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Alnassar N, Hillman C, Fontana BD, Robson SC, Norton WHJ, Parker MO. angptl4 gene expression as a marker of adaptive homeostatic response to social isolation across the lifespan in zebrafish. Neurobiol Aging 2023; 131:209-221. [PMID: 37690345 DOI: 10.1016/j.neurobiolaging.2023.08.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2023] [Revised: 08/09/2023] [Accepted: 08/10/2023] [Indexed: 09/12/2023]
Abstract
Social isolation has detrimental health effects, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we investigated the impact of 2 weeks of isolation on behavior and gene expression in the central nervous system at different life stages of zebrafish. Results showed that socially deprived young adult zebrafish experienced increased anxiety, accompanied by changes in gene expression. Most gene expression patterns returned to normal within 24 hours of reintroduction to a social environment, except angptl4, which was upregulated after reintroduction, suggesting an adaptive mechanism. Similarly, aging zebrafish displayed heightened anxiety and increased central nervous system expression of angptl4 during isolation, but effects were reversed upon reintroduction to a social group. The findings imply that angptl4 plays a homeostatic role in response to social isolation, which varies across the lifespan. The study emphasizes the importance of social interactions for psychological well-being and highlights the negative consequences of isolation, especially in older individuals. Further research may unravel how social isolation affects angptl4 expression and its developmental and aging effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nancy Alnassar
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - Courtney Hillman
- Surrey Sleep Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guilford, UK
| | | | - Samuel C Robson
- School of Pharmacy and Biomedical Science, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK; School of Biological Sciences, University of Portsmouth, Portsmouth, UK
| | - William H J Norton
- Department of Genetics and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, UK
| | - Matthew O Parker
- Surrey Sleep Research Centre, University of Surrey, Guilford, UK.
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Thaler M, Salgado-Benvindo C, Leijs A, Tas A, Ninaber DK, Arbiser JL, Snijder EJ, van Hemert MJ. R-Propranolol Has Broad-Spectrum Anti-Coronavirus Activity and Suppresses Factors Involved in Pathogenic Angiogenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2023; 24. [PMID: 36902020 DOI: 10.3390/ijms24054588] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2023] [Revised: 02/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/23/2023] [Indexed: 03/03/2023] Open
Abstract
The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic highlighted the need for broad-spectrum antivirals to increase our preparedness. Patients often require treatment by the time that blocking virus replication is less effective. Therefore, therapy should not only aim to inhibit the virus, but also to suppress pathogenic host responses, e.g., leading to microvascular changes and pulmonary damage. Clinical studies have previously linked SARS-CoV-2 infection to pathogenic intussusceptive angiogenesis in the lungs, involving the upregulation of angiogenic factors such as ANGPTL4. The β-blocker propranolol is used to suppress aberrant ANGPTL4 expression in the treatment of hemangiomas. Therefore, we investigated the effect of propranolol on SARS-CoV-2 infection and the expression of ANGPTL4. SARS-CoV-2 upregulated ANGPTL4 in endothelial and other cells, which could be suppressed with R-propranolol. The compound also inhibited the replication of SARS-CoV-2 in Vero-E6 cells and reduced the viral load by up to ~2 logs in various cell lines and primary human airway epithelial cultures. R-propranolol was as effective as S-propranolol but lacks the latter's undesired β-blocker activity. R-propranolol also inhibited SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. It inhibited a post-entry step of the replication cycle, likely via host factors. The broad-spectrum antiviral effect and suppression of factors involved in pathogenic angiogenesis make R-propranolol an interesting molecule to further explore for the treatment of coronavirus infections.
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Steinbach EC, Smeekens JM, Roy S, Toyonaga T, Cornaby C, Perini L, Berglind A, Kulis MD, Kim EH, Ferris MT, Furey TS, Burks AW, Sheikh SZ. Intestinal epithelial cell barrier dysfunction and elevated Angiopoietin-like 4 identified in orally susceptible peanut allergy model. Clin Exp Allergy 2023; 53:210-215. [PMID: 36336910 PMCID: PMC9976618 DOI: 10.1111/cea.14248] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2022] [Revised: 09/20/2022] [Accepted: 09/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Erin C. Steinbach
- Division of Rheumatology, Allergy, and Immunology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Johanna M. Smeekens
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Satyaki Roy
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Takahiko Toyonaga
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Caleb Cornaby
- Department of Pathology and Lab Medicine, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Layna Perini
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Ana Berglind
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Michael D. Kulis
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Edwin H. Kim
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Martin T. Ferris
- Department of Genetics, Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Terrence S. Furey
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - A. Wesley Burks
- Division of Allergy and Immunology, Department of Pediatrics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Shehzad Z. Sheikh
- Center for Gastrointestinal Biology and Disease, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Genetics, Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Department of Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
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Gordon ER, Wright CA, James M, Cooper SJ. Transcriptomic and functional analysis of ANGPTL4 overexpression in pancreatic cancer nominates targets that reverse chemoresistance. Res Sq 2023:rs.3.rs-2444404. [PMID: 36747689 PMCID: PMC9900996 DOI: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-2444404/v1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Background Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is one of the deadliest cancers based on five-year survival rates. Genes contributing to chemoresistance represent novel therapeutic targets that can improve treatment response. Increased expression of ANGPTL4 in tumors correlates with poor outcomes in pancreatic cancer. Methods We used statistical analysis of publicly available gene expression data (TCGA-PAAD) to test whether expression of ANGPTL4 and its downstream targets, ITGB 4 and APOL1 , were correlated with patient survival. We measured the impact of ANGPTL4 overexpression in a common pancreatic cancer cell line, MIA PaCa-2 cells, using CRISPRa for overexpression and DsiRNA for knockdown. We characterized global gene expression changes associated with high levels of ANGPTL4 and response to gemcitabine treatment using RNA-sequencing. Gemcitabine dose response curves were calculated on modified cell lines by measuring cell viability with CellTiter-Glo (Promega). Impacts on cell migration were measured using a time course scratch assay. Results We show that ANGPTL4 overexpression leads to in vitro resistance to gemcitabine and reduced survival times in patients. Overexpression of ANGPTL4 induces transcriptional signatures of tumor invasion and metastasis, proliferation and differentiation, and inhibition of apoptosis. Analyses revealed an overlapping signature of genes associated with both ANGPTL4 activation and gemcitabine response. Increased expression of the genes in this signature in patient PDAC tissues was significantly associated with shorter patient survival. We identified 42 genes that were both co-regulated with ANGPTL4 and were responsive to gemcitabine treatment. ITGB4 and APOL1 were among these genes. Knockdown of either of these genes in cell lines overexpressing ANGPTL4 reversed the observed gemcitabine resistance and inhibited cellular migration associated with epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and ANGPTL4 overexpression. Conclusions These data suggest that ANGPTL4 promotes EMT and regulates the genes APOL1 and ITGB4 . Importantly, we show that inhibition of both targets reverses chemoresistance and decreases migratory potential. Our findings have revealed a novel pathway regulating tumor response to treatment and suggest relevant therapeutic targets in pancreatic cancer.
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Schumacher A, Denecke B, Braunschweig T, Stahlschmidt J, Ziegler S, Brandenburg LO, Stope MB, Martincuks A, Vogt M, Görtz D, Camporeale A, Poli V, Müller-Newen G, Brümmendorf TH, Ziegler P. Angptl4 is upregulated under inflammatory conditions in the bone marrow of mice, expands myeloid progenitors, and accelerates reconstitution of platelets after myelosuppressive therapy. J Hematol Oncol 2015; 8:64. [PMID: 26054961 PMCID: PMC4460974 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-015-0152-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2014] [Accepted: 05/07/2015] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Upon inflammation, myeloid cell generation in the bone marrow (BM) is broadly enhanced by the action of induced cytokines which are produced locally and at multiple sites throughout the body. METHODS Using microarray studies, we found that Angptl4 is upregulated in the BM during systemic inflammation. RESULTS Recombinant murine Angptl4 (rmAngptl4) stimulated the proliferation of myeloid colony-forming units (CFUs) in vitro. Upon repeated in vivo injections, rmAngptl4 increased BM progenitor cell frequency and this was paralleled by a relative increase in phenotypically defined granulocyte-macrophage progenitors (GMPs). Furthermore, in vivo treatment with rmAngptl4 resulted in elevated platelet counts in steady-state mice while allowing a significant acceleration of reconstitution of platelets after myelosuppressive therapy. The administration of rmAngptl4 increased the number of CD61(+)CD41(low)-expressing megakaryocytes (MK) in the BM of steady-state and in the spleen of transplanted mice. Furthermore, rmAngptl4 improved the in vitro differentiation of immature MKs from hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells. Mechanistically, using a signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) reporter knockin model, we show that rmAngptl4 induces de novo STAT3 expression in immature MK which could be important for the effective expansion of MKs after myelosuppressive therapy. CONCLUSION Whereas the definitive role of Angptl4 in mediating the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the BM has to be demonstrated by further studies involving multiple cytokine knockouts, our data suggest that Angptl4 plays a critical role during hematopoietic, especially megakaryopoietic, reconstitution following stem cell transplantation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Schumacher
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Bernd Denecke
- Interdisciplinary Center for Clinical Research IZKF Aachen, RWTH Aachen University Hospital, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Till Braunschweig
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Jasmin Stahlschmidt
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Susanne Ziegler
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Lars-Ove Brandenburg
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, RWTH Aachen University, Wendlingweg 2, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Matthias B Stope
- Department of Urology, University Medicine Greifswald, Greifswald, Germany.
| | - Antons Martincuks
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Michael Vogt
- Institute for Laboratory Animal Science, University Hospital, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Dieter Görtz
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Annalisa Camporeale
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy.
| | - Valeria Poli
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, Molecular Biotechnology Center, University of Turin, 10126, Turin, Italy.
| | - Gerhard Müller-Newen
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Tim H Brümmendorf
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
| | - Patrick Ziegler
- Department of Oncology, Hematology and Stem Cell Transplantation, University Hospital Aachen, RWTH Aachen University, Pauwelsstrasse 30, 52074, Aachen, Germany.
- Institute for Occupational and Social Medicine, Aachen University, Aachen, Germany.
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Ferguson BW, Gao X, Zelazowski MJ, Lee J, Jeter CR, Abba MC, Aldaz CM. The cancer gene WWOX behaves as an inhibitor of SMAD3 transcriptional activity via direct binding. BMC Cancer 2013; 13:593. [PMID: 24330518 PMCID: PMC3871008 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2407-13-593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2013] [Accepted: 12/06/2013] [Indexed: 01/14/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The WW domain containing protein WWOX has been postulated to behave as a tumor suppressor in breast and other cancers. Expression of this protein is lost in over 70% of ER negative tumors. This prompted us to investigate the phenotypic and gene expression effects of loss of WWOX expression in breast cells. METHODS Gene expression microarrays and standard in vitro assays were performed on stably silenced WWOX (shRNA) normal breast cells. Bioinformatic analyses were used to identify gene networks and transcriptional regulators affected by WWOX silencing. Co-immunoprecipitations and GST-pulldowns were used to demonstrate a direct interaction between WWOX and SMAD3. Reporter assays, ChIP, confocal microscopy and in silico analyses were employed to determine the effect of WWOX silencing on TGFβ-signaling. RESULTS WWOX silencing affected cell proliferation, motility, attachment and deregulated expression of genes involved in cell cycle, motility and DNA damage. Interestingly, we detected an enrichment of targets activated by the SMAD3 transcription factor, including significant upregulation of ANGPTL4, FST, PTHLH and SERPINE1 transcripts. Importantly, we demonstrate that the WWOX protein physically interacts with SMAD3 via WW domain 1. Furthermore, WWOX expression dramatically decreases SMAD3 occupancy at the ANGPTL4 and SERPINE1 promoters and significantly quenches activation of a TGFβ responsive reporter. Additionally, WWOX expression leads to redistribution of SMAD3 from the nuclear to the cytoplasmic compartment. Since the TGFβ target ANGPTL4 plays a key role in lung metastasis development, we performed a meta-analysis of ANGPTL4 expression relative to WWOX in microarray datasets from breast carcinomas. We observed a significant inverse correlation between WWOX and ANGPTL4. Furthermore, the WWOX(lo)/ANGPTL4(hi) cluster of breast tumors is enriched in triple-negative and basal-like sub-types. Tumors with this gene expression signature could represent candidates for anti-TGFβ targeted therapies. CONCLUSIONS We show for the first time that WWOX modulates SMAD3 signaling in breast cells via direct WW-domain mediated binding and potential cytoplasmic sequestration of SMAD3 protein. Since loss of WWOX expression increases with breast cancer progression and it behaves as an inhibitor of SMAD3 transcriptional activity these observations may help explain, at least in part, the paradoxical pro-tumorigenic effects of TGFβ signaling in advanced breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Brent W Ferguson
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX 78957, USA
| | - Xinsheng Gao
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX 78957, USA
| | - Maciej J Zelazowski
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX 78957, USA
| | - Jaeho Lee
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX 78957, USA
| | - Collene R Jeter
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX 78957, USA
| | - Martin C Abba
- CINIBA, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional de La Plata, La Plata, Argentina
| | - C Marcelo Aldaz
- Department of Molecular Carcinogenesis, Science Park, The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Smithville, TX 78957, USA
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