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Byerly CD, Patterson LL, Pittner NA, Solomon RN, Patel JG, Rogan MR, McBride JW. Ehrlichia Wnt SLiM ligand mimic deactivates the Hippo pathway to engage the anti-apoptotic Yap-GLUT1-BCL-xL axis. Infect Immun 2023; 91:e0008523. [PMID: 37530530 PMCID: PMC10501218 DOI: 10.1128/iai.00085-23] [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: 03/02/2023] [Accepted: 06/03/2023] [Indexed: 08/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Ehrlichia chaffeensis TRP120 effector has evolved short linear motif (SLiM) ligand mimicry to repurpose multiple evolutionarily conserved cellular signaling pathways, including Wnt, Notch, and Hedgehog. In this investigation, we demonstrate that E. chaffeensis and recombinant TRP120 deactivate Hippo signaling, resulting in the activation of Hippo transcription coactivator Yes-associated protein (Yap). Moreover, a homologous 6 amino acid (QDVASH) SLiM shared by TRP120 and Wnt3a/5a ligands phenocopied Yap and β-catenin activation induced by E. chaffeensis, rTRP120, and Wnt5a. Similar Hippo gene expression profiles were also stimulated by E. chaffeensis, rTRP120, SLiM, and Wnt5a. Single siRNA knockdown of Hippo transcription co-activator/factors, Yap, and transcriptional enhanced associate domain (TEAD) significantly decreased E. chaffeensis infection. Yap activation was abolished in THP-1 Wnt Frizzled-5 (Fzd5) receptor knockout cells (KO), demonstrating Fzd5 receptor dependence. In addition, the TRP120-Wnt-SLiM antibody blocked Hippo deactivation (Yap activation). Expression of anti-apoptotic Hippo target gene SLC2A1 (encodes glucose transporter 1; GLUT1) was upregulated by E. chaffeensis and corresponded to increased levels of GLUT1. Conversely, siRNA knockdown of SLC2A1 significantly inhibited infection. Higher GLUT1 levels correlated with increased B cell lymphoma-extra large (BCL-xL) and decreased BCL2-associated X, apoptosis regulator (Bax) levels. Moreover, blocking Yap activation with the inhibitor Verteporfin induced apoptosis that corresponded to significant reductions in GLUT1 and BCL-xL levels and activation of Bax and Caspase-3 and -9. This study identifies a novel shared Wnt/Hippo SLiM ligand mimic and demonstrates that E. chaffeensis deactivates the Hippo pathway to engage the anti-apoptotic Yap-GLUT1-BCL-xL axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlan D. Byerly
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - LaNisha L. Patterson
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Pittner
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Regina N. Solomon
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jignesh G. Patel
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Madison R. Rogan
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jere W. McBride
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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2
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Kaur S, Roberts DD. Why do humans need thrombospondin-1? J Cell Commun Signal 2023; 17:485-493. [PMID: 36689135 PMCID: PMC10409698 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-023-00722-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2022] [Accepted: 01/07/2023] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Matricellular proteins comprise several families of secreted proteins that function in higher animals at the interface between cells and their surrounding extracellular matrix. Targeted gene disruptions that result in loss of viability in mice have revealed critical roles for several matricellular proteins in murine embryonic development, including two members of the cellular communication network (CCN) gene family. In contrast, mice lacking single or multiple members of the thrombospondin (THBS) gene family remain viable and fertile. The frequency of loss of function mutants, identified using human deep exome sequencing data, provided evidence that some of the essential genes in mice, including Ccn1, are also essential genes in humans. However, a deficit in loss of function mutants in humans indicated that THBS1 is also highly loss-intolerant. In addition to roles in embryonic development or adult reproduction, genes may be loss-intolerant in humans because their function is needed to survive environmental stresses that are encountered between birth and reproduction. Laboratory mice live in a protected environment that lacks the exposures to pathogens and injury that humans routinely face. However, subjecting Thbs1-/- mice to defined stresses has provided valuable insights into functions of thrombospondin-1 that could account for the loss-intolerance of THBS1 in humans. Stress response models using transgenic mice have identified protective functions of thrombospondin-1 in the cardiovascular system (red) and immune defenses (blue) that could account for its intolerance to loss of function mutants in humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhbir Kaur
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 10 Room 2S235, 10 Center Dr, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1500, USA
| | - David D Roberts
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Building 10 Room 2S235, 10 Center Dr, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1500, USA.
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Byerly CD, Patterson LL, Pittner NA, Solomon RN, Patel JG, Rogan MR, McBride JW. Ehrlichia Wnt short linear motif ligand mimetic deactivates the Hippo pathway to engage the anti-apoptotic Yap-GLUT1-BCL-xL axis. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.06.531456. [PMID: 36945589 PMCID: PMC10028901 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.06.531456] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
Ehrlichia chaffeensis TRP120 effector has evolved short linear motif (SLiM) ligand mimicry to repurpose multiple evolutionarily conserved cellular signaling pathways including Wnt, Notch and Hedgehog. In this investigation, we demonstrate that E. chaffeensis and recombinant TRP120 deactivate Hippo signaling resulting in activation of Hippo transcription coactivator Yap and target gene expression. Moreover, a homologous 6 amino acid (QDVASH) SLiM shared by TRP120 and Wnt3a/5a ligands phenocopied Yap and β-catenin activation induced by E. chaffeensis, rTRP120 and Wnt5a. Similar Hippo gene expression profiles were also stimulated by E. chaffeensis, rTRP120, SLiM and Wnt5a. Single siRNA knockdown of Hippo transcription co-activator/factors (Yap and TEAD) significantly decreased E. chaffeensis infection. Yap activation was abolished in THP-1 Wnt Frizzled-5 (Fzd5) receptor knockout cells (KO), demonstrating Fzd5 receptor dependence. In addition, TRP120 Wnt-SLiM antibody blocked Hippo deactivation (Yap activation). Expression of anti-apoptotic Hippo target gene SLC2A1 (encodes glucose transporter 1; GLUT1) was upregulated by E. chaffeensis and corresponded to increased levels of GLUT1. Conversely, siRNA knockdown of SLC2A1 significantly inhibited infection. Higher GLUT1 levels correlated with increased BCL-xL and decreased Bax levels. Moreover, blocking Yap activation with the inhibitor Verteporfin induced apoptosis that corresponded to significant reductions in levels of GLUT1 and BCL-xL, and activation of Bax and Caspase-3 and -9. This study identifies a novel shared Wnt/Hippo SLiM ligand mimetic and demonstrates that E. chaffeensis deactivates the Hippo pathway to engage the anti-apoptotic Yap-GLUT1-BCL-xL axis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Caitlan D. Byerly
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - LaNisha L. Patterson
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Pittner
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Regina N. Solomon
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jignesh G. Patel
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Madison R. Rogan
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
| | - Jere W. McBride
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Department Microbiology and Immunology, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Center for Biodefense and Emerging Infectious Diseases, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Sealy Institute for Vaccine Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
- Institute for Human Infections and Immunity, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, USA
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Murphy-Ullrich JE. Thrombospondin-1 Signaling Through the Calreticulin/LDL Receptor Related Protein 1 Axis: Functions and Possible Roles in Glaucoma. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:898772. [PMID: 35693935 PMCID: PMC9185677 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.898772] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 05/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) is a matricellular extracellular matrix protein. Matricellular proteins are components of the extracellular matrix (ECM) that regulate key cellular functions and impact ECM organization, but which lack direct primary structural roles in the ECM. TSP-1 expression is upregulated in response to injury, hypoxia, growth factor stimulation, inflammation, glucose, and by reactive oxygen species. Relevant to glaucoma, TSP-1 is also a mechanosensitive molecule upregulated by mechanical stretch. TSP-1 expression is increased in ocular remodeling in glaucoma in both the trabecular meshwork and in the optic nerve head. The exact roles of TSP-1 in glaucoma remain to be defined, however. It plays important roles in cell behavior and in ECM remodeling during wound healing, fibrosis, angiogenesis, and in tumorigenesis and metastasis. At the cellular level, TSP-1 can modulate cell adhesion and migration, protease activity, growth factor activity, anoikis resistance, apoptosis, and collagen secretion and matrix assembly and cross-linking. These multiple functions and macromolecular and receptor interactions have been ascribed to specific domains of the TSP-1 molecule. In this review, we will focus on the cell regulatory activities of the TSP-1 N-terminal domain (NTD) sequence that binds to cell surface calreticulin (Calr) and which regulates cell functions via signaling through Calr complexed with LDL receptor related protein 1 (LRP1). We will describe TSP-1 actions mediated through the Calr/LRP1 complex in regulating focal adhesion disassembly and cytoskeletal reorganization, cell motility, anoikis resistance, and induction of collagen secretion and matrix deposition. Finally, we will consider the relevance of these TSP-1 functions to the pathologic remodeling of the ECM in glaucoma.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joanne E. Murphy-Ullrich
- Departments of Pathology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Cell Developmental and Integrative Biology, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, United States
- *Correspondence: Joanne E. Murphy-Ullrich,
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Ramaccini D, Pedriali G, Perrone M, Bouhamida E, Modesti L, Wieckowski MR, Giorgi C, Pinton P, Morciano G. Some Insights into the Regulation of Cardiac Physiology and Pathology by the Hippo Pathway. Biomedicines 2022; 10:biomedicines10030726. [PMID: 35327528 PMCID: PMC8945338 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines10030726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Revised: 03/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The heart is one of the most fascinating organs in living beings. It beats up to 100,000 times a day throughout the lifespan, without resting. The heart undergoes profound anatomical, biochemical, and functional changes during life, from hypoxemic fetal stages to a completely differentiated four-chambered cardiac muscle. In the middle, many biological events occur after and intersect with each other to regulate development, organ size, and, in some cases, regeneration. Several studies have defined the essential roles of the Hippo pathway in heart physiology through the regulation of apoptosis, autophagy, cell proliferation, and differentiation. This molecular route is composed of multiple components, some of which were recently discovered, and is highly interconnected with multiple known prosurvival pathways. The Hippo cascade is evolutionarily conserved among species, and in addition to its regulatory roles, it is involved in disease by drastically changing the heart phenotype and its function when its components are mutated, absent, or constitutively activated. In this review, we report some insights into the regulation of cardiac physiology and pathology by the Hippo pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Ramaccini
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, Italy; (D.R.); (G.P.); (E.B.)
| | - Gaia Pedriali
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, Italy; (D.R.); (G.P.); (E.B.)
| | - Mariasole Perrone
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.P.); (L.M.); (C.G.)
| | - Esmaa Bouhamida
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, Italy; (D.R.); (G.P.); (E.B.)
| | - Lorenzo Modesti
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.P.); (L.M.); (C.G.)
| | - Mariusz R. Wieckowski
- Laboratory of Mitochondrial Biology and Metabolism, Nencki Institute of Experimental Biology, 02-093 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Carlotta Giorgi
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.P.); (L.M.); (C.G.)
| | - Paolo Pinton
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, Italy; (D.R.); (G.P.); (E.B.)
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.P.); (L.M.); (C.G.)
- Correspondence: (P.P.); (G.M.); Tel.: +39-0532-455-802 (P.P.); +39-0532-455-804 (G.M.)
| | - Giampaolo Morciano
- Maria Cecilia Hospital, GVM Care & Research, 48033 Cotignola, Italy; (D.R.); (G.P.); (E.B.)
- Laboratory for Technologies of Advanced Therapies (LTTA), Section of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medical Science, University of Ferrara, 44121 Ferrara, Italy; (M.P.); (L.M.); (C.G.)
- Correspondence: (P.P.); (G.M.); Tel.: +39-0532-455-802 (P.P.); +39-0532-455-804 (G.M.)
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Arun A, Rayford KJ, Cooley A, Rana T, Rachakonda G, Villalta F, Pratap S, Lima MF, Sheibani N, Nde PN. Thrombospondin-1 expression and modulation of Wnt and hippo signaling pathways during the early phase of Trypanosoma cruzi infection of heart endothelial cells. PLoS Negl Trop Dis 2022; 16:e0010074. [PMID: 34986160 PMCID: PMC8730400 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pntd.0010074] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2020] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The protozoan parasite, Trypanosoma cruzi, causes severe morbidity and mortality in afflicted individuals. Approximately 30% of T. cruzi infected individuals present with cardiac pathology. The invasive forms of the parasite are carried in the vascular system to infect other cells of the body. During transportation, the molecular mechanisms by which the parasite signals and interact with host endothelial cells (EC) especially heart endothelium is currently unknown. The parasite increases host thrombospondin-1 (TSP1) expression and activates the Wnt/β-catenin and hippo signaling pathways during the early phase of infection. The links between TSP1 and activation of the signaling pathways and their impact on parasite infectivity during the early phase of infection remain unknown. To elucidate the significance of TSP1 function in YAP/β-catenin colocalization and how they impact parasite infectivity during the early phase of infection, we challenged mouse heart endothelial cells (MHEC) from wild type (WT) and TSP1 knockout mice with T. cruzi and evaluated Wnt signaling, YAP/β-catenin crosstalk, and how they affect parasite infection. We found that in the absence of TSP1, the parasite induced the expression of Wnt-5a to a maximum at 2 h (1.73±0.13), P< 0.001 and enhanced the level of phosphorylated glycogen synthase kinase 3β at the same time point (2.99±0.24), P<0.001. In WT MHEC, the levels of Wnt-5a were toned down and the level of p-GSK-3β was lowest at 2 h (0.47±0.06), P< 0.01 compared to uninfected control. This was accompanied by a continuous significant increase in the nuclear colocalization of β-catenin/YAP in TSP1 KO MHEC with a maximum Pearson correlation coefficient of (0.67±0.02), P< 0.05 at 6 h. In WT MHEC, the nuclear colocalization of β-catenin/YAP remained steady and showed a reduction at 6 h (0.29±0.007), P< 0.05. These results indicate that TSP1 plays an important role in regulating β-catenin/YAP colocalization during the early phase of T. cruzi infection. Importantly, dysregulation of this crosstalk by pre-incubation of WT MHEC with a β-catenin inhibitor, endo-IWR 1, dramatically reduced the level of infection of WT MHEC. Parasite infectivity of inhibitor treated WT MHEC was similar to the level of infection of TSP1 KO MHEC. These results indicate that the β-catenin pathway induced by the parasite and regulated by TSP1 during the early phase of T. cruzi infection is an important potential therapeutic target, which can be explored for the prophylactic prevention of T. cruzi infection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashutosh Arun
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Kayla J. Rayford
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Ayorinde Cooley
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Tanu Rana
- Department of Professional Medical Education and Molecular Biology Core Facility, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Girish Rachakonda
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Fernando Villalta
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Siddharth Pratap
- School of Graduate Studies and Research, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
| | - Maria F. Lima
- School of Graduate Studies and Research, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
- Department of Molecular and Cellular and Biomedical Sciences, School of Medicine, The City College of New York, New York, United States of America
| | - Nader Sheibani
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, Biomedical Engineering, and Cell and Regenerative Biology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Pius N. Nde
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Physiology, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, Tennessee, United States of America
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Lafon-Hughes L, Fernández Villamil SH, Vilchez Larrea SC. Tankyrase inhibitors hinder Trypanosoma cruzi infection by altering host-cell signalling pathways. Parasitology 2021; 148:1680-1690. [PMID: 35060470 PMCID: PMC11010053 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182021001402] [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: 12/02/2020] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 07/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
Chagas disease is a potentially life-threatening protozoan infection affecting around 8 million people, for which only chemotherapies with limited efficacy and severe adverse secondary effects are available. The aetiological agent, Trypanosoma cruzi, displays varied cell invading tactics and triggers different host cell signals, including the Wnt/β-catenin pathway. Poly(ADP-ribose) (PAR) can be synthetized by certain members of the poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) family: PARP-1/-2 and Tankyrases-1/2 (TNKS). PAR homoeostasis participates in the host cell response to T. cruzi infection and TNKS are involved in Wnt signalling, among other pathways. Therefore, we hypothesized that TNKS inhibitors (TNKSi) could hamper T. cruzi infection. We showed that five TNKSi (FLALL9, MN64, XAV939, G007LK and OULL9) diminished T. cruzi infection of Vero cells. As most TNKSi did not affect the viability of axenically cultivated parasites, our results suggested that TNKSi were interfering with parasite–host cell signalling. Infection by T. cruzi induced nuclear translocation of β-catenin, as well as upregulation of TNF-α expression and secretion. These changes were hampered by TNKSi. Further signals should be monitored in this model and in vivo. As a TNKSi has entered cancer clinical trials with promising results, our findings encourage further studies aiming at drug repurposing strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Lafon-Hughes
- Instituto de Investigaciones Biológicas Clemente Estable, Montevideo, Uruguay
- Grupo de Biofisicoquímica, Departamento de Ciencias Biológicas, Centro Universitario Regional Litoral Norte, Universidad de la República (CENUR-UdelaR), Salto, Uruguay
| | - Silvia H. Fernández Villamil
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular ‘Dr. Héctor N. Torres’, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Química Biológica, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Salomé C. Vilchez Larrea
- Instituto de Investigaciones en Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular ‘Dr. Héctor N. Torres’, Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
- Departamento de Fisiología, Biología Molecular y Celular, Facultad de Ciencias Exactas y Naturales, Universidad de Buenos Aires, Ciudad Autónoma de Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Kaur S, Roberts DD. Differential intolerance to loss of function and missense mutations in genes that encode human matricellular proteins. J Cell Commun Signal 2021; 15:93-105. [PMID: 33415696 PMCID: PMC7904989 DOI: 10.1007/s12079-020-00598-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Targeted gene disruption in mice has provided valuable insights into the functions of matricellular proteins. Apart from missense and loss of function mutations that have been associated with inherited diseases, however, their functions in humans remain unclear. The availability of deep exome sequencing data from over 140,000 individuals in the Genome Aggregation Database provided an opportunity to examine intolerance to loss of function and missense mutations in human matricellular genes. The probability of loss-of-function intolerance (pLI) differed widely within members of the thrombospondin, CYR61/CTGF/NOV (CCN), tenascin, small integrin-binding ligand N-linked glycoproteins (SIBLING), and secreted protein, acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) gene families. Notably, pLI values in humans had limited correlation with viability of the corresponding homozygous null mice. Among the thrombospondins, only THBS1 was highly loss-intolerant (pLI = 1). In contrast, Thbs1 is not essential for viability in mice. Several known thrombospondin-1 receptors were similarly loss-intolerant, although thrombospondin-1 is not the exclusive ligand for some of these receptors. The frequencies of missense mutations in THBS1 and the gene encoding its signaling receptor CD47 indicated conservation of some residues implicated in specific receptor binding. Deficits in missense mutations were also observed for other thrombospondin genes and for SPARC, SPOCK1, SPOCK2, TNR, and DSPP. The intolerance of THBS1 to loss of function in humans and elevated pLI values for THBS2, SPARC, SPOCK1, TNR, and CCN1 support important functions for these matricellular protein genes in humans, some of which may relate to functions in reproduction or responding to environmental stresses.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sukhbir Kaur
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Building 10 Room 2S235, 10 Center Drive MSC1500, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1500, USA.
| | - David D Roberts
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Building 10 Room 2S235, 10 Center Drive MSC1500, Bethesda, MD, 20892-1500, USA.
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9
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piRNAs as Modulators of Disease Pathogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052373. [PMID: 33673453 PMCID: PMC7956838 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052373] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Advances in understanding disease pathogenesis correlates to modifications in gene expression within different tissues and organ systems. In depth knowledge about the dysregulation of gene expression profiles is fundamental to fully uncover mechanisms in disease development and changes in host homeostasis. The body of knowledge surrounding mammalian regulatory elements, specifically regulators of chromatin structure, transcriptional and translational activation, has considerably surged within the past decade. A set of key regulators whose function still needs to be fully elucidated are small non-coding RNAs (sncRNAs). Due to their broad range of unfolding functions in the regulation of gene expression during transcription and translation, sncRNAs are becoming vital to many cellular processes. Within the past decade, a novel class of sncRNAs called PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) have been implicated in various diseases, and understanding their complete function is of vital importance. Historically, piRNAs have been shown to be indispensable in germline integrity and stem cell development. Accumulating research evidence continue to reveal the many arms of piRNA function. Although piRNA function and biogenesis has been extensively studied in Drosophila, it is thought that they play similar roles in vertebrate species, including humans. Compounding evidence suggests that piRNAs encompass a wider functional range than small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) and microRNAs (miRNAs), which have been studied more in terms of cellular homeostasis and disease. This review aims to summarize contemporary knowledge regarding biogenesis, and homeostatic function of piRNAs and their emerging roles in the development of pathologies related to cardiomyopathies, cancer, and infectious diseases.
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