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Wang L, Zhang J, Xia M, Liu C, Zu X, Zhong J. High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1): Structure, Biological Function, and Therapeutic Potential. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:4414-4431. [PMID: 35864955 PMCID: PMC9295051 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.72952] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 06/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
High mobility group A1 (HMGA1) is a nonhistone chromatin structural protein characterized by no transcriptional activity. It mainly plays a regulatory role by modifying the structure of DNA. A large number of studies have confirmed that HMGA1 regulates genes related to tumours in the reproductive system, digestive system, urinary system and haematopoietic system. HMGA1 is rare in adult cells and increases in highly proliferative cells such as embryos. After being stimulated by external factors, it will produce effects through the Wnt/β-catenin, PI3K/Akt, Hippo and MEK/ERK pathways. In addition, HMGA1 also affects the ageing, apoptosis, autophagy and chemotherapy resistance of cancer cells, which are linked to tumorigenesis. In this review, we summarize the mechanisms of HMGA1 in cancer progression and discuss the potential clinical application of targeted HMGA1 therapy, indicating that targeted HMGA1 is of great significance in the diagnosis and treatment of malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Wang
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
| | - Ji Zhang
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Shenzhen Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital, Shenzhen 518033, Guangdong, China
| | - Min Xia
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China.,Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
| | - Chang Liu
- Department of Endocrinology and Metabolism, The First People's Hospital of Chenzhou, First School of Clinical Medicine, University of Southern Medical, Guangzhou 510515, Guangdong, China
| | - Xuyu Zu
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China.,Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
| | - Jing Zhong
- Institute of Clinical Medicine, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China.,Cancer Research Institute, The First Affiliated Hospital, Hengyang Medical School, University of South China, Hengyang, Hunan, 421001, PR China
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2
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Koifman G, Aloni-Grinstein R, Rotter V. p53 balances between tissue hierarchy and anarchy. J Mol Cell Biol 2020; 11:553-563. [PMID: 30925590 PMCID: PMC6735948 DOI: 10.1093/jmcb/mjz022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2018] [Revised: 01/17/2019] [Accepted: 02/13/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Normal tissues are organized in a hierarchical model, whereas at the apex of these hierarchies reside stem cells (SCs) capable of self-renewal and of producing differentiated cellular progenies, leading to normal development and homeostasis. Alike, tumors are organized in a hierarchical manner, with cancer SCs residing at the apex, contributing to the development and nourishment of tumors. p53, the well-known ‘guardian of the genome’, possesses various roles in embryonic development as well as in adult SC life and serves as the ‘guardian of tissue hierarchy’. Moreover, p53 serves as a barrier for dedifferentiation and reprogramming by constraining the cells to a somatic state and preventing their conversion to SCs. On the contrary, the mutant forms of p53 that lost their tumor suppressor activity and gain oncogenic functions serve as ‘inducers of tissue anarchy’ and promote cancer development. In this review, we discuss these two sides of the p53 token that sentence a tissue either to an ordered hierarchy and life or to anarchy and death. A better understanding of these processes may open new horizons for the development of new cancer therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriela Koifman
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Ronit Aloni-Grinstein
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, Israel Institute for Biological Research, Ness Ziona, Israel
| | - Varda Rotter
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology, the Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
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3
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Gorbounov M, Carleton NM, Asch-Kendrick RJ, Xian L, Rooper L, Chia L, Cimino-Mathews A, Cope L, Meeker A, Stearns V, Veltri RW, Bae YK, Resar LMS. High mobility group A1 (HMGA1) protein and gene expression correlate with ER-negativity and poor outcomes in breast cancer. Breast Cancer Res Treat 2019; 179:25-35. [DOI: 10.1007/s10549-019-05419-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 08/22/2019] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
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4
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Tolza C, Bejjani F, Evanno E, Mahfoud S, Moquet-Torcy G, Gostan T, Maqbool MA, Kirsh O, Piechaczyk M, Jariel-Encontre I. AP-1 Signaling by Fra-1 Directly Regulates HMGA1 Oncogene Transcription in Triple-Negative Breast Cancers. Mol Cancer Res 2019; 17:1999-2014. [PMID: 31300541 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-19-0036] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2019] [Revised: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 07/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The architectural chromatin protein HMGA1 and the transcription factor Fra-1 are both overexpressed in aggressive triple-negative breast cancers (TNBC), where they both favor epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, invasion, and metastasis. We therefore explored the possibility that Fra-1 might be involved in enhanced transcription of the HMGA1 gene in TNBCs by exploiting cancer transcriptome datasets and resorting to functional studies combining RNA interference, mRNA and transcriptional run-on assays, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and chromosome conformation capture approaches in TNBC model cell lines. Our bioinformatic analysis indicated that Fra-1 and HMGA1 expressions positively correlate in primary samples of patients with TNBC. Our functional studies showed that Fra-1 regulates HMGA1 mRNA expression at the transcriptional level via binding to enhancer elements located in the last two introns of the gene. Although Fra-1 binding is required for p300/CBP recruitment at the enhancer domain, this recruitment did not appear essential for Fra-1-stimulated HMGA1 gene expression. Strikingly, Fra-1 binding is required for efficient recruitment of RNA Polymerase II at the HMGA1 promoter. This is permitted owing to chromatin interactions bringing about the intragenic Fra-1-binding enhancers and the gene promoter region. Fra-1 is, however, not instrumental for chromatin loop formation at the HMGA1 locus but rather exerts its transcriptional activity by exploiting chromatin interactions preexisting to its binding. IMPLICATIONS: We demonstrate that Fra-1 bound to an intragenic enhancer region is required for RNA Pol II recruitement at the HMGA1 promoter. Thereby, we provide novel insights into the mechanisms whereby Fra-1 exerts its prooncogenic transcriptional actions in the TNBC pathologic context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claire Tolza
- Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France.,Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Fabienne Bejjani
- Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France.,Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.,Lebanese University of Beirut, Rafic Hariri Campus, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon. M. Piechaczyk and I. Jariel-Encontre are the cosenior authors of this article
| | - Emilie Evanno
- Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France.,Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Samantha Mahfoud
- Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France.,Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France.,Lebanese University of Beirut, Rafic Hariri Campus, Hadath, Beirut, Lebanon. M. Piechaczyk and I. Jariel-Encontre are the cosenior authors of this article
| | - Gabriel Moquet-Torcy
- Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France.,Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Thierry Gostan
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Muhammad Ahmad Maqbool
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Olivier Kirsh
- Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Marc Piechaczyk
- Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France.,Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
| | - Isabelle Jariel-Encontre
- Equipe Labellisée par la Ligue contre le Cancer, Montpellier, France. .,Institut de Génétique Moléculaire de Montpellier, University of Montpellier, CNRS, Montpellier, France
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5
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Klett H, Balavarca Y, Toth R, Gigic B, Habermann N, Scherer D, Schrotz-King P, Ulrich A, Schirmacher P, Herpel E, Brenner H, Ulrich CM, Michels KB, Busch H, Boerries M. Robust prediction of gene regulation in colorectal cancer tissues from DNA methylation profiles. Epigenetics 2018; 13:386-397. [PMID: 29697014 PMCID: PMC6140810 DOI: 10.1080/15592294.2018.1460034] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2018] [Revised: 03/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/27/2018] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
DNA methylation is recognized as one of several epigenetic regulators of gene expression and as potential driver of carcinogenesis through gene-silencing of tumor suppressors and activation of oncogenes. However, abnormal methylation, even of promoter regions, does not necessarily alter gene expression levels, especially if the gene is already silenced, leaving the exact mechanisms of methylation unanswered. Using a large cohort of matching DNA methylation and gene expression samples of colorectal cancer (CRC; n = 77) and normal adjacent mucosa tissues (n = 108), we investigated the regulatory role of methylation on gene expression. We show that on a subset of genes enriched in common cancer pathways, methylation is significantly associated with gene regulation through gene-specific mechanisms. We built two classification models to infer gene regulation in CRC from methylation differences of tumor and normal tissues, taking into account both gene-silencing and gene-activation effects through hyper- and hypo-methylation of CpGs. The classification models result in high prediction performances in both training and independent CRC testing cohorts (0.92
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagen Klett
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany
| | - Yesilda Balavarca
- Division of Preventive Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Reka Toth
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Preventive Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Biljana Gigic
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Preventive Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nina Habermann
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Preventive Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Dominique Scherer
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Preventive Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Medical Biometry and Informatics, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Petra Schrotz-King
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Preventive Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Alexis Ulrich
- Department of General, Visceral and Transplantation Surgery, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Peter Schirmacher
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Pathology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Esther Herpel
- Institute of Pathology, University Clinic Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
- Tissue Bank of the National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hermann Brenner
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Preventive Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Clinical Epidemiology and Aging Research, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Cornelia M. Ulrich
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Preventive Oncology, National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Huntsman Cancer Institute and Department of Population Health Sciences, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT, USA
| | - Karin B. Michels
- Institute for Prevention and Cancer Epidemiology, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany
- Department of Epidemiology, Fielding School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Hauke Busch
- Lübeck Institute of Experimental Dermatology and Institute of Cardiogenetics, University of Lübeck, Lübeck, Germany
| | - Melanie Boerries
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Institute of Molecular Medicine and Cell Research, Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Germany
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6
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Zhang H, Yang J, Walters MS, Staudt MR, Strulovici-Barel Y, Salit J, Mezey JG, Leopold PL, Crystal RG. Mandatory role of HMGA1 in human airway epithelial normal differentiation and post-injury regeneration. Oncotarget 2018; 9:14324-14337. [PMID: 29581847 PMCID: PMC5865673 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2017] [Accepted: 01/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Due to high levels of expression in aggressive tumors, high mobility group AT-hook 1 (HMGA1) has recently attracted attention as a potential anti-tumor target. However, HMGA1 is also expressed in normal somatic progenitor cells, raising the question: how might systemic anti-HMGA1 therapies affect the structure and function of normal tissue differentiation? In the present study, RNA sequencing data demonstrated HMGA1 is highly expressed in human airway basal stem/progenitor cells (BC), but decreases with BC differentiation in air-liquid interface cultures (ALI). BC collected from nonsmokers, healthy smokers, and smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) displayed a range of HMGA1 expression levels. Low initial expression levels of HMGA1 in BC were associated with decreased ability to maintain a differentiated ALI epithelium. HMGA1 down-regulation in BC diminished BC proliferation, suppressed gene expression related to normal proliferation and differentiation, decreased airway epithelial resistance, suppressed junctional and cell polarity gene expression, and delayed wound closure of airway epithelium following injury. Furthermore, silencing of HMGA1 in airway BC in ALI increased the expression of genes associated with airway remodeling in COPD including squamous, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT), and inflammatory genes. Together, the data suggests HMGA1 plays a central role in normal airway differentiation, and thus caution should be used to monitor airway epithelial structure and function in the context of systemic HMGA1-targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haijun Zhang
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jing Yang
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Matthew S Walters
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Michelle R Staudt
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | | | - Jacqueline Salit
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jason G Mezey
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Biological Statistics and Computational Biology, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Philip L Leopold
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ronald G Crystal
- Department of Genetic Medicine, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, NY, USA
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7
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Chiefari E, Foti DP, Sgarra R, Pegoraro S, Arcidiacono B, Brunetti FS, Greco M, Manfioletti G, Brunetti A. Transcriptional Regulation of Glucose Metabolism: The Emerging Role of the HMGA1 Chromatin Factor. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2018; 9:357. [PMID: 30034366 PMCID: PMC6043803 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2018.00357] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/22/2018] [Accepted: 06/13/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
HMGA1 (high mobility group A1) is a nonhistone architectural chromosomal protein that functions mainly as a dynamic regulator of chromatin structure and gene transcription. As such, HMGA1 is involved in a variety of fundamental cellular processes, including gene expression, epigenetic regulation, cell differentiation and proliferation, as well as DNA repair. In the last years, many reports have demonstrated a role of HMGA1 in the transcriptional regulation of several genes implicated in glucose homeostasis. Initially, it was proved that HMGA1 is essential for normal expression of the insulin receptor (INSR), a critical link in insulin action and glucose homeostasis. Later, it was demonstrated that HMGA1 is also a downstream nuclear target of the INSR signaling pathway, representing a novel mediator of insulin action and function at this level. Moreover, other observations have indicated the role of HMGA1 as a positive modulator of the Forkhead box protein O1 (FoxO1), a master regulatory factor for gluconeogenesis and glycogenolysis, as well as a positive regulator of the expression of insulin and of a series of circulating proteins that are involved in glucose counterregulation, such as the insulin growth factor binding protein 1 (IGFBP1), and the retinol binding protein 4 (RBP4). Thus, several lines of evidence underscore the importance of HMGA1 in the regulation of glucose production and disposal. Consistently, lack of HMGA1 causes insulin resistance and diabetes in humans and mice, while variations in the HMGA1 gene are associated with the risk of type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, two highly prevalent diseases that share insulin resistance as a common pathogenetic mechanism. This review intends to give an overview about our current knowledge on the role of HMGA1 in glucose metabolism. Although research in this field is ongoing, many aspects still remain elusive. Future directions to improve our insights into the pathophysiology of glucose homeostasis may include epigenetic studies and the use of "omics" strategies. We believe that a more comprehensive understanding of HMGA1 and its networks may reveal interesting molecular links between glucose metabolism and other biological processes, such as cell proliferation and differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eusebio Chiefari
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Daniela P. Foti
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Riccardo Sgarra
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Pegoraro
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Trieste, Italy
| | - Biagio Arcidiacono
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesco S. Brunetti
- Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Manfredi Greco
- Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Antonio Brunetti
- Department of Health Sciences, University “Magna Græcia” of Catanzaro, Catanzaro, Italy
- *Correspondence: Antonio Brunetti
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8
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Sumter TF, Xian L, Huso T, Koo M, Chang YT, Almasri TN, Chia L, Inglis C, Reid D, Resar LMS. The High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1) Transcriptome in Cancer and Development. Curr Mol Med 2016; 16:353-93. [PMID: 26980699 DOI: 10.2174/1566524016666160316152147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 83] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2015] [Revised: 02/15/2016] [Accepted: 03/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND & OBJECTIVES Chromatin structure is the single most important feature that distinguishes a cancer cell from a normal cell histologically. Chromatin remodeling proteins regulate chromatin structure and high mobility group A (HMGA1) proteins are among the most abundant, nonhistone chromatin remodeling proteins found in cancer cells. These proteins include HMGA1a/HMGA1b isoforms, which result from alternatively spliced mRNA. The HMGA1 gene is overexpressed in cancer and high levels portend a poor prognosis in diverse tumors. HMGA1 is also highly expressed during embryogenesis and postnatally in adult stem cells. Overexpression of HMGA1 drives neoplastic transformation in cultured cells, while inhibiting HMGA1 blocks oncogenic and cancer stem cell properties. Hmga1 transgenic mice succumb to aggressive tumors, demonstrating that dysregulated expression of HMGA1 causes cancer in vivo. HMGA1 is also required for reprogramming somatic cells into induced pluripotent stem cells. HMGA1 proteins function as ancillary transcription factors that bend chromatin and recruit other transcription factors to DNA. They induce oncogenic transformation by activating or repressing specific genes involved in this process and an HMGA1 "transcriptome" is emerging. Although prior studies reveal potent oncogenic properties of HMGA1, we are only beginning to understand the molecular mechanisms through which HMGA1 functions. In this review, we summarize the list of putative downstream transcriptional targets regulated by HMGA1. We also briefly discuss studies linking HMGA1 to Alzheimer's disease and type-2 diabetes. CONCLUSION Further elucidation of HMGA1 function should lead to novel therapeutic strategies for cancer and possibly for other diseases associated with aberrant HMGA1 expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - L M S Resar
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, 720 Rutland Avenue, Ross Research Building, Room 1025, Baltimore, MD 21205-2109, USA.
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9
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Williams MD, Xian L, Huso T, Park JJ, Huso D, Cope LM, Gang DR, Siems WF, Resar L, Reeves R, Hill HH. Fecal Metabolome in Hmga1 Transgenic Mice with Polyposis: Evidence for Potential Screen for Early Detection of Precursor Lesions in Colorectal Cancer. J Proteome Res 2016; 15:4176-4187. [PMID: 27696867 DOI: 10.1021/acs.jproteome.6b00035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/08/2023]
Abstract
Because colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer mortality worldwide, more accessible screening tests are urgently needed to identify early stage lesions. We hypothesized that highly sensitive, metabolic profile analysis of stool samples will identify metabolites associated with early stage lesions and could serve as a noninvasive screening test. We therefore applied traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry (TWIMMS) coupled with ultraperformance liquid chromatography (UPLC) to investigate metabolic aberrations in stool samples in a transgenic model of premalignant polyposis aberrantly expressing the gene encoding the high mobility group A (Hmga1) chromatin remodeling protein. Here, we report for the first time that the fecal metabolome of Hmga1 mice is distinct from that of control mice and includes metabolites previously identified in human CRC. Significant alterations were observed in fatty acid metabolites and metabolites associated with bile acids (hypoxanthine xanthine, taurine) in Hmga1 mice compared to controls. Surprisingly, a marked increase in the levels of distinctive short, arginine-enriched, tetra-peptide fragments was observed in the transgenic mice. Together these findings suggest that specific metabolites are associated with Hmga1-induced polyposis and abnormal proliferation in intestinal epithelium. Although further studies are needed, these data provide a compelling rationale to develop fecal metabolomic analysis as a noninvasive screening tool to detect early precursor lesions to CRC in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Williams
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Lingling Xian
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Tait Huso
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Jeong-Jin Park
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - David Huso
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Leslie M Cope
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - David R Gang
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - William F Siems
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Linda Resar
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Raymond Reeves
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
| | - Herbert H Hill
- Department of Chemistry, ‡School of Molecular Biosciences, and §Institute of Biological Chemistry, Washington State University , Pullman, Washington 99164, United States.,Department of Medicine, ¶Department of Oncology, and ∥Institute for Cellular Engineering, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore, Maryland 21205, United States
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10
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The Architectural Chromatin Factor High Mobility Group A1 Enhances DNA Ligase IV Activity Influencing DNA Repair. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0164258. [PMID: 27723831 PMCID: PMC5056749 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0164258] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2016] [Accepted: 09/22/2016] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The HMGA1 architectural transcription factor is an oncogene overexpressed in the vast majority of human cancers. HMGA1 is a highly connected node in the nuclear molecular network and the key aspect of HMGA1 involvement in cancer development is that HMGA1 simultaneously confers cells multiple oncogenic hits, ranging from global chromatin structural and gene expression modifications up to the direct functional alterations of key cellular proteins. Interestingly, HMGA1 also modulates DNA damage repair pathways. In this work, we provide evidences linking HMGA1 with Non-Homologous End Joining DNA repair. We show that HMGA1 is in complex with and is a substrate for DNA-PK. HMGA1 enhances Ligase IV activity and it counteracts the repressive histone H1 activity towards DNA ends ligation. Moreover, breast cancer cells overexpressing HMGA1 show a faster recovery upon induction of DNA double-strand breaks, which is associated with a higher survival. These data suggest that resistance to DNA-damaging agents in cancer cells could be partially attributed to HMGA1 overexpression thus highlighting the relevance of considering HMGA1 expression levels in the selection of valuable and effective pharmacological regimens.
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Crucial role of HMGA1 in the self-renewal and drug resistance of ovarian cancer stem cells. Exp Mol Med 2016; 48:e255. [PMID: 27561949 PMCID: PMC5007643 DOI: 10.1038/emm.2016.73] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2015] [Revised: 03/25/2016] [Accepted: 03/29/2016] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells are a subpopulation of cancer cells characterized by self-renewal ability, tumorigenesis and drug resistance. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of HMGA1, a chromatin remodeling factor abundantly expressed in many different cancers, in the regulation of cancer stem cells in ovarian cancer. Spheroid-forming cancer stem cells were isolated from A2780, SKOV3 and PA1 ovarian cancer cells by three-dimensional spheroid culture. Elevated expression of HMGA1 was observed in spheroid cells along with increased expression of stemness-related genes, such as SOX2, KLF4, ALDH, ABCB1 and ABCG2. Furthermore, spheroid A2780 cells, compared with adherent cells, showed higher resistance to chemotherapeutic agents such as paclitaxel and doxorubicin. HMGA1 knockdown in spheroid cells reduced the proliferative advantage and spheroid-forming efficiency of the cells and the expression of stemness-related genes. HMGA1 overexpression in adherent A2780 cells increased cancer stem cell properties, including proliferation, spheroid-forming efficiency and the expression of stemness-related genes. In addition, HMGA1 regulated ABCG2 promoter activity through HMGA1-binding sites. Knockdown of HMGA1 in spheroid cells reduced resistance to chemotherapeutic agents, whereas the overexpression of HMGA1 in adherent ovarian cancer cells increased resistance to chemotherapeutic agents in vitro. Furthermore, HMGA1-overexpressing A2780 cells showed a significant survival advantage after chemotherapeutic agent treatment in a xenograft tumorigenicity assay. Together, our results provide novel insights regarding the critical role of HMGA1 in the regulation of the cancer stem cell characteristics of ovarian cancer cells, thus suggesting that HMGA1 may be an important target in the development of therapeutics for ovarian cancer patients.
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Xian L, Huff CA, Resar LMS. IBRUTinib: BRUTe force against bortezomib-resistant myeloma cells. Cell Cycle 2016; 14:1349-50. [PMID: 25785545 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2015.1022058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/23/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Xian
- a Department of Medicine ; The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine , Baltimore , MD USA
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Maurizio E, Wiśniewski JR, Ciani Y, Amato A, Arnoldo L, Penzo C, Pegoraro S, Giancotti V, Zambelli A, Piazza S, Manfioletti G, Sgarra R. Translating Proteomic Into Functional Data: An High Mobility Group A1 (HMGA1) Proteomic Signature Has Prognostic Value in Breast Cancer. Mol Cell Proteomics 2015; 15:109-23. [PMID: 26527623 PMCID: PMC4762532 DOI: 10.1074/mcp.m115.050401] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2015] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer is a very heterogeneous disease, and biological variability adds a further level of complexity, thus limiting the ability to identify new genes involved in cancer development. Oncogenes whose expression levels control cell aggressiveness are very useful for developing cellular models that permit differential expression screenings in isogenic contexts. HMGA1 protein has this unique property because it is a master regulator in breast cancer cells that control the transition from a nontumorigenic epithelial-like phenotype toward a highly aggressive mesenchymal-like one. The proteins extracted from HMGA1-silenced and control MDA-MB-231 cells were analyzed using label-free shotgun mass spectrometry. The differentially expressed proteins were cross-referenced with DNA microarray data obtained using the same cellular model and the overlapping genes were filtered for factors linked to poor prognosis in breast cancer gene expression meta-data sets, resulting in an HMGA1 protein signature composed of 21 members (HRS, HMGA1 reduced signature). This signature had a prognostic value (overall survival, relapse-free survival, and distant metastasis-free survival) in breast cancer. qRT-PCR, Western blot, and immunohistochemistry analyses validated the link of three members of this signature (KIFC1, LRRC59, and TRIP13) with HMGA1 expression levels both in vitro and in vivo and wound healing assays demonstrated that these three proteins are involved in modulating tumor cell motility. Combining proteomic and genomic data with the aid of bioinformatic tools, our results highlight the potential involvement in neoplastic transformation of a restricted list of factors with an as-yet-unexplored role in cancer. These factors are druggable targets that could be exploited for the development of new, targeted therapeutic approaches in triple-negative breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Maurizio
- From the ‡Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Jacek R Wiśniewski
- §Biochemical Proteomics Group, Department of Proteomics and Signal Transduction, Max-Planck-Institute of Biochemistry, Am Klopferspitz 18, 82152 Martinsried, Germany
| | - Yari Ciani
- ¶Laboratorio Nazionale CIB, (LNCIB), Area Science Park, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | - Angela Amato
- ¶¶Laboratory of Experimental Oncology and Pharmacogenomics IRCCS - Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, 27100 Pavia, Italy
| | - Laura Arnoldo
- From the ‡Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Carlotta Penzo
- From the ‡Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Silvia Pegoraro
- From the ‡Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Vincenzo Giancotti
- From the ‡Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy
| | - Alberto Zambelli
- ‖Department of Medical Oncology, Hospital Papa Giovanni XXIII, 24127 Bergamo, Italy
| | - Silvano Piazza
- ¶Laboratorio Nazionale CIB, (LNCIB), Area Science Park, 34149 Trieste, Italy
| | | | - Riccardo Sgarra
- From the ‡Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, 34127 Trieste, Italy;
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Williams MD, Zhang X, Park JJ, Siems WF, Gang DR, Resar LMS, Reeves R, Hill HH. Characterizing metabolic changes in human colorectal cancer. Anal Bioanal Chem 2015; 407:4581-95. [PMID: 25943258 DOI: 10.1007/s00216-015-8662-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2014] [Revised: 03/13/2015] [Accepted: 03/24/2015] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) remains a leading cause of cancer death worldwide, despite the fact that it is a curable disease when diagnosed early. The development of new screening methods to aid in early diagnosis or identify precursor lesions at risk for progressing to CRC will be vital to improving the survival rate of individuals predisposed to CRC. Metabolomics is an advancing area that has recently seen numerous applications to the field of cancer research. Altered metabolism has been studied for many years as a means to understand and characterize cancer. However, further work is required to establish standard procedures and improve our ability to identify distinct metabolomic profiles that can be used to diagnose CRC or predict disease progression. The present study demonstrates the use of direct infusion traveling wave ion mobility mass spectrometry to distinguish metabolic profiles from CRC samples and matched non-neoplastic epithelium as well as metastatic and primary tumors at different stages of disease (T1-T4). By directly infusing our samples, the analysis time was reduced significantly, thus increasing the speed and efficiency of this method compared to traditional metabolomics platforms. Partial least squares discriminant analysis was used to visualize differences between the metabolic profiles of sample types and to identify the specific m/z features that led to this differentiation. Identification of the distinct m/z features was made using the human metabolome database. We discovered alterations in fatty acid biosynthesis and oxidative, glycolytic, and polyamine pathways that distinguish tumors from non-malignant colonic epithelium as well as various stages of CRC. Although further studies are needed, our results indicate that colonic epithelial cells undergo metabolic reprogramming during their evolution to CRC, and the distinct metabolites could serve as diagnostic tools or potential targets in therapy or primary prevention. Graphical Abstract Colon tissue biopsy samples were collected from patients after which metabolites were extracted via sonication. Two-dimensional data were collected via IMS in tandem with MS (IMMS). Data were then interpreted statistically via PLS-DA. Scores plots provided a visualization of statistical separation and groupings of sample types. Loading plots allowed identification of influential ion features. Lists of these features were exported and analyzed for specific differences. Direct comparisons of the ion features led to the identification and comparative analyses of candidate biomarkers. These differences were then expressed visually in charts and tables.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael D Williams
- Department of Chemistry, Washington State University, Pullman, WA, 99164, USA
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Huso TH, Resar LMS. The high mobility group A1 molecular switch: turning on cancer - can we turn it off? Expert Opin Ther Targets 2014; 18:541-53. [PMID: 24684280 DOI: 10.1517/14728222.2014.900045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Emerging evidence demonstrates that the high mobility group A1 (HMGA1) chromatin remodeling protein is a key molecular switch required by cancer cells for tumor progression and a poorly differentiated, stem-like state. Because the HMGA1 gene and proteins are expressed at high levels in all aggressive tumors studied to date, research is needed to determine how to 'turn off' this master regulatory switch in cancer. AREAS COVERED In this review, we describe prior studies that underscore the central role of HMGA1 in refractory cancers and we discuss approaches to target HMGA1 in cancer therapy. EXPERT OPINION Given the widespread overexpression of HMGA1 in diverse, aggressive tumors, further research to develop technology to target HMGA1 holds immense promise as potent anticancer therapy. Previous work in preclinical models indicates that delivery of short hairpin RNA or interfering RNA molecules to 'switch off' HMGA1 expression dramatically impairs cancer cell growth and tumor progression. The advent of nanoparticle technology to systemically deliver DNA or RNA molecules to tumors brings this approach even closer to clinical applications, although further efforts are needed to translate these advances into therapies for cancer patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tait H Huso
- The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Hematology Division , Ross Research Building, Room 1015, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore MD 21205 , USA
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