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DiCesare SM, Ortega AJ, Collier GE, Daniel S, Thompson KN, McCoy MK, Posner BA, Hulleman JD. GSK3 inhibition reduces ECM production and prevents age-related macular degeneration-like pathology. JCI Insight 2024; 9:e178050. [PMID: 39114980 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.178050] [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] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Malattia Leventinese/Doyne honeycomb retinal dystrophy (ML/DHRD) is an age-related macular degeneration-like (AMD-like) retinal dystrophy caused by an autosomal dominant R345W mutation in the secreted glycoprotein, fibulin-3 (F3). To identify new small molecules that reduce F3 production in retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells, we knocked-in a luminescent peptide tag (HiBiT) into the endogenous F3 locus that enabled simple, sensitive, and high-throughput detection of the protein. The GSK3 inhibitor, CHIR99021 (CHIR), significantly reduced F3 burden (expression, secretion, and intracellular levels) in immortalized RPE and non-RPE cells. Low-level, long-term CHIR treatment promoted remodeling of the RPE extracellular matrix, reducing sub-RPE deposit-associated proteins (e.g., amelotin, complement component 3, collagen IV, and fibronectin), while increasing RPE differentiation factors (e.g., tyrosinase, and pigment epithelium-derived factor). In vivo, treatment of 8-month-old R345W+/+ knockin mice with CHIR (25 mg/kg i.p., 1 mo) was well tolerated and significantly reduced R345W F3-associated AMD-like basal laminar deposit number and size, thereby preventing the main pathological feature in these mice. This is an important demonstration of small molecule-based prevention of AMD-like pathology in ML/DHRD mice and may herald a rejuvenation of interest in GSK3 inhibition for the treatment of retinal degenerative diseases, including potentially AMD itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia M DiCesare
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Antonio J Ortega
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Gracen E Collier
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Steffi Daniel
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
| | - Krista N Thompson
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Melissa K McCoy
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - Bruce A Posner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas, USA
| | - John D Hulleman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA
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2
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Liu L, Neve M, Perlaza-Jimenez L, Xi X, Purcell J, Hawdon A, Conn SJ, Zenker J, Tamayo P, Goodall GJ, Rosenbluh J. Systematic loss-of-function screens identify pathway-specific functional circular RNAs. Nat Cell Biol 2024; 26:1359-1372. [PMID: 39095657 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-024-01467-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2022] [Accepted: 06/28/2024] [Indexed: 08/04/2024]
Abstract
Circular RNA (circRNA) is covalently closed, single-stranded RNA produced by back-splicing. A few circRNAs have been implicated as functional; however, we lack understanding of pathways that are regulated by circRNAs. Here we generated a pooled short-hairpin RNA library targeting the back-splice junction of 3,354 human circRNAs that are expressed at different levels (ranging from low to high) in humans. We used this library for loss-of-function proliferation screens in a panel of 18 cancer cell lines from four tissue types harbouring mutations leading to constitutive activity of defined pathways. Both context-specific and non-specific circRNAs were identified. Some circRNAs were found to directly regulate their precursor, whereas some have a function unrelated to their precursor. We validated these observations with a secondary screen and uncovered a role for circRERE(4-10) and circHUWE1(22,23), two cell-essential circRNAs, circSMAD2(2-6), a WNT pathway regulator, and circMTO1(2,RI,3), a regulator of MAPK signalling. Our work sheds light on pathways regulated by circRNAs and provides a catalogue of circRNAs with a measurable function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ling Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew Neve
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura Perlaza-Jimenez
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Genomics and Bioinformatics Platform, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Xinqi Xi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jacob Purcell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Azelle Hawdon
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Simon J Conn
- Flinders Health and Medical Research Institute, College of Medicine and Public Health, Flinders University, Bedford Park, South Australia, Australia
| | - Jennifer Zenker
- Australian Regenerative Medicine Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Pablo Tamayo
- Division of Genomics and Precision Medicine, Department of Medicine, Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Gregory J Goodall
- Centre for Cancer Biology, An alliance of University of South Australia and SA Pathology, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- School of Molecular and Biomedical Science, University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - Joseph Rosenbluh
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Cancer Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
- Functional Genomics Platform, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia.
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Seidler AE, Donath S, Gentemann L, Buettner M, Heisterkamp A, Kalies S. Protocol for the application of single-cell damage in murine intestinal organoid models. STAR Protoc 2024; 5:103153. [PMID: 39088328 PMCID: PMC11342180 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2024.103153] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/29/2024] [Revised: 05/09/2024] [Accepted: 06/05/2024] [Indexed: 08/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Spatially defined organoid damage enables the study of cellular repair processes. However, capturing dynamic events in living tissues is technically challenging. Here, we present a protocol for the application of single-cell damage in intestinal organoid models. We describe steps for isolating and cultivating murine colon organoids, lentivirus generation and transduction of organoids, single-cell ablation by a femtosecond laser, and follow-up imaging analysis. We provide examples for the image acquisition pipeline of dynamic processes in organoids using a confocal microscope. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Donath et al.1,2.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Elisabeth Seidler
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany.
| | - Sören Donath
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Lara Gentemann
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Manuela Buettner
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany; Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Heisterkamp
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Kalies
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany.
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4
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González-Fernández C, González P, Maqueda A, Pérez V, Rodríguez FJ. Enhancing motor functional recovery in spinal cord injury through pharmacological inhibition of Dickkopf-1 with BHQ880 antibody. Biomed Pharmacother 2024; 176:116792. [PMID: 38795645 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2024.116792] [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: 02/18/2024] [Revised: 05/15/2024] [Accepted: 05/17/2024] [Indexed: 05/28/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Mounting experimental evidence has underscored the remarkable role played by the Wnt family of proteins in the spinal cord functioning and therapeutic potential in spinal cord injury (SCI). We aim to provide a therapeutic prospect associated with the modulation of canonical Wnt signaling, examining the spatio-temporal expression pattern of Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1) and its neutralization after SCI. We employ an intraparenchymal injection of the clinically validated Dkk1-blocking antibody, BHQ880, to elucidate its effects in SCI. METHODS A rat model of contusion SCI was used. Histological analyses were performed, wherein Dkk1 protein was sought, and ELISA analyses were employed for Dkk1 detection in cerebrospinal fluid and serum. To ascertain the BHQ880 therapeutic effect, rats were subjected to SCI and then injected with the antibody in the lesion epicenter 24 hours post-injury (hpi). Subsequent evaluation of motor functional recovery extended up to 56 days post-injury (dpi). qRT-PCR and histological analyses were conducted. RESULTS We demonstrate the presence of Dkk1 in the healthy rat spinal cord, with pronounced alterations observed following injury, primarily concentrated in the epicenter regions. Notably, a significative upregulation of Dkk1 was detected at 24 hpi, peaking at 3 dpi and remaining elevated until 42 dpi. Moreover, we revealed that early administration of BHQ880 considerably improved motor functional recovery, promoted preservation of myelinated tissue, and reduced astroglial and microglia/macrophage reactivity. Furthermore, there was a decrease in the acute expression of different inflammatory genes. CONCLUSIONS Collectively, our findings highlight the therapeutic potential of BHQ880 treatment in the context of SCI.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos González-Fernández
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fundación Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos Para la Investigación y la Integración, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Carretera Finca la Peraleda, s/n, Toledo 45071, Spain.
| | - Pau González
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fundación Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos Para la Investigación y la Integración, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Carretera Finca la Peraleda, s/n, Toledo 45071, Spain; Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Carretera Finca la Peraleda, s/n, Toledo 45071, Spain
| | - Alfredo Maqueda
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fundación Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos Para la Investigación y la Integración, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Carretera Finca la Peraleda, s/n, Toledo 45071, Spain; Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Carretera Finca la Peraleda, s/n, Toledo 45071, Spain
| | - Virginia Pérez
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fundación Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos Para la Investigación y la Integración, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Carretera Finca la Peraleda, s/n, Toledo 45071, Spain; Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Carretera Finca la Peraleda, s/n, Toledo 45071, Spain
| | - Francisco Javier Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Fundación Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos Para la Investigación y la Integración, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Carretera Finca la Peraleda, s/n, Toledo 45071, Spain; Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, SESCAM, Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria de Castilla-La Mancha (IDISCAM), Carretera Finca la Peraleda, s/n, Toledo 45071, Spain.
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5
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Imere A, Foster NC, Hajiali H, Okur KE, Wright AL, Barroso IA, Haj AJE. Enhanced chondrogenic potential in GelMA-based 3D cartilage model via Wnt3a surface immobilization. Sci Rep 2024; 14:15022. [PMID: 38951570 PMCID: PMC11217376 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65970-w] [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] [Received: 03/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/25/2024] [Indexed: 07/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Cartilage tissue engineering aims to develop functional substitutes for treating cartilage defects and osteoarthritis. Traditional two-dimensional (2D) cell culture systems lack the complexity of native cartilage, leading to the development of 3D regenerative cartilage models. In this study, we developed a 3D model using Gelatin Methacryloyl (GelMA)-based hydrogels seeded with Y201 cells, a bone marrow mesenchymal stem cell line. The model investigated chondrogenic differentiation potential in response to Wnt3a stimulation within the GelMA scaffold and validated using known chondrogenic agonists. Y201 cells demonstrated suitability for the model, with increased proteoglycan content and upregulated chondrogenic marker expression under chondrogenic conditions. Wnt3a enhanced cell proliferation, indicating activation of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway, which plays a role in cartilage development. GelMA hydrogels provided an optimal scaffold, supporting cell viability and proliferation. The 3D model exhibited consistent responses to chondrogenic agonists, with TGF-β3 enhancing cartilage-specific extracellular matrix (ECM) production and chondrogenic differentiation. The combination of Wnt3a and TGF-β3 showed synergistic effects, promoting chondrogenic differentiation and ECM production. This study presents a 3D regenerative cartilage model with potential for investigating cartilage biology, disease mechanisms, and drug screening. The model provides insights into complex cartilage regeneration mechanisms and offers a platform for developing therapeutic approaches for cartilage repair and osteoarthritis treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Angela Imere
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Nicola C Foster
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Hadi Hajiali
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
| | - Kerime Ebrar Okur
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Abigail L Wright
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Ines A Barroso
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK
| | - Alicia J El Haj
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, Institute of Translational Medicine, National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, B15 2TT, UK.
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6
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Shirai R, Biebighauser T, Walker D, Oviedo J, Nelson-Taylor S, Bodlak A, Porfilio T, Oike N, Goodspeed A, Hayashi M. Cadherin-11 contributes to the heterogenous and dynamic Wnt-Wnt-β-catenin pathway activation in Ewing sarcoma. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0305490. [PMID: 38875295 PMCID: PMC11178195 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0305490] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 05/30/2024] [Indexed: 06/16/2024] Open
Abstract
Ewing sarcoma is the second most common bone cancer in children, and while patients who present with metastatic disease at the time of diagnosis have a dismal prognosis. Ewing sarcoma tumors are driven by the fusion gene EWS/Fli1, and while these tumors are genetically homogenous, the transcriptional heterogeneity can lead to a variety of cellular processes including metastasis. In this study, we demonstrate that in Ewing sarcoma cells, the canonical Wnt/β-Catenin signaling pathway is heterogeneously activated in vitro and in vivo, correlating with hypoxia and EWS/Fli1 activity. Ewing sarcoma cells predominantly express β-Catenin on the cell membrane bound to CDH11, which can respond to exogenous Wnt ligands leading to the immediate activation of Wnt/β-Catenin signaling within a tumor. Knockdown of CDH11 leads to delayed and decreased response to exogenous Wnt ligand stimulation, and ultimately decreased metastatic propensity. Our findings strongly indicate that CDH11 is a key component of regulating Wnt//β-Catenin signaling heterogeneity within Ewing sarcoma tumors, and is a promising molecular target to alter Wnt//β-Catenin signaling in Ewing sarcoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryota Shirai
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Tyler Biebighauser
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Deandra Walker
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Jillian Oviedo
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Sarah Nelson-Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Avery Bodlak
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Timothy Porfilio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Naoki Oike
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Division of Orthopaedic Surgery, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Niigata University, Niigata, Japan
| | - Andrew Goodspeed
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- Department of Biomedical Informatics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
| | - Masanori Hayashi
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado, United States of America
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7
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Yuki K, Vallon M, Ding J, Rada CC, Tang AT, Vilches-Moure JG, McCormick AK, Henao Echeverri MF, Alwahabi S, Braunger BM, Ergün S, Kahn ML, Kuo CJ. GPR124 regulates murine brain embryonic angiogenesis and BBB formation by an intracellular domain-independent mechanism. Development 2024; 151:dev202794. [PMID: 38682276 PMCID: PMC11213517 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202794] [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] [Received: 02/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/18/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
The GPR124/RECK/WNT7 pathway is an essential regulator of CNS angiogenesis and blood-brain barrier (BBB) function. GPR124, a brain endothelial adhesion seven-pass transmembrane protein, associates with RECK, which binds and stabilizes newly synthesized WNT7 that is transferred to frizzled (FZD) to initiate canonical β-catenin signaling. GPR124 remains enigmatic: although its extracellular domain (ECD) is essential, the poorly conserved intracellular domain (ICD) appears to be variably required in mammals versus zebrafish, potentially via adaptor protein bridging of GPR124 and FZD ICDs. GPR124 ICD deletion impairs zebrafish angiogenesis, but paradoxically retains WNT7 signaling upon mammalian transfection. We thus investigated GPR124 ICD function using the mouse deletion mutant Gpr124ΔC. Despite inefficiently expressed GPR124ΔC protein, Gpr124ΔC/ΔC mice could be born with normal cerebral cortex angiogenesis, in comparison with Gpr124-/- embryonic lethality, forebrain avascularity and hemorrhage. Gpr124ΔC/ΔC vascular phenotypes were restricted to sporadic ganglionic eminence angiogenic defects, attributable to impaired GPR124ΔC protein expression. Furthermore, Gpr124ΔC and the recombinant GPR124 ECD rescued WNT7 signaling in culture upon brain endothelial Gpr124 knockdown. Thus, in mice, GPR124-regulated CNS forebrain angiogenesis and BBB function are exerted by ICD-independent functionality, extending the signaling mechanisms used by adhesion seven-pass transmembrane receptors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kanako Yuki
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mario Vallon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Jie Ding
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Cara C. Rada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Alan T. Tang
- Department of Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - José G. Vilches-Moure
- Department of Comparative Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Aaron K. McCormick
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Maria F. Henao Echeverri
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Samira Alwahabi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Barbara M. Braunger
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Süleyman Ergün
- Institute of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Julius-Maximilians-University Wuerzburg, 97070 Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Mark L. Kahn
- Department of Medicine and Cardiovascular Institute, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Calvin J. Kuo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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8
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Wu Z, Shen S, Mizikovsky D, Cao Y, Naval-Sanchez M, Tan SZ, Alvarez YD, Sun Y, Chen X, Zhao Q, Kim D, Yang P, Hill TA, Jones A, Fairlie DP, Pébay A, Hewitt AW, Tam PPL, White MD, Nefzger CM, Palpant NJ. Wnt dose escalation during the exit from pluripotency identifies tranilast as a regulator of cardiac mesoderm. Dev Cell 2024; 59:705-722.e8. [PMID: 38354738 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2024.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2023] [Revised: 10/27/2023] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
Wnt signaling is a critical determinant of cell lineage development. This study used Wnt dose-dependent induction programs to gain insights into molecular regulation of stem cell differentiation. We performed single-cell RNA sequencing of hiPSCs responding to a dose escalation protocol with Wnt agonist CHIR-99021 during the exit from pluripotency to identify cell types and genetic activity driven by Wnt stimulation. Results of activated gene sets and cell types were used to build a multiple regression model that predicts the efficiency of cardiomyocyte differentiation. Cross-referencing Wnt-associated gene expression profiles to the Connectivity Map database, we identified the small-molecule drug, tranilast. We found that tranilast synergistically activates Wnt signaling to promote cardiac lineage differentiation, which we validate by in vitro analysis of hiPSC differentiation and in vivo analysis of developing quail embryos. Our study provides an integrated workflow that links experimental datasets, prediction models, and small-molecule databases to identify drug-like compounds that control cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhixuan Wu
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Sophie Shen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Dalia Mizikovsky
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yuanzhao Cao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Marina Naval-Sanchez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Siew Zhuan Tan
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yanina D Alvarez
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Yuliangzi Sun
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Xiaoli Chen
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Qiongyi Zhao
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Daniel Kim
- Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Pengyi Yang
- Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia
| | - Timothy A Hill
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alun Jones
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - David P Fairlie
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Alice Pébay
- Department of Anatomy and Physiology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia; Department of Surgery, Royal Melbourne Hospital, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Alex W Hewitt
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Patrick P L Tam
- Children's Medical Research Institute, The University of Sydney, Westmead, NSW 2145, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Melanie D White
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia
| | - Christian M Nefzger
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia; School of Chemistry & Molecular Biosciences, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4067, Australia
| | - Nathan J Palpant
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD 4072, Australia.
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9
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Chui JS, Izuel‐Idoype T, Qualizza A, de Almeida RP, Piessens L, van der Veer BK, Vanmarcke G, Malesa A, Athanasouli P, Boon R, Vriens J, van Grunsven L, Koh KP, Verfaillie CM, Lluis F. Osmolar Modulation Drives Reversible Cell Cycle Exit and Human Pluripotent Cell Differentiation via NF-κВ and WNT Signaling. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2024; 11:e2307554. [PMID: 38037844 PMCID: PMC10870039 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202307554] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Indexed: 12/02/2023]
Abstract
Terminally differentiated cells are commonly regarded as the most stable cell state in adult organisms, characterized by growth arrest while fulfilling their specialized functions. A better understanding of the mechanisms involved in promoting cell cycle exit will improve the ability to differentiate pluripotent cells into mature tissues for both pharmacological and therapeutic use. Here, it demonstrates that a hyperosmolar environment enforces a protective p53-independent quiescent state in immature hepatoma cells and in pluripotent stem cell-derived models of human hepatocytes and endothelial cells. Prolonged culture in hyperosmolar conditions stimulates changes in gene expression promoting functional cell maturation. Interestingly, hyperosmolar conditions do not only trigger growth arrest and cellular maturation but are also necessary to maintain this maturated state, as switching back to plasma osmolarity reverses the changes in expression of maturation and proliferative markers. Transcriptome analysis revealed sequential stages of osmolarity-regulated growth arrest followed by cell maturation, mediated by activation of NF-κВ, and repression of WNT signaling, respectively. This study reveals that a modulated increase in osmolarity serves as a biochemical signal to promote long-term growth arrest and cellular maturation into different lineages, providing a practical method to generate differentiated hiPSCs that resemble their mature counterpart more closely.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan Sai‐Hong Chui
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Teresa Izuel‐Idoype
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Alessandra Qualizza
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Rita Pires de Almeida
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Lindsey Piessens
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Bernard K. van der Veer
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Gert Vanmarcke
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Aneta Malesa
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Paraskevi Athanasouli
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Ruben Boon
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Joris Vriens
- Laboratory of Endometrium, Endometriosis and Reproductive MedicineDepartment of Development and RegenerationKU LeuvenHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Leo van Grunsven
- Liver Cell Biology Research GroupVrije Universiteit BrusselLaarbeeklaan 103Brussels1090Belgium
| | - Kian Peng Koh
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Catherine M. Verfaillie
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
| | - Frederic Lluis
- KU LeuvenDepartment of Development and RegenerationStem Cell InstituteHerestraat 49Leuven3000Belgium
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10
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DiCesare SM, Ortega AJ, Collier GE, Daniel S, Thompson KN, McCoy MK, Posner BA, Hulleman JD. GSK3 inhibition reduces ECM production and prevents age-related macular degeneration-like pathology. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.14.571757. [PMID: 38168310 PMCID: PMC10760106 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.14.571757] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Malattia Leventinese/Doyne Honeycomb Retinal Dystrophy (ML/DHRD) is an age-related macular degeneration (AMD)-like retinal dystrophy caused by an autosomal dominant R345W mutation in the secreted glycoprotein, fibulin-3 (F3). To identify new small molecules that reduce F3 production from retinal pigmented epithelium (RPE) cells, we knocked-in a luminescent peptide tag (HiBiT) into the endogenous F3 locus which enabled simple, sensitive, and high throughput detection of the protein. The GSK3 inhibitor, CHIR99021 (CHIR), significantly reduced F3 burden (expression, secretion, and intracellular levels) in immortalized RPE and non-RPE cells. Low-level, long-term CHIR treatment promoted remodeling of the RPE extracellular matrix (ECM), reducing sub-RPE deposit-associated proteins (e.g., amelotin, complement component 3, collagen IV, and fibronectin), while increasing RPE differentiation factors (e.g., tyrosinase, and pigment epithelium derived factor). In vivo, treatment of 8 mo R345W+/+ knockin mice with CHIR (25 mg/kg i.p., 1 mo) was well tolerated and significantly reduced R345W F3-associated AMD-like basal laminar deposit number and size, thereby preventing the main pathological feature in these mice. This is the first demonstration of small molecule-based prevention of AMD-like pathology in ML/DHRD mice and may herald a rejuvenation of interest in GSK3 inhibition for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, including, potentially AMD itself.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia M. DiCesare
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
| | - Antonio J. Ortega
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, 2001 6 St. SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States
| | - Gracen E. Collier
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
| | - Steffi Daniel
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, 2001 6 St. SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States
| | - Krista N. Thompson
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas, 75390, United States
| | - Melissa K. McCoy
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - Bruce A. Posner
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Blvd, Dallas, Texas, United States
| | - John D. Hulleman
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, 2001 6 St. SE, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455, United States
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11
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Cha J, Ding EA, Carvalho EM, Fowler A, Aghi MK, Kumar S. Glioma Cells Secrete Collagen VI to Facilitate Invasion. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.12.571198. [PMID: 38168332 PMCID: PMC10760023 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.12.571198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
While glioblastoma (GBM) progression is associated with extensive extracellular matrix (ECM) secretion, the causal contributions of ECM secretion to invasion remain unclear. Here we investigate these contributions by combining engineered materials, proteomics, analysis of patient data, and a model of bevacizumab-resistant GBM. We find that GBM cells cultured in engineered 3D hyaluronic acid hydrogels secrete ECM prior to invasion, particularly in the absence of exogenous ECM ligands. Proteomic measurements reveal extensive secretion of collagen VI, and collagen VI-associated transcripts are correspondingly enriched in microvascular proliferation regions of human GBMs. We further show that bevacizumab-resistant GBM cells deposit more collagen VI than their responsive counterparts, which is associated with marked cell-ECM stiffening. COL6A3 deletion in GBM cells reduces invasion, β-catenin signaling, and expression of mesenchymal markers, and these effects are amplified in hypoxia. Our studies strongly implicate GBM cell-derived collagen VI in microenvironmental remodeling to facilitate invasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junghwa Cha
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Erika A Ding
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Emily M Carvalho
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Annabelle Fowler
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Manish K Aghi
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences University of California San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
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12
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Alsaadi A, Artibani M, Hu Z, Wietek N, Morotti M, Gonzalez LS, Alazzam M, Jiang J, Abdul B, Soleymani Majd H, Blazer LL, Adams J, Silvestri F, Sidhu SS, Brugge JS, Ahmed AA. Single-cell transcriptomics identifies a WNT7A-FZD5 signaling axis that maintains fallopian tube stem cells in patient-derived organoids. Cell Rep 2023; 42:113354. [PMID: 37917586 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.113354] [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: 04/04/2023] [Revised: 07/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/11/2023] [Indexed: 11/04/2023] Open
Abstract
The study of fallopian tube (FT) function in health and disease has been hampered by limited knowledge of FT stem cells and lack of in vitro models of stem cell renewal and differentiation. Using optimized organoid culture conditions to address these limitations, we find that FT stem cell renewal is highly dependent on WNT/β-catenin signaling and engineer endogenous WNT/β-catenin signaling reporter organoids to biomark, isolate, and characterize these cells. Using functional approaches, as well as bulk and single-cell transcriptomics analyses, we show that an endogenous hormonally regulated WNT7A-FZD5 signaling axis is critical for stem cell renewal and that WNT/β-catenin pathway-activated cells form a distinct transcriptomic cluster of FT cells enriched in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling and integrin signaling pathways. Overall, we provide a deep characterization of FT stem cells and their molecular requirements for self-renewal, paving the way for mechanistic work investigating the role of stem cells in FT health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Abdulkhaliq Alsaadi
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Mara Artibani
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Gene Regulatory Networks in Development and Disease Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Zhiyuan Hu
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Gene Regulatory Networks in Development and Disease Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK
| | - Nina Wietek
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Matteo Morotti
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Laura Santana Gonzalez
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Moiad Alazzam
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Jason Jiang
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Beena Abdul
- Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Hooman Soleymani Majd
- Medical Sciences Division, University of Oxford, John Radcliffe Hospital, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK
| | - Levi L Blazer
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Jarret Adams
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | | | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada
| | - Joan S Brugge
- Department of Cell Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Ludwig Center at Harvard, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ahmed Ashour Ahmed
- Ovarian Cancer Cell Laboratory, MRC Weatherall Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DS, UK; Nuffield Department of Women's & Reproductive Health, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 9DU, UK; Department of Gynecological Oncology, Churchill Hospital, Oxford University Hospitals, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK.
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13
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Liu Y, Lei P, Samuel RZ, Kashyap AM, Groth T, Bshara W, Neelamegham S, Andreadis ST. Cadherin-11 increases tumor cell proliferation and metastatic potential via Wnt pathway activation. Mol Oncol 2023; 17:2056-2073. [PMID: 37558205 PMCID: PMC10552893 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13507] [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: 09/16/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2023] [Accepted: 07/08/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
During epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in cancer progression, tumor cells switch cadherin profile from E-cadherin to cadherin-11 (CDH11), which is accompanied by increased invasiveness and metastatic activity. However, the mechanism through which CDH11 may affect tumor growth and metastasis remains elusive. Here, we report that CDH11 was highly expressed in multiple human tumors and was localized on the membrane, in the cytoplasm and, surprisingly, also in the nucleus. Interestingly, β-catenin remained bound to carboxy-terminal fragments (CTFs) of CDH11, the products of CDH11 cleavage, and co-localized with CTFs in the nucleus in the majority of breast cancer samples. Binding of β-catenin to CTFs preserved β-catenin activity, whereas inhibiting CDH11 cleavage led to β-catenin phosphorylation and diminished Wnt signaling, similar to CDH11 knockout. Our data elucidate a previously unknown role of CDH11, which serves to stabilize β-catenin in the cytoplasm and facilitates its translocation to the nucleus, resulting in activation of Wnt signaling, with subsequent increased proliferation, migration and invasion potential.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yayu Liu
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
| | - Pedro Lei
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
| | - Ronel Z. Samuel
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
| | - Anagha M. Kashyap
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
| | - Theodore Groth
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
| | - Wiam Bshara
- Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center Pathology Resource NetworkBuffaloNYUSA
| | - Sriram Neelamegham
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life SciencesBuffaloNYUSA
- Center for Cell, Gene and Tissue Engineering (CGTE), University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
| | - Stelios T. Andreadis
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
- New York State Center of Excellence in Bioinformatics and Life SciencesBuffaloNYUSA
- Center for Cell, Gene and Tissue Engineering (CGTE), University at BuffaloThe State University of New YorkAmherstNYUSA
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14
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Khandwala CB, Sarkar P, Schmidt HB, Ma M, Kinnebrew M, Pusapati GV, Patel BB, Tillo D, Lebensohn AM, Rohatgi R. Direct ionic stress sensing and mitigation by the transcription factor NFAT5. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.09.23.559074. [PMID: 37886503 PMCID: PMC10602047 DOI: 10.1101/2023.09.23.559074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2023]
Abstract
Homeostatic control of intracellular ionic strength is essential for protein, organelle and genome function, yet mechanisms that sense and enable adaptation to ionic stress remain poorly understood in animals. We find that the transcription factor NFAT5 directly senses solution ionic strength using a C-terminal intrinsically disordered region. Both in intact cells and in a purified system, NFAT5 forms dynamic, reversible biomolecular condensates in response to increasing ionic strength. This self-associative property, conserved from insects to mammals, allows NFAT5 to accumulate in the nucleus and activate genes that restore cellular ion content. Mutations that reduce condensation or those that promote aggregation both reduce NFAT5 activity, highlighting the importance of optimally tuned associative interactions. Remarkably, human NFAT5 alone is sufficient to reconstitute a mammalian transcriptional response to ionic or hypertonic stress in yeast. Thus NFAT5 is both the sensor and effector of a cell-autonomous ionic stress response pathway in animal cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chandni B. Khandwala
- Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Parijat Sarkar
- Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - H. Broder Schmidt
- Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Mengxiao Ma
- Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Maia Kinnebrew
- Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Ganesh V. Pusapati
- Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Bhaven B. Patel
- Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Desiree Tillo
- Center for Cancer Research Genomics Core, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Building 37, RM 2056B, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Andres M. Lebensohn
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Biology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, NIH, Building 37, RM 2056B, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Rajat Rohatgi
- Departments of Biochemistry and Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
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15
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Bergkamp ND, van Senten JR, Brink HJ, Bebelman MP, van den Bor J, Çobanoğlu TS, Dinkla K, Köster J, Klau G, Siderius M, Smit MJ. A virally encoded GPCR drives glioblastoma through feed-forward activation of the SK1-S1P 1 signaling axis. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eade6737. [PMID: 37582160 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.ade6737] [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: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2023] [Indexed: 08/17/2023]
Abstract
The G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) US28 encoded by the human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is associated with accelerated progression of glioblastomas, aggressive brain tumors with a generally poor prognosis. Here, we showed that US28 increased the malignancy of U251 glioblastoma cells by enhancing signaling mediated by sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), a bioactive lipid that stimulates oncogenic pathways in glioblastoma. US28 expression increased the abundance of the key components of the S1P signaling axis, including an enzyme that generates S1P [sphingosine kinase 1 (SK1)], an S1P receptor [S1P receptor 1 (S1P1)], and S1P itself. Enhanced S1P signaling promoted glioblastoma cell proliferation and survival by activating the kinases AKT and CHK1 and the transcriptional regulators cMYC and STAT3 and by increasing the abundance of cancerous inhibitor of PP2A (CIP2A), driving several feed-forward signaling loops. Inhibition of S1P signaling abrogated the proliferative and anti-apoptotic effects of US28. US28 also activated the S1P signaling axis in HCMV-infected cells. This study uncovers central roles for S1P and CIP2A in feed-forward signaling that contributes to the US28-mediated exacerbation of glioblastoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nick D Bergkamp
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jeffrey R van Senten
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Hendrik J Brink
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maarten P Bebelman
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Jelle van den Bor
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Tuğçe S Çobanoğlu
- Department of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Amsterdam Institute of Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | | | - Johannes Köster
- Algorithms for Reproducible Bioinformatics, Institute of Human Genetics, Faculty of Medicine, University Hospital Essen, University of Duisburg-Essen, Essen, Germany
- Medical Oncology, Harvard Medical School, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gunnar Klau
- Algorithmic Bioinformatics, Department of Computer Science, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marco Siderius
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Martine J Smit
- Amsterdam Institute for Molecular and Life Sciences (AIMMS), Division of Medicinal Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam, Amsterdam, Netherlands
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16
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Repina NA, Johnson HJ, Bao X, Zimmermann JA, Joy DA, Bi SZ, Kane RS, Schaffer DV. Optogenetic control of Wnt signaling models cell-intrinsic embryogenic patterning using 2D human pluripotent stem cell culture. Development 2023; 150:dev201386. [PMID: 37401411 PMCID: PMC10399980 DOI: 10.1242/dev.201386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 06/21/2023] [Indexed: 07/05/2023]
Abstract
In embryonic stem cell (ESC) models for early development, spatially and temporally varying patterns of signaling and cell types emerge spontaneously. However, mechanistic insight into this dynamic self-organization is limited by a lack of methods for spatiotemporal control of signaling, and the relevance of signal dynamics and cell-to-cell variability to pattern emergence remains unknown. Here, we combine optogenetic stimulation, imaging and transcriptomic approaches to study self-organization of human ESCs (hESC) in two-dimensional (2D) culture. Morphogen dynamics were controlled via optogenetic activation of canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling (optoWnt), which drove broad transcriptional changes and mesendoderm differentiation at high efficiency (>99% cells). When activated within cell subpopulations, optoWnt induced cell self-organization into distinct epithelial and mesenchymal domains, mediated by changes in cell migration, an epithelial to mesenchymal-like transition and TGFβ signaling. Furthermore, we demonstrate that such optogenetic control of cell subpopulations can be used to uncover signaling feedback mechanisms between neighboring cell types. These findings reveal that cell-to-cell variability in Wnt signaling is sufficient to generate tissue-scale patterning and establish a hESC model system for investigating feedback mechanisms relevant to early human embryogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicole A. Repina
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Hunter J. Johnson
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Xiaoping Bao
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Joshua A. Zimmermann
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - David A. Joy
- Graduate Program in Bioengineering, University of California, San Francisco and University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Gladstone Institute of Cardiovascular Disease, Gladstone Institutes, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Shirley Z. Bi
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Ravi S. Kane
- School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, GA 30332, USA
| | - David V. Schaffer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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17
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Ter Steege EJ, Doornbos LW, Haughton PD, van Diest PJ, Hilkens J, Derksen PWB, Bakker ERM. R-spondin-3 promotes proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells independently of Wnt signaling. Cancer Lett 2023; 568:216301. [PMID: 37406727 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2023.216301] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Revised: 06/27/2023] [Accepted: 07/02/2023] [Indexed: 07/07/2023]
Abstract
We recently identified R-spondin-3 (RSPO3) as a novel driver of breast cancer associating with reduced patient survival, expanding its clinical value as potential therapeutic target that had been recognized mostly for colorectal cancer so far. (Pre)clinical studies exploring RSPO3 targeting in colorectal cancer approach this indirectly with Wnt inhibitors, or directly with anti-RSPO3 antibodies. Here, we address the clinical relevance of RSPO3 in breast cancer and provide insight in the oncogenic activities of RSPO3. Utilizing the RSPO3 breast cancer mouse model, we show that RSPO3 drives the aberrant expansion of luminal progenitor cells expressing cancer stem cell marker CD61, inducing proliferative, poorly differentiated and invasive tumors. Complementary studies with tumor organoids and human breast cancer cell lines demonstrate that RSPO3 consistently promotes the proliferation and invasion of breast cancer cells. Importantly, RSPO3 exerts these oncogenic effects independently of Wnt signaling, rejecting the therapeutic value of Wnt inhibitors in RSPO3-driven breast cancer. Instead, direct RSPO3 targeting effectively inhibited RSPO3-driven growth of breast cancer cells. Conclusively, our data indicate that RSPO3 exerts unfavorable oncogenic effects in breast cancer, enhancing proliferation and malignancy in a Wnt-independent fashion, proposing RSPO3 itself as a valuable therapeutic target in breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eline J Ter Steege
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Loes W Doornbos
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Peter D Haughton
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Paul J van Diest
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - John Hilkens
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Patrick W B Derksen
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
| | - Elvira R M Bakker
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands; Department of Molecular Genetics, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands.
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18
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Yang Loureiro Z, Joyce S, DeSouza T, Solivan-Rivera J, Desai A, Skritakis P, Yang Q, Ziegler R, Zhong D, Nguyen TT, MacDougald OA, Corvera S. Wnt signaling preserves progenitor cell multipotency during adipose tissue development. Nat Metab 2023; 5:1014-1028. [PMID: 37337125 PMCID: PMC10290956 DOI: 10.1038/s42255-023-00813-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/25/2023] [Indexed: 06/21/2023]
Abstract
Mesenchymal stem/progenitor cells are essential for tissue development and repair throughout life, but how they are maintained under chronic differentiation pressure is not known. Using single-cell transcriptomics of human progenitor cells we find that adipose differentiation stimuli elicit two cellular trajectories: one toward mature adipocytes and another toward a pool of non-differentiated cells that maintain progenitor characteristics. These cells are induced by transient Wnt pathway activation and express numerous extracellular matrix genes and are therefore named structural Wnt-regulated adipose tissue cells. We find that the genetic signature of structural Wnt-regulated adipose tissue cells is present in adult human adipose tissue and adipose tissue developed from human progenitor cells in mice. Our results suggest a mechanism whereby adipose differentiation occurs concurrently with the maintenance of a mesenchymal progenitor cell pool, ensuring tissue development, repair and appropriate metabolic control over the lifetime.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zinger Yang Loureiro
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Shannon Joyce
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Tiffany DeSouza
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Javier Solivan-Rivera
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Anand Desai
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Pantos Skritakis
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Qin Yang
- Morningside Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Rachel Ziegler
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Denise Zhong
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Tammy T Nguyen
- Division of Vascular Surgery, Department of Surgery, UMass Memorial Medical Center, Worcester, MA, USA
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA
| | - Ormond A MacDougald
- Department of Molecular and Integrative Physiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Division of Metabolism, Endocrinology, and Diabetes, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Silvia Corvera
- Program in Molecular Medicine, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
- Diabetes Center of Excellence, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA, USA.
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19
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Steiner I, Flores-Tellez TDNJ, Mevel R, Ali A, Wang P, Schofield P, Behan C, Forsythe N, Ashton G, Taylor C, Mills IG, Oliveira P, McDade SS, Zaiss DM, Choudhury A, Lacaud G, Baena E. Autocrine activation of MAPK signaling mediates intrinsic tolerance to androgen deprivation in LY6D prostate cancer cells. Cell Rep 2023; 42:112377. [PMID: 37060563 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2023.112377] [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] [Received: 11/05/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2023] [Indexed: 04/16/2023] Open
Abstract
The emergence of castration-resistant prostate cancer remains an area of unmet clinical need. We recently identified a subpopulation of normal prostate progenitor cells, characterized by an intrinsic resistance to androgen deprivation and expression of LY6D. We here demonstrate that conditional deletion of PTEN in the murine prostate epithelium causes an expansion of transformed LY6D+ progenitor cells without impairing stem cell properties. Transcriptomic analyses of LY6D+ luminal cells identified an autocrine positive feedback loop, based on the secretion of amphiregulin (AREG)-mediated activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling, increasing cellular fitness and organoid formation. Pharmacological interference with this pathway overcomes the castration-resistant properties of LY6D+ cells with a suppression of organoid formation and loss of LY6D+ cells in vivo. Notably, LY6D+ tumor cells are enriched in high-grade and androgen-resistant prostate cancer, providing clinical evidence for their contribution to advanced disease. Our data indicate that early interference with MAPK inhibitors can prevent progression of castration-resistant prostate cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana Steiner
- Prostate Oncobiology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Teresita Del N J Flores-Tellez
- Prostate Oncobiology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Renaud Mevel
- Stem Cell Biology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Amin Ali
- Prostate Oncobiology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK; Belfast-Manchester Movember Centre of Excellence, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Pengbo Wang
- Prostate Oncobiology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Pieta Schofield
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Caron Behan
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Nicholas Forsythe
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK; Belfast-Manchester Movember Centre of Excellence, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Garry Ashton
- Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Catherine Taylor
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, M20 4BX Manchester, UK
| | - Ian G Mills
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK; Belfast-Manchester Movember Centre of Excellence, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK; Nuffield Department of Surgical Sciences, John Radcliffe Hospital, University of Oxford, OX3 9DU Oxford, UK; Department of Clinical Sciences and Centre for Cancer Biomarkers, University of Bergen, 7804 Bergen, Norway
| | - Pedro Oliveira
- Department of Pathology, The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, M20 4BX Manchester, UK
| | - Simon S McDade
- Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen's University Belfast, Belfast, BT9 7BL Northern Ireland, UK; Belfast-Manchester Movember Centre of Excellence, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Dietmar M Zaiss
- Department of Immune Medicine, University Regensburg, Institute of Clinical Chemistry and Laboratory Medicine, University Hospital Regensburg, and Leibniz Institute for Immunotherapy (LIT), 93053 Regensburg, Germany
| | - Ananya Choudhury
- The Christie NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Sciences Centre, M20 4BX Manchester, UK; The University of Manchester, Manchester Cancer Research Centre, M20 4BX Manchester, UK; Belfast-Manchester Movember Centre of Excellence, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Georges Lacaud
- Stem Cell Biology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK
| | - Esther Baena
- Prostate Oncobiology Group, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK; Belfast-Manchester Movember Centre of Excellence, Cancer Research UK Manchester Institute, The University of Manchester, Alderley Park, SK10 4TG Macclesfield, UK.
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20
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Panelli P, De Santis E, Colucci M, Tamiro F, Sansico F, Miroballo M, Murgo E, Padovano C, Gusscott S, Ciavarella M, Chavez EA, Bianchi F, Rossi G, Carella AM, Steidl C, Weng AP, Giambra V. Noncanonical β-catenin interactions promote leukemia-initiating activity in early T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood 2023; 141:1597-1609. [PMID: 36315912 PMCID: PMC10651788 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2022017079] [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: 05/18/2022] [Revised: 09/13/2022] [Accepted: 09/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a T-cell malignancy characterized by cell subsets and enriched with leukemia-initiating cells (LICs). β-Catenin modulates LIC activity in T-ALL. However, its role in maintaining established leukemia stem cells remains largely unknown. To identify functionally relevant protein interactions of β-catenin in T-ALL, we performed coimmunoprecipitation followed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Here, we report that a noncanonical functional interaction of β-catenin with the Forkhead box O3 (FOXO3) transcription factor positively regulates LIC-related genes, including the cyclin-dependent kinase 4, which is a crucial modulator of cell cycle and tumor maintenance. We also confirm the relevance of these findings using stably integrated fluorescent reporters of β-catenin and FOXO3 activity in patient-derived xenografts, which identify minor subpopulations with enriched LIC activity. In addition, gene expression data at the single-cell level of leukemic cells of primary patients at the time of diagnosis and minimal residual disease (MRD) up to 30 days after the standard treatments reveal that the expression of β-catenin- and FOXO3-dependent genes is present in the CD82+CD117+ cell fraction, which is substantially enriched with LICs in MRD as well as in early T-cell precursor ALL. These findings highlight key functional roles for β-catenin and FOXO3 and suggest novel therapeutic strategies to eradicate aggressive cell subsets in T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patrizio Panelli
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Elisabetta De Santis
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Mattia Colucci
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Francesco Tamiro
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Francesca Sansico
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Mattia Miroballo
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Emanuele Murgo
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Costanzo Padovano
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Sam Gusscott
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Michele Ciavarella
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | | | - Fabrizio Bianchi
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Giovanni Rossi
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Angelo M. Carella
- Department of Hematology and Stem Cell Transplant Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
| | - Christian Steidl
- Centre for Lymphoid Cancer, British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Andrew P. Weng
- Terry Fox Laboratory, British Columbia Cancer, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - Vincenzo Giambra
- Institute for Stem Cell Biology, Regenerative Medicine and Innovative Therapies, Fondazione IRCCS Casa Sollievo della Sofferenza, San Giovanni Rotondo, Italy
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21
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Thacker G, Henry S, Nandi A, Debnath R, Singh S, Nayak A, Susnik B, Boone MM, Zhang Q, Kesmodel SB, Gumber S, Das GM, Kambayashi T, Dos Santos CO, Chakrabarti R. Immature natural killer cells promote progression of triple-negative breast cancer. Sci Transl Med 2023; 15:eabl4414. [PMID: 36888695 PMCID: PMC10875969 DOI: 10.1126/scitranslmed.abl4414] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/26/2023] [Indexed: 03/10/2023]
Abstract
Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that accumulate within the tumor microenvironment and are generally considered to be antitumorigenic. Using single-cell RNA sequencing and functional analysis of multiple triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and basal tumor samples, we observed a unique subcluster of Socs3highCD11b-CD27- immature NK cells that were present only in TNBC samples. These tumor-infiltrating NK cells expressed a reduced cytotoxic granzyme signature and, in mice, were responsible for activating cancer stem cells through Wnt signaling. NK cell-mediated activation of these cancer stem cells subsequently enhanced tumor progression in mice, whereas depletion of NK cells or Wnt ligand secretion from NK cells by LGK-974 decreased tumor progression. In addition, NK cell depletion or inhibition of their function improved anti-programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) antibody or chemotherapy response in mice with TNBC. Furthermore, tumor samples from patients with TNBC and non-TNBC revealed that increased numbers of CD56bright NK cells were present in TNBC tumors and were correlated to poor overall survival in patients with TNBC. Together, our findings identify a population of protumorigenic NK cells that may be exploited for both diagnostic and therapeutic strategies to improve outcomes for patients with TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gatha Thacker
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Samantha Henry
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Ajeya Nandi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Rahul Debnath
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Snahlata Singh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anupma Nayak
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Barbara Susnik
- Department of Pathology, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Melinda M Boone
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami, Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Susan B Kesmodel
- DeWitt Daughtry Family Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
| | - Sanjeev Gumber
- Department of Pathology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA 30322, USA
| | - Gokul M Das
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, Roswell Park Cancer Institute, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA
| | - Taku Kambayashi
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Camila O. Dos Santos
- Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory, 1 Bungtown Road, Cold Spring Harbor, NY 11724, USA
| | - Rumela Chakrabarti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
- Department of Surgery, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, Miami, FL 33136, USA
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22
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Ngai H, Barragan GA, Tian G, Balzeau JC, Zhang C, Courtney AN, Guo L, Xu X, Wood MS, Drabek JM, Demberg T, Sands CM, Chauvin-Fleurence CN, Di Pierro EJ, Rosen JM, Metelitsa LS. LEF1 Drives a Central Memory Program and Supports Antitumor Activity of Natural Killer T Cells. Cancer Immunol Res 2023; 11:171-183. [PMID: 36484736 PMCID: PMC9898189 DOI: 10.1158/2326-6066.cir-22-0333] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2022] [Revised: 09/28/2022] [Accepted: 12/02/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Vα24-invariant natural killer T cells (NKT) possess innate antitumor properties that can be exploited for cancer immunotherapy. We have shown previously that the CD62L+ central memory-like subset of these cells drives the in vivo antitumor activity of NKTs, but molecular mediators of NKT central memory differentiation remain unknown. Here, we demonstrate that relative to CD62L- cells, CD62L+ NKTs express a higher level of the gene encoding the Wnt/β-catenin transcription factor lymphoid enhancer binding factor 1 (LEF1) and maintain active Wnt/β-catenin signaling. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated LEF1 knockout reduced CD62L+ frequency after antigenic stimulation, whereas Wnt/β-catenin activator Wnt3a ligand increased CD62L+ frequency. LEF1 overexpression promoted NKT expansion and limited exhaustion following serial tumor challenge and was sufficient to induce a central memory-like transcriptional program in NKTs. In mice, NKTs expressing a GD2-specific chimeric-antigen receptor (CAR) with LEF1 demonstrated superior control of neuroblastoma xenograft tumors compared with control CAR-NKTs. These results identify LEF1 as a transcriptional activator of the NKT central memory program and advance development of NKT cell-based immunotherapy. See related Spotlight by Van Kaer, p. 144.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ho Ngai
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Gabriel A Barragan
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Gengwen Tian
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Julien C Balzeau
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Chunchao Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Amy N Courtney
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Linjie Guo
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Xin Xu
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Michael S Wood
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Janice M Drabek
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Thorsten Demberg
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Caroline M Sands
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Cynthia N Chauvin-Fleurence
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Erica J Di Pierro
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Jeffrey M Rosen
- Department of Molecular and Cell Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Leonid S Metelitsa
- Department of Pediatrics, Center for Advanced Innate Cell Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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23
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Stoletov K, Sanchez S, Gorroño I, Rabano M, Vivanco MDM, Kypta R, Lewis JD. Intravital imaging of Wnt/β-catenin and ATF2-dependent signalling pathways during tumour cell invasion and metastasis. J Cell Sci 2023; 136:286293. [PMID: 36621522 PMCID: PMC10022745 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.260285] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt signalling has been implicated as a driver of tumour cell metastasis, but less is known about which branches of Wnt signalling are involved and when they act in the metastatic cascade. Here, using a unique intravital imaging platform and fluorescent reporters, we visualised β-catenin/TCF-dependent and ATF2-dependent signalling activities during human cancer cell invasion, intravasation and metastatic lesion formation in the chick embryo host. We found that cancer cells readily shifted between states of low and high canonical Wnt activity. Cancer cells that displayed low Wnt canonical activity showed higher invasion and intravasation potential in primary tumours and in metastatic lesions. In contrast, cancer cells showing low ATF2-dependent activity were significantly less invasive both at the front of primary tumours and in metastatic lesions. Simultaneous visualisation of both these reporters using a double-reporter cell line confirmed their complementary activities in primary tumours and metastatic lesions. These findings might inform the development of therapies that target different branches of Wnt signalling at specific stages of metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Konstantin Stoletov
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
| | - Saray Sanchez
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Irantzu Gorroño
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Miriam Rabano
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Maria D M Vivanco
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Robert Kypta
- Centre for Cooperative Research in Biosciences (CIC bioGUNE), Basque Research and Technology Alliance (BRTA), Bizkaia Technology Park, Building 801A, 48160 Derio, Spain.,Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London W12 0NN, UK
| | - John D Lewis
- Department of Oncology, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta T6G 2E1, Canada
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24
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Tang PC, Chen L, Singh S, Groves AK, Koehler KR, Liu XZ, Nelson RF. Early Wnt Signaling Activation Promotes Inner Ear Differentiation via Cell Caudalization in Mouse Stem Cell-Derived Organoids. Stem Cells 2023; 41:26-38. [PMID: 36153788 PMCID: PMC9887082 DOI: 10.1093/stmcls/sxac071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
The inner ear is derived from the otic placode, one of the numerous cranial sensory placodes that emerges from the pre-placodal ectoderm (PPE) along its anterior-posterior axis. However, the molecular dynamics underlying how the PPE is regionalized are poorly resolved. We used stem cell-derived organoids to investigate the effects of Wnt signaling on early PPE differentiation and found that modulating Wnt signaling significantly increased inner ear organoid induction efficiency and reproducibility. Alongside single-cell RNA sequencing, our data reveal that the canonical Wnt signaling pathway leads to PPE regionalization and, more specifically, medium Wnt levels during the early stage induce (1) expansion of the caudal neural plate border (NPB), which serves as a precursor for the posterior PPE, and (2) a caudal microenvironment that is required for otic specification. Our data further demonstrate Wnt-mediated induction of rostral and caudal cells in organoids and more broadly suggest that Wnt signaling is critical for anterior-posterior patterning in the PPE.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pei-Ciao Tang
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Li Chen
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Sunita Singh
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Andrew K Groves
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Karl R Koehler
- Department of Otolaryngology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Otolaryngology– Head and Neck Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Xue Zhong Liu
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, USA
| | - Rick F Nelson
- Department of Otolaryngology—Head and Neck Surgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
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25
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Abstract
WNT/CTNNB1 signaling plays a critical role in the development of all multicellular animals. Here, we include both the embryonic stages, during which tissue morphogenesis takes place, and the postnatal stages of development, during which tissue homeostasis occurs. Thus, embryonic development concerns lineage development and cell fate specification, while postnatal development involves tissue maintenance and regeneration. Multiple tools are available to researchers who want to investigate, and ideally visualize, the dynamic and pleiotropic involvement of WNT/CTNNB1 signaling in these processes. Here, we discuss and evaluate the decisions that researchers need to make in identifying the experimental system and appropriate tools for the specific question they want to address, covering different types of WNT/CTNNB1 reporters in cells and mice. At a molecular level, advanced quantitative imaging techniques can provide spatio-temporal information that cannot be provided by traditional biochemical assays. We therefore also highlight some recent studies to show their potential in deciphering the complex and dynamic mechanisms that drive WNT/CTNNB1 signaling.
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26
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Pond KW, Morris JM, Alkhimenok O, Varghese RP, Cabel CR, Ellis NA, Chakrabarti J, Zavros Y, Merchant JL, Thorne CA, Paek AL. Live-cell imaging in human colonic monolayers reveals ERK waves limit the stem cell compartment to maintain epithelial homeostasis. eLife 2022; 11:e78837. [PMID: 36094159 PMCID: PMC9499537 DOI: 10.7554/elife.78837] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Accepted: 09/11/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The establishment and maintenance of different cellular compartments in tissues is a universal requirement across all metazoans. Maintaining the correct ratio of cell types in time and space allows tissues to form patterned compartments and perform complex functions. Patterning is especially evident in the human colon, where tissue homeostasis is maintained by stem cells in crypt structures that balance proliferation and differentiation. Here, we developed a human 2D patient derived organoid screening platform to study tissue patterning and kinase pathway dynamics in single cells. Using this system, we discovered that waves of ERK signaling induced by apoptotic cells play a critical role in maintaining tissue patterning and homeostasis. If ERK is activated acutely across all cells instead of in wave-like patterns, then tissue patterning and stem cells are lost. Conversely, if ERK activity is inhibited, then stem cells become unrestricted and expand dramatically. This work demonstrates that the colonic epithelium requires coordinated ERK signaling dynamics to maintain patterning and tissue homeostasis. Our work reveals how ERK can antagonize stem cells while supporting cell replacement and the function of the gut.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelvin W Pond
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- University of Arizona Cancer CenterTucsonUnited States
| | - Julia M Morris
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Olga Alkhimenok
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Reeba P Varghese
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Carly R Cabel
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- Cancer Biology Graduate Interdisciplinary Program, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Nathan A Ellis
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- University of Arizona Cancer CenterTucsonUnited States
| | - Jayati Chakrabarti
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
| | - Yana Zavros
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- University of Arizona Cancer CenterTucsonUnited States
| | | | - Curtis A Thorne
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
- University of Arizona Cancer CenterTucsonUnited States
| | - Andrew L Paek
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, The University of ArizonaTucsonUnited States
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IRES-mediated Wnt2 translation in apoptotic neurons triggers astrocyte dedifferentiation. NPJ Regen Med 2022; 7:42. [PMID: 36056026 PMCID: PMC9440034 DOI: 10.1038/s41536-022-00248-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Reactive astrogliosis usually bears some properties of neural progenitors. How injury triggers astrocyte dedifferentiation remains largely unclear. Here, we report that ischemia induces rapid up-regulation of Wnt2 protein in apoptotic neurons and activation of canonical Wnt signaling in reactive astrocytes in mice, primates and human. Local delivery of Wnt2 shRNA abolished the dedifferentiation of astrocytes while over-expressing Wnt2 promoted progenitor marker expression and neurogenesis. Both the activation of Wnt signaling and dedifferentiation of astrocytes was compromised in ischemic caspase-3−/− cortex. Over-expressing stabilized β-catenin not only facilitated neurogenesis but also promoted functional recovery in ischemic caspase-3−/− mice. Further analysis showed that apoptotic neurons up-regulated Wnt2 protein via internal ribosome entry site (IRES)-mediated translation. Knocking down death associated protein 5 (DAP5), a key protein in IRES-mediated protein translation, significantly diminished Wnt activation and astrocyte dedifferentiation. Our data demonstrated an apoptosis-initiated Wnt-activating mechanism which triggers astrocytic dedifferentiation and facilitates neuronal regeneration.
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Verma M, Loh NY, Sabaratnam R, Vasan SK, van Dam AD, Todorčević M, Neville MJ, Toledo E, Karpe F, Christodoulides C. TCF7L2 plays a complex role in human adipose progenitor biology, which might contribute to genetic susceptibility to type 2 diabetes. Metabolism 2022; 133:155240. [PMID: 35697299 DOI: 10.1016/j.metabol.2022.155240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 05/31/2022] [Accepted: 06/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-coding genetic variation at TCF7L2 is the strongest genetic determinant of type 2 diabetes (T2D) risk in humans. TCF7L2 encodes a transcription factor mediating the nuclear effects of WNT signaling in adipose tissue (AT). In vivo studies in transgenic mice have highlighted important roles for TCF7L2 in adipose tissue biology and systemic metabolism. OBJECTIVE To map the expression of TCF7L2 in human AT, examine its role in human adipose cell biology in vitro, and investigate the effects of the fine-mapped T2D-risk allele at rs7903146 on AT morphology and TCF7L2 expression. METHODS Ex vivo gene expression studies of TCF7L2 in whole and fractionated human AT. In vitro TCF7L2 gain- and/or loss-of-function studies in primary and immortalized human adipose progenitor cells (APCs) and mature adipocytes (mADs). AT phenotyping of rs7903146 T2D-risk variant carriers and matched controls. RESULTS Adipose progenitors (APs) exhibited the highest TCF7L2 mRNA abundance compared to mature adipocytes and adipose-derived endothelial cells. Obesity was associated with reduced TCF7L2 transcript levels in whole subcutaneous abdominal AT but paradoxically increased expression in APs. In functional studies, TCF7L2 knockdown (KD) in abdominal APs led to dose-dependent activation of WNT/β-catenin signaling, impaired proliferation and dose-dependent effects on adipogenesis. Whilst partial KD enhanced adipocyte differentiation, near-total KD impaired lipid accumulation and adipogenic gene expression. Over-expression of TCF7L2 accelerated adipogenesis. In contrast, TCF7L2-KD in gluteal APs dose-dependently enhanced lipid accumulation. Transcriptome-wide profiling revealed that TCF7L2 might modulate multiple aspects of AP biology including extracellular matrix secretion, immune signaling and apoptosis. The T2D-risk allele at rs7903146 was associated with reduced AP TCF7L2 expression and enhanced AT insulin sensitivity. CONCLUSIONS TCF7L2 plays a complex role in AP biology and has both dose- and depot-dependent effects on adipogenesis. In addition to regulating pancreatic insulin secretion, genetic variation at TCF7L2 might also influence T2D risk by modulating AP function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manu Verma
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Nellie Y Loh
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Rugivan Sabaratnam
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK; Steno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense University Hospital, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark; Department of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, DK-5000 Odense, Denmark
| | - Senthil K Vasan
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Andrea D van Dam
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Marijana Todorčević
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Matthew J Neville
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Enrique Toledo
- Department of Computational Biology, Novo Nordisk Research Centre Oxford, UK
| | - Fredrik Karpe
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, OUH Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Constantinos Christodoulides
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, OUH Foundation Trust, Oxford OX3 7LE, UK.
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Kuo FC, Neville MJ, Sabaratnam R, Wesolowska-Andersen A, Phillips D, Wittemans LBL, van Dam AD, Loh NY, Todorčević M, Denton N, Kentistou KA, Joshi PK, Christodoulides C, Langenberg C, Collas P, Karpe F, Pinnick KE. HOTAIR interacts with PRC2 complex regulating the regional preadipocyte transcriptome and human fat distribution. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111136. [PMID: 35905723 PMCID: PMC10073411 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111136] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2020] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mechanisms governing regional human adipose tissue (AT) development remain undefined. Here, we show that the long non-coding RNA HOTAIR (HOX transcript antisense RNA) is exclusively expressed in gluteofemoral AT, where it is essential for adipocyte development. We find that HOTAIR interacts with polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) and we identify core HOTAIR-PRC2 target genes involved in adipocyte lineage determination. Repression of target genes coincides with PRC2 promoter occupancy and H3K27 trimethylation. HOTAIR is also involved in modifying the gluteal adipocyte transcriptome through alternative splicing. Gluteal-specific expression of HOTAIR is maintained by defined regions of open chromatin across the HOTAIR promoter. HOTAIR expression levels can be modified by hormonal (estrogen, glucocorticoids) and genetic variation (rs1443512 is a HOTAIR eQTL associated with reduced gynoid fat mass). These data identify HOTAIR as a dynamic regulator of the gluteal adipocyte transcriptome and epigenome with functional importance for human regional AT development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng-Chih Kuo
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Tri-Service General Hospital, National Defence Medical Centre, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Matt J Neville
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, OUH Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Rugivan Sabaratnam
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK; Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, 5000 Odense C, Denmark; Steno Diabetes Center Odense, Odense University Hospital, 5000 Odense C, Denmark
| | | | - Daniel Phillips
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Laura B L Wittemans
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK; The Big Data Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre for Health Information and Discovery, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Andrea D van Dam
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Nellie Y Loh
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Marijana Todorčević
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Nathan Denton
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Katherine A Kentistou
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK; Centre for Cardiovascular Sciences, Queen's Medical Research Institute, University of Edinburgh, Edinburgh EH16 4TJ, UK
| | - Peter K Joshi
- Centre for Global Health Research, Usher Institute, University of Edinburgh, Teviot Place, Edinburgh EH8 9AG, UK
| | - Constantinos Christodoulides
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK
| | - Claudia Langenberg
- MRC Epidemiology Unit, Institute of Metabolic Science, University of Cambridge School of Clinical Medicine, Cambridge CB2 0QQ, UK
| | - Philippe Collas
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway; Department of Immunology, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Fredrik Karpe
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK; NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, OUH Foundation Trust, Oxford, UK.
| | - Katherine E Pinnick
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology, and Metabolism, Radcliffe Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Churchill Hospital, Headington OX3 7LE, UK.
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García-Corzo L, Calatayud-Baselga I, Casares-Crespo L, Mora-Martínez C, Julián Escribano-Saiz J, Hortigüela R, Asenjo-Martínez A, Jordán-Pla A, Ercoli S, Flames N, López-Alonso V, Vilar M, Mira H. The transcription factor LEF1 interacts with NFIX and switches isoforms during adult hippocampal neural stem cell quiescence. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:912319. [PMID: 35938168 PMCID: PMC9355129 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.912319] [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: 04/04/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Stem cells in adult mammalian tissues are held in a reversible resting state, known as quiescence, for prolonged periods of time. Recent studies have greatly increased our understanding of the epigenetic and transcriptional landscapes that underlie stem cell quiescence. However, the transcription factor code that actively maintains the quiescence program remains poorly defined. Similarly, alternative splicing events affecting transcription factors in stem cell quiescence have been overlooked. Here we show that the transcription factor T-cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor LEF1, a central player in canonical β-catenin-dependent Wnt signalling, undergoes alternative splicing and switches isoforms in quiescent neural stem cells. We found that active β-catenin and its partner LEF1 accumulated in quiescent hippocampal neural stem and progenitor cell (Q-NSPC) cultures. Accordingly, Q-NSPCs showed enhanced TCF/LEF1-driven transcription and a basal Wnt activity that conferred a functional advantage to the cultured cells in a Wnt-dependent assay. At a mechanistic level, we found a fine regulation of Lef1 gene expression. The coordinate upregulation of Lef1 transcription and retention of alternative spliced exon 6 (E6) led to the accumulation of a full-length protein isoform (LEF1-FL) that displayed increased stability in the quiescent state. Prospectively isolated GLAST + cells from the postnatal hippocampus also underwent E6 retention at the time quiescence is established in vivo. Interestingly, LEF1 motif was enriched in quiescence-associated enhancers of genes upregulated in Q-NSPCs and quiescence-related NFIX transcription factor motifs flanked the LEF1 binding sites. We further show that LEF1 interacts with NFIX and identify putative LEF1/NFIX targets. Together, our results uncover an unexpected role for LEF1 in gene regulation in quiescent NSPCs, and highlight alternative splicing as a post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism in the transition from stem cell activation to quiescence.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura García-Corzo
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | - Isabel Calatayud-Baselga
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | - Lucía Casares-Crespo
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | - Carlos Mora-Martínez
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
- Evo-devo Helsinki Community, Centre of Excellence in Experimental and Computational Developmental Biology, Institute of Biotechnology, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Juan Julián Escribano-Saiz
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | | | | | - Antonio Jordán-Pla
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | - Stefano Ercoli
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | - Nuria Flames
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | | | - Marçal Vilar
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
| | - Helena Mira
- Instituto de Biomedicina de Valencia, Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Científicas (IBV-CSIC), València, Spain
- *Correspondence: Helena Mira,
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31
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Aulicino F, Pelosse M, Toelzer C, Capin J, Ilegems E, Meysami P, Rollarson R, Berggren PO, Dillingham M, Schaffitzel C, Saleem M, Welsh G, Berger I. Highly efficient CRISPR-mediated large DNA docking and multiplexed prime editing using a single baculovirus. Nucleic Acids Res 2022; 50:7783-7799. [PMID: 35801912 PMCID: PMC9303279 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkac587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/05/2022] [Revised: 06/15/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
CRISPR-based precise gene-editing requires simultaneous delivery of multiple components into living cells, rapidly exceeding the cargo capacity of traditional viral vector systems. This challenge represents a major roadblock to genome engineering applications. Here we exploit the unmatched heterologous DNA cargo capacity of baculovirus to resolve this bottleneck in human cells. By encoding Cas9, sgRNA and Donor DNAs on a single, rapidly assembled baculoviral vector, we achieve with up to 30% efficacy whole-exon replacement in the intronic β-actin (ACTB) locus, including site-specific docking of very large DNA payloads. We use our approach to rescue wild-type podocin expression in steroid-resistant nephrotic syndrome (SRNS) patient derived podocytes. We demonstrate single baculovirus vectored delivery of single and multiplexed prime-editing toolkits, achieving up to 100% cleavage-free DNA search-and-replace interventions without detectable indels. Taken together, we provide a versatile delivery platform for single base to multi-gene level genome interventions, addressing the currently unmet need for a powerful delivery system accommodating current and future CRISPR technologies without the burden of limited cargo capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Aulicino
- BrisSynBio Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre, Biomedical Sciences, School of Biochemistry, 1 Tankard's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Martin Pelosse
- BrisSynBio Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre, Biomedical Sciences, School of Biochemistry, 1 Tankard's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Christine Toelzer
- BrisSynBio Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre, Biomedical Sciences, School of Biochemistry, 1 Tankard's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Julien Capin
- BrisSynBio Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre, Biomedical Sciences, School of Biochemistry, 1 Tankard's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Erwin Ilegems
- The Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Parisa Meysami
- BrisSynBio Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre, Biomedical Sciences, School of Biochemistry, 1 Tankard's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Ruth Rollarson
- Bristol Renal, Bristol Medical School, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Whitson street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Per-Olof Berggren
- The Rolf Luft Research Center for Diabetes and Endocrinology, Karolinska Institutet, SE-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Mark Simon Dillingham
- BrisSynBio Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre, Biomedical Sciences, School of Biochemistry, 1 Tankard's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Christiane Schaffitzel
- BrisSynBio Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre, Biomedical Sciences, School of Biochemistry, 1 Tankard's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
| | - Moin A Saleem
- Bristol Renal, Bristol Medical School, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Whitson street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Gavin I Welsh
- Bristol Renal, Bristol Medical School, Dorothy Hodgkin Building, Whitson street, Bristol BS1 3NY, UK
| | - Imre Berger
- BrisSynBio Bristol Synthetic Biology Centre, Biomedical Sciences, School of Biochemistry, 1 Tankard's Close, University of Bristol, Bristol BS8 1TD, UK
- Max Planck Bristol Centre for Minimal Biology, School of Chemistry, University of Bristol, Cantock's Close, Bristol BS8 1TS, UK
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Patient-derived and mouse endo-ectocervical organoid generation, genetic manipulation and applications to model infection. Nat Protoc 2022; 17:1658-1690. [PMID: 35546639 DOI: 10.1038/s41596-022-00695-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
The cervix is the gateway to the upper female reproductive tract, connecting the uterus and vagina. It plays crucial roles in fertility and pregnancy maintenance from onset until delivery of the fetus, and prevents pathogen ascension. Compromised functionality of the cervix can lead to disorders, including infertility, chronic infections and cancers. The cervix comprises two regions: columnar epithelium-lined endocervix and stratified squamous epithelium-lined ectocervix, meeting at the squamocolumnar transition zone. So far, two-dimensional cultures of genetically unstable immortalized or cancer cell lines have been primarily used to study cervix biology in vitro. The lack of an in vitro system that reflects the cellular, physiological and functional properties of the two epithelial types has hampered the study of normal physiology, disease development and infection processes. Here we describe a protocol for cell isolation, establishment, long-term culture and expansion of adult epithelial stem cell-derived endocervical and ectocervical organoids from human biopsies and mouse tissue. These two organoid types require unique combinations of growth factors reminiscent of their in vivo tissue niches and different culturing procedures. They recapitulate native three-dimensional tissue architecture and patterning. The protocol to generate these organoids takes 4-6 weeks. We also describe procedures to introduce human papillomavirus oncogenes into the cervical stem cells by genetic manipulation to model cervical cancer and infection of the organoids with the highly prevalent sexually transmitted bacterial pathogen Chlamydia trachomatis. These organoid systems open new possibilities to study cervix biology, infections and cancer evolution, and have potential applications in personalized medicine, drug screening, genome editing and disease modeling.
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Tanton H, Sewastianik T, Seo HS, Remillard D, Pierre RS, Bala P, Aitymbayev D, Dennis P, Adler K, Geffken E, Yeoh Z, Vangos N, Garbicz F, Scott D, Sethi N, Bradner J, Dhe-Paganon S, Carrasco RD. A novel β-catenin/BCL9 complex inhibitor blocks oncogenic Wnt signaling and disrupts cholesterol homeostasis in colorectal cancer. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm3108. [PMID: 35486727 PMCID: PMC9054024 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm3108] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulated Wnt/β-catenin signaling is implicated in the pathogenesis of many human cancers, including colorectal cancer (CRC), making it an attractive clinical target. With the aim of inhibiting oncogenic Wnt activity, we developed a high-throughput screening AlphaScreen assay to identify selective small-molecule inhibitors of the interaction between β-catenin and its coactivator BCL9. We identified a compound that consistently bound to β-catenin and specifically inhibited in vivo native β-catenin/BCL9 complex formation in CRC cell lines. This compound inhibited Wnt activity, down-regulated expression of the Wnt/β-catenin signature in gene expression studies, disrupted cholesterol homeostasis, and significantly reduced the proliferation of CRC cell lines and tumor growth in a xenograft mouse model of CRC. This study has therefore identified a specific small-molecule inhibitor of oncogenic Wnt signaling, which may have value as a probe for functional studies and has important implications for the development of novel therapies in patients with CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Helen Tanton
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Tomasz Sewastianik
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine,, Warsaw, Poland
| | - Hyuk-Soo Seo
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David Remillard
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Roodolph St. Pierre
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pratyusha Bala
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Daulet Aitymbayev
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
| | - Peter Dennis
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Keith Adler
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ezekiel Geffken
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Zoe Yeoh
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicholas Vangos
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Filip Garbicz
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Experimental Hematology, Institute of Hematology and Transfusion Medicine,, Warsaw, Poland
| | - David Scott
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nilay Sethi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, USA
- Gastrointestinal Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - James Bradner
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sirano Dhe-Paganon
- Department of Cancer Biology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Biological Chemistry and Molecular Pharmacology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Ruben D. Carrasco
- Department of Oncologic Pathology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Baek J, Lopez PA, Lee S, Kim TS, Kumar S, Schaffer DV. Egr1 is a 3D matrix-specific mediator of mechanosensitive stem cell lineage commitment. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2022; 8:eabm4646. [PMID: 35427160 PMCID: PMC9012469 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abm4646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 05/31/2023]
Abstract
While extracellular matrix (ECM) mechanics strongly regulate stem cell commitment, the field's mechanistic understanding of this phenomenon largely derives from simplified two-dimensional (2D) culture substrates. Here, we found a 3D matrix-specific mechanoresponsive mechanism for neural stem cell (NSC) differentiation. NSC lineage commitment in 3D is maximally stiffness sensitive in the range of 0.1 to 1.2 kPa, a narrower and more brain-mimetic range than we had previously identified in 2D (0.75 to 75 kPa). Transcriptomics revealed stiffness-dependent up-regulation of early growth response 1 (Egr1) in 3D but not in 2D. Egr1 knockdown enhanced neurogenesis in stiff ECMs by driving β-catenin nuclear localization and activity in 3D, but not in 2D. Mechanical modeling and experimental studies under osmotic pressure indicate that stiff 3D ECMs are likely to stimulate Egr1 via increases in confining stress during cell volumetric growth. To our knowledge, Egr1 represents the first 3D-specific stem cell mechanoregulatory factor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieung Baek
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Paola A. Lopez
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- UC Berkeley–UC San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Sangmin Lee
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Taek-Soo Kim
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, KAIST, 291 Daehak-ro, Yuseong-gu, Daejeon 34141, Republic of Korea
| | - Sanjay Kumar
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- UC Berkeley–UC San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Bioengineering and Therapeutic Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
- Biological Systems and Engineering Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - David V. Schaffer
- Department of Bioengineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- UC Berkeley–UC San Francisco Graduate Program in Bioengineering, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Molecular Biophysics and Integrated Bioimaging Division, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
- Helen Wills Neuroscience Institute, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
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Donath S, Angerstein L, Gentemann L, Müller D, Seidler AE, Jesinghaus C, Bleich A, Heisterkamp A, Buettner M, Kalies S. Investigation of Colonic Regeneration via Precise Damage Application Using Femtosecond Laser-Based Nanosurgery. Cells 2022; 11:1143. [PMID: 35406708 PMCID: PMC8998079 DOI: 10.3390/cells11071143] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/18/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Organoids represent the cellular composition of natural tissue. So called colonoids, organoids derived from colon tissue, are a good model for understanding regeneration. However, next to the cellular composition, the surrounding matrix, the cell-cell interactions, and environmental factors have to be considered. This requires new approaches for the manipulation of a colonoid. Of key interest is the precise application of localized damage and the following cellular reaction. We have established multiphoton imaging in combination with femtosecond laser-based cellular nanosurgery in colonoids to ablate single cells in the colonoids' crypts, the proliferative zones, and the differentiated zones. We observed that half of the colonoids recovered within six hours after manipulation. An invagination of the damaged cell and closing of the structure was observed. In about a third of the cases of targeted crypt damage, it caused a stop in crypt proliferation. In the majority of colonoids ablated in the crypt, the damage led to an increase in Wnt signalling, indicated via a fluorescent lentiviral biosensor. qRT-PCR analysis showed increased expression of various proliferation and Wnt-associated genes in response to damage. Our new model of probing colonoid regeneration paves the way to better understand organoid dynamics on a single cell level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sören Donath
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (L.A.); (L.G.); (D.M.); (A.E.S.); (C.J.); (A.H.); (S.K.)
- Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (M.B.)
| | - Leon Angerstein
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (L.A.); (L.G.); (D.M.); (A.E.S.); (C.J.); (A.H.); (S.K.)
- Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (M.B.)
| | - Lara Gentemann
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (L.A.); (L.G.); (D.M.); (A.E.S.); (C.J.); (A.H.); (S.K.)
- Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (M.B.)
| | - Dominik Müller
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (L.A.); (L.G.); (D.M.); (A.E.S.); (C.J.); (A.H.); (S.K.)
- Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (M.B.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Anna E. Seidler
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (L.A.); (L.G.); (D.M.); (A.E.S.); (C.J.); (A.H.); (S.K.)
- Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (M.B.)
| | - Christian Jesinghaus
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (L.A.); (L.G.); (D.M.); (A.E.S.); (C.J.); (A.H.); (S.K.)
- Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (M.B.)
| | - André Bleich
- Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (M.B.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Alexander Heisterkamp
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (L.A.); (L.G.); (D.M.); (A.E.S.); (C.J.); (A.H.); (S.K.)
- Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (M.B.)
| | - Manuela Buettner
- Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (M.B.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
| | - Stefan Kalies
- Institute of Quantum Optics, Leibniz University Hannover, 30167 Hannover, Germany; (L.A.); (L.G.); (D.M.); (A.E.S.); (C.J.); (A.H.); (S.K.)
- Lower Saxony Center for Biomedical Engineering, Implant Research and Development (NIFE), 30625 Hannover, Germany; (A.B.); (M.B.)
- REBIRTH Research Center for Translational Regenerative Medicine, 30625 Hannover, Germany
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Wang B, Wang T, Zhu H, Yan R, Li X, Zhang C, Tao W, Ke X, Hao P, Qu Y. Neddylation is essential for β-catenin degradation in Wnt signaling pathway. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110538. [PMID: 35320710 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110538] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
β-Catenin is a central component in the Wnt signaling pathway; its degradation has been tightly connected to ubiquitylation, but it is rarely examined by loss-of-function assays. Here we observe that endogenous β-catenin is not stabilized upon ubiquitylation depletion by a ubiquitylation inhibitor, TAK-243. We demonstrate that N-terminal phosphorylated β-catenin is quickly and strongly stabilized by a specific neddylation inhibitor, MLN4924, in all examined cell types, and that β-catenin and TCF4 interaction is strongly enhanced by inhibition of neddylation but not ubiquitylation. We also confirm that the E3 ligase β-TrCP2, but not β-TrCP1, is associated with neddylation and destruction of β-catenin. GSK3β and adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) are not required for β-catenin neddylation but essential for its subsequent degradation. Our findings not only clarify the process of β-catenin modification and degradation in the Wnt signaling pathway but also highlight the importance of reassessing previously identified ubiquitylation substrates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bojun Wang
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Tiantian Wang
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Huimin Zhu
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Rong Yan
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Xinru Li
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chengqian Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Wanyu Tao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Xisong Ke
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Piliang Hao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, China.
| | - Yi Qu
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200, Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 201203, China.
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37
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The molecular underpinning of geminin-overexpressing triple-negative breast cancer cells homing specifically to lungs. Cancer Gene Ther 2022; 29:304-325. [PMID: 33723406 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-021-00311-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 01/23/2021] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBCs) display lung metastasis tropism. However, the mechanisms underlying this organ-specific pattern remains to be elucidated. We sought to evaluate the utility of blocking extravasation to prevent lung metastasis. To identify potential geminin overexpression-controlled genetic drivers that promote TNBC tumor homing to lungs, we used the differential/suppression subtractive chain (D/SSC) technique. A geminin overexpression-induced lung metastasis gene signature consists of 24 genes was discovered. We validated overexpression of five of these genes (LGR5, HAS2, CDH11, NCAM2, and DSC2) in worsening lung metastasis-free survival in TNBC patients. Our data demonstrate that LGR5-induced β-catenin signaling and stemness in TNBC cells are geminin-overexpression dependent. They also demonstrate for the first-time expression of RSPO2 in mouse lung tissue only and exacerbation of its secretion in the circulation of mice that develop geminin overexpressing/LGR5+-TNBC lung metastasis. We identified a novel extravasation receptor complex, consists of CDH11, CD44v6, c-Met, and AXL on geminin overexpressing/LGR5+-TNBC lung metastatic precursors, inhibition of any of its receptors prevented geminin overexpressing/LGR5+-TNBC lung metastasis. Overall, we propose that geminin overexpression in normal mammary epithelial (HME) cells promotes the generation of TNBC metastatic precursors that home specifically to lungs by upregulating LGR5 expression and promoting stemness, intravasation, and extravasation in these precursors. Circulating levels of RSPO2 and OPN can be diagnostic biomarkers to improve risk stratification of metastatic TNBC to lungs, as well as identifying patients who may benefit from therapy targeting geminin alone or in combination with any member of the newly discovered extravasation receptor complex to minimize TNBC lung metastasis.
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38
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Yan R, Zhu H, Huang P, Yang M, Shen M, Pan Y, Zhang C, Zhou X, Li H, Ke X, Zhang W, Hao P, Qu Y. Liquidambaric acid inhibits Wnt/β-catenin signaling and colon cancer via targeting TNF receptor-associated factor 2. Cell Rep 2022; 38:110319. [PMID: 35108540 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2021] [Revised: 07/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a well-established driver of colon cancer; however, a targeted therapeutic agent has not reached clinics yet. In the present study, we report that the natural compound liquidambaric acid (LDA) inhibits oncogenic Wnt/β-catenin signaling in vitro and in vivo through its direct target tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated factor 2 (TRAF2). Mechanistically, TRAF2 positively regulates Wnt signaling by interacting with the N-terminal of β-catenin via its TRAF-C domain; this interaction is disrupted in presence of LDA. Particularly, a TRAF2/β-catenin/TCF4/TNIK complex is present in colon cancer cells, where TRAF2 is indispensable for the complex formation, and TRAF2/β-catenin and β-catenin/TCF4 interactions are disrupted upon LDA treatment. Our findings not only highlight that TRAF2 is an oncogenic regulator of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and colon cancer but also provide a lead compound targeting TRAF2 for cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rong Yan
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Hongyan Zhu
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Piao Huang
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Min Yang
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Mengzhen Shen
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Yuting Pan
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Chengqian Zhang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, P.R. China
| | - Xianglian Zhou
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China
| | - Huiliang Li
- School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, No. 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China
| | - Xisong Ke
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
| | - Weidong Zhang
- Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China; School of Pharmacy, Second Military Medical University, No. 325 Guohe Road, Shanghai 200433, P.R. China.
| | - Piliang Hao
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, 393 Middle Huaxia Road, Shanghai 201210, P.R. China.
| | - Yi Qu
- Center for Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, P.R. China; Shanghai Frontiers Science Center of TCM Chemical Biology, Institute of Interdisciplinary Integrative Medicine Research, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, No.1200 Cailun Road, Shanghai 201203, China.
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39
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Huang D, Wang Y, Thompson JW, Yin T, Alexander PB, Qin D, Mudgal P, Wu H, Liang Y, Tan L, Pan C, Yuan L, Wan Y, Li QJ, Wang XF. Cancer-cell-derived GABA promotes β-catenin-mediated tumour growth and immunosuppression. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:230-241. [PMID: 35145222 PMCID: PMC8852304 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00820-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 94] [Impact Index Per Article: 47.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Many cancers have an unusual dependence on glutamine. However, most previous studies have focused on the contribution of glutamine to metabolic building blocks and the energy supply. Here, we report that cancer cells with aberrant expression of glutamate decarboxylase 1 (GAD1) rewire glutamine metabolism for the synthesis of γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)-a prominent neurotransmitter-in non-nervous tissues. An analysis of clinical samples reveals that increased GABA levels predict poor prognosis. Mechanistically, we identify a cancer-intrinsic pathway through which GABA activates the GABAB receptor to inhibit GSK-3β activity, leading to enhanced β-catenin signalling. This GABA-mediated β-catenin activation both stimulates tumour cell proliferation and suppresses CD8+ T cell intratumoural infiltration, such that targeting GAD1 or GABABR in mouse models overcomes resistance to anti-PD-1 immune checkpoint blockade therapy. Our findings uncover a signalling role for tumour-derived GABA beyond its classic function as a neurotransmitter that can be targeted pharmacologically to reverse immunosuppression.
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Affiliation(s)
- De Huang
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Yan Wang
- Institute of Pathology and Southwest Cancer Center, Chongqing, China
- Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - J Will Thompson
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
- Proteomics and Metabolomics Shared Resource, Center for Genomic and Computational Biology, Duke University, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Tao Yin
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Peter B Alexander
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Diyuan Qin
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | | | | | - Yaosi Liang
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lianmei Tan
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Christopher Pan
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Lifeng Yuan
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA
| | - Ying Wan
- Southwest Hospital, Chongqing, China
| | - Qi-Jing Li
- Department of Immunology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
| | - Xiao-Fan Wang
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC, USA.
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40
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Do M, Wu CCN, Sonavane PR, Juarez EF, Adams SR, Ross J, Rodriguez Y Baena A, Patel C, Mesirov JP, Carson DA, Advani SJ, Willert K. A FZD7-specific Antibody-Drug Conjugate Induces Ovarian Tumor Regression in Preclinical Models. Mol Cancer Ther 2022; 21:113-124. [PMID: 34667113 PMCID: PMC8742765 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-21-0548] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/20/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Although WNT signaling is frequently dysregulated in solid tumors, drugging this pathway has been challenging due to off-tumor effects. Current clinical pan-WNT inhibitors are nonspecific and lead to adverse effects, highlighting the urgent need for more specific WNT pathway-targeting strategies. We identified elevated expression of the WNT receptor Frizzled class receptor 7 (FZD7) in multiple solid cancers in The Cancer Genome Atlas, particularly in the mesenchymal and proliferative subtypes of ovarian serous cystadenocarcinoma, which correlate with poorer median patient survival. Moreover, we observed increased FZD7 protein expression in ovarian tumors compared with normal ovarian tissue, indicating that FZD7 may be a tumor-specific antigen. We therefore developed a novel antibody-drug conjugate, septuximab vedotin (F7-ADC), which is composed of a chimeric human-mouse antibody to human FZD7 conjugated to the microtubule-inhibiting drug monomethyl auristatin E (MMAE). F7-ADC selectively binds human FZD7, potently kills ovarian cancer cells in vitro, and induces regression of ovarian tumor xenografts in murine models. To evaluate F7-ADC toxicity in vivo, we generated mice harboring a modified Fzd7 gene where the resulting Fzd7 protein is reactive with the human-targeting F7-ADC. F7-ADC treatment of these mice did not induce acute toxicities, indicating a potentially favorable safety profile in patients. Overall, our data suggest that the antibody-drug conjugate approach may be a powerful strategy to combat FZD7-expressing ovarian cancers in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Myan Do
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Christina C N Wu
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Pooja R Sonavane
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Edwin F Juarez
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Stephen R Adams
- Department of Pharmacology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Jason Ross
- Department of Global Creative Studio, Illumina, Inc., San Diego, California
| | | | - Charmi Patel
- Department of Pathology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Jill P Mesirov
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.,Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Dennis A Carson
- Department of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Sunil J Advani
- Department of Radiation Medicine and Applied Science, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California
| | - Karl Willert
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California.
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41
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Junyent S, Reeves J, Habib SJ. Assessing the Wnt-reactivity of cytonemes of mouse embryonic stem cells using a bioengineering approach. STAR Protoc 2021; 2:100813. [PMID: 34568840 PMCID: PMC8449058 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/02/2022] Open
Abstract
These protocols investigate the interaction of cytonemes with localized Wnt. Cell-niche signaling between naive or primed mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) and either Wnt-secreting trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) or Wnt signals tethered to microbeads can be scrutinized in vitro. This approach analyzes cytoneme reactivity during Wnt-interaction initiation, Ca2+ transients at Wnt-contacting cytonemes, and subsequent pairing between ESCs and Wnt-sources. This pairing interaction is crucial to synthetic embryogenesis; hence this protocol is effective for in vitro studies of developmental biology. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Junyent et al. (2020, 2021a, 2021b).
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Junyent
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Joshua Reeves
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
| | - Shukry J. Habib
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London SE1 9RT, UK
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42
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Bonnet C, Brahmbhatt A, Deng SX, Zheng JJ. Wnt signaling activation: targets and therapeutic opportunities for stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:1144-1157. [PMID: 34458828 PMCID: PMC8341040 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00063b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt proteins are secreted morphogens that play critical roles in embryonic development, stem cell proliferation, self-renewal, tissue regeneration and remodeling in adults. While aberrant Wnt signaling contributes to diseases such as cancer, activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a target of interest in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Recent high throughput screenings from chemical and biological libraries, combined with improved gene expression reporter assays of Wnt/β-catenin activation together with rational drug design, led to the development of a myriad of Wnt activators, with different mechanisms of actions. Among them, Wnt mimics, antibodies targeting Wnt inhibitors, glycogen-synthase-3β inhibitors, and indirubins and other natural product derivatives are emerging modalities to treat bone, neurodegenerative, eye, and metabolic disorders, as well as prevent ageing. Nevertheless, the creation of Wnt-based therapies has been hampered by challenges in developing potent and selective Wnt activators without off-target effects, such as oncogenesis. On the other hand, to avoid these risks, their use to promote ex vivo expansion during tissue engineering is a promising application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Bonnet
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Paris University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, and Cornea Departement, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP F-75014 Paris France
| | - Anvi Brahmbhatt
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
| | - Sophie X Deng
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Jie J Zheng
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA
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43
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Abreu de Oliveira WA, Moens S, El Laithy Y, van der Veer BK, Athanasouli P, Cortesi EE, Baietti MF, Koh KP, Ventura JJ, Amant F, Annibali D, Lluis F. Wnt/β-Catenin Inhibition Disrupts Carboplatin Resistance in Isogenic Models of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:705384. [PMID: 34367990 PMCID: PMC8340846 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.705384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/05/2021] [Accepted: 06/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive breast cancer subtype, characterized by limited treatment options and higher relapse rates than hormone-receptor-positive breast cancers. Chemotherapy remains the mainstay treatment for TNBC, and platinum salts have been explored as a therapeutic alternative in neo-adjuvant and metastatic settings. However, primary and acquired resistance to chemotherapy in general and platinum-based regimens specifically strongly hampers TNBC management. In this study, we used carboplatin-resistant in vivo patient-derived xenograft and isogenic TNBC cell-line models and detected enhanced Wnt/β-catenin activity correlating with an induced expression of stem cell markers in both resistant models. In accordance, the activation of canonical Wnt signaling in parental TNBC cell lines increases stem cell markers' expression, formation of tumorspheres and promotes carboplatin resistance. Finally, we prove that Wnt signaling inhibition resensitizes resistant models to carboplatin both in vitro and in vivo, suggesting the synergistic use of Wnt inhibitors and carboplatin as a therapeutic option in TNBC. Here we provide evidence for a prominent role of Wnt signaling in mediating resistance to carboplatin, and we establish that combinatorial targeting of Wnt signaling overcomes carboplatin resistance enhancing chemotherapeutic drug efficacy.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Stijn Moens
- Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Department of Oncology, Gynecological Oncology Lab 3000, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Youssef El Laithy
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bernard K van der Veer
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental Epigenetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Paraskevi Athanasouli
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Emanuela Elsa Cortesi
- Translational Cell and Tissue Research - Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | | | - Kian Peng Koh
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, Laboratory for Stem Cell and Developmental Epigenetics, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Juan-Jose Ventura
- Translational Cell and Tissue Research - Department of Imaging & Pathology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Frédéric Amant
- Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Department of Oncology, Gynecological Oncology Lab 3000, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Centre for Gynecologic Oncology Amsterdam (CGOA), Antoni Van Leeuwenhoek-Netherlands Cancer Institute (AvL-NKI), University Medical Center (UMC), Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Daniela Annibali
- Leuven Cancer Institute (LKI), Department of Oncology, Gynecological Oncology Lab 3000, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Division of Oncogenomics, Oncode Institute, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Frederic Lluis
- Stem Cell Institute, Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit (KU) Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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44
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Deficient LEF1 expression is associated with lithium resistance and hyperexcitability in neurons derived from bipolar disorder patients. Mol Psychiatry 2021; 26:2440-2456. [PMID: 33398088 PMCID: PMC9129103 DOI: 10.1038/s41380-020-00981-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/10/2020] [Revised: 11/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Bipolar disorder (BD) is a psychiatric condition characterized by depressive and manic episodes that affect 2% of the world population. The first-line long-term treatment for mood stabilization is lithium (Li). Induced pluripotent stem cell modeling of BD using hippocampal dentate gyrus-like neurons derived from Li-responsive (LR) and Li-non-responsive (NR) patients previously showed neuronal hyperexcitability. Li treatment reversed hyperexcitability only on the LR neurons. In this study we searched for specific targets of Li resistance in NR neurons and found that the activity of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway was severely affected, with a significant decrease in expression of LEF1. Li targets the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway by inhibiting GSK-3β and releasing β-catenin that forms a nuclear complex with TCF/LEF1, activating the Wnt/β-catenin transcription program. Therefore, we propose that downregulation of LEF1 may account for Li resistance in NR neurons. Our results show that valproic acid (VPA), a drug used to treat NR patients that also acts downstream of GSK-3β, upregulated LEF1 and Wnt/β-catenin gene targets, increased transcriptional activity of complex β-catenin/TCF/LEF1, and reduced excitability in NR neurons. In addition, decreasing LEF1 expression in control neurons using shLEF1 caused hyperexcitability, confirming that the impact of VPA on excitability in NR neurons was connected to changes in LEF1 and in the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Our results suggest that LEF1 may be a useful target for the discovery of new drugs for BD treatment.
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45
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Junyent S, Reeves JC, Szczerkowski JLA, Garcin CL, Trieu TJ, Wilson M, Lundie-Brown J, Habib SJ. Wnt- and glutamate-receptors orchestrate stem cell dynamics and asymmetric cell division. eLife 2021; 10:59791. [PMID: 34028355 PMCID: PMC8177892 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt-pathway is part of a signalling network that regulates many aspects of cell biology. Recently, we discovered crosstalk between AMPA/Kainate-type ionotropic glutamate receptors (iGluRs) and the Wnt-pathway during the initial Wnt3a-interaction at the cytonemes of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). Here, we demonstrate that this crosstalk persists throughout the Wnt3a-response in ESCs. Both AMPA and Kainate receptors regulate early Wnt3a-recruitment, dynamics on the cell membrane, and orientation of the spindle towards a Wnt3a-source at mitosis. AMPA receptors specifically are required for segregating cell fate components during Wnt3a-mediated asymmetric cell division (ACD). Using Wnt-pathway component knockout lines, we determine that Wnt co-receptor Lrp6 has particular functionality over Lrp5 in cytoneme formation, and in facilitating ACD. Both Lrp5 and 6, alongside pathway effector β-catenin act in concert to mediate the positioning of the dynamic interaction with, and spindle orientation to, a localised Wnt3a-source. Wnt-iGluR crosstalk may prove pervasive throughout embryonic and adult stem cell signalling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Junyent
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Joshua C Reeves
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - James LA Szczerkowski
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Clare L Garcin
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Tung-Jui Trieu
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Matthew Wilson
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Jethro Lundie-Brown
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
| | - Shukry J Habib
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King's College LondonLondonUnited Kingdom
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46
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Wan C, Mahara S, Sun C, Doan A, Chua HK, Xu D, Bian J, Li Y, Zhu D, Sooraj D, Cierpicki T, Grembecka J, Firestein R. Genome-scale CRISPR-Cas9 screen of Wnt/β-catenin signaling identifies therapeutic targets for colorectal cancer. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabf2567. [PMID: 34138730 PMCID: PMC8133758 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abf2567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 03/29/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Aberrant activation of Wnt/β-catenin pathway is a key driver of colorectal cancer (CRC) growth and of great therapeutic importance. In this study, we performed comprehensive CRISPR screens to interrogate the regulatory network of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in CRC cells. We found marked discrepancies between the artificial TOP reporter activity and β-catenin-mediated endogenous transcription and redundant roles of T cell factor/lymphoid enhancer factor transcription factors in transducing β-catenin signaling. Compiled functional genomic screens and network analysis revealed unique epigenetic regulators of β-catenin transcriptional output, including the histone lysine methyltransferase 2A oncoprotein (KMT2A/Mll1). Using an integrative epigenomic and transcriptional profiling approach, we show that KMT2A loss diminishes the binding of β-catenin to consensus DNA motifs and the transcription of β-catenin targets in CRC. These results suggest that KMT2A may be a promising target for CRCs and highlight the broader potential for exploiting epigenetic modulation as a therapeutic strategy for β-catenin-driven malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chunhua Wan
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Sylvia Mahara
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, South Parks Road, Oxford, OX1 3QU, UK
| | - Claire Sun
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Anh Doan
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Hui Kheng Chua
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Dakang Xu
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
- Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Jia Bian
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Yue Li
- Faculty of Medical Laboratory Science, Ruijin Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 200025 Shanghai, China
| | - Danxi Zhu
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Dhanya Sooraj
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
| | - Tomasz Cierpicki
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Jolanta Grembecka
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ron Firestein
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia.
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, VIC 3168, Australia
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47
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Junyent S, Reeves J, Gentleman E, Habib SJ. Pluripotency state regulates cytoneme selectivity and self-organization of embryonic stem cells. J Cell Biol 2021; 220:e202005095. [PMID: 33606876 PMCID: PMC7903188 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202005095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 01/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
To coordinate cell fate with changes in spatial organization, stem cells (SCs) require specific and adaptable systems of signal exchange and cell-to-cell communication. Pluripotent embryonic stem cells (ESCs) use cytonemes to pair with trophoblast stem cells (TSCs) and form synthetic embryonic structures in a Wnt-dependent manner. How these interactions vary with pluripotency states remains elusive. Here we show that ESC transition to an early primed ESC (pESC) state reduces their pairing with TSCs and impairs synthetic embryogenesis. pESCs can activate the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in response to soluble Wnt ligands, but their cytonemes form unspecific and unstable interactions with localized Wnt sources. This is due to an impaired crosstalk between Wnt and glutamate receptor activity and reduced generation of Ca2+ transients on the cytonemes upon Wnt source contact. Induced iGluR activation can partially restore cytoneme function in pESCs, while transient overexpression of E-cadherin improves pESC-TSC pairing. Our results illustrate how changes in pluripotency state alter the mechanisms SCs use to self-organize.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sergi Junyent
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Joshua Reeves
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Eileen Gentleman
- Centre for Craniofacial and Regenerative Biology, King’s College London, London, UK
| | - Shukry J. Habib
- Centre for Stem Cells and Regenerative Medicine, King’s College London, London, UK
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48
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Esposito M, Fang C, Cook KC, Park N, Wei Y, Spadazzi C, Bracha D, Gunaratna RT, Laevsky G, DeCoste CJ, Slabodkin H, Brangwynne CP, Cristea IM, Kang Y. TGF-β-induced DACT1 biomolecular condensates repress Wnt signalling to promote bone metastasis. Nat Cell Biol 2021; 23:257-267. [PMID: 33723425 PMCID: PMC7970447 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-021-00641-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/26/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The complexity of intracellular signalling requires both a diversity of molecular players and the sequestration of activity to unique compartments within the cell. Recent findings on the role of liquid-liquid phase separation provide a distinct mechanism for the spatial segregation of proteins to regulate signalling pathway crosstalk. Here, we discover that DACT1 is induced by TGFβ and forms protein condensates in the cytoplasm to repress Wnt signalling. These condensates do not localize to any known organelles but, rather, exist as phase-separated proteinaceous cytoplasmic bodies. The deletion of intrinsically disordered domains within the DACT1 protein eliminates its ability to both form protein condensates and suppress Wnt signalling. Isolation and mass spectrometry analysis of these particles revealed a complex of protein machinery that sequesters casein kinase 2-a Wnt pathway activator. We further demonstrate that DACT1 condensates are maintained in vivo and that DACT1 is critical to breast and prostate cancer bone metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark Esposito
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Cao Fang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Katelyn C Cook
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Nana Park
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Yong Wei
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Chiara Spadazzi
- Osteoncology and Rare Tumors Center, Istituto Scientifico Romagnolo per lo Studio e la Cura dei Tumori (IRST) IRCCS, Meldola, Italy
| | - Dan Bracha
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Ramesh T Gunaratna
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Gary Laevsky
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | | | - Hannah Slabodkin
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Clifford P Brangwynne
- Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Ileana M Cristea
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA
| | - Yibin Kang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Princeton University, Princeton, NJ, USA.
- Cancer Metabolism and Growth Program, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, NJ, USA.
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49
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Liu TW, Gammon ST, Fuentes D, Piwnica-Worms D. Multi-Modal Multi-Spectral Intravital Macroscopic Imaging of Signaling Dynamics in Real Time during Tumor-Immune Interactions. Cells 2021; 10:489. [PMID: 33668735 PMCID: PMC7996138 DOI: 10.3390/cells10030489] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/20/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
A major obstacle in studying the interplay between cancer cells and the immune system has been the examination of proposed biological pathways and cell interactions in a dynamic, physiologically relevant system in vivo. Intravital imaging strategies are one of the few molecular imaging techniques that can follow biological processes at cellular resolution over long periods of time in the same individual. Bioluminescence imaging has become a standard preclinical in vivo optical imaging technique with ever-expanding versatility as a result of the development of new emission bioluminescent reporters, advances in genomic techniques, and technical improvements in bioluminescence imaging and processing methods. Herein, we describe an advance of technology with a molecular imaging window chamber platform that combines bioluminescent and fluorescent reporters with intravital macro-imaging techniques and bioluminescence spectral unmixing in real time applied to heterogeneous living systems in vivo for evaluating tumor signaling dynamics and immune cell enzyme activities concurrently.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tracy W. Liu
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.W.L.); (S.T.G.)
| | - Seth T. Gammon
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.W.L.); (S.T.G.)
| | - David Fuentes
- Department of Imaging Physics, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA;
| | - David Piwnica-Worms
- Department of Cancer Systems Imaging, University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA; (T.W.L.); (S.T.G.)
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50
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Shen M, Xie S, Rowicki M, Michel S, Wei Y, Hang X, Wan L, Lu X, Yuan M, Jin JF, Jaschinski F, Zhou T, Klar R, Kang Y. Therapeutic Targeting of Metadherin Suppresses Colorectal and Lung Cancer Progression and Metastasis. Cancer Res 2021; 81:1014-1025. [PMID: 33239430 PMCID: PMC8026491 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-1876] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2020] [Revised: 10/14/2020] [Accepted: 11/19/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Colorectal and lung cancers account for one-third of all cancer-related deaths worldwide. Previous studies suggested that metadherin (MTDH) is involved in the development of colorectal and lung cancers. However, how MTDH regulates the pathogenesis of these cancers remains largely unknown. Using genetically modified mouse models of spontaneous colorectal and lung cancers, we found that MTDH promotes cancer progression by facilitating Wnt activation and by inducing cytotoxic T-cell exhaustion, respectively. Moreover, we developed locked nucleic acid-modified (LNA) MTDH antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) that effectively and specifically suppress MTDH expression in vitro and in vivo. Treatments with MTDH ASOs in mouse models significantly attenuated progression and metastasis of colorectal, lung, and breast cancers. Our study opens a new avenue for developing therapies against colorectal and lung cancers by targeting MTDH using LNA-modified ASO. SIGNIFICANCE: This study provides new insights into the mechanism of MTDH in promoting colorectal and lung cancers, as well as genetic and pharmacologic evidence supporting the development of MTDH-targeting therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Minhong Shen
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Shanshan Xie
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
- Department of Cell Biology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- The Children's Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
| | - Michelle Rowicki
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Sven Michel
- Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG, Planegg/Martinsried, Germany
| | - Yong Wei
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Xiang Hang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Liling Wan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Xin Lu
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Min Yuan
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - John F Jin
- Firebrand Therapeutics, Princeton, New Jersey
| | - Frank Jaschinski
- Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG, Planegg/Martinsried, Germany
| | - Tianhua Zhou
- Cancer Center, Zhejiang University, Zhejiang, China
- Department of Cell Biology and Cancer Institute of the Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou, China
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Richard Klar
- Secarna Pharmaceuticals GmbH & Co. KG, Planegg/Martinsried, Germany
| | - Yibin Kang
- Department of Molecular Biology, Princeton University, Princeton, New Jersey.
- Cancer Metabolism and Growth Program, Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey
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