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Cheng LT, Tan GYT, Chang FP, Wang CK, Chou YC, Hsu PH, Hwang-Verslues WW. Core clock gene BMAL1 and RNA-binding protein MEX3A collaboratively regulate Lgr5 expression in intestinal crypt cells. Sci Rep 2023; 13:17597. [PMID: 37845346 PMCID: PMC10579233 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-44997-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium is highly regenerative. Rapidly proliferating LGR5+ crypt base columnar (CBC) cells are responsible for epithelial turnover needed to maintain intestinal homeostasis. Upon tissue damage, loss of LGR5+ CBCs can be compensated by activation of quiescent +4 intestinal stem cells (ISCs) or early progenitor cells to restore intestinal regeneration. LGR5+ CBC self-renewal and ISC conversion to LGR5+ cells are regulated by external signals originating from the ISC niche. In contrast, little is known about intrinsic regulatory mechanisms critical for maintenance of LGR5+ CBC homeostasis. We found that LGR5 expression in intestinal crypt cells is controlled by the circadian core clock gene BMAL1 and the BMAL1-regulated RNA-binding protein MEX3A. BMAL1 directly activated transcription of Mex3a. MEX3A in turn bound to and stabilized Lgr5 mRNA. Bmal1 depletion reduced Mex3a and Lgr5 expression and led to increased ferroptosis, which consequently decreased LGR5+ CBC numbers and increased the number of crypt cells expressing +4 ISC marker BMI1. Together, these findings reveal a BMAL1-centered intrinsic regulatory pathway that maintains LGR5 expression in the crypt cells and suggest a potential mechanism contributing to ISC homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li-Tzu Cheng
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Grace Y T Tan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
- Molecular and Cell Biology, Taiwan International Graduate Program, Academia Sinica and Graduate Institute of Life Sciences, National Defense Medical Center, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Pei Chang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Cheng-Kai Wang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Taipei, 115, Taiwan
| | - Yu-Chi Chou
- Biomedical Translation Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Pang-Hung Hsu
- Department of Bioscience and Biotechnology, National Taiwan Ocean University, Keelung, Taiwan
| | - Wendy W Hwang-Verslues
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Taipei, 115, Taiwan.
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2
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Orzechowska-Licari EJ, Bialkowska AB, Yang VW. Sonic Hedgehog and WNT Signaling Regulate a Positive Feedback Loop Between Intestinal Epithelial and Stromal Cells to Promote Epithelial Regeneration. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2023; 16:607-642. [PMID: 37481204 PMCID: PMC10470419 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2023.07.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2022] [Revised: 07/06/2023] [Accepted: 07/10/2023] [Indexed: 07/24/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Active intestinal stem cells are prone to injury by ionizing radiation. We previously showed that upon radiation-induced injury, normally quiescent reserve intestinal stem cells (rISCs) (marked by BMI1) are activated by Musashi-1 (MSI1) and exit from the quiescent state to regenerate the intestinal epithelium. This study aims to further establish the mechanism that regulates activation of Bmi1-CreER;Rosa26eYFP (Bmi1-CreER) rISCs following γ radiation-induced injury. METHODS Bmi1-CreER mice were treated with tamoxifen to initiate lineage tracing of BMI1 (eYFP+) cells and exposed to 12 Gy of total body γ irradiation or sham. Intestinal tissues were collected and analyzed by immunofluorescence, Western blot, reverse-transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay, and chromatin immunoprecipitation real-time polymerase chain reaction. RESULTS After irradiation, increased expression of Msi1 in eYFP+ cells was accompanied by increased expression of Axin2, a WNT marker. Promoter studies of the Msi1 gene indicated that Msi1 is a WNT target gene. Coculture of stromal cells isolated from irradiated mice stimulated Bmi1-CreER-derived organoid regeneration more effectively than those from sham mice. Expression of WNT ligands, including Wnt2b, Wnt4, Wnt5a, and Rspo3, was increased in irradiated stromal cells compared with sham-treated stromal cells. Moreover, expression of the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) effector Gli1 was increased in stromal cells from irradiated mice. This was correlated with an increased expression of SHH in epithelial cells postirradiation, indicating epithelial-stromal interaction. Finally, preinjury treatment with SHH inhibitor cyclopamine significantly reduced intestinal epithelial regeneration and Msi1 expression postirradiation. CONCLUSIONS Upon ionizing radiation-induced injury, intestinal epithelial cells increase SHH secretion, stimulating stromal cells to secrete WNT ligands. WNT activators induce Msi1 expression in the Bmi1-CreER cells. This stromal-epithelial interaction leads to Bmi1-CreER rISCs induction and epithelial regeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Agnieszka B Bialkowska
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
| | - Vincent W Yang
- Department of Medicine, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York; Department of Physiology and Biophysics, Renaissance School of Medicine at Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, New York.
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3
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Wang CK, Chen TJ, Tan GY, Chang FP, Sridharan S, Yu CHA, Chang YH, Chen YJ, Cheng LT, Hwang-Verslues WW. MEX3A Mediates p53 Degradation to Suppress Ferroptosis and Facilitate Ovarian Cancer Tumorigenesis. Cancer Res 2023; 83:251-263. [PMID: 36354374 PMCID: PMC9845988 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-22-1159] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Revised: 08/24/2022] [Accepted: 11/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial ovarian cancer is a highly heterogeneous and malignant female cancer with an overall low survival rate. Mutations in p53 are prevalent in the major ovarian cancer histotype, high-grade serous ovarian carcinoma (HGSOC), while p53 mutations are much less frequent in other ovarian cancer subtypes, particularly in ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC). Advanced stage OCCC with wild-type (WT) p53 has a worse prognosis and increased drug resistance, metastasis, and recurrence than HGSOC. The mechanisms responsible for driving the aggressiveness of WT p53-expressing ovarian cancer remain poorly understood. Here, we found that upregulation of MEX3A, a dual-function protein containing a RING finger domain and an RNA-binding domain, was critical for tumorigenesis in WT p53-expressing ovarian cancer. MEX3A overexpression enhanced the growth and clonogenicity of OCCC cell lines. In contrast, depletion of MEX3A in OCCC cells, as well as ovarian teratocarcinoma cells, reduced cell survival and proliferative ability. MEX3A depletion also inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival in orthotopic xenograft models. MEX3A depletion did not alter p53 mRNA level but did increase p53 protein stability. MEX3A-mediated p53 protein degradation was crucial to suppress ferroptosis and enhance tumorigenesis. Consistently, p53 knockdown reversed the effects of MEX3A depletion. Together, our observations identified MEX3A as an important oncogenic factor promoting tumorigenesis in ovarian cancer cells expressing WT p53. SIGNIFICANCE Degradation of p53 mediated by MEX3A drives ovarian cancer growth by circumventing p53 tumor suppressive functions, suggesting targeting MEX3A as a potential strategy for treating of ovarian cancer expressing WT p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cheng-Kai Wang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Tzu-Jou Chen
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Grace Y.T. Tan
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Fang-Pei Chang
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | | | | | - Yen-Hou Chang
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Jen Chen
- Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Taipei Veterans General Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan.,School of Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan.,Institute of Clinical Medicine, National Yang Ming Chiao Tung University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Li-Tzu Cheng
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Wendy W. Hwang-Verslues
- Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, Taipei, Taiwan.,Corresponding Author: Wendy W. Hwang-Verslues, Genomics Research Center, Academia Sinica, No. 128, Sec. 2, Academia Road, Taipei 115, Taiwan. Phone: +886-2-2787-1246; Fax: +886-2-2789-9924; E-mail:
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4
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Li X, Liu J, Zhou Y, Wang L, Wen Y, Ding K, Zou L, Liu X, Li A, Wang Y, Fu H, Huang M, Ding G, Zhou J. Jwa participates the maintenance of intestinal epithelial homeostasis via ERK/FBXW7-mediated NOTCH1/PPARγ/STAT5 axis and acts as a novel putative aging related gene. Int J Biol Sci 2022; 18:5503-5521. [PMID: 36147468 PMCID: PMC9461671 DOI: 10.7150/ijbs.72751] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2022] [Accepted: 08/25/2022] [Indexed: 11/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium is a rapid self-renewal and regenerated tissue of which the structural integrity is beneficial for maintaining health. The integrity of intestinal epithelium depends on the balance of cell proliferation, differentiation, migration, and the function of intestinal stem cells, which declines due to genetic defect or aging. Jwa participates in multiple cellular processes; it also responds to oxidative stress and repairs DNA damage. However, whether Jwa plays a role in maintaining the homeostasis of intestinal renewal and regeneration is not clear. In the present study, we firstly described that the deletion of Jwa disturbed the homeostasis of intestinal epithelial renewal and regeneration. Jwa deficiency promoted NOTCH1 degradation in the ERK/FBXW7-mediated ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, thus disturbing the PPARγ/STAT5 axis. These mechanisms might partially contribute to the reduction of intestinal stem cell function and alteration of intestinal epithelial cell lineage distribution, finally suppressing the renewal and regeneration of intestinal epithelium. Moreover, our results also revealed that Jwa was a novel putative aging related gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiong Li
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Toxicology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Jingwen Liu
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Toxicology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yan Zhou
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Toxicology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Luman Wang
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Toxicology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yifan Wen
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Toxicology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Kun Ding
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Toxicology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Lu Zou
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Toxicology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Xia Liu
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Toxicology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Aiping Li
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Toxicology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Yun Wang
- Animal Core Facility of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Animal Experimental Center of Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Heling Fu
- Animal Core Facility of Nanjing Medical University, Jiangsu Animal Experimental Center of Medical and Pharmaceutical Research, Nanjing 211166, China
| | - Min Huang
- Department of Geriatrics, Division of Geriatric Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Guoxian Ding
- Department of Geriatrics, Division of Geriatric Endocrinology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 210029, China
| | - Jianwei Zhou
- Department of Molecular Cell Biology & Toxicology, Center for Global Health, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China.,Key Laboratory of Modern Toxicology of Ministry of Education, School of Public Health, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, 211166, China.,Jiangsu Key Lab of Cancer Biomarkers, Prevention and Treatment, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing 211166, China
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5
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Álvarez-Varela A, Novellasdemunt L, Barriga FM, Hernando-Momblona X, Cañellas-Socias A, Cano-Crespo S, Sevillano M, Cortina C, Stork D, Morral C, Turon G, Slebe F, Jiménez-Gracia L, Caratù G, Jung P, Stassi G, Heyn H, Tauriello DVF, Mateo L, Tejpar S, Sancho E, Stephan-Otto Attolini C, Batlle E. Mex3a marks drug-tolerant persister colorectal cancer cells that mediate relapse after chemotherapy. NATURE CANCER 2022; 3:1052-1070. [PMID: 35773527 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-022-00402-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Accepted: 05/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) patient-derived organoids predict responses to chemotherapy. Here we used them to investigate relapse after treatment. Patient-derived organoids expand from highly proliferative LGR5+ tumor cells; however, we discovered that lack of optimal growth conditions specifies a latent LGR5+ cell state. This cell population expressed the gene MEX3A, is chemoresistant and regenerated the organoid culture after treatment. In CRC mouse models, Mex3a+ cells contributed marginally to metastatic outgrowth; however, after chemotherapy, Mex3a+ cells produced large cell clones that regenerated the disease. Lineage-tracing analysis showed that persister Mex3a+ cells downregulate the WNT/stem cell gene program immediately after chemotherapy and adopt a transient state reminiscent to that of YAP+ fetal intestinal progenitors. In contrast, Mex3a-deficient cells differentiated toward a goblet cell-like phenotype and were unable to resist chemotherapy. Our findings reveal that adaptation of cancer stem cells to suboptimal niche environments protects them from chemotherapy and identify a candidate cell of origin of relapse after treatment in CRC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrián Álvarez-Varela
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Novellasdemunt
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco M Barriga
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Cancer Biology and Genetics Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Xavier Hernando-Momblona
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Adrià Cañellas-Socias
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sara Cano-Crespo
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Sevillano
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Carme Cortina
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Diana Stork
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Clara Morral
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Gemma Turon
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Felipe Slebe
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Laura Jiménez-Gracia
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Ginevra Caratù
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Peter Jung
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner site Munich, Institute of Pathology, Ludwig Maximilian University, Munich, Germany
| | - Giorgio Stassi
- Department of Surgical Oncological and Stomatological Sciences, University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy
| | - Holger Heyn
- CNAG-CRG, Centre for Genomic Regulation, Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Universitat Pompeu Fabra, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Daniele V F Tauriello
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Cell Biology, Radboud Institute for Molecular Life Sciences, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, Netherlands
| | - Lidia Mateo
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sabine Tejpar
- Molecular Digestive Oncology, Department of Oncology, Katholieke Universiteit Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Elena Sancho
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Camille Stephan-Otto Attolini
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Eduard Batlle
- Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, Barcelona, Spain.
- Centro de Investigación Biomédica en Red de Cáncer (CIBERONC), Barcelona, Spain.
- ICREA, Barcelona, Spain.
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6
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Liao Z, Hu C, Gao Y. Mechanisms modulating the activities of intestinal stem cells upon radiation or chemical agent exposure. JOURNAL OF RADIATION RESEARCH 2022; 63:149-157. [PMID: 35021216 PMCID: PMC8944320 DOI: 10.1093/jrr/rrab124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Revised: 10/04/2021] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) are essential for the regeneration of intestinal cells upon radiation or chemical agent damage. As for radiation-induced damage, the expression of AIM2, YAP, TLR3, PUMA or BVES can aggravate ISCs depletion, while the stimulation of TLR5, HGF/MET signaling, Ass1 gene, Slit/Robo signaling facilitate the radio-resistance of ISCs. Upon chemical agent treatment, the activation of TRAIL or p53/PUMA pathway exacerbate injury on ISCs, while the increased levels of IL-22, β-arrestin1 can ease the damage. The transformation between reserve ISCs (rISCs) maintaining quiescent states and active ISCs (aISCs) that are highly proliferative has obtained much attention in recent years, in which ISCs expressing high levels of Hopx, Bmi1, mTert, Krt19 or Lrig1 are resistant to radiation injury, and SOX9, MSI2, clusterin, URI are essential for rISCs maintenance. The differentiated cells like Paneth cells and enteroendocrine cells can also obtain stemness driven by radiation injury mediated by Wnt or Notch signaling. Besides, Mex3a-expressed ISCs can survive and then proliferate into intestinal epithelial cells upon chemical agent damage. In addition, the modulation of symbiotic microbes harboring gastrointestinal (GI) tract is also a promising strategy to protect ISCs against radiation damage. Overall, the strategies targeting mechanisms modulating ISCs activities are conducive to alleviating GI injury of patients receiving chemoradiotherapy or victims of nuclear or chemical accident.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Yue Gao
- Corresponding author. Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Beijing Institute of Radiation Medicine; 27 Taiping Road, Beijing, 100850, People’s Republic of China. E-mail:
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7
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RNA-binding protein MEX3A controls G1/S transition via regulating the RB/E2F pathway in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. MOLECULAR THERAPY - NUCLEIC ACIDS 2022; 27:241-255. [PMID: 34976441 PMCID: PMC8703191 DOI: 10.1016/j.omtn.2021.11.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2021] [Accepted: 11/29/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
MEX3A is an RNA-binding protein that mediates mRNA decay through binding to 3′ untranslated regions. However, its role and mechanism in clear cell renal cell carcinoma remain unknown. In this study, we found that MEX3A expression was transcriptionally activated by ETS1 and upregulated in clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Silencing MEX3A markedly reduced clear cell renal cell carcinoma cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Inhibiting MEX3A induced G1/S cell-cycle arrest. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that E2F targets are the central downstream pathways of MEX3A. To identify MEX3A targets, systematic screening using enhanced cross-linking and immunoprecipitation sequencing, and RNA-immunoprecipitation sequencing assays were performed. A network of 4,000 genes was identified as potential targets of MEX3A. Gene ontology analysis of upregulated genes bound by MEX3A indicated that negative regulation of the cell proliferation pathway was highly enriched. Further assays indicated that MEX3A bound to the CDKN2B 3′ untranslated region, promoting its mRNA degradation. This leads to decreased levels of CDKN2B and an uncontrolled cell cycle in clear cell renal cell carcinoma, which was confirmed by rescue experiments. Our findings revealed that MEX3A acts as a post-transcriptional regulator of abnormal cell-cycle progression in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
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8
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Wang Y, Liang Q, Lei K, Zhu Q, Zeng D, Liu Y, Lu Y, Kang T, Tang N, Huang L, Ye L, Tang D, Zhu C. Targeting MEX3A attenuates metastasis of breast cancer via β-catenin signaling pathway inhibition. Cancer Lett 2021; 521:50-63. [PMID: 34425185 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.08.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2021] [Revised: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 08/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/09/2022]
Abstract
Metastasis is the major cause of mortality in patients with breast cancer. Understanding the metastatic mechanism to guide clinical diagnoses and the treatment of breast cancer remains a challenge. We found that the expression of Mex-3 RNA binding family member A (MEX3A) was upregulated significantly and related to tumor grade in breast cancer. The results of in vitro and in vivo studies showed that knockdown of MEX3A inhibited the metastasis and impaired the stemness of breast cancer cells. Furthermore, activation of the β-catenin signaling pathway was discovered as a molecular intermediate of MEX3A-mediated regulation. We also found that ectopic expression of β-catenin restored the migration ability, invasion ability, and CD44+/CD24- percentage of MDA-MB-231 and BT549 cells when MEX3A was depleted. In addition, we revealed that MEX3A positively regulated the expression of β-catenin by downregulating Dickkopf WNT signaling pathway inhibitor 1 (DKK1) expression. Therefore, a previously undiscovered role of MEX3A comprising a critical contribution to promoting metastasis and maintaining the stemness of breast cancer via the Wnt/β-catenin pathway was demonstrated in the present study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yun Wang
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Qian Liang
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Kefeng Lei
- Department of General Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Qingqing Zhu
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Delong Zeng
- Department of Clinical Immunology, Institute of Laboratory Medicine, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Medical Molecular Diagnostics, School of Medical Technology, Guangdong Medical University, Dongguan, 523808, China
| | - Yuhong Liu
- Department of General Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Yingsi Lu
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Tingting Kang
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Nannan Tang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Lifen Huang
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Liping Ye
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China
| | - Di Tang
- Department of General Surgery, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, China
| | - Chengming Zhu
- Scientific Research Center, The Seventh Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Shenzhen, 518107, China.
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9
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Dvir S, Argoetti A, Lesnik C, Roytblat M, Shriki K, Amit M, Hashimshony T, Mandel-Gutfreund Y. Uncovering the RNA-binding protein landscape in the pluripotency network of human embryonic stem cells. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109198. [PMID: 34077720 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109198] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/03/2020] [Revised: 03/11/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Embryonic stem cell (ESC) self-renewal and cell fate decisions are driven by a broad array of molecular signals. While transcriptional regulators have been extensively studied in human ESCs (hESCs), the extent to which RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) contribute to human pluripotency remains unclear. Here, we carry out a proteome-wide screen and identify 810 proteins that bind RNA in hESCs. We reveal that RBPs are preferentially expressed in hESCs and dynamically regulated during early stem cell differentiation. Notably, many RBPs are affected by knockdown of OCT4, a master regulator of pluripotency, several dozen of which are directly targeted by this factor. Using cross-linking and immunoprecipitation (CLIP-seq), we find that the pluripotency-associated STAT3 and OCT4 transcription factors interact with RNA in hESCs and confirm the binding of STAT3 to the conserved NORAD long-noncoding RNA. Our findings indicate that RBPs have a more widespread role in human pluripotency than previously appreciated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shlomi Dvir
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel
| | - Amir Argoetti
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel
| | - Chen Lesnik
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel
| | | | | | - Michal Amit
- Accellta LTD, Haifa 320003, Israel; Ephraim Katzir Department of Biotechnology Engineering, ORT Braude College, Karmiel 2161002, Israel
| | - Tamar Hashimshony
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel
| | - Yael Mandel-Gutfreund
- Faculty of Biology, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel; Computer Science Department, Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, Haifa 320003, Israel.
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10
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Lederer M, Müller S, Glaß M, Bley N, Ihling C, Sinz A, Hüttelmaier S. Oncogenic Potential of the Dual-Function Protein MEX3A. BIOLOGY 2021; 10:415. [PMID: 34067172 PMCID: PMC8151450 DOI: 10.3390/biology10050415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/08/2021] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 05/05/2021] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
MEX3A belongs to the MEX3 (Muscle EXcess) protein family consisting of four members (MEX3A-D) in humans. Characteristic for MEX3 proteins is their domain structure with 2 HNRNPK homology (KH) domains mediating RNA binding and a C-terminal really interesting new gene (RING) domain that harbors E3 ligase function. In agreement with their domain composition, MEX3 proteins were reported to modulate both RNA fate and protein ubiquitination. MEX3 paralogs exhibit an oncofetal expression pattern, they are severely downregulated postnatally, and re-expression is observed in various malignancies. Enforced expression of MEX3 proteins in various cancers correlates with poor prognosis, emphasizing their oncogenic potential. The latter is supported by MEX3A's impact on proliferation, self-renewal as well as migration of tumor cells in vitro and tumor growth in xenograft studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcell Lederer
- Charles Tanford Protein Center, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Section for Molecular Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3a, 06120 Halle, Germany; (S.M.).; (M.G.).; (N.B.); (S.H.)
| | - Simon Müller
- Charles Tanford Protein Center, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Section for Molecular Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3a, 06120 Halle, Germany; (S.M.).; (M.G.).; (N.B.); (S.H.)
| | - Markus Glaß
- Charles Tanford Protein Center, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Section for Molecular Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3a, 06120 Halle, Germany; (S.M.).; (M.G.).; (N.B.); (S.H.)
| | - Nadine Bley
- Charles Tanford Protein Center, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Section for Molecular Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3a, 06120 Halle, Germany; (S.M.).; (M.G.).; (N.B.); (S.H.)
| | - Christian Ihling
- Center for Structural Mass Spectrometry, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (C.I.); (A.S.)
| | - Andrea Sinz
- Center for Structural Mass Spectrometry, Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry & Bioanalytics, Institute of Pharmacy, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3, 06120 Halle (Saale), Germany; (C.I.); (A.S.)
| | - Stefan Hüttelmaier
- Charles Tanford Protein Center, Faculty of Medicine, Institute of Molecular Medicine, Section for Molecular Cell Biology, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Kurt-Mothes-Str. 3a, 06120 Halle, Germany; (S.M.).; (M.G.).; (N.B.); (S.H.)
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11
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Stem Cell Impairment at the Host-Microbiota Interface in Colorectal Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13050996. [PMID: 33673612 PMCID: PMC7957811 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13050996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2021] [Revised: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 02/23/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Colorectal cancer (CRC) initiation is believed to result from the conversion of normal intestinal stem cells (ISCs) into cancer stem cells (CSCs), also known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs). Hence, CRC evolves through the multiple acquisition of well-established genetic and epigenetic alterations with an adenoma-carcinoma sequence progression. Unlike other stem cells elsewhere in the body, ISCs cohabit with the intestinal microbiota, which consists of a diverse community of microorganisms, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses. The gut microbiota communicates closely with ISCs and mounting evidence suggests that there is significant crosstalk between host and microbiota at the ISC niche level. Metagenomic analyses have demonstrated that the host-microbiota mutually beneficial symbiosis existing under physiologic conditions is lost during a state of pathological microbial imbalance due to the alteration of microbiota composition (dysbiosis) and/or the genetic susceptibility of the host. The complex interaction between CRC and microbiota is at the forefront of the current CRC research, and there is growing attention on a possible role of the gut microbiome in the pathogenesis of CRC through ISC niche impairment. Here we primarily review the most recent findings on the molecular mechanism underlying the complex interplay between gut microbiota and ISCs, revealing a possible key role of microbiota in the aberrant reprogramming of CSCs in the initiation of CRC. We also discuss recent advances in OMICS approaches and single-cell analyses to explore the relationship between gut microbiota and ISC/CSC niche biology leading to a desirable implementation of the current precision medicine approaches.
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12
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Panzeri V, Manni I, Capone A, Naro C, Sacconi A, Di Agostino S, de Latouliere L, Montori A, Pilozzi E, Piaggio G, Capurso G, Sette C. The RNA-binding protein MEX3A is a prognostic factor and regulator of resistance to gemcitabine in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. Mol Oncol 2020; 15:579-595. [PMID: 33159833 PMCID: PMC7858117 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.12847] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2020] [Revised: 10/16/2020] [Accepted: 11/05/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is a highly aggressive cancer. Most patients present with advanced disease at diagnosis, which only permits palliative chemotherapeutic treatments. RNA dysregulation is a hallmark of most human cancers, including PDAC. To test the impact of RNA processing dysregulation on PDAC pathology, we performed a bioinformatics analysis to identify RNA-binding proteins (RBPs) associated with prognosis. Among the 12 RBPs associated with progression-free survival, we focused on MEX3A because it was recently shown to mark an intestinal stem cell population that is refractory to chemotherapeutic treatments, a typical feature of PDAC. Increased expression of MEX3A was correlated with higher disease stage in PDAC patients and with tumor development in a mouse model of PDAC. Depletion of MEX3A in PDAC cells enhanced sensitivity to chemotherapeutic treatment with gemcitabine, whereas its expression was increased in PDAC cells selected upon chronic exposure to the drug. RNA-sequencing analyses highlighted hundreds of genes whose expression is sensitive to MEX3A expression, with significant enrichment in cell cycle genes. MEX3A binds to its target mRNAs, like cyclin-dependent kinase 6 (CDK6), and promotes their stability. Accordingly, knockdown of MEX3A caused a significant reduction in PDAC cell proliferation and in progression to the S phase of the cell cycle. These findings uncover a novel role for MEX3A in the acquisition and maintenance of chemoresistance by PDAC cells, suggesting that it may represent a novel therapeutic target for PDAC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Panzeri
- Department of Science Medical/Chirurgic and Translational Medicine, University of Rome "Sapienza", Italy.,Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Manni
- UOSD SAFU, Department of Research, Diagnosis and Innovative Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Chiara Naro
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.,IRCCS Fondazione Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Sacconi
- Clinical Trial Center, Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Unit, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Silvia Di Agostino
- Oncogenomic and Epigenetic Unit, Department of Diagnostic Research and Technological Innovation, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Luisa de Latouliere
- UOSD SAFU, Department of Research, Diagnosis and Innovative Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Montori
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, UOC Anatomia Patologica, Sant' Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Pilozzi
- Department of Clinical and Molecular Medicine, UOC Anatomia Patologica, Sant' Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Piaggio
- UOSD SAFU, Department of Research, Diagnosis and Innovative Technologies, IRCCS Regina Elena National Cancer Institute, Rome, Italy
| | - Gabriele Capurso
- PancreatoBiliary Endoscopy and EUS Division, Pancreas Translational and Clinical Research Center, San Raffaele Scientific Institute IRCCS, Milan, Italy
| | - Claudio Sette
- Department of Neuroscience, Section of Human Anatomy, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.,Fondazione Santa Lucia IRCCS, Rome, Italy
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13
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Naef V, De Sarlo M, Testa G, Corsinovi D, Azzarelli R, Borello U, Ori M. The Stemness Gene Mex3A Is a Key Regulator of Neuroblast Proliferation During Neurogenesis. Front Cell Dev Biol 2020; 8:549533. [PMID: 33072742 PMCID: PMC7536324 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2020.549533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Accepted: 08/31/2020] [Indexed: 01/31/2023] Open
Abstract
Mex3A is an RNA binding protein that can also act as an E3 ubiquitin ligase to control gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. In intestinal adult stem cells, MEX3A is required for cell self-renewal and when overexpressed, MEX3A can contribute to support the proliferation of different cancer cell types. In a completely different context, we found mex3A among the genes expressed in neurogenic niches of the embryonic and adult fish brain and, notably, its expression was downregulated during brain aging. The role of mex3A during embryonic and adult neurogenesis in tetrapods is still unknown. Here, we showed that mex3A is expressed in the proliferative region of the developing brain in both Xenopus and mouse embryos. Using gain and loss of gene function approaches, we showed that, in Xenopus embryos, mex3A is required for neuroblast proliferation and its depletion reduced the neuroblast pool, leading to microcephaly. The tissue-specific overexpression of mex3A in the developing neural plate enhanced the expression of sox2 and msi-1 keeping neuroblasts into a proliferative state. It is now clear that the stemness property of mex3A, already demonstrated in adult intestinal stem cells and cancer cells, is a key feature of mex3a also in developing brain, opening new lines of investigation to better understand its role during brain aging and brain cancer development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Naef
- Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Molecular Medicine, IRCCS Fondazione Stella Maris, Pisa, Italy
| | - Miriam De Sarlo
- Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Giovanna Testa
- Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy.,Scuola Normale Superiore di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Debora Corsinovi
- Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Roberta Azzarelli
- Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Ugo Borello
- Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
| | - Michela Ori
- Unità di Biologia Cellulare e dello Sviluppo, Dipartimento di Biologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy
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14
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Liu Y, Chen YG. Intestinal epithelial plasticity and regeneration via cell dedifferentiation. CELL REGENERATION 2020; 9:14. [PMID: 32869114 PMCID: PMC7459029 DOI: 10.1186/s13619-020-00053-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/30/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The intestinal epithelium possesses a great capacity of self-renewal under normal homeostatic conditions and of regeneration upon damages. The renewal and regenerative processes are driven by intestinal stem cells (ISCs), which reside at the base of crypts and are marked by Lgr5. As Lgr5+ ISCs undergo fast cycling and are vulnerable to damages, there must be other types of cells that can replenish the lost Lgr5+ ISCs and then regenerate the damage epithelium. In addition to Lgr5+ ISCs, quiescent ISCs at the + 4 position in the crypt have been proposed to convert to Lgr5+ ISCs during regeneration. However, this “reserve stem cell” model still remains controversial. Different from the traditional view of a hierarchical organization of the intestinal epithelium, recent works support the dynamic “dedifferentiation” model, in which various cell types within the epithelium can de-differentiate to revert to the stem cell state and then regenerate the epithelium upon tissue injury. Here, we provide an overview of the cell identity and features of two distinct models and discuss the possible mechanisms underlying the intestinal epithelial plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuan Liu
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China
| | - Ye-Guang Chen
- The State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Tsinghua-Peking Center for Life Sciences, School of Life Sciences, Tsinghua University, Beijing, 100084, China.
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15
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Pereira B, Amaral AL, Dias A, Mendes N, Muncan V, Silva AR, Thibert C, Radu AG, David L, Máximo V, van den Brink GR, Billaud M, Almeida R. MEX3A regulates Lgr5 + stem cell maintenance in the developing intestinal epithelium. EMBO Rep 2020; 21:e48938. [PMID: 32052574 PMCID: PMC7132344 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201948938] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2019] [Revised: 01/15/2020] [Accepted: 01/20/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Intestinal stem cells (ISCs) fuel the lifelong self‐renewal of the intestinal tract and are paramount for epithelial repair. In this context, the Wnt pathway component LGR5 is the most consensual ISC marker to date. Still, the effort to better understand ISC identity and regulation remains a challenge. We have generated a Mex3a knockout mouse model and show that this RNA‐binding protein is crucial for the maintenance of the Lgr5+ISC pool, as its absence disrupts epithelial turnover during postnatal development and stereotypical organoid maturation ex vivo. Transcriptomic profiling of intestinal crypts reveals that Mex3a deletion induces the peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor (PPAR) pathway, along with a decrease in Wnt signalling and loss of the Lgr5+ stem cell signature. Furthermore, we identify PPARγ activity as a molecular intermediate of MEX3A‐mediated regulation. We also show that high PPARγ signalling impairs Lgr5+ISC function, thus uncovering a new layer of post‐transcriptional regulation that critically contributes to intestinal homeostasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Pereira
- i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Ana L Amaral
- i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Alexandre Dias
- i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Nuno Mendes
- i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Vanesa Muncan
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam UMC, Tytgat Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Ana R Silva
- i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Chantal Thibert
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Anca G Radu
- Institute for Advanced Biosciences, INSERM U1209, CNRS UMR5309, University Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Leonor David
- i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,FMUP-Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Valdemar Máximo
- i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,FMUP-Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
| | - Gijs R van den Brink
- Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Amsterdam UMC, Tytgat Institute, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Medicines Research Center, GSK, Stevenage, UK
| | - Marc Billaud
- Clinical and Experimental Model of Lymphomagenesis, INSERM U1052, CNRS UMR5286, Centre Léon Bérard, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Centre de Recherche en Cancérologie de Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Raquel Almeida
- i3S - Institute for Research and Innovation in Health (Instituto de Investigação e Inovação em Saúde), University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,IPATIMUP - Institute of Molecular Pathology and Immunology, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,FMUP-Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal.,Biology Department, Faculty of Sciences, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal
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