WWOX hypomorphic mice display a higher incidence of B-cell lymphomas and develop testicular atrophy

WWOX: its genomics, partners, and functions

The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) spans one of the most active common fragile sites (CFSs) involved in cancer, FRA16D. WWOX encodes a 46-kDa protein that contains two N-terminal WW domains and a central short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase (SDR) domain. Through its WW domain, Wwox interacts with its partners and modulates their functions. Our data indicate that Wwox suppresses the transactivation function of several transcription factors implied in neoplasia by sequestering them in the cytoplasm. Work from our laboratory and other research groups have demonstrated that Wwox participates in a number of cellular processes including growth, differentiation, apoptosis, and tumor suppression. Targeted deletion of the Wwox gene in mice causes increased spontaneous and chemically induced tumor incidence supporting bona fide tumor suppressor function of WWOX. Moreover, generation of the Wwox-deficient mice uncovers, at least in part, some of the physiological in vivo functions of the WWOX gene. This review focuses on recent progress that elucidates Wwox functions in biology and pathology.

Generation and characterization of mice carrying a conditional allele of the Wwox tumor suppressor gene

WWOX, the gene that spans the second most common human chromosomal fragile site, FRA16D, is inactivated in multiple human cancers and behaves as a suppressor of tumor growth. Since we are interested in understanding WWOX function in both normal and cancer tissues we generated mice harboring a conditional Wwox allele by flanking Exon 1 of the Wwox gene with LoxP sites. Wwox knockout (KO) mice were developed by breeding with transgenic mice carrying the Cre-recombinase gene under the control of the adenovirus EIIA promoter. We found that Wwox KO mice suffered from severe metabolic defect(s) resulting in growth retardation and all mice died by 3 wk of age. All Wwox KO mice displayed significant hypocapnia suggesting a state of metabolic acidosis. This finding and the known high expression of Wwox in kidney tubules suggest a role for Wwox in acid/base balance. Importantly, Wwox KO mice displayed histopathological and hematological signs of impaired hematopoeisis, leukopenia, and splenic atrophy. Impaired hematopoeisis can also be a contributing factor to metabolic acidosis and death. Hypoglycemia and hypocalcemia was also observed affecting the KO mice. In addition, bone metabolic defects were evident in Wwox KO mice. Bones were smaller and thinner having reduced bone volume as a consequence of a defect in mineralization. No evidence of spontaneous neoplasia was observed in Wwox KO mice. We have generated a new mouse model to inactivate the Wwox tumor suppressor gene conditionally. This will greatly facilitate the functional analysis of Wwox in adult mice and will allow investigating neoplastic transformation in specific target tissues.

Genome wide DNA-profiling of HIV-related B-cell lymphomas

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) represent a frequent complication of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. To elucidate HIV-NHL pathogenesis, we performed a genome-wide DNA profiling based on a single nucleotide polymorphism-based microarray comparative genomic hybridization in 57 HIV-lymphomas and, for comparison, in 105 immunocompetent diffuse large B-cell lymphomas (IC-DLBCL). Genomic complexity varied across HIV-NHL subtypes. HIV-Burkitt lymphoma showed a significantly lower number of lesions than HIV-DLBCL (P = 0.032), whereas the median number of copy number changes was significantly higher in Epstein-Barr virus negative (EBV-) HIV-DLBCL (42.5, range 8-153) compared to EBV+ cases (22; range 3-41; P = 0.029). Compared to IC-DLBCL, HIV-DLBCL displayed a distinct genomic profile with no gains of 18q and specific genetic lesions. Fragile sites-associated genes, including FHIT (FRA3B), WWOX (FRA16D), DCC (FRA18B) and PARK2 (FRA6E) were frequently inactivated in HIV-NHL by interstitial deletions, and a significantly higher prevalence of FHIT alterations was observed in HIV-DLBCL compared to IC-DLBCL. The same genes involved by fragile site deletions were also frequently affected by aberrant methylation of regulative regions.

Inhibition of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway by the WWOX tumor suppressor protein

The WWOX gene encodes a candidate tumor suppressor protein (WWOX) implicated in a variety of human diseases such as cancer. To better understand the molecular mechanisms of WWOX action, we investigated novel partners of this protein. Using the two-hybrid system and a coimmunoprecipitation assay, we observed a physical association between WWOX and the Dishevelled protein (Dvl) family signaling elements involved in the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. We found that enforced WWOX expression inhibited, and inhibition of endogenous WWOX expression stimulated the transcriptional activity of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. Inhibition of endogenous WWOX expression also enhanced the effect of Wnt-3a on beta-catenin stability. Moreover, we observed the sequestration of Dvl-2 wild type and Dvl-2NESm, a mutated form of Dvl-2 predominantly localized in the nucleus, in the cytoplasm compartment by WWOX. Our results indicate that WWOX is a novel inhibitor of the Wnt/beta-catenin pathway. WWOX would act, at least in part, by preventing the nuclear import of the Dvl proteins.

WWOX gene expression abolishes ovarian cancer tumorigenicity in vivo and decreases attachment to fibronectin via integrin alpha3

The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene is located at FRA16D, a common fragile site involved in human cancer. Targeted deletion of Wwox in mice causes increased spontaneous tumor incidence, confirming that WWOX is a bona fide tumor suppressor gene. We show that stable transfection of WWOX into human PEO1 ovarian cancer cells, containing homozygous WWOX deletion, abolishes in vivo tumorigenicity, but this does not correlate with alteration of in vitro growth. Rather, WWOX restoration in PEO1, or WWOX overexpression in SKOV3 ovarian cancer cells, results in reduced attachment and migration on fibronectin, an extracellular matrix component linked to peritoneal metastasis. Conversely, siRNA-mediated knockdown of endogenous WWOX in A2780 ovarian cancer cells increases adhesion to fibronectin. In addition, whereas there is no WWOX-dependent difference in cell death in adherent cells, WWOX-transfected cells in suspension culture display a proapoptotic phenotype. We further show that WWOX expression reduces membranous integrin alpha(3) protein but not integrin alpha(3) mRNA levels, and that adhesion of PEO1 cells to fibronectin is predominantly mediated through integrin alpha(3). We therefore propose that WWOX acts as an ovarian tumor suppressor by modulating the interaction between tumor cells and the extracellular matrix and by inducing apoptosis in detached cells. Consistent with this, the suppression of PEO1 tumorigenicity by WWOX can be partially overcome by implanting these tumor cells in Matrigel. These data suggest a possible role for the loss of WWOX in the peritoneal dissemination of human ovarian cancer cells.

Transforming growth factor beta1 signaling via interaction with cell surface Hyal-2 and recruitment of WWOX/WOX1

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) initiates multiple signal pathways and activates many downstream kinases. Here, we determined that TGF-beta1 bound cell surface hyaluronidase Hyal-2 on microvilli in type II TGF-beta receptor-deficient HCT116 cells, as determined by immunoelectron microscopy. This binding resulted in recruitment of proapoptotic WOX1 (also named WWOX or FOR) and formation of Hyal-2.WOX1 complexes for relocation to the nuclei. TGF-beta1 strengthened the binding of the catalytic domain of Hyal-2 with the N-terminal Tyr-33-phosphorylated WW domain of WOX1, as determined by time lapse fluorescence resonance energy transfer analysis in live cells, co-immunoprecipitation, and yeast two-hybrid domain/domain mapping. In promoter activation assay, ectopic WOX1 or Hyal-2 alone increased the promoter activity driven by Smad. In combination, WOX1 and Hyal-2 dramatically enhanced the promoter activation (8-9-fold increases), which subsequently led to cell death (>95% of promoter-activated cells). TGF-beta1 supports L929 fibroblast growth. In contrast, transiently overexpressed WOX1 and Hyal-2 sensitized L929 to TGF-beta1-induced apoptosis. Together, TGF-beta1 invokes a novel signaling by engaging cell surface Hyal-2 and recruiting WOX1 for regulating the activation of Smad-driven promoter, thereby controlling cell growth and death.

Targeted ablation of the WW domain-containing oxidoreductase tumor suppressor leads to impaired steroidogenesis

The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene encodes a 46-kDa tumor suppressor. The Wwox protein contains two N-terminal WW domains that interact with several transcriptional activators containing proline-tyrosine motifs and a central short-chain dehydrogenase/reductase domain that has been suggested to play a role in steroid metabolism. Recently, we have shown that targeted deletion of the Wwox gene in mice leads to postnatal lethality and defects in bone growth. Here, we report that Wwox-deficient mice display impaired steroidogenesis. Mutant homozygous mice are born with gonadal abnormalities, including failure of Leydig cell development in testis and reduced theca cell proliferation in ovary. Furthermore, Wwox(-/-) mice displayed impaired gene expression of key steroidogenesis enzymes. Affymetrix microarray gene analysis revealed differentially expressed related genes in steroidogenesis in knockout mice testis and ovary as compared with control mice. These results demonstrate the essential requirement for the Wwox tumor suppressor in proper steroidogenesis.

The WWOX tumor suppressor is essential for postnatal survival and normal bone metabolism

The WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (WWOX) gene encodes a tumor suppressor. We have previously shown that targeted ablation of the Wwox gene in mouse increases the incidence of spontaneous and chemically induced tumors. To investigate WWOX function in vivo, we examined Wwox-deficient (Wwox(-/-)) mice for phenotypical abnormalities. Wwox(-/-) mice are significantly reduced in size, die at the age of 2-3 weeks, and suffer a metabolic disorder that affects the skeleton. Wwox(-/-) mice exhibit a delay in bone formation from a cell autonomous defect in differentiation beginning at the mineralization stage shown in calvarial osteoblasts ex vivo and supported by significantly decreased bone formation parameters in Wwox(-/-) mice by microcomputed tomography analyses. Wwox(-/-) mice develop metabolic bone disease, as a consequence of reduced serum calcium, hypoproteinuria, and hypoglycemia leading to increased osteoclast activity and bone resorption. Interestingly, we find WWOX physically associates with RUNX2, the principal transcriptional regulator of osteoblast differentiation, and on osteocalcin chromatin. We show WWOX functionally suppresses RUNX2 transactivation ability in osteoblasts. In breast cancer MDA-MB-242 cells that lack endogenous WWOX protein, restoration of WWOX expression inhibited Runx2 and RUNX2 target genes related to metastasis. Affymetrix mRNA profiling revealed common gene targets in multiple tissues. In Wwox(-/-) mice, genes related to nucleosome assembly and cell growth genes were down-regulated, and negative regulators of skeletal metabolism exhibited increased expression. Our results demonstrate an essential requirement for the WWOX tumor suppressor in postnatal survival, growth, and metabolism and suggest a central role for WWOX in regulation of bone tissue formation.

MPP+-induced neuronal death in rats involves tyrosine 33 phosphorylation of WW domain-containing oxidoreductase WOX1

WW domain-containing oxidoreductase (named WWOX, FOR or WOX1) is a pro-apoptotic protein and tumor suppressor. Animals treated with dopaminergic neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium (MPP+) develop Parkinson's disease (PD)-like symptoms. Here we investigated whether WOX1 is involved in MPP+-induced neurodegeneration. Upon insult with MPP+ in rat brains, WOX1 protein was upregulated and phosphorylated at Tyr33 (or activated) in the injured neurons in the striatum and cortex ipsilaterally to intoxication, as determined by immunohistochemistry and Western blotting. Also, WOX1 was present in the condensed nuclei and damaged mitochondria of degenerative neurons, as revealed by transmission immunoelectron microscopy. Time-lapse microscopy revealed that MPP+ induced membrane blebbing and shrinkage of neuroblastoma SK-N-SH cells. Dominant-negative WOX1, a potent inhibitor of Tyr33 phosphorylation, abolished this event, indicating a critical role of the phosphorylation in apoptosis. c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK1) is known to bind and counteract the apoptotic function of WOX1. Suppression of JNK1 function by a dominant-negative spontaneously induced WOX1 activation. WOX1 physically interacted with JNK1 in SK-N-SH cells and rat brain extracts. MPP+ rapidly increased the binding, followed by dissociation, which is probably needed for WOX1 to exert apoptosis. We synthesized a short Tyr33-phosphorylated WOX1 peptide (11 amino acid residues). Interestingly, this peptide blocked MPP+-induced neuronal death in the rat brains, whereas non-phospho-WOX1 peptide had no effect. Together, activated WOX1 plays an essential role in the MPP+-induced neuronal death. Our synthetic phospho-WOX1 peptide prevents neuronal death, suggestive of its therapeutic potential in mitigating the symptoms of PD.