1
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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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2
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Thoring L, Zemella A, Wüstenhagen D, Kubick S. Accelerating the Production of Druggable Targets: Eukaryotic Cell-Free Systems Come into Focus. Methods Protoc 2019; 2:mps2020030. [PMID: 31164610 PMCID: PMC6632147 DOI: 10.3390/mps2020030] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Revised: 04/05/2019] [Accepted: 04/10/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
In the biopharmaceutical pipeline, protein expression systems are of high importance not only for the production of biotherapeutics but also for the discovery of novel drugs. The vast majority of drug targets are proteins, which need to be characterized and validated prior to the screening of potential hit components and molecules. A broad range of protein expression systems is currently available, mostly based on cellular organisms of prokaryotic and eukaryotic origin. Prokaryotic cell-free systems are often the system of choice for drug target protein production due to the simple generation of expression hosts and low cost of preparation. Limitations in the production of complex mammalian proteins appear due to inefficient protein folding and posttranslational modifications. Alternative protein production systems, so-called eukaryotic cell-free protein synthesis systems based on eukaryotic cell-lysates, close the gap between a fast protein generation system and a high quality of complex mammalian proteins. In this study, we show the production of druggable target proteins in eukaryotic cell-free systems. Functional characterization studies demonstrate the bioactivity of the proteins and underline the potential for eukaryotic cell-free systems to significantly improve drug development pipelines.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lena Thoring
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Anne Zemella
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Doreen Wüstenhagen
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.
| | - Stefan Kubick
- Fraunhofer Institute for Cell Therapy and Immunology (IZI), Branch Bioanalytics and Bioprocesses (IZI-BB), Am Mühlenberg 13, D-14476 Potsdam, Germany.
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3
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Global gene expression analysis identifies Mef2c as a potential player in Wnt16-mediated transcriptional regulation. Gene 2018; 675:312-321. [PMID: 29981832 DOI: 10.1016/j.gene.2018.06.079] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/24/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Wnt16 is a major Wnt ligand involved in the regulation of postnatal bone homeostasis. Previous studies have shown that Wnt16 promotes bone formation and inhibits bone resorption, suggesting that this molecule could be targeted for therapeutic interventions to treat bone thinning disorders such as osteoporosis. However, the molecular mechanisms by which Wnt16 regulates bone metabolism is not yet fully understood. To better understand the molecular mechanisms by which Wnt16 promotes bone formation and to identify the target genes regulated by Wnt16 in osteoblasts, we treated calvarial osteoblasts purified from C57Bl/6 mice with recombinant Wnt16 and profiled the gene expression changes by RNA-seq at 24 h post-treatment. We also compared gene expression profiles of Wnt16-treated osteoblasts to canonical Wnt3a- and non-canonical Wnt5a-treated osteoblasts. This study identified 576 genes differentially expressed in Wnt16-treated osteoblasts compared to sham-treated controls; these included several members of Wnt pathway (Wnt2b, Wnt7b, Wnt11, Axin2, Sfrp2, Sfrp4, Fzd5 etc.) and TGF-β/BMP signaling pathway (Bmp7, Inhba, Inhbb, Tgfb2 etc.). Wnt16 also regulated a large number of genes with known bone phenotypes. We also found that about 37% (215/576) of the Wnt16 targets overlapped with Wnt3a targets and ~15% (86/576) overlapped with Wnt5a targets, suggesting that Wnt16 activates both canonical and non-canonical Wnt signaling targets in osteoblasts. Transcription factor binding motif enrichment analysis in the promoter regions of Wnt16 targets identified noncanonical Wnt/JNK pathway activated transcription factors Fosl2 and Fosl1 as two of the most significantly enriched transcription factors associated with genes activated by Wnt16 while Mef2c was the most significantly enriched transcription factor associated with genes repressed by Wnt16. We also found that a large number of Mef2c targets overlapped with genes down-regulated by Wnt16 and Mef2c itself was transcriptionally repressed by Wnt16 suggesting that Mef2c plays a role in Wnt16-mediated transcriptional regulation.
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4
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Li A, Xu Y, Fan S, Meng J, Shen X, Xiao Q, Li Y, Zhang L, Zhang X, Wu G, Liang C, Wu D. Canonical Wnt inhibitors ameliorate cystogenesis in a mouse ortholog of human ADPKD. JCI Insight 2018. [PMID: 29515026 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.95874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) can be caused by mutations in the PKD1 or PKD2 genes. The PKD1 gene product is a Wnt cell-surface receptor. We previously showed that a lack of the PKD2 gene product, PC2, increases β-catenin signaling in mouse embryonic fibroblasts, kidney renal epithelia, and isolated renal collecting duct cells. However, it remains unclear whether β-catenin signaling plays a role in polycystic kidney disease phenotypes or if a Wnt inhibitor can halt cyst formation in ADPKD disease models. Here, using genetic and pharmacologic approaches, we demonstrated that the elevated β-catenin signaling caused by PC2 deficiency contributes significantly to disease phenotypes in a mouse ortholog of human ADPKD. Pharmacologically inhibiting β-catenin stability or the production of mature Wnt protein, or genetically reducing the expression of Ctnnb1 (which encodes β-catenin), suppressed the formation of renal cysts, improved renal function, and extended survival in ADPKD mice. Our study clearly demonstrates the importance of β-catenin signaling in disease phenotypes associated with Pkd2 mutation. It also describes the effects of two Wnt inhibitors, XAV939 and LGK974, on various Wnt signaling targets as a potential therapeutic modality for ADPKD, for which there is currently no effective therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ao Li
- Anhui Province PKD Center, Institute and Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.,Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yuchen Xu
- Anhui Province PKD Center, Institute and Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Song Fan
- Anhui Province PKD Center, Institute and Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Jialin Meng
- Anhui Province PKD Center, Institute and Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xufeng Shen
- Anhui Province PKD Center, Institute and Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Qian Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
| | - Yuan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Hospital and Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Anhui Province PKD Center, Institute and Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Xiansheng Zhang
- Anhui Province PKD Center, Institute and Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Guanqing Wu
- Anhui Province PKD Center, Institute and Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China.,State Key Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Cancer Hospital and Institute, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Chaozhao Liang
- Anhui Province PKD Center, Institute and Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Anhui Medical University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Dianqing Wu
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut, USA
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5
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Chen T, Li J, Córdova LA, Liu B, Mouraret S, Sun Q, Salmon B, Helms J. A WNT protein therapeutic improves the bone-forming capacity of autografts from aged animals. Sci Rep 2018; 8:119. [PMID: 29311710 PMCID: PMC5758817 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-18375-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2017] [Accepted: 12/04/2017] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Autografts tend to be unreliable in older patients. Some of these age-related skeletal changes appear to be attributable to a decline in endogenous WNT signaling. We used a functional in vivo transplantation assay to demonstrate that the bone-forming capacity of an autograft can be traced back to a Wnt-responsive cell population associated with the mineralized bone matrix fraction of a bone graft. Micro-CT imaging, flow cytometry and quantitative analyses demonstrate that this mineralized fraction declines with age, along with a waning in endogenous Wnt signaling; together these factors contribute to the age-related deterioration in autograft efficacy. Using a lipid formulation to stabilize the hydrophobic WNT3A protein, we demonstrate that osteogenic capacity can be restored by incubating the bone graft ex vivo with WNT3A. Compared to control bone grafts, WNT-treated bone grafts give rise to three times more bone. These preclinical results establish a pivotal role for WNT signaling in the age-related decline of autologous bone grafting efficacy, and demonstrate a means to restore that efficacy via local, transient amplification of endogenous Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tao Chen
- Stomatological Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases and Biomedical Sciences, Chongqing Municipal Key Laboratory of Oral Biomedical Engineering of Higher Education, Chongqing, 400000, China.,Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Jingtao Li
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,State Key Laboratory of Oral Diseases & National Clinical Research Center for Oral Disease & Department of Oral Maxillofacial Surgery, West China Hospital of Stomatology, Sichuan University, Chengdu, 610007, China
| | - Luis A Córdova
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery, Faculty of Dentistry, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Bo Liu
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Ankasa Regenerative Therapeutics, Inc. 329 Oyster Point Blvd. Suite 3306, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Sylvain Mouraret
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Periodontology, Service of Odontology, Rothschild Hospital, AP-HP, Paris 7 - Denis, Diderot University, U.F.R. of Odontology, Paris, France
| | - Qiang Sun
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Department of Plastic Surgery, The First Hospital of China Medical University, Shenyang, 110001, China
| | - Benjamin Salmon
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.,Paris Descartes - Sorbonne Paris Cite University, Dental School, EA2496, Montrouge, France and Dental Medicine Department, Bretonneau Hospital, HUPNVS, AP-HP, Paris, France
| | - Jill Helms
- Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, Stanford School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. .,Ankasa Regenerative Therapeutics, Inc. 329 Oyster Point Blvd. Suite 3306, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
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6
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A Wnt5 Activity Asymmetry and Intercellular Signaling via PCP Proteins Polarize Node Cells for Left-Right Symmetry Breaking. Dev Cell 2017; 40:439-452.e4. [PMID: 28292423 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.02.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 61] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2016] [Revised: 12/26/2016] [Accepted: 02/13/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Polarization of node cells along the anterior-posterior axis of mouse embryos is responsible for left-right symmetry breaking. How node cells become polarized has remained unknown, however. Wnt5a and Wnt5b are expressed posteriorly relative to the node, whereas genes for Sfrp inhibitors of Wnt signaling are expressed anteriorly. Here we show that polarization of node cells is impaired in Wnt5a-/-Wnt5b-/- and Sfrp mutant embryos, and also in the presence of a uniform distribution of Wnt5a or Sfrp1, suggesting that Wnt5 and Sfrp proteins act as instructive signals in this process. The absence of planar cell polarity (PCP) core proteins Prickle1 and Prickle2 in individual cells or local forced expression of Wnt5a perturbed polarization of neighboring wild-type cells. Our results suggest that opposing gradients of Wnt5a and Wnt5b and of their Sfrp inhibitors, together with intercellular signaling via PCP proteins, polarize node cells along the anterior-posterior axis for breaking of left-right symmetry.
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7
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Mihara E, Hirai H, Yamamoto H, Tamura-Kawakami K, Matano M, Kikuchi A, Sato T, Takagi J. Active and water-soluble form of lipidated Wnt protein is maintained by a serum glycoprotein afamin/α-albumin. eLife 2016; 5. [PMID: 26902720 PMCID: PMC4775226 DOI: 10.7554/elife.11621] [Citation(s) in RCA: 132] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2015] [Accepted: 01/18/2016] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt plays important role during development and in various diseases. Because Wnts are lipidated and highly hydrophobic, they can only be purified in the presence of detergents, limiting their use in various in vitro and in vivo assays. We purified N-terminally tagged recombinant Wnt3a secreted from cells and accidentally discovered that Wnt3a co-purified with a glycoprotein afamin derived from the bovine serum included in the media. Wnt3a forms a 1:1 complex with afamin, which remains soluble in aqueous buffer after isolation, and can induce signaling in various cellular systems including the intestical stem cell growth assay. By co-expressing with afamin, biologically active afamin-Wnt complex can be easily obtained in large quantity. As afamin can also solubilize Wnt5a, Wnt3, and many more Wnt subtypes, afamin complexation will open a way to put various Wnt ligands and their signaling mechanisms under a thorough biochemical scrutiny that had been difficult for years. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11621.001 The Wnt signaling pathway helps animal cells to communicate with each other to coordinate the formation of tissues and organs. The pathway relies on a protein called Wnt that is released from cells and binds to a receptor protein called Frizzled on the surface of other cells to trigger changes in gene activation. Defects in the Wnt signaling pathway contribute to cancer and other diseases. Great progress has been made in understanding Wnt signaling, but certain types of experiments have been hindered because it has been difficult to isolate pure Wnt proteins. This is partly because Wnt proteins are attached to a fatty molecule that is important for their activity but also makes these proteins “hydrophobic,” or repelled by water. Hydrophobic proteins have a strong tendency to clump or aggregate when they are isolated from cells, which reduces the biological activity of proteins. Adding detergents to the aggregates can break them apart, but can also hinder the proteins’ activities and cannot be used in all experiments. Previous research has shown that mammalian cells grown in the presence of blood serum can produce Wnt proteins that do not aggregate. Blood serum is a complex mixture of different molecules obtained from blood and is commonly added to cells grown in the laboratory. However, adding serum can have also undesirable effects and it is not understood why serum stops Wnt proteins forming aggregates. Using biochemical methods, Mihara et al. have now identified the component in blood serum that prevents Wnt proteins from aggregating. The experiments showed that a protein in the blood serum called afamin binds tightly to Wnt proteins. Furthermore, the complex between afamin and Wnt was biologically active, and could bind to the Frizzled receptor and trigger an appropriate response in cells. Mihara et al. then generated cells that produced both afamin and Wnt and used them to purify large amounts of biologically active Wnt/afamin complexes. This method avoids the potentially undesirable effects of using detergents or serum, and will therefore likely be useful for future experiments and therapeutic applications. Further work is also needed to understand why afamin binds to Wnt proteins and whether this is important for Wnt signaling. DOI:http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.11621.002
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Affiliation(s)
- Emiko Mihara
- Laboratory of Protein Synthesis and Expression, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Hidenori Hirai
- Laboratory of Protein Synthesis and Expression, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Hideki Yamamoto
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Keiko Tamura-Kawakami
- Laboratory of Protein Synthesis and Expression, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Mami Matano
- Department of Gastroenterology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Akira Kikuchi
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medicine, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
| | - Toshiro Sato
- Department of Gastroenterology, Keio University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Junichi Takagi
- Laboratory of Protein Synthesis and Expression, Institute for Protein Research, Osaka University, Suita, Japan
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8
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Li YC, Rodewald LW, Hoppmann C, Wong ET, Lebreton S, Safar P, Patek M, Wang L, Wertman KF, Wahl GM. A versatile platform to analyze low-affinity and transient protein-protein interactions in living cells in real time. Cell Rep 2014; 9:1946-1958. [PMID: 25464845 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.10.058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2014] [Revised: 09/30/2014] [Accepted: 10/15/2014] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Protein-protein interactions (PPIs) play central roles in orchestrating biological processes. While some PPIs are stable, many important ones are transient and hard to detect with conventional approaches. We developed ReBiL, a recombinase enhanced bimolecular luciferase complementation platform, to enable detection of weak PPIs in living cells. ReBiL readily identified challenging transient interactions between an E3 ubiquitin ligase and an E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme. ReBiL's ability to rapidly interrogate PPIs in diverse conditions revealed that some stapled α-helical peptides, a class of PPI antagonists, induce target-independent cytosolic leakage and cytotoxicity that is antagonized by serum. These results explain the requirement for serum-free conditions to detect stapled peptide activity, and define a required parameter to evaluate for peptide antagonist approaches. ReBiL's ability to expedite PPI analysis, assess target specificity and cell permeability, and reveal off-target effects of PPI modifiers should facilitate the development of effective, cell-permeable PPI therapeutics and the elaboration of diverse biological mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao-Cheng Li
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Luo Wei Rodewald
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Christian Hoppmann
- Chemical Biology and Proteomics Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Ee Tsin Wong
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Sylvain Lebreton
- Sanofi Tucson Innovation Center, 2090 East Innovation Park Drive, Oro Valley, AZ 85755, USA
| | - Pavel Safar
- Sanofi Tucson Innovation Center, 2090 East Innovation Park Drive, Oro Valley, AZ 85755, USA
| | - Marcel Patek
- Sanofi Tucson Innovation Center, 2090 East Innovation Park Drive, Oro Valley, AZ 85755, USA
| | - Lei Wang
- Chemical Biology and Proteomics Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Kenneth F Wertman
- Sanofi Tucson Innovation Center, 2090 East Innovation Park Drive, Oro Valley, AZ 85755, USA
| | - Geoffrey M Wahl
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, 10010 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
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9
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Ross J, Busch J, Mintz E, Ng D, Stanley A, Brafman D, Sutton VR, Van den Veyver I, Willert K. A rare human syndrome provides genetic evidence that WNT signaling is required for reprogramming of fibroblasts to induced pluripotent stem cells. Cell Rep 2014; 9:1770-1780. [PMID: 25464842 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2014.10.049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/07/2014] [Revised: 09/05/2014] [Accepted: 10/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
WNT signaling promotes the reprogramming of somatic cells to an induced pluripotent state. We provide genetic evidence that WNT signaling is a requisite step during the induction of pluripotency. Fibroblasts from individuals with focal dermal hypoplasia (FDH), a rare genetic syndrome caused by mutations in the essential WNT processing enzyme PORCN, fail to reprogram with standard methods. This blockade in reprogramming is overcome by ectopic WNT signaling and PORCN overexpression, thus demonstrating that WNT signaling is essential for reprogramming. The rescue of reprogramming is critically dependent on the level of WNT signaling: steady baseline activation of the WNT pathway yields karyotypically normal iPSCs, whereas daily stimulation with Wnt3a produces FDH-iPSCs with severely abnormal karyotypes. Therefore, although WNT signaling is required for cellular reprogramming, inappropriate activation of WNT signaling induces chromosomal instability, highlighting the precarious nature of ectopic WNT activation and its tight relationship with oncogenic transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jason Ross
- Stem Cell Program, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Julia Busch
- Stem Cell Program, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Ellen Mintz
- Department of Biological Sciences, California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo, CA 93407, USA
| | - Damian Ng
- Stem Cell Program, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - Alexandra Stanley
- Stem Cell Program, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - David Brafman
- Stem Cell Program, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA
| | - V Reid Sutton
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ignatia Van den Veyver
- Department of Molecular and Human Genetics, Baylor College of Medicine and Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Karl Willert
- Stem Cell Program, Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA.
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10
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Osteoblast-derived WNT16 represses osteoclastogenesis and prevents cortical bone fragility fractures. Nat Med 2014; 20:1279-88. [PMID: 25306233 DOI: 10.1038/nm.3654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 250] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
The WNT16 locus is a major determinant of cortical bone thickness and nonvertebral fracture risk in humans. The disability, mortality and costs caused by osteoporosis-induced nonvertebral fractures are enormous. We demonstrate here that Wnt16-deficient mice develop spontaneous fractures as a result of low cortical thickness and high cortical porosity. In contrast, trabecular bone volume is not altered in these mice. Mechanistic studies revealed that WNT16 is osteoblast derived and inhibits human and mouse osteoclastogenesis both directly by acting on osteoclast progenitors and indirectly by increasing expression of osteoprotegerin (Opg) in osteoblasts. The signaling pathway activated by WNT16 in osteoclast progenitors is noncanonical, whereas the pathway activated in osteoblasts is both canonical and noncanonical. Conditional Wnt16 inactivation revealed that osteoblast-lineage cells are the principal source of WNT16, and its targeted deletion in osteoblasts increases fracture susceptibility. Thus, osteoblast-derived WNT16 is a previously unreported key regulator of osteoclastogenesis and fracture susceptibility. These findings open new avenues for the specific prevention or treatment of nonvertebral fractures, a substantial unmet medical need.
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11
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MacDonald BT, Hien A, Zhang X, Iranloye O, Virshup DM, Waterman ML, He X. Disulfide bond requirements for active Wnt ligands. J Biol Chem 2014; 289:18122-36. [PMID: 24841207 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m114.575027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Secreted Wnt lipoproteins are cysteine-rich and lipid-modified morphogens that bind to the Frizzled (FZD) receptor and LDL receptor-related protein 6 (LRP6). Wnt engages FZD through protruding thumb and index finger domains, which are each assembled from paired β strands secured by disulfide bonds and grasp two sides of the FZD ectodomain. The importance of Wnt disulfide bonds has been assumed but uncharacterized. We systematically analyzed cysteines and associated disulfide bonds in the prototypic Wnt3a. Our data show that mutation of any individual cysteine of Wnt3a results in covalent Wnt oligomers through ectopic intermolecular disulfide bond formation and diminishes/abolishes Wnt signaling. Although individual cysteine mutations in the amino part of the saposin-like domain and in the base of the index finger are better tolerated and permit residual Wnt3a secretion/activity, those in the amino terminus, the thumb, and at the tip of the index finger are incompatible with secretion and/or activity. A few select double cysteine mutants based on the disulfide bond pattern restore Wnt secretion/activity. Further, a double cysteine mutation at the index finger tip results in a Wnt3a with normal secretion but minimal FZD binding and dominant negative properties. Our results experimentally validate predictions from the Wnt crystal structure and highlight critical but different roles of the saposin-like and cytokine-like domains, including the thumb and the index finger in Wnt folding/secretion and FZD binding. Finally, we modified existing expression vectors for 19 epitope-tagged human WNT proteins by removal of a tag-supplied ectopic cysteine, thereby generating tagged WNT ligands active in canonical and non-canonical signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bryan T MacDonald
- From the F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Annie Hien
- From the F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Xinjun Zhang
- From the F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - Oladoyin Iranloye
- From the F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115
| | - David M Virshup
- the Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, 8 College Road, 169857 Singapore, and
| | - Marian L Waterman
- the Department of Microbiology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Irvine, California 92697
| | - Xi He
- From the F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts 02115,
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12
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Hendrickx G, Boudin E, Fijałkowski I, Nielsen TL, Andersen M, Brixen K, Van Hul W. Variation in the Kozak sequence of WNT16 results in an increased translation and is associated with osteoporosis related parameters. Bone 2014; 59:57-65. [PMID: 24185276 DOI: 10.1016/j.bone.2013.10.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2013] [Revised: 10/24/2013] [Accepted: 10/25/2013] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
The importance of WNT16 in the regulation of bone metabolism was recently confirmed by several genome-wide association studies and by a Wnt16 (Wnt16(-/-)) knockout mouse model. The aim of this study was thus to replicate and further elucidate the effect of common genetic variation in WNT16 on osteoporosis related parameters. Hereto, we performed a WNT16 candidate gene association study in a population of healthy Caucasian men from the Odense Androgen Study (OAS). Using HapMap, five tagSNPs and one multimarker test were selected for genotyping to cover most of the common genetic variation in and around WNT16 (MAF>5%). This study confirmed previously reported associations for rs3801387 and rs2707466 with bone mineral density (BMD) at several sites. Furthermore, we additionally demonstrated that rs2908007 is strongly associated with BMD at several sites in the young, elderly and complete OAS population. The observed effect of these three associated SNPs on the respective phenotypes is comparable and we can conclude that the presence of the minor allele results in an increase in BMD. Additionally, we performed re-sequencing of WNT16 on two cohorts selected from the young OAS cohort, based on their extreme BMD values. On this basis, rs55710688 was selected for an in vitro translation experiment since it is located in the Kozak sequence of WNT16a. We observed an increased translation efficiency and thus a higher amount of WNT16a for the Kozak sequence that was significantly more prevalent in the high BMD cohort. This observation is in line with the results of the Wnt16(-/-) mice. Finally, a WNT luciferase reporter assay was performed and showed no activation of the β-catenin dependent pathway by Wnt16. We did detect a dose-dependent inhibitory effect of Wnt16 on WNT1 activation of this canonical WNT pathway. Increased translation of WNT16 can thus lead to an increased inhibitory action of WNT16 on canonical WNT signaling. This statement is in contrast with the known activating effect of canonical WNT signaling on bone formation and suggests a stimulatory effect on bone metabolism via noncanonical WNT signaling. More research is required to not only confirm this hypothesis, but also to further elucidate the role of non-canonical WNT pathways in bone metabolism and the general mechanisms of interplay between the different WNT signaling pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gretl Hendrickx
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
| | - Eveline Boudin
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
| | | | | | | | - Kim Brixen
- Department of Endocrinology, Odense University Hospital, Denmark.
| | - Wim Van Hul
- Department of Medical Genetics, University of Antwerp, Belgium.
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13
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Bauer M, Bénard J, Gaasterland T, Willert K, Cappellen D. WNT5A encodes two isoforms with distinct functions in cancers. PLoS One 2013; 8:e80526. [PMID: 24260410 PMCID: PMC3832467 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2013] [Accepted: 10/14/2013] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
WNT5A, a member of the WNT family of secreted lipid-modified glycoproteins, is a critical regulator of a host of developmental processes, including limb formation, lung morphogenesis, intestinal elongation and mammary gland development. Altered WNT5A expression has been associated with a number of cancers. Interestingly, in certain types of cancers, such as hematological malignancies and colorectal carcinoma, WNT5A is inactivated and exerts a tumor suppressive function, while in other cancers, such as melanoma and gastric carcinoma, WNT5A is overexpressed and promotes tumor progression. The mechanism by which WNT5A achieves these distinct activities in cancers is poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that the WNT5A gene produces two protein isoforms, WNT5A-long (WNT5A-L) and WNT5A-short (WNT5A-S). Amino-terminal sequencing and a WNT5A-L specific antibody demonstrate that the mature and secreted isoforms are distinct, with WNT5A-L carrying an additional 18 N-terminal amino acids. Biochemical analysis indicates that both purified proteins are similar with respect to their stability, hydrophobicity and WNT/β-catenin signaling activity. Nonetheless, modulation of these two WNT5A isoforms, either through ectopic expression or knockdown, demonstrates that they exert distinct activities in cancer cell lines: while WNT5A-L inhibits proliferation of tumor cell lines, WNT5A-S promotes their growth. Finally, we show that expression of these two WNT5A isoforms is altered in breast and cervix carcinomas, as well as in the most aggressive neuroblastoma tumors. In these cancers, WNT5A-L is frequently down-regulated, whereas WNT5A-S is found overexpressed in a significant fraction of tumors. Altogether, our study provides evidence that the distinct activities of WNT5A in cancer can be attributed to the production of two WNT5A isoforms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthieu Bauer
- Centre National de Recherche Scientifique-Université Paris, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Jean Bénard
- Centre National de Recherche Scientifique-Université Paris, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Département de Pathologie et Biologie Médicales, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
| | - Terry Gaasterland
- University of California San Diego and Scripps Institution of Oceanography, La Jolla, California, United States of America
| | - Karl Willert
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, United States of America
- * E-mail: (DC); (KW)
| | - David Cappellen
- Centre National de Recherche Scientifique-Université Paris, Institut de Cancérologie Gustave Roussy, Villejuif, France
- Centre Hospitalier Universitaire de Bordeaux, Université Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- Histologie et Pathologie Moléculaire des Tumeurs, Université Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
- * E-mail: (DC); (KW)
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14
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Green JL, La J, Yum KW, Desai P, Rodewald LW, Zhang X, Leblanc M, Nusse R, Lewis MT, Wahl GM. Paracrine Wnt signaling both promotes and inhibits human breast tumor growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2013; 110:6991-6. [PMID: 23559372 PMCID: PMC3637696 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1303671110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling in mouse mammary development and tumorigenesis has been heavily studied and characterized, but its role in human breast cancer remains elusive. Although Wnt inhibitors are in early clinical development, it is unclear whether they will be of therapeutic benefit to breast cancer patients, and subsequently, to which ones. To address this, we generated a panel of Wnt reporting human breast cancer cell lines and identified a previously unrecognized enrichment for the ability to respond to Wnt in the basal B or claudin-low subtype, which has a poor prognosis and no available targeted therapies. By co-injecting Wnt3A expressing human mammary fibroblasts with human breast cancer cell lines into mouse mammary fat pads, we showed that elevated paracrine Wnt signaling was correlated with accelerated tumor growth. Using this heterotypic system and a dual lentiviral reporter system that enables simultaneous real-time measurement of both Wnt-responsive cells and bulk tumor cells, we analyzed the outcome of elevated Wnt signaling in patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models. Interestingly, the PDX models exhibited responses not observed in the cell lines analyzed. Exogenous WNT3A promoted tumor growth in one human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-overexpressing PDX line but inhibited growth in a second PDX line obtained from a patient with triple-negative breast cancer. Tumor suppression was associated with squamous differentiation in the latter. Thus, our work suggests that paracrine Wnt signaling can either fuel or repress the growth of human breast cancers depending on yet to be determined aspects of the molecular pathways they express.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Green
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
- Department of Developmental Biology and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305; and
| | - Justin La
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Kyu W. Yum
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Payal Desai
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Luo-Wei Rodewald
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Xiaomei Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Mathias Leblanc
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
| | - Roeland Nusse
- Department of Developmental Biology and
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305; and
| | - Michael T. Lewis
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030
| | - Geoffrey M. Wahl
- Gene Expression Laboratory, The Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037
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