1
|
Pileggi S, Colombo EA, Ancona S, Quadri R, Bernardelli C, Colapietro P, Taiana M, Fontana L, Miozzo M, Lesma E, Sirchia SM. Dysfunction in IGF2R Pathway and Associated Perturbations in Autophagy and WNT Processes in Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome Cell Lines. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:3586. [PMID: 38612397 PMCID: PMC11011696 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25073586] [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: 01/31/2024] [Revised: 03/08/2024] [Accepted: 03/18/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Beckwith-Wiedemann Syndrome (BWS) is an imprinting disorder characterized by overgrowth, stemming from various genetic and epigenetic changes. This study delves into the role of IGF2 upregulation in BWS, focusing on insulin-like growth factor pathways, which are poorly known in this syndrome. We examined the IGF2R, the primary receptor of IGF2, WNT, and autophagy/lysosomal pathways in BWS patient-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines, showing different genetic and epigenetic defects. The findings reveal a decreased expression and mislocalization of IGF2R protein, suggesting receptor dysfunction. Additionally, our results point to a dysregulation in the AKT/GSK-3/mTOR pathway, along with imbalances in autophagy and the WNT pathway. In conclusion, BWS cells, regardless of the genetic/epigenetic profiles, are characterized by alteration of the IGF2R pathway that is associated with the perturbation of the autophagy and lysosome processes. These alterations seem to be a key point of the molecular pathogenesis of BWS and potentially contribute to BWS's characteristic overgrowth and cancer susceptibility. Our study also uncovers alterations in the WNT pathway across all BWS cell lines, consistent with its role in growth regulation and cancer development.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Silvana Pileggi
- Medical Genetics, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.P.)
| | - Elisa A. Colombo
- Medical Genetics, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.P.)
| | - Silvia Ancona
- Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy (E.L.)
| | - Roberto Quadri
- Department of Biosciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
| | - Clara Bernardelli
- Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy (E.L.)
| | - Patrizia Colapietro
- Medical Genetics, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Michela Taiana
- Dino Ferrari Centre, Neuroscience Section, Department of Pathophysiology and Transplantation, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20122 Milan, Italy
| | - Laura Fontana
- Medical Genetics, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.P.)
- Unit of Medical Genetics, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, 20142 Milan, Italy
| | - Monica Miozzo
- Medical Genetics, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.P.)
- Unit of Medical Genetics, ASST Santi Paolo e Carlo, 20142 Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Lesma
- Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy (E.L.)
| | - Silvia M. Sirchia
- Medical Genetics, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20142 Milan, Italy; (S.P.)
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Bernardelli C, Caretti A, Lesma E. Dysregulated lipid metabolism in lymphangioleiomyomatosis pathogenesis as a paradigm of chronic lung diseases. Front Med (Lausanne) 2023; 10:1124008. [PMID: 36744130 PMCID: PMC9894443 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2023.1124008] [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: 12/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/06/2023] [Indexed: 01/20/2023] Open
Abstract
A chronic inflammatory condition characterizes various lung diseases. Interestingly, a great contribution to inflammation is made by altered lipids metabolism, that can be caused by the deregulation of the mammalian target of rapamycin complex-1 (mTORC1) activity. There is evidence that one of mTOR downstream effectors, the sterol regulatory element-binding protein (SREBP), regulates the transcription of enzymes involved in the de novo fatty acid synthesis. Given its central role in cell metabolism, mTOR is involved in several biological processes. Among those, mTOR is a driver of senescence, a process that might contribute to the establishment of chronic lung disease because the characteristic irreversible inhibition of cell proliferation, associated to the acquisition of a pro-inflammatory senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) supports the loss of lung parenchyma. The deregulation of mTORC1 is a hallmark of lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM), a rare pulmonary disease predominantly affecting women which causes cystic remodeling of the lung and progressive loss of lung function. LAM cells have senescent features and secrete SASP components, such as growth factors and pro-inflammatory molecules, like cancer cells. Using LAM as a paradigm of chronic and metastatic lung disease, here we review the published data that point out the role of dysregulated lipid metabolism in LAM pathogenesis. We will discuss lipids' role in the development and progression of the disease, to hypothesize novel LAM biomarkers and to propose the pharmacological regulation of lipids metabolism as an innovative approach for the treatment of the disease.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clara Bernardelli
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Anna Caretti
- Laboratory of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
| | - Elena Lesma
- Laboratory of Pharmacology, Department of Health Sciences, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy,*Correspondence: Elena Lesma,
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Primary TSC2-/meth Cells Induce Follicular Neogenesis in an Innovative TSC Mouse Model. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179713. [PMID: 36077111 PMCID: PMC9456283 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179713] [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: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 08/21/2022] [Accepted: 08/22/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Cutaneous lesions are one of the hallmarks of tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC), a genetic disease in which mTOR is hyperactivated due to the lack of hamartin or tuberin. To date, novel pharmacological treatments for TSC cutaneous lesions that are benign but still have an impact on a patient’s life are needed, because neither surgery nor rapamycin administration prevents their recurrence. Here, we demonstrated that primary TSC2-/meth cells that do not express tuberin for an epigenetic event caused cutaneous lesions and follicular neogenesis when they were subcutaneously injected in nude mice. Tuberin-null cells localized in the hair bulbs and alongside mature hairs, where high phosphorylation of S6 and Erk indicated mTOR hyperactivation. Interestingly, 5-azacytidine treatment reduced hair follicles, indicating that chromatin remodeling agents might be effective on TSC lesions in which cells lack tuberin for an epigenetic event. Moreover, we demonstrated that the primary TSC2-/meth cells had metastatic capability: when subcutaneously injected, they reached the bloodstream and lymphatics and invaded the lungs, causing the enlargement of the alveolar walls. The capability of TSC2-/meth cells to survive and migrate in vivo makes our mouse model ideal to follow the progression of the disease and test potential pharmacological treatments in a time-dependent manner.
Collapse
|