1
|
Elliott C, Jackson J, Findlay J, Williams G, Ghosh A, Ribe E, Ulmschneider M, Khan A, Ballard C, Aarsland D, Baillie GS, Harte M, Killick R. Blocking the Dkk1-LRP6 interaction prevents acute amyloid-β-driven cognitive impairment. Cell Signal 2025; 131:111716. [PMID: 40057150 DOI: 10.1016/j.cellsig.2025.111716] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2025] [Revised: 02/14/2025] [Accepted: 03/03/2025] [Indexed: 04/15/2025]
Abstract
Synapse loss driven by amyloid-β (Aβ) is an early event in Alzheimer's disease (AD). Although the mechanism by which Aβ drives synapse loss remain poorly understood data indicate that a disruption of Wnt signalling plays an important part. We have shown that Aβ exerts its effects on synapses through Dickkopf-1 (Dkk1), a secreted protein that acts upon Wnt signalling via a direct interaction with the canonical Wnt pathway co-receptor proteins, LRP5 and LRP6, preventing their interaction with the receptor Frizzled. This antagonises canonical, Wnt/β-catenin, signalling and allows concomitant activation of non-canonical signalling pathways. We contend that it is the switch from canonical to non-canonical Wnt signalling activity that drives synapse loss and subsequent cognitive impairment in AD, driven by Aβ and mediated by Dkk1. Preventing the Dkk1-LRP5/6 interaction could protect synapses and cognition against Aβ by maintaining canonical Wnt signalling. To test this, we mapped the Dkk1-LRP6 interaction by peptide array and identified a small peptide able to disrupt the Dkk1-LRP6 interaction. This Dkk1-LRP6 'disruptor' peptide dose dependently restores canonical Wnt signalling in the presence of Dkk1; blocks Dkk1-driven dendritic spine loss in primary rat cortical cultures and the accompanying increase in endogenous Aβ production; and when administered intracerebroventricularly to a rat acute Aβ model, blocks Aβ-driven cognitive impairment. These data support our contention that the ability of Aβ to induce Dkk1 and the effects of Dkk1 on LRP6 are an important element in AD aetiopathology and establish Dkk1 as a therapeutic target for protecting synapse and cognition in AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Christina Elliott
- King's College London, Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Denmark Hill, London, UK; Newcastle University, School of Biomedical, Nutritional and Sport Sciences, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, UK
| | - Joshua Jackson
- University of Manchester, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Manchester, UK
| | - Jane Findlay
- University of Glasgow, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Gareth Williams
- King's College London, Wolfson Centre for Age-Related Diseases, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, London, UK
| | - Anshua Ghosh
- King's College London, Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | - Elena Ribe
- King's College London, Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | | | - Ayesha Khan
- EveBioTek Ltd., Trimble House, Warrington, UK
| | - Clive Ballard
- The University of Exeter Medical School, College of Medicine and Health, St Luke's Campus, Magdalen Road, Exeter EX1 2LU, UK
| | - Dag Aarsland
- King's College London, Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Denmark Hill, London, UK
| | - George S Baillie
- University of Glasgow, School of Cardiovascular and Metabolic Health, Glasgow, Scotland, UK
| | - Michael Harte
- University of Manchester, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, Division of Pharmacy and Optometry, Manchester, UK
| | - Richard Killick
- King's College London, Centre for Healthy Brain Aging, The Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, Denmark Hill, London, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
2
|
Ahamad S, Saquib M, Hussain MK, Bhat SA. Targeting Wnt signaling pathway with small-molecule therapeutics for treating osteoporosis. Bioorg Chem 2025; 156:108195. [PMID: 39864370 DOI: 10.1016/j.bioorg.2025.108195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2024] [Revised: 11/29/2024] [Accepted: 01/17/2025] [Indexed: 01/28/2025]
Abstract
Small molecules are emerging as potential candidates for treating osteoporosis by activating canonical Wnt signaling. These candidates work either by inhibiting DKK-1, sclerostin, SFRP-1, NOTUM, and S1P lyase or by preventing β-catenin degradation through inhibition of GSK-3β, or by targeting Dvl-CXXC5 and axin/β-catenin interactions. While many of these anti-osteoporotic small molecules are in preclinical development, the paucity of FDA-approved small molecules, or promising candidates, that have progressed to clinical trials for treating bone disorders through this mechanism poses a challenge. Despite advancements in computer-aided drug design, it is rarely employed for designing Wnt signaling activators to treat osteoporosis, and high-throughput screen (HTS) remains the primary method for discovering initial hits. Acknowledging the promising therapeutic potential of these compounds in addressing bone diseases, this review underscores the need for further mechanistic elucidation to enhance our understanding of their applications. Additionally, caution must be exercised in the design of small molecule-based Wnt activators due to their association with oncological risks.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shakir Ahamad
- Department of Chemistry, Aligarh Muslim University Aligarh 202002 India.
| | - Mohammad Saquib
- Department of Chemistry, University of Allahabad, Prayagraj (Allahabad) 211002, UP, India; Department of Chemistry, G. R. P. B. Degree College, P. R. S. University, Prayagraj (Allahabad) 211010, UP, India
| | | | - Shahnawaz Ali Bhat
- Department of Zoology, Aligarh Muslim University, Aligarh 202002, India.
| |
Collapse
|
3
|
Yadalam PK, Natarajan PM, Saeed MH, Ardila CM. Variational Approaches for Drug-Disease-Gene Links in Periodontal Inflammation. Int Dent J 2025; 75:185-194. [PMID: 39395900 PMCID: PMC11806325 DOI: 10.1016/j.identj.2024.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2024] [Revised: 09/09/2024] [Accepted: 09/19/2024] [Indexed: 10/14/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES Oral diseases, including gingivitis and periodontitis, are linked to the Wnt signaling pathway, vital for bone metabolism, cementum homeostasis, and mesenchymal stem cell differentiation. Advances in generative AI techniques, such as variational autoencoders (VAEs) and quantum variational classifiers (QVCs), offer promising tools for predicting gene associations between drugs and diseases. This study aims to compare the predictive performance of VAEs and QVCs in modeling drug-disease gene networks within the Wnt signaling pathway in periodontal inflammation. METHODS Genes associated with Wnt-related periodontal inflammation were identified through comprehensive literature reviews and genomic databases. Their roles in various biological processes were evaluated using gene set enrichment analysis, employing tools like Enrichr, which integrates diverse gene sets from sources such as DSigDB, DisGeNET, and Lincs_l1000.drug. The study then applied VAEs and QVCs to predict gene-disease associations related to the Wnt signaling pathway. RESULTS The analysis revealed an extensive network comprising 1738 nodes and 1498 edges, averaging 1.992 neighbors per node. The network exhibited a diameter of 2, a radius of 1, and a characteristic path length of 1.992, indicating limited interconnectivity. The VQA model demonstrated a high accuracy rate of 97.5%, although it only detected 50% of anomalies. The VQC model achieved a precision of 78%, with Class 1 samples showing improved recall and a balanced F1 score. CONCLUSION VQC and VAE models exhibit strong potential for discovering FDA-approved drugs by predicting gene-drug associations in periodontitis based on the Wnt signaling pathway. CLINICAL RELEVANCE This study highlights the potential of VAEs and QVCs in predicting gene-drug associations for periodontal inflammation. This could lead to more targeted therapies for oral diseases like periodontitis, improving patient outcomes and advancing personalized treatment strategies in clinical practice.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Pradeep Kumar Yadalam
- Department of Periodontics, Saveetha Dental College and Hospital, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences,Saveetha University, Chennai 600077, Tamil Nadu, India.
| | - Prabhu Manickam Natarajan
- Department of Clinical Sciences, Center of Medical and Bio-allied Health Sciences and Research, College of Dentistry, Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Musab Hamed Saeed
- Associate Professor, Restorative Dentistry, College of Dentistry. Ajman University, Ajman, United Arab Emirates.
| | - Carlos M Ardila
- Carlos-M. Ardila. DDS. Periodontist. Ph.D in Epidemiology. Postdoc in Bioethics Titular Professor. Universidad de Antioquia U de A, Medellín, Colombia. Biomedical Stomatology Research Group, Universidad de Antioquia U de A, Medellín, Colombia.
| |
Collapse
|
4
|
Abhishek Shah A, Chand D, Ahamad S, Porwal K, Chourasia MK, Mohanan K, Srivastava KR, Chattopadhyay N. Therapeutic targeting of Wnt antagonists by small molecules for treatment of osteoporosis. Biochem Pharmacol 2024; 230:116587. [PMID: 39447984 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2024.116587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2024] [Revised: 09/11/2024] [Accepted: 10/21/2024] [Indexed: 10/26/2024]
Abstract
Wnt signaling is one of the key regulators of bone development and homeostasis. Wnt signaling regulates key biological events, including stem cell fate and osteoblast and osteoclast activity, leading to the maintenance of bone mass and strength. Wnt ligands are secreted glycoproteins that bind to Frizzled (FZD) receptors and their coreceptors, lipoprotein receptor-related proteins-5/6 (LRP5/6). Binding of Wnts to FZD triggers canonical (β-catenin-dependent) and noncanonical (β-catenin-independent) pathways. In canonical Wnt signaling, stabilized β-catenin translocates to the nucleus, where it promotes osteoblast differentiation by activating target genes, including Runx2 and Osterix. The negative regulators of Wnt or so-called Wnt antagonists, including CXXC5, sFRP, sclerostin, DKK1, and Notum, compete for Fzd binding, attenuating Wnt signaling. The critical roles of Wnt signaling in bone homeostasis have been established by various bone diseases caused by mutations in Wnt signaling pathways. Loss-of-function mutations in the LRP5 gene cause osteoporosis-pseudoglioma syndrome, whereas gain-of-function mutations are linked to osteopetrosis characterized by high bone density. Sclerosteosis and Van Buchem disease are caused by mutations affecting the SOST gene, which encodes sclerostin, a natural inhibitor of Wnt signalling. Loss-of-function mutations in SOST result in excessive bone growth, markedly increased bone density, and other skeletal abnormalities due to uncontrolled Wnt activity. Considering the clinical relevance of Wnt signaling, targeting Wnt inhibitors is being intensely pursued using small molecules that act by inhibiting endogenous Wnt agonists. We used a computational biology approach to review current data on pharmacophores of Wnt antagonists, assessing their potential as therapeutic candidates for postmenopausal osteoporosis.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Aarti Abhishek Shah
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Diwan Chand
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Shakir Ahamad
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Konica Porwal
- Division of Endocrinology and Center for Research on Anabolic Skeletal Targets for Health and Illness (ASTHI), CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India
| | - Manish K Chourasia
- Division of Pharmaceutics and Pharmacokinetics, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Kishor Mohanan
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India
| | - Kinshuk R Srivastava
- Division of Medicinal and Process Chemistry, CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| | - Naibedya Chattopadhyay
- Division of Endocrinology and Center for Research on Anabolic Skeletal Targets for Health and Illness (ASTHI), CSIR-Central Drug Research Institute, Lucknow 226031, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad 201002, India.
| |
Collapse
|
5
|
Matsuda T, Kono T, Taki Y, Sakuma I, Fujimoto M, Hashimoto N, Kawakami E, Fukuhara N, Nishioka H, Inoshita N, Yamada S, Nakamura Y, Horiguchi K, Miki T, Higuchi Y, Tanaka T. Deciphering craniopharyngioma subtypes: Single-cell analysis of tumor microenvironment and immune networks. iScience 2024; 27:111068. [PMID: 39483146 PMCID: PMC11525618 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.111068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2024] [Revised: 06/24/2024] [Accepted: 09/26/2024] [Indexed: 11/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Craniopharyngiomas, including adamantinomatous (ACP) and squamous papillary (PCP) types, are challenging to treat because of their proximity to crucial pituitary structures. This study aimed to characterize the cellular composition, tumor tissue diversity, and cell-cell interactions in ACPs and PCPs using single-cell RNA sequencing. Single-cell clustering revealed diverse cell types, further classified into developing epithelial, calcification, and immune response for ACP and developing epithelial, cell cycle, and immune response for PCP, based on gene expression patterns. Subclustering revealed the enrichment of classical M1 and M2 macrophages in ACP and PCP, respectively, with high expression of pro-inflammatory markers in classical M1 macrophages. The classical M1 and M2 macrophage ratio significantly correlated with the occurrence of diabetes insipidus and panhypopituitarism. Cell-cell interactions, particularly involving CD44-SPP, were identified between tumor cells. Thus, we developed a comprehensive cell atlas that elucidated the molecular characteristics and immune cell inter-networking in ACP and PCP tumor microenvironments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tatsuma Matsuda
- Department of Neurological Surgery Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takashi Kono
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Research Institute of Disaster Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yuki Taki
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Ikki Sakuma
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Masanori Fujimoto
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Naoko Hashimoto
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Research Institute of Disaster Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Eiryo Kawakami
- Department of Aritificial Intelligence Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Noriaki Fukuhara
- Department of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiroshi Nishioka
- Department of Hypothalamic and Pituitary Surgery, Toranomon Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Naoko Inoshita
- Hypothalamic and Pituitary Center, Moriyama Memorial Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Shozo Yamada
- Hypothalamic and Pituitary Center, Moriyama Memorial Hospital, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Yasuhiro Nakamura
- Division of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Tohoku Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Miyagi, Japan
| | - Kentaro Horiguchi
- Department of Neurological Surgery Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Takashi Miki
- Research Institute of Disaster Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Department of Medical Physiology, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| | - Yoshinori Higuchi
- Department of Neurological Surgery Chiba University Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba, Japan
| | - Tomoaki Tanaka
- Department of Molecular Diagnosis, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
- Research Institute of Disaster Medicine, Chiba University, Chiba, Japan
| |
Collapse
|
6
|
Yu M, Qin K, Fan J, Zhao G, Zhao P, Zeng W, Chen C, Wang A, Wang Y, Zhong J, Zhu Y, Wagstaff W, Haydon RC, Luu HH, Ho S, Lee MJ, Strelzow J, Reid RR, He TC. The evolving roles of Wnt signaling in stem cell proliferation and differentiation, the development of human diseases, and therapeutic opportunities. Genes Dis 2024; 11:101026. [PMID: 38292186 PMCID: PMC10825312 DOI: 10.1016/j.gendis.2023.04.042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 34.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 03/18/2023] [Accepted: 04/12/2023] [Indexed: 02/01/2024] Open
Abstract
The evolutionarily conserved Wnt signaling pathway plays a central role in development and adult tissue homeostasis across species. Wnt proteins are secreted, lipid-modified signaling molecules that activate the canonical (β-catenin dependent) and non-canonical (β-catenin independent) Wnt signaling pathways. Cellular behaviors such as proliferation, differentiation, maturation, and proper body-axis specification are carried out by the canonical pathway, which is the best characterized of the known Wnt signaling paths. Wnt signaling has emerged as an important factor in stem cell biology and is known to affect the self-renewal of stem cells in various tissues. This includes but is not limited to embryonic, hematopoietic, mesenchymal, gut, neural, and epidermal stem cells. Wnt signaling has also been implicated in tumor cells that exhibit stem cell-like properties. Wnt signaling is crucial for bone formation and presents a potential target for the development of therapeutics for bone disorders. Not surprisingly, aberrant Wnt signaling is also associated with a wide variety of diseases, including cancer. Mutations of Wnt pathway members in cancer can lead to unchecked cell proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition, and metastasis. Altogether, advances in the understanding of dysregulated Wnt signaling in disease have paved the way for the development of novel therapeutics that target components of the Wnt pathway. Beginning with a brief overview of the mechanisms of canonical and non-canonical Wnt, this review aims to summarize the current knowledge of Wnt signaling in stem cells, aberrations to the Wnt pathway associated with diseases, and novel therapeutics targeting the Wnt pathway in preclinical and clinical studies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Michael Yu
- School of Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Kevin Qin
- School of Medicine, Rosalind Franklin University of Medicine and Science, North Chicago, IL 60064, USA
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jiaming Fan
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine, and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, The School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Guozhi Zhao
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Piao Zhao
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
- Department of Urology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Wei Zeng
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Neurology, The First Dongguan Affiliated Hospital, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, Guangdong 523475, China
| | - Connie Chen
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Annie Wang
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Yonghui Wang
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Clinical Laboratory Medicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200000, China
| | - Jiamin Zhong
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory of Diagnostic Medicine, and Department of Clinical Biochemistry, The School of Laboratory Medicine, Chongqing Medical University, Chongqing 400016, China
| | - Yi Zhu
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100730, China
| | - William Wagstaff
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Rex C. Haydon
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Hue H. Luu
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Sherwin Ho
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Michael J. Lee
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Jason Strelzow
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Russell R. Reid
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Laboratory of Craniofacial Suture Biology and Development, Department of Surgery Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| | - Tong-Chuan He
- Molecular Oncology Laboratory, Department of Orthopedic Surgery and Rehabilitation Medicine, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
- Laboratory of Craniofacial Suture Biology and Development, Department of Surgery Section of Plastic Surgery, The University of Chicago Medical Center, Chicago, IL 60637, USA
| |
Collapse
|
7
|
Tang W, Luan Y, Yuan Q, Li A, Chen S, Menacherry S, Young L, Wu D. LDL receptor-related protein 5 selectively transports unesterified polyunsaturated fatty acids to intracellular compartments. Nat Commun 2024; 15:3068. [PMID: 38594269 PMCID: PMC11004178 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-47262-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 03/26/2024] [Indexed: 04/11/2024] Open
Abstract
Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs), which cannot be synthesized by animals and must be supplied from the diet, have been strongly associated with human health. However, the mechanisms for their accretion remain poorly understood. Here, we show that LDL receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5), but not its homolog LRP6, selectively transports unesterified PUFAs into a number of cell types. The LDLa ligand-binding repeats of LRP5 directly bind to PUFAs and are required and sufficient for PUFA transport. In contrast to the known PUFA transporters Mfsd2a, CD36 and FATP2, LRP5 transports unesterified PUFAs via internalization to intracellular compartments including lysosomes, and n-3 PUFAs depend on this transport mechanism to inhibit mTORC1. This LRP5-mediated PUFA transport mechanism suppresses extracellular trap formation in neutrophils and protects mice from myocardial injury during ischemia-reperfusion. Thus, this study reveals a biologically important mechanism for unesterified PUFA transport to intracellular compartments.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wenwen Tang
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| | - Yi Luan
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Qianying Yuan
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Ao Li
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Song Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | | | - Lawrence Young
- Cardiovascular Research Center, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine (Cardiovascular Medicine), Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Dianqing Wu
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
8
|
Khan H, Ullah K, Jan A, Ali H, Ullah I, Ahmad W. A variant in the LDL receptor-related protein encoding gene LRP4 underlying polydactyly and phalangeal synostosis in a family of Pakistani origin. Congenit Anom (Kyoto) 2023; 63:190-194. [PMID: 37563890 DOI: 10.1111/cga.12536] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/15/2022] [Revised: 04/07/2023] [Accepted: 06/04/2023] [Indexed: 08/12/2023]
Abstract
A family of Pakistani origin, segregating polydactyly, and phalangeal synostosis in an autosomal dominant manner, has been investigated and presented in the present report. Whole-exome sequencing (WES), followed by segregation analysis using Sanger sequencing, revealed a heterozygous missense variant [c.G1696A, p.(Gly566Ser)] in the LRP4 gene located on human chromosome 11p11.2. Homology protein modeling revealed the mutant Ser566 generated new interactions with at least four other amino acids and disrupted protein folding and function. Our findings demonstrated the first direct evidence of involvement of LRP4 in causing polydactyly and phalangeal synostosis in the same family. This study highlighted the importance of inclusion of LRP4 gene in screening individuals presenting polydactyly in hands and feet, and phalangeal synostosis in the same family.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Hammal Khan
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Kifayat Ullah
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Abid Jan
- Department of Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering, Kohat University of Science & Technology (KUST), Kohat, Pakistan
| | - Hamid Ali
- Department of Biosciences, COMSATS University Islamabad, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Imran Ullah
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| | - Wasim Ahmad
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Biological Sciences, Quaid-i-Azam University, Islamabad, Pakistan
| |
Collapse
|
9
|
Wang W, Ma L, Zhao Y, Liu M, Ye W, Li X. Research progress on the role of the Wnt signaling pathway in pituitary adenoma. Front Endocrinol (Lausanne) 2023; 14:1216817. [PMID: 37780610 PMCID: PMC10538627 DOI: 10.3389/fendo.2023.1216817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 08/28/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Pituitary adenoma (PA) is the third most common central nervous system tumor originating from the anterior pituitary, but its pathogenesis remains unclear. The Wnt signaling pathway is a conserved pathway involved in cell proliferation, Self-renewal of stem cells, and cell differentiation. It is related to the occurrence of various tumors, including PA. This article reviews the latest developments in Wnt pathway inhibitors and pathway-targeted drugs. It discusses the possibility of combining Wnt pathway inhibitors with immunotherapy to provide a theoretical basis for the combined treatment of PA.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Xianfeng Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin, China
| |
Collapse
|
10
|
Bowin CF, Kozielewicz P, Grätz L, Kowalski-Jahn M, Schihada H, Schulte G. WNT stimulation induces dynamic conformational changes in the Frizzled-Dishevelled interaction. Sci Signal 2023; 16:eabo4974. [PMID: 37014927 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abo4974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/06/2023]
Abstract
Frizzleds (FZDs) are G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) that bind to WNT family ligands. FZDs signal through multiple effector proteins, including Dishevelled (DVL), which acts as a hub for several downstream signaling pathways. To understand how WNT binding to FZD stimulates intracellular signaling and influences downstream pathway selectivity, we investigated the dynamic changes in the FZD5-DVL2 interaction elicited by WNT-3A and WNT-5A. Ligand-induced changes in bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET) between FZD5 and DVL2 or the isolated FZD-binding DEP domain of DVL2 revealed a composite response consisting of both DVL2 recruitment and conformational dynamics in the FZD5-DVL2 complex. The combination of different BRET paradigms enabled us to identify ligand-dependent conformational dynamics in the FZD5-DVL2 complex and distinguish them from ligand-induced recruitment of DVL2 or DEP to FZD5. The observed agonist-induced conformational changes at the receptor-transducer interface suggest that extracellular agonist and intracellular transducers cooperate through transmembrane allosteric interaction with FZDs in a ternary complex reminiscent of that of classical GPCRs.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Carl-Fredrik Bowin
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Pawel Kozielewicz
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Lukas Grätz
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Maria Kowalski-Jahn
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannes Schihada
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Schulte
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| |
Collapse
|
11
|
Doucet D, Brubaker C, Turner D, Gregory CA. Factors affecting the role of canonical Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf-1 in cancer progression. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1114822. [PMID: 37007131 PMCID: PMC10050559 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1114822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2023] [Indexed: 03/17/2023] Open
Abstract
BackgroundThe canonical Wnt inhibitor Dickkopf-1 (Dkk-1) has the capacity to modulate homeostasis between canonical and non-canonical Wnt pathways and also signal independently of Wnt. The specific effects of Dkk-1 activity on tumor physiology are therefore unpredictable with examples of Dkk-1 serving as either a driver or suppressor of malignancy. Given that Dkk-1 blockade may serve as a potential treatment for some types of cancer, we questioned whether it is possible to predict the role of Dkk-1 on tumor progression based on the tissue origin of the tumor.MethodsOriginal research articles that described Dkk-1 in terms a tumor suppressor or driver of cancer growth were identified. To determine the association between tumor developmental origin and the role of Dkk-1, a logistic regression was performed. The Cancer Genome Atlas database was interrogated for survival statistics based on tumor Dkk-1 expression.ResultsWe report that Dkk-1 is statistically more likely to serve as a suppressor in tumors arising from the ectoderm (p = 0.0198) or endoderm (p = 0.0334) but more likely to serve as a disease driver in tumors of mesodermal origin (p = 0.0155). Survival analyses indicated that in cases where Dkk-1 expression could be stratified, high Dkk-1 expression is usually associated with poor prognosis. This in part may be due to pro-tumorigenic role Dkk-1 plays on tumor cells but also through its influence on immunomodulatory and angiogenic processes in the tumor stroma.ConclusionDkk-1 has a context-specific dual role as a tumor suppressor or driver. Dkk-1 is significantly more likely to serve as a tumor suppressor in tumors arising from ectoderm and endoderm while the converse is true for mesodermal tumors. Patient survival data indicated high Dkk-1 expression is generally a poor prognostic indicator. These findings provide further support for the importance of Dkk-1 as a therapeutic cancer target in some cases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dakota Doucet
- Medical Sciences Program, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States
| | - Connor Brubaker
- Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Donald Turner
- Department of Statistics, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX, United States
| | - Carl A. Gregory
- Department of Cell Biology and Genetics, Texas A&M Health Science Center School of Medicine, Texas A&M University, Bryan, TX, United States
- *Correspondence: Carl A. Gregory,
| |
Collapse
|
12
|
Manandhar S, Sankhe R, Priya K, Hari G, Kumar B H, Mehta CH, Nayak UY, Pai KSR. Molecular dynamics and structure-based virtual screening and identification of natural compounds as Wnt signaling modulators: possible therapeutics for Alzheimer's disease. Mol Divers 2022; 26:2793-2811. [PMID: 35146638 PMCID: PMC9532339 DOI: 10.1007/s11030-022-10395-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signaling pathway is an evolutionarily conserved pathway responsible for neurogenesis, axon outgrowth, neuronal polarity, synapse formation, and maintenance. Downregulation of Wnt signaling has been found in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Several experimental approaches to activate Wnt signaling pathway have proven to be beneficial in alleviating AD, which is one of the new therapeutic approaches for AD. The current study focuses on the computational structure-based virtual screening followed by the identification of potential phytomolecules targeting different markers of Wnt signaling like WIF1, DKK1, LRP6, GSK-3β, and acetylcholine esterase. Initially, screening of 1924 compounds from the plant-based library of Zinc database was done for the selected five proteins using docking approach followed by MM-GBSA calculations. The top five hit molecules were identified for each protein. Based on docking score, and binding interactions, the top two hit molecules for each protein were selected as promising molecules for the molecular dynamic (MD) simulation study with the five proteins. Therefore, from this in silico based study, we report that Mangiferin could be a potential molecule targeting Wnt signaling pathway modulating the LRP6 activity, Baicalin for AChE activity, Chebulic acid for DKK1, ZINC103539689 for WIF1, and Morin for GSk-3β protein. However, further validation of the activity is warranted based on in vivo and in vitro experiments for better understanding and strong claim. This study provides an in silico approach for the identification of modulators of the Wnt signaling pathway as a new therapeutic approach for AD.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Suman Manandhar
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Runali Sankhe
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Keerthi Priya
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Gangadhar Hari
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Harish Kumar B
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Chetan H Mehta
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - Usha Y Nayak
- Department of Pharmaceutics, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India
| | - K Sreedhara Ranganath Pai
- Department of Pharmacology, Manipal College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Manipal Academy of Higher Education, Manipal, 576104, India.
| |
Collapse
|
13
|
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death worldwide, largely due to the limited regenerative capacity of the adult human heart. In contrast, teleost zebrafish hearts possess natural regeneration capacity by proliferation of pre-existing cardiomyocytes after injury. Hearts of mice can regenerate if injured in a few days after birth, which coincides with the transient capacity for cardiomyocyte proliferation. This review tends to elaborate the roles and mechanisms of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in heart development and regeneration in mammals and non-mammalian vertebrates. RECENT FINDINGS Studies in zebrafish, mice, and human embryonic stem cells demonstrate the binary effect for Wnt/β-catenin signaling during heart development. Both Wnts and Wnt antagonists are induced in multiple cell types during cardiac development and injury repair. In this review, we summarize composites of the Wnt signaling pathway and their different action routes, followed by the discussion of their involvements in cardiac specification, proliferation, and patterning. We provide overviews about canonical and non-canonical Wnt activity during heart homeostasis, remodeling, and regeneration. Wnt/β-catenin signaling exhibits biphasic and antagonistic effects on cardiac specification and differentiation depending on the stage of embryogenesis. Inhibition of Wnt signaling is beneficial for cardiac wound healing and functional recovery after injury. Understanding of the roles and mechanisms of Wnt signaling pathway in injured animal hearts will contribute to the development of potential therapeutics for human diseased hearts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Dongliang Li
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China
| | - Jianjian Sun
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.,Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou, 510100, Guangdong, China
| | - Tao P Zhong
- Shanghai Key Laboratory of Regulatory Biology, Institute of Molecular Medicine, School of Life Sciences, East China Normal University, Shanghai, 200241, China.
| |
Collapse
|
14
|
Novel variants in the LRP4 underlying Cenani-Lenz Syndactyly syndrome. J Hum Genet 2021; 67:253-259. [PMID: 34857885 DOI: 10.1038/s10038-021-00995-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/19/2021] [Revised: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Cenani-Lenz syndrome (CLS) is a rare autosomal-recessive congenital disorder affecting development of distal limbs. It is characterized mainly by syndactyly and/or oligodactyly, renal anomalies, and characteristic facial features. Mutations in the LRP4 gene, located on human chromosome 11p11.2-q13.1, causes the CLS. The gene LRP4 encodes a low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein-4, which mediates SOST-dependent inhibition of bone formation and Wnt signaling. In the study, presented here, three families of Pakistani origin, segregating CLS in the autosomal recessive manner were clinically and genetically characterized. In two families (A and B), microsatellite-based homozygosity mapping followed by Sanger sequencing identified a novel homozygous missense variant [NM_002334.3: c.295G>C; p.(Asp99His)] in the LRP4 gene. In the third family C, exome sequencing revealed a second novel homozygous missense variant [NM_002334.3: c.1633C>T; p.(Arg545Trp)] in the same gene. To determine the functional relevance of these variants, we tested their ability to inhibit canonical WNT signaling in a luciferase assay. Wild type LRP4 was able to inhibit LRP6-dependent WNT signaling robustly. The two mutants p.(Asp99His) and p.(Arg545Trp) inhibited WNT signaling less effectively, suggesting they reduced LRP4 function.
Collapse
|
15
|
Kowalski-Jahn M, Schihada H, Turku A, Huber T, Sakmar TP, Schulte G. Frizzled BRET sensors based on bioorthogonal labeling of unnatural amino acids reveal WNT-induced dynamics of the cysteine-rich domain. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:eabj7917. [PMID: 34757789 PMCID: PMC8580317 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abj7917] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Frizzleds (FZD1–10) are G protein–coupled receptors containing an extracellular cysteine-rich domain (CRD) binding Wingless/Int-1 lipoglycoproteins (WNTs). Despite the role of WNT/FZD signaling in health and disease, our understanding of how WNT binding is translated into receptor activation and transmembrane signaling remains limited. Current hypotheses dispute the roles for conformational dynamics. To clarify how WNT binding to FZD translates into receptor dynamics, we devised conformational FZD-CRD biosensors based on bioluminescence resonance energy transfer (BRET). Using FZD with N-terminal nanoluciferase (Nluc) and fluorescently labeled unnatural amino acids in the linker domain and extracellular loop 3, we show that WNT-3A and WNT-5A induce similar CRD conformational rearrangements despite promoting distinct signaling pathways and that CRD dynamics are not required for WNT/β-catenin signaling. Thus, these FZD-CRD biosensors provide insights into binding, activation, and signaling processes in FZDs. The sensor design is broadly applicable to explore ligand-induced dynamics also in other membrane receptors.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Maria Kowalski-Jahn
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Biomedicum 6D, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Hannes Schihada
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Biomedicum 6D, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Ainoleena Turku
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Biomedicum 6D, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Thomas Huber
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Thomas P. Sakmar
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology and Signal Transduction, The Rockefeller University, 1230 York Ave., New York, NY 10065, USA
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Center for Alzheimer Research, Division of Neurogeriatrics, S-17164 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Gunnar Schulte
- Karolinska Institutet, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, Section of Receptor Biology and Signaling, Biomedicum 6D, S-17165 Stockholm, Sweden
- Corresponding author.
| |
Collapse
|
16
|
Bonnet C, González S, Roberts JS, Robertson SYT, Ruiz M, Zheng J, Deng SX. Human limbal epithelial stem cell regulation, bioengineering and function. Prog Retin Eye Res 2021; 85:100956. [PMID: 33676006 PMCID: PMC8428188 DOI: 10.1016/j.preteyeres.2021.100956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 02/21/2021] [Accepted: 02/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The corneal epithelium is continuously renewed by limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSCs), a cell population harbored in a highly regulated niche located at the limbus. Dysfunction and/or loss of LSCs and their niche cause limbal stem cell deficiency (LSCD), a disease that is marked by invasion of conjunctival epithelium into the cornea and results in failure of epithelial wound healing. Corneal opacity, pain, loss of vision, and blindness are the consequences of LSCD. Successful treatment of LSCD depends on accurate diagnosis and staging of the disease and requires restoration of functional LSCs and their niche. This review highlights the major advances in the identification of potential LSC biomarkers and components of the LSC niche, understanding of LSC regulation, methods and regulatory standards in bioengineering of LSCs, and diagnosis and staging of LSCD. Overall, this review presents key points for researchers and clinicians alike to consider in deepening the understanding of LSC biology and improving LSCD therapies.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Bonnet
- Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA; Cornea Department, Paris University, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP, F-75014, Paris, France
| | - Sheyla González
- Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - JoAnn S Roberts
- Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sarah Y T Robertson
- Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Maxime Ruiz
- Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jie Zheng
- Basic Science Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sophie X Deng
- Cornea Division, Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
17
|
DKK1 activates noncanonical NF-κB signaling via IL-6-induced CKAP4 receptor in multiple myeloma. Blood Adv 2021; 5:3656-3667. [PMID: 34470047 DOI: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2021004315] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
Proteasome inhibitors, such as bortezomib (BTZ), represent the key elements in chemotherapy regimens for multiple myeloma (MM), whereas acquired chemoresistance and ultimately relapse remain a major obstacle. In the current study, we screened differently expressed cytokines in bortezomib-resistant MM cells and found that Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) level was remarkably augmented, whereas CD138 level was significantly suppressed. DKK1 in vitro specifically enhanced the resistance of myeloma cells to bortezomib treatment, and excessive DKK1 drove CD138 downregulation via inhibition of canonical Wnt signaling. Notably, DKK1 mainly induced drug resistance in MM cells via the receptor of CKAP4. Mechanistically, CKAP4 transduced DKK1 signal and evoked NF-κB pathway through recruiting and preventing cullin associated and neddylation dissociated 1 from hampering the assembly of E3 ligase-mediated ubiquitination of IκBα. In addition, we found that interleukin-6 (IL-6) stimulated CKAP4 expression to generate drug resistance, and disturbance of DKK1-CKAP4 axis improved sensitivity to BTZ treatment of MM and attenuated bone destruction in a mouse model. Collectively, our study revealed the previously unidentified role of DKK1 in myeloma drug resistance via Wnt signaling dependent and independent manners, and clarified the importance of antagonism of DKK1-IL-6 loop in bone marrow microenvironment.
Collapse
|
18
|
Wang J, Xia Y, Lu A, Wang H, Davis DR, Liu P, Beanlands RS, Liang W. Cardiomyocyte-specific deletion of β-catenin protects mouse hearts from ventricular arrhythmias after myocardial infarction. Sci Rep 2021; 11:17722. [PMID: 34489488 PMCID: PMC8421412 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-97176-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/04/2021] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling is activated in the heart after myocardial infarction (MI). This study aims to investigate if β-catenin deletion affects post-MI ion channel gene alterations and ventricular tachycardias (VT). MI was induced by permanent ligation of left anterior descending artery in wild-type (WT) and cardiomyocyte-specific β-catenin knockout (KO) mice. KO mice showed reduced susceptibility to VT (18% vs. 77% in WT) at 8 weeks after MI, associated with reduced scar size and attenuated chamber dilation. qPCR analyses of both myocardial tissues and purified cardiomyocytes demonstrated upregulation of Wnt pathway genes in border and infarct regions after MI, including Wnt ligands (such as Wnt4) and receptors (such as Fzd1 and Fzd2). At 1 week after MI, cardiac sodium channel gene (Scn5a) transcript was reduced in WT but not in KO hearts, consistent with previous studies showing Scn5a inhibition by Wnt/β-catenin signaling. At 8 weeks after MI when Wnt genes have declined, Scn5a returned to near sham levels and K+ channel gene downregulations were not different between WT and KO mice. This study demonstrated that VT susceptibility in the chronic phase after MI is reduced in mice with cardiomyocyte-specific β-catenin deletion primarily through attenuated structural remodeling, but not ion channel gene alterations.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Jerry Wang
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin St, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4W7, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Ying Xia
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin St, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4W7, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Aizhu Lu
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin St, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4W7, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Hongwei Wang
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin St, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4W7, Canada
| | - Darryl R Davis
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin St, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4W7, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Peter Liu
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin St, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4W7, Canada.,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - Rob S Beanlands
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin St, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4W7, Canada
| | - Wenbin Liang
- University of Ottawa Heart Institute, 40 Ruskin St, Ottawa, ON, K1Y 4W7, Canada. .,Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
| |
Collapse
|
19
|
Bonnet C, Brahmbhatt A, Deng SX, Zheng JJ. Wnt signaling activation: targets and therapeutic opportunities for stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:1144-1157. [PMID: 34458828 PMCID: PMC8341040 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00063b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt proteins are secreted morphogens that play critical roles in embryonic development, stem cell proliferation, self-renewal, tissue regeneration and remodeling in adults. While aberrant Wnt signaling contributes to diseases such as cancer, activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a target of interest in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Recent high throughput screenings from chemical and biological libraries, combined with improved gene expression reporter assays of Wnt/β-catenin activation together with rational drug design, led to the development of a myriad of Wnt activators, with different mechanisms of actions. Among them, Wnt mimics, antibodies targeting Wnt inhibitors, glycogen-synthase-3β inhibitors, and indirubins and other natural product derivatives are emerging modalities to treat bone, neurodegenerative, eye, and metabolic disorders, as well as prevent ageing. Nevertheless, the creation of Wnt-based therapies has been hampered by challenges in developing potent and selective Wnt activators without off-target effects, such as oncogenesis. On the other hand, to avoid these risks, their use to promote ex vivo expansion during tissue engineering is a promising application.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Bonnet
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Paris University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, and Cornea Departement, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP F-75014 Paris France
| | - Anvi Brahmbhatt
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
| | - Sophie X Deng
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Jie J Zheng
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA
| |
Collapse
|
20
|
Sengupta D, Banerjee S, Mukhopadhyay P, Mitra R, Chaudhuri T, Sarkar A, Bhattacharjee G, Nath S, Roychoudhury S, Bhattacharjee S, Sengupta M. A comprehensive meta-analysis and a case-control study give insights into genetic susceptibility of lung cancer and subgroups. Sci Rep 2021; 11:14572. [PMID: 34272429 PMCID: PMC8285487 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-021-92275-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Reports of genetic association of polymorphisms with lung cancer in the Indian subcontinent are often conflicting. To summarise and replicate published evidence for association with lung cancer and its subgroups. We performed a meta-analysis of candidate associations on lung cancer, its histological subtypes and smoking status in the Indian subcontinent following PRISMA guidelines. Multiple testing corrections were done by the Benjamini-Hochberg method through assessment of significance at a false discovery rate of 10%. We genotyped and investigated rs1048943/CYP1A1 in a case-control sample from eastern India, followed by its global meta-analysis using a similar protocol. Meta-analysis of 18 variants of 11 genes reported in 39 studies (7630 cases and 8169 controls) showed significant association of rs1048943/CYP1A1 [2.07(1.49-2.87)] and rs4646903/CYP1A1 [1.48(1.93-1.95)] with overall lung cancer risk at 10% FDR, while nominal association (p < 0.05) was observed for del1/GSTT1, del2/GSTM1, rs1695/GSTP1 and rs17037102/ DKK2. Subtype analysis showed a significant association of del1/GSTT1 with adenocarcinoma, rs4646903/CYP1A1 with squamous carcinoma, and rs1048943/CYP1A1 with both. Association of rs4646903/CYP1A1 in smokers and effect modification by meta-regression analysis was observed. Genotyping of rs1048943/CYP1A1 that presented significant heterogeneity (p < 0.1) revealed an association with adenocarcinoma among eastern Indian smokers, while a global meta-analysis in 10458 cases and 10871 controls showed association with lung cancer and its subgroups. This study identified the susceptibility loci for lung cancer and its covariate-subgroups.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Debmalya Sengupta
- Department of Genetics, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, India
| | - Souradeep Banerjee
- Department of Genetics, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, India
| | - Pramiti Mukhopadhyay
- Greehey Children's Cancer Research Institute, UT Health San Antonio, 8403 Floyd Curl Dr., San Antonio, TX-78229, USA
| | - Ritabrata Mitra
- Department of CHEST, IPGME&R, 244 A.J.C. Bose Road, Kolkata, 700020, India
| | - Tamohan Chaudhuri
- Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Thakurpukur, Kolkata, 700063, India
| | - Abhijit Sarkar
- Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Thakurpukur, Kolkata, 700063, India
| | - Gautam Bhattacharjee
- Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Thakurpukur, Kolkata, 700063, India
| | - Somsubhra Nath
- Saroj Gupta Cancer Centre and Research Institute, Mahatma Gandhi Road, Thakurpukur, Kolkata, 700063, India
| | - Susanta Roychoudhury
- CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4, Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata, 700032, India
| | - Samsiddhi Bhattacharjee
- National Institute of Biomedical Genomics, Near Netaji Subhas Sanatorium Post Office, Kalyani, West Bengal, 741251, India.
| | - Mainak Sengupta
- Department of Genetics, University of Calcutta, 35, Ballygunge Circular Road, Kolkata, 700019, India.
| |
Collapse
|
21
|
The structural biology of canonical Wnt signalling. Biochem Soc Trans 2021; 48:1765-1780. [PMID: 32725184 PMCID: PMC7458405 DOI: 10.1042/bst20200243] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2020] [Revised: 07/04/2020] [Accepted: 07/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt signalling pathways are of great importance in embryonic development and oncogenesis. Canonical and non-canonical Wnt signalling pathways are known, with the canonical (or β-catenin dependent) pathway being perhaps the best studied of these. While structural knowledge of proteins and interactions involved in canonical Wnt signalling has accumulated over the past 20 years, the pace of discovery has increased in recent years, with the structures of several key proteins and assemblies in the pathway being released. In this review, we provide a brief overview of canonical Wnt signalling, followed by a comprehensive overview of currently available X-ray, NMR and cryoEM data elaborating the structures of proteins and interactions involved in canonical Wnt signalling. While the volume of structures available is considerable, numerous gaps in knowledge remain, particularly a comprehensive understanding of the assembly of large multiprotein complexes mediating key aspects of pathway, as well as understanding the structure and activation of membrane receptors in the pathway. Nonetheless, the presently available data affords considerable opportunities for structure-based drug design efforts targeting canonical Wnt signalling.
Collapse
|
22
|
Ohkawara B, Ito M, Ohno K. Secreted Signaling Molecules at the Neuromuscular Junction in Physiology and Pathology. Int J Mol Sci 2021; 22:ijms22052455. [PMID: 33671084 PMCID: PMC7957818 DOI: 10.3390/ijms22052455] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2021] [Accepted: 02/25/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Signal transduction at the neuromuscular junction (NMJ) is affected in many human diseases, including congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS), myasthenia gravis, Lambert–Eaton myasthenic syndrome, Isaacs’ syndrome, Schwartz–Jampel syndrome, Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and sarcopenia. The NMJ is a prototypic cholinergic synapse between the motor neuron and the skeletal muscle. Synaptogenesis of the NMJ has been extensively studied, which has also been extrapolated to further understand synapse formation in the central nervous system. Studies of genetically engineered mice have disclosed crucial roles of secreted molecules in the development and maintenance of the NMJ. In this review, we focus on the secreted signaling molecules which regulate the clustering of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) at the NMJ. We first discuss the signaling pathway comprised of neural agrin and its receptors, low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4 (Lrp4) and muscle-specific receptor tyrosine kinase (MuSK). This pathway drives the clustering of acetylcholine receptors (AChRs) to ensure efficient signal transduction at the NMJ. We also discuss three secreted molecules (Rspo2, Fgf18, and connective tissue growth factor (Ctgf)) that we recently identified in the Wnt/β-catenin and fibroblast growth factors (FGF) signaling pathways. The three secreted molecules facilitate the clustering of AChRs by enhancing the agrin-Lrp4-MuSK signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bisei Ohkawara
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-52-744-2447; Fax: +81-52-744-2449
| | | | | |
Collapse
|
23
|
Zhang C, Mei H, Robertson SYT, Lee HJ, Deng SX, Zheng JJ. A Small-Molecule Wnt Mimic Improves Human Limbal Stem Cell Ex Vivo Expansion. iScience 2020; 23:101075. [PMID: 32361505 PMCID: PMC7200314 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Ex vivo cultured limbal stem/progenitor cells is an effective alternative to other surgical treatments for limbal stem cell deficiency, but a standard xenobiotic-free method for culturing the LSCs in vitro needs to be optimized. Because Wnt ligands are required for LSC expansion and preservation in vitro, to create a small-molecule Wnt mimic, we created a consolidated compound by linking a Wnt inhibitor that binds to the Wnt co-receptor Frizzled to a peptide derived from the N-terminal Dickkopf-1 that binds to Lrp (low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein) 5/6, another Wnt co-receptor. This Wnt mimic not only enhances cellular Wnt signaling activation, but also improves the progenitor cell phenotype of in vitro cultured limbal epithelial cells. As the maintenance of stem cell characteristics in the process of culture expansion is essential for the success of ocular surface reconstruction, the small molecules generated in this study may be helpful in the development of pharmaceutical reagents for treating corneal wounds.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Chi Zhang
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Hua Mei
- Department of Ophthalmology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA
| | - Sarah Y T Robertson
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA
| | - Ho-Jin Lee
- Department of Natural Sciences, Southwest Tennessee Community College, Memphis, TN 38134, USA
| | - Sophie X Deng
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| | - Jie J Zheng
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA 90095, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
24
|
Zhao R, Xiao Q, Li M, Ren W, Xia C, Liu X, Li Y, Tan T, Wu D, Sun L. Rational design of peptides for identification of linear epitopes and generation of neutralizing monoclonal antibodies against DKK2 for cancer therapy. Antib Ther 2020; 3:63-70. [PMID: 32391516 PMCID: PMC7194219 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbaa004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2020] [Revised: 03/06/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2020] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Dickkopf-related protein 2 (DKK2)is a member of the Dickkopf family in Wnt signaling pathway. Recently, we found that antibodies against DKK2 could activate natural killer (NK) and CD8+ T cells in tumors and inhibit tumor growth. In this paper, we report the rational design of peptides for identification of linear epitopes and generation of neutralizing monoclonal anti-DKK2 antibodies. To break the immune tolerance, we designed and chemically synthesized six peptides corresponding to different regions of DKK2 as immunogens and found five of them could generate mouse polyclonal antibodies that can bind to the active recombinant human DKK2 protein. Neutralizing mouse monoclonal antibodies (5F8 and 1A10) against human DKK2 were successfully developed by immunizing the mice with two different peptides (34KLNSIKSSL42 and 240KVWKDATYS248) conjugated to Keyhole limpet hemocyanin (KLH). The monoclonal antibodies not only abolish DKK2’s suppression of Wnt signaling in vitro but also inhibits tumor growth in vivo. Currently, those two mAbs are undergoing humanization as immunotherapy candidates and may offer a new drug for treatment of human cancers.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rongqing Zhao
- AbMax BioPharmaceuticals Co., LTD, Beijing 101111, China.,AnyGo Technology Co., LTD, Beijing 100122, China
| | - Qian Xiao
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program and Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven 201942, USA
| | - Maohua Li
- AbMax BioPharmaceuticals Co., LTD, Beijing 101111, China
| | - Wenlin Ren
- AbMax BioPharmaceuticals Co., LTD, Beijing 101111, China
| | - Chenxi Xia
- AbMax BioPharmaceuticals Co., LTD, Beijing 101111, China
| | - Xudong Liu
- AbMax BioPharmaceuticals Co., LTD, Beijing 101111, China
| | - Yingzi Li
- AbMax BioPharmaceuticals Co., LTD, Beijing 101111, China
| | - Tan Tan
- Hengyang Medical College, University of South China, Hengyang 421001, China
| | - Dianqing Wu
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program and Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven 201942, USA
| | - Le Sun
- AbMax BioPharmaceuticals Co., LTD, Beijing 101111, China
| |
Collapse
|
25
|
Li R, Lin S, Zhu M, Deng Y, Chen X, Wei K, Xu J, Li G, Bian L. Synthetic presentation of noncanonical Wnt5a motif promotes mechanosensing-dependent differentiation of stem cells and regeneration. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2019; 5:eaaw3896. [PMID: 31663014 PMCID: PMC6795506 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aaw3896] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2019] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Noncanonical Wnt signaling in stem cells is essential to numerous developmental events. However, no prior studies have capitalized on the osteoinductive potential of noncanonical Wnt ligands to functionalize biomaterials in enhancing the osteogenesis and associated skeleton formation. Here, we investigated the efficacy of the functionalization of biomaterials with a synthetic Wnt5a mimetic ligand (Foxy5 peptide) to promote the mechanosensing and osteogenesis of human mesenchymal stem cells by activating noncanonical Wnt signaling. Our findings showed that the immobilized Wnt5a mimetic ligand activated noncanonical Wnt signaling via the up-regulation of Disheveled 2 and downstream RhoA-ROCK signaling, leading to enhanced intracellular calcium level, F-actin stability, actomyosin contractility, and cell adhesion structure development. This enhanced mechanotransduction in stem cells promoted the in vitro osteogenic lineage commitment and the in vivo healing of rat calvarial defects. Our work provides valuable guidance for the developmentally inspired design of biomaterials for a wide array of therapeutic applications.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Rui Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Sien Lin
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Meiling Zhu
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Yingrui Deng
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Xiaoyu Chen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Kongchang Wei
- Empa, Swiss Federal Laboratories for Materials Science and Technology, Laboratory for Biomimetic Membranes and Textiles, Lerchenfeldstrasse 5, CH-9014 St. Gallen, Switzerland
| | - Jianbin Xu
- Biomedical Research Center, Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang 310016, P. R. China
| | - Gang Li
- Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
| | - Liming Bian
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- Shenzhen Research Institute, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories 999077, Hong Kong, P. R. China
- China Orthopedic Regenerative Medicine Group (CORMed), Hangzhou, P. R. China
- Center of Novel Biomaterials, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Sha Tin, New Territories, 999077 Hong Kong, P.R. China
| |
Collapse
|
26
|
Issa Bhaloo S, Wu Y, Le Bras A, Yu B, Gu W, Xie Y, Deng J, Wang Z, Zhang Z, Kong D, Hu Y, Qu A, Zhao Q, Xu Q. Binding of Dickkopf-3 to CXCR7 Enhances Vascular Progenitor Cell Migration and Degradable Graft Regeneration. Circ Res 2019; 123:451-466. [PMID: 29980568 PMCID: PMC6092110 DOI: 10.1161/circresaha.118.312945] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Rationale: Vascular progenitor cells play key roles in physiological and pathological vascular remodeling—a process that is crucial for the regeneration of acellular biodegradable scaffolds engineered as vital strategies against the limited availability of healthy autologous vessels for bypass grafting. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms driving vascular progenitor cells recruitment and differentiation could help the development of new strategies to improve tissue-engineered vessel grafts and design drug-targeted therapy for vessel regeneration. Objective: In this study, we sought to investigate the role of Dkk3 (dickkopf-3), recently identified as a cytokine promotor of endothelial repair and smooth muscle cell differentiation, on vascular progenitor cells cell migration and vascular regeneration and to identify its functional receptor that remains unknown. Methods and Results: Vascular stem/progenitor cells were isolated from murine aortic adventitia and selected for the Sca-1 (stem cell antigen-1) marker. Dkk3 induced the chemotaxis of Sca-1+ cells in vitro in transwell and wound healing assays and ex vivo in the aortic ring assay. Functional studies to identify Dkk3 receptor revealed that overexpression or knockdown of chemokine receptor CXCR7 (C-X-C chemokine receptor type 7) in Sca-1+ cells resulted in alterations in cell migration. Coimmunoprecipitation experiments using Sca-1+ cell extracts treated with Dkk3 showed the physical interaction between DKK3 and CXCR7, and specific saturation binding assays identified a high-affinity Dkk3-CXCR7 binding with a dissociation constant of 14.14 nmol/L. Binding of CXCR7 by Dkk3 triggered the subsequent activation of ERK1/2 (extracellular signal-regulated kinases 1/2)-, PI3K (phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase)/AKT (protein kinase B)-, Rac1 (Ras-related C3 botulinum toxin substrate 1)-, and RhoA (Ras homolog gene family, member A)-signaling pathways involved in Sca-1+ cell migration. Tissue-engineered vessel grafts were fabricated with or without Dkk3 and implanted to replace the rat abdominal aorta. Dkk3-loaded tissue-engineered vessel grafts showed efficient endothelization and recruitment of vascular progenitor cells, which had acquired characteristics of mature smooth muscle cells. CXCR7 blocking using specific antibodies in this vessel graft model hampered stem/progenitor cell recruitment into the vessel wall, thus compromising vascular remodeling. Conclusions: We provide a novel and solid evidence that CXCR7 serves as Dkk3 receptor, which mediates Dkk3-induced vascular progenitor migration in vitro and in tissue-engineered vessels, hence harnessing patent grafts resembling native blood vessels.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Shirin Issa Bhaloo
- From the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre, United Kingdom (S.I.B., A.L.B., W.G., Y.X., J.D., Z.Z., Y.H., Q.X.)
| | - Yifan Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China (Y.W., Z.W., D.K., Q.Z.)
| | - Alexandra Le Bras
- From the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre, United Kingdom (S.I.B., A.L.B., W.G., Y.X., J.D., Z.Z., Y.H., Q.X.)
| | - Baoqi Yu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (B.Y., A.Q.)
| | - Wenduo Gu
- From the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre, United Kingdom (S.I.B., A.L.B., W.G., Y.X., J.D., Z.Z., Y.H., Q.X.)
| | - Yao Xie
- From the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre, United Kingdom (S.I.B., A.L.B., W.G., Y.X., J.D., Z.Z., Y.H., Q.X.)
| | - Jiacheng Deng
- From the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre, United Kingdom (S.I.B., A.L.B., W.G., Y.X., J.D., Z.Z., Y.H., Q.X.)
| | - Zhihong Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China (Y.W., Z.W., D.K., Q.Z.)
| | - Zhongyi Zhang
- From the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre, United Kingdom (S.I.B., A.L.B., W.G., Y.X., J.D., Z.Z., Y.H., Q.X.)
| | - Deling Kong
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China (Y.W., Z.W., D.K., Q.Z.)
| | - Yanhua Hu
- From the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre, United Kingdom (S.I.B., A.L.B., W.G., Y.X., J.D., Z.Z., Y.H., Q.X.)
| | - Aijuan Qu
- Department of Physiology and Pathophysiology, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China (B.Y., A.Q.)
| | - Qiang Zhao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Key Laboratory of Bioactive Materials, Ministry of Education, College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin, China (Y.W., Z.W., D.K., Q.Z.)
| | - Qingbo Xu
- From the School of Cardiovascular Medicine and Sciences, King's College London British Heart Foundation Centre, United Kingdom (S.I.B., A.L.B., W.G., Y.X., J.D., Z.Z., Y.H., Q.X.)
| |
Collapse
|
27
|
Xia P, Gao X, Shao L, Chen Q, Li F, Wu C, Zhang W, Sun Y. Down-regulation of RAC2 by small interfering RNA restrains the progression of osteosarcoma by suppressing the Wnt signaling pathway. Int J Biol Macromol 2019; 137:1221-1231. [PMID: 31279058 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2019.07.016] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2018] [Revised: 07/02/2019] [Accepted: 07/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Osteosarcoma (OS) is the most common primary malignancy of bone and is characterized by a high malignant and metastatic potential. Microarray-based differentially expressed gene screening determined RAC2 as the candidate gene related to OS. Highly expressed RAC2 and activated Wnt signaling pathway were determined in OS tissues using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and Western blot analysis. The OS cells were transfected with siRNA-RAC2 or treated with BIO (activator of Wnt pathway), whereby the effects of siRNA-RAC2 on cell proliferation, invasion, cycle and apoptosis were analyzed by CCK-8, Transwell assay and flow cytometry. The mRNA and protein levels of RAC2 and the Wnt signaling pathway-, proliferation- and apoptosis-related genes in OS cells were determined by RT-qPCR and Western blot assay. Importantly, siRNA-mediated RAC2 silencing inhibited the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway in OS. siRNA-RAC2 inhibited the proliferation and invasion, while impeded OS cell cycle progression and facilitated cell apoptosis. However, activation of Wnt signaling pathway reversed the effects of siRNA-RAC2. Finally, orthotopic xenograft OS mouse model confirmed the in vivo anti-tumor effects by silencing RAC2. Taken together, RAC2 gene silencing could suppress OS progression. The mechanism was obtained by inhibiting the activation of the Wnt signaling pathway.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Peng Xia
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, PR China
| | - Xu Gao
- Department of Orthopaedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, PR China
| | - Liwei Shao
- Department of Orthopaedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, PR China
| | - Qi Chen
- Department of Orthopaedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, PR China
| | - Fang Li
- Department of Orthopaedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, PR China
| | - Changyan Wu
- Department of Orthopaedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, PR China
| | - Wei Zhang
- Department of Orthopaedics, Second Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130041, PR China
| | - Yifu Sun
- Department of Orthopaedics, China-Japan Union Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun 130033, PR China.
| |
Collapse
|
28
|
Tao Y, Mis M, Blazer L, Ustav M, Steinhart Z, Chidiac R, Kubarakos E, O'Brien S, Wang X, Jarvik N, Patel N, Adams J, Moffat J, Angers S, Sidhu SS. Tailored tetravalent antibodies potently and specifically activate Wnt/Frizzled pathways in cells, organoids and mice. eLife 2019; 8:e46134. [PMID: 31452509 PMCID: PMC6711705 DOI: 10.7554/elife.46134] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2019] [Accepted: 08/05/2019] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Secreted Wnt proteins regulate development and adult tissue homeostasis by binding and activating cell-surface Frizzled receptors and co-receptors including LRP5/6. The hydrophobicity of Wnt proteins has complicated their purification and limited their use in basic research and as therapeutics. We describe modular tetravalent antibodies that can recruit Frizzled and LRP5/6 in a manner that phenocopies the activities of Wnts both in vitro and in vivo. The modular nature of these synthetic Frizzled and LRP5/6 Agonists, called FLAgs, enables tailored engineering of specificity for one, two or multiple members of the Frizzled family. We show that FLAgs underlie differentiation of pluripotent stem cells, sustain organoid growth, and activate stem cells in vivo. Activation of Wnt signaling circuits with tailored FLAgs will enable precise delineation of functional outcomes directed by distinct receptor combinations and could provide a new class of therapeutics to unlock the promise of regenerative medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Yuyong Tao
- Donnelly CentreUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Monika Mis
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Levi Blazer
- Donnelly CentreUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Mart Ustav
- Donnelly CentreUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Zachary Steinhart
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Rony Chidiac
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Elli Kubarakos
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Siobhan O'Brien
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Xiaomei Wang
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Nick Jarvik
- Donnelly CentreUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Nish Patel
- Donnelly CentreUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | | | - Jason Moffat
- Donnelly CentreUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Canadian Institute for Advanced ResearchTorontoCanada
| | - Stephane Angers
- Department of Pharmaceutical SciencesLeslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- Donnelly CentreUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Department of Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoTorontoCanada
| |
Collapse
|
29
|
Rodrigues AM, Eusébio M, Rodrigues AB, Caetano-Lopes J, Lopes IP, Lopes A, Mendes JM, Coelho PS, Fonseca JE, Branco JC, Canhão H. Low Serum Levels of DKK2 Predict Incident Low-Impact Fracture in Older Women. JBMR Plus 2019; 3:e10179. [PMID: 31372588 PMCID: PMC6659448 DOI: 10.1002/jbm4.10179] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/10/2018] [Revised: 12/18/2018] [Accepted: 01/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
There are currently no robust noninvasive markers of fragility fractures. Secreted frizzled related protein‐1 (sFRP‐1), dickkopf‐related protein 1 (DKK1) and DKK2, and sclerostin (SOST) inhibit Wnt signaling and interfere with osteoblast‐mediated bone formation. We evaluated associations of serum levels of sFRP‐1, DKK1, DKK2, and SOST with incident low‐impact fracture and BMD in 828 women aged ≥65 years from EpiDoC, a longitudinal population‐based cohort. A structured questionnaire during a baseline clinical appointment assessed prevalent fragility fractures and clinical risk factors (CRFs) for fracture. Blood was collected to measure serum levels of bone turnover markers and Wnt regulators. Lumbar spine and hip BMD were determined by DXA scanning. Follow‐up assessment was performed through a phone interview; incident fragility fracture was defined by any new self‐reported low‐impact fracture. Multivariate Cox proportional hazard models were used to analyze fracture risk adjusted for CRFs and BMD. During a mean follow‐up of 2.3 ± 1.0 years, 62 low‐impact fractures were sustained in 58 women. A low serum DKK2 level (per 1 SD decrease) was associated with a 1.5‐fold increase in fracture risk independently of BMD and CRFs. Women in the two lowest DKK2 quartiles had a fracture incidence rate of 32 per 1000 person‐years, whereas women in the two highest quartiles had 14 fragility fractures per 1000 person‐years. A high serum sFRP1 level was associated with a 1.6‐fold increase in fracture risk adjusted for CRFs, but not independently of BMD. Serum levels of SOST (r = 0.191; p = 0.0025) and DKK1(r = −0.1725; p = 0.011) were correlated with hip BMD, but not with incident fragility fracture. These results indicate that serum DKK2 and sFRP1 may predict low‐impact fracture. The low number of incident fractures recorded is a limitation and serum levels of Wnt regulators should be further studied in other populations as potential noninvasive markers of fragility fractures. © 2019 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Rodrigues
- CEDOC EpiDoc Unit-Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Nova Medical School Universidade Nova de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal.,Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal.,Associação EpiSaúde Évora Portugal
| | | | - Ana B Rodrigues
- Faculdade de Medicina da Universidade de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | - Joana Caetano-Lopes
- Department of Orthopaedic Research Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA; Department of Genetics Harvard Medical School Boston MA USA
| | - Inês P Lopes
- Unidade de Investigação em Reumatologia Instituto de Medicina Molecular Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | - Ana Lopes
- Unidade de Investigação em Reumatologia Instituto de Medicina Molecular Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | | | | | - João Eurico Fonseca
- Unidade de Investigação em Reumatologia Instituto de Medicina Molecular Faculdade de Medicina Universidade de Lisboa Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal.,Serviço de Reumatologia e Doença Ósseas Metabólicas Hospital de Santa Maria CHLN Centro Académico de Medicina de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| | - Jaime C Branco
- CEDOC EpiDoc Unit-Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Nova Medical School Universidade Nova de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal.,Centro de Estudos de Doenças Crónicas (CEDOC) da NOVA Medical School Universidade Nova de Lisboa (NMS/UNL) Lisboa Portugal.,Serviço de Reumatologia do Hospital Egas Moniz-Centro Hospitalar Lisboa Ocidental (CHLO- E.P.E.) Lisboa Portugal
| | - Helena Canhão
- CEDOC EpiDoc Unit-Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases Nova Medical School Universidade Nova de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal.,Associação EpiSaúde Évora Portugal.,Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública Universidade Nova de Lisboa Lisboa Portugal
| |
Collapse
|
30
|
Shen T, Chen Z, Qiao J, Sun X, Xiao Q. Neutralizing monoclonal antibody against Dickkopf2 impairs lung cancer progression via activating NK cells. Cell Death Discov 2019; 5:123. [PMID: 31372243 PMCID: PMC6668384 DOI: 10.1038/s41420-019-0204-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2019] [Revised: 07/03/2019] [Accepted: 07/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Adenomatous polyposis coli (APC) and KRAS proto-oncogene (KRAS) mutations frequently co-occur in non-small cell lung cancer. Inactivating APC mutations in colorectal carcinoma has been well characterized, leading to the approaches targeting on dysregulated APC pathway. However, it remains undetermined whether such approaches are also applicable to non-small cell lung cancer patients harboring similar mutations of APC. Dickkopf-related protein 2 (DKK2) is a Wnt antagonist. Our previous study has proved that anti-DKK2 antibody 5F8 suppressed the growth of colorectal carcinoma with APC mutations, illustrating a new target agent of APC-mutated tumors. This study aimed to investigate the potential of applying anti-DKK2 antibody to non-small cell lung cancer with APC mutations. We found significant upregulation of Dkk2 expression in APC-mutated lung cancers. Administration of DKK2 antibody inhibited cancer growth via modulating tumor immune microenvironment in lung cancer mouse models. Our study provided strong evidence supporting APC mutations-directed applications of anti-DKK2 targeted therapy in a wide range of cancer types, including lung cancer.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Tianli Shen
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Yale University, 10 Amistad St, New Haven, CT USA
| | - Zhengxi Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Yale University, 10 Amistad St, New Haven, CT USA
- Department of Orthodontics, Shanghai Ninth People׳s Hospital, School of Stomatology, Shanghai key Laboratory of Stomatology, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, China
| | - Ju Qiao
- Department of Mechanical and Industrial Engineering, Northeastern University, Boston, MA USA
| | - Xuejun Sun
- Department of General Surgery, First Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Xi’an, Shaanxi China
| | - Qian Xiao
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Yale University, 10 Amistad St, New Haven, CT USA
| |
Collapse
|
31
|
González S, Oh D, Baclagon ER, Zheng JJ, Deng SX. Wnt Signaling Is Required for the Maintenance of Human Limbal Stem/Progenitor Cells In Vitro. Invest Ophthalmol Vis Sci 2019; 60:107-112. [PMID: 30640975 PMCID: PMC6333110 DOI: 10.1167/iovs.18-25740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose A chemical approach to examine the role of Wnt signaling in maintaining the stemness and/or proliferation of limbal stem/progenitor cells (LSCs). Methods LSCs were isolated from human donor eyes and cultured as single cells for 12 to 14 days with the following small molecules: IIIC3, an antagonist of the Wnt signaling inhibitor Dickkopf (DKK), and IC15, a Wnt signaling inhibitor. Proliferation of LSCs in the presence of IIIC3 and IC15 was determined by the number of cells and colonies established. Maintenance of stemness was determined by p63α, cytokeratin (K)12, and K14 expression. Results Activation of Wnt, through IIIC3-mediated DKK inhibition, resulted in similar colony forming efficiency (CFE) as in the untreated LSCs, but significantly increased the number of cultivated cells 7.21% with 5 μM. Inhibition of Wnt with IC15 significantly reduced the CFE (P ≤ 0.01) and the number of cultivated cells by 16% to 29%. Percentage of cells expressing high levels of p63α (p63αbright) and quantity of small cells (≤12 μm), which contain the LSCs, increased 4.71% and 11.26% (both P < 0.05), respectively, with 5 μM IIIC3. All concentrations of IIIC3 and IC15 retained the K14 undifferentiated marker (97%), while differentiation, as detected by expression of K12, was found in up to 2% of cells in 1 μM IIIC3, 1 μM IC15, or 5 μM IIIC3. Conclusions Wnt signaling is required in LSC proliferation and maintenance of an undifferentiated state. The current study is a proof of concept that the Wnt pathway could be modulated in LSCs to enhance or decrease the efficiency of human LSC expansion.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Sheyla González
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Denise Oh
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Elfren R Baclagon
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Jie J Zheng
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| | - Sophie X Deng
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, California, United States
| |
Collapse
|
32
|
Chae WJ, Bothwell ALM. Dickkopf1: An immunomodulatory ligand and Wnt antagonist in pathological inflammation. Differentiation 2019; 108:33-39. [PMID: 31221431 DOI: 10.1016/j.diff.2019.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2019] [Revised: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway plays essential roles in tissue or organ homeostasis by regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. Upon tissue or organ injury, inflammation is coupled with tissue repair and regeneration process. The canonical Wnt signaling transduction pathway is crucial for cell proliferation, cell differentiation, and tissue regeneration. Dickkopf1 (DKK1) is a quintessential Wnt antagonist that inhibits the Wnt-mediated tissue repair process. Recent studies reported increased levels of DKK1 in many diseases such as cancer, infection, and musculoskeletal diseases. In many cases, the role of DKK1 has been identified as a pro-inflammatory ligand and the expression levels are associated with poor disease outcomes. A variety of cell types including platelets, endothelial cells, and cancer cells secrete DKK1 upon stimuli. This puts DKK1 in a unique place to view immune responses from multicellular interactions in tissue injury and repair process. In this review, we discuss recent efforts to address the underlying mechanism regarding the pro-inflammatory role of DKK1 in cancer, bone diseases, and other inflammatory diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Wook-Jin Chae
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA; Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Medicine, 1101 Marshall Street, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA; Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, 401 College Street, Richmond, VA, 23298, USA.
| | - Alfred L M Bothwell
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale University School of Medicine, 300 Cedar Street, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA.
| |
Collapse
|
33
|
Tian B, Widen SG, Yang J, Wood TG, Kudlicki A, Zhao Y, Brasier AR. The NFκB subunit RELA is a master transcriptional regulator of the committed epithelial-mesenchymal transition in airway epithelial cells. J Biol Chem 2018; 293:16528-16545. [PMID: 30166344 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.ra118.003662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/23/2018] [Revised: 07/20/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a multistep dedifferentiation program important in tissue repair. Here, we examined the role of the transcriptional regulator NF-κB in EMT of primary human small airway epithelial cells (hSAECs). Surprisingly, transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) activated NF-κB/RELA proto-oncogene, NF-κB subunit (RELA) translocation within 1 day of stimulation, yet induction of its downstream gene regulatory network occurred only after 3 days. A time course of TGFβ-induced EMT transition was analyzed by RNA-Seq in the absence or presence of inducible shRNA-mediated silencing of RELA. In WT cells, TGFβ stimulation significantly affected the expression of 2,441 genes. Gene set enrichment analysis identified WNT, cadherin, and NF-κB signaling as the most prominent TGFβ-inducible pathways. By comparison, RELA controlled expression of 3,138 overlapping genes mapping to WNT, cadherin, and chemokine signaling pathways. Conducting upstream regulator analysis, we found that RELA controls six clusters of upstream transcription factors, many of which overlapped with a transcription factor topology map of EMT developed earlier. RELA triggered expression of three key EMT pathways: 1) the WNT/β-catenin morphogen pathway, 2) the JUN transcription factor, and 3) the Snail family transcriptional repressor 1 (SNAI1). RELA binding to target genes was confirmed by ChIP. Experiments independently validating WNT dependence on RELA were performed by silencing RELA via genome editing and indicated that TGFβ-induced WNT5B expression and downstream activation of the WNT target AXIN2 are RELA-dependent. We conclude that RELA is a master transcriptional regulator of EMT upstream of WNT morphogen, JUN, SNAI1-ZEB1, and interleukin-6 autocrine loops.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bing Tian
- From the Departments of Internal Medicine and.,Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, and
| | - Steven G Widen
- Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, and.,Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
| | - Jun Yang
- From the Departments of Internal Medicine and.,Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, and
| | - Thomas G Wood
- Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, and.,Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
| | - Andrzej Kudlicki
- Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, and.,Biochemistry and Molecular Biology.,Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555 and
| | - Yingxin Zhao
- From the Departments of Internal Medicine and.,Sealy Center for Molecular Medicine, and.,Institute for Translational Sciences, University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas 77555 and
| | - Allan R Brasier
- Institute for Clinical and Translational Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin 53705
| |
Collapse
|
34
|
Mazon M, Larouche V, St-Louis M, Schindler D, Carreau M. Elevated blood levels of Dickkopf-1 are associated with acute infections. IMMUNITY INFLAMMATION AND DISEASE 2018; 6:428-434. [PMID: 30028084 PMCID: PMC6247238 DOI: 10.1002/iid3.232] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Accepted: 07/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/15/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is a soluble protein and antagonist of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. DKK1 is found elevated in serum from patients affected with various types of cancers and in some instances, it is considered a diagnostic and prognostic biomarker. Elevated serum levels of DKK1 have also been detected in animal models of chronic inflammatory diseases. Previous work from our laboratory has demonstrated upregulation of DKK1 in cells and mouse models of the bone marrow failure (BMF) and cancer-prone disease Fanconi anemia (FA). The present study aimed to investigate whether DKK1 blood levels in patients are associated with FA or inflammatory responses to acute infections. METHODS Plasma samples were collected from 58 children admitted to the Centre Mère-Enfant Soleil du Centre Hospitalier de Québec-Université Laval with signs of acute infections. Blood plasma specimens were also collected from healthy blood donors at the Héma-Québec blood donor clinic. Plasmas from patients diagnosed with FA were also included in the study. DKK1 levels in blood plasmas were assessed by standard ELISA. RESULTS Patients with acute infections showed dramatically high levels of DKK1 (6072 ± 518 pg/ml) in their blood compared to healthy blood donors (1726 ± 95 pg/ml). No correlations were found between DKK1 levels and C reactive protein (CRP) concentration, platelet numbers, or white blood cell counts. Patients with FA showed higher DKK1 plasma levels (3419 ± 147.5 pg/ml) than healthy blood donors (1726 ± 95 pg/ml) but significantly lower than patients with acute infections. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that blood DKK1 is elevated in response to infections and perhaps to inflammatory responses.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Melody Mazon
- Centre Hospitalier de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada
| | - Valérie Larouche
- Centre Hospitalier de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, Université Laval, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada
| | | | - Detlev Schindler
- Department of Human Genetics, University of Wurzburg, Wurzburg 97070, Germany
| | - Madeleine Carreau
- Centre Hospitalier de Québec-Université Laval Research Center, Québec, G1V 4G2, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, Université Laval, Québec, G1V 0A6, Canada
| |
Collapse
|
35
|
Xiao Q, Wu J, Wang WJ, Chen S, Zheng Y, Yu X, Meeth K, Sahraei M, Bothwell ALM, Chen L, Bosenberg M, Chen J, Sexl V, Sun L, Li L, Tang W, Wu D. DKK2 imparts tumor immunity evasion through β-catenin-independent suppression of cytotoxic immune-cell activation. Nat Med 2018; 24:262-270. [PMID: 29431745 PMCID: PMC5840007 DOI: 10.1038/nm.4496] [Citation(s) in RCA: 104] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2017] [Accepted: 01/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Immunotherapy offers new options for cancer treatment, but efficacy varies across cancer types. Colorectal cancers (CRCs) are largely refractory to immune-checkpoint blockade, which suggests the presence of yet uncharacterized immune-suppressive mechanisms. Here we report that the loss of adenomatosis polyposis coli (APC) in intestinal tumor cells or of the tumor suppressor PTEN in melanoma cells upregulates the expression of Dickkopf-related protein 2 (DKK2), which, together with its receptor LRP5, provides an unconventional mechanism for tumor immune evasion. DKK2 secreted by tumor cells acts on cytotoxic lymphocytes, inhibiting STAT5 signaling by impeding STAT5 nuclear localization via LRP5, but independently of LRP6 and the Wnt-β-catenin pathway. Genetic or antibody-mediated ablation of DKK2 activates natural killer (NK) cells and CD8+ T cells in tumors, impedes tumor progression, and enhances the effects of PD-1 blockade. Thus, we have identified a previously unknown tumor immune-suppressive mechanism and immunotherapeutic targets particularly relevant for CRCs and a subset of melanomas.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Qian Xiao
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program and Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Jibo Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wei-Jia Wang
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program and Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Shiyang Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Yingxia Zheng
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program and Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Xiaoqing Yu
- Biostatistics Department, Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Katrina Meeth
- Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Mahnaz Sahraei
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program and Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Alfred L. M. Bothwell
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Lieping Chen
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Marcus Bosenberg
- Departments of Dermatology and Pathology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Yale Cancer Center, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Jianfeng Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Shanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Veronika Sexl
- Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Department for Biomedical Sciences, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Lin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Molecular Biology, CAS Center for Excellence in Molecular Cell Science, Innovation Center for Cell Signaling Network, Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of sciences, Shanghai 200031, China
| | - Wenwen Tang
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program and Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| | - Dianqing Wu
- Vascular Biology and Therapeutic Program and Department of Pharmacology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
- Department of Immunobiology, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06520
| |
Collapse
|
36
|
Kagey MH, He X. Rationale for targeting the Wnt signalling modulator Dickkopf-1 for oncology. Br J Pharmacol 2017; 174:4637-4650. [PMID: 28574171 PMCID: PMC5727329 DOI: 10.1111/bph.13894] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2017] [Revised: 05/12/2017] [Accepted: 05/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signalling is a fundamental pathway involved in embryonic development and adult tissue homeostasis. Mutations in the pathway frequently lead to developmental defects and cancer. As such, therapeutic intervention of this pathway has generated tremendous interest. Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) is a secreted inhibitor of β-catenin-dependent Wnt signalling and was originally characterized as a tumour suppressor based on the prevailing view that Wnt signalling promotes cancer pathogenesis. However, DKK1 appears to increase tumour growth and metastasis in preclinical models and its elevated expression correlates with a poor prognosis in a range of cancers, indicating that DKK1 has more complex cellular and biological functions than originally appreciated. Here, we review current evidence for the cancer-promoting activity of DKK1 and recent insights into the effects of DKK1 on signalling pathways in both cancer and immune cells. We discuss the rationale and promise of targeting DKK1 for oncology. LINKED ARTICLES This article is part of a themed section on WNT Signalling: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Opportunities. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v174.24/issuetoc.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
| | - Xi He
- The F. M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Department of NeurologyHarvard Medical SchoolBostonMAUSA
| |
Collapse
|
37
|
Redondo PA, Pavlou M, Loizidou M, Cheema U. Elements of the niche for adult stem cell expansion. J Tissue Eng 2017; 8:2041731417725464. [PMID: 28890779 PMCID: PMC5574483 DOI: 10.1177/2041731417725464] [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: 05/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/18/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Adult stem cells are crucial for tissue homeostasis. These cells reside within exclusive locations in tissues, termed niches, which protect adult stem cell fidelity and regulate their many functions through biophysical-, biochemical- and cellular-mediated mechanisms. There is a growing understanding of how these mechanisms and their components contribute towards maintaining stem cell quiescence, self-renewal, expansion and differentiation patterns. In vitro expansion of adult stem cells is a powerful tool for understanding stem cell biology, and for tissue engineering and regenerative medicine applications. However, it is technically challenging, since adult stem cell removal from their native microenvironment has negative repercussions on their sustainability. In this review, we overview specific elements of the biomimetic niche and how recreating such elements can help in vitro propagation of adult stem cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Patricia A Redondo
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marina Pavlou
- Institute of Orthopaedics & Musculoskeletal Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Marilena Loizidou
- Division of Surgery and Interventional Science, University College London, London, UK
| | - Umber Cheema
- Institute of Orthopaedics & Musculoskeletal Science, University College London, London, UK
| |
Collapse
|
38
|
Merello E, Tattini L, Magi A, Accogli A, Piatelli G, Pavanello M, Tortora D, Cama A, Kibar Z, Capra V, De Marco P. Exome sequencing of two Italian pedigrees with non-isolated Chiari malformation type I reveals candidate genes for cranio-facial development. Eur J Hum Genet 2017; 25:952-959. [PMID: 28513615 DOI: 10.1038/ejhg.2017.71] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2017] [Revised: 03/03/2017] [Accepted: 04/05/2017] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Chiari malformation type I (CMI) is a congenital abnormality of the cranio-cerebral junction with an estimated incidence of 1 in 1280. CMI is characterized by underdevelopment of the occipital bone and posterior fossa (PF) and consequent cerebellar tonsil herniation. The presence for a genetic basis to CMI is supported by many lines of evidence. The cellular and molecular mechanisms leading to CM1 are poorly understood. The occipital bone formation is dependent on complex interactions between genes and molecules with pathologies resulting from disruption of this delicate process. Whole-exome sequencing of affected and not affected individuals from two Italian families with non-isolated CMI was undertaken. Single-nucleotide and short insertion-deletion variants were prioritized using KGGSeq knowledge-based platform. We identified three heterozygous missense variants: DKK1 c.121G>A (p.(A41T)) in the first family, and the LRP4 c.2552C>G (p.(T851R)) and BMP1 c.941G>A (p.(R314H)) in the second family. The variants were located at highly conserved residues, segregated with the disease, but they were not observed in 100 unaffected in-house controls. DKK1 encodes for a potent soluble WNT inhibitor that binds to LRP5 and LRP6, and is itself regulated by bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs). DKK1 is required for embryonic head development and patterning. LRP4 is a novel osteoblast expressed receptor for DKK1 and a WNT and BMP 4 pathways integrator. Screening of DKK1 in a cohort of 65 CMI sporadic patients identified another missense variant, the c.359G>T (p.(R120L)), in two unrelated patients. These findings implicated the WNT signaling in the correct development of the cranial mesenchyme originating the PF.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Merello
- Dipartimento Testa-Collo e Neuroscienze, UOC Neurochirurgia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italia
| | - Lorenzo Tattini
- Dipartimento di Informatica, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italia.,Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italia
| | - Alberto Magi
- Dipartimento di Medicina Clinica e Sperimentale, Università di Firenze, Firenze, Italia
| | - Andrea Accogli
- Dipartimento Testa-Collo e Neuroscienze, UOC Neurochirurgia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italia
| | - Gianluca Piatelli
- Dipartimento Testa-Collo e Neuroscienze, UOC Neurochirurgia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italia
| | - Marco Pavanello
- Dipartimento Testa-Collo e Neuroscienze, UOC Neurochirurgia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italia
| | - Domenico Tortora
- Dipartimento Testa-Collo e Neuroscienze, UOC Neurochirurgia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italia
| | - Armando Cama
- Dipartimento Testa-Collo e Neuroscienze, UOC Neurochirurgia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italia
| | - Zoha Kibar
- Department of Neurosciences, University of Montreal, CHU Sainte Justine Research, Montreal, Canada
| | - Valeria Capra
- Dipartimento Testa-Collo e Neuroscienze, UOC Neurochirurgia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italia
| | - Patrizia De Marco
- Dipartimento Testa-Collo e Neuroscienze, UOC Neurochirurgia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genova, Italia
| |
Collapse
|
39
|
Computationally Design of Inhibitory Peptides Against Wnt Signaling Pathway: In Silico Insight on Complex of DKK1 and LRP6. Int J Pept Res Ther 2017. [DOI: 10.1007/s10989-017-9589-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
|
40
|
Bhuvanalakshmi G, Basappa, Rangappa KS, Dharmarajan A, Sethi G, Kumar AP, Warrier S. Breast Cancer Stem-Like Cells Are Inhibited by Diosgenin, a Steroidal Saponin, by the Attenuation of the Wnt β-Catenin Signaling via the Wnt Antagonist Secreted Frizzled Related Protein-4. Front Pharmacol 2017; 8:124. [PMID: 28373842 PMCID: PMC5357646 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2017.00124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/28/2017] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Identification of breast cancer stem cells as the chemo-resistant and tumor-initiating population represents an important milestone in approaching anticancer therapies. Targeting this minor subpopulation of chemo- and radio-resistant stem-like cells, termed as the cancer stem cells (CSCs) and their eradication could significantly enhance clinical outcomes. Most of the presently administered chemotherapeutics target the tumor bulk but are ineffective against the CSCs. We report here that diosgenin (DG), a naturally occurring steroidal saponin, could effectively inhibit CSCs from three breast cancer cell lines, MCF7, T47D and MDA-MB-231, by inducing apoptosis and inhibiting the CSC associated phenotypes. Methods: CSCs were enriched in these cells lines, characterized for CSC traits by immunocytochemistry and flow cytometry. Proliferation and apoptosis assays were performed in these breast CSCs in the presence of DG to obtain the inhibitory concentration. Apoptosis was confirmed with gene expression analysis, Western blotting and propidium iodide staining. TCF-LEF reporter assay, sFRP overexpression and RNAi silencing studies were performed to study regulation of the Wnt pathway. Statistical significance was evaluated by a two-sided Student’s t-test. Results: Using the TCF-LEF reporter system, we show the effect of DG on CSCs is predominantly through the network regulating CSC self renewal, the Wnt β-catenin pathway. Specifically, the Wnt antagonist, the secreted frizzled related protein 4, (sFRP4), had a defining role in the action of DG. Gain-of-function of sFRP4 in CSCs could improve the response to DG wherein CSC mediators were inhibited, β-catenin was down regulated and the effectors of epithelial to mesenchymal transition and pro-invasive markers were repressed. Conversely, the loss-of-function of sFRP4 had a reverse effect on the CSC population which therein became enriched, their response to DG treatment was modest, β-catenin levels increased, GSK3β expression decreased and the expression of epithelial markers of CSC was completely abrogated. Conclusion: These findings demonstrate the effect of DG on inhibiting the resilient breast CSCs which could provide a benchmark for the development of DG-based therapies in breast cancer treatment.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- G Bhuvanalakshmi
- Division of Cancer Stem Cells and Cardiovascular Regeneration, Manipal School of Regenerative Medicine, Manipal University Bangalore, India
| | - Basappa
- Laboratory of Chemical Biology, Department of Chemistry, Bangalore University Bangalore, India
| | | | - Arun Dharmarajan
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, Perth WA, Australia
| | - Gautam Sethi
- Stem Cell and Cancer Biology Laboratory, School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, PerthWA, Australia; Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeSingapore, Singapore
| | - Alan P Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeSingapore, Singapore; Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of SingaporeSingapore, Singapore; Curtin Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, PerthWA, Australia; National University Cancer Institute, National University Health SystemSingapore, Singapore; Department of Biological Sciences, University of North Texas, DentonTX, USA; Manipal School of Regenerative Medicine, Manipal UniversityBangalore, India
| | - Sudha Warrier
- Division of Cancer Stem Cells and Cardiovascular Regeneration, Manipal School of Regenerative Medicine, Manipal UniversityBangalore, India; Curtin Medical School, Faculty of Health Sciences, Curtin University, PerthWA, Australia; School of Biomedical Sciences, Curtin Health Innovation Research Institute, Curtin University, PerthWA, Australia
| |
Collapse
|
41
|
Poorebrahim M, Sadeghi S, Rahimi H, Karimipoor M, Azadmanesh K, Mazlomi MA, Teimoori-Toolabi L. Rational design of DKK3 structure-based small peptides as antagonists of Wnt signaling pathway and in silico evaluation of their efficiency. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0172217. [PMID: 28234935 PMCID: PMC5325476 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0172217] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Dysregulated Wnt signaling pathway is highly associated with the pathogenesis of several human cancers. Dickkopf proteins (DKKs) are thought to inhibit Wnt signaling pathway through binding to lipoprotein receptor-related protein (LRP) 5/6. In this study, based on the 3-dimensional (3D) structure of DKK3 Cys-rich domain 2 (CRD2), we have designed and developed several peptide inhibitors of Wnt signaling pathway. Modeller 9.15 package was used to predict 3D structure of CRD2 based on the Homology modeling (HM) protocol. After refinement and minimization with GalaxyRefine and NOMAD-REF servers, the quality of selected models was evaluated utilizing VADAR, SAVES and ProSA servers. Molecular docking studies as well as literature-based information revealed two distinct boxes located at CRD2 which are actively involved in the DKK3-LRP5/6 interaction. A peptide library was constructed conducting the backrub sequence tolerance scanning protocol in Rosetta3.5 according to the DKK3-LRP5/6 binding sites. Seven tolerated peptides were chosen and their binding affinity and stability were improved by some logical amino acid substitutions. Molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of peptide-LRP5/6 complexes were carried out using GROMACS package. After evaluation of binding free energies, stability, electrostatic potential and some physicochemical properties utilizing computational approaches, three peptides (PEP-I1, PEP-I3 and PEP-II2) demonstrated desirable features. However, all seven improved peptides could sufficiently block the Wnt-binding site of LRP6 in silico. In conclusion, we have designed and improved several small peptides based on the LRP6-binding site of CRD2 of DKK3. These peptides are highly capable of binding to LRP6 in silico, and may prevent the formation of active Wnt-LRP6-Fz complex.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Mansour Poorebrahim
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Molecular Medicine Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Solmaz Sadeghi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Molecular Medicine Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | - Hamzeh Rahimi
- Molecular Medicine Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| | | | | | - Mohammad Ali Mazlomi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ladan Teimoori-Toolabi
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, School of Advanced Technologies in Medicine, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
- Molecular Medicine Department, Pasteur Institute of Iran, Tehran, Iran
| |
Collapse
|
42
|
Zebisch M, Jackson VA, Zhao Y, Jones EY. Structure of the Dual-Mode Wnt Regulator Kremen1 and Insight into Ternary Complex Formation with LRP6 and Dickkopf. Structure 2016; 24:1599-605. [PMID: 27524201 PMCID: PMC5014086 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2016.06.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2016] [Revised: 06/12/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
Kremen 1 and 2 have been identified as co-receptors for Dickkopf (Dkk) proteins, hallmark secreted antagonists of canonical Wnt signaling. We present here three crystal structures of the ectodomain of human Kremen1 (KRM1ECD) at resolutions between 1.9 and 3.2 Å. KRM1ECD emerges as a rigid molecule with tight interactions stabilizing a triangular arrangement of its Kringle, WSC, and CUB structural domains. The structures reveal an unpredicted homology of the WSC domain to hepatocyte growth factor. We further report the general architecture of the ternary complex formed by the Wnt co-receptor Lrp5/6, Dkk, and Krm, determined from a low-resolution complex crystal structure between β-propeller/EGF repeats (PE) 3 and 4 of the Wnt co-receptor LRP6 (LRP6PE3PE4), the cysteine-rich domain 2 (CRD2) of DKK1, and KRM1ECD. DKK1CRD2 is sandwiched between LRP6PE3 and KRM1Kringle-WSC. Modeling studies supported by surface plasmon resonance suggest a direct interaction site between Krm1CUB and Lrp6PE2.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Matthias Zebisch
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
| | - Verity A Jackson
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - Yuguang Zhao
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK
| | - E Yvonne Jones
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Trust Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford OX3 7BN, UK.
| |
Collapse
|
43
|
Sun Y, Zhu D, Chen F, Qian M, Wei H, Chen W, Xu J. SFRP2 augments WNT16B signaling to promote therapeutic resistance in the damaged tumor microenvironment. Oncogene 2016; 35:4321-34. [PMID: 26751775 PMCID: PMC4994019 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2015.494] [Citation(s) in RCA: 93] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2015] [Revised: 11/20/2015] [Accepted: 11/30/2015] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Most tumors initially respond to cytotoxic treatments, but acquired resistance often follows. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is a major barrier to clinical success by compromising therapeutic efficacy, and pathological relevance of multiple soluble factors released by a therapeutically remodeled TME remains largely unexplored. Here we show that the secreted frizzled-related protein 2 (SFRP2), a Wnt pathway modulator, is produced by human primary fibroblasts after genotoxic treatments. SFRP2 induction is remarkable in tumor stroma, with transcription mainly modulated by the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) complex, a property shared by several effectors of the DNA damage secretory program. Instead of directly altering canonical Wnt signaling, SFRP2 augments β-catenin activities initiated by WNT16B, another soluble factor from DNA-damaged stroma. WNT16B recognizes cancer cell surface receptors including frizzled (FZD) 3/4/6, a process enhanced by SFRP2, coordinated by the co-receptor LRP6 but subject to abrogation by DKK1. Importantly, we found WNT16B plays a central role in promoting advanced malignancies particularly acquired resistance by counteracting cell death, an effect that can be minimized by a neutralizing antibody co-administered with classical chemotherapy. Furthermore, DNA damage-triggered expression of WNT16B is systemic, imaged by significant induction among diverse solid organs and circulation in peripheral blood, thereby holding promise as not only a TME-derived anticancer target but also a novel biomarker for clinical evaluation of treatment efficacy. Overall, our study substantiates the biological complexity and pathological implication of a therapy-activated TME, and provides the proof of principle of co-targeting tumor and the TME to prevent acquired resistance, with the aim of improving intervention outcome in an era of precision medicine.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Y Sun
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, China
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Systems Biomedicine, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
- Department of Medicine and VAPSHCS, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - D Zhu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| | - F Chen
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, China
| | - M Qian
- Key Laboratory of Stem Cell Biology, Institute of Health Sciences, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences (SIBS), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine (SJTUSM), Shanghai, China
| | - H Wei
- Department of Pharmacology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - W Chen
- Department of Pharmacology, Changzheng Hospital, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, China
| | - J Xu
- Department of General Surgery, Zhongshan Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China
| |
Collapse
|
44
|
Niziolek PJ, MacDonald BT, Kedlaya R, Zhang M, Bellido T, He X, Warman ML, Robling AG. High Bone Mass-Causing Mutant LRP5 Receptors Are Resistant to Endogenous Inhibitors In Vivo. J Bone Miner Res 2015; 30:1822-30. [PMID: 25808845 PMCID: PMC4580530 DOI: 10.1002/jbmr.2514] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2014] [Revised: 03/17/2015] [Accepted: 03/19/2015] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Certain missense mutations affecting LRP5 cause high bone mass (HBM) in humans. Based on in vitro evidence, HBM LRP5 receptors are thought to exert their effects by providing resistance to binding/inhibition of secreted LRP5 inhibitors such as sclerostin (SOST) and Dickkopf homolog-1 (DKK1). We previously reported the creation of two Lrp5 HBM knock-in mouse models, in which the human p.A214V or p.G171V missense mutations were knocked into the endogenous Lrp5 locus. To determine whether HBM knock-in mice are resistant to SOST- or DKK1-induced osteopenia, we bred Lrp5 HBM mice with transgenic mice that overexpress human SOST in osteocytes ((8kb) Dmp1-SOST) or mouse DKK1 in osteoblasts and osteocytes ((2.3kb) Col1a1-Dkk1). We observed that the (8kb) Dmp1-SOST transgene significantly lowered whole-body bone mineral density (BMD), bone mineral content (BMC), femoral and vertebral trabecular bone volume fraction (BV/TV), and periosteal bone-formation rate (BFR) in wild-type mice but not in mice with Lrp5 p.G171V and p.A214V alleles. The (2.3kb) Col1a1-Dkk1 transgene significantly lowered whole-body BMD, BMC, and vertebral BV/TV in wild-type mice and affected p.A214V mice more than p.G171V mice. These in vivo data support in vitro studies regarding the mechanism of HBM-causing mutations, and imply that HBM LRP5 receptors differ in their relative sensitivity to inhibition by SOST and DKK1.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Paul J. Niziolek
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Weldon School of Biomedical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
| | - Bryan T. MacDonald
- The F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Rajendra Kedlaya
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Minjie Zhang
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Teresita Bellido
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Xi He
- The F.M. Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA USA
| | - Matthew L. Warman
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, USA
- Departments of Orthopaedic Surgery and Genetics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Alexander G. Robling
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Indiana University–Purdue University at Indianapolis (IUPUI), Indianapolis, IN, USA
- Richard L. Roudebush VA Medical Center, Indianapolis, IN USA
| |
Collapse
|
45
|
Abstract
A dozen years ago the identification of causal mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) gene involved in two rare bone disorders propelled research in the bone field in totally new directions. Since then, there have been an explosion in the number of reports that highlight the role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in the regulation of bone homeostasis. In this review we discuss some of the most recent reports (in the past 2 years) highlighting the involvement of the members of the LRP family (LRP5, LRP6, LRP4, and more recently LRP8) in the maintenance of bone and their implications in bone diseases. These reports include records of new single nucleotides polymorphisms (SNPs) and haplotypes that suggest variants in these genes can contribute to subtle variation in bone traits to mutations that give rise to extreme bone phenotypes. All of these serve to further support and reinforce the importance of this tightly regulated pathway in bone. Furthermore, we discuss provocative reports suggesting novel approaches through inhibitors of this pathway to treat rarer diseases such as Osteoporosis-Pseudoglioma Syndrome (OPPG), Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI), and Sclerosteosis/Van Buchem disease. It is hoped that by understanding the role of each component of the pathway and their involvement in bone diseases that this knowledge will allow us to develop new, more effective therapeutic approaches for more common diseases such as post-menopausal osteoporosis, osteoarthritis, and rheumatoid arthritis as well as these rarer bone diseases.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- N Lara-Castillo
- Department of Oral and Craniofacial Sciences, UMKC School of Dentistry, 650 East 25th Street, Kansas City, MO, 64108, USA,
| | | |
Collapse
|
46
|
Volckaert T, De Langhe SP. Wnt and FGF mediated epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk during lung development. Dev Dyn 2014; 244:342-66. [PMID: 25470458 DOI: 10.1002/dvdy.24234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 99] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2014] [Revised: 11/20/2014] [Accepted: 11/26/2014] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The adaptation to terrestrial life required the development of an organ capable of efficient air-blood gas exchange. To meet the metabolic load of cellular respiration, the mammalian respiratory system has evolved from a relatively simple structure, similar to the two-tube amphibian lung, to a highly complex tree-like system of branched epithelial airways connected to a vast network of gas exchanging units called alveoli. The development of such an elaborate organ in a relatively short time window is therefore an extraordinary feat and involves an intimate crosstalk between mesodermal and endodermal cell lineages. RESULTS This review describes the molecular processes governing lung development with an emphasis on the current knowledge on the role of Wnt and FGF signaling in lung epithelial differentiation. CONCLUSIONS The Wnt and FGF signaling pathways are crucial for the dynamic and reciprocal communication between epithelium and mesenchyme during lung development. In addition, some of this developmental crosstalk is reemployed in the adult lung after injury to drive regeneration, and may, when aberrantly or chronically activated, result in chronic lung diseases. Novel insights into how the Wnt and FGF pathways interact and are integrated into a complex gene regulatory network will not only provide us with essential information about how the lung regenerates itself, but also enhance our understanding of the pathogenesis of chronic lung diseases, as well as improve the controlled differentiation of lung epithelium from pluripotent stem cells.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Thomas Volckaert
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Cell Biology, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado; The Inflammation Research Center, Unit of Molecular Signal Transduction in Inflammation, VIB, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Molecular Biology, Ghent University, Technologiepark 927, 9052 Ghent, Belgium
| | | |
Collapse
|
47
|
Huysseune A, Soenens M, Elderweirdt F. Wnt signaling during tooth replacement in zebrafish (Danio rerio): pitfalls and perspectives. Front Physiol 2014; 5:386. [PMID: 25339911 PMCID: PMC4186270 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2014.00386] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2014] [Accepted: 09/18/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The canonical (β-catenin dependent) Wnt signaling pathway has emerged as a likely candidate for regulating tooth replacement in continuously renewing dentitions. So far, the involvement of canonical Wnt signaling has been experimentally demonstrated predominantly in amniotes. These studies tend to show stimulation of tooth formation by activation of the Wnt pathway, and inhibition of tooth formation when blocking the pathway. Here, we report a strong and dynamic expression of the soluble Wnt inhibitor dickkopf1 (dkk1) in developing zebrafish (Danio rerio) tooth germs, suggesting an active repression of Wnt signaling during morphogenesis and cytodifferentiation of a tooth, and derepression of Wnt signaling during start of replacement tooth formation. To further analyse the role of Wnt signaling, we used different gain-of-function approaches. These yielded disjunct results, yet none of them indicating enhanced tooth replacement. Thus, masterblind (mbl) mutants, defective in axin1, mimic overexpression of Wnt, but display a normally patterned dentition in which teeth are replaced at the appropriate times and positions. Activating the pathway with LiCl had variable outcomes, either resulting in the absence, or the delayed formation, of first-generation teeth, or yielding a regular dentition with normal replacement, but no supernumerary teeth or accelerated tooth replacement. The failure so far to influence tooth replacement in the zebrafish by perturbing Wnt signaling is discussed in the light of (i) potential technical pitfalls related to dose- or time-dependency, (ii) the complexity of the canonical Wnt pathway, and (iii) species-specific differences in the nature and activity of pathway components. Finally, we emphasize the importance of in-depth knowledge of the wild-type pattern for reliable interpretations. It is hoped that our analysis can be inspiring to critically assess and elucidate the role of Wnt signaling in tooth development in polyphyodonts.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Ann Huysseune
- Evolutionary Developmental Biology Research Group, Biology Department, Ghent University Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mieke Soenens
- Evolutionary Developmental Biology Research Group, Biology Department, Ghent University Ghent, Belgium
| | - Fien Elderweirdt
- Evolutionary Developmental Biology Research Group, Biology Department, Ghent University Ghent, Belgium
| |
Collapse
|
48
|
Schrimpf C, Teebken OE, Wilhelmi M, Duffield JS. The role of pericyte detachment in vascular rarefaction. J Vasc Res 2014; 51:247-58. [PMID: 25195856 DOI: 10.1159/000365149] [Citation(s) in RCA: 78] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2013] [Accepted: 06/07/2014] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pericytes surround endothelial cells at the perivascular interface. Signaling between endothelial cells and pericytes is crucial for capillary homeostasis, as pericytes stabilize vessels and regulate many microvascular functions. Recently it has been shown that pericytes are able to detach from the vascular wall and contribute to fibrosis by becoming scar-forming myofibroblasts in many organs including the kidney. At the same time, the loss of pericytes within the perivascular compartment results in vulnerable capillaries which are prone to instability, pathological angiogenesis, and, ultimately, rarefaction. AIMS This review will give an overview of pericyte-endothelial cell interactions, summarize the signaling pathways that have been identified to be involved in pericyte detachment from the vascular wall, and present pathological endothelial responses in the context of disease of the kidney.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Claudia Schrimpf
- Division of Vascular and Endovascular Surgery, Department of Cardiothoracic, Transplantation and Vascular Surgery, Hannover Medical School, Hannover, Germany
| | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
49
|
Ohkawara B, Cabrera-Serrano M, Nakata T, Milone M, Asai N, Ito K, Ito M, Masuda A, Ito Y, Engel AG, Ohno K. LRP4 third β-propeller domain mutations cause novel congenital myasthenia by compromising agrin-mediated MuSK signaling in a position-specific manner. Hum Mol Genet 2013; 23:1856-68. [PMID: 24234652 DOI: 10.1093/hmg/ddt578] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Congenital myasthenic syndromes (CMS) are heterogeneous disorders in which the safety margin of neuromuscular transmission is compromised by one or more specific mechanisms. Using Sanger and exome sequencing in a CMS patient, we identified two heteroallelic mutations, p.Glu1233Lys and p.Arg1277His, in LRP4 coding for the postsynaptic low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 4. LRP4, expressed on the surface of the postsynaptic membrane of the neuromuscular junction, is a receptor for neurally secreted agrin, and LRP4 bound by agrin activates MuSK. Activated MuSK in concert with Dok-7 stimulates rapsyn to concentrate and anchor AChR on the postsynaptic membrane and interacts with other proteins implicated in the assembly and maintenance of the neuromuscular junction. LRP4 also functions as an inhibitor of Wnt/beta-catenin signaling. The identified mutations in LRP4 are located at the edge of its 3rd beta-propeller domain and decrease binding affinity of LRP4 for both MuSK and agrin. Mutations in the LRP4 3rd beta-propeller domain were previously reported to impair Wnt signaling and cause bone diseases including Cenani-Lenz syndactyly syndrome and sclerosteosis-2. By analyzing naturally occurring and artificially introduced mutations in the LRP4 3rd beta-propeller domain, we show that the edge of the domain regulates the MuSK signaling whereas its central cavity governs Wnt signaling. We conclude that LRP4 is a new CMS disease gene and that the 3rd beta propeller domain of LRP4 mediates the two signaling pathways in a position-specific manner.
Collapse
Affiliation(s)
- Bisei Ohkawara
- Division of Neurogenetics, Center for Neurological Diseases and Cancer and
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |
Collapse
|
50
|
Genome-wide network analysis of Wnt signaling in three pediatric cancers. Sci Rep 2013; 3:2969. [PMID: 24132329 PMCID: PMC3797983 DOI: 10.1038/srep02969] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2013] [Accepted: 09/30/2013] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic structural alteration is common in pediatric cancers, and analysis of data generated by the Pediatric Cancer Genome Project reveals such tumor-related alterations in many Wnt signaling–associated genes. Most pediatric cancers are thought to arise within developing tissues that undergo substantial expansion during early organ formation, growth and maturation, and Wnt signaling plays an important role in this development. We examined three pediatric tumors—medullobastoma, early T-cell precursor acute lymphoblastic leukemia, and retinoblastoma—that show multiple genomic structural variations within Wnt signaling pathways. We mathematically modeled this pathway to investigate the effects of cancer-related structural variations on Wnt signaling. Surprisingly, we found that an outcome measure of canonical Wnt signaling was consistently similar in matched cancer cells and normal cells, even in the context of different cancers, different mutations, and different Wnt-related genes. Our results suggest that the cancer cells maintain a normal level of Wnt signaling by developing multiple mutations.
Collapse
|