1
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Xiang J, Guo J, Zhang S, Wu H, Chen YG, Wang J, Li B, Liu H. A stromal lineage maintains crypt structure and villus homeostasis in the intestinal stem cell niche. BMC Biol 2023; 21:169. [PMID: 37553612 PMCID: PMC10408166 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-023-01667-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/24/2023] [Indexed: 08/10/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The nutrient-absorbing villi of small intestines are renewed and repaired by intestinal stem cells (ISCs), which reside in a well-organized crypt structure. Genetic studies have shown that Wnt molecules secreted by telocytes, Gli1+ stromal cells, and epithelial cells are required for ISC proliferation and villus homeostasis. Intestinal stromal cells are heterogeneous and single-cell profiling has divided them into telocytes/subepithelial myofibroblasts, myocytes, pericytes, trophocytes, and Pdgfralow stromal cells. Yet, the niche function of these stromal populations remains incompletely understood. RESULTS We show here that a Twist2 stromal lineage, which constitutes the Pdgfralow stromal cell and trophocyte subpopulations, maintains the crypt structure to provide an inflammation-restricting niche for regenerating ISCs. Ablating Twist2 lineage cells or deletion of one Wntless allele in these cells disturbs the crypt structure and impairs villus homeostasis. Upon radiation, Wntless haplo-deficiency caused decreased production of anti-microbial peptides and increased inflammation, leading to defective ISC proliferation and crypt regeneration, which were partially rescued by eradication of commensal bacteria. In addition, we show that Wnts secreted by Acta2+ subpopulations also play a role in crypt regeneration but not homeostasis. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that ISCs may require different niches for villus homeostasis and regeneration and that the Twist2 lineage cells may help to maintain a microbe-restricted environment to allow ISC-mediated crypt regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jinnan Xiang
- The Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200024, China
| | - Jigang Guo
- The Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200024, China
| | - Shaoyang Zhang
- The Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200024, China
| | - Hongguang Wu
- The Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200024, China
| | - Ye-Guang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Junping Wang
- Chongqing Engineering Research Center for Nanomedicine, College of Preventive Medicine, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Baojie Li
- The Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200024, China.
| | - Huijuan Liu
- The Bio-X Institutes, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200024, China.
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2
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Torres VI, Barrera DP, Varas-Godoy M, Arancibia D, Inestrosa NC. Selective Surface and Intraluminal Localization of Wnt Ligands on Small Extracellular Vesicles Released by HT-22 Hippocampal Neurons. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:735888. [PMID: 34722516 PMCID: PMC8548728 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.735888] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2021] [Accepted: 09/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway induces various responses underlying the development and maturation of the nervous system. Wnt ligands are highly hydrophobic proteins that limit their diffusion through an aqueous extracellular medium to a target cell. Nevertheless, their attachment to small extracellular vesicles-like exosomes is one of the described mechanisms that allow their transport under this condition. Some Wnt ligands in these vehicles are expected to be dependent on post-translational modifications such as acylation. The mechanisms determining Wnt loading in exosomes and delivery to the target cells are largely unknown. Here, we took advantage of a cell model that secret a highly enriched population of small extracellular vesicles (sEVs), hippocampal HT-22 neurons. First, to establish the cell model, we characterized the morphological and biochemical properties of an enriched fraction of sEVs obtained from hippocampal HT-22 neurons that express NCAM-L1, a specific exosomal neuronal marker. Transmission electron microscopy showed a highly enriched fraction of exosome-like vesicles. Next, the exosomal presence of Wnt3a, Wnt5a, and Wnt7a was confirmed by western blot analysis and electron microscopy combined with immunogold. Also, we studied whether palmitoylation is a necessary post-translational modification for the transport Wnt in these vesicles. We found that proteinase-K treatment of exosomes selectively decreased their Wnt5a and Wnt7a content, suggesting that their expression is delimited to the exterior membrane surface. In contrast, Wnt3a remained attached, suggesting that it is localized within the exosome lumen. On the other hand, Wnt-C59, a specific inhibitor of porcupine O-acyltransferase (PORCN), decreased the association of Wnt with exosomes, suggesting that Wnt ligand acylation is necessary for them to be secreted by exosomes. These findings may help to understand the action of the Wnt ligands in the target cell, which could be defined during the packaging of the ligands in the secretory cell sEVs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana I Torres
- Departamento Bioquímica y Biología Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Universidad de Concepción, Concepción, Chile
| | - Daniela P Barrera
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE UC), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile
| | - Manuel Varas-Godoy
- Cancer Cell Biology Laboratory, Centro de Biología Celular y Biomedicina (CEBICEM), Facultad de Medicina y Ciencia, Universidad San Sebastián, Santiago, Chile
| | - Duxan Arancibia
- Departamento Biomédico, Facultad de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Antofagasta, Antofagasta, Chile
| | - Nibaldo C Inestrosa
- Centro de Envejecimiento y Regeneración (CARE UC), Departamento de Biología Celular y Molecular, Facultad de Ciencias Biológicas, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, Santiago, Chile.,Centro de Excelencia en Biomedicina de Magallanes (CEBIMA), Universidad de Magallanes, Punta Arenas, Chile
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3
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Pitzer LM, Moroney MR, Nokoff NJ, Sikora MJ. WNT4 Balances Development vs Disease in Gynecologic Tissues and Women's Health. Endocrinology 2021; 162:6272210. [PMID: 33963381 PMCID: PMC8197283 DOI: 10.1210/endocr/bqab093] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The WNT family of proteins is crucial in numerous developmental pathways and tissue homeostasis. WNT4, in particular, is uniquely implicated in the development of the female phenotype in the fetus, and in the maintenance of müllerian and reproductive tissues. WNT4 dysfunction or dysregulation can drive sex-reversal syndromes, highlighting the key role of WNT4 in sex determination. WNT4 is also critical in gynecologic pathologies later in life, including several cancers, uterine fibroids, endometriosis, and infertility. The role of WNT4 in normal decidualization, implantation, and gestation is being increasingly appreciated, while aberrant activation of WNT4 signaling is being linked both to gynecologic and breast cancers. Notably, single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at the WNT4 gene locus are strongly associated with these pathologies and may functionally link estrogen and estrogen receptor signaling to upregulation and activation of WNT4 signaling. Importantly, in each of these developmental and disease states, WNT4 gene expression and downstream WNT4 signaling are regulated and executed by myriad tissue-specific pathways. Here, we review the roles of WNT4 in women's health with a focus on sex development, and gynecologic and breast pathologies, and our understanding of how WNT4 signaling is controlled in these contexts. Defining WNT4 functions provides a unique opportunity to link sex-specific signaling pathways to women's health and disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lauren M Pitzer
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - Marisa R Moroney
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - Natalie J Nokoff
- Department of Pediatrics, Section of Endocrinology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
| | - Matthew J Sikora
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045, USA
- Correspondence: Matthew J. Sikora, PhD; Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Mail Stop 8104, Research Complex 1 South, Rm 5117, 12801 E 17th Ave, Aurora, CO 80045, USA. . Twitter: @mjsikora
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4
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Yue F, Jiang W, Ku AT, Young AIJ, Zhang W, Souto EP, Gao Y, Yu Z, Wang Y, Creighton CJ, Nagi C, Wang T, Hilsenbeck SG, Feng XH, Huang S, Coarfa C, Zhang XHF, Liu Q, Lin X, Li Y. A Wnt-Independent LGR4-EGFR Signaling Axis in Cancer Metastasis. Cancer Res 2021; 81:4441-4454. [PMID: 34099494 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-1112] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/13/2021] [Revised: 06/03/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptors 4, 5, and 6 (LGR4/5/6) play critical roles in development and cancer. The widely accepted mechanism is that these proteins, together with their R-spondin ligands, stabilize Wnt receptors, thus potentiating Wnt signaling. Here we show that LGR4 enhanced breast cancer cell metastasis even when Wnt signaling was deactivated pharmacologically or genetically. Furthermore, LGR4 mutants that cannot potentiate Wnt signaling nevertheless promoted breast cancer cell migration and invasion in vitro and breast cancer metastasis in vivo. Multiomic screening identified EGFR as a crucial mediator of LGR4 activity in cancer progression. Mechanistically, LGR4 interacted with EGFR and blocked EGFR ubiquitination and degradation, resulting in persistent EGFR activation. Together, these data uncover a Wnt-independent LGR4-EGFR signaling axis with broad implications for cancer progression and targeted therapy. SIGNIFICANCE: This work demonstrates a Wnt-independent mechanism by which LGR4 promotes cancer metastasis.See related commentary by Stevens and Williams, p. 4397.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fei Yue
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Weiyu Jiang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Amy T Ku
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Adelaide I J Young
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Weijie Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Eric P Souto
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Yankun Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Zihan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Yi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Proteomics, Beijing Proteome Research Center, National Center for Protein Sciences (Beijing), Beijing Institute of Lifeomics, Beijing, China
| | - Chad J Creighton
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Chandandeep Nagi
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Pathology and Immunology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Tao Wang
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Susan G Hilsenbeck
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Xin-Hua Feng
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Life Sciences Institute, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Shixia Huang
- Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Cristian Coarfa
- Department of Medicine, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Center for Precision Environmental Health, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Xiang H-F Zhang
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,McNair Medical Institute, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Qingyun Liu
- Texas Therapeutics Institute and Brown Foundation Institute of Molecular Medicine, University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston, Houston, Texas
| | - Xia Lin
- Michael E. DeBakey Department of Surgery, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Yi Li
- Lester and Sue Smith Breast Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas. .,Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas.,Department of Molecular Virology and Microbiology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
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5
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Wnt signaling contributes to withdrawal symptoms from opioid receptor activation induced by morphine exposure or chronic inflammation. Pain 2021; 161:532-544. [PMID: 31738230 DOI: 10.1097/j.pain.0000000000001738] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Preventing and treating opioid dependence and withdrawal is a major clinical challenge, and the underlying mechanisms of opioid dependence and withdrawal remain elusive. We hypothesized that prolonged morphine exposure or chronic inflammation-induced μ-opioid receptor activity serves as a severe stress that elicits neuronal alterations and recapitulates events during development. Here, we report that Wnt signaling, which is important in developmental processes of the nervous system, plays a critical role in withdrawal symptoms from opioid receptor activation in mice. Repeated exposures of morphine or peripheral inflammation produced by intraplantar injection of complete Freund's adjuvant significantly increase the expression of Wnt5b in the primary sensory neurons in dorsal root ganglion (DRG). Accumulated Wnt5b in DRG neurons quickly transmits to the spinal cord dorsal horn (DH) after naloxone treatment. In the DH, Wnt5b, acts through the atypical Wnt-Ryk receptor and alternative Wnt-YAP/TAZ signaling pathways, contributing to the naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal-like behavioral symptoms and hyperalgesia. Inhibition of Wnt synthesis and blockage of Wnt signaling pathways greatly suppress the behavioral and neurochemical alterations after naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. These findings reveal a critical mechanism underlying naloxone-precipitated opioid withdrawal, suggesting that targeting Wnt5b synthesis in DRG neurons and Wnt signaling in DH may be an effective approach for prevention and treatment of opioid withdrawal syndromes, as well as the transition from acute to chronic pain.
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6
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Ngo J, Hashimoto M, Hamada H, Wynshaw-Boris A. Deletion of the Dishevelled family of genes disrupts anterior-posterior axis specification and selectively prevents mesoderm differentiation. Dev Biol 2020; 464:161-175. [PMID: 32579954 PMCID: PMC8301231 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2020.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
The Dishevelled proteins transduce both canonical Wnt/β-catenin and non-canonical Wnt/planar cell polarity (PCP) signaling pathways to regulate many key developmental processes during embryogenesis. Here, we disrupt both canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathways by targeting the entire Dishevelled family of genes (Dvl1, Dvl2, and Dvl3) to investigate their functional roles in the early embryo. We identified several defects in anterior-posterior axis specification and mesoderm patterning in Dvl1+/-; Dvl2-/-; Dvl3-/- embryos. Homozygous deletions in all three Dvl genes (Dvl TKO) resulted in defects in distal visceral endoderm migration and a complete failure to induce mesoderm formation. To identify potential mechanisms that lead to the defects in the developmental processes preceding gastrulation, we generated Dvl TKO mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) and compared the transcriptional profile of these cells with wild-type (WT) mESCs during germ lineage differentiation into 3D embryoid bodies (EBs). While the Dvl TKO mESCs displayed similar morphology, self-renewal properties, and minor transcriptional variation from WT mESCs, we identified major transcriptional dysregulation in the Dvl TKO EBs during differentiation in a number of genes involved in anterior-posterior pattern specification, gastrulation induction, mesenchyme morphogenesis, and mesoderm-derived tissue development. The absence of the Dvls leads to specific down-regulation of BMP signaling genes. Furthermore, exogenous activation of canonical Wnt, BMP, and Nodal signaling all fail to rescue the mesodermal defects in the Dvl TKO EBs. Moreover, endoderm differentiation was promoted in the absence of mesoderm in the Dvl TKO EBs, while the suppression of ectoderm differentiation was delayed. Overall, we demonstrate that the Dvls are dispensable for maintaining self-renewal in mESCs but are critical during differentiation to regulate key developmental signaling pathways to promote proper axis specification and mesoderm formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Justine Ngo
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900, Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, USA
| | - Masakazu Hashimoto
- Laboratory for Embryogenesis, Graduate School of Frontier Bioscience, Osaka University, 1-3 Yamadaoka, Suita, Osaka, 565-0871, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Hamada
- Developmental Genetics Group, Graduate School of Frontier Biosciences, Osaka University, Osaka, Japan; Laboratory for Organismal Patterning, RIKEN Center for Biosystems Dynamics Research, Kobe, Japan
| | - Anthony Wynshaw-Boris
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, School of Medicine, Case Western Reserve University, 10900, Euclid Ave, Cleveland, OH, USA.
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7
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Rao DM, Shackleford MT, Bordeaux EK, Sottnik JL, Ferguson RL, Yamamoto TM, Wellberg EA, Bitler BG, Sikora MJ. Wnt family member 4 (WNT4) and WNT3A activate cell-autonomous Wnt signaling independent of porcupine O-acyltransferase or Wnt secretion. J Biol Chem 2019; 294:19950-19966. [PMID: 31740580 PMCID: PMC6937561 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra119.009615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 10/16/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Porcupine O-acyltransferase (PORCN) is considered essential for Wnt secretion and signaling. However, we observed that PORCN inhibition does not phenocopy the effects of WNT4 knockdown in WNT4-dependent breast cancer cells. This suggests a unique relationship between PORCN and WNT4 signaling. To examine the role of PORCN in WNT4 signaling, here we overexpressed WNT4 or WNT3A in breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and fibrosarcoma cell lines. Conditioned media from these lines and co-culture systems were used to assess the dependence of Wnt secretion and activity on the critical Wnt secretion proteins PORCN and Wnt ligand secretion (WLS) mediator. We observed that WLS is universally required for Wnt secretion and paracrine signaling. In contrast, the dependence of WNT3A secretion and activity on PORCN varied across the cell lines, and WNT4 secretion was PORCN-independent in all models. Surprisingly, WNT4 did not exhibit paracrine activity in any tested context. Absent the expected paracrine activity of secreted WNT4, we identified cell-autonomous Wnt signaling activation by WNT4 and WNT3A, independent of PORCN or Wnt secretion. The PORCN-independent, cell-autonomous Wnt signaling demonstrated here may be critical in WNT4-driven cellular contexts or in those that are considered to have dysfunctional Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deviyani M Rao
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Madeleine T Shackleford
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Evelyn K Bordeaux
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Joseph L Sottnik
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Rebecca L Ferguson
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Tomomi M Yamamoto
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Elizabeth A Wellberg
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Benjamin G Bitler
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
| | - Matthew J Sikora
- Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado 80045
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8
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Lu X, Rudemiller NP, Ren J, Wen Y, Yang B, Griffiths R, Privratsky JR, Madan B, Virshup DM, Crowley SD. Opposing actions of renal tubular- and myeloid-derived porcupine in obstruction-induced kidney fibrosis. Kidney Int 2019; 96:1308-1319. [PMID: 31585741 DOI: 10.1016/j.kint.2019.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 06/03/2019] [Accepted: 06/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling is essential in the pathogenesis of renal fibrosis. We previously reported inhibition of the Wnt O-acyl transferase porcupine, required for Wnt secretion, dramatically attenuates kidney fibrosis in the murine unilateral ureteral obstruction model. Here, we investigated the tissue-specific contributions of porcupine to renal fibrosis and inflammation in ureteral obstruction using mice with porcupine deletion restricted to the kidney tubular epithelium or infiltrating myeloid cells. Obstruction of the ureter induced the renal mRNA expression of porcupine and downstream targets, β-catenin, T-cell factor, and lymphoid enhancer factor in wild type mice. Renal tubular specific deficiency of porcupine reduced the expression of collagen I and other fibrosis markers in the obstructed kidney. Moreover, kidneys from obstructed mice with tubule-specific porcupine deficiency had reduced macrophage accumulation with attenuated expression of myeloid cytokine and chemokine mRNA. In co-culture with activated macrophages, renal tubular cells from tubular-specific porcupine knockout mice had blunted induction of fibrosis mediators compared with wild type renal tubular cells. In contrast, macrophages from macrophage-specific porcupine deficient mice in co-culture with wild type renal tubular cells had markedly enhanced expression of pro-fibrotic cytokines compared to wild type macrophages. Consequently, porcupine deletion specifically within macrophages augmented renal scar formation following ureteral obstruction. Thus, our experiments suggest a benefit of interrupting Wnt secretion specifically within the kidney epithelium while preserving Wnt O-acylation in infiltrating myeloid cells during renal fibrogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaohan Lu
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Nathan P Rudemiller
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jiafa Ren
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Yi Wen
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Bo Yang
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Robert Griffiths
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Jamie R Privratsky
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Babita Madan
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore
| | - David M Virshup
- Program in Cancer and Stem Cell Biology, Duke-National University of Singapore Graduate Medical School, Singapore; Department of Pediatrics, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Steven D Crowley
- Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA; Durham Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Durham, North Carolina, USA.
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9
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Gorroño-Etxebarria I, Aguirre U, Sanchez S, González N, Escobar A, Zabalza I, Quintana JM, Vivanco MDM, Waxman J, Kypta RM. Wnt-11 as a Potential Prognostic Biomarker and Therapeutic Target in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:E908. [PMID: 31261741 PMCID: PMC6679153 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11070908] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2019] [Revised: 06/20/2019] [Accepted: 06/22/2019] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The expression of the secreted factor Wnt-11 is elevated in several types of cancer, including colorectal cancer, where it promotes cancer cell migration and invasion. Analysis of colorectal cancer gene expression databases associated WNT11 mRNA expression with increased likelihood of metastasis in a subset of patients. WNT11 expression was correlated with the expression of the Wnt receptors FZD6, RYK, and PTK7, and the combined expression of WNT11, FZD6 and RYK or PTK7 was associated with an increased risk of 5-year mortality rates. Immunohistochemical analysis of Wnt-11 in a cohort of 357 colorectal cancer patients found significantly higher Wnt-11 levels in tumors, compared with benign tissue. Elevated Wnt-11 levels occurred more frequently in rectal tumors than in colonic tumors and in tumors from women than men. In univariate analysis, increased Wnt-11 expression was also associated with tumor invasion and increased 5-year mortality. High Wnt-11 levels were not associated with high levels of nuclear β-catenin, suggesting Wnt-11 is not simply an indicator for activation of β-catenin-dependent signaling. Expression of Wnt-11 in colorectal cancer cell lines expressing low endogenous Wnt-11 inhibited β-catenin/Tcf activity and increased ATF2-dependent transcriptional activity. WNT11 gene silencing and antibody-mediated inhibition of Wnt-11 in colorectal cancer cell lines expressing high Wnt-11 reduced their capacity for invasion. Together, these observations suggest that Wnt-11 could be a potential target for the treatment of patients with invasive colorectal cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Urko Aguirre
- Research Unit, Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital, 48960 Galdakao, Spain
- Kronikgune Institute, Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC), 48902 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Saray Sanchez
- Cancer Heterogeneity Lab, CIC bioGUNE, 48160 Derio, Spain
| | - Nerea González
- Research Unit, Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital, 48960 Galdakao, Spain
- Kronikgune Institute, Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC), 48902 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Antonio Escobar
- Kronikgune Institute, Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC), 48902 Bilbao, Spain
- Research Unit, Basurto University Hospital, Osakidetza, 48013 Bilbao, Spain
| | - Ignacio Zabalza
- Department of Pathology, Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital and Biocruces-Bizkaia Institute, 48960 Galdakao, Spain
| | - José Maria Quintana
- Research Unit, Galdakao-Usansolo Hospital, 48960 Galdakao, Spain
- Kronikgune Institute, Health Services Research on Chronic Patients Network (REDISSEC), 48902 Bilbao, Spain
| | | | - Jonathan Waxman
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, W12 0NN London, UK
| | - Robert M Kypta
- Cancer Heterogeneity Lab, CIC bioGUNE, 48160 Derio, Spain.
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, W12 0NN London, UK.
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10
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Resham K, Sharma SS. Pharmacologic Inhibition of Porcupine, Disheveled, and β-Catenin in Wnt Signaling Pathway Ameliorates Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in Rats. THE JOURNAL OF PAIN 2019; 20:1338-1352. [PMID: 31075529 DOI: 10.1016/j.jpain.2019.04.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 02/22/2019] [Accepted: 03/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signaling pathway has been investigated extensively for its diverse metabolic and pain-modulating mechanisms; recently its involvement has been postulated in the development of neuropathic pain. However, there are no reports as yet on the involvement of Wnt signaling pathway in one of the most debilitating neurovascular complication of diabetes, namely, diabetic peripheral neuropathy (DPN). Thus, in the present study, involvement of Wnt signaling was investigated in DPN using Wnt signaling inhibitors namely LGK974 (porcupine inhibitor), NSC668036 (disheveled inhibitor), and PNU74654 (β-catenin inhibitor). Diabetes was induced by a single intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (50 mg/kg) to male Sprague-Dawley rats. Diabetic rats after 6 weeks of diabetes induction showed increased expression of Wnt signaling proteins in the spinal cord (L4-L6 lumbar segment), dorsal root ganglions and sciatic nerves. Subsequent increase in inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum stress and loss of intraepidermal nerve fiber density was also observed, leading to neurobehavioral and nerve functional deficits in diabetic rats. Intrathecal administration of Wnt signaling inhibitors (each at doses of 10 and 30 µmol/L) in diabetic rats showed improvement in pain-associated behaviors (heat, cold, and mechanical hyperalgesia) and nerve functions (motor, sensory nerve conduction velocities, and nerve blood flow) by decreasing the expression of Wnt pathway proteins, inflammatory marker, matrix metalloproteinase 2, endoplasmic reticulum stress marker, glucose-regulated protein 78, and improving intraepidermal nerve fiber density. All these results signify the neuroprotective potential of Wnt signaling inhibitors in DPN. PERSPECTIVE: This study emphasizes the involvement of Wnt signaling pathway in DPN. Blockade of this pathway using Wnt inhibitors provided neuroprotection in experimental DPN in rats. This study may provide a basis for exploring the therapeutic potential of Wnt inhibitors in DPN patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kahkashan Resham
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab, India
| | - Shyam S Sharma
- Department of Pharmacology & Toxicology, National Institute of Pharmaceutical Education and Research, S.A.S. Nagar, Punjab, India.
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Shen C, Li L, Zhao K, Bai L, Wang A, Shu X, Xiao Y, Zhang J, Zhang K, Hui T, Chen W, Zhang B, Hsu W, Xiong WC, Mei L. Motoneuron Wnts regulate neuromuscular junction development. eLife 2018; 7:e34625. [PMID: 30113308 PMCID: PMC6128691 DOI: 10.7554/elife.34625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is a synapse between motoneurons and skeletal muscles to control motor behavior. Unlike extensively investigated postsynaptic differentiation, less is known about mechanisms of presynaptic assembly. Genetic evidence of Wnt in mammalian NMJ development was missing due to the existence of multiple Wnts and their receptors. We show when Wnt secretion is abolished from motoneurons by mutating the Wnt ligand secretion mediator (Wls) gene, mutant mice showed muscle weakness and neurotransmission impairment. NMJs were unstable with reduced synaptic junctional folds and fragmented AChR clusters. Nerve terminals were swollen; synaptic vesicles were fewer and mislocated. The presynaptic deficits occurred earlier than postsynaptic deficits. Intriguingly, these phenotypes were not observed when deleting Wls in muscles or Schwann cells. We identified Wnt7A and Wnt7B as major Wnts for nerve terminal development in rescue experiments. These observations demonstrate a necessary role of motoneuron Wnts in NMJ development, in particular presynaptic differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengyong Shen
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Lei Li
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OhioUnited States
| | - Kai Zhao
- Department of Neuroscience and Regenerative Medicine, Medical College of GeorgiaAugusta UniversityAugusta, GeorgiaUnited States
| | - Lei Bai
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Ailian Wang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Xiaoqiu Shu
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Yatao Xiao
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Jianmin Zhang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Kejing Zhang
- Department of Neurology, the First Affiliated Hospital, Institute of Translational Medicine, School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityZhejiangChina
| | - Tiankun Hui
- Institute of Life ScienceNanchang UniversityNanchang, JiangxiChina
| | - Wenbing Chen
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OhioUnited States
- Institute of Life ScienceNanchang UniversityNanchang, JiangxiChina
| | - Bin Zhang
- Department of Physiology, School of Basic MedicineInstitute of Brain Research, Huazhong University of Science and TechnologyWuhan, HubeiChina
| | - Wei Hsu
- Department of Biomedical Genetics, Center for Oral Biology, James Wilmot Cancer CenterUniversity of Rochester Medical CenterRochester, New YorkUnited States
| | - Wen-Cheng Xiong
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OhioUnited States
- Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical CenterCleveland, OhioUnited States
| | - Lin Mei
- Department of NeurosciencesSchool of Medicine, Case Western Reserve UniversityCleveland, OhioUnited States
- Louis Stokes Cleveland Veterans Affairs Medical CenterCleveland, OhioUnited States
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12
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Foulquier S, Daskalopoulos EP, Lluri G, Hermans KCM, Deb A, Blankesteijn WM. WNT Signaling in Cardiac and Vascular Disease. Pharmacol Rev 2018; 70:68-141. [PMID: 29247129 PMCID: PMC6040091 DOI: 10.1124/pr.117.013896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 216] [Impact Index Per Article: 36.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
WNT signaling is an elaborate and complex collection of signal transduction pathways mediated by multiple signaling molecules. WNT signaling is critically important for developmental processes, including cell proliferation, differentiation and tissue patterning. Little WNT signaling activity is present in the cardiovascular system of healthy adults, but reactivation of the pathway is observed in many pathologies of heart and blood vessels. The high prevalence of these pathologies and their significant contribution to human disease burden has raised interest in WNT signaling as a potential target for therapeutic intervention. In this review, we first will focus on the constituents of the pathway and their regulation and the different signaling routes. Subsequently, the role of WNT signaling in cardiovascular development is addressed, followed by a detailed discussion of its involvement in vascular and cardiac disease. After highlighting the crosstalk between WNT, transforming growth factor-β and angiotensin II signaling, and the emerging role of WNT signaling in the regulation of stem cells, we provide an overview of drugs targeting the pathway at different levels. From the combined studies we conclude that, despite the sometimes conflicting experimental data, a general picture is emerging that excessive stimulation of WNT signaling adversely affects cardiovascular pathology. The rapidly increasing collection of drugs interfering at different levels of WNT signaling will allow the evaluation of therapeutic interventions in the pathway in relevant animal models of cardiovascular diseases and eventually in patients in the near future, translating the outcomes of the many preclinical studies into a clinically relevant context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sébastien Foulquier
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
| | - Evangelos P Daskalopoulos
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
| | - Gentian Lluri
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
| | - Kevin C M Hermans
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
| | - Arjun Deb
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
| | - W Matthijs Blankesteijn
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands (S.F., K.C.M.H., W.M.B.); Recherche Cardiovasculaire (CARD), Institut de Recherche Expérimentale et Clinique (IREC), Université catholique de Louvain, Brussels, Belgium (E.P.D.); Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, David Geffen School of Medicine (G.L., A.D.); and Department of Molecular Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California at Los Angeles, Los Angeles, California (A.D.)
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13
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Flanagan DJ, Vincan E, Phesse TJ. Winding back Wnt signalling: potential therapeutic targets for treating gastric cancers. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:4666-4683. [PMID: 28568899 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13890] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2017] [Revised: 05/17/2017] [Accepted: 05/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Gastric cancer persists as a frequent and deadly disease that claims over 700 000 lives annually. Gastric cancer is a multifactorial disease that is genetically, cytologically and architecturally more heterogeneous than other gastrointestinal cancers, making it therapeutically challenging. As such, and largely attributed to late-stage diagnosis, gastric cancer patients show only partial response to standard chemo and targeted molecular therapies, highlighting an urgent need to develop new targeted therapies for this disease. Wnt signalling has a well-documented history in the genesis of many cancers and is, therefore, an attractive therapeutic target. As such, drug discovery has focused on developing inhibitors that target multiple nodes of the Wnt signalling cascade, some of which have progressed to clinical trials. The collective efforts of patient genomic profiling has uncovered genetic lesions to multiple components of the Wnt pathway in gastric cancer patients, which strongly suggest that Wnt-targeted therapies could offer therapeutic benefits for gastric cancer patients. These data have been supported by studies in mouse models of gastric cancer, which identify Wnt signalling as a driver of gastric tumourigenesis. Here, we review the current literature regarding Wnt signalling in gastric cancer and highlight the suitability of each class of Wnt inhibitor as a potential treatment for gastric cancer patients, in relation to the type of Wnt deregulation observed. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on WNT Signalling: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.24/issuetoc.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dustin J Flanagan
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Elizabeth Vincan
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin University, Perth, WA, Australia
| | - Toby J Phesse
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Victorian Infectious Diseases Reference Laboratory, Doherty Institute of Infection and Immunity, Melbourne, VIC, Australia.,Cell Signalling and Cancer Laboratory, European Cancer Stem Cell Research Institute, Cardiff University, Cardiff, UK
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14
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Islam F, Xu K, Beninger RJ. Inhibition of Wnt signalling dose-dependently impairs the acquisition and expression of amphetamine-induced conditioned place preference. Behav Brain Res 2017; 326:217-225. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbr.2017.03.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2017] [Accepted: 03/07/2017] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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15
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Gonzalez P, Rodríguez FJ. Analysis of the expression of the Wnt family of proteins and its modulatory role on cytokine expression in non activated and activated astroglial cells. Neurosci Res 2016; 114:16-29. [PMID: 27562517 DOI: 10.1016/j.neures.2016.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/14/2016] [Revised: 08/04/2016] [Accepted: 08/15/2016] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Despite the essential functions of astrocytes and the emerging relevance of the Wnt family of proteins in the CNS under physiological and pathological conditions, the astroglial expression of this family of proteins and its potential modulatory role on astroglial activation is almost unknown. Thus, we have evaluated the expression of all Wnt ligands, receptors and regulators, and the activation state of Wnt-related signaling pathways in non-activated and differentially activated astroglial cultures. We found that numerous Wnt ligands, receptors and regulators were expressed in non-activated astrocytes, while the Wnt-dependent pathways were constitutively active. Moreover, the expression of most detectable Wnt-related molecules and the activity of the Wnt-dependent pathways suffered post-activation variations which frequently depended on the activation system. Finally, the analysis of the effects exerted by Wnt1 and 5a on the astroglial expression of prototypical genes related to astroglial activation showed that both Wnt ligands increased the astroglial expression of interleukin 1β depending on the experimental context, while did not modulate tumor necrosis factor α, interleukin 6, transforming growth factor β1 and glial fibrillary acidic protein expression. These results strongly suggest that the Wnt family of proteins is involved in how astrocytes modulate and respond to the physiological and pathological CNS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pau Gonzalez
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, National Hospital for Paraplegics, Finca la Peraleda s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain.
| | - Francisco Javier Rodríguez
- Laboratory of Molecular Neurology, National Hospital for Paraplegics, Finca la Peraleda s/n, 45071 Toledo, Spain.
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16
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Kaemmerer E, Gassler N. Wnt Lipidation and Modifiers in Intestinal Carcinogenesis and Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2016; 8:E69. [PMID: 27438855 PMCID: PMC4963811 DOI: 10.3390/cancers8070069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2016] [Revised: 07/14/2016] [Accepted: 07/14/2016] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The wingless (Wnt) signaling is suggested as a fundamental hierarchical pathway in regulation of proliferation and differentiation of cells. The Wnt ligands are small proteins of about 40 kDa essentially for regulation and initiation of the Wnt activity. They are secreted proteins requiring acylation for activity in the Wnt signaling cascade and for functional interactivity with transmembrane proteins. Dual lipidation is important for posttranslational activation of the overwhelming number of Wnt proteins and is probably involved in their spatial distribution. The intestinal mucosa, where Wnt signaling is essential in configuration and maintenance, is an established model to study Wnt proteins and their role in carcinogenesis and cancer. The intestinal crypt-villus/crypt-plateau axis, a cellular system with self-renewal, proliferation, and differentiation, is tightly coordinated by a Wnt gradient. In the review, some attention is given to Wnt3, Wnt3A, and Wnt2B as important members of the Wnt family to address the role of lipidation and modifiers of Wnt proteins in intestinal carcinogenesis. Wnt3 is an important player in establishing the Wnt gradient in intestinal crypts and is mainly produced by Paneth cells. Wnt2B is characterized as a mitochondrial protein and shuttles between mitochondria and the nucleus. Porcupine and ACSL5, a long-chain fatty acid activating enzyme, are introduced as modifiers of Wnts and as interesting strategy to targeting Wnt-driven carcinogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elke Kaemmerer
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany.
- Department of Pediatrics, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany.
| | - Nikolaus Gassler
- Institute of Pathology, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen 52074, Germany.
- Institute of Pathology, Klinikum Braunschweig, Braunschweig 38114, Germany.
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17
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Richards MH, Narasipura SD, Seaton MS, Lutgen V, Al-Harthi L. Migration of CD8+ T Cells into the Central Nervous System Gives Rise to Highly Potent Anti-HIV CD4dimCD8bright T Cells in a Wnt Signaling-Dependent Manner. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2015; 196:317-27. [PMID: 26582945 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.1501394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2015] [Accepted: 10/22/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
The role of CD8(+) T cells in HIV control in the brain and the consequences of such control are unclear. Approximately 3% of peripheral CD8(+) T cells dimly express CD4 on their surface. This population is known as CD4(dim)CD8(bright) T cells. We evaluated the role of CD4(dim)CD8(bright) and CD8 single positive T cells in HIV-infected brain using NOD/SCID/IL-2rcγ(-/-) mice reconstituted with human PBMCs (NSG-huPBMC). All three T cell populations (CD4 single positive, CD8 single positive, and CD4(dim)CD8(bright)) were found in NSG-huPBMC mouse brain within 2 wk of infection. Wnts secreted from astrocytes induced CD4(dim)CD8(bright) T cells by 2-fold in vitro. Injection of highly purified CD8 single positive T cells into mouse brain induced CD4(dim)CD8(bright) T cells by 10-fold, which were proliferative and exhibited a terminally differentiated effector memory phenotype. Brain CD4(dim)CD8(bright) T cells from HIV-infected mice exhibited anti-HIV-specific responses, as demonstrated by induction of CD107ab post exposure to HIV peptide-loaded targets. Further, higher frequency of CD4(dim)CD8(bright) T cells (R = -0.62; p ≤ 0.001), but not CD8 single positive T cells (R = -0.24; p ≤ 0.27), negatively correlated with HIV gag mRNA transcripts in HIV-infected NSG-huPBMC brain. Together, these studies indicate that single positive CD8(+) T cells entering the CNS during HIV infection can give rise to CD4(dim)CD8(bright) T cells, likely through a Wnt signaling-dependent manner, and that these cells are associated with potent anti-HIV control in the CNS. Thus, CD4(dim)CD8(bright) T cells are capable of HIV control in the CNS and may offer protection against HIV-associated neurocognitive disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maureen H Richards
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Srinivas D Narasipura
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Melanie S Seaton
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Victoria Lutgen
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612
| | - Lena Al-Harthi
- Department of Immunology and Microbiology, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60612
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Kuan YS, Roberson S, Akitake CM, Fortuno L, Gamse J, Moens C, Halpern ME. Distinct requirements for Wntless in habenular development. Dev Biol 2015; 406:117-128. [PMID: 26116173 PMCID: PMC4639407 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2015.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2015] [Accepted: 06/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Secreted Wnt proteins play pivotal roles in development, including regulation of cell proliferation, differentiation, progenitor maintenance and tissue patterning. The transmembrane protein Wntless (Wls) is necessary for secretion of most Wnts and essential for effective Wnt signaling. During a mutagenesis screen to identify genes important for development of the habenular nuclei in the dorsal forebrain, we isolated a mutation in the sole wls gene of zebrafish and confirmed its identity with a second, independent allele. Early embryonic development appears normal in homozygous wls mutants, but they later lack the ventral habenular nuclei, form smaller dorsal habenulae and otic vesicles, have truncated jaw and fin cartilages and lack swim bladders. Activation of a reporter for β-catenin-dependent transcription is decreased in wls mutants, indicative of impaired signaling by the canonical Wnt pathway, and expression of Wnt-responsive genes is reduced in the dorsal diencephalon. Wnt signaling was previously implicated in patterning of the zebrafish brain and in the generation of left-right (L-R) differences between the bilaterally paired dorsal habenular nuclei. Outside of the epithalamic region, development of the brain is largely normal in wls mutants and, despite their reduced size, the dorsal habenulae retain L-R asymmetry. We find that homozygous wls mutants show a reduction in two cell populations that contribute to the presumptive dorsal habenulae. The results support distinct temporal requirements for Wls in habenular development and reveal a new role for Wnt signaling in the regulation of dorsal habenular progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yung-Shu Kuan
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, USA
| | - Sara Roberson
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, USA
| | - Courtney M. Akitake
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, USA
| | - Lea Fortuno
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, USA
| | - Joshua Gamse
- Department of Biological Sciences, Vanderbilt University, USA
| | - Cecilia Moens
- Division of Basic Sciences, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, USA
| | - Marnie E. Halpern
- Department of Embryology, Carnegie Institution for Science, USA
- Department of Biology, Johns Hopkins University, USA
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