1
|
Hedgehog is relayed through dynamic heparan sulfate interactions to shape its gradient. Nat Commun 2023; 14:758. [PMID: 36765094 PMCID: PMC9918555 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-36450-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/26/2022] [Accepted: 01/27/2023] [Indexed: 02/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Cellular differentiation is directly determined by concentration gradients of morphogens. As a central model for gradient formation during development, Hedgehog (Hh) morphogens spread away from their source to direct growth and pattern formation in Drosophila wing and eye discs. What is not known is how extracellular Hh spread is achieved and how it translates into precise gradients. Here we show that two separate binding areas located on opposite sides of the Hh molecule can interact directly and simultaneously with two heparan sulfate (HS) chains to temporarily cross-link the chains. Mutated Hh lacking one fully functional binding site still binds HS but shows reduced HS cross-linking. This, in turn, impairs Hhs ability to switch between both chains in vitro and results in striking Hh gradient hypomorphs in vivo. The speed and propensity of direct Hh switching between HS therefore shapes the Hh gradient, revealing a scalable design principle in morphogen-patterned tissues.
Collapse
|
2
|
Manikowski D, Ehring K, Gude F, Jakobs P, Froese J, Grobe K. Hedgehog lipids: Promotors of alternative morphogen release and signaling?: Conflicting findings on lipidated Hedgehog transport and signaling can be explained by alternative regulated mechanisms to release the morphogen. Bioessays 2021; 43:e2100133. [PMID: 34611914 DOI: 10.1002/bies.202100133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2021] [Revised: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Two posttranslational lipid modifications present on all Hedgehog (Hh) morphogens-an N-terminal palmitate and a C-terminal cholesterol-are established and essential regulators of Hh biofunction. Yet, for several decades, the question of exactly how both lipids contribute to Hh signaling remained obscure. Recently, cryogenic electron microscopy revealed different modes by which one or both lipids may contribute directly to Hh binding and signaling to its receptor Patched1 (Ptc). Some of these modes demand that the established release factor Dispatched1 (Disp) extracts dual-lipidated Hh from the cell surface, and that another known upstream signaling modulator called Scube2 chaperones the dual-lipidated morphogen to Ptc. By mechanistically and biochemically aligning this concept with established in vivo and recent in vitro findings, this reflection identifies remaining questions in lipidated Hh transport and evaluates additional mechanisms of Disp- and Scube2-regulated release of a second bioactive Hh fraction that has one or both lipids removed.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dominique Manikowski
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Kristina Ehring
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Fabian Gude
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Petra Jakobs
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Jurij Froese
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| | - Kay Grobe
- Institute of Physiological Chemistry and Pathobiochemistry, University of Münster, Münster, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Lamson DR, Hughes MA, Adcock AF, Smith GR, Williams KP. Development and validation of a hedgehog heparin-binding assay for high-throughput screening. MethodsX 2021; 8:101207. [PMID: 34434730 PMCID: PMC8374160 DOI: 10.1016/j.mex.2020.101207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/28/2020] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh) is a morphogenic protein with critical roles in embryogenesis and the development of some cancers. Hence, identifying inhibitors of the Shh pathway is of great therapeutic value. Heparin and HSPGs act as crucial modulators of Shh activity. To identify molecules that antagonize Shh binding to heparin we have developed a solid-phase plate-based assay. The N-terminal domain of Shh (ShhN) protein is first coated in 384-well plates and the direct binding of fluorescein-labeled heparin (flu-heparin) assessed by measuring the fluorescence signal after incubation and wash steps. Binding of ShhN protein to the 384-well plates was confirmed and optimized by a standard ELISA using a monoclonal antibody recognizing folded ShhN. The assay was validated using whole plate minimum and maximum signal wells with a Z’ of 0.68–0.75 determined. Herein, we describe the development and validation of a high throughput screen to identify small molecule antagonists of Shh heparin binding. Overall, this methodResults in an optimized and validated assay for hedgehog heparin binding. Delivers a cost effective high-throughput screen format for hedgehog heparin antagonist screening
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- David R Lamson
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, United States
| | - Mark A Hughes
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, United States
| | - Audrey F Adcock
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, United States
| | - Ginger R Smith
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, United States
| | - Kevin P Williams
- Biomanufacturing Research Institute and Technology Enterprise, United States.,Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, North Carolina Central University, Durham, NC 27707, United States
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Kuehn J, Espinoza-Sanchez NA, Teixeira FCOB, Pavão MSG, Kiesel L, Győrffy B, Greve B, Götte M. Prognostic significance of hedgehog signaling network-related gene expression in breast cancer patients. J Cell Biochem 2021; 122:577-597. [PMID: 33417295 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.29886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2020] [Revised: 12/19/2020] [Accepted: 12/22/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer continues to be a serious public health problem. The role of the hedgehog pathway in normal development of the mammary gland as well as in carcinogenesis and progression of breast cancer is the subject of intense investigation, revealing functional interactions with cell surface heparan sulfate. Nevertheless, its influence on breast cancer prognosis, and its relation to specific sulfation motifs in heparan sulfate have only been poorly studied in large patient cohorts. Using the public database KMplotter that includes gene expression and survival data of 3951 patients, we found that the higher expression of SHH, HHAT, PTCH1, GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3 positively influences breast cancer prognosis. Stratifying patients according to the expression of hormone receptors, histological grade, lymph node metastasis, and systemic therapy, we observed that GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3 expression, as well as co-expression of SHH and ELP1 were associated with worse relapse-free survival in patients with HER2-positive tumors. Moreover, GLI1 expression in progesterone receptor-negative tumors and GLI3 expression in grade 3 tumors correlated with poor prognosis. SHH, in a panel of cell lines representing different breast cancer subtypes, and HHAT, PTCH1, GLI1, GLI2, and GLI3 were mostly expressed in cell lines classified as HER2-positive and basal-like. Expression of SHH, HHAT, GLI2, and GLI3 was differentially affected by overexpression of the heparan sulfate sulfotransferases HS2ST1 and HS3ST2 in vitro. Although high HS2ST1 expression was associated with poor prognosis in KMplotter analysis, high levels of HS3ST2 were associated with a good prognosis, except for ER-positive breast cancer. We suggest the GLI transcription factors as possible markers for the diagnosis, treatment, and prognosis of breast cancer especially in HER2-positive tumors, but also in progesterone receptor-negative and grade-3 tumors. The pathway interaction and prognostic impact of specific heparan sulfate sulfotransferases provide novel perspectives regarding a therapeutical targeting of the hedgehog pathway in breast cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Julia Kuehn
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Nancy Adriana Espinoza-Sanchez
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany.,Department of Radiotherapy-Radiooncology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Felipe C O B Teixeira
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Mauro S G Pavão
- Instituto de Bioquímica Médica Leopoldo de Meis, Hospital Universitário Clementino Fraga Filho, Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Ludwig Kiesel
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Balázs Győrffy
- Department of Bioinformatics, Semmelweis University, and Semmelweis University 2nd Department of Pediatrics, TTK Momentum Cancer Biomarker Research Group, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Burkhard Greve
- Department of Radiotherapy-Radiooncology, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| | - Martin Götte
- Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Münster University Hospital, Münster, Germany
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Abstract
Heparanase is the only mammalian enzyme that cleaves heparan sulphate, an important component of the extracellular matrix. This leads to the remodelling of the extracellular matrix, whilst liberating growth factors and cytokines bound to heparan sulphate. This in turn promotes both physiological and pathological processes such as angiogenesis, immune cell migration, inflammation, wound healing and metastasis. Furthermore, heparanase exhibits non-enzymatic actions in cell signalling and in regulating gene expression. Cancer is underpinned by key characteristic features that promote malignant growth and disease progression, collectively termed the 'hallmarks of cancer'. Essentially, all cancers examined to date have been reported to overexpress heparanase, leading to enhanced tumour growth and metastasis with concomitant poor patient survival. With its multiple roles within the tumour microenvironment, heparanase has been demonstrated to regulate each of these hallmark features, in turn highlighting the need for heparanase-targeted therapies. However, recent discoveries which demonstrated that heparanase can also regulate vital anti-tumour mechanisms have cast doubt on this approach. This review will explore the myriad ways by which heparanase functions as a key regulator of the hallmarks of cancer and will highlight its role as a major component within the tumour microenvironment. The dual role of heparanase within the tumour microenvironment, however, emphasises the need for further investigation into defining its precise mechanism of action in different cancer settings.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Krishnath M Jayatilleke
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Plenty Road & Kingsbury Drive, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia
| | - Mark D Hulett
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Plenty Road & Kingsbury Drive, Melbourne, VIC, 3086, Australia.
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Liu G, Wu R, Yang B, Shi Y, Deng C, Atala A, Mou S, Criswell T, Zhang Y. A cocktail of growth factors released from a heparin hyaluronic-acid hydrogel promotes the myogenic potential of human urine-derived stem cells in vivo. Acta Biomater 2020; 107:50-64. [PMID: 32044457 DOI: 10.1016/j.actbio.2020.02.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2019] [Revised: 01/22/2020] [Accepted: 02/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
Abstract
Traditional cell therapy technology relies on the maximum expansion of primary stem cells in vitro, through multiple passages and potential differentiation protocols, in order to generate the abundance of cells needed prior to transplantation in vivo. Implantation of in vitro over-expanded and pre-differentiated cells typically results in poor cell survival and reduced regeneration capacity for tissue repair in vivo. We hypothesized that implantation of primary stem cells, after a short time culture in vitro (passage number ≤p3), in combination with controlled release of relevant growth factors would improve in vivo cell viability, engraftment and tissue regeneration. The goal of this study was to determine whether the release of myogenic growth factors from a heparin-hyaluronic acid gel (hp-HA gel) could enhance in vivo cell survival, in-growth and myogenic differentiation of human urine-derived stem cells (USC) with a corresponding enhancement in graft vascularization, innervation and regenerative properties. Human USC were obtained from healthy adult donors (n = 6), expanded and then mixed with a hp-HA gel containing sets of growth factors known to enhance myogenesis (IGF1, HGF, PDGF-BB), neurogenesis (NGF, FGF) and angiogenesis (VEGF), or a cocktail with a combination of growth factors. Primary cultured USC (p3) mixed with the hp-HA gel and the various combinations of growth factors, were subcutaneously injected into athymic mice. In vivo cell survival, engraftment and functional differentiation within the host tissue were assessed. The implanted grafts containing USC and the growth factor cocktail showed the greatest number of surviving cells as well as increased numbers of cells that expressed myogenic and endothelial cell markers as compared to other groups 4 weeks after implantation. Moreover, the graft with USC and the growth factor cocktail showed increased numbers of blood vessels and infiltrating neurons. Thus, growth factors released in a controlled manner from an hp-HA gel containing USC efficiently improved in vivo cell survival and supported vascularization and myogenic differentiation within the grafts. This study provides evidence for the use of primary USC and growth factors in a hydrogel as a novel mode of cell therapy for the promotion of myogenic differentiation for the treatment of injured muscle tissue. STATEMENT OF SIGNIFICANCE: Cell therapies are a promising treatment option for neuromuscular dysfunction disorders. However, major limitations in cell retention and engraftment after implantation remain a hindrance to the use of stem cell therapy for the treatment of muscle injuries or diseased tissues. Implanted long-term in vitro cultured cells tend to demonstrate low rates of survival and tissue engraftment, lessened paracrine effects, and poor homing and differentiation. Human USC are an easily obtainable stem cell source that possess stem cell characteristics such as a robust proliferative potential, paracrine effects on neighboring cells, and multi-potential differentiation. In this study, we demonstrated that a combination of primary human USC with a cocktail of growth factors combined in a hyaluronic gel was optimal for cell survival and engraftment, including myogenic differentiation potential of USC, angiogenesis and host nerve fiber recruitment in vivo. The present study also demonstrated that the use of primary urine derived stem cells at early passages, without in vitro pre-differentiation, implanted in a hyaluronic-heparin hydrogel containing a cocktail of growth factors, provided an alternative safe site-specific delivery method for cell therapy.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Guihua Liu
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Reproductive Medicine Research Center, The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Rongpei Wu
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA; Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Bin Yang
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Yingai Shi
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Chunhua Deng
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Anthony Atala
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Steven Mou
- Anesthesiology-Pediatric ICU Anesthesia at WakeForest Baptist Medical Center, Medical Center Boulevard, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Tracy Criswell
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA
| | - Yuanyuan Zhang
- Wake Forest Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Wake Forest School of Medicine, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
| |
Collapse
|