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Zhao H, Liu LL, Sun J, Jin L, Xie HB, Li JB, Xu H, Wu DD, Zhuang XL, Peng MS, Guo YJ, Qian WZ, Otecko NO, Sun WJ, Qu LH, He J, Chen ZL, Liu R, Chen CS, Zhang YP. A human-specific insertion promotes cell proliferation and migration by enhancing TBC1D8B expression. SCIENCE CHINA. LIFE SCIENCES 2024; 67:765-777. [PMID: 38110796 DOI: 10.1007/s11427-023-2442-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 12/20/2023]
Abstract
Human-specific insertions play important roles in human phenotypes and diseases. Here we reported a 446-bp insertion (Insert-446) in intron 11 of the TBC1D8B gene, located on chromosome X, and traced its origin to a portion of intron 6 of the EBF1 gene on chromosome 5. Interestingly, Insert-446 was present in the human Neanderthal and Denisovans genomes, and was fixed in humans after human-chimpanzee divergence. We have demonstrated that Insert-446 acts as an enhancer through binding transcript factors that promotes a higher expression of human TBC1D8B gene as compared with orthologs in macaques. In addition, over-expression TBC1D8B promoted cell proliferation and migration through "a dual finger" catalytic mechanism (Arg538 and Gln573) in the TBC domain in vitro and knockdown of TBC1D8B attenuated tumorigenesis in vivo. Knockout of Insert-446 prevented cell proliferation and migration in cancer and normal cells. Our results reveal that the human-specific Insert-446 promotes cell proliferation and migration by upregulating the expression of TBC1D8B gene. These findings provide a significant insight into the effects of human-specific insertions on evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, School of Life Sciences, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
| | - Lin-Lin Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, School of Life Sciences, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
- School of Forensic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China
| | - Jian Sun
- The Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650118, China
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Lian Jin
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, School of Life Sciences, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Hai-Bing Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Jian-Bo Li
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Hui Xu
- The Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Dong-Dong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Xiao-Lin Zhuang
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Min-Sheng Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Ya-Jun Guo
- National Engineering Research Center for Antibody Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering and Antibody, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Wei-Zhu Qian
- National Engineering Research Center for Antibody Medicine and Shanghai Key Laboratory of Cell Engineering and Antibody, Shanghai, 201203, China
| | - Newton O Otecko
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Wei-Jie Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, School of Life Sciences, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China
| | - Liang-Hu Qu
- The Key Laboratory of Gene Engineering of the Ministry of Education, State Key Laboratory for Biocontrol, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510275, China
| | - Jie He
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Zhao-Li Chen
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Cancer Institute and Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, 100730, China
| | - Rong Liu
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China
| | - Ce-Shi Chen
- Academy of Biomedical Engineering, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650500, China.
- The Third Affiliated Hospital, Kunming Medical University, Kunming, 650118, China.
- Key Laboratory of Animal Models and Human Disease Mechanisms of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Yunnan Province, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
| | - Ya-Ping Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Conservation and Utilization of Bio-resource, School of Life Sciences, School of Ecology and Environmental Science, Yunnan University, Kunming, 650091, China.
- State Key Laboratory of Genetic Resources and Evolution, Yunnan Laboratory of Molecular Biology of Domestic Animals, Kunming Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Kunming, 650201, China.
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2
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Vaidya M, Smith J, Field M, Sugaya K. Analysis of regulatory sequences in exosomal DNA of NANOGP8. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0280959. [PMID: 36696426 PMCID: PMC9876286 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0280959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Exosomes participate in intercellular communication by transporting functionally active molecules. Such cargo from the original cells comprising proteins, micro-RNA, mRNA, single-stranded (ssDNA) and double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) molecules pleiotropically transforms the target cells. Although cancer cells secrete exosomes carrying a significant level of DNA capable of modulating oncogene expression in a recipient cell, the regulatory mechanism is unknown. We have previously reported that cancer cells produce exosomes containing NANOGP8 DNA. NANOGP8 is an oncogenic paralog of embryonic stem cell transcription factor NANOG and does not express in cells since it is a pseudogene. However, in this study, we evaluated NANOGP8 expression in glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) tissue from a surgically removed brain tumor of a patient. Significantly higher NANOGP8 transcription was observed in GBM cancer stem cells (CSCs) than in GBM cancer cells or neural stem cells (NSCs), despite identical sequences of NANOGP8-upstream genomic region in all the cell lines. This finding suggests that upstream genomic sequences of NANOGP8 may have environment-dependent promoter activity. We also found that the regulatory sequences upstream of exosomal NANOGP8 GBM DNA contain multiple core promoter elements, transcription factor binding sites, and segments of human viruses known for their oncogenic role. The exosomal sequence of NANOGP8-upstream GBM DNA is different from corresponding genomic sequences in CSCs, cancer cells, and NSCs as well as from the sequences reported by NCBI. These sequence dissimilarities suggest that exosomal NANOGP8 GBM DNA may not be a part of the genomic DNA. Exosomes possibly acquire this DNA from other sources where it is synthesized by an unknown mechanism. The significance of exosome-bestowed regulatory elements in the transcription of promoter-less retrogene such as NANOGP8 remains to be determined.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manjusha Vaidya
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States of America
| | - Jonhoi Smith
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States of America
| | - Melvin Field
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States of America
- AdventHealth Cancer Institute, Orlando, FL, United States of America
| | - Kiminobu Sugaya
- Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Central Florida, Orlando, FL, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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3
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Pseudogenes: Four Decades of Discovery. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34165705 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1503-4_1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/10/2023]
Abstract
A pseudogene is defined as a genomic DNA sequence that looks like a mutated or truncated version of a known functional gene. Nearly four decades since their first discovery it has been estimated that between ~12,000 and ~20,000 pseudogenes exist in the human genome. Early efforts to characterize functions for pseudogenes were unsuccessful, thus they were considered functionless relics of evolutionary selection, junk DNA or genetic fossils. Remarkably, an increasing number of pseudogenes have been reported to be expressed as RNA transcripts above and beyond levels considered accidental or spurious transcription. There is emerging evidence that some expressed pseudogene transcripts have biological functions and should be defined as a subclass of functional long noncoding RNAs (lncRNA). In this introductory chapter, I briefly summarize the history and the current knowledge of pseudogenes, and highlight the emerging functions of some pseudogenes in human biology and disease. This second iteration of Pseudogenes in Methods in Molecular Biology highlights new methodological approaches to investigate this intriguing family of lncRNAs and the extent of their biological function.
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A Restriction Endonuclease-Based Assay to Distinguish NANOGP8 Retrogene from Parental NANOG. Methods Mol Biol 2021. [PMID: 34165720 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1503-4_16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register]
Abstract
NANOG is an embryonic transcription factor, which gets reexpressed in cancer stem or tumor initiating cells. NANOGP8, a retrogene belonging to the NANOG family, is predominantly expressed in cancer cells and shows very high similarity with NANOG both at the nucleotide and at the protein level. The high similarity makes it extremely challenging to distinguish between these two transcription factors. Here we describe a highly efficient restriction endonuclease-based assay, which is performed on cDNA and allows to distinguish NANOGP8 from NANOG. This assay is critical to understand the specific role of NANOGP8 in cancer stemness, which in turn helps to unravel the therapeutic potential of targeting this undruggable transcription factor through gene therapy, for treatment of various cancers.
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Cancer, Retrogenes, and Evolution. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:life11010072. [PMID: 33478113 PMCID: PMC7835786 DOI: 10.3390/life11010072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/19/2020] [Revised: 01/14/2021] [Accepted: 01/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
This review summarizes the knowledge about retrogenes in the context of cancer and evolution. The retroposition, in which the processed mRNA from parental genes undergoes reverse transcription and the resulting cDNA is integrated back into the genome, results in additional copies of existing genes. Despite the initial misconception, retroposition-derived copies can become functional, and due to their role in the molecular evolution of genomes, they have been named the “seeds of evolution”. It is convincing that retrogenes, as important elements involved in the evolution of species, also take part in the evolution of neoplastic tumors at the cell and species levels. The occurrence of specific “resistance mechanisms” to neoplastic transformation in some species has been noted. This phenomenon has been related to additional gene copies, including retrogenes. In addition, the role of retrogenes in the evolution of tumors has been described. Retrogene expression correlates with the occurrence of specific cancer subtypes, their stages, and their response to therapy. Phylogenetic insights into retrogenes show that most cancer-related retrocopies arose in the lineage of primates, and the number of identified cancer-related retrogenes demonstrates that these duplicates are quite important players in human carcinogenesis.
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Yu Z, Dmitrieva NI, Walts AD, Jin H, Liu Y, Ping X, Ferrante EA, Qiu L, Holland SM, Freeman AF, Chen G, Boehm M. STAT3 modulates reprogramming efficiency of human somatic cells; insights from autosomal dominant Hyper IgE syndrome caused by STAT3 mutations. Biol Open 2020; 9:bio052662. [PMID: 32580970 PMCID: PMC7502598 DOI: 10.1242/bio.052662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/15/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Human induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology has opened exciting opportunities for stem-cell-based therapy. However, its wide adoption is precluded by several challenges including low reprogramming efficiency and potential for malignant transformation. Better understanding of the molecular mechanisms of the changes that cells undergo during reprograming is needed to improve iPSCs generation efficiency and to increase confidence for their clinical use safety. Here, we find that dominant negative mutations in STAT3 in patients with autosomal-dominant hyper IgE (Job's) syndrome (AD-HIES) result in greatly reduced reprograming efficiency of primary skin fibroblasts derived from skin biopsies. Analysis of normal skin fibroblasts revealed upregulation and phosphorylation of endogenous signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) and its binding to the NANOG promoter following transduction with OKSM factors. This coincided with upregulation of NANOG and appearance of cells expressing pluripotency markers. Upregulation of NANOG and number of pluripotent cells were greatly reduced throughout the reprograming process of AD-HIES fibroblasts that was restored by over-expression of functional STAT3. NANOGP8, the human-specific NANOG retrogene that is often expressed in human cancers, was also induced during reprogramming, to very low but detectable levels, in a STAT3-dependent manner. Our study revealed the critical role of endogenous STAT3 in facilitating reprogramming of human somatic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhen Yu
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Natalia I Dmitrieva
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Avram D Walts
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hui Jin
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Yangtengyu Liu
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Xianfeng Ping
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Elisa A Ferrante
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | | | - Steven M Holland
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Alexandra F Freeman
- Laboratory of Clinical Immunology and Microbiology, NIAID, NIH, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Guibin Chen
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Manfred Boehm
- Translational Vascular Medicine Branch, National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
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7
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Jessup JM, Kabbout M, Korokhov N, Joun A, Tollefson AE, Wold WSM, Mattoo AR. Adenovirus and Oxaliplatin cooperate as agnostic sensitizers for immunogenic cell death in colorectal carcinoma. Hum Vaccin Immunother 2019; 16:636-644. [PMID: 31584324 PMCID: PMC7227684 DOI: 10.1080/21645515.2019.1665960] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Treatments with cytotoxic agents or viruses may cause Immunogenic Cell Death (ICD) that immunize tumor-bearing hosts but do not cause complete regression of tumor. We postulate that combining two ICD inducers may cause durable regression in immunocompetent mice. ICD was optimized in vitro by maximizing calreticulin externalization in human colorectal carcinoma (CRC) cells by exposure to mixtures of Oxaliplatin (OX) and human adenovirus (AdV). Six mm diameter CT26 or 4T1 carcinomas in flanks of BALB/c mice were injected once intratumorally (IT) with OX, AdV or their mixture. Tumor growth, Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes (TIL), nodal cytotoxicity, and rejection of a viable cell challenge were measured. Tumors injected IT once with an optimum mixture of 80 µM OX - AdV 25 Multiplicity of Infection (MOI) in PBS buffer were 17-29% the volume of control tumors. When buffer was changed from PBS to 5% dextrose in water (D5W), volumes of tumors injected IT with 80 µM OX-AdV 25 MOI were 10% while IT OX or AdV alone were 32% and 40% the volume of IT buffer-treated tumors. OX-AdV IT increased CD3+ TIL by 4-fold, decreased CD8+ PD-1+ TIL from 79% to 19% and induced cytotoxicity to CT26 cells in draining node lymphocytes while lymphocytes from CT26-bearing untreated mice were not cytotoxic. OX-AdV IT in D5W caused complete regression in 40% of mice. Long-term survivors rejected a contralateral challenge of CT26. The buffer for Oxaliplatin is critical. The two ICD inducer mixture is promising as an agnostic sensitizer for carcinomas like colorectal carcinoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- J Milburn Jessup
- Inova Schar Cancer Institute, Falls Church, VA, USA.,School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Mohamed Kabbout
- Inova Schar Cancer Institute, Falls Church, VA, USA.,School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | | | - Alex Joun
- Inova Schar Cancer Institute, Falls Church, VA, USA.,School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
| | - Ann E Tollefson
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - William S M Wold
- Department of Molecular Microbiology and Immunology, Saint Louis University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, USA
| | - Abid R Mattoo
- Inova Schar Cancer Institute, Falls Church, VA, USA.,School of Systems Biology, George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA
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8
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Sneha S, Nagare RP, Manasa P, Vasudevan S, Shabna A, Ganesan TS. Analysis of Human Stem Cell Transcription Factors. Cell Reprogram 2019; 21:171-180. [DOI: 10.1089/cell.2019.0005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Smarakan Sneha
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India
| | - Rohit P. Nagare
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India
| | - Pacharia Manasa
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India
| | - Sekar Vasudevan
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India
| | - Aboo Shabna
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India
| | - Trivadi Sundaram Ganesan
- Laboratory for Cancer Biology, Departments of Medical Oncology and Clinical Research, Cancer Institute (WIA), Chennai, India
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9
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Klaus HD. Possible prostate cancer in northern Peru: Differential diagnosis, vascular anatomy, and molecular signaling in the paleopathology of metastatic bone disease. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2018; 21:147-157. [PMID: 29776882 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2016.11.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2016] [Revised: 09/19/2016] [Accepted: 11/25/2016] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
This paper describes four possible cases of metastasized prostate cancer in archaeological human skeletons from the north coast of Peru spanning the Middle Sicán to Colonial eras (roughly A.D. 900-1600). Varying combinations of exuberant abnormal new bone formation and some abnormal bone loss affecting lumbar vertebrae and the bony sacrum were observed in these individuals. Detailed lesion descriptions are followed by a differential diagnosis that systematically eliminates pseudopathology, infectious diseases, sclerosing bone disorders, and most metastatic processes. However, metastasized prostate cancer cannot be rejected and is highly consistent with the observed lesions. Metastasized pancreatic, bladder, or carcinoid tumors represent additional, though far less likely, diagnostic options. Anatomical and molecular signaling factors further validate this differential diagnosis. The paravertebral venous plexus of Baston plays an anatomical role in the metastatic seeding of lumbar vertebra from prostate cancer. Further, abundant molecular signaling mechanisms upregulate multiple bone-forming mechanisms in prostate metastases, though initially such lesions may originate as lytic phenomena. These multiple lines of evidence help demonstrate a multi-level framework for explanation in paleopathology and especially to help better elucidate the complexities of ancient neoplastic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haagen D Klaus
- Department of Sociology and Anthropology, George Mason University, United States; Museo Nacional Sicán, Peru; Museo Nacional de Arqueología y Etnografía Hans Heinrich Brüning de Lambayeque, Peru.
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10
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Wang R, Bhattacharya R, Ye X, Fan F, Boulbes DR, Xia L, Ellis LM. Endothelial cells activate the cancer stem cell-associated NANOGP8 pathway in colorectal cancer cells in a paracrine fashion. Mol Oncol 2017; 11:1023-1034. [PMID: 28453235 PMCID: PMC5537915 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2017] [Revised: 04/15/2017] [Accepted: 04/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
In colorectal cancer (CRC), cancer stem cells (CSCs) have been hypothesized to mediate cell survival and chemoresistance. Previous studies from our laboratory described a role for liver parenchymal endothelial cells (LPECs) in mediating the CSC phenotype in CRC cells in a paracrine/angiocrine fashion. The objectives of this study were to determine whether endothelial cells (ECs) from different organs can induce the CSC phenotype in CRC cells and to elucidate the signaling pathways involved. We treated a newly developed CRC cell line (HCP‐1) and established CRC cell lines (HT29 and SW480) with conditioned medium (CM) from primary ECs isolated from nonmalignant liver, lung, colon mucosa, and kidney. Our results showed that CM from ECs from all organs increased the number of CSCs, as determined by sphere formation, and protein levels of NANOG and OCT4 in CRC cells. With the focus of further elucidating the role of the liver vascular network in mediating the CSC phenotype, we demonstrated that CM from LPECs increased resistance to 5‐fluorouracil in CRC cells. Moreover, we showed that LPEC CM specifically induced NANOGP8 expression in CRC cells by specific enzyme digestion and a luciferase reporter assay using a vector containing the NANOGP8 promoter. Lastly, we found that LPEC CM‐induced NANOGP8 expression and sphere formation were mediated by AKT activation. Our studies demonstrated a paracrine role for ECs in regulating the CSC phenotype and chemoresistance in CRC cells by AKT‐mediated induction of NANOGP8. These studies suggest a more specific approach to target CSCs by blocking the expression of NANOGP8 in cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rui Wang
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Rajat Bhattacharya
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Xiangcang Ye
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Fan Fan
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Delphine R Boulbes
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Ling Xia
- Department of Gastroenterology Research, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Lee M Ellis
- Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA
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11
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Wang B, Chen Q, Cao Y, Ma X, Yin C, Jia Y, Zang A, Fan W. LGR5 Is a Gastric Cancer Stem Cell Marker Associated with Stemness and the EMT Signature Genes NANOG, NANOGP8, PRRX1, TWIST1, and BMI1. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0168904. [PMID: 28033430 PMCID: PMC5199039 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0168904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2016] [Accepted: 12/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Accumulating evidence supports the hypothesis that cancer stem cells (CSCs) are essential for cancer initiation, metastasis and drug resistance. However, the functional association of gastric CSC markers with stemness and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) signature genes is unclear. Methods qPCR was performed to measure the expression profiles of stemness and EMT signature genes and their association with putative CSC markers in gastric cancer tissues, cancer cell lines and sphere cells. Western blot analysis was used to confirm the results of the transcript analysis. Cell proliferation, cell migration, drug resistance and sphere cell growth assays were conducted to measure the expansion and invasion abilities of the cells. Tumor xenograft experiments were performed in NOD/SCID mice to test cell stemness in vivo. Flow cytometry and immunofluorescence staining were used to analyze cell subpopulations. Results The expression of LGR5 was strikingly up-regulated in sphere cells but not in cancer tissues or parental adherent cells. The up-regulation of LGR5 was also positively associated with stemness regulators (NANOG, OCT4, SOX2, and AICDA) and EMT inducers (PRRX1, TWIST1, and BMI1). In addition, sphere cells exhibited up-regulated vimentin and down-regulated E-cadherin expression. Using gene-specific primers, we found that the NANOG expression primarily originates from the retrogene NANOGP8. Western blot analysis showed that the expression of both LGR5 and NANOG is significantly higher in sphere cells. LGR5 over-expression significantly enhanced sphere cell growth, cell proliferation, cell migration and drug resistance in MGC803 cells. Tumor xenografts in nude mice showed that sphere cells are at least 10 times more efficient at tumor initiation than adherent cells. Flow cytometry analysis showed that ~20% of sphere cells are LGR5+/CD54+, but only ~3% of adherent cells are Lgr5+/CD54+. Immunofluorescence staining supports the above results. Conclusion The LGR5-expressing fraction of CD54+ cells represents gastric cancer CSCs, in which LGR5 is closely associated with stemness and EMT core genes, and NANOG expression is mainly contributed by the retrogene NANOGP8. Sphere cells are the best starting materials for the characterization of CSCs.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Biomarkers, Tumor/deficiency
- Biomarkers, Tumor/genetics
- Biomarkers, Tumor/metabolism
- Cadherins/genetics
- Carcinogenesis/genetics
- Cell Adhesion
- Cell Line, Tumor
- Cell Movement
- Cell Proliferation
- Cell Transformation, Neoplastic
- Down-Regulation
- Drug Resistance, Neoplasm/genetics
- Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition/genetics
- Female
- Gene Deletion
- Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
- Homeodomain Proteins/genetics
- Humans
- Mice
- Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinase 7/genetics
- Nanog Homeobox Protein/genetics
- Neoplastic Stem Cells/pathology
- Organoplatinum Compounds/pharmacology
- Oxaliplatin
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/deficiency
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/genetics
- Receptors, G-Protein-Coupled/metabolism
- Stomach Neoplasms/genetics
- Stomach Neoplasms/metabolism
- Stomach Neoplasms/pathology
- Twist-Related Protein 1/genetics
- Up-Regulation
- Vimentin/genetics
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Affiliation(s)
- Bei Wang
- Molecular Biology Lab of Gastric Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Queting Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Molecular Biology Lab of Gastric Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Xia Ma
- Molecular Biology Lab of Gastric Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Chenxing Yin
- Molecular Biology Lab of Gastric Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Youchao Jia
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Aimin Zang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Affiliated Hospital of Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
| | - Wufang Fan
- Molecular Biology Lab of Gastric Cancer, School of Life Sciences, Hebei University, Baoding, Hebei Province, China
- * E-mail:
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12
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Yin Yang 1 is associated with cancer stem cell transcription factors (SOX2, OCT4, BMI1) and clinical implication. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2016; 35:84. [PMID: 27225481 PMCID: PMC4881184 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-016-0359-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 107] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2016] [Accepted: 05/09/2016] [Indexed: 01/11/2023]
Abstract
The transcription factor Yin Yang 1 (YY1) is frequently overexpressed in cancerous tissues compared to normal tissues and has regulatory roles in cell proliferation, cell viability, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, metastasis and drug/immune resistance. YY1 shares many properties with cancer stem cells (CSCs) that drive tumorigenesis, metastasis and drug resistance and are regulated by overexpression of certain transcription factors, including SOX2, OCT4 (POU5F1), BMI1 and NANOG. Based on these similarities, it was expected that YY1 expression would be associated with SOX2, OCT4, BMI1, and NANOG’s expressions and activities. Data mining from the proteomic tissue-based datasets from the Human Protein Atlas were used for protein expression patterns of YY1 and the four CSC markers in 17 types of cancer, including both solid and hematological malignancies. A close association was revealed between the frequency of expressions of YY1 and SOX2 as well as SOX2 and OCT4 in all cancers analyzed. Two types of dynamics were identified based on the nature of their association, namely, inverse or direct, between YY1 and SOX2. These two dynamics define distinctive patterns of BMI1 and OCT4 expressions. The relationship between YY1 and SOX2 expressions as well as the expressions of BMI1 and OCT4 resulted in the classification of four groups of cancers with distinct molecular signatures: 1) Prostate, lung, cervical, endometrial, ovarian and glioma cancers (YY1loSOX2hiBMI1hiOCT4hi) 2) Skin, testis and breast cancers (YY1hiSOX2loBMI1hiOCT4hi) 3) Liver, stomach, renal, pancreatic and urothelial cancers (YY1loSOX2loBMI1hiOCT4hi) and 4) Colorectal cancer, lymphoma and melanoma (YY1hiSOX2hiBMI1loOCT4hi). A regulatory loop is proposed consisting of the cross-talk between the NF-kB/PI3K/AKT pathways and the downstream inter-regulation of target gene products YY1, OCT4, SOX2 and BMI1.
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13
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Wong OGW, Cheung ANY. Stem cell transcription factor NANOG in cancers--is eternal youth a curse? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2015; 20:407-17. [PMID: 26634876 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2016.1112791] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Targeting cancer stem cells can be a more effective approach to treat cancer. NANOG is one of the key factors for maintaining the self-renewal ability and pluripotency of stem cells, including cancer stem cells. Overexpression of NANOG has been observed in various human malignancies. Several reports have suggested that NANOG contributes to carcinogenesis by initiating and preserving cancer stem cells. It is obvious that NANOG is also involved in establishing other hallmarks of cancer such as uncontrolled cell growth, chemoresistance, metastasis, and immune evasion. AREAS COVERED This review will discuss the molecular properties and oncogenic roles of NANOG. The idea of using agents that inhibit the transcription factor to treat cancer is presented. Interfering with NANOG-mediated transcriptions using small interfering RNA, transcription factor decoy, genome editing, and small-molecule inhibitors may provide novel strategies to target cancer stem cells. EXPERT OPINION As a pivotal controller in cancer stem cell maintenance and a positive regulator of various oncogenic pathways, NANOG may be an important target for cancer therapy. However, as a transcription factor, it is inherently difficult to target by pharmacological means. Novel approaches need to be explored before the inhibition of NANOG can be applied in a clinical setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Oscar G W Wong
- a Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong Special Administrative Region , People's Republic of China
| | - Annie N Y Cheung
- a Department of Pathology , The University of Hong Kong , Hong Kong Special Administrative Region , People's Republic of China
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14
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Abstract
Gene duplication is a key factor contributing to phenotype diversity across and within species. Although the availability of complete genomes has led to the extensive study of genomic duplications, the dynamics and variability of gene duplications mediated by retrotransposition are not well understood. Here, we predict mRNA retrotransposition and use comparative genomics to investigate their origin and variability across primates. Analyzing seven anthropoid primate genomes, we found a similar number of mRNA retrotranspositions (∼7,500 retrocopies) in Catarrhini (Old Word Monkeys, including humans), but a surprising large number of retrocopies (∼10,000) in Platyrrhini (New World Monkeys), which may be a by-product of higher long interspersed nuclear element 1 activity in these genomes. By inferring retrocopy orthology, we dated most of the primate retrocopy origins, and estimated a decrease in the fixation rate in recent primate history, implying a smaller number of species-specific retrocopies. Moreover, using RNA-Seq data, we identified approximately 3,600 expressed retrocopies. As expected, most of these retrocopies are located near or within known genes, present tissue-specific and even species-specific expression patterns, and no expression correlation to their parental genes. Taken together, our results provide further evidence that mRNA retrotransposition is an active mechanism in primate evolution and suggest that retrocopies may not only introduce great genetic variability between lineages but also create a large reservoir of potentially functional new genomic loci in primate genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fábio C P Navarro
- Centro de Oncologia Molecular, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil Dep. de Bioquímica, Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Pedro A F Galante
- Centro de Oncologia Molecular, Hospital Sírio-Libanês, São Paulo, Brazil
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15
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Jeter CR, Yang T, Wang J, Chao HP, Tang DG. Concise Review: NANOG in Cancer Stem Cells and Tumor Development: An Update and Outstanding Questions. Stem Cells 2015; 33:2381-90. [PMID: 25821200 DOI: 10.1002/stem.2007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 153] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2015] [Accepted: 03/08/2015] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The homeobox domain transcription factor NANOG, a key regulator of embryonic development and cellular reprogramming, has been reported to be broadly expressed in human cancers. Functional studies have provided strong evidence that NANOG possesses protumorigenic attributes. In addition to promoting self-renewal and long-term proliferative potential of stem-like cancer cells, NANOG-mediated oncogenic reprogramming may underlie clinical manifestations of malignant disease. In this review, we examine the molecular origin, expression, biological activities, and mechanisms of action of NANOG in various malignancies. We also consider clinical implications such as correlations between NANOG expression and cancer prognosis and/or response to therapy. We surmise that NANOG potentiates the molecular circuitry of tumorigenesis, and thus may represent a novel therapeutic target or biomarker for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment outcome of cancer. Finally, we present critical pending questions relating NANOG to cancer stem cells and tumor development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Collene R Jeter
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, USA
| | - Tao Yang
- Cancer Stem Cell Institute, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Junchen Wang
- Cancer Stem Cell Institute, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
| | - Hsueh-Ping Chao
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, USA
| | - Dean G Tang
- Department of Epigenetics and Molecular Carcinogenesis, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Science Park, Smithville, Texas, USA.,Cancer Stem Cell Institute, Research Center for Translational Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People's Republic of China
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16
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Kregel S, Szmulewitz RZ, Vander Griend DJ. The pluripotency factor Nanog is directly upregulated by the androgen receptor in prostate cancer cells. Prostate 2014; 74:1530-43. [PMID: 25175748 PMCID: PMC4174985 DOI: 10.1002/pros.22870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2014] [Accepted: 07/10/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The Androgen Receptor (AR) is a nuclear hormone receptor that functions as a critical oncogene in all stages of prostate cancer progression, including progression to castration-resistance following androgen-deprivation therapy. Thus, identifying and targeting critical AR-regulated genes is one potential method to block castration-resistant cancer proliferation. Of particular importance are transcription factors that regulate stem cell pluripotency; many of these genes are emerging as critical oncogenes in numerous tumor cell types. Of these, Nanog has been previously shown to increase the self-renewal and stem-like properties of prostate cancer cells. Thus, we hypothesized that Nanog is a candidate AR target gene that may impart castration-resistance. METHODS We modulated AR signaling in LNCaP prostate cancer cells and assayed for Nanog expression. Direct AR binding to the NANOG promoter was tested using AR Chromatin Immunoprecipation (ChIP) and analyses of publically available AR ChIP-sequencing data-sets. Nanog over-expressing cells were analyzed for cell growth and cytotoxicity in response to the AR antagonist enzalutamide and the microtubule stabilizing agent docetaxel. RESULTS AR signaling upregulates Nanog mRNA and protein. AR binds directly to the NANOG promoter, and was not identified within 75 kb of the NANOGP8 pseudogene, suggesting the NANOG gene locus was preferentially activated. Nanog overexpression in LNCaP cells increases overall growth, but does not increase resistance to enzalutamide or docetaxel. CONCLUSIONS Nanog is a novel oncogenic AR target gene in prostate cancer cells, and stable expression of Nanog increases proliferation and growth of prostate cancer cells, but not resistance to enzalutamide or docetaxel.
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Affiliation(s)
- Steven Kregel
- Committee on Cancer Biology; The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Department of Surgery, Section of Urology; The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Russell Z. Szmulewitz
- Department of Medicine, Section of Hematology/Oncology; The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
| | - Donald J. Vander Griend
- Committee on Cancer Biology; The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
- Department of Surgery, Section of Urology; The University of Chicago, Chicago, IL
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17
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Sun AX, Liu CJ, Sun ZQ, Wei Z. NANOG: A promising target for digestive malignant tumors. World J Gastroenterol 2014; 20:13071-13078. [PMID: 25278701 PMCID: PMC4177486 DOI: 10.3748/wjg.v20.i36.13071] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2014] [Revised: 05/03/2014] [Accepted: 06/16/2014] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
NANOG has been extensively researched since its discovery by Chambers et al. NANOG is a homeodomain transcription factor and an essential regulator of embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal, which inhibits differentiation. Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a small subset of cells that are thought to drive uncontrolled tumor growth; CSCs retain the tumor capabilities of self-renewal and propagation. The existence of CSCs was recently shown by direct experimental evidence. NANOG is expressed in CSCs and ESCs, although it remains unclear whether ESCs and CSCs share similar mechanisms in the regulation of physical and biological processes. Several studies suggest that the expression level of NANOG is high in cancer tissues and low or absent in normal tissues. High levels of NANOG expression are associated with advanced stages of cancer and a poor prognosis, indicating that it plays a vital role in tumor transformation, tumorigenesis, and tumor metastasis. NANOG is part of a complex regulatory network that controls cell fate determination, proliferation, and apoptosis. NANOG cooperates with other regulators, such as microflora, transcription factors, and kinases, in cancer cells. NANOG might have a promising future in anti-cancer and other therapeutic treatments, which could improve human health.
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18
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Zhang K, Fowler M, Glass J, Yin H. Activated 5'flanking region of NANOGP8 in a self-renewal environment is associated with increased sphere formation and tumor growth of prostate cancer cells. Prostate 2014; 74:381-94. [PMID: 24318967 DOI: 10.1002/pros.22759] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/05/2013] [Accepted: 11/18/2013] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION NANOGP8 is a retrogene which encodes a full-length protein similar to the NANOG1 gene. The expression of NANOGP8 has been documented in several cancers and is related to cell proliferation and tumor development. However, the regulation of NANOGP8 expression has not been investigated. Therefore, the role of NANOGP8 in cell proliferation has not been completely understood. METHODS We evaluate the expression of NANOG1 and NANOGP8 in prostate cancer cell lines and primary cultures of prostate tissues. We investigate clonogenicity, sphere formation, and xenograft tumor growth of prostate cancer cells with an activated 5'flanking region of NANOGP8. We examine the role of NANOGP8 in cell cycle progression. RESULTS In the prostate cells the NANOG RNA was transcribed from NANOGP8 and not from NANOG1. Cells with the activated 5'flanking region of NANOGP8 exhibited enhanced clonogenicity, sphere formation, and xenograft tumor growth. The sphere culture and tumor initiation mouse mode promoted the activation of the 5'flanking region of NANOGP8. Forced expression of NANOGP8 increased the entry into the cell cycle. DISCUSSION In prostate cells NANOGP8 is a predominant molecule of NANOG. The activation of 5'flanking sequence of NANOGP8 could play a role in the regulation of the stem-like properties of cancer stem cells and prostate tumor initiation and development. The microenvironment favoring cancer stem cells could promote the activation of the 5'flanking region of NANOGP8.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Zhang
- Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center in Shreveport, Shreveport, Louisiana
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An expressed retrogene of the master embryonic stem cell gene POU5F1 is associated with prostate cancer susceptibility. Am J Hum Genet 2014; 94:395-404. [PMID: 24581739 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajhg.2014.01.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2013] [Accepted: 01/31/2014] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Genetic association studies of prostate and other cancers have identified a major risk locus at chromosome 8q24. Several independent risk variants at this locus alter transcriptional regulatory elements, but an affected gene and mechanism for cancer predisposition have remained elusive. The retrogene POU5F1B within the locus has a preserved open reading frame encoding a homolog of the master embryonic stem cell transcription factor Oct4. We find that 8q24 risk alleles are expression quantitative trait loci correlated with reduced expression of POU5F1B in prostate tissue and that predicted deleterious POU5F1B missense variants are also associated with risk of transformation. POU5F1 is known to be self-regulated by the encoded Oct4 transcription factor. We further observe that POU5F1 expression is directly correlated with POU5F1B expression. Our results suggest that a pathway critical to self-renewal of embryonic stem cells may also have a role in the origin of cancer.
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Wang ML, Chiou SH, Wu CW. Targeting cancer stem cells: emerging role of Nanog transcription factor. Onco Targets Ther 2013; 6:1207-20. [PMID: 24043946 PMCID: PMC3772775 DOI: 10.2147/ott.s38114] [Citation(s) in RCA: 80] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The involvement of stemness factors in cancer initiation and progression has drawn much attention recently, especially after the finding that introducing four stemness factors in somatic cells is able to reprogram the cells back to an embryonic stem cell-like state. Following accumulating data revealing abnormal elevated expression levels of key stemness factors, like Nanog, Oct4, and Sox2, in several types of cancer stem cells; the importance and therapeutic potential of targeting these stemness regulators in cancers has turned to research focus. Nanog determines cell fate in both embryonic and cancer stem cells; activating Nanog at an inappropriate time would result in cancer stem cells rather than normal pluripotent stem cells or differentiated somatic cells. Upregulated Nanog is correlated with poor survival outcome of patients with various types of cancer. The discoveries of downstream regulatory pathways directly or indirectly mediated by Nanog indicate that Nanog regulates several aspects of cancer development such as tumor cell proliferation, self-renewal, motility, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, immune evasion, and drug-resistance, which are all defined features for cancer stem cells. The current review paper illustrates the central role of Nanog in the regulatory networks of cancer malignant development and stemness acquirement, as well as in the communication between cancer cells and the surrounding stroma. Though a more defined model is needed to test the therapeutic efficacy of targeting Nanog as a cancer treatment method, current animal experiments using siNanog or shNanog have shown the promising therapeutic potential of Nanog targeting in several types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mong-Lien Wang
- Institute of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, National Yang Ming University, Taipei, Taiwan
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Potential role of human-specific genes, human-specific microRNAs and human-specific non-coding regulatory RNAs in the pathogenesis of systemic sclerosis and Sjögren's syndrome. Autoimmun Rev 2013; 12:1046-51. [PMID: 23684698 DOI: 10.1016/j.autrev.2013.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2013] [Accepted: 04/24/2013] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The etiology and pathogenesis of human autoimmune diseases remain unknown despite intensive investigations. Although remarkable progress has been accomplished through genome wide association studies in the identification of genetic factors that may predispose to their occurrence or modify their clinical presentation to date no specific gene abnormalities have been conclusively demonstrated to be responsible for these diseases. The completion of the human and chimpanzee genome sequencing has opened up novel opportunities to examine the possible contribution of human specific genes and other regulatory elements unique to the human genome, such as microRNAs and non-coding RNAs, towards the pathogenesis of a variety of human disorders. Thus, it is likely that these human specific genes and non-coding regulatory elements may be involved in the development or the pathogenesis of various disorders that do not occur in non-human primates including certain autoimmune diseases such as Systemic Sclerosis and Primary Sjögren's Syndrome. Here, we discuss recent evidence supporting the notion that human specific genes or human specific microRNA and other non-coding RNA regulatory elements unique to the human genome may participate in the development or in the pathogenesis of Systemic Sclerosis and Primary Sjögren's Syndrome.
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