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Gomez GA, Udayakumar A, Pourteymoor S, Dennis G, Xing W, Mohan S. Evaluation of Potential Roles of Zinc Finger Homeobox 3 (Zfhx3) Expressed in Chondrocytes and Osteoblasts on Skeletal Growth in Mice. Calcif Tissue Int 2024; 115:445-454. [PMID: 39085428 DOI: 10.1007/s00223-024-01265-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2024] [Accepted: 07/20/2024] [Indexed: 08/02/2024]
Abstract
Bone formation is tightly modulated by genetically encoded molecular proteins that interact to regulate cellular differentiation and secretion of bony matrix. Many transcription factors are known to coordinate these events by controlling gene transcription within networks. However, not all factors involved are known. Here, we identified a novel function for Zinc Finger Homeobox 3 (Zfhx3), a gene encoding a transcription factor, as a regulator of bone metabolism. We knocked out Zfhx3 conditionally in mice in either chondrocytes or osteoblasts and characterized their bones by micro-CT in 12-week-old mice. We observed a negative effect in linear bone growth in both knockout mice but reduced bone mass only in mice with Zfhx3 deleted in osteoblasts. Loss of Zfhx3 expression in osteoblasts affected trabecular bone mass in femurs and vertebrae in both sexes but influenced cortical bone volume fraction only in females. Moreover, transcriptional analysis of femoral bones in osteoblast Zfhx3 conditional knockout mice revealed a reduced expression of osteoblast genes, and histological evaluation of trabecular bones suggests that Zfhx3 causes changes in bone formation and not resorption. The loss of Zfhx3 causes reductions in trabecular bone area and osteoid volume, but no changes in the expression of osteoclast differentiation markers or number of TRAP stained osteoclasts. These studies introduce Zfhx3 as a relevant factor toward understanding gene regulatory networks that control bone formation and development of peak bone mass.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gustavo A Gomez
- Musculoskeletal Disease Center, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, 11201 Benton Street, Loma Linda, CA, 92357, USA
| | - Anakha Udayakumar
- Musculoskeletal Disease Center, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, 11201 Benton Street, Loma Linda, CA, 92357, USA
| | - Sheila Pourteymoor
- Musculoskeletal Disease Center, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, 11201 Benton Street, Loma Linda, CA, 92357, USA
| | - Garrett Dennis
- Musculoskeletal Disease Center, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, 11201 Benton Street, Loma Linda, CA, 92357, USA
| | - Weirong Xing
- Musculoskeletal Disease Center, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, 11201 Benton Street, Loma Linda, CA, 92357, USA
| | - Subburaman Mohan
- Musculoskeletal Disease Center, VA Loma Linda Healthcare System, 11201 Benton Street, Loma Linda, CA, 92357, USA.
- Departments of Medicine, Biochemistry and Orthopedic Surgery, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, 92354, USA.
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Kumar R, Awasthi S, Pradhan D, Kumar R, Goel H, Singh J, Haider I, Deo SVS, Kumar C, Srivastava A, Bhatnagar A, Kumar R, Lakshmi S, Augustine P, Ranjan A, Chopra A, Gogia A, Batra A, Mathur S, Rath GK, Kaur T, Dhaliwal RS, Mathew A, Agrawal U, Hussain S, Tanwar P. Somatic mutational landscape across Indian breast cancer cases by whole exome sequencing. Sci Rep 2024; 14:18679. [PMID: 39134585 PMCID: PMC11319672 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-65148-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) has emerged as the most common malignancy among females. The genomic profile of BC is diverse in nature and complex due to heterogeneity among various geographically different ethnic groups. The primary objective of this study was to carry out a comprehensive mutational analysis of Indian BC cases by performing whole exome sequencing. The cohort included patients with a median age of 48 years. TTN, TP53, MUC16, SYNE1, and OBSCN were the frequently altered genes found in our cohort. The PIK3CA and KLC3 genes are driver genes implicated in various cellular functions and cargo transportation through microtubules, respectively. Except for CCDC168 and PIK3CA, several gene pairings were found to be significantly linked with co-occurrence. Irrespective of their hormonal receptor status, RTK/RAS was observed with frequently altered signaling pathways. Further analysis of the mutational signature revealed that SBS13, SBS6, and SBS29 were mainly observed in our cohort. This study supplements the discovery of diagnostic biomarkers and provides new therapeutic options for the improved management of BC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Kumar
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Supriya Awasthi
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | | | - Rakesh Kumar
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Harsh Goel
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Jay Singh
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Imran Haider
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - S V S Deo
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Chitresh Kumar
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Anurag Srivastava
- Department of General Surgery, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Amar Bhatnagar
- Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - Rakesh Kumar
- Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India
| | - S Lakshmi
- Division of Cancer Research, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Paul Augustine
- Division of Surgical Services, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Amar Ranjan
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Anita Chopra
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Ajay Gogia
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Atul Batra
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Sandeep Mathur
- Department of Pathology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Goura Kishor Rath
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Tanvir Kaur
- Division of Non-Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - R S Dhaliwal
- Division of Non-Communicable Diseases, Indian Council of Medical Research, New Delhi, India
| | - Aleyamma Mathew
- Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Regional Cancer Centre, Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India
| | - Usha Agrawal
- ICMR-National Institute of Pathology, New Delhi, India
| | - Showket Hussain
- Division of Molecular Oncology, National Institute of Cancer Prevention and Research, Noida, India
| | - Pranay Tanwar
- Dr. B. R. A.-Institute Rotary Cancer Hospital, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India.
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3
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Li K, Xia Y, He J, Wang J, Li J, Ye M, Jin X. The SUMOylation and ubiquitination crosstalk in cancer. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2023; 149:16123-16146. [PMID: 37640846 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-023-05310-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2023] [Accepted: 08/16/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cancer occurrence and progression are largely affected by the post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins. Currently, it has been shown that the relationship between ubiquitination and SUMOylation is highly complex and interactive. SUMOylation affects the process of ubiquitination and degradation of substrates. Contrarily, SUMOylation-related proteins are also regulated by the ubiquitination process thus altering their protein levels or activity. Emerging evidence suggests that the abnormal regulation between this crosstalk may lead to tumorigenesis. PURPOSE In this review, we have discussed the study of the relationship between ubiquitination and SUMOylation, as well as the possibility of a corresponding application in tumor therapy. METHODS The relevant literatures from PubMed have been reviewed for this article. CONCLUSION The interaction between ubiquitination and SUMOylation is crucial for the occurrence and development of cancer. A greater understanding of the crosstalk of SUMOylation and ubiquitination may be more conducive to the development of more selective and effective SUMOylation inhibitors, as well as a promotion of synergy with other tumor treatment strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kailang Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Yongming Xia
- Department of Oncology, Yuyao People's Hospital of Zhejiang, Yuyao, 315400, Zhejiang, China
| | - Jian He
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jie Wang
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Jingyun Li
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China
| | - Meng Ye
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
| | - Xiaofeng Jin
- Department of Oncology, The First Hospital of Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315020, China.
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, Health Science Center, Ningbo University, Ningbo, 315211, China.
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4
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Jameson HS, Hanley A, Hill MC, Xiao L, Ye J, Bapat A, Ronzier E, Hall AW, Hucker WJ, Clauss S, Barazza M, Silber E, Mina J, Tucker NR, Mills RW, Dong JT, Milan DJ, Ellinor PT. Loss of the Atrial Fibrillation-Related Gene, Zfhx3, Results in Atrial Dilation and Arrhythmias. Circ Res 2023; 133:313-329. [PMID: 37449401 PMCID: PMC10527554 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.123.323029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND ZFHX3 (zinc finger homeobox 3), a gene that encodes a large transcription factor, is at the second-most significantly associated locus with atrial fibrillation (AF), but its function in the heart is unknown. This study aims to identify causative genetic variation related to AF at the ZFHX3 locus and examine the impact of Zfhx3 loss on cardiac function in mice. METHODS CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing, chromatin immunoprecipitation, and luciferase assays in pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes were used to identify causative genetic variation related to AF at the ZFHX3 locus. Cardiac function was assessed by echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, electrophysiology studies, calcium imaging, and RNA sequencing in mice with heterozygous and homozygous cardiomyocyte-restricted Zfhx3 loss (Zfhx3 Het and knockout, respectively). Human cardiac single-nucleus ATAC (assay for transposase-accessible chromatin)-sequencing data was analyzed to determine which genes in atrial cardiomyocytes are directly regulated by ZFHX3. RESULTS We found single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs12931021 modulates an enhancer regulating ZFHX3 expression, and the AF risk allele is associated with decreased ZFHX3 transcription. We observed a gene-dose response in AF susceptibility with Zfhx3 knockout mice having higher incidence, frequency, and burden of AF than Zfhx3 Het and wild-type mice, with alterations in conduction velocity, atrial action potential duration, calcium handling and the development of atrial enlargement and thrombus, and dilated cardiomyopathy. Zfhx3 loss results in atrial-specific differential effects on genes and signaling pathways involved in cardiac pathophysiology and AF. CONCLUSIONS Our findings implicate ZFHX3 as the causative gene at the 16q22 locus for AF, and cardiac abnormalities caused by loss of cardiac Zfhx3 are due to atrial-specific dysregulation of pathways involved in AF susceptibility. Together, these data reveal a novel and important role for Zfhx3 in the control of cardiac genes and signaling pathways essential for normal atrial function.
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Affiliation(s)
- Heather S. Jameson
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alan Hanley
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Demoulas Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Matthew C. Hill
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Ling Xiao
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jiangchuan Ye
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - Aneesh Bapat
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Demoulas Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elsa Ronzier
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Amelia Weber Hall
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
| | - William J. Hucker
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Demoulas Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sebastian Clauss
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine I, University Hospital Munich, Campus Grosshadern, Ludwig-Maximilians University Munich (LMU), 81377 Munich, Germany
- German Centre for Cardiovascular Research (DZHK), partner site: Munich Heart Alliance, Munich, Germany
- Walter Brendel Centre of Experimental Medicine, University Hospital, LMU Munich, Germany
| | - Miranda Barazza
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Silber
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Julie Mina
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Robert W. Mills
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | | | - Patrick T. Ellinor
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Demoulas Center for Cardiac Arrhythmias, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Cardiovascular Disease Initiative, The Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA
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5
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Wah NW, Mok Y, Omar N, Chang KTE, Tay TKY, Hue SSS, Lee VKM. Clinicopathologic and Molecular Characteristics of Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Smooth Muscle Tumor Compared With Those of Leiomyoma and Leiomyosarcoma. Mod Pathol 2023; 36:100127. [PMID: 36965331 DOI: 10.1016/j.modpat.2023.100127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/20/2022] [Revised: 12/28/2022] [Accepted: 01/31/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023]
Abstract
Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-associated smooth muscle tumors (EBV-SMTs) are rare smooth muscle neoplasms exclusively associated with immunosuppression, such as in patients with HIV/AIDS, posttransplant, and congenital immunodeficiency. However, the genomic landscape of EBV-SMTs is poorly understood. Leiomyosarcomas harbor genomic instability and multiple recurrent DNA copy number alterations, whereas leiomyomas lack such changes. Thus, this study aimed to fill this knowledge gap by characterizing copy number alterations in EBV-SMTs and correlating this information with clinicopathologic characteristics. Our study investigated and compared the pathologic characteristics and copy number profiles of 9 EBV-SMTs (from 7 post-transplant and AIDS patients), 6 leiomyomas, and 7 leiomyosarcomas, using chromosomal microarray platforms. Our results showed a lower copy number alteration burden in EBV-SMTs and leiomyoma than in leiomyosarcoma. This contrast in the molecular profile between EBV-SMTs and leiomyosarcoma is concordant with the different clinical behaviors and pathologic characteristics exhibited by these tumors. Despite having an overall copy number alteration profile closer to leiomyoma, recurrent copy number gain of oncogenes, such as RUNX1, CCND2, and ETS2, was found in EBV-SMTs. Epigenetic alterations may play an important role in tumorigenesis as recurrent copy number gains were found in histone deacetylases. A gene enrichment analysis also demonstrated enrichment of genes involved in the host response to viral infection, suggesting that the tumor immune microenvironment may play an important role in EBV-SMT tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naw Wah Wah
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Yingting Mok
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore; Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore; Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | | | - Kenneth Tou En Chang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore
| | | | - Susan Swee-Shan Hue
- Department of Pathology, National University Hospital, National University Health System, Singapore
| | - Victor Kwan Min Lee
- Department of Pathology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of Singapore, Singapore.
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Kodada D, Hyblova M, Krumpolec P, Janostiakova N, Barath P, Grendar M, Blandova G, Petrovic O, Janega P, Repiska V, Minarik G. The Potential of Liquid Biopsy in Detection of Endometrial Cancer Biomarkers: A Pilot Study. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24:ijms24097811. [PMID: 37175518 PMCID: PMC10178554 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24097811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Revised: 04/19/2023] [Accepted: 04/20/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Endometrial cancer belongs to the most common gynecologic cancer types globally, with increasing incidence. There are numerous ways of classifying different cases. The most recent decade has brought advances in molecular classification, which show more accurate prognostic factors and the possibility of personalised adjuvant treatment. In addition, diagnostic approaches lag behind these advances, with methods causing patients discomfort while lacking the reproducibility of tissue sampling for biopsy. Minimally invasive liquid biopsies could therefore represent an alternative screening and diagnostic approach in patients with endometrial cancer. The method could potentially detect molecular changes in this cancer type and identify patients at early stages. In this pilot study, we tested such a detection method based on circulating tumour DNA isolated from the peripheral blood plasma of 21 Slovak endometrial cancer patients. We successfully detected oncomutations in the circulating DNA of every single patient, although the prognostic value of the detected mutations failed to offer certainty. Furthermore, we detected changes associated with clonal hematopoiesis, including DNMT3A mutations, which were present in the majority of circulating tumour DNA samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dominik Kodada
- Medirex Group Academy, 94905 Nitra, Slovakia
- Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | | | - Nikola Janostiakova
- Medirex Group Academy, 94905 Nitra, Slovakia
- Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Marian Grendar
- Medirex Group Academy, 94905 Nitra, Slovakia
- Jessenius Faculty of Medicine in Martin, Comenius University in Bratislava, 03601 Martin, Slovakia
| | - Gabriela Blandova
- Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | | | - Pavol Janega
- Medirex Group Academy, 94905 Nitra, Slovakia
- Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia
| | - Vanda Repiska
- Faculty of Medicine, Comenius University in Bratislava, 84215 Bratislava, Slovakia
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Li M, Zheng Y, Li X, Shen X, Zhang T, Weng B, Mao H, Zhao J. ATBF1 is a potential diagnostic marker of histological grade and functions via WNT5A in breast cancer. BMC Cancer 2022; 22:1280. [PMID: 36476423 PMCID: PMC9727999 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-022-10380-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Accepted: 11/29/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Histological grade has been demonstrated to be an important factor of breast cancer outcome and is associated with cell differentiation and is currently being evaluated via H&E-stained sections. Molecular biomarkers are essential to improve the accuracy of histological grading. ATBF1, a large transcription factor, has been considered a tumor suppressor gene with frequent mutations or deletions in multiple cancers. In breast cancer, ATBF1 was reported to function in cell differentiation and mammary development. However, its role in the clinic has rarely been reported. METHODS Breast cancer tissues (BCTs) and adjacent noncancerous tissues (ANCTs) were collected to analyze the expression of ATBF1 at the mRNA and protein levels. Three anti-ATBF1 antibodies recognizing independent peptides of ATBF1 (N-terminal end, middle region and C-terminal end) were applied for IHC staining. Small interfering RNA (siRNA) was used to silence ATBF1 expression and to investigate the roles of ATBF1 in MCF7 cells. Microarrays were introduced to analyze the differentially expressed genes, enriched GO terms and KEGG terms regulated by ATBF1 and its potential downstream genes, which were further confirmed in vitro and in clinical samples. RESULTS The expression of ATBF1 was reduced in BCTs at both the mRNA and protein levels compared with that in ANCTs. ATBF1 protein was predominantly localized in the nucleus of ANCTs but in the cytoplasm of BCTs. Both the mRNA and protein levels of ATBF1 were significantly correlated with histological grade. Consistently, knockdown of ATBF1 increased stemness marker expression and reduced differentiation markers in vitro. Further analysis identified WNT5A as an essential downstream gene of ATBF1 in breast cancer cells. Treatment of WNT5A disrupted cell proliferation induced by ATBF1 silencing. In BCTs, a significant correlation was observed between the expression of WNT5A and ATBF1. CONCLUSION The results indicated that ATBF1 expression might be a useful diagnostic marker associated with histological grade and breast cancer malignancy. WNT5A and its signaling pathway are novel mechanisms by which ATBF1 contributes to breast cancer tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mei Li
- grid.203507.30000 0000 8950 5267Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211 China ,Ningbo Institute of Medical Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang China
| | - Yanan Zheng
- grid.203507.30000 0000 8950 5267Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211 China
| | - Xujun Li
- grid.9227.e0000000119573309Department of Breast Surgery, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang China
| | - Xiaohan Shen
- Ningbo Diagnostic Pathology Center, Ningbo, Zhejiang China
| | - Tingxia Zhang
- grid.203507.30000 0000 8950 5267Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211 China
| | - Bowen Weng
- grid.203507.30000 0000 8950 5267Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211 China
| | - Haijiao Mao
- grid.203507.30000 0000 8950 5267Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, the Affiliated Hospital of Medical School, Ningbo University, Ningbo, Zhejiang China
| | - Jiyuan Zhao
- grid.203507.30000 0000 8950 5267Zhejiang Key Laboratory of Pathophysiology, School of Medicine, Ningbo University, 818 Fenghua Road, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315211 China
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8
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Pedersen CA, Cao MD, Fleischer T, Rye MB, Knappskog S, Eikesdal HP, Lønning PE, Tost J, Kristensen VN, Tessem MB, Giskeødegård GF, Bathen TF. DNA methylation changes in response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy are associated with breast cancer survival. Breast Cancer Res 2022; 24:43. [PMID: 35751095 PMCID: PMC9233373 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-022-01537-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 06/03/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Locally advanced breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease with respect to response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) and survival. It is currently not possible to accurately predict who will benefit from the specific types of NACT. DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism known to play an important role in regulating gene expression and may serve as a biomarker for treatment response and survival. We investigated the potential role of DNA methylation as a prognostic marker for long-term survival (> 5 years) after NACT in breast cancer. METHODS DNA methylation profiles of pre-treatment (n = 55) and post-treatment (n = 75) biopsies from 83 women with locally advanced breast cancer were investigated using the Illumina HumanMethylation450 BeadChip. The patients received neoadjuvant treatment with epirubicin and/or paclitaxel. Linear mixed models were used to associate DNA methylation to treatment response and survival based on clinical response to NACT (partial response or stable disease) and 5-year survival, respectively. LASSO regression was performed to identify a risk score based on the statistically significant methylation sites and Kaplan-Meier curve analysis was used to estimate survival probabilities using ten years of survival follow-up data. The risk score developed in our discovery cohort was validated in an independent validation cohort consisting of paired pre-treatment and post-treatment biopsies from 85 women with locally advanced breast cancer. Patients included in the validation cohort were treated with either doxorubicin or 5-FU and mitomycin NACT. RESULTS DNA methylation patterns changed from before to after NACT in 5-year survivors, while no significant changes were observed in non-survivors or related to treatment response. DNA methylation changes included an overall loss of methylation at CpG islands and gain of methylation in non-CpG islands, and these changes affected genes linked to transcription factor activity, cell adhesion and immune functions. A risk score was developed based on four methylation sites which successfully predicted long-term survival in our cohort (p = 0.0034) and in an independent validation cohort (p = 0.049). CONCLUSION Our results demonstrate that DNA methylation patterns in breast tumors change in response to NACT. These changes in DNA methylation show potential as prognostic biomarkers for breast cancer survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christine Aaserød Pedersen
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
| | - Maria Dung Cao
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway. .,Department of Nursing, Health and Laboratory Science, Østfold University College, Halden, Norway.
| | - Thomas Fleischer
- Department of Cancer Genetics, Institute for Cancer Research, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - Morten B Rye
- Clinic of Surgery, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Clinic of Laboratory Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.,BioCore - Bioinformatics Core Facility, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Stian Knappskog
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Genome-Directed Cancer Therapy, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Oncology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Hans Petter Eikesdal
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Genome-Directed Cancer Therapy, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Oncology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Per Eystein Lønning
- K.G. Jebsen Centre for Genome-Directed Cancer Therapy, Department of Clinical Science, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway.,Department of Oncology, Haukeland University Hospital, Bergen, Norway
| | - Jörg Tost
- Laboratory for Epigenetics and Environment, Centre National de Recherche en Génomique Humaine, CEA - Institut de Biologie François Jacob, Université Paris Saclay, 91000, Evry, France
| | - Vessela N Kristensen
- Department of Medical Genetics, Institute of Clinical Medicine, Oslo University Hospital, Oslo, Norway
| | - May-Britt Tessem
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Clinic of Surgery, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Guro F Giskeødegård
- Clinic of Surgery, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway.,K.G. Jebsen Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, and Nursing, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway
| | - Tone F Bathen
- Department of Circulation and Medical Imaging, NTNU - Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.,Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, St. Olavs Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway
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9
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Nuclear Vav3 is required for polycomb repression complex-1 activity in B-cell lymphoblastic leukemogenesis. Nat Commun 2022; 13:3056. [PMID: 35650206 PMCID: PMC9160250 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-022-30651-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Acute B-cell lymphoblastic leukemia (B-ALL) results from oligo-clonal evolution of B-cell progenitors endowed with initiating and propagating leukemia properties. The activation of both the Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor (Rac GEF) Vav3 and Rac GTPases is required for leukemogenesis mediated by the oncogenic fusion protein BCR-ABL. Vav3 expression becomes predominantly nuclear upon expression of BCR-ABL signature. In the nucleus, Vav3 interacts with BCR-ABL, Rac, and the polycomb repression complex (PRC) proteins Bmi1, Ring1b and Ezh2. The GEF activity of Vav3 is required for the proliferation, Bmi1-dependent B-cell progenitor self-renewal, nuclear Rac activation, protein interaction with Bmi1, mono-ubiquitination of H2A(K119) (H2AK119Ub) and repression of PRC-1 (PRC1) downstream target loci, of leukemic B-cell progenitors. Vav3 deficiency results in de-repression of negative regulators of cell proliferation and repression of oncogenic transcriptional factors. Mechanistically, we show that Vav3 prevents the Phlpp2-sensitive and Akt (S473)-dependent phosphorylation of Bmi1 on the regulatory residue S314 that, in turn, promotes the transcriptional factor reprogramming of leukemic B-cell progenitors. These results highlight the importance of non-canonical nuclear Rho GTPase signaling in leukemogenesis. Ph+ and Ph-like B-ALL remain poor prognosis leukemias. VAV3, a guanine nucleotide exchange factor, is activated and overexpressed in these leukemias. Here the authors reveal that leukemic VAV3 is predominantly nuclear. Nuclear VAV3, through its guanine nucleotide exchange factor and its effector nuclear RAC2, controls the repressive transcriptional activity of the polycomb repression complex-1 via nuclear AKT/PHLPP2 regulated BMI1.
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10
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Identification and External Validation of a Transcription Factor-Related Prognostic Signature in Pediatric Neuroblastoma. JOURNAL OF ONCOLOGY 2022; 2021:1370451. [PMID: 34992653 PMCID: PMC8727167 DOI: 10.1155/2021/1370451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2021] [Revised: 12/12/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Background Neuroblastoma is a common solid tumor originating from the sympathetic nervous system, commonly found in children, and it is one of the leading causes of tumor-related deaths in children. In addition to pathological features, molecular-level features, such as how much gene expression is present and the mutational profile, may provide useful information for the precise treatment of neuroblastoma. Transcription factors (TFs) play an important regulatory role in all aspects of cellular life activities. But there are currently no studies on transcription factor-based biomarkers of neuroblastoma prognosis, and this study is much needed. Methods We downloaded RNA transcriptome data and clinical data from the TARGET database to construct a prognostic model. The prognostic model was constructed by using univariate Cox analysis, LASSO, and multivariate Cox regression. We divided the patients into low-risk and high-risk groups using the median value of the risk score as the cut-off. Then, we validated the prognostic model with the dataset GSE49710. Results We constructed a prognostic model consisting of eight genes (SATB1, ZNF564, SOX14, EN1, IKZF2, SLC2A4RG, FOXJ2, and ZNF521). Patients in the high-risk group had a lower survival rate than those in the low-risk group. The area under the 3-year ROC curve of the model reached 0.825, suggesting a good predictive efficacy. We performed target gene prediction for the eight transcription factors in the model using six online databases and found that TUT1 may be a target gene for transcription factor EN1 and is associated with immune infiltration. Conclusion This prognostic model consisting of eight transcription factor-associated genes demonstrated reliable predictive efficacy. This prediction model may provide new potential targets for the treatment of neuroblastoma and personalized monitoring of neuroblastoma patients with high and low risk.
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11
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Lin J, Cao Z, Yu D, Cai W. Identification of Transcription Factor-Related Gene Signature and Risk Score Model for Colon Adenocarcinoma. Front Genet 2021; 12:709133. [PMID: 34603375 PMCID: PMC8485095 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2021.709133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The prognosis of colon adenocarcinoma (COAD) remains poor. However, the specific and sensitive biomarkers for diagnosis and prognosis of COAD are absent. Transcription factors (TFs) are involved in many biological processes in cells. As the molecule of the signal pathway of the terminal effectors, TFs play important roles in tumorigenesis and development. A growing body of research suggests that aberrant TFs contribute to the development of COAD, as well as to its clinicopathological features and prognosis. In consequence, a few studies have investigated the relationship between the TF-related risk model and the prognosis of COAD. Therefore, in this article, we hope to develop a prognostic risk model based on TFs to predict the prognosis of patients with COAD. The mRNA transcription data and corresponding clinical data were downloaded from TCGA and GEO. Then, 141 differentially expressed genes, validated by the GEPIA2 database, were identified by differential expression analysis between normal and tumor samples. Univariate, multivariate and Lasso Cox regression analysis were performed to identify seven prognostic genes (E2F3, ETS2, HLF, HSF4, KLF4, MEIS2, and TCF7L1). The Kaplan-Meier curve and the receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC, 1-year AUC: 0.723, 3-year AUC: 0.775, 5-year AUC: 0.786) showed that our model could be used to predict the prognosis of patients with COAD. Multivariate Cox analysis also reported that the risk model is an independent prognostic factor of COAD. The external cohort (GSE17536 and GSE39582) was used to validate our risk model, which indicated that our risk model may be a reliable predictive model for COAD patients. Finally, based on the model and the clinicopathological factors, we constructed a nomogram with a C-index of 0.802. In conclusion, we emphasize the clinical significance of TFs in COAD and construct a prognostic model of TFs, which could provide a novel and reliable model for the prognosis of COAD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Lin
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Zichao Cao
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Dingye Yu
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Wei Cai
- Department of General Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
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12
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Ohki K, Kiyokawa N, Watanabe S, Iwafuchi H, Nakazawa A, Ishiwata K, Ogata-Kawata H, Nakabayashi K, Okamura K, Tanaka F, Fukano R, Hata K, Mori T, Moriya Saito A, Hayashi Y, Taga T, Sekimizu M, Kobayashi R. Characteristics of genetic alterations of peripheral T-cell lymphoma in childhood including identification of novel fusion genes: the Japan Children's Cancer Group (JCCG). Br J Haematol 2021; 194:718-729. [PMID: 34258755 DOI: 10.1111/bjh.17639] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/25/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/21/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Peripheral T-cell lymphoma (PTCL) is a group of heterogeneous non-Hodgkin lymphomas showing a mature T-cell or natural killer cell phenotype, but its molecular abnormalities in paediatric patients remain unclear. By employing next-generation sequencing and multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification of tumour samples from 26 patients, we identified somatic alterations in paediatric PTCL including Epstein-Barr virus (EBV)-negative (EBV- ) and EBV-positive (EBV+ ) patients. As recurrent mutational targets for PTCL, we identified several previously unreported genes, including TNS1, ZFHX3, LRP2, NCOA2 and HOXA1, as well as genes previously reported in adult patients, e.g. TET2, CDKN2A, STAT3 and TP53. However, for other reported mutations, VAV1-related abnormalities were absent and mutations of NRAS, GATA3 and JAK3 showed a low frequency in our cohort. Concerning the association of EBV infection, two novel fusion genes: STAG2-AFF2 and ITPR2-FSTL4, and deletion and alteration of CDKN2A/2B, LMO1 and HOXA1 were identified in EBV- PTCL, but not in EBV+ PTCL. Conversely, alterations of PCDHGA4, ADAR, CUL9 and TP53 were identified only in EBV+ PTCL. Our observations suggest a clear difference in the molecular mechanism of onset between paediatric and adult PTCL and a difference in the characteristics of genetic alterations between EBV- and EBV+ paediatric PTCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kentaro Ohki
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Research, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nobutaka Kiyokawa
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Research, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Satoru Watanabe
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Research, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hideto Iwafuchi
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology Research, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Pathology, Shizuoka Children's Hospital, Shizuoka, Japan
| | - Astuko Nakazawa
- Department of Clinical Research, Saitama Children's Medical Center, Saitama, Japan
| | - Keisuke Ishiwata
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroko Ogata-Kawata
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kazuhiko Nakabayashi
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kohji Okamura
- Department of Systems BioMedicine, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Fumiko Tanaka
- Department of Pediatrics, Saiseikai Yokohamashi Nanbu Hospital, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Reiji Fukano
- Department of Pediatrics, Yamaguchi University Graduate School of Medicine, Yamaguchi, Japan
| | - Kenichiro Hata
- Department of Maternal-Fetal Biology, National Research Institute for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuya Mori
- Department of Pediatrics, St. Marianna University School of Medicine, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Akiko Moriya Saito
- Clinical Research Center, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Yasuhide Hayashi
- Institute of Physiology and Medicine, Jobu University, Takasaki, Japan
| | - Takashi Taga
- Department of Pediatrics, Shiga University of Medical Science, Shiga, Japan
| | - Masahiro Sekimizu
- Department of Pediatrics, National Hospital Organization Nagoya Medical Center, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Ryoji Kobayashi
- Department of Hematology/Oncology for Children and Adolescents, Sapporo Hokuyu Hospital, Hokkaido, Japan
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13
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Song K, Farzaneh M. Signaling pathways governing breast cancer stem cells behavior. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:245. [PMID: 33863385 PMCID: PMC8052733 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02321-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 19.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2021] [Accepted: 03/31/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second common cancer and the leading cause of malignancy among females overall. Breast cancer stem cells (BCSCs) are a small population of breast cancer cells that play a critical role in the metastasis of breast cancer to other organs in the body. BCSCs have both self-renewal and differentiation capacities, which are thought to contribute to the aggressiveness of metastatic lesions. Therefore, targeting BCSCs can be a suitable approach for the treatment and metastasis of breast cancer. Growing evidence has indicated that the Wnt, NFκB, Notch, BMP2, STAT3, and hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathways govern epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) activation, growth, and tumorigenesis of BCSCs in the primary regions. miRNAs as the central regulatory molecules also play critical roles in BCSC self-renewal, metastasis, and drug resistance. Hence, targeting these pathways might be a novel therapeutic approach for breast cancer diagnosis and therapy. This review discusses known signaling mechanisms involved in the stimulation or prevention of BCSC self-renewal, metastasis, and tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kai Song
- Xuzhou Vocational College of Bioengineering, Xuzhou, 221006, Jiangsu, China.
| | - Maryam Farzaneh
- Fertility, Infertility and Perinatology Research Center, Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Ahvaz, Iran.
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14
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Guntur AR, Venkatanarayan A, Gangula S, Lundell MJ. Zfh-2 facilitates Notch-induced apoptosis in the CNS and appendages of Drosophila melanogaster. Dev Biol 2021; 475:65-79. [PMID: 33705738 DOI: 10.1016/j.ydbio.2021.02.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/18/2020] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/26/2022]
Abstract
Apoptosis is a fundamental remodeling process for most tissues during development. In this manuscript we examine a pro-apoptotic function for the Drosophila DNA binding protein Zfh-2 during development of the central nervous system (CNS) and appendages. In the CNS we find that a loss-of-function zfh-2 allele gives an overall reduction of apoptotic cells in the CNS, and an altered pattern of expression for the axonal markers 22C10 and FasII. This same loss-of-function zfh-2 allele causes specific cells in the NB7-3 lineage of the CNS that would normally undergo apoptosis to be inappropriately maintained, whereas a gain-of-function zfh-2 allele has the opposite effect, resulting in a loss of normal NB 7-3 progeny. We also demonstrate that Zfh-2 and Hunchback reciprocally repress each other's gene expression which limits apoptosis to later born progeny of the NB7-3 lineage. Apoptosis is also required for proper segmentation of the fly appendages. We find that Zfh-2 co-localizes with apoptotic cells in the folds of the imaginal discs and presumptive cuticular joints. A reduction of Zfh-2 levels with RNAi inhibits expression of the pro-apoptotic gene reaper, and produces abnormal joints in the leg, antenna and haltere. Apoptosis has previously been shown to be activated by Notch signaling in both the NB7-3 CNS lineage and the appendage joints. Our results indicate that Zfh-2 facilitates Notch-induced apoptosis in these structures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ananya R Guntur
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | | | - Sindhura Gangula
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA
| | - Martha J Lundell
- Department of Biology, University of Texas at San Antonio, One UTSA Circle, San Antonio, TX, 78249, USA.
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