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da Silva AL, Guedes BLM, Santos SN, Correa GF, Nardy A, Nali LHDS, Bachi ALL, Romano CM. Beyond pathogens: the intriguing genetic legacy of endogenous retroviruses in host physiology. Front Cell Infect Microbiol 2024; 14:1379962. [PMID: 38655281 PMCID: PMC11035796 DOI: 10.3389/fcimb.2024.1379962] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2024] [Accepted: 03/22/2024] [Indexed: 04/26/2024] Open
Abstract
The notion that viruses played a crucial role in the evolution of life is not a new concept. However, more recent insights suggest that this perception might be even more expansive, highlighting the ongoing impact of viruses on host evolution. Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are considered genomic remnants of ancient viral infections acquired throughout vertebrate evolution. Their exogenous counterparts once infected the host's germline cells, eventually leading to the permanent endogenization of their respective proviruses. The success of ERV colonization is evident so that it constitutes 8% of the human genome. Emerging genomic studies indicate that endogenous retroviruses are not merely remnants of past infections but rather play a corollary role, despite not fully understood, in host genetic regulation. This review presents some evidence supporting the crucial role of endogenous retroviruses in regulating host genetics. We explore the involvement of human ERVs (HERVs) in key physiological processes, from their precise and orchestrated activities during cellular differentiation and pluripotency to their contributions to aging and cellular senescence. Additionally, we discuss the costs associated with hosting a substantial amount of preserved viral genetic material.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Lopes da Silva
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Bruno Luiz Miranda Guedes
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Samuel Nascimento Santos
- UNISA Research Center, Universidade Santo Amaro, Post-Graduation in Health Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Giovanna Francisco Correa
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Ariane Nardy
- UNISA Research Center, Universidade Santo Amaro, Post-Graduation in Health Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | | | - Andre Luis Lacerda Bachi
- UNISA Research Center, Universidade Santo Amaro, Post-Graduation in Health Sciences, São Paulo, Brazil
| | - Camila Malta Romano
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical de São Paulo, Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
- Hospital das Clinicas HCFMUSP, Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
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2
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Oomen ME, Torres-Padilla ME. Jump-starting life: balancing transposable element co-option and genome integrity in the developing mammalian embryo. EMBO Rep 2024; 25:1721-1733. [PMID: 38528171 PMCID: PMC11015026 DOI: 10.1038/s44319-024-00118-5] [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: 12/07/2023] [Revised: 02/23/2024] [Accepted: 03/05/2024] [Indexed: 03/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Remnants of transposable elements (TEs) are widely expressed throughout mammalian embryo development. Originally infesting our genomes as selfish elements and acting as a source of genome instability, several of these elements have been co-opted as part of a complex system of genome regulation. Many TEs have lost transposition ability and their transcriptional potential has been tampered as a result of interactions with the host throughout evolutionary time. It has been proposed that TEs have been ultimately repurposed to function as gene regulatory hubs scattered throughout our genomes. In the early embryo in particular, TEs find a perfect environment of naïve chromatin to escape transcriptional repression by the host. As a consequence, it is thought that hosts found ways to co-opt TE sequences to regulate large-scale changes in chromatin and transcription state of their genomes. In this review, we discuss several examples of TEs expressed during embryo development, their potential for co-option in genome regulation and the evolutionary pressures on TEs and on our genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlies E Oomen
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany
| | - Maria-Elena Torres-Padilla
- Institute of Epigenetics and Stem Cells, Helmholtz Zentrum München, München, Germany.
- Faculty of Biology, Ludwig-Maximilians Universität, München, Germany.
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3
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Wang J, Lu X, Zhang W, Liu GH. Endogenous retroviruses in development and health. Trends Microbiol 2024; 32:342-354. [PMID: 37802660 DOI: 10.1016/j.tim.2023.09.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 09/13/2023] [Indexed: 10/08/2023]
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are evolutionary remnants of retroviral infections in which the viral genome became embedded as a dormant regulatory element within the host germline. When ERVs become activated, they comprehensively rewire genomic regulatory networks of the host and facilitate critical developmental events, such as preimplantation development and placentation, in a manner specific to species, developmental stage, and tissues. However, accumulating evidence suggests that aberrant ERV transcription compromises genome stability and has been implicated in cellular senescence and various pathogenic processes, underscoring the significance of host genomic surveillance mechanisms. Here, we revisit the prominent functions of ERVs in early development and highlight their emerging roles in mammalian post-implantation development and organogenesis. We also discuss their implications for aging and pathological processes such as microbial infection, immune response. Furthermore, we discuss recent advances in stem-cell-based models, single-cell omics, and genome editing technologies, which serve as beacons illuminating the versatile nature of ERVs in mammalian development and health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jichang Wang
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, 510080, China; Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering (Sun Yat-sen University), Ministry of Education, Guangzhou, 510080, China.
| | - Xinyi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, China.
| | - Weiqi Zhang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics and China National Center for Bioinformation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China.
| | - Guang-Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100101, China; Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing 100101, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China; Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing 100053, China.
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4
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Kong X, Li R, Chen M, Zheng R, Wang J, Sun C, Qu Y. Endogenous retrovirus HERVH-derived lncRNA UCA1 controls human trophoblast development. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2024; 121:e2318176121. [PMID: 38483994 PMCID: PMC10962953 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2318176121] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/19/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are frequently reactivated in mammalian placenta. It has been proposed that ERVs contribute to shaping the gene regulatory network of mammalian trophoblasts, dominantly acting as species- and placental-specific enhancers. However, whether and how ERVs control human trophoblast development through alternative pathways remains poorly understood. Besides the well-recognized function of human endogenous retrovirus-H (HERVH) in maintaining pluripotency of early human epiblast, here we present a unique role of HERVH on trophoblast lineage development. We found that the LTR7C/HERVH subfamily exhibits an accessible chromatin state in the human trophoblast lineage. Particularly, the LTR7C/HERVH-derived Urothelial Cancer Associated 1 (UCA1), a primate-specific long non-coding RNA (lncRNA), is transcribed in human trophoblasts and promotes the proliferation of human trophoblast stem cells (hTSCs), whereas its ectopic expression compromises human trophoblast syncytialization coinciding with increased interferon signaling pathway. Importantly, UCA1 upregulation is detectable in placental samples from early-onset preeclampsia (EO-PE) patients and the transcriptome of EO-PE placenta exhibits considerable similarities to that of the syncytiotrophoblasts differentiated from UCA1-overexpressing hTSCs, supporting up-regulated UCA1 as a potential biomarker of this disease. Altogether, our data shed light on the versatile regulatory role of HERVH in early human development and provide a unique mechanism whereby ERVs exert a function in human placentation and placental syndromes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xuhui Kong
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Ruiqi Li
- Reproductive and Genetic Hospital of Kapok, Hainan 571400, China
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Sun Yat-sen Memorial Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510120, China
- The First People's Hospital of Kashgar, Kashgar 844000, China
| | - Manqi Chen
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Rongyan Zheng
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Jichang Wang
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Chuanbo Sun
- Laboratory of Medical Systems Biology, Guangzhou Institute of Pediatrics, Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, Guangzhou Medical University, Guangzhou 510623, China
| | - Yuliang Qu
- Advanced Medical Technology Center, The First Affiliated Hospital, Zhongshan School of Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China
- Key Laboratory for Stem Cells and Tissue Engineering, Sun Yat-sen University, Ministry of Education, Guangzhou 510080, China
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5
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Singh M, Leddy SM, Iñiguez LP, Bendall ML, Nixon DF, Feschotte C. Transposable elements may enhance antiviral resistance in HIV-1 elite controllers. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.11.571123. [PMID: 38168352 PMCID: PMC10760019 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.11.571123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/05/2024]
Abstract
Less than 0.5% of people living with HIV-1 are elite controllers (ECs) - individuals who have a replication-competent viral reservoir in their CD4+ T cells but maintain undetectable plasma viremia without the help of antiretroviral therapy. While the EC CD4+ T cell transcriptome has been investigated for gene expression signatures associated with disease progression (or, in this case, a lack thereof), the expression and regulatory activity of transposable elements (TEs) in ECs has not been explored. Yet previous studies have established that TEs can directly impact the immune response to pathogens, including HIV-1. Thus, we hypothesize that the regulatory activities of TEs could contribute to the natural resistance of ECs against HIV-1. We perform a TE-centric analysis of previously published multi-omics data derived from EC individuals and other populations. We find that the CD4+ T cell transcriptome and retrotranscriptome of ECs are distinct from healthy controls, treated patients, and viremic progressors. However, there is a substantial level of transcriptomic heterogeneity among ECs. We categorize individuals with distinct chromatin accessibility and expression profiles into four clusters within the EC group, each possessing unique repertoires of TEs and antiviral factors. Notably, several TE families with known immuno-regulatory activity are differentially expressed among ECs. Their transcript levels in ECs positively correlate with their chromatin accessibility and negatively correlate with the expression of their KRAB zinc-finger (KZNF) repressors. This coordinated variation is seen at the level of individual TE loci likely acting or, in some cases, known to act as cis-regulatory elements for nearby genes involved in the immune response and HIV-1 restriction. Based on these results, we propose that the EC phenotype is driven in part by the reduced availability of specific KZNF proteins to repress TE-derived cis-regulatory elements for antiviral genes, thereby heightening their basal level of resistance to HIV-1 infection. Our study reveals considerable heterogeneity in the CD4+ T cell transcriptome of ECs, including variable expression of TEs and their KZNF controllers, that must be taken into consideration to decipher the mechanisms enabling HIV-1 control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manvendra Singh
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
- Clinical Neuroscience, Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Sabrina M Leddy
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Luis Pedro Iñiguez
- Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Matthew L Bendall
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Douglas F Nixon
- Division of Infectious Diseases, Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Cédric Feschotte
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
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6
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Zuo Z. The successive emergence of ERVL-MaLRs in primates. Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead072. [PMID: 38131004 PMCID: PMC10735291 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead072] [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: 09/06/2023] [Revised: 11/01/2023] [Accepted: 12/01/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Although the ERVL-mammalian-apparent LTR retrotransposons (MaLRs) are the fourth largest family of transposable elements in the human genome, their evolutionary history and relationship have not been thoroughly studied. In this study, through RepeatMasker annotations of some representative species and construction of phylogenetic tree by sequence similarity, all primate-specific MaLR members are found to descend from MLT1A1 retrotransposon. Comparative genomic analysis, transposition-in-transposition inference, and sequence feature comparisons consistently show that each MaLR member evolved from its predecessor successively and had a limited activity period during primate evolution. Accordingly, a novel MaLR member was discovered as successor of MSTB1 in Tarsiiformes. At last, the identification of candidate precursor and intermediate THE1A elements provides further evidence for the previously proposed arms race model between ZNF430/ZNF100 and THE1B/THE1A. Taken together, this study sheds light on the evolutionary history of MaLRs and can serve as a foundation for future research on their interactions with zinc finger genes, gene regulation, and human health implications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zheng Zuo
- School of Life Science and Technology, Southeast University, Nanjing 210096, China
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7
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Pulver C, Grun D, Duc J, Sheppard S, Planet E, Coudray A, de Fondeville R, Pontis J, Trono D. Statistical learning quantifies transposable element-mediated cis-regulation. Genome Biol 2023; 24:258. [PMID: 37950299 PMCID: PMC10637000 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-023-03085-7] [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: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/09/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transposable elements (TEs) have colonized the genomes of most metazoans, and many TE-embedded sequences function as cis-regulatory elements (CREs) for genes involved in a wide range of biological processes from early embryogenesis to innate immune responses. Because of their repetitive nature, TEs have the potential to form CRE platforms enabling the coordinated and genome-wide regulation of protein-coding genes by only a handful of trans-acting transcription factors (TFs). RESULTS Here, we directly test this hypothesis through mathematical modeling and demonstrate that differences in expression at protein-coding genes alone are sufficient to estimate the magnitude and significance of TE-contributed cis-regulatory activities, even in contexts where TE-derived transcription fails to do so. We leverage hundreds of overexpression experiments and estimate that, overall, gene expression is influenced by TE-embedded CREs situated within approximately 500 kb of promoters. Focusing on the cis-regulatory potential of TEs within the gene regulatory network of human embryonic stem cells, we find that pluripotency-specific and evolutionarily young TE subfamilies can be reactivated by TFs involved in post-implantation embryogenesis. Finally, we show that TE subfamilies can be split into truly regulatorily active versus inactive fractions based on additional information such as matched epigenomic data, observing that TF binding may better predict TE cis-regulatory activity than differences in histone marks. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that TE-embedded CREs contribute to gene regulation during and beyond gastrulation. On a methodological level, we provide a statistical tool that infers TE-dependent cis-regulation from RNA-seq data alone, thus facilitating the study of TEs in the next-generation sequencing era.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cyril Pulver
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Delphine Grun
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Julien Duc
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Shaoline Sheppard
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Evarist Planet
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Alexandre Coudray
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Raphaël de Fondeville
- Swiss Data Science Center, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
| | - Julien Pontis
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
- SOPHiA GENETICS SA, La Pièce 12, CH-1180, Rolle, Switzerland.
| | - Didier Trono
- School of Life Sciences, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology Lausanne (EPFL), CH-1015, Lausanne, Switzerland.
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8
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Limouse C, Smith OK, Jukam D, Fryer KA, Greenleaf WJ, Straight AF. Global mapping of RNA-chromatin contacts reveals a proximity-dominated connectivity model for ncRNA-gene interactions. Nat Commun 2023; 14:6073. [PMID: 37770513 PMCID: PMC10539311 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-41848-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/09/2023] [Accepted: 09/19/2023] [Indexed: 09/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are transcribed throughout the genome and provide regulatory inputs to gene expression through their interaction with chromatin. Yet, the genomic targets and functions of most ncRNAs are unknown. Here we use chromatin-associated RNA sequencing (ChAR-seq) to map the global network of ncRNA interactions with chromatin in human embryonic stem cells and the dynamic changes in interactions during differentiation into definitive endoderm. We uncover general principles governing the organization of the RNA-chromatin interactome, demonstrating that nearly all ncRNAs exclusively interact with genes in close three-dimensional proximity to their locus and provide a model predicting the interactome. We uncover RNAs that interact with many loci across the genome and unveil thousands of unannotated RNAs that dynamically interact with chromatin. By relating the dynamics of the interactome to changes in gene expression, we demonstrate that activation or repression of individual genes is unlikely to be controlled by a single ncRNA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Limouse
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Owen K Smith
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - David Jukam
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | - Kelsey A Fryer
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA
| | | | - Aaron F Straight
- Department of Biochemistry, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA.
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9
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Kazachenka A, Loong JH, Attig J, Young GR, Ganguli P, Devonshire G, Grehan N, Ciccarelli FD, Fitzgerald RC, Kassiotis G. The transcriptional landscape of endogenous retroelements delineates esophageal adenocarcinoma subtypes. NAR Cancer 2023; 5:zcad040. [PMID: 37502711 PMCID: PMC10370457 DOI: 10.1093/narcan/zcad040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2023] [Revised: 07/01/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 07/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Most cancer types exhibit aberrant transcriptional activity, including derepression of retrotransposable elements (RTEs). However, the degree, specificity and potential consequences of RTE transcriptional activation may differ substantially among cancer types and subtypes. Representing one extreme of the spectrum, we characterize the transcriptional activity of RTEs in cohorts of esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and its precursor Barrett's esophagus (BE) from the OCCAMS (Oesophageal Cancer Clinical and Molecular Stratification) consortium, and from TCGA (The Cancer Genome Atlas). We found exceptionally high RTE inclusion in the EAC transcriptome, driven primarily by transcription of genes incorporating intronic or adjacent RTEs, rather than by autonomous RTE transcription. Nevertheless, numerous chimeric transcripts straddling RTEs and genes, and transcripts from stand-alone RTEs, particularly KLF5- and SOX9-controlled HERVH proviruses, were overexpressed specifically in EAC. Notably, incomplete mRNA splicing and EAC-characteristic intronic RTE inclusion was mirrored by relative loss of the respective fully-spliced, functional mRNA isoforms, consistent with compromised cellular fitness. Defective RNA splicing was linked with strong transcriptional activation of a HERVH provirus on Chr Xp22.32 and defined EAC subtypes with distinct molecular features and prognosis. Our study defines distinguishable RTE transcriptional profiles of EAC, reflecting distinct underlying processes and prognosis, thus providing a framework for targeted studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jane Hc Loong
- Retroviral Immunology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Jan Attig
- Retroviral Immunology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - George R Young
- Bioinformatics and Biostatistics Facility, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
| | - Piyali Ganguli
- Cancer Systems Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Ginny Devonshire
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Nicola Grehan
- Early Cancer Institute, Hutchison Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Francesca D Ciccarelli
- Cancer Systems Biology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- School of Cancer and Pharmaceutical Sciences, King's College London, London, UK
| | - Rebecca C Fitzgerald
- Early Cancer Institute, Hutchison Research Centre, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - George Kassiotis
- Retroviral Immunology Laboratory, The Francis Crick Institute, London, UK
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, UK
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10
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DiRusso JA, Clark AT. Transposable elements in early human embryo development and embryo models. Curr Opin Genet Dev 2023; 81:102086. [PMID: 37441874 PMCID: PMC10917458 DOI: 10.1016/j.gde.2023.102086] [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: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 06/15/2023] [Indexed: 07/15/2023]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs), long discounted as 'selfish genomic elements,' are increasingly appreciated as the drivers of genomic evolution, genome organization, and gene regulation. TEs are particularly important in early embryo development, where advances in stem cell technologies, in tandem with improved computational and next-generation sequencing approaches, have provided an unprecedented opportunity to study the contribution of TEs to early mammalian development. Here, we summarize advances in our understanding of TEs in early human development and expand on how new stem cell-based embryo models can be leveraged to augment this understanding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan A DiRusso
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA; Center for Reproductive Science, Health and Education, University of California, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Amander T Clark
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Developmental Biology, University of California, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA; Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA.; Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA; Center for Reproductive Science, Health and Education, University of California, 90095 Los Angeles, CA, USA.
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11
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Singh M, Kondraskhina AM, Hurst LD, Izsvák Z. Staring at the onco-exaptation: the two-faced medley of an ancient retrovirus, HERVH. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e172278. [PMID: 37463444 DOI: 10.1172/jci172278] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/20/2023] Open
Abstract
Cell senescence suppresses tumors by arresting cells at risk of becoming malignant. However, this process in turn can affect the microenvironment, leading to acquisition of a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) that renders senescent cells proinflammatory and results in tumor progression. But how is SASP controlled? In this issue of the JCI, Attig and Pape et al. describe the role of chimeric calbindin 1 (CALB1) transcripts, which are driven by an upstream human endogenous retrovirus subfamily H (HERVH) element. The authors propose that in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC), HERVH-driven isoforms of calbindin (HERVH-CALB1) counteract SASP. As an alternative promoter, HERVH drove calbindin isoforms that prevented cancer cell senescence and associated inflammation, which was associated with better patient survival. We comment on the similarities between HERVH-CALB1-related cellular fitness in cancer and early embryogenesis and discuss the potential benefits of HERVH-driven chimeric transcripts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manvendra Singh
- Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, Göttingen, Germany
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Society, Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Laurence D Hurst
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Biology and Biochemistry, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Zsuzsanna Izsvák
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Society, Berlin, Germany
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12
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Attig J, Pape J, Doglio L, Kazachenka A, Ottina E, Young GR, Enfield KS, Aramburu IV, Ng KW, Faulkner N, Bolland W, Papayannopoulos V, Swanton C, Kassiotis G. Human endogenous retrovirus onco-exaptation counters cancer cell senescence through calbindin. J Clin Invest 2023; 133:e164397. [PMID: 37192000 PMCID: PMC10348765 DOI: 10.1172/jci164397] [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: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2023] [Indexed: 05/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Increased levels and diversity of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) transcription characterize most cancer types and are linked with disease outcomes. However, the underlying processes are incompletely understood. Here, we show that elevated transcription of HERVH proviruses predicted survival of lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and identified an isoform of CALB1, encoding calbindin, ectopically driven by an upstream HERVH provirus under the control of KLF5, as the mediator of this effect. HERVH-CALB1 expression was initiated in preinvasive lesions and associated with their progression. Calbindin loss in LUSC cell lines impaired in vitro and in vivo growth and triggered senescence, consistent with a protumor effect. However, calbindin also directly controlled the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP), marked by secretion of CXCL8 and other neutrophil chemoattractants. In established carcinomas, CALB1-negative cancer cells became the dominant source of CXCL8, correlating with neutrophil infiltration and worse prognosis. Thus, HERVH-CALB1 expression in LUSC may display antagonistic pleiotropy, whereby the benefits of escaping senescence early during cancer initiation and clonal competition were offset by the prevention of SASP and protumor inflammation at later stages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - George Kassiotis
- Retroviral Immunology
- Department of Infectious Disease, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
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13
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Park EG, Lee DH, Kim WR, Lee YJ, Bae WH, Kim JM, Shin HJ, Ha H, Yi JM, Cho SG, Choi YH, Leem SH, Cha HJ, Kim SW, Kim HS. Human Endogenous Retrovirus-H-Derived miR-4454 Inhibits the Expression of DNAJB4 and SASH1 in Non-Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer. Genes (Basel) 2023; 14:1410. [PMID: 37510314 PMCID: PMC10379226 DOI: 10.3390/genes14071410] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2023] [Revised: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/30/2023] Open
Abstract
Although most human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) have been silenced and lost their ability to translocate because of accumulated mutations during evolution, they still play important roles in human biology. Several studies have demonstrated that HERVs play pathological roles in numerous human diseases, especially cancer. A few studies have revealed that long non-coding RNAs that are transcribed from HERV sequences affect cancer progression. However, there is no study on microRNAs derived from HERVs related to cancer. In this study, we identified 29 microRNAs (miRNAs) derived from HERV sequences in the human genome. In particular, we discovered that miR-4454, which is HERV-H-derived miRNA, was upregulated in non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) cells. To figure out the effects of upregulated miR-4454 in NMIBC, genes whose expression was downregulated in NMIBC, as well as tumor suppressor genes, were selected as putative target genes of miR-4454. The dual-luciferase assay was used to determine the negative relationship between miR-4454 and its target genes, DNAJB4 and SASH1, and they were confirmed to be promising target genes of miR-4454. Taken together, this study suggests that the upregulation of miR-4454 derived from HERV-H in NMIBC reduces the expression of the tumor suppressor genes, DNAJB4 and SASH1, to promote NMIBC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eun Gyung Park
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (E.G.P.); (D.H.L.); (W.R.K.); (Y.J.L.); (W.H.B.); (J.-m.K.); (H.J.S.)
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Du Hyeong Lee
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (E.G.P.); (D.H.L.); (W.R.K.); (Y.J.L.); (W.H.B.); (J.-m.K.); (H.J.S.)
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Ryung Kim
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (E.G.P.); (D.H.L.); (W.R.K.); (Y.J.L.); (W.H.B.); (J.-m.K.); (H.J.S.)
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Ju Lee
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (E.G.P.); (D.H.L.); (W.R.K.); (Y.J.L.); (W.H.B.); (J.-m.K.); (H.J.S.)
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Hyeon Bae
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (E.G.P.); (D.H.L.); (W.R.K.); (Y.J.L.); (W.H.B.); (J.-m.K.); (H.J.S.)
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Jung-min Kim
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (E.G.P.); (D.H.L.); (W.R.K.); (Y.J.L.); (W.H.B.); (J.-m.K.); (H.J.S.)
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Hae Jin Shin
- Department of Integrated Biological Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea; (E.G.P.); (D.H.L.); (W.R.K.); (Y.J.L.); (W.H.B.); (J.-m.K.); (H.J.S.)
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
| | - Hongseok Ha
- Division of Life Sciences, Korea University, Seoul 02841, Republic of Korea;
| | - Joo Mi Yi
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Inje University College of Medicine, Busan 47392, Republic of Korea;
| | - Ssang Goo Cho
- Department of Stem Cell & Regenerative Biotechnology, Institute of Advanced Regenerative Science, Konkuk University, Seoul 05029, Republic of Korea;
| | - Yung Hyun Choi
- Department of Biochemistry, College of Korean Medicine, Dong-Eui University, Busan 47227, Republic of Korea;
| | - Sun Hee Leem
- Department of Biological Science, Dong-A University, Busan 49315, Republic of Korea;
| | - Hee Jae Cha
- Department of Parasitology and Genetics, College of Medicine, Kosin University, Busan 49104, Republic of Korea;
| | - Sang Woo Kim
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea;
| | - Heui Soo Kim
- Institute of Systems Biology, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea
- Department of Biological Sciences, College of Natural Sciences, Pusan National University, Busan 46241, Republic of Korea;
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14
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Singh M, Kondrashkina AM, Widmann TJ, Cortes JL, Bansal V, Wang J, Römer C, Garcia-Canadas M, Garcia-Perez JL, Hurst LD, Izsvák Z. A new human embryonic cell type associated with activity of young transposable elements allows definition of the inner cell mass. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002162. [PMID: 37339119 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2022] [Accepted: 05/12/2023] [Indexed: 06/22/2023] Open
Abstract
There remains much that we do not understand about the earliest stages of human development. On a gross level, there is evidence for apoptosis, but the nature of the affected cell types is unknown. Perhaps most importantly, the inner cell mass (ICM), from which the foetus is derived and hence of interest in reproductive health and regenerative medicine, has proven hard to define. Here, we provide a multi-method analysis of the early human embryo to resolve these issues. Single-cell analysis (on multiple independent datasets), supported by embryo visualisation, uncovers a common previously uncharacterised class of cells lacking commitment markers that segregates after embryonic gene activation (EGA) and shortly after undergo apoptosis. The discovery of this cell type allows us to clearly define their viable ontogenetic sisters, these being the cells of the ICM. While ICM is characterised by the activity of an Old non-transposing endogenous retrovirus (HERVH) that acts to suppress Young transposable elements, the new cell type, by contrast, expresses transpositionally competent Young elements and DNA-damage response genes. As the Young elements are RetroElements and the cells are excluded from the developmental process, we dub these REject cells. With these and ICM being characterised by differential mobile element activities, the human embryo may be a "selection arena" in which one group of cells selectively die, while other less damaged cells persist.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manvendra Singh
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Society, Berlin, Germany
- Max Planck Institute of Multidisciplinary Sciences, City Campus, Göttingen, Germany
| | | | - Thomas J Widmann
- GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jose L Cortes
- GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Vikas Bansal
- German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases, Tübingen, Germany
| | - Jichang Wang
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Society, Berlin, Germany
| | - Christine Römer
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Society, Berlin, Germany
| | - Marta Garcia-Canadas
- GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Jose L Garcia-Perez
- GENYO, Centre for Genomics and Oncological Research: Pfizer/University of Granada/Andalusian Regional Government, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
- Institute of Genetics and Molecular Medicine (IGMM), University of Edinburgh, Crewe Road, Edinburgh, United Kingdom
| | - Laurence D Hurst
- The Milner Centre for Evolution, Department of Life Sciences, University of Bath, Bath, United Kingdom
| | - Zsuzsanna Izsvák
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Society, Berlin, Germany
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15
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Felley-Bosco E. Exploring the Expression of the «Dark Matter» of the Genome in Mesothelioma for Potentially Predictive Biomarkers for Prognosis and Immunotherapy. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:cancers15112969. [PMID: 37296931 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15112969] [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: 04/15/2023] [Revised: 05/21/2023] [Accepted: 05/26/2023] [Indexed: 06/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent high-throughput RNA sequencing technologies have confirmed that a large part of the non-coding genome is transcribed. The priority for further investigations is nevertheless generally given in cancer to coding sequences, due to the obvious interest of finding therapeutic targets. In addition, several RNA-sequencing pipelines eliminate repetitive sequences, which are difficult to analyze. In this review, we shall focus on endogenous retroviruses. These sequences are remnants of ancestral germline infections by exogenous retroviruses. These sequences represent 8% of human genome, meaning four-fold the fraction of the genome encoding for proteins. These sequences are generally mostly repressed in normal adult tissues, but pathological conditions lead to their de-repression. Specific mesothelioma-associated endogenous retrovirus expression and their association to clinical outcome is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emanuela Felley-Bosco
- Laboratory of Molecular Oncology, Department of Thoracic Surgery, Zürich University Hospital, 8091 Zurich, Switzerland
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16
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Frost JM, Amante SM, Okae H, Jones EM, Ashley B, Lewis RM, Cleal JK, Caley MP, Arima T, Maffucci T, Branco MR. Regulation of human trophoblast gene expression by endogenous retroviruses. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2023; 30:527-538. [PMID: 37012406 PMCID: PMC10113160 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-023-00960-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Accepted: 03/02/2023] [Indexed: 04/05/2023]
Abstract
The placenta is a fast-evolving organ with large morphological and histological differences across eutherians, but the genetic changes driving placental evolution have not been fully elucidated. Transposable elements, through their capacity to quickly generate genetic variation and affect host gene regulation, may have helped to define species-specific trophoblast gene expression programs. Here we assess the contribution of transposable elements to human trophoblast gene expression as enhancers or promoters. Using epigenomic data from primary human trophoblast and trophoblast stem-cell lines, we identified multiple endogenous retrovirus families with regulatory potential that lie close to genes with preferential expression in trophoblast. These largely primate-specific elements are associated with inter-species gene expression differences and are bound by transcription factors with key roles in placental development. Using genetic editing, we demonstrate that several elements act as transcriptional enhancers of important placental genes, such as CSF1R and PSG5. We also identify an LTR10A element that regulates ENG expression, affecting secretion of soluble endoglin, with potential implications for preeclampsia. Our data show that transposons have made important contributions to human trophoblast gene regulation, and suggest that their activity may affect pregnancy outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer M Frost
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
| | - Samuele M Amante
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Hiroaki Okae
- Department of Trophoblast Research, Institute of Molecular Embryology and Genetics, Kumamoto University, Kumamoto, Japan
| | - Eleri M Jones
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Brogan Ashley
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Rohan M Lewis
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Jane K Cleal
- School of Human Development and Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Matthew P Caley
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Takahiro Arima
- Department of Informative Genetics, Environment and Genome Research Center, Tohoku University Graduate School of Medicine, Sendai, Japan
| | - Tania Maffucci
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK
| | - Miguel R Branco
- Blizard Institute, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, Queen Mary University of London, London, UK.
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17
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Saha B, Vannucci L, Saha B, Tenti P, Baral R. Evolvability and emergence of tumor heterogeneity as a space-time function. Cytokine 2023; 161:156061. [PMID: 36252436 DOI: 10.1016/j.cyto.2022.156061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The loss of control of cell proliferation, apoptosis regulation and contact inhibition leads to tumor development. While benign tumors are restricted to their primary space, i.e. where these tumors first originate, the metastatic tumors not only disseminate- facilitated by hypoxia-driven neovascularization- to distant secondary sites but also show substantial changes in metabolism, tissue architectures, gene expression profiles and immune phenotypes. All these alterations result in radio-, chemo- and immune-resistance rendering these metastatic tumor cells refractory to therapy. Since the beginning of the transformation, these factors- which influence each other- are incorporated to the developing and metastasizing tumor. As a result, the complexities in the heterogeneity of tumor progressively increase. This space-time function in the heterogeneity of tumors is generated by various conditions and factors at the genetic as well as microenvironmental levels, for example, endogenous retroviruses, methylation and epigenetic dysregulation that may be etiology-specific, cancer associated inflammation, remodeling of the extracellular matrix and mesenchymal cell shifted functions. On the one hand, these factors may cause de-differentiation of the tumor cells leading to cancer stem cells that contribute to radio-, chemo- and immune-resistance and recurrence of tumors. On the other hand, they may also enhance the heterogeneity under specific microenvironment-driven proliferation. In this editorial, we intend to underline the importance of heterogeneity in cancer progress, its evaluation and its use in correlation with the tumor evolution in a specific patient as a field of research for achieving precise patient-tailored treatments and amelioration of diagnostic (monitoring) tools and prognostic capacity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhaskar Saha
- National Centre for Cell Science, Ganeshkhind, Pune 411007, India.
| | - Luca Vannucci
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Praha, Czech Republic.
| | - Baibaswata Saha
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Paolo Tenti
- Institute of Microbiology, Czech Academy of Sciences, Videnska 1083, Praha, Czech Republic
| | - Rathindranath Baral
- Chittaranjan National Cancer Institute, Shyamaprasad Mukherjee Road, Calcutta 700026, India.
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18
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Angileri KM, Bagia NA, Feschotte C. Transposon control as a checkpoint for tissue regeneration. Development 2022; 149:dev191957. [PMID: 36440631 PMCID: PMC10655923 DOI: 10.1242/dev.191957] [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: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 10/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Tissue regeneration requires precise temporal control of cellular processes such as inflammatory signaling, chromatin remodeling and proliferation. The combination of these processes forms a unique microenvironment permissive to the expression, and potential mobilization of, transposable elements (TEs). Here, we develop the hypothesis that TE activation creates a barrier to tissue repair that must be overcome to achieve successful regeneration. We discuss how uncontrolled TE activity may impede tissue restoration and review mechanisms by which TE activity may be controlled during regeneration. We posit that the diversification and co-evolution of TEs and host control mechanisms may contribute to the wide variation in regenerative competency across tissues and species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Krista M. Angileri
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 526 Campus Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Nornubari A. Bagia
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 526 Campus Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
| | - Cedric Feschotte
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Cornell University, 526 Campus Rd, Ithaca, NY 14850, USA
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19
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Molecular diversity and phenotypic pleiotropy of ancient genomic regulatory loci derived from human endogenous retrovirus type H (HERVH) promoter LTR7 and HERVK promoter LTR5_Hs and their contemporary impacts on pathophysiology of Modern Humans. Mol Genet Genomics 2022; 297:1711-1740. [PMID: 36121513 PMCID: PMC9483895 DOI: 10.1007/s00438-022-01954-7] [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: 05/07/2022] [Accepted: 09/09/2022] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
Timelines of population-level effects of viruses on humans varied from the evolutionary scale of million years to contemporary spread of viral infections. Correspondingly, these events are exemplified by: (i) emergence of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) from ancient germline infections leading to stable integration of viral genomes into human chromosomes; and (ii) wide-spread viral infections reaching a global pandemic state such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Despite significant efforts, understanding of HERV’s roles in governance of genomic regulatory networks, their impacts on primate evolution and development of human-specific physiological and pathological phenotypic traits remains limited. Remarkably, present analyses revealed that expression of a dominant majority of genes (1696 of 1944 genes; 87%) constituting high-confidence down-steam regulatory targets of defined HERV loci was significantly altered in cells infected with the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, a pathogen causing the global COVID-19 pandemic. This study focused on defined sub-sets of DNA sequences derived from HERVs that are expressed at specific stages of human preimplantation embryogenesis and exert regulatory actions essential for self-renewal and pluripotency. Evolutionary histories of LTR7/HERVH and LTR5_Hs/HERVK were charted based on evidence of the earliest presence and expansion of highly conserved (HC) LTR sequences. Sequence conservation analyses of most recent releases 17 primate species’ genomes revealed that LTR7/HERVH have entered germlines of primates in Africa after the separation of the New World Monkey lineage, while LTR5_Hs/HERVK successfully colonized primates’ germlines after the segregation of Gibbons’ species. Subsequently, both LTR7 and LTR5_Hs undergo a marked ~ fourfold–fivefold expansion in genomes of Great Apes. Timelines of quantitative expansion of both LTR7 and LTR5_Hs loci during evolution of Great Apes appear to replicate the consensus evolutionary sequence of increasing cognitive and behavioral complexities of non-human primates, which seems particularly striking for LTR7 loci and 11 distinct LTR7 subfamilies. Consistent with previous reports, identified in this study, 351 human-specific (HS) insertions of LTR7 (175 loci) and LTR5_Hs (176 loci) regulatory sequences have been linked to genes implicated in establishment and maintenance of naïve and primed pluripotent states and preimplantation embryogenesis phenotypes. Unexpectedly, HS-LTRs manifest regulatory connectivity to genes encoding markers of 12 distinct cells’ populations of fetal gonads, as well as genes implicated in physiology and pathology of human spermatogenesis, including Y-linked spermatogenic failure, oligo- and azoospermia. Granular interrogations of genes linked with 11 distinct LTR7 subfamilies revealed that mammalian offspring survival (MOS) genes seem to remain one of consistent regulatory targets throughout ~ 30 MYA of the divergent evolution of LTR7 loci. Differential GSEA of MOS versus non-MOS genes identified clearly discernable dominant enrichment patterns of phenotypic traits affected by MOS genes linked with LTR7 (562 MOS genes) and LTR5_Hs (126 MOS genes) regulatory loci across the large panel of genomics and proteomics databases reflecting a broad spectrum of human physiological and pathological traits. GSEA of LTR7-linked MOS genes identified more than 2200 significantly enriched records of human common and rare diseases and gene signatures of 466 significantly enriched records of Human Phenotype Ontology traits, including Autosomal Dominant (92 genes) and Autosomal Recessive (93 genes) Inheritance. LTR7 regulatory elements appear linked with genes implicated in functional and morphological features of central nervous system, including synaptic transmission and protein–protein interactions at synapses, as well as gene signatures differentially regulated in cells of distinct neurodevelopmental stages and morphologically diverse cell types residing and functioning in human brain. These include Neural Stem/Precursor cells, Radial Glia cells, Bergman Glia cells, Pyramidal cells, Tanycytes, Immature neurons, Interneurons, Trigeminal neurons, GABAergic neurons, and Glutamatergic neurons. GSEA of LTR7-linked genes identified significantly enriched gene sets encoding markers of more than 80 specialized types of neurons and markers of 521 human brain regions, most prominently, subiculum and dentate gyrus. Identification and characterization of 1944 genes comprising high-confidence down-steam regulatory targets of LTR7 and/or LTR5_Hs loci validated and extended these observations by documenting marked enrichments for genes implicated in neoplasm metastasis, intellectual disability, autism, multiple cancer types, Alzheimer’s, schizophrenia, and other brain disorders. Overall, genes representing down-stream regulatory targets of ancient retroviral LTRs exert the apparently cooperative and exceedingly broad phenotypic impacts on human physiology and pathology. This is exemplified by altered expression of 93% high-confidence LTR targets in cells infected by contemporary viruses, revealing a convergence of virus-inflicted aberrations on genomic regulatory circuitry governed by ancient retroviral LTR elements and interference with human cells’ differentiation programs.
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20
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Ai Z, Xiang X, Xiang Y, Szczerbinska I, Qian Y, Xu X, Ma C, Su Y, Gao B, Shen H, Bin Ramli MN, Chen D, Liu Y, Hao JJ, Ng HH, Zhang D, Chan YS, Liu W, Liang H. Krüppel-like factor 5 rewires NANOG regulatory network to activate human naive pluripotency specific LTR7Ys and promote naive pluripotency. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111240. [PMID: 36001968 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111240] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/10/2022] [Revised: 05/06/2022] [Accepted: 07/27/2022] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) have been reported to participate in pre-implantation development of mammalian embryos. In early human embryogenesis, different ERV sub-families are activated in a highly stage-specific manner. How the specificity of ERV activation is achieved remains largely unknown. Here, we demonstrate the mechanism of how LTR7Ys, the human morula-blastocyst-specific HERVH long terminal repeats, are activated by the naive pluripotency transcription network. We find that KLF5 interacts with and rewires NANOG to bind and regulate LTR7Ys; in contrast, the primed-specific LTR7s are preferentially bound by NANOG in the absence of KLF5. The specific activation of LTR7Ys by KLF5 and NANOG in pluripotent stem cells contributes to human-specific naive pluripotency regulation. KLF5-LTR7Y axis also promotes the expression of trophectoderm genes and contributes to the expanded cell potential toward extra-embryonic lineage. Our study suggests that HERVs are activated by cell-state-specific transcription machinery and promote stage-specific transcription network and cell potency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhipeng Ai
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Xinyu Xiang
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, 718 East Haizhou Road, Haining 314400, China
| | - Yangquan Xiang
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Iwona Szczerbinska
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Yuli Qian
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Xiao Xu
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Chenyang Ma
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Yaqi Su
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, 718 East Haizhou Road, Haining 314400, China
| | - Bing Gao
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, 718 East Haizhou Road, Haining 314400, China
| | - Hao Shen
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China
| | - Muhammad Nadzim Bin Ramli
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore
| | - Di Chen
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, 718 East Haizhou Road, Haining 314400, China
| | - Yue Liu
- Guangzhou Laboratory, No. 9 Xing Dao Huan Bei Road, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Jia-Jie Hao
- Guangzhou Laboratory, No. 9 Xing Dao Huan Bei Road, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510005, China
| | - Huck Hui Ng
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, National University of Singapore, 14 Science Drive 4, Singapore 117597, Singapore; School of Biological Sciences, Nanyang Technological University, 60 Nanyang Drive, Singapore 639798, Singapore
| | - Dan Zhang
- Key Laboratory of Reproductive Genetics (Ministry of Education) and Department of Reproductive Endocrinology, Women's Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310006, China.
| | - Yun-Shen Chan
- Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Genome Institute of Singapore, 60 Biopolis Street, Singapore 138672, Singapore; Guangzhou Laboratory, No. 9 Xing Dao Huan Bei Road, Guangzhou International Bio Island, Guangzhou 510005, China.
| | - Wanlu Liu
- Zhejiang University-University of Edinburgh Institute (ZJU-UoE Institute), Zhejiang University School of Medicine, International Campus, Zhejiang University, 718 East Haizhou Road, Haining 314400, China; Department of Orthopedic Surgery of the Second Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310029, China; Dr. Li Dak Sum & Yip Yio Chin Center for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou 310058, China.
| | - Hongqing Liang
- Division of Human Reproduction and Developmental Genetics, Women's Hospital, and Institute of Genetics, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, Hangzhou 310006, China.
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Ito J, Seita Y, Kojima S, Parrish NF, Sasaki K, Sato K. A hominoid-specific endogenous retrovirus may have rewired the gene regulatory network shared between primordial germ cells and naïve pluripotent cells. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009846. [PMID: 35551519 PMCID: PMC9128956 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009846] [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: 09/30/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Mammalian germ cells stem from primordial germ cells (PGCs). Although the gene regulatory network controlling the development of germ cells such as PGCs is critical for ensuring gamete integrity, substantial differences exist in this network among mammalian species, suggesting that this network has been modified during mammalian evolution. Here, we show that a hominoid-specific group of endogenous retroviruses, LTR5_Hs, discloses enhancer-like signatures in human in vitro-induced PGCs, PGC-like cells (PGCLCs). Human PGCLCs exhibit a transcriptome signature similar to that of naïve-state pluripotent cells. LTR5_Hs are epigenetically activated in both PGCLCs and naïve pluripotent cells, and the expression of genes in the vicinity of LTR5_Hs is coordinately upregulated in these cell types, contributing to the establishment of the transcriptome similarity between these cell types. LTR5_Hs are preferentially bound by transcription factors that are highly expressed in both PGCLCs and naïve pluripotent cells (KLF4, TFAP2C, NANOG, and CBFA2T2), suggesting that these transcription factors contribute to the epigenetic activation of LTR5_Hs in these cells. Comparative transcriptome analysis between humans and macaques suggests that the expression of many genes in PGCLCs and naïve pluripotent cells is upregulated by LTR5_Hs insertions in the hominoid lineage. Together, this study suggests that LTR5_Hs insertions may have finetuned the gene regulatory network shared between PGCLCs and naïve pluripotent cells and coordinately altered the gene expression in these cells during hominoid evolution. To ensure the health of the next generation and the continuation of a species, the development of germ cells, including primordial germ cells (PGCs), is strictly controlled by a complex gene regulatory network. Nevertheless, the gene regulatory network controlling the germ cell development has been substantially diversified during mammalian or even primate evolution. Here, our integrated analyses using multiomics and comparative genomics resources suggest that hominoid-specific insertions of endogenous retroviruses are epigenetically activated in both in vitro-induced PGCs and naïve pluripotent cells and may have coordinately altered the expression of the adjacent genes in these cells. This study provides evidence suggesting that the gene regulatory network shared between PGCs and naïve pluripotent cells may have been rewired by ERV insertions during hominoid evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jumpei Ito
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasunari Seita
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Bell Research Center for Reproductive Health and Cancer, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan
| | - Shohei Kojima
- Genome Immunobiology RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences and RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Nicholas F. Parrish
- Genome Immunobiology RIKEN Hakubi Research Team, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences and RIKEN Cluster for Pioneering Research, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Kotaro Sasaki
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America
- * E-mail: (KS); (KS)
| | - Kei Sato
- Division of Systems Virology, Department of Microbiology and Immunology, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- Graduate School of Medicine, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- International Research Center for Infectious Diseases, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- International Vaccine Design Center, The Institute of Medical Science, The University of Tokyo, Tokyo, Japan
- CREST, Japan Science and Technology Agency, Saitama, Japan
- * E-mail: (KS); (KS)
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