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Liao C, Hu L, Zhang Q. Von Hippel-Lindau protein signalling in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Nat Rev Urol 2024:10.1038/s41585-024-00876-w. [PMID: 38698165 DOI: 10.1038/s41585-024-00876-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024]
Abstract
The distinct pathological and molecular features of kidney cancer in adaptation to oxygen homeostasis render this malignancy an attractive model for investigating hypoxia signalling and potentially developing potent targeted therapies. Hypoxia signalling has a pivotal role in kidney cancer, particularly within the most prevalent subtype, known as renal cell carcinoma (RCC). Hypoxia promotes various crucial pathological processes, such as hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) activation, angiogenesis, proliferation, metabolic reprogramming and drug resistance, all of which contribute to kidney cancer development, growth or metastasis formation. A substantial portion of kidney cancers, in particular clear cell RCC (ccRCC), are characterized by a loss of function of Von Hippel-Lindau tumour suppressor (VHL), leading to the accumulation of HIF proteins, especially HIF2α, a crucial driver of ccRCC. Thus, therapeutic strategies targeting pVHL-HIF signalling have been explored in ccRCC, culminating in the successful development of HIF2α-specific antagonists such as belzutifan (PT2977), an FDA-approved drug to treat VHL-associated diseases including advanced-stage ccRCC. An increased understanding of hypoxia signalling in kidney cancer came from the discovery of novel VHL protein (pVHL) targets, and mechanisms of synthetic lethality with VHL mutations. These breakthroughs can pave the way for the development of innovative and potent combination therapies in kidney cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chengheng Liao
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Lianxin Hu
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
- Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX, 75390, USA.
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2
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Verma D, Kapoor S, Kumari S, Sharma D, Singh J, Benjamin M, Bakhshi S, Seth R, Nayak B, Sharma A, Pramanik R, Palanichamy JK, Sivasubbu S, Scaria V, Arora M, Kumar R, Chopra A. Decoding the genetic symphony: Profiling protein-coding and long noncoding RNA expression in T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia for clinical insights. PNAS NEXUS 2024; 3:pgae011. [PMID: 38328782 PMCID: PMC10847906 DOI: 10.1093/pnasnexus/pgae011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2023] [Accepted: 12/26/2023] [Indexed: 02/09/2024]
Abstract
T-acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is a heterogeneous malignancy characterized by the abnormal proliferation of immature T-cell precursors. Despite advances in immunophenotypic classification, understanding the molecular landscape and its impact on patient prognosis remains challenging. In this study, we conducted comprehensive RNA sequencing in a cohort of 35 patients with T-ALL to unravel the intricate transcriptomic profile. Subsequently, we validated the prognostic relevance of 23 targets, encompassing (i) protein-coding genes-BAALC, HHEX, MEF2C, FAT1, LYL1, LMO2, LYN, and TAL1; (ii) epigenetic modifiers-DOT1L, EP300, EML4, RAG1, EZH2, and KDM6A; and (iii) long noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs)-XIST, PCAT18, PCAT14, LINC00202, LINC00461, LINC00648, ST20, MEF2C-AS1, and MALAT1 in an independent cohort of 99 patients with T-ALL. Principal component analysis revealed distinct clusters aligning with immunophenotypic subtypes, providing insights into the molecular heterogeneity of T-ALL. The identified signature genes exhibited associations with clinicopathologic features. Survival analysis uncovered several independent predictors of patient outcomes. Higher expression of MEF2C, BAALC, HHEX, and LYL1 genes emerged as robust indicators of poor overall survival (OS), event-free survival (EFS), and relapse-free survival (RFS). Higher LMO2 expression was correlated with adverse EFS and RFS outcomes. Intriguingly, increased expression of lncRNA ST20 coupled with RAG1 demonstrated a favorable prognostic impact on OS, EFS, and RFS. Conclusively, several hitherto unreported associations of gene expression patterns with clinicopathologic features and prognosis were identified, which may help understand T-ALL's molecular pathogenesis and provide prognostic markers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Deepak Verma
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Shruti Kapoor
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi-110025, India
| | - Sarita Kumari
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Disha Sharma
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi-110025, India
| | - Jay Singh
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Mercilena Benjamin
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Sameer Bakhshi
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Rachna Seth
- Department of Pediatrics, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Baibaswata Nayak
- Department of Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Science, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Atul Sharma
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Raja Pramanik
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | | | - Sridhar Sivasubbu
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi-110025, India
| | - Vinod Scaria
- CSIR-Institute of Genomics and Integrative Biology, New Delhi-110025, India
| | - Mohit Arora
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Rajive Kumar
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
| | - Anita Chopra
- Laboratory Oncology, Dr BRAIRCH, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi-110029, India
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3
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Chen Y, Wu Y, Li J, Chen K, Wang W, Ye Z, Feng K, Yang Y, Xu Y, Kang J, Guo X. Cooperative regulation of Zhx1 and hnRNPA1 drives the cardiac progenitor-specific transcriptional activation during cardiomyocyte differentiation. Cell Death Discov 2023; 9:244. [PMID: 37452012 PMCID: PMC10349095 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-023-01548-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/27/2023] [Revised: 06/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/05/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The zinc finger proteins (ZNFs) mediated transcriptional regulation is critical for cell fate transition. However, it is still unclear how the ZNFs realize their specific regulatory roles in the stage-specific determination of cardiomyocyte differentiation. Here, we reported that the zinc fingers and homeoboxes 1 (Zhx1) protein, transiently expressed during the cell fate transition from mesoderm to cardiac progenitors, was indispensable for the proper cardiomyocyte differentiation of mouse and human embryonic stem cells. Moreover, Zhx1 majorly promoted the specification of cardiac progenitors via interacting with hnRNPA1 and co-activated the transcription of a wide range of genes. In-depth mechanistic studies showed that Zhx1 was bound with hnRNPA1 by the amino acid residues (Thr111-His120) of the second Znf domain, thus participating in the formation of cardiac progenitors. Together, our study highlights the unrevealed interaction of Zhx1/hnRNPA1 for activating gene transcription during cardiac progenitor specification and also provides new evidence for the specificity of cell fate determination in cardiomyocyte differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yang Chen
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yukang Wu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jianguo Li
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Kai Chen
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Wuchan Wang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Zihui Ye
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Ke Feng
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yiwei Yang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Yanxin Xu
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China
| | - Jiuhong Kang
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
| | - Xudong Guo
- Clinical and Translational Research Center of Shanghai First Maternity and Infant Hospital, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Maternal Fetal Medicine, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Signaling and Disease Research, Frontier Science Center for Stem Cell Research, National Stem Cell Translational Resource Center, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
- Institute for Advanced Study, Tongji University, Shanghai, 200092, China.
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4
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Li Z, Mu W, Xiao M. Genetic lesions and targeted therapy in Hodgkin lymphoma. Ther Adv Hematol 2023; 14:20406207221149245. [PMID: 36654739 PMCID: PMC9841868 DOI: 10.1177/20406207221149245] [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: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 12/16/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Hodgkin lymphoma is a special type of lymphoma in which tumor cells frequently undergo multiple genetic lesions that are associated with accompanying pathway abnormalities. These pathway abnormalities are dominated by active signaling pathways, such as the JAK-STAT (Janus kinase-signal transducer and activator of transcription) pathway and the NFκB (nuclear factor kappa-B) pathway, which usually result in hyperactive survival signaling. Targeted therapies often play an important role in hematologic malignancies, such as CAR-T therapy (chimeric antigen receptor T-cell immunotherapy) targeting CD19 and CD22 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma, while in Hodgkin lymphoma, the main targets of targeted therapies are CD30 molecules and PD1 molecules. Drugs targeting other molecules are also under investigation. This review summarizes the actionable genetic lesions, current treatment options, clinical trials for Hodgkin lymphoma and the potential value of those genetic lesions in clinical applications.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhe Li
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Wei Mu
- Department of Hematology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, China
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Jiang J, Turpin C, Qiu G(S, Xu M, Lee E, Hinds TD, Peterson ML, Spear BT. Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 is required for diethylnitrosamine-induced liver tumor formation in C57BL/6 mice. Hepatol Commun 2022; 6:3550-3562. [PMID: 36194180 PMCID: PMC9701486 DOI: 10.1002/hep4.2106] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2022] [Revised: 08/31/2022] [Accepted: 09/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer, comprised primarily of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), is the third leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide and increasing in Western countries. We previously identified the transcription factor zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (Zhx2) as a regulator of hepatic gene expression, and many Zhx2 target genes are dysregulated in HCC. Here, we investigate HCC in Zhx2-deficient mice using the diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-induced liver tumor model. Our study using whole-body Zhx2 knockout (Zhx2KO ) mice revealed the complete absence of liver tumors 9 and 10 months after DEN exposure. Analysis soon after DEN treatment showed no differences in expression of the DEN bioactivating enzyme cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and DNA polymerase delta 2, or in the numbers of phosphorylated histone variant H2AX foci between Zhx2KO and wild-type (Zhx2wt ) mice. The absence of Zhx2, therefore, did not alter DEN bioactivation or DNA damage. Zhx2KO livers showed fewer positive foci for Ki67 staining and reduced interleukin-6 and AKT serine/threonine kinase 2 expression compared with Zhx2wt livers, suggesting that Zhx2 loss reduces liver cell proliferation and may account for reduced tumor formation. Tumors were reduced but not absent in DEN-treated liver-specific Zhx2 knockout mice, suggesting that Zhx2 acts in both hepatocytes and nonparenchymal cells to inhibit tumor formation. Analysis of data from the Cancer Genome Atlas and Clinical Proteomic Tumor Consortium indicated that ZHX2 messenger RNA and protein levels were significantly higher in patients with HCC and associated with clinical pathological parameters. Conclusion: In contrast to previous studies in human hepatoma cell lines and other HCC mouse models showing that Zhx2 acts as a tumor suppressor, our data indicate that Zhx2 acts as an oncogene in the DEN-induced HCC model and is consistent with the higher ZHX2 expression in patients with HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jieyun Jiang
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
| | - Courtney Turpin
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional SciencesUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
| | - Guofang (Shirley) Qiu
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
| | - Mei Xu
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional SciencesUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
| | - Eun Lee
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory MedicineUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
| | - Terry D. Hinds
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional SciencesUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
- Barnstable Brown Diabetes CenterUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
- Markey Cancer CenterUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
| | - Martha L. Peterson
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
- Markey Cancer CenterUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
| | - Brett T. Spear
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular GeneticsUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
- Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional SciencesUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
- Markey Cancer CenterUniversity of Kentucky College of MedicineLexingtonKentuckyUSA
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6
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Abstract
As a transcriptional factor and the negative regulator of alpha fetal protein (AFP), Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) has a well-established role in protection against hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, recent studies have suggested ZHX2 as an oncogene in clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) and triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Moreover, mounting evidence has illustrated a much broader role of ZHX2 in multiple cellular processes, including cell proliferation, cell differentiation, lipid metabolism, and immunoregulation. This comprehensive review emphasizes the role of ZHX2 in health and diseases which have been more recently uncovered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Zhuanchang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Dept. Immunology, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Cheeloo Medical College, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, Shandong University, Jinan, Shandong, China
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7
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Bao Y, Zhang H, Han Z, Guo Y, Yang W. Zinc Fingers and Homeobox Family in Cancer: A Double-Edged Sword. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231911167. [PMID: 36232466 PMCID: PMC9570228 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231911167] [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: 08/08/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 09/19/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The zinc fingers and homeobox (ZHX) family includes ZHX1, ZHX2, and ZHX3, and their proteins have similar unique structures, containing two C2H2-type zinc finger motifs and four or five HOX-like homeodomains. The members of the ZHX family can form homodimers or heterodimers with each other or with a subunit of nuclear factor Y. Previous studies have suggested that ZHXs can function as positive or negative transcriptional regulators. Recent studies have further revealed their biological functions and underlying mechanisms in cancers. This review summarized the advances of ZHX-mediated functions, including tumor-suppressive and oncogenic functions in cancer formation and progression, the molecular mechanisms, and regulatory functions, such as cancer cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and metastasis. Moreover, the differential expression levels and their association with good or poor outcomes in patients with various malignancies and differential responses to chemotherapy exert opposite functions of oncogene or tumor suppressors. Therefore, the ZHXs act as a double-edged sword in cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yonghua Bao
- Department of Pathology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China
| | - Haifeng Zhang
- Department of Pathology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China
| | - Zhixue Han
- Department of Pathology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China
| | - Yongchen Guo
- Department of Immunology, Mudanjiang Medical University, Mudanjiang 157011, China
- Correspondence: (Y.G.); (W.Y.)
| | - Wancai Yang
- Comprehensive Cancer Center, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH 43210, USA
- Correspondence: (Y.G.); (W.Y.)
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8
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Zhao Y, Gao L, Jiang C, Chen J, Qin Z, Zhong F, Yan Y, Tong R, Zhou M, Yuan A, Pu J. The transcription factor zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 alleviates NASH by transcriptional activation of phosphatase and tensin homolog. Hepatology 2022; 75:939-954. [PMID: 34545586 DOI: 10.1002/hep.32165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2021] [Revised: 06/25/2021] [Accepted: 08/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS NASH, which is a common clinical condition predisposing to advanced liver diseases, has become a worldwide epidemic. A large and growing unmet therapeutic need for this condition reflects incomplete understanding of its pathogenesis. In the current study, we identified a transcription factor, zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2), in hepatocytes as a protective factor against steatohepatitis. APPROACH AND RESULTS We found that hepatic ZHX2 was significantly suppressed in NASH models and steatotic hepatic cells. Hepatocyte-specific ablation of ZHX2 exacerbated NASH-related phenotypes in mice, including lipid accumulation, enhanced inflammation, and hepatic fibrosis. Conversely, hepatocyte-specific overexpression of ZHX2 significantly alleviated the progression of NASH in an experimental setting. Integrated analysis of transcriptomic profiling and chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing data demonstrated that the phosphatase and tensin homolog (PTEN) was a target gene of ZHX2 in hepatocyte. ZHX2 bound to the promoter of PTEN gene and subsequently promoted the transcription of PTEN, which mediated the beneficial role of ZHX2 against NASH. CONCLUSIONS The current findings demonstrate a protective role of ZHX2 against NASH progression by transcriptionally activating PTEN. These findings shed light on the therapeutic potential of targeting ZHX2 for treating NASH and related metabolic disorders.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yichao Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related GenesDivision of CardiologyRenji HospitalSchool of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
| | - Lingchen Gao
- State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related GenesDivision of CardiologyRenji HospitalSchool of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
| | - Chenglin Jiang
- Graduate School of Bengbu Medical CollegeBengbuAnhuiChina
| | - Jianqing Chen
- Graduate School of Bengbu Medical CollegeBengbuAnhuiChina
| | - Zihan Qin
- State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related GenesDivision of CardiologyRenji HospitalSchool of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
| | - Fangyuan Zhong
- State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related GenesDivision of CardiologyRenji HospitalSchool of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
| | - Yang Yan
- State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related GenesDivision of CardiologyRenji HospitalSchool of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
| | - Renyang Tong
- State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related GenesDivision of CardiologyRenji HospitalSchool of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
| | - Meng Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related GenesDivision of CardiologyRenji HospitalSchool of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
| | - Ancai Yuan
- State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related GenesDivision of CardiologyRenji HospitalSchool of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
| | - Jun Pu
- State Key Laboratory for Oncogenes and Related GenesDivision of CardiologyRenji HospitalSchool of MedicineShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghai Cancer InstituteShanghaiChina
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Fang W, Liao C, Shi R, Simon JM, Ptacek TS, Zurlo G, Ye Y, Han L, Fan C, Bao L, Ortiz CL, Lin HR, Manocha U, Luo W, Peng Y, Kim WY, Yang LW, Zhang Q. ZHX2 promotes HIF1α oncogenic signaling in triple-negative breast cancer. eLife 2021; 10:e70412. [PMID: 34779768 PMCID: PMC8673836 DOI: 10.7554/elife.70412] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/14/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive and highly lethal disease, which warrants the critical need to identify new therapeutic targets. We show that Zinc Fingers and Homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) is amplified or overexpressed in TNBC cell lines and patients. Functionally, depletion of ZHX2 inhibited TNBC cell growth and invasion in vitro, orthotopic tumor growth, and spontaneous lung metastasis in vivo. Mechanistically, ZHX2 bound with hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) family members and positively regulated HIF1α activity in TNBC. Integrated ChIP-seq and gene expression profiling demonstrated that ZHX2 co-occupied with HIF1α on transcriptionally active promoters marked by H3K4me3 and H3K27ac, thereby promoting gene expression. Among the identified ZHX2 and HIF1α coregulated genes, overexpression of AP2B1, COX20, KDM3A, or PTGES3L could partially rescue TNBC cell growth defect by ZHX2 depletion, suggested that these downstream targets contribute to the oncogenic role of ZHX2 in an accumulative fashion. Furthermore, multiple residues (R491, R581, and R674) on ZHX2 are important in regulating its phenotype, which correspond with their roles on controlling ZHX2 transcriptional activity in TNBC cells. These studies establish that ZHX2 activates oncogenic HIF1α signaling, therefore serving as a potential therapeutic target for TNBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wentong Fang
- Department of Pharmacy, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical UniversityNanjingChina
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel hillUnited States
| | - Chengheng Liao
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Rachel Shi
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Jeremy M Simon
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel hillUnited States
- Department of Genetics, Neuroscience Center; University of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel HillUnited States
| | - Travis S Ptacek
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel hillUnited States
- UNC Neuroscience Center, Carolina Institute for Developmental Disabilities, University of North CarolinaChapel HillUnited States
| | - Giada Zurlo
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Youqiong Ye
- Shanghai Institute of Immunology, Faculty of Basic Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Leng Han
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, The University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston McGovern Medical SchoolHoustonUnited States
| | - Cheng Fan
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel hillUnited States
| | - Lei Bao
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Christopher Llynard Ortiz
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchuTaiwan
- Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Institute of ChemistryAcademia SinicaTaiwan
- Department of Chemistry, National Tsing-Hua UniversityHsinchuTaiwan
| | - Hong-Rui Lin
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchuTaiwan
| | - Ujjawal Manocha
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel hillUnited States
| | - Weibo Luo
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - Yan Peng
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
- Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
| | - William Y Kim
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of MedicineChapel hillUnited States
| | - Lee-Wei Yang
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Structural Biology, National Tsing Hua UniversityHsinchuTaiwan
- Chemical Biology and Molecular Biophysics Program, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Institute of ChemistryAcademia SinicaTaiwan
- Physics Division, National Center for Theoretical SciencesHsinchuTaiwan
| | - Qing Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical CenterDallasUnited States
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Liu C, Huang M, Han C, Li H, Wang J, Huang Y, Chen Y, Zhu J, Fu G, Yu H, Lei Z, Chu X. A narrative review of the roles of muscle segment homeobox transcription factor family in cancer. ANNALS OF TRANSLATIONAL MEDICINE 2021; 9:810. [PMID: 34268423 PMCID: PMC8246185 DOI: 10.21037/atm-21-220] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Accepted: 03/05/2021] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Deregulation of many homeobox genes has been observed in various cancers and has caused functional implications in the tumor progression. In this review, we will focus on the roles of the human muscle segment homeobox (MSX) transcription factor family in the process of tumorigenesis. The MSX transcription factors, through complex downstream regulation mechanisms, are promoters or inhibitors of diverse cancers by participating in cell proliferation, cell invasion, cell metastasis, cell apoptosis, cell differentiation, drug resistance of tumors, maintenance of tumor stemness, and tumor angiogenesis. Moreover, their upstream regulatory mechanisms in cancers may include: gene mutation and chromosome aberration; DNA methylation and chromatin modification; regulation by non-coding RNAs; regulation by other transcription factors and post-translational modification. These mechanisms may provide a better understanding of why MSX transcription factors are abnormally expressed in tumors. Notably, intermolecular interactions and post-translational modification can regulate the transcriptional activity of MSX transcription factors. It is also crucial to know what affects the transcriptional activity of MSX transcription factors in tumors for possible interventions in them in the future. This systematic summary of the regulatory patterns of the MSX transcription factor family may help to further understand the mechanisms involved in transcriptional regulation and also provide new therapeutic approaches for tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chao Liu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Mengxi Huang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Chao Han
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Huiyu Li
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jing Wang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yadi Huang
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, First School of Clinical Medicine, Southern Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yanyan Chen
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Jialong Zhu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Gongbo Fu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Hanqing Yu
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, Children's Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Zengjie Lei
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China.,Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Medical School of Nanjing University, Nanjing University, Nanjing, China
| | - Xiaoyuan Chu
- Department of Medical Oncology, Jinling Hospital, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
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NKL-Code in Normal and Aberrant Hematopoiesis. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13081961. [PMID: 33921702 PMCID: PMC8073162 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13081961] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2021] [Revised: 04/13/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Gene codes represent expression patterns of closely related genes in particular tissues, organs or body parts. The NKL-code describes the activity of NKL homeobox genes in the hematopoietic system. NKL homeobox genes encode transcription factors controlling basic developmental processes. Therefore, aberrations of this code may contribute to deregulated hematopoiesis including leukemia and lymphoma. Normal and abnormal activities of NKL homeobox genes are described and mechanisms of (de)regulation, function, and diseases exemplified. Abstract We have recently described physiological expression patterns of NKL homeobox genes in early hematopoiesis and in subsequent lymphopoiesis and myelopoiesis, including terminally differentiated blood cells. We thereby systematized differential expression patterns of eleven such genes which form the so-called NKL-code. Due to the developmental impact of NKL homeobox genes, these data suggest a key role for their activity in normal hematopoietic differentiation processes. On the other hand, the aberrant overexpression of NKL-code-members or the ectopical activation of non-code members have been frequently reported in lymphoid and myeloid leukemia/lymphoma, revealing the oncogenic potential of these genes in the hematopoietic compartment. Here, I provide an overview of the NKL-code in normal hematopoiesis and instance mechanisms of deregulation and oncogenic functions of selected NKL genes in hematologic cancers. As well as published clinical studies, our conclusions are based on experimental work using hematopoietic cell lines which represent useful models to characterize the role of NKL homeobox genes in specific tumor types.
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12
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Chen Y, Zhu L, Xue S, Shi J, He C, Zhang Q. Novel VHL substrate targets SFMBT1 and ZHX2 may be important prognostic predictors in patients with ccRCC. Oncol Lett 2021; 21:379. [PMID: 33777203 PMCID: PMC7988700 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/23/2020] [Accepted: 02/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Renal cell carcinoma is one of the most malignant cancers, with limited prognostic prediction system. The present study aimed to determine the prognostic value of novel von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) substrate targets in predicting the outcome of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). A total of 97 patients with ccRCC were enrolled in the present study, and the tissue microarray that was constructed using 97 ccRCC samples was used for immunohistochemical analysis. Univariate and multivariate Cox regression analyses were performed to determine the independent prognostic factors. Reverse transcription-quantitative PCR analysis demonstrated that the mRNA expression levels of scm-like with four malignant brain tumor domains (SFMBT1) and zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) were upregulated in cancer tissues compared with adjacent normal tissues. Among the 97 patients with ccRCC, SFMBT1 expression was upregulated in 61.9% (60/97), while ZHX2 expression was upregulated in 52.6% (51/97). Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) analyses indicated that SFMBT1 or ZHX2 alone were of limited predictive value; however, the combined expression of these two targets (high SFMBT1 and high ZHX2 expression, SHZH group) was significantly associated with OS (P=0.0350) and DFS (P=0.0434). In addition, multivariate analysis identified SHZH as an independent prognostic factor in patients with ccRCC. Taken together, these results suggest that SFMBT1 and ZHX2 act as novel substrate targets of VHL and, to the best of our knowledge, the present study was the first to provide insight on the co-expression of these two targets in representing a promising biomarker to predict the outcome of patients with ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yufeng Chen
- Department of Urology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200333, P.R. China
| | - Liangsong Zhu
- Department of Urology, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai 200030, P.R. China
| | - Song Xue
- Department of Urology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200333, P.R. China
| | - Jian Shi
- Department of Urology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200333, P.R. China
| | - Chunfeng He
- Department of Urology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200333, P.R. China
| | - Qingchuan Zhang
- Department of Urology, Putuo Hospital, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai 200333, P.R. China
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13
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Maciel NIG, Filiú-Braga LDC, Neves FAR, Rego EM, Lucena-Araujo AR, Saldanha-Araujo F. Low expression of ZHX1 and ZHX2 impacts on the prognosis of chronic lymphocytic leukemia. Biomark Res 2021; 9:10. [PMID: 33541423 PMCID: PMC7863484 DOI: 10.1186/s40364-021-00263-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/27/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Experimental evidence points to the role of Zinc fingers and homeoboxes protein 1 and 2 (ZHX1 and ZHX2) in the development and progression of several types of cancer, including hematological malignancies. Here, we determined whether the altered expression of ZHX1 and ZHX2 has clinical implications in patients with CLL. Interestingly, CLL patients with low expression ZHX1 and ZHX2 presented higher WBC counts. Importantly, our data showed that CLL patients with cytogenetic alterations presented reduced transcriptional levels of ZHX1 and ZHX2 in comparison with patients with normal karyotype. Moreover, when stratifying CLL patients according to the karyotype prognosis value, we observed that the expression of ZHX1 and ZHX2 was significantly reduced in CLL patients presenting adverse karyotypes. Finally, we stratified patients according to the number of chromosomal aberrations and observed a negative association between ZHX1 and ZHX2 expression and the accumulation of chromosomal abnormalities in CLL patients. Our data showed that the low expression of ZHX1 and ZHX2 is associated with a worse prognosis in CLL, followed by a greater number of leukemic cells and unfavorable cytogenetics findings in the diagnosis. Further studies will be important to confirm the prognostic value of ZHX1 and ZHX2 in independent CLL cohorts.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natália Ioseph Gladistone Maciel
- Laboratório de Hematologia e Células-Tronco, Universidade de Brasília, Av. L2 Norte, Brasília, DF, 70.910-900, Brazil.,Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Av. L2 Norte, Brasília, DF, 70.910-900, Brazil
| | | | - Francisco Assis Rocha Neves
- Laboratório de Farmacologia Molecular, Universidade de Brasília, Av. L2 Norte, Brasília, DF, 70.910-900, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Magalhaes Rego
- Laboratório de Hematologia, Universidade de São Paulo, Av. Bandeirantes 3900, Ribeirão Preto, SP, 14.048-900, Brazil
| | - Antonio Roberto Lucena-Araujo
- Laboratório de Hematologia, Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego, Recife, PE, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Felipe Saldanha-Araujo
- Laboratório de Hematologia e Células-Tronco, Universidade de Brasília, Av. L2 Norte, Brasília, DF, 70.910-900, Brazil.
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14
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Nagel S, Pommerenke C, MacLeod RAF, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, Drexler HG. The NKL-code for innate lymphoid cells reveals deregulated expression of NKL homeobox genes HHEX and HLX in anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL). Oncotarget 2020; 11:3208-3226. [PMID: 32922661 PMCID: PMC7456612 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.27683] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
NKL homeobox genes encode developmental transcription factors and display an NKL-code according to their physiological expression pattern in hematopoiesis. Here, we analyzed public transcriptome data from primary innate lymphoid cells (ILCs) for NKL homeobox gene activities and found that ILC3 expressed exclusively HHEX while in ILC1 and ILC2 these genes were silenced. Deregulation of the NKL-code promotes hematopoietic malignancies, including anaplastic large cell lymphoma (ALCL) which reportedly may derive from ILC3. Accordingly, we analyzed NKL homeobox gene activities in ALCL cell lines and investigated their role in this malignancy. Transcriptome analyses demonstrated low expression levels of HHEX but powerfully activated HLX. Forced expression of HHEX in ALCL cell lines induced genes involved in apoptosis and ILC3 differentiation, indicating tumor suppressor activity. ALCL associated NPM1-ALK and JAK-STAT3-signalling drove enhanced expression of HLX while discounting HHEX. Genomic profiling revealed copy number gains at the loci of HLX and STAT3 in addition to genes encoding both STAT3 regulators (AURKA, BCL3, JAK3, KPNB1, NAMPT, NFAT5, PIM3, ROCK1, SIX1, TPX2, WWOX) and targets (BATF3, IRF4, miR135b, miR21, RORC). Transcriptome data of ALCL cell lines showed absence of STAT3 mutations while MGA was mutated and downregulated, encoding a novel potential STAT3 repressor. Furthermore, enhanced IL17F-signalling activated HLX while TGFbeta-signalling inhibited HHEX expression. Taken together, our data extend the scope of the NKL-code for ILCs and spotlight aberrant expression of NKL homeobox gene HLX in ALCL. HLX represents a direct target of ALCL hallmark factor STAT3 and deregulates cell survival and differentiation in this malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz Institute, DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Claudia Pommerenke
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz Institute, DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Roderick A F MacLeod
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz Institute, DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Corinna Meyer
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz Institute, DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maren Kaufmann
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz Institute, DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Hans G Drexler
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz Institute, DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
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15
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ZHX2 drives cell growth and migration via activating MEK/ERK signal and induces Sunitinib resistance by regulating the autophagy in clear cell Renal Cell Carcinoma. Cell Death Dis 2020; 11:337. [PMID: 32382017 PMCID: PMC7206010 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-020-2541-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2020] [Revised: 04/09/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) was found as a novel VHL substrate target, and acted as an oncogenic driver in ccRCC. However, the detailed mechanism of ZHX2 in ccRCC development remains elusive, and no research has focused on studying ZHX2 in drug resistance yet. A tissue microarray with 358 ccRCC samples was used to determine the expression of ZHX2 in ccRCC patients. VHL-deficient cell line 786-O and VHL-normal cell line CAKI-1 was used for lineage reprogramming by transfecting with lentivirus. The in vitro and in vivo experiments were performed with these new cell lines to determine the mechanism of ZHX2 in ccRCC development and drug resistance. Immunohistochemistry analysis showed that ZHX2 was not highly expressed in ccRCC tumor tissues, only 33.2% (119/358) patients have high ZHX2 expression. However, high ZHX2 was significantly associated with advanced Fuhrman grade (p = 0.004), and proved to be an independent prognosis factor for progression-free survival (p = 0.0003), while there is no significant correlation with overall survival. We further discovered that ZHX2 overexpression could increase VEGF secretion and transcriptional activate the MEK/ERK1/2 and promote its downstream targets. We also found ZHX2 overexpression induce Sunitinib resistance though activating autophagy and the combination treatment of Sunitinib and Chloroquine could significantly rescue the phenomenon. In summary, these results indicate that ZHX2 drivers cell growth, migration though increase VEGF expression, and transcriptional activate MEK/ERK1/2 signaling pathway, and could induce Sunitinib resistance by regulating self-protective autophagy, these may provide new insight in advanced ccRCC treatment.
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16
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Deregulated NKL Homeobox Genes in B-Cell Lymphoma. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11121874. [PMID: 31779217 PMCID: PMC6966443 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 11/22/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, we have described physiological expression patterns of NKL homeobox genes in early hematopoiesis and in subsequent lymphopoiesis. We identified nine genes which constitute the so-called NKL-code. Aberrant overexpression of code-members or ectopically activated non-code NKL homeobox genes are described in T-cell leukemia and in T- and B-cell lymphoma, highlighting their oncogenic role in lymphoid malignancies. Here, we introduce the NKL-code in normal hematopoiesis and focus on deregulated NKL homeobox genes in B-cell lymphoma, including HLX, MSX1 and NKX2-2 in Hodgkin lymphoma; HLX, NKX2-1 and NKX6-3 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma; and NKX2-3 in splenic marginal zone lymphoma. Thus, the roles of various members of the NKL homeobox gene subclass are considered in normal and pathological hematopoiesis in detail.
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17
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Strowitzki MJ, Cummins EP, Taylor CT. Protein Hydroxylation by Hypoxia-Inducible Factor (HIF) Hydroxylases: Unique or Ubiquitous? Cells 2019; 8:cells8050384. [PMID: 31035491 PMCID: PMC6562979 DOI: 10.3390/cells8050384] [Citation(s) in RCA: 130] [Impact Index Per Article: 26.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2019] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 04/24/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
All metazoans that utilize molecular oxygen (O2) for metabolic purposes have the capacity to adapt to hypoxia, the condition that arises when O2 demand exceeds supply. This is mediated through activation of the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) pathway. At physiological oxygen levels (normoxia), HIF-prolyl hydroxylases (PHDs) hydroxylate proline residues on HIF-α subunits leading to their destabilization by promoting ubiquitination by the von-Hippel Lindau (VHL) ubiquitin ligase and subsequent proteasomal degradation. HIF-α transactivation is also repressed in an O2-dependent way due to asparaginyl hydroxylation by the factor-inhibiting HIF (FIH). In hypoxia, the O2-dependent hydroxylation of HIF-α subunits by PHDs and FIH is reduced, resulting in HIF-α accumulation, dimerization with HIF-β and migration into the nucleus to induce an adaptive transcriptional response. Although HIFs are the canonical substrates for PHD- and FIH-mediated protein hydroxylation, increasing evidence indicates that these hydroxylases may also have alternative targets. In addition to PHD-conferred alterations in protein stability, there is now evidence that hydroxylation can affect protein activity and protein/protein interactions for alternative substrates. PHDs can be pharmacologically inhibited by a new class of drugs termed prolyl hydroxylase inhibitors which have recently been approved for the treatment of anemia associated with chronic kidney disease. The identification of alternative targets of HIF hydroxylases is important in order to fully elucidate the pharmacology of hydroxylase inhibitors (PHI). Despite significant technical advances, screening, detection and verification of alternative functional targets for PHDs and FIH remain challenging. In this review, we discuss recently proposed non-HIF targets for PHDs and FIH and provide an overview of the techniques used to identify these.
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Affiliation(s)
- Moritz J Strowitzki
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Eoin P Cummins
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
| | - Cormac T Taylor
- UCD Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
- School of Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
- Systems Biology Ireland, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland.
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18
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Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitor Imatinib Mesylate Alters DMBA-Induced Early Onco/Suppressor Gene Expression with Tissue-Specificity in Mice. BIOMED RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 2019:8670398. [PMID: 30882001 PMCID: PMC6383434 DOI: 10.1155/2019/8670398] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2018] [Revised: 12/28/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Tyrosine kinases play crucial roles in cellular development and tumorigenesis. Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) are effective and widely used drug molecules in targeted cancer therapies. Altered expressions of protooncogenes and tumor suppressor genes after DMBA (7,12-dimethylbenz[a]anthracene) treatment have been described as early markers of tumor induction; however their tissue-specific effects remain still unclear. Our study was aimed at examining the short-term possible antineoplastic and chemopreventive effects of a TKI compound (imatinib mesylate) on a DMBA-induced mouse tumor model. In addition, we also investigated the tissue-specific expressions of Hras, Kras, Myc, and Trp53 genes in the brain, bone marrow, spleen, liver, abdominal lymph nodes, thymus, lungs, and kidneys, respectively. 24 hours after the imatinib mesylate injection, we observed significant Kras downregulation in the bone marrow and lung of the DMBA-treated mice. Moreover, the mRNA expression of Myc was also found to be decreased significantly in the spleen. Interestingly, while Trp53 expression was significantly increased in the lung, it was decreased in the other tissues. However, there was also a tendency in the decreased Myc level in the bone marrow, brain, kidneys, lungs, and lymph nodes and in the decreased Hras level in the bone marrow, kidneys, and lungs, although no significant differences were observed. Our findings indicate rapid tissue-specific impact of imatinib mesylate on DMBA-induced gene expression in vivo, supporting the chemopreventive potential of imatinib mesylate in cancer.
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NKL homeobox gene NKX2-2 is aberrantly expressed in Hodgkin lymphoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:37480-37496. [PMID: 30680064 PMCID: PMC6331023 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.26459] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
NKL homeobox genes encode basic transcriptional regulators of cell and tissue differentiation. Recently, we described a hematopoietic NKL-code comprising nine specific NKL homeobox genes expressed in normal hematopoietic stem cells, lymphoid progenitors and during lymphopoiesis, highlighting their physiological role in the development of T-, B- and NK-cells. Here, we identified aberrant expression of the non-hematopoietic neural NKL homeobox gene NKX2-2 in about 12% of both, classical Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) and nodular lymphocyte predominant (NLP) HL patients. The NKX2-2 expressing NLPHL-derived cell line DEV served as a model by analysing chromosomal configurations and expression profiling data to reveal activating mechanisms and downstream targets of this developmental regulator. While excluding chromosomal rearrangements at the locus of NKX2-2 we identified t(3;14)(p21;q32) resulting in overexpression of the IL17 receptor gene IL17RB via juxtaposition with the IGH-locus. SiRNA-mediated knockdown experiments demonstrated that IL17RB activated NKX2-2 transcription. Overexpression of IL17RB-cofactor DAZAP2 via chromosomal gain of 12q13 and deletion of its proteasomal inhibitor SMURF2 at 17q24 supported expression of NKX2-2. IL17RB activated transcription factors FLI1 and FOXG1 which in turn mediated NKX2-2 expression. In addition, overexpressed chromatin-modulator AUTS2 contributed to NKX2-2 activation as well. Downstream analyses indicated that NKX2-2 inhibits transcription of lymphoid NKL homeobox gene MSX1 and activates expression of basic helix-loop-helix factor NEUROD1 which may disturb B-cell differentiation processes via reported interaction with TCF3/E2A. Taken together, our data reveal ectopic activation of a neural gene network in HL placing NKX2-2 at its hub, highlighting a novel oncogenic impact of NKL homeobox genes in B-cell malignancies.
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20
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Song X, Tan S, Wu Z, Xu L, Wang Z, Xu Y, Wang T, Gao C, Gong Y, Liang X, Gao L, Spear BT, Ma C. HBV suppresses ZHX2 expression to promote proliferation of HCC through miR-155 activation. Int J Cancer 2018; 143:3120-3130. [PMID: 29752719 DOI: 10.1002/ijc.31595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 38] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2018] [Revised: 03/29/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Initiation of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) by chronic hepatitis B virus (HBV) infection is a complex process that includes both oncogene activation and tumor suppressor inhibition. The HBV X (HBx) protein has an important and complex role in processes leading to HCC. We previously identified the mammalian Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) gene as an HCC-associated tumor suppressor gene. In the present study, we investigated whether the oncogenic properties of HBV and, more specifically, HBx, involved ZHX2 silencing. Our data indicates that ZHX2 expression is significantly decreased in tumor tissues from HBV-positive HCC patients and livers from HBV transgenic mice. In vitro and in vivo studies confirmed that HBV-encoded proteins, particularly HBx, inhibits both the expression and tumor suppression properties of ZHX2. Further analyses identified miR-155, a well-known oncomiR in various cancers, as an important link between HBx and ZHX2 inhibition. Increased miR-155 levels were found in HBV-positive tumors, livers of HBV transgenic mice and HBx-overexpressing hepatoma cell lines. MiR-155 overexpression reduced ZHX2 levels via miR-155 seed sites in the ZHX2 3'UTR, whereas blocking miR-155 levels led to increased ZHX2 levels. Taken together, our data indicate that HCC-promoting properties of HBV may include ZHX2 silencing via a miR-155 dependent pathway and suggests a novel therapy for HBV-related HCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaojia Song
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Siyu Tan
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhuanchang Wu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Leiqi Xu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Zehua Wang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Yong Xu
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Tixiao Wang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Chengjiang Gao
- Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
| | - Yaoqin Gong
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Genetics, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaohong Liang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Lifen Gao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China
| | - Brett T Spear
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, Lexington, KY.,Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Basic Medical Science, Jinan, Shandong, 250012, People's Republic of China.,Key Laboratory of Infection and Immunity of Shandong Province, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Shandong University, Jinan, People's Republic of China
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21
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Zhang J, Wu T, Simon J, Takada M, Saito R, Fan C, Liu XD, Jonasch E, Xie L, Chen X, Yao X, Teh BT, Tan P, Zheng X, Li M, Lawrence C, Fan J, Geng J, Liu X, Hu L, Wang J, Liao C, Hong K, Zurlo G, Parker JS, Auman JT, Perou CM, Rathmell WK, Kim WY, Kirschner MW, Kaelin WG, Baldwin AS, Zhang Q. VHL substrate transcription factor ZHX2 as an oncogenic driver in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Science 2018; 361:290-295. [PMID: 30026228 DOI: 10.1126/science.aap8411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 121] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2017] [Accepted: 06/06/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ubiquitin ligase protein is a hallmark of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Identifying how pathways affected by VHL loss contribute to ccRCC remains challenging. We used a genome-wide in vitro expression strategy to identify proteins that bind VHL when hydroxylated. Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) was found as a VHL target, and its hydroxylation allowed VHL to regulate its protein stability. Tumor cells from ccRCC patients with VHL loss-of-function mutations usually had increased abundance and nuclear localization of ZHX2. Functionally, depletion of ZHX2 inhibited VHL-deficient ccRCC cell growth in vitro and in vivo. Mechanistically, integrated chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing and microarray analysis showed that ZHX2 promoted nuclear factor κB activation. These studies reveal ZHX2 as a potential therapeutic target for ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jing Zhang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Tao Wu
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - Jeremy Simon
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Genetics, Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mamoru Takada
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Ryoichi Saito
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Cheng Fan
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xian-De Liu
- Departments of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Eric Jonasch
- Departments of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ling Xie
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xian Chen
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Xiaosai Yao
- Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore.,Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore 138673, Singapore
| | - Bin Tean Teh
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology, Singapore 138673, Singapore.,Laboratory of Cancer Epigenome, Department of Medical Sciences, National Cancer Centre, Singapore 169610, Singapore.,Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Patrick Tan
- Cancer Therapeutics and Stratified Oncology, Genome Institute of Singapore, Singapore 138672, Singapore.,Cancer and Stem Cell Biology Program, Duke-NUS Medical School, Singapore 169857, Singapore
| | - Xingnan Zheng
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Mingjie Li
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Cortney Lawrence
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jie Fan
- Department of Pathology, Huashan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - Jiang Geng
- Department of Urology, Shanghai Tenth People's Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
| | - Xijuan Liu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Lianxin Hu
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Jun Wang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Chengheng Liao
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Kai Hong
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Giada Zurlo
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Joel S Parker
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - J Todd Auman
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Charles M Perou
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - W Kimryn Rathmell
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN 37232, USA
| | - William Y Kim
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Marc W Kirschner
- Department of Systems Biology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA
| | - William G Kaelin
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Albert S Baldwin
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
| | - Qing Zhang
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA. .,Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA.,Department of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA
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22
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Erbilgin A, Seldin MM, Wu X, Mehrabian M, Zhou Z, Qi H, Dabirian KS, Sevag Packard RR, Hsieh W, Bensinger SJ, Sinha S, Lusis AJ. Transcription Factor Zhx2 Deficiency Reduces Atherosclerosis and Promotes Macrophage Apoptosis in Mice. Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol 2018; 38:2016-2027. [PMID: 30026271 PMCID: PMC6202168 DOI: 10.1161/atvbaha.118.311266] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2017] [Accepted: 06/25/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Objective- The objective of this study was to determine the basis of resistance to atherosclerosis of inbred mouse strain BALB/cJ. Approach and Results- BALB/cJ mice carry a naturally occurring null mutation of the gene encoding the transcription factor Zhx2, and genetic analyses suggested that this may confer resistance to atherosclerosis. On a hyperlipidemic low-density lipoprotein receptor null background, BALB/cJ mice carrying the mutant allele for Zhx2 exhibited up to a 10-fold reduction in lesion size as compared with an isogenic strain carrying the wild-type allele. Several lines of evidence, including bone marrow transplantation studies, indicate that this effect of Zhx2 is mediated, in part, by monocytes/macrophages although nonbone marrow-derived pathways are clearly involved as well. Both in culture and in atherosclerotic lesions, macrophages from Zhx2 null mice exhibited substantially increased apoptosis. Zhx2 null macrophages were also enriched for M2 markers. Effects of Zhx2 on proliferation and other bone marrow-derived cells, such as lymphocytes, were at most modest. Expression microarray analyses identified >1000 differentially expressed transcripts between Zhx2 wild-type and null macrophages. To identify the global targets of Zhx2, we performed ChIP-seq (chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing) studies with the macrophage cell line RAW264.7. The ChIP-seq peaks overlapped significantly with gene expression and together suggested roles for transcriptional repression and apoptosis. Conclusions- A mutation of Zhx2 carried in BALB/cJ mice is responsible in large part for its relative resistance to atherosclerosis. Our results indicate that Zhx2 promotes macrophage survival and proinflammatory functions in atherosclerotic lesions, thereby contributing to lesion growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ayca Erbilgin
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Marcus M. Seldin
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Xiuju Wu
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Margarete Mehrabian
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Zhiqiang Zhou
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Hongxiu Qi
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Keeyon S. Dabirian
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - René R. Sevag Packard
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Wei Hsieh
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Steven J. Bensinger
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Satyesh Sinha
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Charles R. Drew University of Medicine and Science, Los Angeles, CA 90059, USA
| | - Aldons J. Lusis
- Department of Medicine, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Molecular Genetics, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
- Department of Human Genetics, David Geffen School of Medicine, University of California, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
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23
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle J Sanchez
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160, USA.,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160, USA
| | - M Celeste Simon
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160, USA. .,Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA 19104-6160, USA
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24
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Nagel S, Pommerenke C, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, MacLeod RA, Drexler HG. Aberrant expression of NKL homeobox gene HLX in Hodgkin lymphoma. Oncotarget 2018; 9:14338-14353. [PMID: 29581848 PMCID: PMC5865674 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.24512] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
NKL homeobox genes are basic regulators of cell and tissue differentiation, many acting as oncogenes in T-cell leukemia. Recently, we described an hematopoietic NKL-code comprising six particular NKL homeobox genes expressed in hematopoietic stem cells and lymphoid progenitors, unmasking their physiological roles in the development of these cell types. Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) is a B-cell malignancy showing aberrant activity of several developmental genes resulting in disturbed B-cell differentiation. To examine potential concordances in abnormal lymphoid differentiation of T- and B-cell malignancies we analyzed the expression of the hematopoietic NKL-code associated genes in HL, comprising HHEX, HLX, MSX1, NKX2-3, NKX3-1 and NKX6-3. Our approach revealed aberrant HLX activity in 8 % of classical HL patients and additionally in HL cell line L-540. Accordingly, to identify upstream regulators and downstream target genes of HLX we used L-540 cells as a model and performed chromosome and genome analyses, comparative expression profiling and functional assays via knockdown and overexpression experiments therein. These investigations excluded chromosomal rearrangements of the HLX locus at 1q41 and demonstrated that STAT3 operated directly as transcriptional activator of the HLX gene. Moreover, subcellular analyses showed highly enriched STAT3 protein in the nucleus of L-540 cells which underwent cytoplasmic translocation by repressing deacetylation. Finally, HLX inhibited transcription of B-cell differentiation factors MSX1, BCL11A and SPIB and of pro-apoptotic factor BCL2L11/BIM, thereby suppressing Etoposide-induced cell death. Collectively, we propose that aberrantly expressed NKL homeobox gene HLX is part of a pathological gene network in HL, driving deregulated B-cell differentiation and survival.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Claudia Pommerenke
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Corinna Meyer
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maren Kaufmann
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Roderick A.F. MacLeod
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Hans G. Drexler
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
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25
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Elian FA, Yan E, Walter MA. FOXC1, the new player in the cancer sandbox. Oncotarget 2018; 9:8165-8178. [PMID: 29487724 PMCID: PMC5814291 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.22742] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/21/2017] [Accepted: 10/28/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In recent years, rapidly accumulating evidence implicates forkhead box C1 (FOXC1) in cancer, especially in studies of basal-like breast cancer (BLBC). Other studies have followed suit, demonstrating that FOXC1 is not only a major player in this breast cancer subtype, but also in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), endometrial cancer, Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). The FOXC1 gene encodes a transcription factor that is crucial to mesodermal, neural crest, and ocular development, and mutations found in FOXC1 have been found to cause dominantly inherited Axenfeld-Rieger Syndrome (ARS). Interestingly, while FOXC1 missense mutations that are associated with ARS usually reduce gene activity, increased FOXC1 function now appears to be often linked to more aggressive cancer phenotypes in BLBC, HCC, HL, and NHL. This review discusses not only the role of FOXC1 in cancer cell progression, proliferation, differentiation, and metastasis, but also the underlying mechanisms of how FOXC1 can contribute to aggressive cancer phenotypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fahed A. Elian
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Elizabeth Yan
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
| | - Michael A. Walter
- Department of Medical Genetics, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
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26
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The Transcriptional Network Structure of a Myeloid Cell: A Computational Approach. Int J Genomics 2017; 2017:4858173. [PMID: 29119102 PMCID: PMC5651161 DOI: 10.1155/2017/4858173] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2017] [Revised: 07/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Understanding the general principles underlying genetic regulation in eukaryotes is an incomplete and challenging endeavor. The lack of experimental information regarding the regulation of the whole set of transcription factors and their targets in different cell types is one of the main reasons to this incompleteness. So far, there is a small set of curated known interactions between transcription factors and their downstream genes. Here, we built a transcription factor network for human monocytic THP-1 myeloid cells based on the experimentally curated FANTOM4 database where nodes are genes and the experimental interactions correspond to links. We present the topological parameters which define the network as well as some global structural features and introduce a relative inuence parameter to quantify the relevance of a transcription factor in the context of induction of a phenotype. Genes like ZHX2, ADNP, or SMAD6 seem to be highly regulated to avoid an avalanche transcription event. We compare these results with those of RegulonDB, a highly curated transcriptional network for the prokaryotic organism E. coli, finding similarities between general hallmarks on both transcriptional programs. We believe that an approach, such as the one shown here, could help to understand the one regulation of transcription in eukaryotic cells.
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27
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Nagel S, Pommerenke C, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, MacLeod RAF, Drexler HG. NKL homeobox gene MSX1 acts like a tumor suppressor in NK-cell leukemia. Oncotarget 2017; 8:66815-66832. [PMID: 28977998 PMCID: PMC5620138 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.18609] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Accepted: 05/29/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
NKL homeobox gene MSX1 is physiologically expressed in lymphoid progenitors and subsequently downregulated in developing T- and B-cells. In contrast, elevated expression levels of MSX1 persist in mature natural killer (NK)-cells, indicating a functional role in this compartment. While T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) subsets exhibit aberrant overexpression of MSX1, we show here that in malignant NK-cells the level of MSX1 transcripts is aberrantly downregulated. Chromosomal deletions at 4p16 hosting the MSX1 locus have been described in NK-cell leukemia patients. However, NK-cell lines analyzed here showed normal MSX1 gene configurations, indicating that this aberration might be uncommon. To identify alternative MSX1 regulatory mechanisms we compared expression profiling data of primary normal NK-cells and malignant NK-cell lines. This procedure revealed several deregulated genes including overexpressed IRF4, MIR155HG and MIR17HG and downregulated AUTS2, EP300, GATA3 and HHEX. As shown recently, chromatin-modulator AUTS2 is overexpressed in T-ALL subsets where it mediates aberrant transcriptional activation of MSX1. Here, our data demonstrate that in malignant NK-cell lines AUTS2 performed MSX1 activation as well, but in accordance with downregulated MSX1 transcription therein we detected reduced AUTS2 expression, a small genomic deletion at 7q11 removing exons 3 and 4, and truncating mutations in exon 1. Moreover, genomic profiling and chromosomal analyses of NK-cell lines demonstrated amplification of IRF4 at 6p25 and deletion of PRDM1 at 6q21, highlighting their potential oncogenic impact. Functional analyses performed via knockdown or forced expression of these genes revealed regulatory network disturbances effecting downregulation of MSX1 which may underlie malignant development in NK-cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Claudia Pommerenke
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Corinna Meyer
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maren Kaufmann
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Roderick A F MacLeod
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Hans G Drexler
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ, Braunschweig, Germany
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28
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Nagel S, Pommerenke C, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, MacLeod RAF, Drexler HG. Identification of a tumor suppressor network in T-cell leukemia. Leuk Lymphoma 2017; 58:2196–2207. [PMID: 28142295 DOI: 10.1080/10428194.2017.1283029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
To identify novel cancer-related genes targeted by copy number alterations, we performed genomic profiling of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cell lines. In 3/8, we identified a shared deletion at chromosomal position 2p16.3-p21. Within the minimally deleted region, we recognized several candidate tumor suppressor (TS) genes, including FBXO11 and FOXN2. An additional deletion at chromosome 14q23.2-q32.11 included FOXN3, highlighting this class of FOX genes as potential TS. Quantitative expression analyses of FBXO11, FOXN2, and FOXN3 confirmed reduced transcript levels in the identified cell lines. Moreover, reduced expression of these genes was also observed in about 7% of T-ALL patients, showing their clinical relevance in this malignancy. Bioinformatic analyses revealed concurrent reduction of FOXN2 and/or FOXN3 together with homeobox gene ZHX1. Consistently, experiments demonstrated that both FOXN2 and FOXN3 directly activated transcription of ZHX1. Taken together, we identified novel TS genes forming a regulatory network in T-cell development and leukemogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- a Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines , Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures , Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Claudia Pommerenke
- a Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines , Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures , Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Corinna Meyer
- a Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines , Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures , Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Maren Kaufmann
- a Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines , Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures , Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Roderick A F MacLeod
- a Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines , Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures , Braunschweig , Germany
| | - Hans G Drexler
- a Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines , Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures , Braunschweig , Germany
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29
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Nagel S, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, Drexler HG, MacLeod RAF. Aberrant expression of homeobox gene SIX1 in Hodgkin lymphoma. Oncotarget 2016; 6:40112-26. [PMID: 26473286 PMCID: PMC4741883 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.5556] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2015] [Accepted: 09/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
In Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) we recently identified deregulated expression of homeobox genes MSX1 and OTX2 which are physiologically involved in development of the embryonal neural plate border region. Here, we examined in HL homeobox gene SIX1 an additional regulator of this embryonal region mediating differentiation of placodal precursors. SIX1 was aberrantly activated in 12 % of HL patient samples in silico, indicating a pathological role in a subset of this B-cell malignancy. In addition, SIX1 expression was detected in HL cell lines which were used as models to reveal upstream factors and target genes of this basic developmental regulator. We detected increased copy numbers of the SIX1 locus at chromosome 14q23 correlating with enhanced expression while chromosomal translocations were absent. Moreover, comparative expression profiling data and pertinent gene modulation experiments indicated that the WNT-signalling pathway and transcription factor MEF2C regulate SIX1 expression. Genes encoding the transcription factors GATA2, GATA3, MSX1 and SPIB – all basic lymphoid regulators - were identified as targets of SIX1 in HL. In addition, cofactors EYA1 and TLE4, respectively, contrastingly mediated activation and suppression of SIX1 target gene expression. Thus, the protein domain interfaces may represent therapeutic targets in SIX1-positive HL subsets. Collectively, our data reveal a gene regulatory network with SIX1 centrally deregulating lymphoid differentiation and support concordance of lymphopoiesis/lymphomagenesis and developmental processes in the neural plate border region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Corinna Meyer
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Maren Kaufmann
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Hans G Drexler
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Roderick A F MacLeod
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
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30
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Ma X, Huang M, Wang Z, Liu B, Zhu Z, Li C. ZHX1 Inhibits Gastric Cancer Cell Growth through Inducing Cell-Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis. J Cancer 2016; 7:60-8. [PMID: 26722361 PMCID: PMC4679382 DOI: 10.7150/jca.12973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2015] [Accepted: 09/21/2015] [Indexed: 01/27/2023] Open
Abstract
Zinc-fingers and homeoboxes 1 (ZHX1) was implicated in the carcinogenesis of human cancers. However, little is known about the role of ZHX1 in gastric cancer (GC). Here, we found that ZHX1 was downregulated in GC tissues compared with paired non-tumor tissues and loss of ZHX1 expression correlated with aggressive clinical characteristics of GC patients. ZHX1 induced G1/S arrest by decreasing cyclin D1 and cyclin E expression, and induced cell apoptosis by Bcl2 downregulation and Bax and cleaved Caspase-3 upregulation. Our findings revealed that ZHX1 could inhibit cell growth through inducing cell-cycle arrest and apoptosis in GC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingjie Ma
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Minlu Huang
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Zhenqiang Wang
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Bingya Liu
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Zhenggang Zhu
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
| | - Chen Li
- Department of Surgery, Shanghai Key Laboratory of Gastric Neoplasms, Shanghai Institute of Digestive Surgery, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200025, China
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Ma H, Yue X, Gao L, Liang X, Yan W, Zhang Z, Shan H, Zhang H, Spear BT, Ma C. ZHX2 enhances the cytotoxicity of chemotherapeutic drugs in liver tumor cells by repressing MDR1 via interfering with NF-YA. Oncotarget 2015; 6:1049-63. [PMID: 25473899 PMCID: PMC4359216 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.2832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2014] [Accepted: 11/25/2014] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
We previously reported the tumor suppressor function of Zinc-fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Other studies indicate the association of increased ZHX2 expression with improved response to high dose chemotherapy in multiple myeloma. Here, we aim to test whether increased ZHX2 levels in HCC cells repress multidrug resistance 1(MDR1) expression resulting in increased sensitivity to chemotherapeutic drugs. We showed evidence that increased ZHX2 levels correlated with reduced MDR1 expression and enhanced the cytotoxicity of CDDP and ADM in different HCC cell lines. Consistently, elevated ZHX2 significantly reduced ADM efflux in HepG2 cells and greatly increased the CDDP-mediated suppression of liver tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, immunohistochemical staining demonstrated the inverse correlation of ZHX2 and MDR1 expression in HCC tissues. Luciferase report assay showed that ZHX2 repressed the MDR1 promoter activity, while knockdown of NF-YA or mutating the NF-Y binding site eliminated this ZHX2-mediated repression of MDR1 transcription. Co-IP and ChIP assay further suggested that ZHX2 interacted with NF-YA and reduced NF-Y binding to the MDR1 promoter. Taken together, we clarify that ZHX2 represses NF-Y-mediated activation of MDR1 transcription and, in doing so, enhances the effects of chemotherapeutics in HCC cells both in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hongxin Ma
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Xuetian Yue
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Lifen Gao
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Xiaohong Liang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Wenjiang Yan
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Zhenyu Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Haixia Shan
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Hualin Zhang
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
| | - Brett T Spear
- Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Molecular Genetics and Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Chunhong Ma
- Key Laboratory for Experimental Teratology of Ministry of Education and Department of Immunology, Shandong University School of Medicine, Jinan, Shandong, P.R. China
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Aberrantly Expressed OTX Homeobox Genes Deregulate B-Cell Differentiation in Hodgkin Lymphoma. PLoS One 2015; 10:e0138416. [PMID: 26406991 PMCID: PMC4583255 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0138416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/29/2015] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
In Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) we recently reported that deregulated homeobox gene MSX1 mediates repression of the B-cell specific transcription factor ZHX2. In this study we investigated regulation of MSX1 in this B-cell malignancy. Accordingly, we analyzed expression and function of OTX homeobox genes which activate MSX1 transcription during embryonal development in the neural plate border region. Our data demonstrate that OTX1 and OTX2 are aberrantly expressed in both HL patients and cell lines. Moreover, both OTX loci are targeted by genomic gains in overexpressing cell lines. Comparative expression profiling and subsequent pathway modulations in HL cell lines indicated that aberrantly enhanced FGF2-signalling activates the expression of OTX2. Downstream analyses of OTX2 demonstrated transcriptional activation of genes encoding transcription factors MSX1, FOXC1 and ZHX1. Interestingly, examination of the physiological expression profile of ZHX1 in normal hematopoietic cells revealed elevated levels in T-cells and reduced expression in B-cells, indicating a discriminatory role in lymphopoiesis. Furthermore, two OTX-negative HL cell lines overexpressed ZHX1 in correlation with genomic amplification of its locus at chromosomal band 8q24, supporting the oncogenic potential of this gene in HL. Taken together, our data demonstrate that deregulated homeobox genes MSX1 and OTX2 respectively impact transcriptional inhibition of (B-cell specific) ZHX2 and activation of (T-cell specific) ZHX1. Thus, we show how reactivation of a specific embryonal gene regulatory network promotes disturbed B-cell differentiation in HL.
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Nagel S, Ehrentraut S, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, Drexler HG, MacLeod RA. NFkB is activated by multiple mechanisms in hairy cell leukemia. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2015; 54:418-32. [DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22253] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2014] [Accepted: 03/04/2015] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines; Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures; Braunschweig Germany
| | - Stefan Ehrentraut
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines; Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures; Braunschweig Germany
| | - Corinna Meyer
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines; Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures; Braunschweig Germany
| | - Maren Kaufmann
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines; Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures; Braunschweig Germany
| | - Hans G. Drexler
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines; Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures; Braunschweig Germany
| | - Roderick A.F. MacLeod
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines; Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures; Braunschweig Germany
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Liu Y, Ma D, Ji C. Zinc fingers and homeoboxes family in human diseases. Cancer Gene Ther 2015; 22:223-6. [PMID: 25857360 DOI: 10.1038/cgt.2015.16] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2014] [Revised: 02/07/2015] [Accepted: 02/09/2015] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The zinc-fingers and homeoboxes (ZHX) family is a group of nuclear homodimeric transcriptional repressors that interact with a subunit of nuclear factor-Y (NF-YA) and contain two C2H2-type zinc fingers and five homeobox DNA-binding domains. The members of ZHX family form homodimers or heterodimers with other members or a subunit of NF-YA to repress transcription. ZHX family members function in hematopoietic cell development and differentiation, and neural progenitor maintenance. Dysfunction of ZHX family members correlates with the development and progression of various diseases, including hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), hematological diseases, neurological diseases and glomerular diseases. Furthermore, low expression of ZHX is associated with poor prognosis in malignancies. This review provides an update on the role of ZHX family in development and its function in cancer, with special emphasis on HCC and hematological malignant diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Y Liu
- Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - D Ma
- Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
| | - C Ji
- Department of Hematology, Qilu Hospital, Shandong University, Jinan, China
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Nagel S, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, Drexler HG, MacLeod RAF. Deregulated FOX genes in Hodgkin lymphoma. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 2014; 53:917-33. [PMID: 25043849 DOI: 10.1002/gcc.22204] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2014] [Revised: 06/18/2014] [Accepted: 06/29/2014] [Indexed: 12/27/2022] Open
Abstract
FOX genes encode transcription factors which regulate basic developmental processes during embryogenesis and in the adult. Several FOX genes show deregulated expression in particular malignancies, representing oncogenes or tumor suppressors. Here, we screened six Hodgkin lymphoma (HL) cell lines for FOX gene activity by comparative microarray profiling, revealing overexpression of FOXC1 and FOXD1, and reduced transcription of FOXN3, FOXO1, and FOXP1. In silico expression analyses of these FOX gene candidates in HL patient samples supported the cell line data. Chromosomal analyses demonstrated an amplification of the FOXC1 locus at 6p25 and a gain of the FOXR2 locus at Xp11, indicting genomic aberrations for their upregulation. Comparative expression profiling and ensuing stimulation experiments revealed implementation of the TGFβ- and WNT-signaling pathways in deregulation of FOXD1 and FOXN3. Functional analysis of FOXP1 implicated miR9 and miR34a as upstream regulators and PAX5, TCF3, and RAG2 as downstream targets. A similar exercise for FOXC1 revealed repression of MSX1 and activation of IPO7, both mediating inhibition of the B-cell specific homeobox gene ZHX2. Taken together, our data show that aberrantly expressed FOX genes and their downstream targets are involved in the pathogenesis of HL via deregulation of B-cell differentiation and may represent useful diagnostic markers and/or therapeutic targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany
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Nagel S, Ehrentraut S, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, Drexler HG, MacLeod RAF. Repressed BMP signaling reactivates NKL homeobox gene MSX1 in a T-ALL subset. Leuk Lymphoma 2014; 56:480-91. [PMID: 24844359 DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2014.924119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
In T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL), several members of the NK-like (NKL) homeobox genes are aberrantly expressed. Here, we have analyzed the activity of NKL homeobox gene MSX1 using pediatric T-ALL in silico data, detecting overexpression in 11% of patients. Quantification of MSX1 transcripts in a panel of 24 T-ALL cell lines demonstrated overexpression in two examples. Comparative expression profiling indicated inhibition of the bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signaling pathway, which was shown to inhibit MSX1 transcription. In the LOUCY cell line we identified conspicuous expression of CHRDL1 encoding a BMP inhibitor which mediated activation of MSX1. Promoter analyses demonstrated activation of CHRDL1 by oncogenic PITX1. Furthermore, knockdown and overexpression studies of hematopoietic transcription factors demonstrated that GATA2 and FOXC1 mediate activation and GATA3, LEF1, TAL1 and TOX repression of MSX1 transcription. Collectively, our findings suggest that MSX1 is physiologically restricted to lymphoid progenitors. The identification of deregulated BMP signaling may provide novel therapeutic options for the treatment of T-ALL.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures , Braunschweig , Germany
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Nagel S, Ehrentraut S, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, Drexler HG, MacLeod RAF. Oncogenic deregulation of NKL homeobox gene MSX1 in mantle cell lymphoma. Leuk Lymphoma 2014; 55:1893-903. [PMID: 24237447 DOI: 10.3109/10428194.2013.864762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
NKL homeobox gene MSX1 is physiologically expressed during embryonic hematopoiesis. Here, we detected MSX1 overexpression in three examples of mantle cell lymphoma (MCL) and one of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by screening 96 leukemia/lymphoma cell lines via microarray profiling. Moreover, in silico analysis identified significant overexpression of MSX1 in 3% each of patients with MCL and AML, confirming aberrant activity in subsets of both types of malignancies. Comparative expression profiling analysis and subsequent functional studies demonstrated overexpression of histone acetyltransferase PHF16 together with transcription factors FOXC1 and HLXB9 as activators of MSX1 transcription. Additionally, we identified regulation of cyclin D1/CCND1 by MSX1 and its repressive cofactor histone H1C. Fluorescence in situ hybridization in MCL cells showed that t(11;14)(q13;q32) results in detachment of CCND1 from its corresponding repressive MSX1 binding site. Taken together, we uncovered regulators and targets of homeobox gene MSX1 in leukemia/lymphoma cells, supporting the view of a recurrent genetic network that is reactivated in malignant transformation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ - German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures , Braunschweig , Germany
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Nagel S, Ehrentraut S, Tomasch J, Quentmeier H, Meyer C, Kaufmann M, Drexler HG, MacLeod RAF. Ectopic expression of homeobox gene NKX2-1 in diffuse large B-cell lymphoma is mediated by aberrant chromatin modifications. PLoS One 2013; 8:e61447. [PMID: 23637834 PMCID: PMC3639244 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0061447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2013] [Accepted: 03/08/2013] [Indexed: 12/01/2022] Open
Abstract
Homeobox genes encode transcription factors ubiquitously involved in basic developmental processes, deregulation of which promotes cell transformation in multiple cancers including hematopoietic malignancies. In particular, NKL-family homeobox genes TLX1, TLX3 and NKX2-5 are ectopically activated by chromosomal rearrangements in T-cell neoplasias. Here, using transcriptional microarray profiling and RQ-PCR we identified ectopic expression of NKL-family member NKX2-1, in a diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) cell line SU-DHL-5. Moreover, in silico analysis demonstrated NKX2-1 overexpression in 5% of examined DLBCL patient samples. NKX2-1 is physiologically expressed in lung and thyroid tissues where it regulates differentiation. Chromosomal and genomic analyses excluded rearrangements at the NKX2-1 locus in SU-DHL-5, implying alternative activation. Comparative expression profiling implicated several candidate genes in NKX2-1 regulation, variously encoding transcription factors, chromatin modifiers and signaling components. Accordingly, siRNA-mediated knockdown and overexpression studies confirmed involvement of transcription factor HEY1, histone methyltransferase MLL and ubiquitinated histone H2B in NKX2-1 deregulation. Chromosomal aberrations targeting MLL at 11q23 and the histone gene cluster HIST1 at 6p22 which we observed in SU-DHL-5 may, therefore, represent fundamental mutations mediating an aberrant chromatin structure at NKX2-1. Taken together, we identified ectopic expression of NKX2-1 in DLBCL cells, representing the central player in an oncogenic regulative network compromising B-cell differentiation. Thus, our data extend the paradigm of NKL homeobox gene deregulation in lymphoid malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefan Nagel
- Department of Human and Animal Cell Lines, Leibniz-Institute DSMZ-German Collection of Microorganisms and Cell Cultures, Braunschweig, Germany.
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