1
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Christofidou ED, Tomazou M, Voutouri C, Michael C, Stylianopoulos T, Spyrou GM, Strati K. Oct4 is a gatekeeper of epithelial identity by regulating cytoskeletal organization in skin keratinocytes. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113859. [PMID: 38421873 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113859] [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: 05/08/2023] [Revised: 12/05/2023] [Accepted: 02/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/02/2024] Open
Abstract
Oct4 is a pioneer transcription factor regulating pluripotency. However, it is not well known whether Oct4 has an impact on epidermal cells. We generated OCT4 knockout clonal cell lines using immortalized human skin keratinocytes to identify a functional role for the protein. Here, we report that Oct4-deficient cells transitioned into a mesenchymal-like phenotype with enlarged size and shape, exhibited accelerated migratory behavior, decreased adhesion, and appeared arrested at the G2/M cell cycle checkpoint. Oct4 absence had a profound impact on cortical actin organization, with loss of microfilaments from the cell membrane, increased puncta deposition in the cytoplasm, and stress fiber formation. E-cadherin, β-catenin, and ZO1 were almost absent from cell-cell contacts, while fibronectin deposition was markedly increased in the extracellular matrix (ECM). Mapping of the transcriptional and chromatin profiles of Oct4-deficient cells revealed that Oct4 controls the levels of cytoskeletal, ECM, and differentiation-related genes, whereas epithelial identity is preserved through transcriptional and non-transcriptional mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marios Tomazou
- Department of Bioinformatics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus
| | - Chrysovalantis Voutouri
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 2109, Cyprus
| | - Christina Michael
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 2109, Cyprus
| | - Triantafyllos Stylianopoulos
- Cancer Biophysics Laboratory, Department of Mechanical and Manufacturing Engineering, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 2109, Cyprus
| | - George M Spyrou
- Department of Bioinformatics, The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics, Nicosia 2371, Cyprus
| | - Katerina Strati
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Cyprus, Nicosia 2109, Cyprus.
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2
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Marto CM, Laranjo M, Gonçalves AC, Paula A, Jorge J, Caetano-Oliveira R, Sousa MI, Oliveiros B, Ramalho-Santos J, Sarmento-Ribeiro AB, Marques-Ferreira M, Cabrita A, Botelho MF, Carrilho E. In Vitro Characterization of Reversine-Treated Gingival Fibroblasts and Their Safety Evaluation after In Vivo Transplantation. Pharmaceutics 2024; 16:207. [PMID: 38399261 PMCID: PMC10892828 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics16020207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2023] [Revised: 01/18/2024] [Accepted: 01/25/2024] [Indexed: 02/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Reversine is a purine derivative that has been investigated with regard to its biological effects, such as its anticancer properties and, mostly, its ability to induce the dedifferentiation of adult cells, increasing their plasticity. The obtained dedifferentiated cells have a high potential for use in regenerative procedures, such as regenerative dentistry (RD). Instead of replacing the lost or damaged oral tissues with synthetic materials, RD uses stem cells combined with matrices and an appropriate microenvironment to achieve tissue regeneration. However, the currently available stem cell sources present limitations, thus restricting the potential of RD. Based on this problem, new sources of stem cells are fundamental. This work aims to characterize mouse gingival fibroblasts (GFs) after dedifferentiation with reversine. Different administration protocols were tested, and the cells obtained were evaluated regarding their cell metabolism, protein and DNA contents, cell cycle changes, morphology, cell death, genotoxicity, and acquisition of stem cell characteristics. Additionally, their teratoma potential was evaluated after in vivo transplantation. Reversine caused toxicity at higher concentrations, with decreased cell metabolic activity and protein content. The cells obtained displayed polyploidy, a cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, and showed an enlarged size. Additionally, apoptosis and genotoxicity were found at higher reversine concentrations. A subpopulation of the GFs possessed stem properties, as supported by the increased expression of CD90, CD105, and TERT, the existence of a CD106+ population, and their trilineage differentiation capacity. The dedifferentiated cells did not induce teratoma formation. The extensive characterization performed shows that significant functional, morphological, and genetic changes occur during the dedifferentiation process. The dedifferentiated cells have some stem-like characteristics, which are of interest for RD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Carlos Miguel Marto
- Institute of Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Integrated Clinical Practice and Laboratory of Evidence-Based and Precision Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal (E.C.)
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Mafalda Laranjo
- Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Cristina Gonçalves
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
- Laboratory of Oncobiology and Hematology (LOH) and University Clinic of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Anabela Paula
- Institute of Integrated Clinical Practice and Laboratory of Evidence-Based and Precision Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal (E.C.)
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Joana Jorge
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
- Laboratory of Oncobiology and Hematology (LOH) and University Clinic of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Rui Caetano-Oliveira
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Pathology Department, Centro Hospitalar e Universitário de Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
- Germano de Sousa—Centro de Diagnóstico Histopatológico CEDAP, University of Coimbra, 3000-377 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Inês Sousa
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Bárbara Oliveiros
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
- Laboratory of Biostatistics and Medical Informatics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - João Ramalho-Santos
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Department of Life Sciences, University of Coimbra, 3000-456 Coimbra, Portugal
- CNC—Center for Neuroscience and Cell Biology, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Ana Bela Sarmento-Ribeiro
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
- Laboratory of Oncobiology and Hematology (LOH) and University Clinic of Hematology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Manuel Marques-Ferreira
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
- Institute of Endodontics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - António Cabrita
- Institute of Experimental Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Maria Filomena Botelho
- Institute of Biophysics, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Eunice Carrilho
- Institute of Integrated Clinical Practice and Laboratory of Evidence-Based and Precision Dentistry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-075 Coimbra, Portugal (E.C.)
- Coimbra Institute for Clinical and Biomedical Research (iCBR), Area of Environment, Genetics and Oncobiology (CIMAGO), Faculty of Medicine, University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal; (A.C.G.); (B.O.); (M.M.-F.)
- Centre for Innovative Biomedicine and Biotechnology (CIBB), University of Coimbra, 3000-548 Coimbra, Portugal
- Clinical Academic Center of Coimbra (CACC), 3004-561 Coimbra, Portugal
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3
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Jeong SY, Choi WH, Jeon SG, Lee S, Park JM, Park M, Lee H, Lew H, Yoo J. Establishment of functional epithelial organoids from human lacrimal glands. Stem Cell Res Ther 2021; 12:247. [PMID: 33883032 PMCID: PMC8059179 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-021-02133-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Tear deficiency due to lacrimal gland (LG) dysfunction is one of the major causes of dry eye disease (DED). Therefore, LG stem cell-based therapies have been extensively reported to regenerate injured lacrimal tissue; however, the number of stem cells in the LG tissue is low, and 2D long-term cultivation reduces the differentiation capacity of stem cells. Nevertheless, 3D LG organoids could be an alternative for a DED therapy because it is capable of prolonged growth while maintaining the characteristics of the LG tissue. Here, we report the development of LG organoids and their application as cell therapeutics. Methods Digested cells from human LG tissue were mixed with Matrigel and cultured in five different media modified from human prostate/salivary organoid culture media. After organoid formation, the growth, specific marker expression, and histological characteristics were analyzed to authenticate the formation of LG organoids. The secretory function of LG organoids was confirmed through calcium influx or proteomics analysis after pilocarpine treatment. To explore the curability of the developed organoids, mouse-derived LG organoids were fabricated and transplanted into the lacrimal tissue of a mouse model of DED. Results The histological features and specific marker expression of LG organoids were similar to those of normal LG tissue. In the pilocarpine-treated LG organoid, levels of internal Ca2+ ions and β-hexosaminidase, a lysosomal protein in tear fluid, were increased. In addition, the secreted proteins from pilocarpine-treated lacrimal organoids were identified through proteomics. More than 70% of the identified proteins were proven to exosome through gene ontology analysis. These results indicate that our developed organoid was pilocarpine reactive, demonstrating the function of LG. Additionally, we developed LG organoids from patients with Sjogren’s syndrome patients (SS) and confirmed that their histological features were similar to those of SS-derived LG tissue. Finally, we confirmed that the mouse LG organoids were well engrafted in the lacrimal tissue two weeks after transplantation. Conclusion This study demonstrates that the established LG organoids resemble the characteristics of normal LG tissue and may be used as a therapy for patients with DED. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-021-02133-y.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sang Yun Jeong
- Department of Microbiology and CHA Organoid Research Center, CHA University School of Medicine, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Woo Hee Choi
- Department of Microbiology and CHA Organoid Research Center, CHA University School of Medicine, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13488, Republic of Korea.,ORGANOIDSCIENCES, Ltd., Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Seong Gyeong Jeon
- Department of Microbiology and CHA Organoid Research Center, CHA University School of Medicine, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13488, Republic of Korea
| | - Sookon Lee
- Department of Rheumatology, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Jong-Moon Park
- Department of Pharmacology, Gacheon University, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Mira Park
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13496, Republic of Korea
| | - Hookeun Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, Gacheon University, Incheon, Gyeonggi-do, Republic of Korea
| | - Helen Lew
- Department of Ophthalmology, Bundang CHA Medical Center, CHA University, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13496, Republic of Korea.
| | - Jongman Yoo
- Department of Microbiology and CHA Organoid Research Center, CHA University School of Medicine, 335 Pangyo-ro, Bundang-gu, Seongnam-si, Gyeonggi-do, 13488, Republic of Korea. .,ORGANOIDSCIENCES, Ltd., Seongnam, Gyeonggi-do, 13488, Republic of Korea.
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4
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Mehravar M, Ghaemimanesh F, Poursani EM. An Overview on the Complexity of OCT4: at the Level of DNA, RNA and Protein. Stem Cell Rev Rep 2021; 17:1121-1136. [PMID: 33389631 DOI: 10.1007/s12015-020-10098-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
OCT4 plays critical roles in self-renewal and pluripotency maintenance of embryonic stem cells, and is considered as one of the main stemness markers. It also has pivotal roles in early stages of embryonic development. Most studies on OCT4 have focused on the expression and function of OCT4A, which is the biggest isoform of OCT4 known so far. Recently, many studies have shown that OCT4 has various transcript variants, protein isoforms, as well as pseudogenes. Distinguishing the expression and function of these variants and isoforms is a big challenge in expression profiling studies of OCT4. Understanding how OCT4 is functioning in different contexts, depends on knowing of where and when each of OCT4 transcripts, isoforms and pseudogenes are expressed. Here, we review OCT4 known transcripts, isoforms and pseudogenes, as well as its interactions with other proteins, and emphasize the importance of discriminating each of them in order to understand the exact function of OCT4 in stem cells, normal development and development of diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Majid Mehravar
- Department of Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Development and Stem Cells Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia
| | - Fatemeh Ghaemimanesh
- Monoclonal Antibody Research Center, Avicenna Research Institute, ACECR, Tehran, Iran
| | - Ensieh M Poursani
- Hematology, Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation Research Center, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
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5
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Shao Z, Cevallos RR, Hu K. Reprogramming Human Fibroblasts to Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Using the GFP-Marked Lentiviral Vectors in the Chemically Defined Medium. Methods Mol Biol 2021; 2239:101-116. [PMID: 33226615 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-1084-8_7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
Much investigation is needed to understand the underlying molecular mechanisms of iPSC reprogramming and to improve this technology. Lentivirus-mediated iPSC reprogramming remains the most effective method to study human pluripotency reprogramming. iPSC production is more efficient and consistent in the chemically defined medium. Fibroblasts are the most common starting cells for iPSC generation. Here, we provide a detailed protocol for iPSC generation from human fibroblasts using the GFP-expressing lentiviral vectors in the chemically defined medium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhicheng Shao
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Ricardo Raúl Cevallos
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA
| | - Kejin Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Genetics, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, USA.
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6
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Plant AL, Halter M, Stinson J. Probing pluripotency gene regulatory networks with quantitative live cell imaging. Comput Struct Biotechnol J 2020; 18:2733-2743. [PMID: 33101611 PMCID: PMC7560648 DOI: 10.1016/j.csbj.2020.09.025] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/15/2020] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Live cell imaging uniquely enables the measurement of dynamic events in single cells, but it has not been used often in the study of gene regulatory networks. Network components can be examined in relation to one another by quantitative live cell imaging of fluorescent protein reporter cell lines that simultaneously report on more than one network component. A series of dual-reporter cell lines would allow different combinations of network components to be examined in individual cells. Dynamical information about interacting network components in individual cells is critical to predictive modeling of gene regulatory networks, and such information is not accessible through omics and other end point techniques. Achieving this requires that gene-edited cell lines are appropriately designed and adequately characterized to assure the validity of the biological conclusions derived from the expression of the reporters. In this brief review we discuss what is known about the importance of dynamics to network modeling and review some recent advances in optical microscopy methods and image analysis approaches that are making the use of quantitative live cell imaging for network analysis possible. We also discuss how strategies for genetic engineering of reporter cell lines can influence the biological relevance of the data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne L Plant
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, United States
| | - Michael Halter
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, United States
| | - Jeffrey Stinson
- Biosystems and Biomaterials Division, National Institute of Standards and Technology, United States
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7
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Profiling and quantification of pluripotency reprogramming reveal that WNT pathways and cell morphology have to be reprogramed extensively. Heliyon 2020; 6:e04035. [PMID: 32490244 PMCID: PMC7260443 DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2020.e04035] [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: 03/19/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 05/18/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Pluripotent state can be established via reprogramming of somatic nuclei by factors within an oocyte or by ectopic expression of a few transgenes. Considered as being extensive and intensive, the full complement of genes to be reprogrammed, however, has never been defined, nor has the degree of reprogramming been determined quantitatively. Here, we propose a new concept of reprogramome, which is defined as the full complement of genes to be reprogrammed to the expression levels found in pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). This concept in combination with RNA-seq enables us to precisely profile reprogramome and sub-reprogramomes, and study the reprogramming process with the help of other available tools such as GO analyses. With reprogramming of human fibroblasts into PSCs as an example, we have defined the full complement of the human fibroblast-to-PSC reprogramome. Furthermore, our analyses of the reprogramome revealed that WNT pathways and genes with roles in cellular morphogenesis should be extensively and intensely reprogrammed for the establishment of pluripotency. We further developed a new mathematical model to quantitate the overall reprogramming, as well as reprogramming in a specific cellular feature such as WNT signaling pathways and genes regulating cellular morphogenesis. We anticipate that our concept and mathematical model may be applied to study and quantitate other reprogramming (pluripotency reprogramming from other somatic cells, and lineage reprogramming), as well as transcriptional and epigenetic differences between any two types of cells including cancer cells and their normal counterparts.
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8
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Villodre ES, Felipe KB, Oyama MZ, Oliveira FHD, Lopez PLDC, Solari C, Sevlever G, Guberman A, Lenz G. Silencing of the transcription factors Oct4, Sox2, Klf4, c-Myc or Nanog has different effect on teratoma growth. Biochem Biophys Res Commun 2019; 517:324-329. [DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrc.2019.07.064] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2019] [Accepted: 07/18/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
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9
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Vlahova F, Hawkins KE, Ranzoni AM, Hau KL, Sagar R, De Coppi P, David AL, Adjaye J, Guillot PV. Human mid-trimester amniotic fluid (stem) cells lack expression of the pluripotency marker OCT4A. Sci Rep 2019; 9:8126. [PMID: 31148575 PMCID: PMC6544653 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-44572-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2018] [Accepted: 02/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Expression of OCT4A is one of the hallmarks of pluripotency, defined as a stem cell's ability to differentiate into all the lineages of the three germ layers. Despite being defined as non-tumorigenic cells with high translational potential, human mid-trimester amniotic fluid stem cells (hAFSCs) are often described as sharing features with embryonic stem cells, including the expression of OCT4A, which could hinder their clinical potential. To clarify the OCT4A status of hAFSCs, we first undertook a systematic review of the literature. We then performed extensive gene and protein expression analyses to discover that neither frozen, nor fresh hAFSCs cultivated in multipotent stem cell culture conditions expressed OCT4A, and that the OCT4A positive results from the literature are likely to be attributed to the expression of pseudogenes or other OCT4 variants. To address this issue, we provide a robust protocol for the assessment of OCT4A in other stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Filipa Vlahova
- University College London, Institute for Women's Health, Maternal and Fetal Medicine Department, London, UK
| | - Kate E Hawkins
- University College London, Institute for Women's Health, Maternal and Fetal Medicine Department, London, UK
| | - Anna Maria Ranzoni
- University College London, Institute for Women's Health, Maternal and Fetal Medicine Department, London, UK
| | - Kwan-Leong Hau
- University College London, Institute for Women's Health, Maternal and Fetal Medicine Department, London, UK
| | - Rachel Sagar
- University College London, Institute for Women's Health, Maternal and Fetal Medicine Department, London, UK
| | - Paolo De Coppi
- University College London, Great Ormond Street Institute for Child Health, London, UK.,Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,Specialist Neonatal and Paediatric Surgery, Great Ormond Street Hospital NHS Trust, London, UK
| | - Anna L David
- University College London, Institute for Women's Health, Maternal and Fetal Medicine Department, London, UK.,Department of Development and Regeneration, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.,NIHR University College London Hospitals Biomedical Research Centre, Maple House, 149 Tottenham Court Road, London, W1T 7DN, UK
| | - James Adjaye
- Institute for Stem Cell Research and Regenerative Medicine, Medical Faculty, Heinrich Heine University, Düsseldorf, Moorenstr. 5, 40225, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Pascale V Guillot
- University College London, Institute for Women's Health, Maternal and Fetal Medicine Department, London, UK.
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10
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Pan S, Chen YC, Zhao N, Feng X, Yang DD, Wang Y, Jin ZB. A new subset of small stem cells in bovine bone marrow stromal cell populations. J Cell Biochem 2019; 120:13881-13892. [PMID: 30983000 DOI: 10.1002/jcb.28661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2018] [Revised: 12/21/2018] [Accepted: 01/07/2019] [Indexed: 01/23/2023]
Abstract
Bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) are a unique population of multipotent cells that exhibit pluripotent properties to a certain extent and are significantly heterogeneous in terms of the cell population. We isolate a small cell subpopulation from bovine BMSCs, bovine small stem cells (bSSCs), and herein characterize their properties. The bSSCs are smaller in size and express nuclear Oct-4 and other pluripotency markers. In addition, when cultured in suspension conditions, bSSCs form three-dimensional spheres and display a strong capability for self-renewal and differentiation into cells from three germ layers. Notably, bSSCs display neural features with Sox1 and Pax6 expression. Using bSSCs as donor nuclear cells for somatic cell nuclear transfer, we further demonstrate that the developmental potential of cloned embryos in vitro is significantly increased. Our study identifies a new bovine bone marrow stromal cell-derived stem cell subtype that could have broad importance for developmental biology as well as great potential for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaohui Pan
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Sciences, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yu-Chen Chen
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Sciences, Wenzhou, China
| | - Ning Zhao
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Sciences, Wenzhou, China
| | - Xiang Feng
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Sciences, Wenzhou, China
| | - Dan-Dan Yang
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Sciences, Wenzhou, China
| | - Yongshen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Biotechnology of the Ministry of Agriculture, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, China
| | - Zi-Bing Jin
- Laboratory for Stem Cell and Retinal Regeneration, Institute of Stem Cell Research, Division of Ophthalmic Genetics, The Eye Hospital, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Optometry and Visual Sciences, Wenzhou, China
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11
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Lettnin AP, Wagner EF, Carrett-Dias M, Dos Santos Machado K, Werhli A, Cañedo AD, Trindade GS, de Souza Votto AP. Silencing the OCT4-PG1 pseudogene reduces OCT-4 protein levels and changes characteristics of the multidrug resistance phenotype in chronic myeloid leukemia. Mol Biol Rep 2019; 46:1873-1884. [PMID: 30721421 DOI: 10.1007/s11033-019-04639-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 01/23/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Cancer stem cells show epigenetic plasticity and intrinsic resistance to anti-cancer therapy, rendering capable of initiating cancer relapse and progression. Transcription factor OCT-4 regulates various pathways in stem cells, but its expression can be regulated by pseudogenes. This work evaluated how OCT4-PG1 pseudogene can affect OCT-4 expression and mechanisms related to the multidrug resistance (MDR) phenotype in FEPS cells. Considering that OCT-4 protein is a transcription factor that regulates expression of ABC transporters, level of gene expression, activity of ABC proteins and cell sensitivity to chemotherapy were evaluated after OCT4-PG1 silencing. Besides we set up a STRING network. Results showed that after OCT4-PG1 silencing, cells expressed OCT-4 gene and protein to a lesser extent than mock cells. The gene and protein expression of ABCB1, as well as its activity were reduced. On the other hand, ALOX5 and ABCC1 genes was increased even as the activity of this transporter. Moreover, the silencing cells become sensitive to two chemotherapics tested. The network structure demonstrated that OCT4-PG1 protein interacts directly with OCT-4, SOX2, and NANOG and indirectly with ABC transporters. We conclude that OCT4-PG1 pseudogene plays a key role in the regulation OCT-4 transcription factor, which alters MDR phenotype in the FEPS cell line.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aline Portantiolo Lettnin
- Post-Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences - PPGCF, Federal University of Rio Grande -FURG, Avenue Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, Zip Code 96203-900, Brazil.,Laboratory of Cell Culture, Institute of Biological Sciences - ICB, Federal University of Rio Grande -FURG, Avenue Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, Zip Code 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Eduardo Felipe Wagner
- Laboratory of Cell Culture, Institute of Biological Sciences - ICB, Federal University of Rio Grande -FURG, Avenue Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, Zip Code 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Michele Carrett-Dias
- Post-Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences - PPGCF, Federal University of Rio Grande -FURG, Avenue Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, Zip Code 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Karina Dos Santos Machado
- Center of Computational Sciences - C3, Federal University of Rio Grande -FURG, Avenue Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, Zip Code 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Adriano Werhli
- Center of Computational Sciences - C3, Federal University of Rio Grande -FURG, Avenue Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, Zip Code 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Andrés Delgado Cañedo
- Federal University of Pampa - UNIPAMPA, Avenue Antônio Trilha, 1847, São Gabriel, RS, Zip Code 97300-000, Brazil
| | - Gilma Santos Trindade
- Post-Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences - PPGCF, Federal University of Rio Grande -FURG, Avenue Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, Zip Code 96203-900, Brazil
| | - Ana Paula de Souza Votto
- Post-Graduate Program in Physiological Sciences - PPGCF, Federal University of Rio Grande -FURG, Avenue Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, Zip Code 96203-900, Brazil. .,Laboratory of Cell Culture, Institute of Biological Sciences - ICB, Federal University of Rio Grande -FURG, Avenue Itália, Km 8, Rio Grande, RS, Zip Code 96203-900, Brazil. .,Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande - FURG, Avenida Itália, Km 8, s/n, Rio Grande, RS, Zip Code 96203-900, Brazil.
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12
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Iwasaki K, Nagata M, Akazawa K, Watabe T, Morita I. Changes in characteristics of periodontal ligament stem cells in spheroid culture. J Periodontal Res 2018; 54:364-373. [PMID: 30597545 DOI: 10.1111/jre.12637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2018] [Revised: 11/01/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES The periodontal ligament (PDL) has important roles in maintaining homeostasis, wound healing, and regeneration of periodontal tissues by supplying stem/progenitor cells. Periodontal ligament stem cells (PDLSCs) have mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-like characteristics and can be isolated from periodontal tissues. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of three-dimensional spheroid culture on the characteristics of PDLSCs. MATERIAL AND METHODS Periodontal ligament stem cells were isolated and cultured from healthy teeth, and PDLSC spheroids were formed by pellet culture in polypropylene tubes. The proliferation of PDLSCs in spheroids and conventional two-dimensional (2D) cultures were examined by immunostaining for Ki67. Cell death and cell size were analyzed using flow cytometry. Gene expression changes were investigated by quantitative real time PCR. RESULTS Periodontal ligament stem cells spontaneously formed spheroid masses in pellet culture. The size of PDLSC spheroids was inversely proportional to the culture period. Fewer Ki67-positive cells were detected in PDLSC spheroids compared to those in 2D culture. Flow cytometry revealed an increase in dead cells and a decrease in cell size in PDLSC spheroids. The expression levels of genes related to anti-inflammation (TSG6, COX2, MnSOD) and angiogenesis (VEGF, bFGF, HGF) were drastically increased by spheroid culture compared to 2D culture. TSG6 gene expression was inhibited in PDLSC spheroids in the presence of the apoptosis signal inhibitor, Z-VAD-FMK. Additionally, PDLSC spheroid transplantation into rat periodontal defects did not induce the regeneration of periodontal tissues. CONCLUSIONS We found that spheroid culture of PDLSCs affected several characteristics of PDLSCs, including the expression of genes related to anti-inflammation and angiogenesis; apoptosis signaling may be involved in these changes. Our results revealed the characteristics of PDLSCs in spheroid culture and have provided new information to the field of stem cell research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kengo Iwasaki
- Institute of Dental Research, Osaka Dental University, Osaka, Japan.,Department of Nanomedicine (DNP), Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan.,Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Mizuki Nagata
- Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Keiko Akazawa
- Department of Periodontology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Tetsuro Watabe
- Biochemistry, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
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13
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Saha SK, Jeong Y, Cho S, Cho SG. Systematic expression alteration analysis of master reprogramming factor OCT4 and its three pseudogenes in human cancer and their prognostic outcomes. Sci Rep 2018; 8:14806. [PMID: 30287838 PMCID: PMC6172215 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-33094-7] [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] [Received: 05/22/2018] [Accepted: 09/21/2018] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
OCT4 is a master transcription factor that regulates the pluripotency of pluripotent stem cells and cancer stem cells along with other factors, including SOX2, KLF4, and C-MYC. Three different transcripts, OCT4A, OCT4B, and OCT4B1, are known to be generated by alternative splicing and eight OCT4 pseudogenes have been found in the human genome. Among them, we examined OCT4 and three pseudogenes (POU5F1P1, POU5F1P3, and POU5F1P4) because of their high expression possibility in cancer. In addition, previous studies indicated that OCT4 expression is augmented in cervical cancer and associated with poor prognosis, whereas OCT4 is down-regulated and correlated with good clinical outcomes in breast cancer. Because of these conflicting reports, we systematically evaluated whether expression of OCT4 and its pseudogenes can serve as oncogenic markers in various human cancers using the Oncomine database. Moreover, copy number alterations and mutations in OCT4 gene and its pseudogenes were analyzed using cBioPortal and the relationship between expression of OCT4 and pseudogenes and survival probability of cancer patients were explored using Kaplan-Meier plotter, OncoLnc, PROGgeneV2, and PrognoScan databases. Multivariate survival analysis was further conducted to determine the risk of the expression of the occurrence of OCT4 and its pseudogenes on certain cancer types using data from the Kaplan-Meier plotter. Overall, an association between expression of OCT4 and pseudogenes and cancer prognosis were established, which may serve as a therapeutic target for various human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Subbroto Kumar Saha
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Incurable Disease Animal Model & Stem Cell Institute (IDASI), Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeojin Jeong
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Incurable Disease Animal Model & Stem Cell Institute (IDASI), Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Sungha Cho
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Incurable Disease Animal Model & Stem Cell Institute (IDASI), Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea
| | - Ssang-Goo Cho
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biotechnology, Incurable Disease Animal Model & Stem Cell Institute (IDASI), Konkuk University, Seoul, 05029, Republic of Korea.
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14
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Zhou Y, Chen X, Kang B, She S, Zhang X, Chen C, Li W, Chen W, Dan S, Pan X, Liu X, He J, Zhao Q, Zhu C, Peng L, Wang H, Yao H, Cao H, Li L, Herlyn M, Wang YJ. Endogenous authentic OCT4A proteins directly regulate FOS/AP-1 transcription in somatic cancer cells. Cell Death Dis 2018; 9:585. [PMID: 29789579 PMCID: PMC5964179 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-018-0606-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2017] [Revised: 04/14/2018] [Accepted: 04/18/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
OCT4A is well established as a master transcription factor for pluripotent stem cell (PSC) self-renewal and a pioneer factor for initiating somatic cell reprogramming, yet its presence and functionality in somatic cancer cells remain controversial and obscure. By combining the CRISPR-Cas9-based gene editing with highly specific PCR assays, highly sensitive immunoassays, and mass spectrometry, we provide unequivocal evidence here that full-length authentic OCT4A transcripts and proteins were both present in somatic cancer cells, and OCT4A proteins were heterogeneously expressed in the whole cell population and when expressed, they are predominantly localized in cell nucleus. Despite their extremely low abundance (approximately three orders of magnitude lower than in PSCs), OCT4A proteins bound to the promoter/enhancer regions of the AP-1 transcription factor subunit c-FOS gene and critically regulated its transcription. Knocking out OCT4A in somatic cancer cells led to dramatic reduction of the c-FOS protein level, aberrant AP-1 signaling, dampened self-renewal capacity, deficient cell migration that were associated with cell growth retardation in vitro and in vivo, and their enhanced sensitivity to anticancer drugs. Taken together, we resolve the long-standing controversy and uncertainty in the field, and reveal a fundamental role of OCT4A protein in regulating FOS/AP-1 signaling-centered genes that mediate the adhesion, migration, and propagation of somatic cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanwen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China.,Department of Infectious Diseases, the Second Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, 410011, China
| | - Xinyu Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Bo Kang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Shiqi She
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Xiaobing Zhang
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Cheng Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Wenxin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Wenjie Chen
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Songsong Dan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Xiaoyun Pan
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Xiaoli Liu
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Jianqin He
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Qingwei Zhao
- The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Chenggang Zhu
- College of Life Sciences, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310058, China
| | - Ling Peng
- Department of Radiotherapy, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Haoyi Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, 100101, Beijing, China
| | - Hangping Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Hongcui Cao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Lanjuan Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China
| | - Meenhard Herlyn
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Ying-Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, the First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, 310003, China. .,Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program and Melanoma Research Center, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA.
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15
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Liu X, Yu T, Sun Y, Wang H. Characterization of novel alternative splicing variants of Oct4 gene expressed in mouse pluripotent stem cells. J Cell Physiol 2018; 233:5468-5477. [PMID: 29266259 DOI: 10.1002/jcp.26411] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2017] [Accepted: 12/18/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Oct4 is an important transcription factor for maintaining self-renewal and pluripotency of pluripotent stem cells (PSCs). Human OCT4 can be alternatively spliced and generate OCT4a, OCT4b, and OCT4b1. In this study, we discovered the novel Oct4 variants of Oct4b' and Oct4b1-3 in mouse PSCs for the first time. The expression of Oct4b variants, especially for Oct4b', was down regulated along with the downregulation of Oct4a when stem cells were differentiated. We also found four Oct4 translational products that were differentially expressed in mouse PSCs under the different culture conditions. The constructs of Oct4b2 and Oct4b3 could be alternatively spliced into Oct4b and Oct4b' when constructs were transiently transfected in NIH3T3 cells. Oct4b' encoded a 189 aa protein, and Oct4b could generate three distinct proteins including Oct4b-246aa, Oct4b-221aa, and Oct4b-189aa. The Oct4b variants could be alternatively translated in different type cells under the control of internal ribosome entry site (IRES) element that is within 5' upstream sequence of Oct4b. These findings provide new insights into reconsidering Oct4 variants expression and its additional role in maintaining the pluripotency of stem cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaopeng Liu
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Tong Yu
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Yuxin Sun
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
| | - Huayan Wang
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, College of Veterinary Medicine, Northwest A&F University, Yangling, Shaanxi, China
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16
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Novel spliced variants of OCT4, OCT4C and OCT4C1, with distinct expression patterns and functions in pluripotent and tumor cell lines. Eur J Cell Biol 2017; 96:347-355. [PMID: 28476334 DOI: 10.1016/j.ejcb.2017.03.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2016] [Revised: 02/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/28/2017] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
OCT4 is a major regulator of pluripotency which has several spliced variants and expressed pseudogenes. Here, we are reporting the existence of two additional novel spliced variants of OCT4, OCT4C and OCT4C1, which lack Exon1 (E1) but start at a novel exon (E0) located ∼14kb upstream of E2. OCT4C/C1 is highly expressed in ES and iPS cells, and their expression was sharply turned off, upon the induction of neural differentiation. The long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) PSORS1C3, is located ∼9kb downstream of the E0 of OCT4C/C1. PSORS1C3 is vigorously spliced to generate nine novel variants, however, none of its exons incorporated in alternatively spliced variants of OCT4. Interestingly, the exons of OCT4 and PSORS1C3 are intertwined, with a novel exon (E0) of PSORS1C3 located ∼4kb upstream of OCT4 E0. This exon participates in generating some more variants of PSORS1C3 (variants 10-24). OCT4C/C1 knock-down in ES and iPS cell lines caused a slight downregulation of PSORS1C3 and OCT4A, a slight upregulation of OCT4B1, and a dramatic upregulation of OCT4B. Altogether, our data revisited the current view of OCT4 gene structure and regulation, and revealed its complex genomic features and expression regulation in stem and tumor cells.
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17
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Idda A, Bebbere D, Corona G, Masala L, Casula E, Cincotti A, Ledda S. Insights on Cryopreserved Sheep Fibroblasts by Cryomicroscopy and Gene Expression Analysis. Biopreserv Biobank 2017; 15:310-320. [PMID: 28328240 DOI: 10.1089/bio.2016.0100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Cryopreservation includes a set of techniques aimed at storing biological samples and preserving their biochemical and functional features without any significant alterations. This study set out to investigate the effects induced by cryopreservation on cultured sheepskin fibroblasts (CSSF) through cryomicroscopy and gene expression analysis after subsequent in vitro culture. CSSF cells were cryopreserved in a cryomicroscope (CM) or in a straw programmable freezer (SPF) using a similar thermal profile (cooling rate -5°C/min to -120°C, then -150°C/min to -196°C). CSSF volume and intracellular ice formation (IIF) were monitored by a CM, while gene expression levels were investigated by real-time polymerase chain reaction in SPF-cryopreserved cells immediately after thawing (T0) and after 24 or 48 hours (T24, T48) of post-thaw in vitro culture. No significant difference in cell viability was observed at T0 between CM and SPF samples, while both CM and SPF groups showed lower viability (p < 0.05) compared to the untreated control group. Gene expression analysis of cryopreserved CSSF 24 and 48 hours post-thawing showed a significant upregulation of the genes involved in protein folding and antioxidant mechanisms (HPS90b and SOD1), while a transient increase (p < 0.05) in the expression levels of OCT4, BCL2, and GAPDH was detected 24 hours post-thawing. Overall, our data suggest that cryostored CSSF need at least 24 hours to activate specific networks to promote cell readaptation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antonella Idda
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Università di Sassari , Sassari, Italy
| | - Daniela Bebbere
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Università di Sassari , Sassari, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Corona
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Università di Sassari , Sassari, Italy
| | - Laura Masala
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Università di Sassari , Sassari, Italy
| | - Elisa Casula
- 2 Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, Chimica e dei Materiali, Università degli Studi di Cagliari , Cagliari, Italy
| | - Alberto Cincotti
- 2 Dipartimento di Ingegneria Meccanica, Chimica e dei Materiali, Università degli Studi di Cagliari , Cagliari, Italy
| | - Sergio Ledda
- 1 Dipartimento di Medicina Veterinaria, Sezione di Clinica Ostetrica e Ginecologia, Università di Sassari , Sassari, Italy
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18
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Roles of OCT4 in tumorigenesis, cancer therapy resistance and prognosis. Cancer Treat Rev 2016; 51:1-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ctrv.2016.10.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 79] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2016] [Revised: 10/04/2016] [Accepted: 10/07/2016] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
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19
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Distinctive features of single nucleotide alterations in induced pluripotent stem cells with different types of DNA repair deficiency disorders. Sci Rep 2016; 6:26342. [PMID: 27197874 PMCID: PMC4873825 DOI: 10.1038/srep26342] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/25/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) have been used as a model to analyze pathogenesis of disease. In this study, we generated iPSCs derived from a fibroblastic cell line of xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) group A (XPA-iPSCs), a rare autosomal recessive hereditary disease in which patients develop skin cancer in the areas of skin exposed to sunlight. XPA-iPSCs exhibited hypersensitivity to ultraviolet exposure and accumulation of single-nucleotide substitutions when compared with ataxia telangiectasia-derived iPSCs that were established in a previous study. However, XPA-iPSCs did not show any chromosomal instability in vitro, i.e. intact chromosomes were maintained. The results were mutually compensating for examining two major sources of mutations, nucleotide excision repair deficiency and double-strand break repair deficiency. Like XP patients, XPA-iPSCs accumulated single-nucleotide substitutions that are associated with malignant melanoma, a manifestation of XP. These results indicate that XPA-iPSCs may serve a monitoring tool (analogous to the Ames test but using mammalian cells) to measure single-nucleotide alterations, and may be a good model to clarify pathogenesis of XP. In addition, XPA-iPSCs may allow us to facilitate development of drugs that delay genetic alteration and decrease hypersensitivity to ultraviolet for therapeutic applications.
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20
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Activation of the pluripotency factor OCT4 in smooth muscle cells is atheroprotective. Nat Med 2016; 22:657-65. [PMID: 27183216 PMCID: PMC4899256 DOI: 10.1038/nm.4109] [Citation(s) in RCA: 148] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2015] [Accepted: 04/13/2016] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
There are controversial claims that the embryonic stem cell (ESC) pluripotency factor OCT4 is activated in somatic cells, but there is no evidence it plays a functional role in these cells. Herein we demonstrate that smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific conditional knockout of Oct4 within Apoe−/− mice resulted in increased lesion size and changes consistent with decreased plaque stability including a thinner fibrous cap, increased necrotic core, and increased intra-plaque hemorrhage. Results of SMC-lineage tracing studies showed that these changes were likely due to marked reductions in SMC number within lesions including impaired SMC migration and investment within the fibrous cap. Re-activation of Oct4 within SMCs was associated with hydroxymethylation of the Oct4 promoter and was HIF1α- and KLF4-dependent. Results provide the first direct evidence that OCT4 plays a functional role in somatic cells and highlight the importance of further investigation of possible OCT4 functions in normal and diseased somatic cells.
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21
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Patel H, Bhartiya D. Testicular Stem Cells Express Follicle-Stimulating Hormone Receptors and Are Directly Modulated by FSH. Reprod Sci 2016; 23:1493-1508. [PMID: 27189070 DOI: 10.1177/1933719116643593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Testicular spermatogonial stem cells (SSCs) are a heterogeneous population of stem cells, and definitive marker for the most primitive subset that undergoes asymmetric cell division remains to be identified. A novel subpopulation of pluripotent, very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) has been reported in both human and mouse testes. Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) receptors (FSHRs) are expressed on Sertoli cells in testis and on granulosa cells in ovary, but recently FSHRs are reported on VSELs in ovaries, bone marrow, and cord blood. The present study was aimed to investigate whether FSHRs are also expressed on testicular stem cells (VSELs and SSCs) and their possible modulation by FSH using intact and chemoablated (25 mg/kg busulfan) mice. Chemoablated testis was a better model to study stem cell biology since quiescent stem cells survive along with the Sertoli cells in the tubules. Proliferating cell nuclear antigen-positive, small-sized cells presumed to be VSELs were clearly visualized, and flow cytometry analysis revealed an increase in LIN-/CD45-/SCA-1+ VSELs from 0.045±0.008% to 0.1±0.03% of total cells in chemoablated testis after FSH treatment. Very small embryonic-like stem cells expressing nuclear octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (OCT-4) and SSCs with cytoplasmic OCT-4 were detected. Very small embryonic-like stem cells (Oct-4A, Sca-1, Nanog), SSCs (Oct-4), and proliferation (Pcna) specific transcripts were upregulated on FSH treatment. Stem cells expressed FSHR and were stimulated by FSH, and Fshr3 was the predominant transcript maximally modulated by FSH. Nuclear OCT-4 and SCA-1 (stem cell antigen 1) positive VSELs are the most primitive stem cells in testis, and FSH stimulates them to undergo asymmetric cell division including self-renewal and give rise to SSCs, which in turn proliferate rapidly and undergo clonal expansion and further differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hiren Patel
- Stem Cell Biology Department, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, India
| | - Deepa Bhartiya
- Stem Cell Biology Department, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health, Mumbai, India
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Shaikh A, Bhartiya D, Kapoor S, Nimkar H. Delineating the effects of 5-fluorouracil and follicle-stimulating hormone on mouse bone marrow stem/progenitor cells. Stem Cell Res Ther 2016; 7:59. [PMID: 27095238 PMCID: PMC4837595 DOI: 10.1186/s13287-016-0311-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Accepted: 03/31/2016] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Pluripotent, Lin–/CD45–/Sca-1+ very small embryonic-like stem cells (VSELs) in mouse bone marrow (BM) are resistant to total body radiation because of their quiescent nature, whereas Lin–/CD45+/Sca-1+ hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) get eliminated. In the present study, we provide further evidence for the existence of VSELs in mouse BM and have also examined the effects of a chemotherapeutic agent (5-fluorouracil (5-FU)) and gonadotropin hormone (follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)) on BM stem/progenitor cells. Methods VSELs and HSCs were characterized in intact BM. Swiss mice were injected with 5-FU (150 mg/kg) and sacrificed on 2, 4, and 10 days (D2, D4, and D10) post treatment to examine changes in BM histology and effects on VSELs and HSCs by a multiparametric approach. The effect of FSH (5 IU) administered 48 h after 5-FU treatment was also studied. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation, cell cycle analysis, and colony-forming unit (CFU) assay were carried out to understand the functional potential of stem/progenitor cells towards regeneration of chemoablated marrow. Results Nuclear OCT-4, SCA-1, and SSEA-1 coexpressing LIN–/CD45– VSELs and slightly larger LIN–/CD45+ HSCs expressing cytoplasmic OCT-4 were identified and comprised 0.022 ± 0.002 % and 0.081 ± 0.004 % respectively of the total cells in BM. 5-FU treatment resulted in depletion of cells with a 7-fold reduction by D4 and normal hematopoiesis was re-established by D10. Nuclear OCT-4 and PCNA-positive VSELs were detected in chemoablated bone sections near the endosteal region. VSELs remained unaffected by 5-FU on D2 and increased on D4, whereas HSCs showed a marked reduction in numbers on D2 and later increased along with the corresponding increase in BrdU uptake and upregulation of specific transcripts (Oct-4A, Oct-4, Sca-1, Nanog, Stella, Fragilis, Pcna). Cells that survived 5-FU formed colonies in vitro. Both VSELs and HSCs expressed FSH receptors and FSH treatment enhanced hematopoietic recovery by 72 h. Conclusion Both VSELs and HSCs were activated in response to the stress created by 5-FU and FSH enhanced hematopoietic recovery by at least 72 h in 5-FU-treated mice. VSELs are the most primitive pluripotent stem cells in BM that self-renew and give rise to HSCs under stress, and HSCs further divide rapidly and differentiate to maintain homeostasis. The study provides a novel insight into basic hematopoiesis and has clinical relevance. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13287-016-0311-6) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ambreen Shaikh
- Stem Cell Biology Department, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India
| | - Deepa Bhartiya
- Stem Cell Biology Department, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India.
| | - Sona Kapoor
- Stem Cell Biology Department, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India
| | - Harshada Nimkar
- Stem Cell Biology Department, National Institute for Research in Reproductive Health (ICMR), Jehangir Merwanji Street, Parel, Mumbai, 400 012, India
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Di Sanzo M, Aversa I, Santamaria G, Gagliardi M, Panebianco M, Biamonte F, Zolea F, Faniello MC, Cuda G, Costanzo F. FTH1P3, a Novel H-Ferritin Pseudogene Transcriptionally Active, Is Ubiquitously Expressed and Regulated during Cell Differentiation. PLoS One 2016; 11:e0151359. [PMID: 26982978 PMCID: PMC4794146 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0151359] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2015] [Accepted: 02/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Ferritin, the major iron storage protein, performs its essential functions in the cytoplasm, nucleus and mitochondria. The variable assembly of 24 subunits of the Heavy (H) and Light (L) type composes the cytoplasmic molecule. In humans, two distinct genes code these subunits, both belonging to complex multigene families. Until now, one H gene has been identified with the coding sequence interrupted by three introns and more than 20 intronless copies widely dispersed on different chromosomes. Two of the intronless genes are actively transcribed in a tissue-specific manner. Herein, we report that FTH1P3, another intronless pseudogene, is transcribed. FTH1P3 transcript was detected in several cell lines and tissues, suggesting that its transcription is ubiquitary, as it happens for the parental ferritin H gene. Moreover, FTH1P3 expression is positively regulated during the cell differentiation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maddalena Di Sanzo
- Research Center of Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Salvatore Venuta Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Ilenia Aversa
- Research Center of Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Salvatore Venuta Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Gianluca Santamaria
- Research Center of Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Salvatore Venuta Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | | | - Mariafranca Panebianco
- Research Center of Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Salvatore Venuta Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Flavia Biamonte
- Research Center of Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Salvatore Venuta Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Fabiana Zolea
- Research Center of Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Salvatore Venuta Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Maria Concetta Faniello
- Research Center of Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Salvatore Venuta Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Giovanni Cuda
- Research Center of Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Salvatore Venuta Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
| | - Francesco Costanzo
- Research Center of Advanced Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine, Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro, Salvatore Venuta Campus, Catanzaro, Italy
- * E-mail:
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Wang YJ, Herlyn M. The emerging roles of Oct4 in tumor-initiating cells. Am J Physiol Cell Physiol 2015; 309:C709-18. [PMID: 26447206 DOI: 10.1152/ajpcell.00212.2015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Octamer-binding transcription factor 4 (Oct4), a homeodomain transcription factor, is well established as a master factor controlling the self-renewal and pluripotency of pluripotent stem cells. Also, a large body of research has documented the detection of Oct4 in tumor cells and tissues and has indicated its enrichment in a subpopulation of undifferentiated tumor-initiating cells (TICs) that critically account for tumor initiation, metastasis, and resistance to anticancer therapies. There is circumstantial evidence for low-level expression of Oct4 in cancer cells and TICs, and the participation of Oct4 in various TIC functions such as its self-renewal and survival, epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and metastasis, and drug resistance development is implicated from considerable Oct4 knockdown and overexpression-based studies. In a few studies, efforts have been made to identify Oct4 target genes in TICs of different sources. Based on such information, Oct4 in TICs appears to act via mechanisms quite distinct from those in pluripotent stem cells, and a main challenge for future studies is to unravel the molecular mechanisms of action of Oct4, particularly to address the question on how such low levels of Oct4 may exert its functions in TICs. Acquiring cells from their native microenvironment that are of high enough quantity and purity is the key to reliably analyze Oct4 functions and its target genes in TICs, and the information gained may greatly facilitate targeting and eradicating those cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ying-Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, Collaborative Innovation Center for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China; and Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Meenhard Herlyn
- Molecular and Cellular Oncogenesis Program, The Wistar Institute, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Poliseno L, Marranci A, Pandolfi PP. Pseudogenes in Human Cancer. Front Med (Lausanne) 2015; 2:68. [PMID: 26442270 PMCID: PMC4585173 DOI: 10.3389/fmed.2015.00068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2015] [Accepted: 09/03/2015] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Recent advances in the analysis of RNA sequencing data have shown that pseudogenes are highly specific markers of cell identity and can be used as diagnostic and prognostic markers. Furthermore, genetically engineered mouse models have recently provided compelling support for a causal link between altered pseudogene expression and cancer. In this review, we discuss the most recent milestones reached in the pseudogene field and the use of pseudogenes as cancer classifiers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Poliseno
- Oncogenomics Unit, Core Research Laboratory, Istituto Toscano Tumori , Pisa , Italy ; Institute of Clinical Physiology, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche , Pisa , Italy
| | - Andrea Marranci
- Oncogenomics Unit, Core Research Laboratory, Istituto Toscano Tumori , Pisa , Italy ; University of Siena , Siena , Italy
| | - Pier Paolo Pandolfi
- Cancer Research Institute, Beth Israel Deaconess Cancer Center, Departments of Medicine and Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School , Boston, MA , USA
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Epigenetic silencing of Oct4 by a complex containing SUV39H1 and Oct4 pseudogene lncRNA. Nat Commun 2015; 6:7631. [PMID: 26158551 PMCID: PMC4510692 DOI: 10.1038/ncomms8631] [Citation(s) in RCA: 85] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2014] [Accepted: 05/27/2015] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Pseudogene-derived, long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) act as epigenetic regulators of gene expression. Here we present a panel of new mouse Oct4 pseudogenes and demonstrate that the X-linked Oct4 pseudogene Oct4P4 critically impacts mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) self-renewal. Sense Oct4P4 transcription produces a spliced, nuclear-restricted lncRNA that is efficiently upregulated during mESC differentiation. Oct4P4 lncRNA forms a complex with the SUV39H1 HMTase to direct the imposition of H3K9me3 and HP1α to the promoter of the ancestral Oct4 gene, located on chromosome 17, leading to gene silencing and reduced mESC self-renewal. Targeting Oct4P4 expression in primary mouse embryonic fibroblasts causes the re-acquisition of self-renewing features of mESC. We demonstrate that Oct4P4 lncRNA plays an important role in inducing and maintaining silencing of the ancestral Oct4 gene in differentiating mESCs. Our data introduces a sense pseudogene–lncRNA-based mechanism of epigenetic gene regulation that controls the cross-talk between pseudogenes and their ancestral genes. Pseudogene derived long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) can regulate the expression of their ancestral genes. Here, the authors show that the Oct4 pseudogene OctP4 lncRNA plays an important role in inducing and maintaining silencing of the ancestral Oct4 gene in differentiating mouse embryonic stem cells.
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27
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Xu G, Yang L, Zhang W, Wei X. All the Tested Human Somatic Cells Express Both Oct4A and Its Pseudogenes but Express Oct4A at Much Lower Levels Compared with Its Pseudogenes and Human Embryonic Stem Cells. Stem Cells Dev 2015; 24:1546-57. [PMID: 25687509 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2014.0552] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Oct4 pseudogenes and isoforms seriously confuse the detection of the pluripotency-associated Oct4A expression in somatic cells, which in many cases was not accurately determined. This confusion has recently been discussed, but the wrong conclusions have continuously been made. Most studies failed to detect the expression of Oct4 pseudogenes and isoforms in somatic cells but detected only Oct4A, for which the detection signals incorrectly came from its pseudogenes and isoforms. Some studies detected the expression of only Oct4 pseudogenes in somatic cells but failed to detect Oct4A. The other studies failed to detect the expression of any Oct4 genes. Oct4A is more homologous to its pseudogenes than its isoforms, and it is much more difficult to distinguish Oct4A from its pseudogenes, so this study focused on them. In this study, the strict experimental procedures were followed. Three pairs of Oct4A-specific polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers were carefully designed and tested by sequencing reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) clones, which showed that only one of them was truly specific to Oct4A. RT-PCR was also performed with the primers amplifying both Oct4A and its pseudogenes, and several hundreds of PCR clones from each cell type were sequenced to reliably distinguish the low-abundant Oct4A from its high-abundant pseudogenes. Western blot, immunocytochemistry, and flow cytometric analyses were performed with three Oct4 antibodies to confirm the results of Oct4 mRNA expression. This study undoubtedly made the correct conclusions about Oct4 expression in human somatic cells and showed that all the tested human somatic cells expressed both Oct4A and its pseudogenes but expressed Oct4A at much lower levels compared with its pseudogenes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangzu Xu
- Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Jinan University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Ling Yang
- Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Jinan University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Weixiong Zhang
- Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Jinan University , Guangzhou, China
| | - Xing Wei
- Institute of Biomedicine, College of Life Science and Technology, National Engineering Research Center of Genetic Medicine, Jinan University , Guangzhou, China
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28
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Zhao QW, Zhou YW, Li WX, Kang B, Zhang XQ, Yang Y, Cheng J, Yin SY, Tong Y, He JQ, Yao HP, Zheng M, Wang YJ. Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4 is associated with the proliferation of stem‑like cancer cells. Oncol Rep 2015; 33:1621-9. [PMID: 25625591 PMCID: PMC4358081 DOI: 10.3892/or.2015.3752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2014] [Accepted: 12/19/2014] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Oct4 protein encoded by POU5F1 plays a pivotal role in maintaining the self‑renewal of pluripotent stem cells; however, its presence in cancer cells remains controversial. In the present study, we provided evidence that the transcripts of authentic OCT4 gene (OCT4A) and its multiple pseudogenes were detected in a variety of cancer cell lines. A few major bands were also detected by western blotting using an anti‑Oct4A monoclonal antibody. Moreover, an anti‑Oct4‑pT235 antibody was used to identify a band in the majority of the tested cancer cell lines that coincided with one of the anti‑Oct4A bands which was decreasable by a specific shRNA. The Oct4‑pT235 signals were also detected in human glioblastoma and liver cancer specimens by immunofluorescence microscopy and immunohistochemistry. U87 glioblastoma cells were cultured in a neural stem cell medium to induce the formation of neurospheres rich in stem‑like cancer cells. The levels of Oct4‑pT235 in the sphere cells were markedly increased compared to their monolayer parental cells, a result that was accompanied by upregulation of the PI3K‑Akt pathway. Akti‑1/2, a specific inhibitor of Akt, effectively reduced the level of Oct4‑pT235 and attenuated the proliferation of U87 sphere cells. ITE, an agonist of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor, also significantly attenuated the Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4 in glioblastoma and liver cancer cells, and reduced their tumorigenic potential in a xenograft tumor model. Taken together, we concluded that the Akt‑mediated phosphorylation of Oct4A or its homolog protein was associated with the proliferation of stem‑like cancer cells that may serve as a novel biomarker and drug target for certain types of cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qing-Wei Zhao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Yan-Wen Zhou
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Wen-Xin Li
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Bo Kang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Xiao-Qian Zhang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Ying Yang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Jie Cheng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Sheng-Yong Yin
- Department of Hepatobiliary and Pancreatic Surgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Ying Tong
- Department of Neurosurgery, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Jian-Qin He
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Hang-Ping Yao
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Min Zheng
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
| | - Ying-Jie Wang
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, P.R. China
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Liu L, Wu L, Wei X, Ling J. Induced overexpression of Oct4A in human dental pulp cells enhances pluripotency and multilineage differentiation capability. Stem Cells Dev 2015; 24:962-72. [PMID: 25422984 DOI: 10.1089/scd.2014.0388] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Octamer-binding transcription factor 4A (Oct4A), one of the three spliced variants of the class V of POU transcription factor family, is mainly expressed in the nucleus of undifferentiated cells and serves as the key regulator for the maintenance of pluripotency and self-renewal. However, its specific role in regulating pluripotency and multilineage differentiation potential of dental pulp cells (DPCs) remains unknown. To explore the effect of Oct4A on pluripotency and multilineage differentiation capability of DPCs, expression of Oct4A in human dental pulp tissue and pluripotent markers Oct4A, Sox2, c-Myc, Nanog, and Klf4 in DPCs with prolonged in vitro culture were examined by immunohistochemistry and immunofluorescent staining. Oct4A transfection rate in DPCs with lentivirus was evaluated by real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and western blot. Cell proliferation, multilineage differentiation, and the expression of Oct4B1, Sox2, Nanog, Klf4, c-Myc, and Utf1 in DPCs after Oct4A transfection were detected by cell counting kit-8, Alizarin red/Oil red O staining, immunofluorescent staining, alkaline phosphatase analysis, and real-time PCR. We demonstrated that Oct4A was mainly expressed in the nucleus of odontoblasts in dental pulp tissue. Oct4A, Sox2, c-Myc, Nanog, and Klf4 were primarily located in the nucleus of DPCs at early passage (passage 1) and translocated to cytoplasm at late passage (passage 7). In DPCs with Oct4A overexpression, Oct4A, Oct4B1, Sox2, Nanog, Klf4, c-Myc, and Utf1 were significantly upregulated (p<0.05) and the cell proliferation (p<0.05), odontogenic and adipogenic differentiation were significantly enhanced. Taken together, Oct4A plays a critical role in regulation of cell proliferation, pluripotency, and multilineage differentiation potential of DPCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Liu
- Department of Operative Dentistry and Endodontics, Guanghua School of Stomatology, Affiliated Stomatological Hospital, Guangdong Province Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University , Guangzhou, China
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Ostrakhovitch EA, Akakura S, Sanokawa-Akakura R, Goodwin S, Tabibzadeh S. Dedifferentiation of cancer cells following recovery from a potentially lethal damage is mediated by H2S-Nampt. Exp Cell Res 2014; 330:135-50. [PMID: 25278485 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2014.09.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2014] [Revised: 09/18/2014] [Accepted: 09/20/2014] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Recently, we reported that cancer cells that recover from a potentially lethal damage gain new phenotypic features comprised of mitochondrial structural remodeling associated with increased glycolytic dependency and drug resistance. Here, we demonstrate that a subset of cancer cells, upon recovery from a potentially lethal damage, undergo dedifferentiation and express genes, which are characteristic of undifferentiated stem cells. While these cells are competent in maintaining differentiated progeny of tumor, they also exhibit transdifferentiation potential. Dedifferentiation is characterized by accumulation of hydrogen sulfide (H2S), which triggers up-regulation of nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (Nampt) accompanied by changes in the redox state. The molecular events triggered by Nampt include elevated production of NAD(+) and up-regulation of H2S producing enzymes, cystathionine beta synthase (CBS) and cystathionase (CTH) with 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (MST) being detectable only in 3D spheroids. Suppression of Nampt, or inactivation of H2S producing enzymes, all reduce H2S production and reverse the ability of cells to dedifferentiate. Moreover, H2S induced stem cell markers in parental cancer cells in a manner similar to that observed in damage recovered cells. These data suggest of existence of a positive feedback loop between H2S and Nampt that controls dedifferentiation in cancer cells that recover from a potentially lethal damage.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elena A Ostrakhovitch
- Frontiers in Bioscience Research Institute in Aging and Cancer, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
| | - Shin Akakura
- Frontiers in Bioscience Research Institute in Aging and Cancer, Irvine, CA 92618, USA
| | | | - Scott Goodwin
- Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, USA
| | - Siamak Tabibzadeh
- Frontiers in Bioscience Research Institute in Aging and Cancer, Irvine, CA 92618, USA; Department of Radiological Sciences, University of California, Irvine, CA 92868, USA.
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Rijlaarsdam MA, Looijenga LHJ. An oncofetal and developmental perspective on testicular germ cell cancer. Semin Cancer Biol 2014; 29:59-74. [PMID: 25066859 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2014.07.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/17/2014] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Germ cell tumors (GCTs) represent a diverse group of tumors presumably originating from (early fetal) developing germ cells. Most frequent are the testicular germ cell cancers (TGCC). Overall, TGCC is the most frequent malignancy in Caucasian males (20-40 years) and remains an important cause of (treatment related) mortality in these young men. The strong association between the phenotype of TGCC stem cell components and their totipotent ancestor (fetal primordial germ cell or gonocyte) makes these tumors highly relevant from an onco-fetal point of view. This review subsequently discusses the evidence for the early embryonic origin of TGCCs, followed by an overview of the crucial association between TGCC pathogenesis, genetics, environmental exposure and the (fetal) testicular micro-environment (genvironment). This culminates in an evaluation of three genvironmentally modulated hallmarks of TGCC directly related to the oncofetal pathogenesis of TGCC: (1) maintenance of pluripotency, (2) cell cycle control/cisplatin sensitivity and (3) regulation of proliferation/migration/apoptosis by KIT-KITL mediated receptor tyrosine kinase signaling. Briefly, TGCC exhibit identifiable stem cell components (seminoma and embryonal carcinoma) and progenitors that show large and consistent similarities to primordial/embryonic germ cells, their presumed totipotent cells of origin. TGCC pathogenesis depends crucially on a complex interaction of genetic and (micro-)environmental, i.e. genvironmental risk factors that have only been partly elucidated despite significant effort. TGCC stem cell components also show a high degree of similarity with embryonic stem/germ cells (ES) in the regulation of pluripotency and cell cycle control, directly related to their exquisite sensitivity to DNA damaging agents (e.g. cisplatin). Of note, (ES specific) micro-RNAs play a pivotal role in the crossover between cell cycle control, pluripotency and chemosensitivity. Moreover, multiple consistent observations reported TGCC to be associated with KIT-KITL mediated receptor tyrosine kinase signaling, a pathway crucially implicated in proliferation, migration and survival during embryogenesis including germ cell development. In conclusion, TGCCs are a fascinating model for onco-fetal developmental processes especially with regard to studying cell cycle control, pluripotency maintenance and KIT-KITL signaling. The knowledge presented here contributes to better understanding of the molecular characteristics of TGCC pathogenesis, translating to identification of at risk individuals and enhanced quality of care for TGCC patients (diagnosis, treatment and follow-up).
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin A Rijlaarsdam
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Leendert H J Looijenga
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus MC - University Medical Center Rotterdam, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
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