Bromodomain Protein BRD4 Is Essential for Hair Cell Function and Survival

Prkra Mutation Alters mRNA Expression During Embryonic External Ear Development

To understand the changes in mRNA expression during the embryonic development of the external mouse ear after the point mutation of the Prkra gene, Prkra short ear mouse model was used to study the development of the embryonic external ear. The tissues of the embryonic external ear were obtained when mouse embryos developed to E15.5 and E17.5. The changes in the mRNA expression profile were detected and analyzed. Find_circ and CIRI2 softwares were used to identify the upregulated and down-regulated expression of mRNA in the experimental and control groups. Gene Ontology and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes functional annotations were conducted on the differentially expressed mRNA, and the related signal pathways were analyzed after the upregulation and down-regulation of mRNA expression. This study aimed to understand the regulation of mRNA expression in Prkra short-ear mice during the external ear development in embryos. The results showed a correlation between abnormally expressed mRNA and signal pathways and the regulation of the development of the external ear of Prkra short-ear mice, and there were differences in some key regulatory mRNA changes after the Prkra gene point mutation. This study will provide a new clue for the mechanism of mRNA regulating the development of the external mouse ear. The change in mRNA expression profile can also provide clues for studying the biological regulation mechanism of external ear embryonic development.

An interplay between BRD4 and G9a regulates skeletal myogenesis

Histone acetylation and methylation are epigenetic modifications that are dynamically regulated by chromatin modifiers to precisely regulate gene expression. However, the interplay by which histone modifications are synchronized to coordinate cellular differentiation is not fully understood. In this study, we demonstrate a relationship between BRD4, a reader of acetylation marks, and G9a, a writer of methylation marks in the regulation of myogenic differentiation. Using loss- and gain-of-function studies, as well as a pharmacological inhibition of its activity, we examined the mechanism by which BRD4 regulates myogenesis. Transcriptomic analysis using RNA sequencing revealed that a number of myogenic differentiation genes are downregulated in Brd4-depleted cells. Interestingly, some of these genes were upregulated upon G9a knockdown, indicating that BRD4 and G9a play opposing roles in the control of myogenic gene expression. Remarkably, the differentiation defect caused by Brd4 knockdown was rescued by inhibition of G9a methyltransferase activity. These findings demonstrate that the absence of BRD4 results in the upregulation of G9a activity and consequently impaired myogenic differentiation. Collectively, our study identifies an interdependence between BRD4 and G9a for the precise control of transcriptional outputs to regulate myogenesis.

Post-Translational Modifications of BRD4: Therapeutic Targets for Tumor

Bromodomain-containing protein 4 (BRD4), a member of the bromodomain and extraterminal (BET) family, is considered to be a major driver of cancer cell growth and a new target for cancer therapy. Over 30 targeted inhibitors currently in preclinical and clinical trials have significant inhibitory effects on various tumors, including acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), diffuse large B cell lymphoma, prostate cancer, breast cancer and so on. However, resistance frequently occurs, revealing the limitations of BET inhibitor (BETi) therapy and the complexity of the BRD4 expression mechanism and action pathway. Current studies believe that when the internal and external environmental conditions of cells change, tumor cells can directly modify proteins by posttranslational modifications (PTMs) without changing the original DNA sequence to change their functions, and epigenetic modifications can also be activated to form new heritable phenotypes in response to various environmental stresses. In fact, research is constantly being supplemented with regards to that the regulatory role of BRD4 in tumors is closely related to PTMs. At present, the PTMs of BRD4 mainly include ubiquitination and phosphorylation; the former mainly regulates the stability of the BRD4 protein and mediates BETi resistance, while the latter is related to the biological functions of BRD4, such as transcriptional regulation, cofactor recruitment, chromatin binding and so on. At the same time, other PTMs, such as hydroxylation, acetylation and methylation, also play various roles in BRD4 regulation. The diversity, complexity and reversibility of posttranslational modifications affect the structure, stability and biological function of the BRD4 protein and participate in the occurrence and development of tumors by regulating the expression of tumor-related genes and even become the core and undeniable mechanism. Therefore, targeting BRD4-related modification sites or enzymes may be an effective strategy for cancer prevention and treatment. This review summarizes the role of different BRD4 modification types, elucidates the pathogenesis in the corresponding cancers, provides a theoretical reference for identifying new targets and effective combination therapy strategies, and discusses the opportunities, barriers, and limitations of PTM-based therapies for future cancer treatment.

Fzd3 Expression Within Inner Ear Afferent Neurons Is Necessary for Central Pathfinding

During development the afferent neurons of the inner ear make precise wiring decisions in the hindbrain reflective of their topographic distribution in the periphery. This is critical for the formation of sensory maps capable of faithfully processing both auditory and vestibular input. Disorganized central projections of inner ear afferents in Fzd3 null mice indicate Wnt/PCP signaling is involved in this process and ear transplantation in Xenopus indicates that Fzd3 is necessary in the ear but not the hindbrain for proper afferent navigation. However, it remains unclear in which cell type of the inner ear Fzd3 expression is influencing the guidance of inner ear afferents to their proper synaptic targets in the hindbrain. We utilized Atoh1-cre and Neurod1-cre mouse lines to conditionally knockout Fzd3 within the mechanosensory hair cells of the organ of Corti and within the inner ear afferents, respectively. Following conditional deletion of Fzd3 within the hair cells, the central topographic distribution of inner ear afferents was maintained with no gross morphological defects. In contrast, conditional deletion of Fzd3 within inner ear afferents leads to central pathfinding defects of both cochlear and vestibular afferents. Here, we show that Fzd3 is acting in a cell autonomous manner within inner ear afferents to regulate central pathfinding within the hindbrain.

Brd4 Regulates the Homeostasis of CD8+ T-Lymphocytes and Their Proliferation in Response to Antigen Stimulation

CD8+ T cells are major components of adaptive immunity and confer robust protective cellular immunity, which requires adequate T-cell numbers, targeted migration, and efficient T-cell proliferation. Altered CD8+ T-cell homeostasis and impaired proliferation result in dysfunctional immune response to infection or tumorigenesis. However, intrinsic factors controlling CD8+ T-cell homeostasis and immunity remain largely elusive. Here, we demonstrate the prominent role of Brd4 on CD8+ T cell homeostasis and immune response. By upregulating Myc and GLUT1 expression, Brd4 facilitates glucose uptake and energy production in mitochondria, subsequently supporting naïve CD8+ T-cell survival. Besides, Brd4 promotes the trafficking of naïve CD8+ T cells partially through maintaining the expression of homing receptors (CD62L and LFA-1). Furthermore, Brd4 is required for CD8+ T cell response to antigen stimulation, as Brd4 deficiency leads to a severe defect in clonal expansion and terminal differentiation by decreasing glycolysis. Importantly, as JQ1, a pan-BRD inhibitor, severely dampens CD8+ T-cell immune response, its usage as an anti-tumor agent or latency-reversing agent for human immunodeficiency virus type I (HIV-1) should be more cautious. Collectively, our study identifies a previously-unexpected role of Brd4 in the metabolic regulation of CD8+ T cell-mediated immune surveillance and also provides a potential immunomodulation target.