelihood of true disease-modifying drug candidates. Here, we developed a machine-learning approach to identify small molecules that broadly correct gene networks dysregulated in a human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) disease model of a common form of heart disease involving the aortic valve (AV). Gene network correction by the most efficacious therapeutic candidate, XCT790, generalized to patient-derived primary AV cells and was sufficient to prevent and treat AV disease in vivo in a mouse model. This strategy, made feasible by human iPSC technology, network analysis, and machine learning, may represent an effective path for drug discovery.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christina V Theodoris
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology (DSCB), University of California, San Francisco (UCSF), San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Ping Zhou
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Lei Liu
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yu Zhang
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Tomohiro Nishino
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Yu Huang
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Aleksandra Kostina
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sanjeev S Ranade
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Casey A Gifford
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | | | - Anna Malashicheva
- Institute of Cytology, Russian Academy of Sciences, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Almazov Federal Medical Research Centre, Saint Petersburg, Russia
- Saint Petersburg State University, Saint Petersburg, Russia
| | - Sheng Ding
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Deepak Srivastava
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA, USA.
- Roddenberry Stem Cell Center, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, UCSF, San Francisco, CA, USA
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13
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Endothelial ERG alleviates cardiac fibrosis via blocking endothelin-1-dependent paracrine mechanism. Cell Biol Toxicol 2021; 37:873-890. [PMID: 33469864 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-021-09581-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/22/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Cardiac endothelium communicates closely with adjacent cardiac cells by multiple cytokines and plays critical roles in regulating fibroblasts proliferation, activation, and collagen synthesis during cardiac fibrosis. E26 transformation-specific (ETS)-related gene (ERG) belongs to the ETS transcriptional factor family and is required for endothelial cells (ECs) homeostasis and cardiac development. This study aims at investigating the potential role and molecular basis of ERG in fibrotic remodeling within the adult heart. We observed that ERG was abundant in murine hearts, especially in cardiac ECs, but decreased during cardiac fibrosis. ERG knockdown within murine hearts caused spontaneously cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction, accompanied by the activation of multiple Smad-dependent and independent pathways. However, the direct silence of ERG in cardiac fibroblasts did not affect the expression of fibrotic markers. Intriguingly, ERG knockdown in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) promoted the secretion of endothelin-1 (ET-1), which subsequently accelerated the proliferation, phenotypic transition, and collagen synthesis of cardiac fibroblasts in a paracrine manner. Suppressing ET-1 with either a neutralizing antibody or a receptor blocker abolished ERG knockdown-mediated deleterious effect in vivo and in vitro. This pro-fibrotic effect was also negated by RGD (Arg-Gly-Asp)-peptide magnetic nanoparticles target delivery of ET-1 small interfering RNA to ECs in mice. More importantly, we proved that endothelial ERG overexpression notably prevented pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis. Collectively, endothelial ERG alleviates cardiac fibrosis via blocking ET-1-dependent paracrine mechanism and it functions as a candidate for treating cardiac fibrosis. • ERG is abundant in murine hearts, especially in cardiac ECs, but decreased during fibrotic remodeling. • ERG knockdown causes spontaneously cardiac fibrosis and dysfunction. • ERG silence in HUVECs promotes the secretion of endothelin-1, which in turn activates cardiac fibroblasts in a paracrine manner. • Endothelial ERG overexpression prevents pressure overload-induced cardiac fibrosis.
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14
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Li L, Liu Q, Shang T, Song W, Xu D, Allen TD, Wang X, Jeong J, Lobe CG, Liu J. Aberrant Activation of Notch1 Signaling in Glomerular Endothelium Induces Albuminuria. Circ Res 2021; 128:602-618. [PMID: 33435713 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.120.316970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE Glomerular capillaries are lined with a highly specialized fenestrated endothelium and contribute to the glomerular filtration barrier. The Notch signaling pathway is involved in regulation of glomerular filtration barrier, but its role in glomerular endothelium has not been investigated due to the embryonic lethality of animal models with genetic modification of Notch pathway components in the endothelium. OBJECTIVE To determine the effects of aberrant activation of the Notch signaling in glomerular endothelium and the underlying molecular mechanisms. METHODS AND RESULTS We established the ZEG-NICD1 (notch1 intracellular domain)/Tie2-tTA/Tet-O-Cre transgenic mouse model to constitutively activate Notch1 signaling in endothelial cells of adult mice. The triple transgenic mice developed severe albuminuria with significantly decreased VE-cadherin (vascular endothelial cadherin) expression in the glomerular endothelium. In vitro studies showed that either NICD1 (Notch1 intracellular domain) lentiviral infection or treatment with Notch ligand DLL4 (delta-like ligand 4) markedly reduced VE-cadherin expression and increased monolayer permeability of human renal glomerular endothelial cells. In addition, Notch1 activation or gene knockdown of VE-cadherin reduced the glomerular endothelial glycocalyx. Further investigation demonstrated that activated Notch1 suppression of VE-cadherin was through the transcription factors SNAI1 (snail family transcriptional repressor 1) and ERG (Ets related gene), which bind to the -373 E-box and the -134/-118 ETS (E26 transformation-specific) element of the VE-cadherin promoter, respectively. CONCLUSIONS Our results reveal novel regulatory mechanisms whereby endothelial Notch1 signaling dictates the level of VE-cadherin through the transcription factors SNAI1 and ERG, leading to dysfunction of glomerular filtration barrier and induction of albuminuria. Graphic Abstract: A graphic abstract is available for this article.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liqun Li
- Institute of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center (L.L., Q.L., J.L.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China.,School of Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China (L.L., T.S., W.S., X.W.)
| | - Qiang Liu
- Institute of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center (L.L., Q.L., J.L.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Tongyao Shang
- School of Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China (L.L., T.S., W.S., X.W.)
| | - Wei Song
- School of Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China (L.L., T.S., W.S., X.W.)
| | - Dongmei Xu
- Department of Nephrology (D.X.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Thaddeus D Allen
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Division, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre (T.D.A., J.J., C.G.L.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics (T.D.A., C.G.L.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Tradewind BioScience, Daly City, California (T.D.A.)
| | - Xia Wang
- School of Medicine, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China (L.L., T.S., W.S., X.W.)
| | - James Jeong
- General Internal Medicine, Markham Stouffville Hospital, Toronto, Ontario, Canada (J.J.)
| | - Corrinne G Lobe
- Molecular and Cellular Biology Division, Sunnybrook Health Science Centre (T.D.A., J.J., C.G.L.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada.,Department of Medical Biophysics (T.D.A., C.G.L.), University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ju Liu
- Institute of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center (L.L., Q.L., J.L.), Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, The First Affiliated Hospital of Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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15
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Lawson ND, Li R, Shin M, Grosse A, Yukselen O, Stone OA, Kucukural A, Zhu L. An improved zebrafish transcriptome annotation for sensitive and comprehensive detection of cell type-specific genes. eLife 2020; 9:55792. [PMID: 32831172 PMCID: PMC7486121 DOI: 10.7554/elife.55792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
The zebrafish is ideal for studying embryogenesis and is increasingly applied to model human disease. In these contexts, RNA-sequencing (RNA-seq) provides mechanistic insights by identifying transcriptome changes between experimental conditions. Application of RNA-seq relies on accurate transcript annotation for a genome of interest. Here, we find discrepancies in analysis from RNA-seq datasets quantified using Ensembl and RefSeq zebrafish annotations. These issues were due, in part, to variably annotated 3' untranslated regions and thousands of gene models missing from each annotation. Since these discrepancies could compromise downstream analyses and biological reproducibility, we built a more comprehensive zebrafish transcriptome annotation that addresses these deficiencies. Our annotation improves detection of cell type-specific genes in both bulk and single cell RNA-seq datasets, where it also improves resolution of cell clustering. Thus, we demonstrate that our new transcriptome annotation can outperform existing annotations, providing an important resource for zebrafish researchers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nathan D Lawson
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Rui Li
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Masahiro Shin
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Ann Grosse
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Onur Yukselen
- Bioinformatics Core, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Oliver A Stone
- Department of Physiology, Anatomy and Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - Alper Kucukural
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States.,Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
| | - Lihua Zhu
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States.,Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States.,Program in Bioinformatics and Integrative Biology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, United States
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16
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Systems Genetics in Human Endothelial Cells Identifies Non-coding Variants Modifying Enhancers, Expression, and Complex Disease Traits. Am J Hum Genet 2020; 106:748-763. [PMID: 32442411 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2020.04.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2019] [Accepted: 04/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of causal variants and mechanisms underlying complex disease traits in humans is important for the progress of human disease genetics; this requires finding strategies to detect functional regulatory variants in disease-relevant cell types. To achieve this, we collected genetic and transcriptomic data from the aortic endothelial cells of up to 157 donors and four epigenomic phenotypes in up to 44 human donors representing individuals of both sexes and three major ancestries. We found thousands of expression quantitative trait loci (eQTLs) at all ranges of effect sizes not detected by the Gene-Tissue Expression Project (GTEx) in human tissues, showing that novel biological relationships unique to endothelial cells (ECs) are enriched in this dataset. Epigenetic profiling enabled discovery of over 3,000 regulatory elements whose activity is modulated by genetic variants that most frequently mutated ETS, AP-1, and NF-kB binding motifs, implicating these motifs as governors of EC regulation. Using CRISPR interference (CRISPRi), allele-specific reporter assays, and chromatin conformation capture, we validated candidate enhancer variants located up to 750 kb from their target genes, VEGFC, FGD6, and KIF26B. Regulatory SNPs identified were enriched in coronary artery disease (CAD) loci, and this result has specific implications for PECAM-1, FES, and AXL. We also found significant roles for EC regulatory variants in modifying the traits pulse pressure, blood protein levels, and monocyte count. Lastly, we present two unlinked SNPs in the promoter of MFAP2 that exhibit pleiotropic effects on human disease traits. Together, this supports the possibility that genetic predisposition for complex disease is manifested through the endothelium.
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17
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Sasaki J, Zhang Z, Oh M, Pobocik A, Imazato S, Shi S, Nör J. VE-Cadherin and Anastomosis of Blood Vessels Formed by Dental Stem Cells. J Dent Res 2020; 99:437-445. [PMID: 32028818 PMCID: PMC7088203 DOI: 10.1177/0022034520902458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
It is known that dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) can be induced to differentiate into vasculogenic endothelial (VE) cells. However, the process that results in sprouting and anastomosis of DPSC-derived vessels remains unclear. Here, we performed studies to understand the mechanisms underpinning the anastomosis of the host vasculature with blood vessels generated by DPSCs (a model for mesenchymal stem cells). VE-cadherin-silenced primary human DPSCs seeded in tooth slice/scaffolds and transplanted into the subcutaneous space of immunodeficient mice generated fewer functional blood vessels (i.e., anastomosed with the host vasculature) than control DPSCs transduced with scrambled sequences. Both VE-cadherin-silenced and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase 1 (MEK1)-silenced cells showed a decrease in the number of capillary sprouts in vitro. Interestingly, DPSC stably transduced with a VE-cadherin reporter demonstrated that vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) induces VE-cadherin expression in sprouting DPSCs undergoing anastomosis, but not in quiescent DPSCs. To begin to understand the mechanisms regulating VE-cadherin, we stably silenced MEK1 and observed that VEGF was no longer able to induce VE-cadherin expression and capillary sprout formation. Notably ERG, a transcriptional factor downstream from MEK/ERK, binds to the promoter region of VE-cadherin (chip assay) and is induced by VEGF in DPSCs. Collectively, these data defined a signaling pathway triggered by VEGF that results in phosphorylation of MEK1/ERK and activation of ERG leading to expression of VE-cadherin, which is required for anastomosis of DPSC-derived blood vessels. In conclusion, these results unveiled a signaling pathway that enables the generation of functional blood vessels upon vasculogenic differentiation of DPSCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- J.I. Sasaki
- Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biomaterials Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita City, Osaka, Japan
| | - Z. Zhang
- Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - M. Oh
- Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - A.M. Pobocik
- Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - S. Imazato
- Department of Biomaterials Science, Osaka University Graduate School of Dentistry, Suita City, Osaka, Japan
| | - S. Shi
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - J.E. Nör
- Department of Cariology, Restorative Sciences and Endodontics, University of Michigan School of Dentistry, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Michigan College of Engineering, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
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18
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Simon R, Lischer HEL, Pieńkowska-Schelling A, Keller I, Häfliger IM, Letko A, Schelling C, Lühken G, Drögemüller C. New genomic features of the polled intersex syndrome variant in goats unraveled by long-read whole-genome sequencing. Anim Genet 2020; 51:439-448. [PMID: 32060960 DOI: 10.1111/age.12918] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2019] [Revised: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 01/23/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
In domestic goats, the polled intersex syndrome (PIS) refers to XX female-to-male sex reversal associated with the absence of horn growth (polled). The causal variant was previously reported as a 11.7 kb deletion at approximately 129 Mb on chromosome 1 that affects the transcription of both FOXL2 and several long non-coding RNAs. In the meantime the presence of different versions of the PIS deletion was postulated and trials to establish genetic testing with the existing molecular genetic information failed. Therefore, we revisited this variant by long-read whole-genome sequencing of two genetically female (XX) goats, a PIS-affected and a horned control. This revealed the presence of a more complex structural variant consisting of a deletion with a total length of 10 159 bp and an inversely inserted approximately 480 kb-sized duplicated segment of a region located approximately 21 Mb further downstream on chromosome 1 containing two genes, KCNJ15 and ERG. Publicly available short-read whole-genome sequencing data, Sanger sequencing of the breakpoints and FISH using BAC clones corresponding to both involved genome regions confirmed this structural variant. A diagnostic PCR was developed for simultaneous genotyping of carriers for this variant and determination of their genetic sex. We showed that the variant allele was present in all 334 genotyped polled goats of diverse breeds and that all analyzed 15 PIS-affected XX goats were homozygous. Our findings enable for the first time a precise genetic diagnosis for polledness and PIS in goats and add a further genomic feature to the complexity of the PIS phenomenon.
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Affiliation(s)
- R Simon
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, 35390, Germany
| | - H E L Lischer
- Interfaculty Bioinformatics Unit, University of Bern, Bern, 3001, Switzerland.,Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland
| | - A Pieńkowska-Schelling
- Institute of Genetics, University of Bern, Bern, 3001, Switzerland.,Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - I Keller
- Swiss Institute of Bioinformatics, Lausanne, 1015, Switzerland.,Department for BioMedical Research, University of Bern, Bern, 3001, Switzerland
| | - I M Häfliger
- Institute of Genetics, University of Bern, Bern, 3001, Switzerland
| | - A Letko
- Institute of Genetics, University of Bern, Bern, 3001, Switzerland
| | - C Schelling
- Clinic of Reproductive Medicine, Vetsuisse Faculty, University of Zürich, Zürich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - G Lühken
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, 35390, Germany
| | - C Drögemüller
- Institute of Genetics, University of Bern, Bern, 3001, Switzerland
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19
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High Proliferative Placenta-Derived Multipotent Cells Express Cytokeratin 7 at Low Level. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:2098749. [PMID: 31392209 PMCID: PMC6662495 DOI: 10.1155/2019/2098749] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2018] [Revised: 05/30/2019] [Accepted: 06/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate the immunophenotypes and gene expression profile of high proliferative placenta-derived multipotent cells (PDMCs) population at different stages of culture. We demonstrated that the colonies resulting from single cells were either positive or negative for CK7, whereas only PDMC clones with weak CK7 expression (CK7low-clones) were highly proliferative. Interestingly, vimentin positive (Vim+) placental stromal mesenchymal cells did not express CK7 in situ, but double CK7+Vim+ cells detection in tissue explants and explants outgrowth indicated CK7 inducible expression in vitro. PCNA presence in CK7+Vim+ cells during placental explants culturing confirmed belonging of these cells to proliferative subpopulation. Transcription factors CDX2 and EOMES were expressed in both CK7low-clones and subset of stromal mesenchymal cells of first-trimester placental tissue in situ. Meanwhile, CK7low -clones and stromal mesenchymal cells of full-term placental tissue in situ expressed ERG heterogeneously. SPP1, COL2A1, and PPARG2 mesodermal-related genes expression by CK7low-clones additionally confirms their mesenchymal origin. Inherent stem cell-related gene expression (IFTM3, POU5F1, and VASA) in CK7low-clones might indicate their enrichment for progenitors. Finally, in CK7low-clones we observed expression of such trophoblast-associated genes as CGB types I and II, fusogenic ERVW-1, GCM1, and GATA3. Thus, our results indicate that PDMCs acquired the representative immunophenotype signature under culture conditions.
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20
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Liu F, Liu Q, Yuan F, Guo S, Liu J, Sun Z, Gao P, Wang Y, Yan S, Liu J. Erg mediates downregulation of claudin-5 in the brain endothelium of a murine experimental model of cerebral malaria. FEBS Lett 2019; 593:2585-2595. [PMID: 31271645 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.13526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/08/2019] [Revised: 06/19/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Cerebral malaria (CM) is a severe complication with brain vascular hyperpermeability. Claudin-5 is the major component of tight junctions. To investigate the expression of claudin-5 in CM, we established a murine experimental cerebral malaria (ECM) model and an in vitro model by treating murine brain endothelial cells (bEnd3) with plasma from ECM mice. Expression of claudin-5 and the ETS transcription factor Erg was reduced in the brain endothelium of ECM mice. In bEnd3 cells exposed to ECM plasma, decreased expression of claudin-5 and Erg, and increased permeability were observed. Silencing of Erg significantly reduced Cldn5 expression. ChIP assays indicated that Erg binds to the -813 ETS motif of the murine Cldn5 gene promoter, and the binding is decreased by treatment with ECM plasma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuhong Liu
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Qiang Liu
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Fangshu Yuan
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Shuling Guo
- Department of Human Parasitology, School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Jinzhi Liu
- Department of Neurology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Zongguo Sun
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Peng Gao
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Yu Wang
- School of Medicine, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - Suhua Yan
- Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
| | - Ju Liu
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, the First Hospital Affiliated with Shandong First Medical University, Jinan, China
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Kalna V, Yang Y, Peghaire CR, Frudd K, Hannah R, Shah AV, Osuna Almagro L, Boyle JJ, Göttgens B, Ferrer J, Randi AM, Birdsey GM. The Transcription Factor ERG Regulates Super-Enhancers Associated With an Endothelial-Specific Gene Expression Program. Circ Res 2019; 124:1337-1349. [PMID: 30892142 PMCID: PMC6493686 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.118.313788] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2018] [Revised: 03/14/2019] [Accepted: 03/18/2019] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
RATIONALE The ETS (E-26 transformation-specific) transcription factor ERG (ETS-related gene) is essential for endothelial homeostasis, driving expression of lineage genes and repressing proinflammatory genes. Loss of ERG expression is associated with diseases including atherosclerosis. ERG's homeostatic function is lineage-specific, because aberrant ERG expression in cancer is oncogenic. The molecular basis for ERG lineage-specific activity is unknown. Transcriptional regulation of lineage specificity is linked to enhancer clusters (super-enhancers). OBJECTIVE To investigate whether ERG regulates endothelial-specific gene expression via super-enhancers. METHODS AND RESULTS Chromatin immunoprecipitation with high-throughput sequencing in human umbilical vein endothelial cells showed that ERG binds 93% of super-enhancers ranked according to H3K27ac, a mark of active chromatin. These were associated with endothelial genes such as DLL4 (Delta-like protein 4), CLDN5 (claudin-5), VWF (von Willebrand factor), and CDH5 (VE-cadherin). Comparison between human umbilical vein endothelial cell and prostate cancer TMPRSS2 (transmembrane protease, serine-2):ERG fusion-positive human prostate epithelial cancer cell line (VCaP) cells revealed distinctive lineage-specific transcriptome and super-enhancer profiles. At a subset of endothelial super-enhancers (including DLL4 and CLDN5), loss of ERG results in significant reduction in gene expression which correlates with decreased enrichment of H3K27ac and MED (Mediator complex subunit)-1, and reduced recruitment of acetyltransferase p300. At these super-enhancers, co-occupancy of GATA2 (GATA-binding protein 2) and AP-1 (activator protein 1) is significantly lower compared with super-enhancers that remained constant following ERG inhibition. These data suggest distinct mechanisms of super-enhancer regulation in endothelial cells and highlight the unique role of ERG in controlling a core subset of super-enhancers. Most disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms from genome-wide association studies lie within noncoding regions and perturb transcription factor recognition sequences in relevant cell types. Analysis of genome-wide association studies data shows significant enrichment of risk variants for cardiovascular disease and other diseases, at ERG endothelial enhancers and super-enhancers. CONCLUSIONS The transcription factor ERG promotes endothelial homeostasis via regulation of lineage-specific enhancers and super-enhancers. Enrichment of cardiovascular disease-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms at ERG super-enhancers suggests that ERG-dependent transcription modulates disease risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viktoria Kalna
- From the National Heart and Lung Institute (V.K., Y.Y., C.R.P., K.F., A.V.S., L.O.A., J.J.B., A.M.R., G.M.B.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Youwen Yang
- From the National Heart and Lung Institute (V.K., Y.Y., C.R.P., K.F., A.V.S., L.O.A., J.J.B., A.M.R., G.M.B.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Claire R. Peghaire
- From the National Heart and Lung Institute (V.K., Y.Y., C.R.P., K.F., A.V.S., L.O.A., J.J.B., A.M.R., G.M.B.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Karen Frudd
- From the National Heart and Lung Institute (V.K., Y.Y., C.R.P., K.F., A.V.S., L.O.A., J.J.B., A.M.R., G.M.B.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Rebecca Hannah
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (R.H., B.G.)
| | - Aarti V. Shah
- From the National Heart and Lung Institute (V.K., Y.Y., C.R.P., K.F., A.V.S., L.O.A., J.J.B., A.M.R., G.M.B.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Lourdes Osuna Almagro
- From the National Heart and Lung Institute (V.K., Y.Y., C.R.P., K.F., A.V.S., L.O.A., J.J.B., A.M.R., G.M.B.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Joseph J. Boyle
- From the National Heart and Lung Institute (V.K., Y.Y., C.R.P., K.F., A.V.S., L.O.A., J.J.B., A.M.R., G.M.B.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute, University of Cambridge, United Kingdom (R.H., B.G.)
| | - Jorge Ferrer
- Epigenomics and Disease, Department of Medicine (J.F.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna M. Randi
- From the National Heart and Lung Institute (V.K., Y.Y., C.R.P., K.F., A.V.S., L.O.A., J.J.B., A.M.R., G.M.B.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme M. Birdsey
- From the National Heart and Lung Institute (V.K., Y.Y., C.R.P., K.F., A.V.S., L.O.A., J.J.B., A.M.R., G.M.B.), Imperial College London, United Kingdom
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22
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Nagai N, Ohguchi H, Nakaki R, Matsumura Y, Kanki Y, Sakai J, Aburatani H, Minami T. Downregulation of ERG and FLI1 expression in endothelial cells triggers endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition. PLoS Genet 2018; 14:e1007826. [PMID: 30500808 PMCID: PMC6291168 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1007826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 12/12/2018] [Accepted: 11/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Endothelial cell (EC) plasticity in pathological settings has recently been recognized as a driver of disease progression. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT), in which ECs acquire mesenchymal properties, has been described for a wide range of pathologies, including cancer. However, the mechanism regulating EndMT in the tumor microenvironment and the contribution of EndMT in tumor progression are not fully understood. Here, we found that combined knockdown of two ETS family transcription factors, ERG and FLI1, induces EndMT coupled with dynamic epigenetic changes in ECs. Genome-wide analyses revealed that ERG and FLI1 are critical transcriptional activators for EC-specific genes, among which microRNA-126 partially contributes to blocking the induction of EndMT. Moreover, we demonstrated that ERG and FLI1 expression is downregulated in ECs within tumors by soluble factors enriched in the tumor microenvironment. These data provide new insight into the mechanism of EndMT, functions of ERG and FLI1 in ECs, and EC behavior in pathological conditions. Differentiated cells possess unique characteristics to maintain vital activities. However, cells occasionally show abnormal behavior in pathological settings due to dysregulated gene expression. Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) is a phenomenon in which endothelial cells lose their characteristics and acquire mesenchymal-like properties. Although EndMT is observed in various diseases including cancer, and augments fibrosis and vascular defects, the mechanism of EndMT induction is not fully understood. Here, we show that EndMT is triggered via reduced expression of ERG and FLI1, which have recently been recognized as pivotal transcription factors in endothelial cells (ECs). Mechanistically, ERG and FLI1 activate EC-specific genes and repress mesenchymal-like genes via epigenetic regulation to prevent EndMT. Furthermore, we demonstrate that microRNA-126, which is specifically expressed in ECs, is the key downstream target of ERG/FLI1 for regulating EndMT. Finally, we show that ERG and FLI1 expression is decreased in ECs within tumors, suggesting that EndMT is induced in the tumor microenvironment. Collectively, these findings indicate that loss of ERG and FLI1 leads to the aberrant behavior of ECs in pathological conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nao Nagai
- Division of Molecular and Vascular Biology, IRDA, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- Graduate School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroto Ohguchi
- Division of Disease Epigenetics, IRDA, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Ryo Nakaki
- Division of Genome Sciences, RCAST, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yoshihiro Matsumura
- Division of Metabolic Medicine, RCAST, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuharu Kanki
- Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Juro Sakai
- Division of Metabolic Medicine, RCAST, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroyuki Aburatani
- Division of Genome Sciences, RCAST, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takashi Minami
- Division of Molecular and Vascular Biology, IRDA, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
- * E-mail:
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23
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Toxicity Evaluation and Biomarker Selection with Validated Reference Gene in Embryonic Zebrafish Exposed to Mitoxantrone. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113516. [PMID: 30413070 PMCID: PMC6274943 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113516] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2018] [Revised: 11/03/2018] [Accepted: 11/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Notwithstanding the widespread use and promising clinical value of chemotherapy, the pharmacokinetics, toxicology, and mechanism of mitoxantrone remains unclear. To promote the clinical value in the treatment of human diseases and the exploration of potential subtle effects of mitoxantrone, zebrafish embryos were employed to evaluate toxicity with validated reference genes based on independent stability evaluation programs. The most stable and recommended reference gene was gapdh, followed by tubα1b, for the 48 h post fertilization (hpf) zebrafish embryo mitoxantrone test, while both eef1a1l1 and rpl13α were recommended as reference genes for the 96 hpf zebrafish embryo mitoxantrone test. With gapdh as an internal control, we analyzed the mRNA levels of representative hepatotoxicity biomarkers, including fabp10a, gclc, gsr, nqo1, cardiotoxicity biomarker erg, and neurotoxicity biomarker gfap in the 48 hpf embryo mitoxantrone test. The mRNA levels of gclc, gsr, and gfap increased significantly in 10 and 50 μg/L mitoxantrone-treated 48 hpf embryos, while the transcript levels of fabp10a decreased in a dose-dependent manner, indicating that mitoxantrone induced hepatotoxicity and neurotoxicity. Liver hematoxylin–eosin staining and the spontaneous movement of embryos confirmed the results. Thus, the present research suggests that mitoxantrone induces toxicity during the development of the liver and nervous system in zebrafish embryos and that fabp10a is recommended as a potential biomarker for hepatotoxicity in zebrafish embryos. Additionally, gapdh is proposed as a reference gene for the 48 hpf zebrafish embryo mitoxantrone toxicity test, while eef1a1l1 and rpl13α are proposed as that for the 96 hpf test.
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Wang X, Dong F, Wang F, Yan S, Chen X, Tozawa H, Ushijima T, Kapron CM, Wada Y, Liu J. Low dose cadmium upregulates the expression of von Willebrand factor in endothelial cells. Toxicol Lett 2018; 290:46-54. [PMID: 29571895 DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2018.03.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Revised: 03/01/2018] [Accepted: 03/18/2018] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Cadmium (Cd) is a persistent and widespread environmental pollutant of continuing worldwide concern. Previous studies have suggested that Cd exposure increases the risk of cardiovascular diseases, such as atherosclerosis and hypertension. However, the underlying mechanisms are poorly understood. In this study, we observed that low dose Cd treatment induced von Willebrand factor (vWF) expression in vascular endothelial cells in mouse lung and kidney tissues. In vitro analysis showed that 1 μM Cd specifically upregulated vWF mRNA and protein expression in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs), indicating that Cd targets vascular endothelial cells even at relatively low concentrations. Further study demonstrated that nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) and GATA3, two established transcription regulators of the vWF gene, were not altered in the presence of Cd. However, ETS-related gene (ERG) was significantly induced by 1 μM Cd. When ERG was knocked down by siRNA, Cd induced upregulation of vWF was totally blocked. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay showed that Cd increases the binding of ERG on the -56 ETS motif on the human vWF promoter. These results indicated that ERG mediated the increased expression of vWF by Cd. Since vWF is a key regulator for vascular homeostasis, our findings may provide a novel mechanism for understanding low dose Cd induced development of vascular diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Wang
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Fengyun Dong
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Fufang Wang
- Department of Geriatrics, Qilu Hospital of Shandong University, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, China; Key laboratory of Cardiovascular Proteomics of Shandong Province, 107 Wenhua Xi Road, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Suhua Yan
- Department of Cardiology, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014 China
| | - Xiaocui Chen
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China
| | - Hideto Tozawa
- The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, and Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Ushijima
- The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, and Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Carolyn M Kapron
- Department of Biology, Trent University, Peterborough, Ontario, K9L 0G2, Canada
| | - Youichiro Wada
- The Research Center for Advanced Science and Technology, and Isotope Science Center, The University of Tokyo, 4-6-1 Komaba, Meguro-ku, Tokyo 153-8904, Japan
| | - Ju Liu
- Laboratory of Microvascular Medicine, Medical Research Center, Shandong Provincial Qianfoshan Hospital, Shandong University, 16766 Jingshi Road, Jinan, Shandong, 250014, China.
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25
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Thistlethwaite PA. Linking Vascular Remodeling and Inflammation in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension: Is There a Common Root Cause? Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2018; 57:15-17. [PMID: 28665225 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2017-0102ed] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
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26
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Modulation of Ether-à-Go-Go Related Gene (ERG) Current Governs Intrinsic Persistent Activity in Rodent Neocortical Pyramidal Cells. J Neurosci 2017; 38:423-440. [PMID: 29175952 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1774-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/25/2017] [Revised: 10/28/2017] [Accepted: 11/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
While cholinergic receptor activation has long been known to dramatically enhance the excitability of cortical neurons, the cellular mechanisms responsible for this effect are not well understood. We used intracellular recordings in rat (both sexes) neocortical brain slices to assess the ionic mechanisms supporting persistent firing modes triggered by depolarizing stimuli following cholinergic receptor activation. We found multiple lines of evidence suggesting that a component of the underlying hyperexcitability associated with persistent firing reflects a reduction in the standing (leak) K+ current mediated by Ether-a-go-go-Related Gene (ERG) channels. Three chemically diverse ERG channel blockers (terfenadine, ErgToxin-1, and E-4031) abolished persistent firing and the underlying increase in input resistance in deep pyramidal cells in temporal and prefrontal association neocortex. Calcium accumulation during triggering stimuli appears to attenuate ERG currents, leading to membrane potential depolarization and increased input resistance, two critical elements generating persistent firing. Our results also suggest that ERG current normally governs cortical neuron responses to depolarizing stimuli by opposing prolonged discharges and by enhancing the poststimulus repolarization. The broad expression of ERG channels and the ability of ERG blocks to abolish persistent firing evoked by both synaptic and intracellular step stimuli suggest that modulation of ERG channels may underlie many forms of persistent activity observed in vivoSIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT Persistent activity, where spiking continues beyond the triggering stimulus, is a common phenomenon observed in many types of neurons. Identifying the mechanism underlying this elementary process of memory is a step forward in understanding higher cognitive function including short-term memory. Our results suggest that a reduction in the currents normally mediated by Ether-a-go-go-Related Gene (ERG) K+ channels contributes to persistent firing in neocortical pyramidal cells. ERG currents have been previously studied primarily in the heart; relatively little is known about ERG function in the brain, although mutations in ERG channels have recently been linked to schizophrenia. The present study is among the first to describe its role in neocortex in relation to biophysical correlates of memory function.
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27
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Dynamic regulation of canonical TGFβ signalling by endothelial transcription factor ERG protects from liver fibrogenesis. Nat Commun 2017; 8:895. [PMID: 29026072 PMCID: PMC5638819 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-017-01169-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2016] [Accepted: 08/24/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
The role of the endothelium in protecting from chronic liver disease and TGFβ-mediated fibrosis remains unclear. Here we describe how the endothelial transcription factor ETS-related gene (ERG) promotes liver homoeostasis by controlling canonical TGFβ-SMAD signalling, driving the SMAD1 pathway while repressing SMAD3 activity. Molecular analysis shows that ERG binds to SMAD3, restricting its access to DNA. Ablation of ERG expression results in endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndMT) and spontaneous liver fibrogenesis in EC-specific constitutive hemi-deficient (Erg cEC-Het ) and inducible homozygous deficient mice (Erg iEC-KO ), in a SMAD3-dependent manner. Acute administration of the TNF-α inhibitor etanercept inhibits carbon tetrachloride (CCL4)-induced fibrogenesis in an ERG-dependent manner in mice. Decreased ERG expression also correlates with EndMT in tissues from patients with end-stage liver fibrosis. These studies identify a pathogenic mechanism where loss of ERG causes endothelial-dependent liver fibrogenesis via regulation of SMAD2/3. Moreover, ERG represents a promising candidate biomarker for assessing EndMT in liver disease.The transcription factor ERG is key to endothelial lineage specification and vascular homeostasis. Here the authors show that ERG balances TGFβ signalling through the SMAD1 and SMAD3 pathways, protecting the endothelium from endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition and consequent liver fibrosis in mice via a SMAD3-dependent mechanism.
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28
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Wang Z, Wang Y, Zhang J, Hu Q, Zhi F, Zhang S, Mao D, Zhang Y, Liang H. Significance of the TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion in prostate cancer. Mol Med Rep 2017; 16:5450-5458. [PMID: 28849022 PMCID: PMC5647090 DOI: 10.3892/mmr.2017.7281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 63] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2016] [Accepted: 06/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The transmembrane protease serine 2:v-ets erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog (TMPRSS2:ERG) gene fusion is common in prostate cancer, while its functional role is not fully understood. The present study aimed to investigate the significance of the TMPRSS2:ERG gene fusion in human prostate cancers using bioinformatics tools. Comprehensive alteration analysis of TMPRSS2 and ERG in 148 different human cancer studies was performed by cBioPortal, and the mRNA expression level of the ERG gene was evaluated using Oncomine analysis. Furthermore, lentiviral short hairpin (sh)RNA-mediated knockdown of TMPRSS2:ERG was performed to study the impact of ERG silencing on cell proliferation and cell cycle distribution in prostate cancer cells. The results demonstrated that the TMPRSS2 and ERG genes were mostly altered in prostate cancer, and the most frequent alteration was gene fusion. Oncomine analysis demonstrated that the ERG gene was significantly upregulated in prostate clinical samples compared with the normal prostate gland in four independent datasets, and a positive association was observed between potassium inwardly-rectifying channel subfamily J member 15, down syndrome critical region gene 4, potassium inwardly-rectifying channel subfamily J member 6 and ERG gene expression. There were 272 mutations of the ERG gene identified in the cBioPortal database; among the mutations, 2 missense mutations (R367C and P401H) were regarded as functional mutations (functional impact score >1.938). Furthermore, the present study successfully knocked down ERG gene expression through a lentiviral-mediated gene silencing approach in VCaP prostate cancer cells. The ERG mRNA and protein expression levels were both suppressed significantly, and a cell-cycle arrest at G0/G1 phase was observed after ERG gene silencing. In conclusion, these bioinformatics analyses provide novel insights for TMPRSS2:ERG fusion gene study in prostate cancer. Target inhibition of ERG expression could significantly cause cell growth arrest in prostate cancer cells, which could be a potentially valuable target for prostate cancer treatment. However, the precise mechanism of these results remains unclear; therefore, further studies are required.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhu Wang
- Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Longhua New District of Shenzhen and Affiliated Shenzhen Longhua Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518109, P.R. China
| | - Yuliang Wang
- Department of Urology, Peking University People's Hospital, Beijing 100044, P.R. China
| | - Jianwen Zhang
- Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Longhua New District of Shenzhen and Affiliated Shenzhen Longhua Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518109, P.R. China
| | - Qiyi Hu
- Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Longhua New District of Shenzhen and Affiliated Shenzhen Longhua Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518109, P.R. China
| | - Fan Zhi
- Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Longhua New District of Shenzhen and Affiliated Shenzhen Longhua Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518109, P.R. China
| | - Shengping Zhang
- Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Longhua New District of Shenzhen and Affiliated Shenzhen Longhua Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518109, P.R. China
| | - Dengqi Mao
- Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Longhua New District of Shenzhen and Affiliated Shenzhen Longhua Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518109, P.R. China
| | - Ying Zhang
- Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Longhua New District of Shenzhen and Affiliated Shenzhen Longhua Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518109, P.R. China
| | - Hui Liang
- Department of Urology, People's Hospital of Longhua New District of Shenzhen and Affiliated Shenzhen Longhua Hospital of Southern Medical University, Shenzhen, Guangdong 518109, P.R. China
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The endothelial transcription factor ERG mediates Angiopoietin-1-dependent control of Notch signalling and vascular stability. Nat Commun 2017; 8:16002. [PMID: 28695891 PMCID: PMC5508205 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms16002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/26/2017] [Accepted: 05/17/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Notch and Angiopoietin-1 (Ang1)/Tie2 pathways are crucial for vascular maturation and stability. Here we identify the transcription factor ERG as a key regulator of endothelial Notch signalling. We show that ERG controls the balance between Notch ligands by driving Delta-like ligand 4 (Dll4) while repressing Jagged1 (Jag1) expression. In vivo, this regulation occurs selectively in the maturing plexus of the mouse developing retina, where Ang1/Tie2 signalling is active. We find that ERG mediates Ang1-dependent regulation of Notch ligands and is required for the stabilizing effects of Ang1 in vivo. We show that Ang1 induces ERG phosphorylation in a phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/Akt-dependent manner, resulting in ERG enrichment at Dll4 promoter and multiple enhancers. Finally, we demonstrate that ERG directly interacts with Notch intracellular domain (NICD) and β-catenin and is required for Ang1-dependent β-catenin recruitment at the Dll4 locus. We propose that ERG coordinates Ang1, β-catenin and Notch signalling to promote vascular stability.
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30
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Fish JE, Cantu Gutierrez M, Dang LT, Khyzha N, Chen Z, Veitch S, Cheng HS, Khor M, Antounians L, Njock MS, Boudreau E, Herman AM, Rhyner AM, Ruiz OE, Eisenhoffer GT, Medina-Rivera A, Wilson MD, Wythe JD. Dynamic regulation of VEGF-inducible genes by an ERK/ERG/p300 transcriptional network. Development 2017; 144:2428-2444. [PMID: 28536097 DOI: 10.1242/dev.146050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2016] [Accepted: 05/15/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The transcriptional pathways activated downstream of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling during angiogenesis remain incompletely characterized. By assessing the signals responsible for induction of the Notch ligand delta-like 4 (DLL4) in endothelial cells, we find that activation of the MAPK/ERK pathway mirrors the rapid and dynamic induction of DLL4 transcription and that this pathway is required for DLL4 expression. Furthermore, VEGF/ERK signaling induces phosphorylation and activation of the ETS transcription factor ERG, a prerequisite for DLL4 induction. Transcription of DLL4 coincides with dynamic ERG-dependent recruitment of the transcriptional co-activator p300. Genome-wide gene expression profiling identified a network of VEGF-responsive and ERG-dependent genes, and ERG chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP)-seq revealed the presence of conserved ERG-bound putative enhancer elements near these target genes. Functional experiments performed in vitro and in vivo confirm that this network of genes requires ERK, ERG and p300 activity. Finally, genome-editing and transgenic approaches demonstrate that a highly conserved ERG-bound enhancer located upstream of HLX (which encodes a transcription factor implicated in sprouting angiogenesis) is required for its VEGF-mediated induction. Collectively, these findings elucidate a novel transcriptional pathway contributing to VEGF-dependent angiogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason E Fish
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada .,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada.,Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Manuel Cantu Gutierrez
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lan T Dang
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada.,Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Nadiya Khyzha
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada.,Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Zhiqi Chen
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada.,Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Shawn Veitch
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada.,Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Henry S Cheng
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada.,Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Melvin Khor
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada.,Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Lina Antounians
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Makon-Sébastien Njock
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada.,Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Emilie Boudreau
- Toronto General Hospital Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto M5G 2C4, Canada.,Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada.,Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto M5S 3H2, Canada
| | - Alexander M Herman
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alexander M Rhyner
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Oscar E Ruiz
- Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - George T Eisenhoffer
- Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Genetics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Alejandra Medina-Rivera
- Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 0A4, Canada.,Laboratorio Internacional de Investigación sobre el Genoma Humano, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México, Querétaro 76230, México
| | - Michael D Wilson
- Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto M5S 3H2, Canada.,Genetics and Genome Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto M5G 0A4, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Joshua D Wythe
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA .,Department of Molecular Physiology and Biophysics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Graduate Program in Developmental Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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Midgett M, López CS, David L, Maloyan A, Rugonyi S. Increased Hemodynamic Load in Early Embryonic Stages Alters Endocardial to Mesenchymal Transition. Front Physiol 2017; 8:56. [PMID: 28228731 PMCID: PMC5296359 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2017.00056] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Normal blood flow is essential for proper heart formation during embryonic development, as abnormal hemodynamic load (blood pressure and shear stress) results in cardiac defects seen in congenital heart disease. However, the progressive detrimental remodeling processes that relate altered blood flow to cardiac defects remain unclear. Endothelial-mesenchymal cell transition is one of the many complex developmental events involved in transforming the early embryonic outflow tract into the aorta, pulmonary trunk, interventricular septum, and semilunar valves. This study elucidated the effects of increased hemodynamic load on endothelial-mesenchymal transition remodeling of the outflow tract cushions in vivo. Outflow tract banding was used to increase hemodynamic load in the chicken embryo heart between Hamburger and Hamilton stages 18 and 24. Increased hemodynamic load induced increased cell density in outflow tract cushions, fewer cells along the endocardial lining, endocardium junction disruption, and altered periostin expression as measured by confocal microscopy analysis. In addition, 3D focused ion beam scanning electron microscopy analysis determined that a portion of endocardial cells adopted a migratory shape after outflow tract banding that is more irregular, elongated, and with extensive cellular projections compared to normal cells. Proteomic mass-spectrometry analysis quantified altered protein composition after banding that is consistent with a more active stage of endothelial-mesenchymal transition. Outflow tract banding enhances the endothelial-mesenchymal transition phenotype during formation of the outflow tract cushions, suggesting that endothelial-mesenchymal transition is a critical developmental process that when disturbed by altered blood flow gives rise to cardiac malformation and defects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Madeline Midgett
- Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University Portland, OR, USA
| | - Claudia S López
- Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortland, OR, USA; Multiscale Microscopy Core, OHSU Center for Spatial Systems Biomedicine, Oregon Health and Science UniversityPortland, OR, USA
| | - Larry David
- Proteomics Core, Oregon Health and Science University Portland, OR, USA
| | - Alina Maloyan
- Knight Cardiovascular Institute, Oregon Health and Science University Portland, OR, USA
| | - Sandra Rugonyi
- Biomedical Engineering, Oregon Health and Science University Portland, OR, USA
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32
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33
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Shah AV, Birdsey GM, Randi AM. Regulation of endothelial homeostasis, vascular development and angiogenesis by the transcription factor ERG. Vascul Pharmacol 2016; 86:3-13. [PMID: 27208692 PMCID: PMC5404112 DOI: 10.1016/j.vph.2016.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 77] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2016] [Revised: 04/08/2016] [Accepted: 05/16/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Abstract
Over the last few years, the ETS transcription factor ERG has emerged as a major regulator of endothelial function. Multiple studies have shown that ERG plays a crucial role in promoting angiogenesis and vascular stability during development and after birth. In the mature vasculature ERG also functions to maintain endothelial homeostasis, by transactivating genes involved in key endothelial functions, while repressing expression of pro-inflammatory genes. Its homeostatic role is lineage-specific, since ectopic expression of ERG in non-endothelial tissues such as prostate is detrimental and contributes to oncogenesis. This review summarises the main roles and pathways controlled by ERG in the vascular endothelium, its transcriptional targets and its functional partners and the emerging evidence on the pathways regulating ERG's activity and expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aarti V Shah
- Vascular Sciences, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Graeme M Birdsey
- Vascular Sciences, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Anna M Randi
- Vascular Sciences, Imperial Centre for Translational and Experimental Medicine, National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom.
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34
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Han R, Pacifici M, Iwamoto M, Trojanowska M. Endothelial Erg expression is required for embryogenesis and vascular integrity. Organogenesis 2016; 11:75-86. [PMID: 26061019 DOI: 10.1080/15476278.2015.1031435] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Members of the ETS family of transcription factors are involved in several developmental processes including endothelial cell specification and blood vessel formation, but their exact roles remain unclear. The family member Erg is highly expressed in endothelial cells as compared to other developing cell types including chondrocytes, hematopoietic cells and mesodermal cells. To study the specific roles ERG plays in endothelial cell specification and function during early embryogenesis, we conditionally ablated it by mating ErgloxP/loxP and Tie2-Cre mice. We found that mutant embryos died by mid-gestation and that angiogenesis and vascular integrity were highly compromised. Our study reveals that ERG has essential and cell autonomous roles in endothelial cell development and blood vessel maintenance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Han
- a Arthritis Center; Boston University School of Medicine ; Boston , MA USA
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35
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Huang Y, Thoms JAI, Tursky ML, Knezevic K, Beck D, Chandrakanthan V, Suryani S, Olivier J, Boulton A, Glaros EN, Thomas SR, Lock RB, MacKenzie KL, Bushweller JH, Wong JWH, Pimanda JE. MAPK/ERK2 phosphorylates ERG at serine 283 in leukemic cells and promotes stem cell signatures and cell proliferation. Leukemia 2016; 30:1552-61. [PMID: 27055868 DOI: 10.1038/leu.2016.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2015] [Revised: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 02/02/2016] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Aberrant ERG (v-ets avian erythroblastosis virus E26 oncogene homolog) expression drives leukemic transformation in mice and high expression is associated with poor patient outcomes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). Protein phosphorylation regulates the activity of many ETS factors but little is known about ERG in leukemic cells. To characterize ERG phosphorylation in leukemic cells, we applied liquid chromatography coupled tandem mass spectrometry and identified five phosphorylated serines on endogenous ERG in T-ALL and AML cells. S283 was distinct as it was abundantly phosphorylated in leukemic cells but not in healthy hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells (HSPCs). Overexpression of a phosphoactive mutant (S283D) increased expansion and clonogenicity of primary HSPCs over and above wild-type ERG. Using a custom antibody, we screened a panel of primary leukemic xenografts and showed that ERG S283 phosphorylation was mediated by mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MAPK/ERK) signaling and in turn regulated expression of components of this pathway. S283 phosphorylation facilitates ERG enrichment and transactivation at the ERG +85 HSPC enhancer that is active in AML and T-ALL with poor prognosis. Taken together, we have identified a specific post-translational modification in leukemic cells that promotes progenitor proliferation and is a potential target to modulate ERG-driven transcriptional programs in leukemia.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Huang
- Adult Cancer Program, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J A I Thoms
- Adult Cancer Program, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - M L Tursky
- Adult Cancer Program, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - K Knezevic
- Adult Cancer Program, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - D Beck
- Adult Cancer Program, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - V Chandrakanthan
- Adult Cancer Program, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - S Suryani
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J Olivier
- School of Mathematics and Statistics, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - A Boulton
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - E N Glaros
- School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - S R Thomas
- School of Medical Sciences, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - R B Lock
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - K L MacKenzie
- Children's Cancer Institute Australia, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J H Bushweller
- Department of Chemistry, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA, USA
| | - J W H Wong
- Adult Cancer Program, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - J E Pimanda
- Adult Cancer Program, Prince of Wales Clinical School, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW Australia, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,Department of Hematology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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36
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Fish JE, Wythe JD. The molecular regulation of arteriovenous specification and maintenance. Dev Dyn 2015; 244:391-409. [PMID: 25641373 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 106] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2014] [Revised: 01/02/2015] [Accepted: 01/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of a hierarchical vascular network, composed of arteries, veins, and capillaries, is essential for embryogenesis and is required for the production of new functional vasculature in the adult. Elucidating the molecular mechanisms that orchestrate the differentiation of vascular endothelial cells into arterial and venous cell fates is requisite for regenerative medicine, as the directed formation of perfused vessels is desirable in a myriad of pathological settings, such as in diabetes and following myocardial infarction. Additionally, this knowledge will enhance our understanding and treatment of vascular anomalies, such as arteriovenous malformations (AVMs). From studies in vertebrate model organisms, such as mouse, zebrafish, and chick, a number of key signaling pathways have been elucidated that are required for the establishment and maintenance of arterial and venous fates. These include the Hedgehog, Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor (VEGF), Transforming Growth Factor-β (TGF-β), Wnt, and Notch signaling pathways. In addition, a variety of transcription factor families acting downstream of, or in concert with, these signaling networks play vital roles in arteriovenous (AV) specification. These include Notch and Notch-regulated transcription factors (e.g., HEY and HES), SOX factors, Forkhead factors, β-Catenin, ETS factors, and COUP-TFII. It is becoming apparent that AV specification is a highly coordinated process that involves the intersection and carefully orchestrated activity of multiple signaling cascades and transcriptional networks. This review will summarize the molecular mechanisms that are involved in the acquisition and maintenance of AV fate, and will highlight some of the limitations in our current knowledge of the molecular machinery that directs AV morphogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason E Fish
- Toronto General Research Institute, University Health Network, Toronto, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Heart and Stroke Richard Lewar Centre of Excellence in Cardiovascular Research, Toronto, Canada
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37
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Ohta Y, Okabe T, Larmour C, Di Rocco A, Maijenburg M, Phillips A, Speck NA, Wakitani S, Nakamura T, Yamada Y, Enomoto-Iwamoto M, Pacifici M, Iwamoto M. Articular cartilage endurance and resistance to osteoarthritic changes require transcription factor Erg. Arthritis Rheumatol 2015; 67:2679-90. [PMID: 26097038 PMCID: PMC5568074 DOI: 10.1002/art.39243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2014] [Accepted: 06/09/2015] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To determine whether and how the transcription factor Erg participates in the genesis, establishment, and maintenance of articular cartilage. METHODS Floxed Erg mice were mated with Gdf5-Cre mice to generate conditional mutants lacking Erg in their joints. Joints of mutant and control mice were subjected to morphologic and molecular characterization and also to experimental surgically induced osteoarthritis (OA). Gene expression, promoter reporter assays, and gain- and loss-of-function in vitro tests were used to characterize molecular mechanisms of Erg action. RESULTS Conditional Erg ablation did not elicit obvious changes in limb joint development and overall phenotype in juvenile mice. However, as mice aged, joints of mutant mice degenerated spontaneously and exhibited clear OA-like phenotypic defects. Joints in juvenile mutant mice were more sensitive to surgically induced OA and became defective sooner than operated joints in control mice. Global gene expression data and other studies identified parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and lubricin as possible downstream effectors and mediators of Erg action in articular chondrocytes. Reporter assays using control and mutated promoter-enhancer constructs indicated that Erg acted on Ets DNA binding sites to stimulate PTHrP expression. Erg was up-regulated in severely affected areas in human OA articular cartilage but remained barely appreciable in areas of less affected cartilage. CONCLUSION The study shows for the first time that Erg is a critical molecular regulator of the endurance of articular cartilage during postnatal life and that Erg can mitigate spontaneous and experimental OA. Erg appears to do this through regulating expression of PTHrP and lubricin, factors known for their protective roles in joints.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yoichi Ohta
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Philadelphia, PA 19104
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Osaka City University Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka 565-0871, Japan
| | - Takahiro Okabe
- Department of Orthopedics, Itabashi Chuo General Hospital, Tokyo 173-8606, Japan
| | - Colleen Larmour
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Agnese Di Rocco
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Marijke Maijenburg
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Amanda Phillips
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Nancy A. Speck
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Shigeyuki Wakitani
- Department of Artificial Joint and Biomaterials, Hiroshima University Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Hiroshima 734-8551, Japan
| | - Takashi Nakamura
- Oral Health and Development Science, Tohoku University Graduate school of Dentistry, Sendai 980-0826, Japan
| | - Yoshihiko Yamada
- National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research, NIH, MD 20892
| | - Motomi Enomoto-Iwamoto
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Maurizio Pacifici
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Philadelphia, PA 19104
| | - Masahiro Iwamoto
- Translational Research Program in Pediatric Orthopaedics, The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Philadelphia, PA 19104
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38
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Kovar H. SLFN11: Achilles' Heel or Troublemaker. Clin Cancer Res 2015; 21:4033-4. [PMID: 26034126 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-15-0883] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/17/2015] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
SLFN11 expression correlates with sensitivity of tumors to topoisomerase and DNA-targeting drugs and consequently with prognosis. Regulation of SLFN11 by ETS factors opens new avenues to treatment optimization, maximizing antitumor activity and minimizing adverse side effects. Interrogating drug-induced gene expression signatures for SLFN11 modulations may affect the design of therapeutic regimens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heinrich Kovar
- Children's Cancer Research Institute, St. Anna Kinderkrebsforschung, Vienna, Austria. Department of Pediatrics, Medical University, Vienna, Austria.
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39
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The oncogene ERG: a key factor in prostate cancer. Oncogene 2015; 35:403-14. [PMID: 25915839 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 154] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2014] [Revised: 03/05/2015] [Accepted: 03/06/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
ETS-related gene (ERG) is a member of the E-26 transformation-specific (ETS) family of transcription factors with roles in development that include vasculogenesis, angiogenesis, haematopoiesis and bone development. ERG's oncogenic potential is well known because of its involvement in Ewing's sarcoma and leukaemia. However, in the past decade ERG has become highly associated with prostate cancer development, particularly as a result of a gene fusion with the promoter region of the androgen-induced TMPRRSS2 gene. We review ERG's structure and function, and its role in prostate cancer. We discuss potential new therapies that are based on targeting ERG.
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40
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Bosman A, Letourneau A, Sartiani L, Del Lungo M, Ronzoni F, Kuziakiv R, Tohonen V, Zucchelli M, Santoni F, Guipponi M, Dumevska B, Hovatta O, Antonarakis SE, Jaconi ME. Perturbations of Heart Development and Function in Cardiomyocytes from Human Embryonic Stem Cells with Trisomy 21. Stem Cells 2015; 33:1434-46. [DOI: 10.1002/stem.1961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alexis Bosman
- Department of Pathology and Immunology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Geneva; Geneva Switzerland
- Victor Chang Cardiac Research Institute; Darlinghurst New South Wales Australia
| | - Audrey Letourneau
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva; Geneva Switzerland
| | - Laura Sartiani
- Department of Neuroscience; Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Center of Molecular Medicine, University of Florence; Florence Italy
| | - Martina Del Lungo
- Department of Neuroscience; Psychology, Drug Research and Child Health, Center of Molecular Medicine, University of Florence; Florence Italy
| | - Flavio Ronzoni
- Department of Pathology and Immunology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Geneva; Geneva Switzerland
| | - Rostyslav Kuziakiv
- Department of Pathology and Immunology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Geneva; Geneva Switzerland
| | - Virpi Tohonen
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition; Karolinska Institute; Huddinge Sweden
| | - Marco Zucchelli
- Department of Biosciences and Nutrition; Karolinska Institute; Huddinge Sweden
| | - Federico Santoni
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva; Geneva Switzerland
| | - Michel Guipponi
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva; Geneva Switzerland
| | | | - Outi Hovatta
- Division of Obstetrics and Gynecology; Department of Clinical Science; Karolinska Institute; Huddinge Stockholm Sweden
| | - Stylianos E. Antonarakis
- Department of Genetic Medicine and Development; Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva; Geneva Switzerland
- iGE3 Institute of Genetics and Genomics of Geneva; Geneva Switzerland
| | - Marisa E. Jaconi
- Department of Pathology and Immunology; Faculty of Medicine; University of Geneva; Geneva Switzerland
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41
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Tanaka M, Yamaguchi S, Yamazaki Y, Kinoshita H, Kuwahara K, Nakao K, Jay PY, Noda T, Nakamura T. Somatic chromosomal translocation between Ewsr1 and Fli1 loci leads to dilated cardiomyopathy in a mouse model. Sci Rep 2015; 5:7826. [PMID: 25591392 PMCID: PMC5379005 DOI: 10.1038/srep07826] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2014] [Accepted: 12/12/2014] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
A mouse model that recapitulates the human Ewing's sarcoma-specific chromosomal translocation was generated utilizing the Cre/loxP-mediated recombination technique. A cross between Ewsr1-loxP and Fli1-loxP mice and expression of ubiquitous Cre recombinase induced a specific translocation between Ewsr1 and Fli1 loci in systemic organs of both adult mice and embryos. As a result Ewsr1-Fli1 fusion transcripts were expressed, suggesting a functional Ews-Fli1 protein might be synthesized in vivo. However, by two years of age, none of the Ewsr1-loxP/Fli1-loxP/CAG-Cre (EFCC) mice developed any malignancies, including Ewing-like small round cell sarcoma. Unexpectedly, all the EFCC mice suffered from dilated cardiomyopathy and died of chronic cardiac failure. Genetic recombination between Ewsr1 and Fli1 was confirmed in the myocardial tissue and apoptotic cell death of cardiac myocytes was observed at significantly higher frequency in EFCC mice. Moreover, expression of Ews-Fli1 in the cultured cardiac myocytes induced apoptosis. Collectively, these results indicated that ectopic expression of the Ews-Fli1 oncogene stimulated apoptotic signals, and suggested an important relationship between oncogenic signals and cellular context in the cell-of-origin of Ewing's sarcoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miwa Tanaka
- Division of Carcinogenesis, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
| | - Shuichi Yamaguchi
- Division of Carcinogenesis, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
| | - Yukari Yamazaki
- Division of Carcinogenesis, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
| | - Hideyuki Kinoshita
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawaracho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Koichiro Kuwahara
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawaracho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Kazuwa Nakao
- Department of Cardiovascular Medicine, Kyoto University Graduate School of Medicine, 54 Kawaracho Shogoin, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8507, Japan
| | - Patrick Y Jay
- Departments of Pediatrics and Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 660 S Euclid Avenue, St. Louis, MO 63110, U.S.A
| | - Tetsuo Noda
- Division of Cell Biology, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
| | - Takuro Nakamura
- Division of Carcinogenesis, The Cancer Institute, Japanese Foundation for Cancer Research, 3-8-31 Ariake, Koto-ku, Tokyo 135-8550, Japan
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42
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Birdsey GM, Shah AV, Dufton N, Reynolds LE, Osuna Almagro L, Yang Y, Aspalter IM, Khan ST, Mason JC, Dejana E, Göttgens B, Hodivala-Dilke K, Gerhardt H, Adams RH, Randi AM. The endothelial transcription factor ERG promotes vascular stability and growth through Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Dev Cell 2015; 32:82-96. [PMID: 25584796 PMCID: PMC4292982 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2014.11.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 175] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2014] [Revised: 09/24/2014] [Accepted: 11/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Blood vessel stability is essential for embryonic development; in the adult, many diseases are associated with loss of vascular integrity. The ETS transcription factor ERG drives expression of VE-cadherin and controls junctional integrity. We show that constitutive endothelial deletion of ERG (Erg(cEC-KO)) in mice causes embryonic lethality with vascular defects. Inducible endothelial deletion of ERG (Erg(iEC-KO)) results in defective physiological and pathological angiogenesis in the postnatal retina and tumors, with decreased vascular stability. ERG controls the Wnt/β-catenin pathway by promoting β-catenin stability, through signals mediated by VE-cadherin and the Wnt receptor Frizzled-4. Wnt signaling is decreased in ERG-deficient endothelial cells; activation of Wnt signaling with lithium chloride, which stabilizes β-catenin levels, corrects vascular defects in Erg(cEC-KO) embryos. Finally, overexpression of ERG in vivo reduces permeability and increases stability of VEGF-induced blood vessels. These data demonstrate that ERG is an essential regulator of angiogenesis and vascular stability through Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Graeme M Birdsey
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Aarti V Shah
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Neil Dufton
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Louise E Reynolds
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute - a CR-UK Centre of Excellence, John Vane Science Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Lourdes Osuna Almagro
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Youwen Yang
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Irene M Aspalter
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, London WC2A 3PX, UK
| | - Samia T Khan
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Justin C Mason
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - Elisabetta Dejana
- FIRC Institute of Molecular Oncology Foundation, IFOM, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Berthold Göttgens
- Department of Haematology, Wellcome Trust and MRC Cambridge Stem Cell Institute and Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Kairbaan Hodivala-Dilke
- Centre for Tumour Biology, Barts Cancer Institute - a CR-UK Centre of Excellence, John Vane Science Centre, Queen Mary University of London, Charterhouse Square, London EC1M 6BQ, UK
| | - Holger Gerhardt
- Vascular Biology Laboratory, London Research Institute, Cancer Research UK, London WC2A 3PX, UK
| | - Ralf H Adams
- Department of Tissue Morphogenesis, Max Planck Institute for Molecular Biomedicine and Faculty of Medicine, University of Münster, D-48149 Münster, Germany
| | - Anna M Randi
- National Heart and Lung Institute (NHLI) Vascular Sciences, Hammersmith Hospital, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK.
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Erg cooperates with TGF-β to control mesenchymal differentiation. Exp Cell Res 2014; 328:410-8. [PMID: 25139621 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2014.08.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2014] [Revised: 08/08/2014] [Accepted: 08/09/2014] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
Transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling plays an integral role in skeletal development. Conditional deletion of the TGF-β type II receptor (Tgfbr2) from type II Collagen (Col2a) expressing cells results in defects in development of the annulus fibrosus (AF) of the intervertebral disc (IVD). We previously used microarray analysis to search for marker genes of AF as well as transcription factors regulated by TGF-β during AF development. The transcription factor avian erythroblastosis virus E-26 (v-ets) oncogene related (Erg) was identified in the microarray screen as a candidate regulator of AF development. To study the effects of TGF-β on AF differentiation and the role of Erg in this process, we used mouse sclerotome grown in micromass cultures. At 0.5ng TGF-β/ml, sclerotome cells started to express markers of AF. Regulation of Erg by TGF-β was confirmed in these cells. In addition, TGF-β soaked Affi-gel beads implanted into the axial skeleton of stage HH 25 chick embryos showed that TGF-β could induce expression of Erg mRNA in vivo. Next, an adenovirus to over-express Erg in primary sclerotome micromass cultures was generated. Over-expression of Erg led to a change in cell morphology and inhibition of differentiation into hyaline cartilage as seen by reduced Alcian blue staining and decreased Sox9 and c-Maf expression. Erg was not sufficient to induce expression of AF markers and expression of Sca1, a marker of pluripotent progenitor cells, was up-regulated in Erg expressing cells. When cells that ectopically expressed Erg were treated with TGF-β, enhanced expression of specific differentiation markers was observed suggesting Erg can cooperate with TGF-β to regulate differentiation of the sclerotome. Furthermore, we showed using co-immunopreciptiation that Erg and Smad3 bind to each other suggesting a mechanism for their functional interaction.
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Tanaka M, Yamazaki Y, Kanno Y, Igarashi K, Aisaki KI, Kanno J, Nakamura T. Ewing's sarcoma precursors are highly enriched in embryonic osteochondrogenic progenitors. J Clin Invest 2014; 124:3061-74. [PMID: 24911143 DOI: 10.1172/jci72399] [Citation(s) in RCA: 65] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 04/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ewing's sarcoma is a highly malignant bone tumor found in children and adolescents, and the origin of this malignancy is not well understood. Here, we introduced a Ewing's sarcoma-associated genetic fusion of the genes encoding the RNA-binding protein EWS and the transcription factor ETS (EWS-ETS) into a fraction of cells enriched for osteochondrogenic progenitors derived from the embryonic superficial zone (eSZ) of long bones collected from late gestational murine embryos. EWS-ETS fusions efficiently induced Ewing's sarcoma-like small round cell sarcoma formation by these cells. Analysis of the eSZ revealed a fraction of a precursor cells that express growth/differentiation factor 5 (Gdf5), the transcription factor Erg, and parathyroid hormone-like hormone (Pthlh), and selection of the Pthlh-positive fraction alone further enhanced EWS-ETS-dependent tumor induction. Genes downstream of the EWS-ETS fusion protein were quite transcriptionally active in eSZ cells, especially in regions in which the chromatin structure of the ETS-responsive locus was open. Inhibition of β-catenin, poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase 1 (PARP1), or enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2) suppressed cell growth in a murine model of Ewing's sarcoma, suggesting the utility of the current system as a preclinical model. These results indicate that eSZ cells are highly enriched in precursors to Ewing's sarcoma and provide clues to the histogenesis of Ewing's sarcoma in bone.
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Abedin MJ, Nguyen A, Jiang N, Perry CE, Shelton JM, Watson DK, Ferdous A. Fli1 acts downstream of Etv2 to govern cell survival and vascular homeostasis via positive autoregulation. Circ Res 2014; 114:1690-9. [PMID: 24727028 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.1134303145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
RATIONALE Cardiovascular health depends on proper development and integrity of blood vessels. Ets variant 2 (Etv2), a member of the E26 transforming-specific family of transcription factors, is essential to initiate a transcriptional program leading to vascular morphogenesis in early mouse embryos. However, endothelial expression of the Etv2 gene ceases at midgestation; therefore, vascular development past this stage must continue independent of Etv2. OBJECTIVE To identify molecular mechanisms underlying transcriptional regulation of vascular morphogenesis and homeostasis in the absence of Etv2. METHODS AND RESULTS Using loss- and gain-of-function strategies and a series of molecular techniques, we identify Friend leukemia integration 1 (Fli1), another E26 transforming-specific family transcription factor, as a downstream target of Etv2. We demonstrate that Etv2 binds to conserved Ets-binding sites within the promoter region of the Fli1 gene and governs Fli1 expression. Importantly, in the absence of Etv2 at midgestation, binding of Etv2 at Ets-binding sites in the Fli1 promoter is replaced by Fli1 protein itself, sustaining expression of Fli1 as well as selective Etv2-regulated endothelial genes to promote endothelial cell survival and vascular integrity. Consistent with this, we report that Fli1 binds to the conserved Ets-binding sites within promoter and enhancer regions of other Etv2-regulated endothelial genes, including Tie2, to control their expression at and beyond midgestation. CONCLUSIONS We have identified a novel positive feed-forward regulatory loop in which Etv2 activates expression of genes involved in vasculogenesis, including Fli1. Once the program is activated in early embryos, Fli1 then takes over to sustain the process in the absence of Etv2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Md J Abedin
- From the Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (M.J.A., A.N., N.J., C.E.P., J.M.S., A.F.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (D.K.W.); and Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (M.J.A.)
| | - Annie Nguyen
- From the Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (M.J.A., A.N., N.J., C.E.P., J.M.S., A.F.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (D.K.W.); and Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (M.J.A.)
| | - Nan Jiang
- From the Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (M.J.A., A.N., N.J., C.E.P., J.M.S., A.F.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (D.K.W.); and Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (M.J.A.)
| | - Cameron E Perry
- From the Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (M.J.A., A.N., N.J., C.E.P., J.M.S., A.F.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (D.K.W.); and Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (M.J.A.)
| | - John M Shelton
- From the Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (M.J.A., A.N., N.J., C.E.P., J.M.S., A.F.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (D.K.W.); and Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (M.J.A.)
| | - Dennis K Watson
- From the Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (M.J.A., A.N., N.J., C.E.P., J.M.S., A.F.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (D.K.W.); and Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (M.J.A.)
| | - Anwarul Ferdous
- From the Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiology) (M.J.A., A.N., N.J., C.E.P., J.M.S., A.F.), University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Hollings Cancer Center, Medical University of South Carolina, Charleston (D.K.W.); and Division of Hematology, Oncology, and Transplantation, Department of Medicine, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis (M.J.A.).
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Wythe JD, Dang LTH, Devine WP, Boudreau E, Artap ST, He D, Schachterle W, Stainier DYR, Oettgen P, Black BL, Bruneau BG, Fish JE. ETS factors regulate Vegf-dependent arterial specification. Dev Cell 2013; 26:45-58. [PMID: 23830865 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2013.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 111] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/06/2013] [Revised: 05/28/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Vegf signaling specifies arterial fate during early vascular development by inducing the transcription of Delta-like 4 (Dll4), the earliest Notch ligand gene expressed in arterial precursor cells. Dll4 expression precedes that of Notch receptors in arteries, and factors that direct its arterial-specific expression are not known. To identify the transcriptional program that initiates arterial Dll4 expression, we characterized an arterial-specific and Vegf-responsive enhancer of Dll4. Our findings demonstrate that Notch signaling is not required for initiation of Dll4 expression in arteries and suggest that Notch instead functions as a maintenance factor. Importantly, we find that Vegf signaling activates MAP kinase (MAPK)-dependent E26 transformation-specific sequence (ETS) factors in the arterial endothelium to drive expression of Dll4 and Notch4. These findings identify a Vegf/MAPK-dependent transcriptional pathway that specifies arterial identity by activating Notch signaling components and illustrate how signaling cascades can modulate broadly expressed transcription factors to achieve tissue-specific transcriptional outputs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshua D Wythe
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
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