1
|
Irwin RE, Scullion C, Thursby SJ, Sun M, Thakur A, Hilman L, Callaghan B, Thompson PD, McKenna DJ, Rothbart SB, Xu G, Walsh CP. The UHRF1 protein is a key regulator of retrotransposable elements and innate immune response to viral RNA in human cells. Epigenetics 2023; 18:2216005. [PMID: 37246786 PMCID: PMC10228402 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2023.2216005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023] Open
Abstract
While epigenetic mechanisms such as DNA methylation and histone modification are known to be important for gene suppression, relatively little is still understood about the interplay between these systems. The UHRF1 protein can interact with both DNA methylation and repressive chromatin marks, but its primary function in humans has been unclear. To determine what that was, we first established stable UHRF1 knockdowns (KD) in normal, immortalized human fibroblasts using targeting shRNA, since CRISPR knockouts (KO) were lethal. Although these showed a loss of DNA methylation across the whole genome, transcriptional changes were dominated by the activation of genes involved in innate immune signalling, consistent with the presence of viral RNA from retrotransposable elements (REs). We confirmed using mechanistic approaches that 1) REs were demethylated and transcriptionally activated; 2) this was accompanied by activation of interferons and interferon-stimulated genes and 3) the pathway was conserved across other adult cell types. Restoring UHRF1 in either transient or stable KD systems could abrogate RE reactivation and the interferon response. Notably, UHRF1 itself could also re-impose RE suppression independent of DNA methylation, but not if the protein contained point mutations affecting histone 3 with trimethylated lysine 9 (H3K9me3) binding. Our results therefore show for the first time that UHRF1 can act as a key regulator of retrotransposon silencing independent of DNA methylation.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- RE Irwin
- Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - C Scullion
- Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
- Precision Nanosystems Inc, Vancouver, BC, Canada
| | - SJ Thursby
- Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Shanghai Institutes of Biological Sciences, Shanghai, China
| | - M Sun
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, Division of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, St., Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - A Thakur
- Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - L Hilman
- Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - B Callaghan
- Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - PD Thompson
- Department of Epigenetics, Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, MI, USA
| | - DJ McKenna
- Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - SB Rothbart
- Nutrition Innovation Centre for Food and Health, Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| | - Guoliang Xu
- Cellular and Molecular Medicine Program, Division of Oncology, Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, St., Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - CP Walsh
- Biomedical Sciences, Ulster University, Coleraine, UK
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Li Q, Liu H, Jin Y, Yu Y, Wang Y, Wu D, Guo Y, Xi L, Ye D, Pan Y, Zhang X, Li J. Analysis of a new therapeutic target and construction of a prognostic model for breast cancer based on ferroptosis genes. Comput Biol Med 2023; 165:107370. [PMID: 37643511 DOI: 10.1016/j.compbiomed.2023.107370] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2023] [Revised: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer, which is the most common malignant tumor among women worldwide and an important cause of death in women. The existing prognostic model for patients with breast cancer is not accurate as breast cancer is resistant to commonly used antitumor drugs. Ferroptosis is a novel mechanism of programmed cell death that depends on iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation. Various studies have confirmed the role of ferroptosis in tumor regulation and ferroptosis is now considered to play an important role in breast cancer development. At present, the association between breast cancer prognosis and ferroptosis-related gene expression remains unclear. Further exploration of this research area may optimize the evaluation and prediction of prognosis of patients with breast cancer and finding of new therapeutic targets. In this study, clinical factors and the expression of multiple genes were evaluated in breast cancer samples from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database database. Eleven prognostication-related genes (TP63, IFNG, MT3, ANO6, FLT3, PTGS2, SLC1A4, JUN, SLC7A5, CHAC1, and TF) were identified from differentially expressed genes to construct a survival prediction model, which showed a good prediction ability. KEGG pathway analysis revealed that immune-related pathways were the primary pathways. ssGSEA analysis showed significant differences in the distribution of certain immune-related cell subsets, such as CD8+T cells and B cells, and in the expression of multiple immune genes, including type II IFN response and APC coinhibition. In addition, 10 immune targets related to ferroptosis in breast cancer were found: CD276, CD80, HHLA2, LILRA2, NCR3LG1, NECTIN3, PVR, SLAMF9,TNFSF4, and BTN1A1. Using TCGA, new ferroptosis genes related to breast cancer prognosis were identified, a new reliable and accurate prognosis model was developed, and 10 new potential therapeutic targets different from the traditional targeted drugs were identified to provide a reference for improving the poor prognosis of patients with breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qi Li
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Hengchen Liu
- Department of Colorectal Surgery and Oncology, Key Laboratory of Cancer Prevention and Intervention, Ministry of Education, Zhejiang Provincial Clinical Research Center for Cancer, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yun Jin
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yuanquan Yu
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yihang Wang
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Di Wu
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yinghao Guo
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Longfu Xi
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Dan Ye
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Yanzhi Pan
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Xiaoxiao Zhang
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| | - Jiangtao Li
- Department of Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China; Key Laboratory of Precision Diagnosis and Treatment for Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Tumor of Zhejiang Province, The Second Affiliated Hospital, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310009, Hangzhou, China.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Han YJ, Zhang J, Hardeman A, Liu M, Karginova O, Romero R, Khramtsova GF, Zheng Y, Huo D, Olopade OI. An enhancer variant associated with breast cancer susceptibility in Black women regulates TNFSF10 expression and antitumor immunity in triple-negative breast cancer. Hum Mol Genet 2023; 32:139-150. [PMID: 35930348 PMCID: PMC9837834 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddac168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2022] [Revised: 07/13/2022] [Accepted: 07/15/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Women of African ancestry have the highest mortality from triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) of all racial groups. To understand the genomic basis of breast cancer in the populations, we previously conducted genome-wide association studies and identified single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) associated with breast cancer in Black women. In this study, we investigated the functional significance of the top associated SNP rs13074711. We found the SNP served as an enhancer variant and regulated TNFSF10 (TRAIL) expression in TNBC cells, with a significant association between the SNP genotype and TNFSF10 expression in breast tumors. Mechanistically, rs13074711 modulated the binding activity of c-MYB at the motif and thereby controlled TNFSF10 expression. Interestingly, TNFSF10 expression in many cancers was consistently lower in African Americans compared with European Americans. Furthermore, TNFSF10 expression in TNBC was significantly correlated with the expression of antiviral immune genes and was regulated by type I interferons (IFNs). Accordingly, loss of TNFSF10 resulted in a profound decrease in apoptosis of TNBC cells in response to type I IFNs and poly(I:C), a synthetic analogue of double stranded virus. Lastly, in a syngeneic mouse model of breast cancer, TNFSF10-deficiency in breast tumors decreased tumor-infiltrated CD4+ and CD8+ T cell quantities. Collectively, our results suggested that TNFSF10 plays an important role in the regulation of antiviral immune responses in TNBC, and the expression is in part regulated by a genetic variant associated with breast cancer in Black women. Our results underscore the important contributions of genetic variants to immune defense mechanisms.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yoo Jane Han
- Section of Hematology/Oncology & Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jing Zhang
- Section of Hematology/Oncology & Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Ashley Hardeman
- Section of Hematology/Oncology & Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Margaret Liu
- Section of Hematology/Oncology & Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Olga Karginova
- Section of Hematology/Oncology & Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Roger Romero
- Section of Hematology/Oncology & Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Galina F Khramtsova
- Section of Hematology/Oncology & Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Yonglan Zheng
- Section of Hematology/Oncology & Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Dezheng Huo
- Department of Public Health Sciences, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Olufunmilayo I Olopade
- Section of Hematology/Oncology & Center for Clinical Cancer Genetics, Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Helmy M, Selvarajoo K. Systems Biology to Understand and Regulate Human Retroviral Proinflammatory Response. Front Immunol 2021; 12:736349. [PMID: 34867957 PMCID: PMC8635014 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.736349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2021] [Accepted: 10/21/2021] [Indexed: 01/13/2023] Open
Abstract
The majority of human genome are non-coding genes. Recent research have revealed that about half of these genome sequences make up of transposable elements (TEs). A branch of these belong to the endogenous retroviruses (ERVs), which are germline viral infection that occurred over millions of years ago. They are generally harmless as evolutionary mutations have made them unable to produce viral agents and are mostly epigenetically silenced. Nevertheless, ERVs are able to express by still unknown mechanisms and recent evidences have shown links between ERVs and major proinflammatory diseases and cancers. The major challenge is to elucidate a detailed mechanistic understanding between them, so that novel therapeutic approaches can be explored. Here, we provide a brief overview of TEs, human ERVs and their links to microbiome, innate immune response, proinflammatory diseases and cancer. Finally, we recommend the employment of systems biology approaches for future HERV research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mohamed Helmy
- Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Department of Computer Science, Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON, Canada
| | - Kumar Selvarajoo
- Bioinformatics Institute (BII), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Singapore Institute of Food and Biotechnology Innovation (SIFBI), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (ASTAR), Singapore, Singapore
- Synthetic Biology Translational Research Program & SynCTI, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore (NUS), Kent Ridge, Singapore
| |
Collapse
|