1
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Shen S, Wang P, Wu P, Huang P, Chi T, Xu W, Xi Y. CasRx-based Wnt activation promotes alveolar regeneration while ameliorating pulmonary fibrosis in a mouse model of lung injury. Mol Ther 2024:S1525-0016(24)00593-8. [PMID: 39245939 DOI: 10.1016/j.ymthe.2024.09.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 07/16/2024] [Accepted: 09/04/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Wnt/β-catenin signaling is an attractive target for regenerative medicine. A powerful driver of stem cell activity and hence tissue regeneration, Wnt signaling can promote fibroblast proliferation and activation, leading to fibrosis, while prolonged Wnt signaling is potentially carcinogenic. Thus, to harness its therapeutic potential, the activation of Wnt signaling must be transient, reversible, and tissue specific. In the lung, Wnt signaling is essential for alveolar stem cell activity and alveolar regeneration, which is impaired in lung fibrosis. Activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in lung epithelium may have anti-fibrotic effects. Here, we used intratracheal adeno-associated virus 6 injection to selectively deliver CasRx into the lung epithelium, where it reversibly activates Wnt signaling by simultaneously degrading mRNAs encoding Axin1 and Axin2, negative regulators of Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Interestingly, CasRx-mediated Wnt activation specifically in lung epithelium not only promotes alveolar type II cell proliferation and alveolar regeneration but also inhibits lung fibrosis resulted from bleomycin-induced injury, relevant in both preventive and therapeutic settings. Our study offers an attractive strategy for treating pulmonary fibrosis, with general implications for regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shengxi Shen
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ping Wang
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Pei Wu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Pengyu Huang
- State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, Engineering Research Center of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine Technology and Device (Ministry of Education), Institute of Biomedical Engineering, Chinese Academy of Medical Science & Peking Union Medical College, Tianjin 300192, China
| | - Tian Chi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; Department of Immunobiology, Yale University Medical School, New Haven, CT 06520, USA
| | - Wenqing Xu
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China
| | - Ying Xi
- School of Life Science and Technology, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China; State Key Laboratory of Advanced Medical Materials and Devices, ShanghaiTech University, Shanghai 201210, China.
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2
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Cheng X, Shen H, Zhang W, Chen B, Xu S, Wu L. Characterizing the effects of triclosan and triclocarban on the intestinal epithelial homeostasis using small intestinal organoids. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2024; 479:135734. [PMID: 39244982 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2024.135734] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2024] [Revised: 08/02/2024] [Accepted: 09/01/2024] [Indexed: 09/10/2024]
Abstract
Intestinal epithelium has the largest surface of human body, contributes dramatically to defense of toxicant-associated intestinal injury. Triclosan (TCS) and triclocarban (TCC), extensively employed as antibacterial agents in personal care products (PCPs) and healthcare facilities, caused serious damage to human intestine. However, the role of the intestinal epithelium in TCS/TCC-induced intestinal toxicity and its underlying toxic mechanisms remain incompletely understood. In this study, a novel 3D intestinal organoid model was utilized to investigate that exposure to TCS/TCC led to a compromised self-renewal and differentiation of intestinal stem cells (ISCs). Consequently, this disrupted intestinal epithelial homeostasis ultimately caused a reduction in nutrient absorption and deficient of epithelial defense to exogenous and endogenous pathogens stimulation. The inhibition of the Wnt signaling pathway in intestinal stem cell was contributed to the intestinal toxicity of TCS/TCC. These results were further confirmed in vivo with mice exposed to TCS/TCC. The findings of this study provide evidence that TCS/TCC possess the capacity to disturb the homeostasis of the intestinal epithelium, and emphasize the credibility of organoids as a valuable model for toxicological studies, as they could faithfully recapitulate in vivo phenomena.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaowen Cheng
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, PR China
| | - Hongzhi Shen
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, PR China
| | - Wen Zhang
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, PR China
| | - Biao Chen
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, PR China
| | - Shengmin Xu
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, PR China.
| | - Lijun Wu
- Information Materials and Intelligent Sensing Laboratory of Anhui Province, Institutes of Physical Science and Information Technology, Anhui University, Hefei, Anhui 230601, PR China
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3
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Hillier J, Zhao Y, Carrique L, Malinauskas T, Ruza RR, Chang TH, Yi G, Duyvesteyn HME, Yu J, Lu W, Pardon E, Steyaert J, Zhu Y, Ni T, Jones EY. Structural insights into Frizzled3 through nanobody modulators. Nat Commun 2024; 15:7228. [PMID: 39174501 PMCID: PMC11341715 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-024-51451-1] [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: 11/21/2023] [Accepted: 08/08/2024] [Indexed: 08/24/2024] Open
Abstract
The Wnt receptor Frizzled3 (FZD3) is important for brain axonal development and cancer progression. We report structures of FZD3 in complex with extracellular and intracellular binding nanobodies (Nb). The crystal structure of Nb8 in complex with the FZD3 cysteine-rich domain (CRD) reveals that the nanobody binds at the base of the lipid-binding groove and can compete with Wnt5a. Nb8 fused with the Dickkopf-1 C-terminal domain behaves as a FZD3-specific Wnt surrogate, activating β-catenin signalling. The cryo-EM structure of FZD3 in complex with Nb9 reveals partially resolved density for the CRD, which exhibits positional flexibility, and a transmembrane conformation that resembles active GPCRs. Nb9 binds to the cytoplasmic region of FZD3 at the putative Dishevelled (DVL) or G protein-binding site, competes with DVL binding, and inhibits GαS coupling. In combination, our FZD3 structures with nanobody modulators map extracellular and intracellular interaction surfaces of functional, and potentially therapeutic, relevance.
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Affiliation(s)
- James Hillier
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Yuguang Zhao
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
| | - Loic Carrique
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tomas Malinauskas
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Reinis R Ruza
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tao-Hsin Chang
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Gangshun Yi
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Helen M E Duyvesteyn
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Jing Yu
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Weixian Lu
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Els Pardon
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Centre for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Jan Steyaert
- Structural Biology Brussels, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, VUB, Brussels, Belgium
- VIB-VUB Centre for Structural Biology, VIB, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Yanan Zhu
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Tao Ni
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - E Yvonne Jones
- Division of Structural Biology, Wellcome Centre for Human Genetics, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK.
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4
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Zheng S, Sheng R. The emerging understanding of Frizzled receptors. FEBS Lett 2024; 598:1939-1954. [PMID: 38744670 DOI: 10.1002/1873-3468.14903] [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: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/04/2024] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 05/16/2024]
Abstract
The Wnt signaling pathway is a huge network governing development and homeostasis, dysregulation of which is associated with a myriad of human diseases. The Frizzled receptor (FZD) family comprises receptors for Wnt ligands, which indispensably mediate Wnt signaling jointly with a variety of co-receptors. Studies of FZDs have revealed that 10 FZD subtypes play diverse roles in physiological processes. At the same time, dysregulation of FZDs is also responsible for various diseases, in particular human cancers. Enormous attention has been paid to the molecular understanding and targeted therapy of FZDs in the past decade. In this review, we summarize the latest research on FZD structure, function, regulation and targeted therapy, providing a basis for guiding future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoqin Zheng
- College of Life and Health Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Ren Sheng
- College of Life and Health Science, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
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5
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Chuan J, Li W, Pan S, Jiang Z, Shi J, Yang Z. Progress in the development of modulators targeting Frizzleds. Pharmacol Res 2024; 206:107286. [PMID: 38936522 DOI: 10.1016/j.phrs.2024.107286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2024] [Revised: 06/08/2024] [Accepted: 06/24/2024] [Indexed: 06/29/2024]
Abstract
The Frizzleds (FZDs) receptors on the cell surface belong to the class F of G protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) which are the major receptors of WNT protein that mediates the classical WNT signaling pathway and other non-classical pathways. Besides, the FZDs also play a core role in tissue regeneration and tumor occurrence. With the structure and mechanism of FZDs activation becoming clearer, a series of FZDs modulators (inhibitors and agonists) have been developed, with the hope of bringing benefits to the treatment of cancer and degenerative diseases. Most of the FZDs inhibitors (small molecules, antibodies or designed protein inhibitors) block WNT signaling through binding to the cysteine-rich domain (CRD) of FZDs. Several small molecules impede FZDs activation by targeting to the third intracellular domain or the transmembrane domain of FZDs. However, three small molecules (FZM1.8, SAG1.3 and purmorphamine) activate the FZDs through direct interaction with the transmembrane domain. Another type of FZDs agonists are bivalent or tetravalent antibodies which activate the WNT signaling via inducing FZD-LRP5/6 heterodimerization. In this article, we reviewed the FZDs modulators reported in recent years, summarized the critical molecules' discovery processes and the elucidated relevant structural and pharmacological mechanisms. We believe the summaried molecular mechanisms of the relevant modulators could provide important guidance and reference for the future development of FZD modulators.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlan Chuan
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study and Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China
| | - Wei Li
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9, Section 4, Renmin South Road, Chengdu 610041, China; The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 380 Huaibeizhuang, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Shengliu Pan
- Center for Natural Products Research, Chengdu Institute of Biology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, No. 9, Section 4, Renmin South Road, Chengdu 610041, China; The University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, 380 Huaibeizhuang, Huairou District, Beijing 101408, China
| | - Zhongliang Jiang
- Hematology Department, Miller School of Medicine, University of Miami, USA
| | - Jianyou Shi
- Sichuan Provincial Key Laboratory for Human Disease Gene Study and Personalized Drug Therapy Key Laboratory of Sichuan Province, Department of Pharmacy, Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, University of Electronic Science and Technology of China, Chengdu, China.
| | - Zhenglin Yang
- Research Unit for Blindness Prevention, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences (2019RU026), Sichuan Academy of Medical Sciences and Sichuan Provincial People's Hospital, Chengdu, Sichuan, China; Jinfeng Laboratory, Chongqing, China.
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6
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Post Y, Lu C, Fletcher RB, Yeh WC, Nguyen H, Lee SJ, Li Y. Design principles and therapeutic applications of novel synthetic WNT signaling agonists. iScience 2024; 27:109938. [PMID: 38832011 PMCID: PMC11145361 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2024.109938] [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] [Indexed: 06/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Wingless-related integration site or Wingless and Int-1 or Wingless-Int (WNT) signaling is crucial for embryonic development, and adult tissue homeostasis and regeneration, through its essential roles in cell fate, patterning, and stem cell regulation. The biophysical characteristics of WNT ligands have hindered efforts to interrogate ligand activity in vivo and prevented their development as therapeutics. Recent breakthroughs have enabled the generation of synthetic WNT signaling molecules that possess characteristics of natural ligands and potently activate the pathway, while also providing distinct advantages for therapeutic development and manufacturing. This review provides a detailed discussion of the protein engineering of these molecular platforms for WNT signaling agonism. We discuss the importance of WNT signaling in several organs and share insights from the initial application of these new classes of molecules in vitro and in vivo. These molecules offer a unique opportunity to enhance our understanding of how WNT signaling agonism promotes tissue repair, enabling targeted development of tailored therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yorick Post
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Chenggang Lu
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Russell B. Fletcher
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Wen-Chen Yeh
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Huy Nguyen
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Sung-Jin Lee
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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7
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Wolf L, Angers S. Get your receptors in a knot with new Wnt signaling agonists. Cell Chem Biol 2024; 31:1044-1046. [PMID: 38906109 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2024.05.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2024] [Revised: 05/22/2024] [Accepted: 05/23/2024] [Indexed: 06/23/2024]
Abstract
Pharmacological modulation of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway holds promises for both basic research and therapeutic applications. In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Kschonsak et al.1 engineered knotted peptides that promote Wnt signaling by targeting ZNRF3 and serve as pharmacological tools for studying Wnt biology and supporting organoid growth.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Wolf
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephane Angers
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy and Department of Biochemistry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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8
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Zhu N, Smallwood PM, Rattner A, Chang TH, Williams J, Wang Y, Nathans J. Utility of protein-protein binding surfaces composed of anti-parallel alpha-helices and beta-sheets selected by phage display. J Biol Chem 2024; 300:107283. [PMID: 38608728 PMCID: PMC11107207 DOI: 10.1016/j.jbc.2024.107283] [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: 02/02/2024] [Revised: 04/03/2024] [Accepted: 04/05/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Over the past 3 decades, a diverse collection of small protein domains have been used as scaffolds to generate general purpose protein-binding reagents using a variety of protein display and enrichment technologies. To expand the repertoire of scaffolds and protein surfaces that might serve this purpose, we have explored the utility of (i) a pair of anti-parallel alpha-helices in a small highly disulfide-bonded 4-helix bundle, the CC4 domain from reversion-inducing Cysteine-rich Protein with Kazal Motifs and (ii) a concave beta-sheet surface and two adjacent loops in the human FN3 domain, the scaffold for the widely used monobody platform. Using M13 phage display and next generation sequencing, we observe that, in both systems, libraries of ∼30 million variants contain binding proteins with affinities in the low μM range for baits corresponding to the extracellular domains of multiple mammalian proteins. CC4- and FN3-based binding proteins were fused to the N- and/or C-termini of Fc domains and used for immunostaining of transfected cells. Additionally, FN3-based binding proteins were inserted into VP1 of AAV to direct AAV infection to cells expressing a defined surface receptor. Finally, FN3-based binding proteins were inserted into the Pvc13 tail fiber protein of an extracellular contractile injection system particle to direct protein cargo delivery to cells expressing a defined surface receptor. These experiments support the utility of CC4 helices B and C and of FN3 beta-strands C, D, and F together with adjacent loops CD and FG as surfaces for engineering general purpose protein-binding reagents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ningyu Zhu
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Philip M Smallwood
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Amir Rattner
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Tao-Hsin Chang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - John Williams
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Yanshu Wang
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA
| | - Jeremy Nathans
- Department of Molecular Biology and Genetics, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Neuroscience, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA; Department of Ophthalmology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, USA.
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9
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Patel M, Post Y, Hill N, Sura A, Ye J, Fisher T, Suen N, Zhang M, Cheng L, Pribluda A, Chen H, Yeh WC, Li Y, Baribault H, Fletcher RB. A WNT mimetic with broad spectrum FZD-specificity decreases fibrosis and improves function in a pulmonary damage model. Respir Res 2024; 25:153. [PMID: 38566174 PMCID: PMC10985870 DOI: 10.1186/s12931-024-02786-2] [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: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 03/23/2024] [Indexed: 04/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Wnt/β-catenin signaling is critical for lung development and AT2 stem cell maintenance in adults, but excessive pathway activation has been associated with pulmonary fibrosis, both in animal models and human diseases such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). IPF is a detrimental interstitial lung disease, and although two approved drugs limit functional decline, transplantation is the only treatment that extends survival, highlighting the need for regenerative therapies. METHODS Using our antibody-based platform of Wnt/β-catenin modulators, we investigated the ability of a pathway antagonist and pathway activators to reduce pulmonary fibrosis in the acute bleomycin model, and we tested the ability of a WNT mimetic to affect alveolar organoid cultures. RESULTS A WNT mimetic agonist with broad FZD-binding specificity (FZD1,2,5,7,8) potently expanded alveolar organoids. Upon therapeutic dosing, a broad FZD-binding specific Wnt mimetic decreased pulmonary inflammation and fibrosis and increased lung function in the bleomycin model, and it impacted multiple lung cell types in vivo. CONCLUSIONS Our results highlight the unexpected capacity of a WNT mimetic to effect tissue repair after lung damage and support the continued development of Wnt/β-catenin pathway modulation for the treatment of pulmonary fibrosis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mehaben Patel
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yorick Post
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Natalie Hill
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Asmiti Sura
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Jay Ye
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Trevor Fisher
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Nicholas Suen
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Mengrui Zhang
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Leona Cheng
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Ariel Pribluda
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Hui Chen
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Wen-Chen Yeh
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Hélène Baribault
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Russell B Fletcher
- Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Blvd, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA.
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10
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Veggiani G, Sidhu SS. Beyond Natural Immune Repertoires: Synthetic Antibodies. Cold Spring Harb Protoc 2024; 2024:107768. [PMID: 37295822 DOI: 10.1101/pdb.top107768] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Synthetic antibody libraries, in which the antigen-binding sites are precisely designed, offer unparalleled precision in antibody engineering, exceeding the potential of natural immune repertoires and constituting a novel generation of research tools and therapeutics. Recent advances in artificial intelligence-driven technologies and their integration into synthetic antibody discovery campaigns hold the promise to further streamline and effectively develop antibodies. Here, we provide an overview of synthetic antibodies. Our associated protocol describes how to develop highly diverse and functional synthetic antibody phage display libraries.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gianluca Veggiani
- The Anvil Institute, Kitchener, Ontario N2G 1H6, Canada
- Department of Pathobiological Sciences, School of Veterinary Medicine, Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70803, USA
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11
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Yang A, Chidiac R, Russo E, Steenland H, Pauli Q, Bonin R, Blazer LL, Adams JJ, Sidhu SS, Goeva A, Salahpour A, Angers S. Exploiting spatiotemporal regulation of FZD5 during neural patterning for efficient ventral midbrain specification. Development 2024; 151:dev202545. [PMID: 38358799 PMCID: PMC10946437 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202545] [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: 11/14/2023] [Accepted: 02/06/2024] [Indexed: 02/16/2024]
Abstract
The Wnt/β-catenin signaling governs anterior-posterior neural patterning during development. Current human pluripotent stem cell (hPSC) differentiation protocols use a GSK3 inhibitor to activate Wnt signaling to promote posterior neural fate specification. However, GSK3 is a pleiotropic kinase involved in multiple signaling pathways and, as GSK3 inhibition occurs downstream in the signaling cascade, it bypasses potential opportunities for achieving specificity or regulation at the receptor level. Additionally, the specific roles of individual FZD receptors in anterior-posterior patterning are poorly understood. Here, we have characterized the cell surface expression of FZD receptors in neural progenitor cells with different regional identity. Our data reveal unique upregulation of FZD5 expression in anterior neural progenitors, and this expression is downregulated as cells adopt a posterior fate. This spatial regulation of FZD expression constitutes a previously unreported regulatory mechanism that adjusts the levels of β-catenin signaling along the anterior-posterior axis and possibly contributes to midbrain-hindbrain boundary formation. Stimulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in hPSCs, using a tetravalent antibody that selectively triggers FZD5 and LRP6 clustering, leads to midbrain progenitor differentiation and gives rise to functional dopaminergic neurons in vitro and in vivo.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andy Yang
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Rony Chidiac
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Emma Russo
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Hendrik Steenland
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- NeuroTek Innovative Technology, Toronto, ON M6C 3A2, Canada
| | - Quinn Pauli
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Robert Bonin
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
| | - Levi L. Blazer
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Jarrett J. Adams
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
| | - Sachdev S. Sidhu
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Aleksandrina Goeva
- Broad Institute of Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Ali Salahpour
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Stephane Angers
- Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3E1, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3M2, Canada
- Department of Biochemistry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
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12
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Scharf MM, Humphrys LJ, Berndt S, Di Pizio A, Lehmann J, Liebscher I, Nicoli A, Niv MY, Peri L, Schihada H, Schulte G. The dark sides of the GPCR tree - research progress on understudied GPCRs. Br J Pharmacol 2024. [PMID: 38339984 DOI: 10.1111/bph.16325] [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: 08/25/2023] [Revised: 11/24/2023] [Accepted: 01/08/2024] [Indexed: 02/12/2024] Open
Abstract
A large portion of the human GPCRome is still in the dark and understudied, consisting even of entire subfamilies of GPCRs such as odorant receptors, class A and C orphans, adhesion GPCRs, Frizzleds and taste receptors. However, it is undeniable that these GPCRs bring an untapped therapeutic potential that should be explored further. Open questions on these GPCRs span diverse topics such as deorphanisation, the development of tool compounds and tools for studying these GPCRs, as well as understanding basic signalling mechanisms. This review gives an overview of the current state of knowledge for each of the diverse subfamilies of understudied receptors regarding their physiological relevance, molecular mechanisms, endogenous ligands and pharmacological tools. Furthermore, it identifies some of the largest knowledge gaps that should be addressed in the foreseeable future and lists some general strategies that might be helpful in this process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena M Scharf
- Karolinska Institutet, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Sec. Receptor Biology & Signaling, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Laura J Humphrys
- Institute of Pharmacy, University of Regensburg, Regensburg, Germany
| | - Sandra Berndt
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute for Biochemistry, Molecular Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Antonella Di Pizio
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Chemoinformatics and Protein Modelling, Department of Molecular Life Science, School of Life Science, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Juliane Lehmann
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute for Biochemistry, Molecular Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Ines Liebscher
- Rudolf Schönheimer Institute for Biochemistry, Molecular Biochemistry, University of Leipzig, Leipzig, Germany
| | - Alessandro Nicoli
- Leibniz Institute for Food Systems Biology at the Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
- Chemoinformatics and Protein Modelling, Department of Molecular Life Science, School of Life Science, Technical University of Munich, Freising, Germany
| | - Masha Y Niv
- The Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Lior Peri
- The Institute of Biochemistry, Food Science and Nutrition, Robert H. Smith Faculty of Agriculture, Food and Environment, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Hannes Schihada
- Institute of Pharmaceutical Chemistry, Philipps-University Marburg, Marburg, Germany
| | - Gunnar Schulte
- Karolinska Institutet, Dept. Physiology & Pharmacology, Sec. Receptor Biology & Signaling, Stockholm, Sweden
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13
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Chen H, Lee SJ, Li R, Sura A, Suen N, Dilip A, Pomogov Y, Vuppalapaty M, Suen TT, Lu C, Post Y, Li Y. BRAIDing receptors for cell-specific targeting. eLife 2024; 12:RP90221. [PMID: 38193894 PMCID: PMC10945505 DOI: 10.7554/elife.90221] [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] [Indexed: 01/10/2024] Open
Abstract
Systemic toxicity is a major challenge in the development of therapeutics. Consequently, cell-type-specific targeting is needed to improve on-target efficacy while reducing off-target toxicity. Here, we describe a cell-targeting system we have termed BRAID (BRidged Activation by Intra/intermolecular Division) whereby an active molecule is divided into two inactive or less active parts that are subsequently brought together via a so-called 'bridging receptor' on the target cell. This concept was validated using the WNT/β-catenin signaling system, demonstrating that a multivalent WNT agonist molecule divided into two inactive components assembled from different epitopes via the hepatocyte receptor βKlotho induces signaling specifically on hepatocytes. These data provide proof of concept for this cell-specific targeting strategy, and in principle, this may also allow activation of multiple signaling pathways where desirable. This approach has broad application potential for other receptor systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | - Ryan Li
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | - Asmiti Sura
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | | | - Yan Pomogov
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | | | | | | | - Yorick Post
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
| | - Yang Li
- Surrozen IncSouth San FranciscoUnited States
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14
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Chen H, Lee SJ, Ouyang B, Suen N, Ye J, Lu C, Li Y. Effects of Fc glycosylation on the activity of WNT mimetic agonistic antibodies. Antib Ther 2024; 7:88-95. [PMID: 38371954 PMCID: PMC10873268 DOI: 10.1093/abt/tbae002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Revised: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 01/16/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024] Open
Abstract
Monoclonal antibodies have been explored in a broad range of applications including receptor agonism. Given the importance of receptor conformation in signaling, the agonistic activity of antibodies that engage these receptors are influenced by many parameters. Tetravalent bispecific antibodies that target the frizzled and lipoprotein receptor-related protein receptors and subsequently activate WNT ("Wingless-related integration site" or "Wingless and Int-1" or "Wingless-Int") signaling have been constructed. Because WNT activation stimulates stem cell proliferation and tissue regeneration, immune effector functions should be eliminated from therapeutic antibodies targeting this pathway. Here, we report an unexpected effect of Fc glycosylation on the agonistic activity of WNT mimetic antibodies. Our findings underscore the importance of antibody format, geometry and epitope in agonistic antibody design, and highlight the need to establish appropriate early discovery screening strategies to identify hits for further optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Chen
- Protein Sciences, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Sung-Jin Lee
- Discovery Biology, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Brian Ouyang
- Protein Sciences, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Nicholas Suen
- Protein Sciences, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jay Ye
- Protein Sciences, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Chenggang Lu
- Discovery Biology, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Research, Surrozen Inc., South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
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15
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Li N, Ge Q, Guo Q, Tao Y. Identification and functional validation of FZD8-specific antibodies. Int J Biol Macromol 2024; 254:127846. [PMID: 37926311 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijbiomac.2023.127846] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 10/31/2023] [Indexed: 11/07/2023]
Abstract
The Wnt pathway is an evolutionarily conserved pathway involved in stem cell homeostasis and tissue regeneration. Aberrant signaling in the Wnt pathway is highly associated with cancer. Developing antibodies to block overactivation of Frizzled receptors (FZDs), the main receptors in the Wnt pathway, is one of the viable options for treating cancer. However, obtaining isoform-specific antibodies is often challenging due to the high degree of homology among the ten FZDs. In this study, by using a synthetic library, we identified an antibody named pF8_AC3 that preferentially binds to FZD8. Guided by the structure of the complex of pF8_AC3 and FZD8, a second-generation targeted library was further constructed, and finally, the FZD8-specific antibody sF8_AG6 was obtained. Cell-based assays showed that these antibodies could selectively block FZD8-mediated signaling activation. Taken together, these antibodies have the potential to be developed into therapeutic drugs in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Na Li
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China; Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qiangqiang Ge
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China; Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Qiong Guo
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China; Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
| | - Yuyong Tao
- MOE Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles and Cellular Dynamics, Center for Advanced Interdisciplinary Science and Biomedicine of IHM, Hefei National Research Center for Physical Sciences at the Microscale, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China; Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China.
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16
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Shree Harini K, Ezhilarasan D, Mani U. Molecular insights on intracellular Wnt/β-catenin signaling in alcoholic liver disease. Cell Biochem Funct 2024; 42:e3916. [PMID: 38269515 DOI: 10.1002/cbf.3916] [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: 08/26/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/10/2023] [Indexed: 01/26/2024]
Abstract
Alcoholic liver disease (ALD) is one of the most common health problems worldwide, especially in developing countries caused by chronic consumption of alcohol on a daily basis. The ALD spectrum is initiated with the early stages of alcoholic fatty liver (steatosis), progressing to alcoholic steatohepatitis, followed by the later stages of fibrosis and in some cases, cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The Wnt/β-catenin signaling required for healthy liver development, function, and regeneration is found to be aberrated in ALD, attributed to its progression. This review is to elucidate the association of Wnt/β-catenin signaling with various stages of ALD progression. Alcohol causes downregulation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling components and thereby suppressing the pathway. Reports have been published that aberrated Wnt/β-catenin signaling, especially the absence of β-catenin, results in decreased alcohol metabolism, causing steatosis followed by steatohepatitis via lipid accumulation, lipid peroxidation, liver injury, increased oxidative stress and apoptosis of hepatocytes, contributing to the advancement of ALD. Contrastingly, the progression of later stages of ALD like fibrosis and HCC depends on the increased activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling and its components. Existing studies reveal the varied expression of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in ALD. However, the dual role of the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in earlier and later stages of ALD is not clear. Therefore, studies on the Wnt/β-catenin pathway and its components in various manifestations of ALD might provide insight in targeting the Wnt/β-catenin pathway in ALD treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karthik Shree Harini
- Department of Pharmacology, Hepatology & Molecular Medicine Lab, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Devaraj Ezhilarasan
- Department of Pharmacology, Hepatology & Molecular Medicine Lab, Saveetha Dental College, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences (SIMATS), Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India
| | - Uthirappan Mani
- Animal House Division, CSIR-Central Leather Research Institute, Chennai, India
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17
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Nejak-Bowen K, Monga SP. Wnt-β-catenin in hepatobiliary homeostasis, injury, and repair. Hepatology 2023; 78:1907-1921. [PMID: 37246413 PMCID: PMC10687322 DOI: 10.1097/hep.0000000000000495] [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: 01/31/2023] [Accepted: 04/14/2023] [Indexed: 05/30/2023]
Abstract
Wnt-β-catenin signaling has emerged as an important regulatory pathway in the liver, playing key roles in zonation and mediating contextual hepatobiliary repair after injuries. In this review, we will address the major advances in understanding the role of Wnt signaling in hepatic zonation, regeneration, and cholestasis-induced injury. We will also touch on some important unanswered questions and discuss the relevance of modulating the pathway to provide therapies for complex liver pathologies that remain a continued unmet clinical need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kari Nejak-Bowen
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA USA
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA USA
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18
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He A, Tian S, Kopper O, Horan DJ, Chen P, Bronson RT, Sheng R, Wu H, Sui L, Zhou K, Tao L, Wu Q, Huang Y, Shen Z, Han S, Chen X, Chen H, He X, Robling AG, Jin R, Clevers H, Xiang D, Li Z, Dong M. Targeted inhibition of Wnt signaling with a Clostridioides difficile toxin B fragment suppresses breast cancer tumor growth. PLoS Biol 2023; 21:e3002353. [PMID: 37943878 PMCID: PMC10635564 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002353] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling pathways are transmitted via 10 homologous frizzled receptors (FZD1-10) in humans. Reagents broadly inhibiting Wnt signaling pathways reduce growth and metastasis of many tumors, but their therapeutic development has been hampered by the side effect. Inhibitors targeting specific Wnt-FZD pair(s) enriched in cancer cells may reduce side effect, but the therapeutic effect of narrow-spectrum Wnt-FZD inhibitors remains to be established in vivo. Here, we developed a fragment of C. difficile toxin B (TcdBFBD), which recognizes and inhibits a subclass of FZDs, FZD1/2/7, and examined whether targeting this FZD subgroup may offer therapeutic benefits for treating breast cancer models in mice. Utilizing 2 basal-like and 1 luminal-like breast cancer models, we found that TcdBFBD reduces tumor-initiating cells and attenuates growth of basal-like mammary tumor organoids and xenografted tumors, without damaging Wnt-sensitive tissues such as bones in vivo. Furthermore, FZD1/2/7-positive cells are enriched in chemotherapy-resistant cells in both basal-like and luminal mammary tumors treated with cisplatin, and TcdBFBD synergizes strongly with cisplatin in inhibiting both tumor types. These data demonstrate the therapeutic value of narrow-spectrum Wnt signaling inhibitor in treating breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aina He
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Songhai Tian
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- State Key Laboratory of Natural and Biomimetic Drugs, Department of Molecular and Cellular Pharmacology, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Peking University, Beijing, People’s Republic of China
| | - Oded Kopper
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Daniel J. Horan
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Barnhill, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Peng Chen
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Roderick T. Bronson
- Rodent Histopathology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Ren Sheng
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hao Wu
- Department of Vascular Biology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Lufei Sui
- Department of Vascular Biology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Kun Zhou
- Department of Vascular Biology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Liang Tao
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Quan Wu
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Central Laboratory of Medical Research Centre, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, Anhui, People’s Republic of China
| | - Yujing Huang
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zan Shen
- Department of Oncology, Shanghai Jiaotong University Affiliated Sixth People’s Hospital, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Sen Han
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xueqing Chen
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Hong Chen
- Department of Vascular Biology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Xi He
- Kirby Neurobiology Center, Boston Children’s Hospital, Department of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Alexander G. Robling
- Department of Anatomy & Cell Biology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Barnhill, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Rongsheng Jin
- Department of Physiology and Biophysics, University of California, Irvine, California, United States of America
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences and University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Dongxi Xiang
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Shanghai Cancer Institute, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
- Department of Biliary-Pancreatic Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China
| | - Zhe Li
- Division of Genetics, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Min Dong
- Department of Urology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
- Department of Microbiology and Department of Surgery, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
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19
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Zhang L, Abedin M, Jo HN, Levey J, Dinh QC, Chen Z, Angers S, Junge HJ. A Frizzled4-LRP5 agonist promotes blood-retina barrier function by inducing a Norrin-like transcriptional response. iScience 2023; 26:107415. [PMID: 37559903 PMCID: PMC10407957 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2023.107415] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/11/2023] [Revised: 05/22/2023] [Accepted: 07/14/2023] [Indexed: 08/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Norrin (NDP) and WNT7A/B induce and maintain the blood-brain and blood-retina barrier (BBB, BRB) by stimulating the Frizzled4-LDL receptor related protein 5/6 (FZD4-LRP5/6) complex to induce beta-catenin-dependent signaling in endothelial cells (ECs). Recently developed agonists for the FZD4-LRP5 complex have therapeutic potential in retinal and neurological diseases. Here, we use the tetravalent antibody modality F4L5.13 to identify agonist activities in Tspan12-/- mice, which display a complex retinal pathology due to impaired NDP-signaling. F4L5.13 administration during development alleviates BRB defects, retinal hypovascularization, and restores neural function. In mature Tspan12-/- mice F4L5.13 partially induces a BRB de novo without inducing angiogenesis. In a genetic model of impaired BRB maintenance, administration of F4L5.13 rapidly and substantially restores the BRB. scRNA-seq reveals perturbations of key mediators of barrier functions in juvenile Tspan12-/- mice, which are in large parts restored after F4L5.13 administration. This study identifies transcriptional and functional activities of FZD4-LRP5 agonists.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lingling Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Md. Abedin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Ha-Neul Jo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Jacklyn Levey
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Quynh Chau Dinh
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Zhe Chen
- Department of Neuroscience, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - Stephane Angers
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Harald J. Junge
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Neurosciences, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
- Graduate Program in Molecular, Cellular, Developmental Biology and Genetics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
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20
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Maimets M. Help! I need a WNT antibody. Help! Not just any antibody. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:857-860. [PMID: 37595548 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2023] [Revised: 07/18/2023] [Accepted: 07/18/2023] [Indexed: 08/20/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of antibody based surrogate WNT molecules has revolutionized research exploiting organoid cultures. In this issue of Cell Chemical Biology, Post et al.1 present a refined collection of WNT mimetics with unprecedented WNT/β-catenin pathway activating characteristics. These mimetics hold significant promise for future therapeutic advancements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martti Maimets
- The Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Medicine (reNEW), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3B, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.
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21
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Post Y, Dilip A, Xie L, Sura A, Suen N, Ye J, Mutha D, Liu AT, Nguyen H, Whisler E, Shah D, Deshmukh S, Dhaliwal N, Bauer B, Nigatu E, Diep A, Lopez T, Fowler TW, Lee SJ, Lu C, Yeh WC, Chen H, Li Y. Novel Frizzled-specific antibody-based Wnt mimetics and Wnt superagonists selectively activate WNT/β-catenin signaling in target tissues. Cell Chem Biol 2023; 30:976-986.e5. [PMID: 37413985 DOI: 10.1016/j.chembiol.2023.06.006] [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: 12/14/2022] [Revised: 04/18/2023] [Accepted: 06/06/2023] [Indexed: 07/08/2023]
Abstract
WNTs are essential factors for stem cell biology, embryonic development, and for maintaining homeostasis and tissue repair in adults. Difficulties in purifying WNTs and their lack of receptor selectivity have hampered research and regenerative medicine development. While breakthroughs in WNT mimetic development have overcome some of these difficulties, the tools developed so far are incomplete and mimetics alone are often not sufficient. Here, we developed a complete set of WNT mimetic molecules that cover all WNT/β-catenin-activating Frizzleds (FZDs). We show that FZD1,2,7 stimulate salivary gland expansion in vivo and salivary gland organoid expansion. We further describe the discovery of a novel WNT-modulating platform that combines WNT and RSPO mimetics' effects into one molecule. This set of molecules supports better organoid expansion in various tissues. These WNT-activating platforms can be broadly applied to organoids, pluripotent stem cells, and in vivo research, and serve as bases for future therapeutic development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yorick Post
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Archana Dilip
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Liqin Xie
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Asmiti Sura
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Nicholas Suen
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jay Ye
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Devin Mutha
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Angela T Liu
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Huy Nguyen
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Elizabeth Whisler
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Darshini Shah
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Shalaka Deshmukh
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Navrose Dhaliwal
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Ben Bauer
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Eskedar Nigatu
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Anh Diep
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Tom Lopez
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Tristan W Fowler
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Sung-Jin Lee
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Chenggang Lu
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Wen-Chen Yeh
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Hui Chen
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Surrozen Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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22
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Nabhan AN, Webster JD, Adams JJ, Blazer L, Everrett C, Eidenschenk C, Arlantico A, Fleming I, Brightbill HD, Wolters PJ, Modrusan Z, Seshagiri S, Angers S, Sidhu SS, Newton K, Arron JR, Dixit VM. Targeted alveolar regeneration with Frizzled-specific agonists. Cell 2023; 186:2995-3012.e15. [PMID: 37321220 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2023.05.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/28/2022] [Revised: 03/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/15/2023] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Wnt ligands oligomerize Frizzled (Fzd) and Lrp5/6 receptors to control the specification and activity of stem cells in many species. How Wnt signaling is selectively activated in different stem cell populations, often within the same organ, is not understood. In lung alveoli, we show that distinct Wnt receptors are expressed by epithelial (Fzd5/6), endothelial (Fzd4), and stromal (Fzd1) cells. Fzd5 is uniquely required for alveolar epithelial stem cell activity, whereas fibroblasts utilize distinct Fzd receptors. Using an expanded repertoire of Fzd-Lrp agonists, we could activate canonical Wnt signaling in alveolar epithelial stem cells via either Fzd5 or, unexpectedly, non-canonical Fzd6. A Fzd5 agonist (Fzd5ag) or Fzd6ag stimulated alveolar epithelial stem cell activity and promoted survival in mice after lung injury, but only Fzd6ag promoted an alveolar fate in airway-derived progenitors. Therefore, we identify a potential strategy for promoting regeneration without exacerbating fibrosis during lung injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ahmad N Nabhan
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Joshua D Webster
- Department of Pathology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Jarret J Adams
- AntlerA Therapeutics, 348 Hatch Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Levi Blazer
- AntlerA Therapeutics, 348 Hatch Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, USA
| | - Christine Everrett
- Department of Molecular Discovery and Cancer Cell Biology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Celine Eidenschenk
- Department of Molecular Discovery and Cancer Cell Biology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Alexander Arlantico
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Isabel Fleming
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Hans D Brightbill
- Department of Translational Immunology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Paul J Wolters
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Zora Modrusan
- Department of Microchemistry, Proteomics, Lipidomics and Next Generation Sequencing, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | | | - Stephane Angers
- AntlerA Therapeutics, 348 Hatch Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, USA; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A2, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- AntlerA Therapeutics, 348 Hatch Drive, Foster City, CA 94404, USA; School of Pharmacy, University of Waterloo, Kitchener, ON N2G 1C5, Canada
| | - Kim Newton
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
| | - Joseph R Arron
- Department of Immunology, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA
| | - Vishva M Dixit
- Department of Physiological Chemistry, Genentech, 1 DNA Way, South San Francisco, CA 94080, USA.
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23
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Ding J, Lee SJ, Vlahos L, Yuki K, Rada CC, van Unen V, Vuppalapaty M, Chen H, Sura A, McCormick AK, Tomaske M, Alwahabi S, Nguyen H, Nowatzke W, Kim L, Kelly L, Vollrath D, Califano A, Yeh WC, Li Y, Kuo CJ. Therapeutic blood-brain barrier modulation and stroke treatment by a bioengineered FZD 4-selective WNT surrogate in mice. Nat Commun 2023; 14:2947. [PMID: 37268690 PMCID: PMC10238527 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-37689-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Accepted: 03/27/2023] [Indexed: 06/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Derangements of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) or blood-retinal barrier (BRB) occur in disorders ranging from stroke, cancer, diabetic retinopathy, and Alzheimer's disease. The Norrin/FZD4/TSPAN12 pathway activates WNT/β-catenin signaling, which is essential for BBB and BRB function. However, systemic pharmacologic FZD4 stimulation is hindered by obligate palmitoylation and insolubility of native WNTs and suboptimal properties of the FZD4-selective ligand Norrin. Here, we develop L6-F4-2, a non-lipidated, FZD4-specific surrogate which significantly improves subpicomolar affinity versus native Norrin. In Norrin knockout (NdpKO) mice, L6-F4-2 not only potently reverses neonatal retinal angiogenesis deficits, but also restores BRB and BBB function. In adult C57Bl/6J mice, post-stroke systemic delivery of L6-F4-2 strongly reduces BBB permeability, infarction, and edema, while improving neurologic score and capillary pericyte coverage. Our findings reveal systemic efficacy of a bioengineered FZD4-selective WNT surrogate during ischemic BBB dysfunction, with potential applicability to adult CNS disorders characterized by an aberrant blood-brain barrier.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jie Ding
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Sung-Jin Lee
- Surrozen, Inc. South San Francisco, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Lukas Vlahos
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, Columbia, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Kanako Yuki
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Cara C Rada
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Vincent van Unen
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Institute for Immunity, Transplantation and Infection, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | | | - Hui Chen
- Surrozen, Inc. South San Francisco, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Asmiti Sura
- Surrozen, Inc. South San Francisco, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Aaron K McCormick
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Madeline Tomaske
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Samira Alwahabi
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Huy Nguyen
- Surrozen, Inc. South San Francisco, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - William Nowatzke
- Surrozen, Inc. South San Francisco, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Lily Kim
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Lisa Kelly
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Douglas Vollrath
- Department of Genetics, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Andrea Califano
- Department of Systems Biology, Columbia University, Columbia, NY, 10032, USA
| | - Wen-Chen Yeh
- Surrozen, Inc. South San Francisco, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Yang Li
- Surrozen, Inc. South San Francisco, South San Francisco, CA, 94080, USA
| | - Calvin J Kuo
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
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24
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Gao L, Sun Y, Zhang X, Ma D, Xie A, Wang E, Cheng L, Liu S. Wnt3a-Loaded Extracellular Vesicles Promote Alveolar Epithelial Regeneration after Lung Injury. ADVANCED SCIENCE (WEINHEIM, BADEN-WURTTEMBERG, GERMANY) 2023; 10:e2206606. [PMID: 37072558 PMCID: PMC10288279 DOI: 10.1002/advs.202206606] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2022] [Revised: 03/16/2023] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Compromised regeneration resulting from the deactivation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling contributes to the progression of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) with limited therapeutic options. Extracellular cytokine-induced Wnt-based signaling provides an alternative option for COPD treatment. However, the hydrophobic nature of Wnt proteins limits their purification and use. This study devises a strategy to deliver the membrane-bound wingless-type MMTV integration site family, member 3A (Wnt3a) over a long distance by anchoring it to the surface of extracellular vesicles (EVs). The newly engineered Wnt3aWG EVs are generated by co-expressing Wnt3a with two genes encoding the membrane protein, WLS, and an engineered glypican, GPC6ΔGPI -C1C2. The bioactivity of Wnt3aWG EVs is validated using a TOPFlash assay and a mesoderm differentiation model of human pluripotent stem cells. Wnt3aWG EVs activate Wnt signaling and promote cell growth following human alveolar epithelial cell injury. In an elastase-induced emphysema model, impaired pulmonary function and enlarged airspace are greatly restored by the intravenous delivery of Wnt3aWG EVs. Single-cell RNA sequencing-based analyses further highlight that Wnt3aWG EV-activated regenerative programs are responsible for its beneficial effects. These findings suggest that EV-based Wnt3a delivery represents a novel therapeutic strategy for lung repair and regeneration after injury.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lei Gao
- Department of HematologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
- Blood and Cell Therapy InstituteAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and ApplicationsUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
- School of Basic Medical SciencesDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Yongping Sun
- School of Basic Medical SciencesDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Xinye Zhang
- School of Basic Medical SciencesDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Ding Ma
- Department of HematologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
- Blood and Cell Therapy InstituteAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and ApplicationsUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - An Xie
- Blood and Cell Therapy InstituteAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and ApplicationsUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Enyu Wang
- Blood and Cell Therapy InstituteAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and ApplicationsUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Linzhao Cheng
- Department of HematologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
- Blood and Cell Therapy InstituteAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and ApplicationsUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
- School of Basic Medical SciencesDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
| | - Senquan Liu
- Department of HematologyThe First Affiliated Hospital of USTCDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
- Blood and Cell Therapy InstituteAnhui Provincial Key Laboratory of Blood Research and ApplicationsUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
- School of Basic Medical SciencesDivision of Life Sciences and MedicineUniversity of Science and Technology of ChinaHefeiAnhui230027China
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25
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O'Brien S, Chidiac R, Angers S. Modulation of Wnt-β-catenin signaling with antibodies: therapeutic opportunities and challenges. Trends Pharmacol Sci 2023; 44:354-365. [PMID: 37085400 DOI: 10.1016/j.tips.2023.03.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 03/23/2023] [Accepted: 03/24/2023] [Indexed: 04/23/2023]
Abstract
Since the recognition that mutations in components of the Wnt-β-catenin pathway underlie some human cancers, considerable attention has been dedicated to developing therapeutic modalities to block its activity. Despite numerous efforts, no drug directly inhibiting Wnt signaling is currently clinically available. Conversely, activating the Wnt pathway in a specific manner has recently been made possible with new molecules mimicking the activity of Wnt proteins, thus offering new possibilities for controlling tissue stem cell activity and for the rational treatment of various degenerative conditions. We describe the landscape of antibody modalities that modulate the Wnt-β-catenin pathway, and detail the advances and challenges in both cancer and regenerative medicine drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siobhan O'Brien
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rony Chidiac
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephane Angers
- Terrence Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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26
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Tsutsumi N, Hwang S, Waghray D, Hansen S, Jude KM, Wang N, Miao Y, Glassman CR, Caveney NA, Janda CY, Hannoush RN, Garcia K. Structure of the Wnt-Frizzled-LRP6 initiation complex reveals the basis for coreceptor discrimination. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2218238120. [PMID: 36893265 PMCID: PMC10089208 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2218238120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2022] [Accepted: 02/09/2023] [Indexed: 03/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Wnt morphogens are critical for embryonic development and tissue regeneration. Canonical Wnts form ternary receptor complexes composed of tissue-specific Frizzled (Fzd) receptors together with the shared LRP5/6 coreceptors to initiate β-catenin signaling. The cryo-EM structure of a ternary initiation complex of an affinity-matured XWnt8-Frizzled8-LRP6 complex elucidates the basis of coreceptor discrimination by canonical Wnts by means of their N termini and linker domains that engage the LRP6 E1E2 domain funnels. Chimeric Wnts bearing modular linker "grafts" were able to transfer LRP6 domain specificity between different Wnts and enable non-canonical Wnt5a to signal through the canonical pathway. Synthetic peptides comprising the linker domain serve as Wnt-specific antagonists. The structure of the ternary complex provides a topological blueprint for the orientation and proximity of Frizzled and LRP6 within the Wnt cell surface signalosome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Naotaka Tsutsumi
- HHMI, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Graduate School of Medicine, Dentistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Okayama University, Okayama700-8530, Japan
| | - Sunhee Hwang
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA94080
| | - Deepa Waghray
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Simon Hansen
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA94080
| | - Kevin M. Jude
- HHMI, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Nan Wang
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Yi Miao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Caleb R. Glassman
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Nathanael A. Caveney
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
| | - Claudia Y. Janda
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, 3584 CSUtrecht, Netherlands
| | - Rami N. Hannoush
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, CA94080
| | - K. Christopher Garcia
- HHMI, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
- Department of Structural Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA94305
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27
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Thakur AK, Miller SE, Liau NPD, Hwang S, Hansen S, de Sousa E Melo F, Sudhamsu J, Hannoush RN. Synthetic Multivalent Disulfide-Constrained Peptide Agonists Potentiate Wnt1/β-Catenin Signaling via LRP6 Coreceptor Clustering. ACS Chem Biol 2023; 18:772-784. [PMID: 36893429 DOI: 10.1021/acschembio.2c00753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/11/2023]
Abstract
Wnt ligands are critical for tissue homeostasis and form a complex with LRP6 and frizzled coreceptors to initiate Wnt/β-catenin signaling. Yet, how different Wnts achieve various levels of signaling activation through distinct domains on LRP6 remains elusive. Developing tool ligands that target individual LRP6 domains could help elucidate the mechanism of Wnt signaling regulation and uncover pharmacological approaches for pathway modulation. We employed directed evolution of a disulfide constrained peptide (DCP) to identify molecules that bind to the third β-propeller domain of LRP6. The DCPs antagonize Wnt3a while sparing Wnt1 signaling. Using PEG linkers with different geometries, we converted the Wnt3a antagonist DCPs to multivalent molecules that potentiated Wnt1 signaling by clustering the LRP6 coreceptor. The mechanism of potentiation is unique as it occurred only in the presence of extracellular secreted Wnt1 ligand. While all DCPs recognized a similar binding interface on LRP6, they displayed different spatial orientations that influenced their cellular activities. Moreover, structural analyses revealed that the DCPs exhibited new folds that were distinct from the parent DCP framework they were evolved from. The multivalent ligand design principles highlighted in this study provide a path for developing peptide agonists that modulate different branches of cellular Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avinash K Thakur
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Stephen E Miller
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Nicholas P D Liau
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Sunhee Hwang
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Simon Hansen
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Felipe de Sousa E Melo
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Jawahar Sudhamsu
- Department of Structural Biology, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
| | - Rami N Hannoush
- Department of Early Discovery Biochemistry, Genentech, South San Francisco, California 94080, United States
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28
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Abstract
Intercellular communication by Wnt proteins governs many essential processes during development, tissue homeostasis and disease in all metazoans. Many context-dependent effects are initiated in the Wnt-producing cells and depend on the export of lipidated Wnt proteins. Although much focus has been on understanding intracellular Wnt signal transduction, the cellular machinery responsible for Wnt secretion became better understood only recently. After lipid modification by the acyl-transferase Porcupine, Wnt proteins bind their dedicated cargo protein Evi/Wntless for transport and secretion. Evi/Wntless and Porcupine are conserved transmembrane proteins, and their 3D structures were recently determined. In this Review, we summarise studies and structural data highlighting how Wnts are transported from the ER to the plasma membrane, and the role of SNX3-retromer during the recycling of its cargo receptor Evi/Wntless. We also describe the regulation of Wnt export through a post-translational mechanism and review the importance of Wnt secretion for organ development and cancer, and as a future biomarker.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lucie Wolf
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Signalling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg University, BioQuant and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Boutros
- German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Division of Signalling and Functional Genomics and Heidelberg University, BioQuant and Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, 69120 Heidelberg, Germany
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29
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Ge Q, Teng M, Li X, Guo Q, Tao Y. An epitope-directed selection strategy facilitating the identification of Frizzled receptor selective antibodies. Structure 2023; 31:33-43.e5. [PMID: 36513066 DOI: 10.1016/j.str.2022.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2022] [Revised: 09/27/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The lack of incorporating epitope information into the selection process makes the conventional antibody screening method less effective in identifying antibodies with desired functions. Here, we developed an epitope-directed antibody selection method by designing a directed library favoring the target epitope and a precise "counter" antigen for clearing irrelevant binders in the library. With this method, we successfully isolated an antibody, pF7_A5, that targets the less conserved region on the FZD2/7 CRD as designed. Guided by the structure of pF7_A5-FZD2CRD, a further round of evolution was conducted together with the "counter" antigen selection strategy, and ultimately, an FZD2-specific antibody and an FZD7-preferred antibody were obtained. Because of targeting the predefined functional site, all these antibodies exhibited the expected modulatory activity on the Wnt pathway. Together, the method developed here will be useful in antibody drug discovery, and the identified FZD antibodies will have clinical potential in FZD-related cancer therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qiangqiang Ge
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, 230027 Hefei, P.R. China
| | - Maikun Teng
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, 230027 Hefei, P.R. China.
| | - Xu Li
- Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, 230027 Hefei, P.R. China.
| | - Qiong Guo
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, 230027 Hefei, P.R. China.
| | - Yuyong Tao
- Department of Clinical Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of USTC, Ministry of Education Key Laboratory for Membraneless Organelles & Cellular Dynamics, Biomedical Sciences and Health Laboratory of Anhui Province, School of Life Sciences, Division of Life Sciences and Medicine, University of Science and Technology of China, 230027 Hefei, P.R. China; Joint Laboratory of Innovation in Life Sciences University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) and Changchun Zhuoyi Biological Co. Ltd., 130616 Changchun, P.R. China.
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30
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Wnt signaling in stem cells during development and cell lineage specification. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 153:121-143. [PMID: 36967192 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.01.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023]
Abstract
During embryo development, cell proliferation, cell fate specification and tissue patterning are coordinated and tightly regulated by a handful of evolutionarily conserved signaling pathways activated by secreted growth factor families including fibroblast growth factor (FGF), Nodal/bone morphogenetic protein (BMP), Hedgehog and Wnt. The spatial and temporal activation of these signaling pathways elicit context-specific cellular responses that ultimately shape the different tissues of the embryo. Extensive efforts have been dedicated to identifying the molecular mechanisms underlying these signaling pathways during embryo development, adult tissue homeostasis and regeneration. In this review, we first describe the role of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway during early embryo development, axis specification and cell differentiation as a prelude to highlight how this knowledge is being leveraged to manipulate Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity with small molecules and biologics for the directed differentiation of pluripotent stem cells into various cell lineages that are physiologically relevant for stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine.
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31
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Alvarez-Rodrigo I, Willnow D, Vincent JP. The logistics of Wnt production and delivery. Curr Top Dev Biol 2023; 153:1-60. [PMID: 36967191 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2023.01.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Wnts are secreted proteins that control stem cell maintenance, cell fate decisions, and growth during development and adult homeostasis. Wnts carry a post-translational modification not seen in any other secreted protein: during biosynthesis, they are appended with a palmitoleoyl moiety that is required for signaling but also impairs solubility and hence diffusion in the extracellular space. In some contexts, Wnts act only in a juxtacrine manner but there are also instances of long range action. Several proteins and processes ensure that active Wnts reach the appropriate target cells. Some, like Porcupine, Wntless, and Notum are dedicated to Wnt function; we describe their activities in molecular detail. We also outline how the cell infrastructure (secretory, endocytic, and retromer pathways) contribute to the progression of Wnts from production to delivery. We then address how Wnts spread in the extracellular space and form a signaling gradient despite carrying a hydrophobic moiety. We highlight particularly the role of lipid-binding Wnt interactors and heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Finally, we briefly discuss how evolution might have led to the emergence of this unusual signaling pathway.
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32
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Philippi M, Richter CP, Kappen M, Watrinet I, Miao Y, Runge M, Jorde L, Korneev S, Holtmannspötter M, Kurre R, Holthuis JCM, Garcia KC, Plückthun A, Steinhart M, Piehler J, You C. Biofunctional Nanodot Arrays in Living Cells Uncover Synergistic Co-Condensation of Wnt Signalodroplets. SMALL (WEINHEIM AN DER BERGSTRASSE, GERMANY) 2022; 18:e2203723. [PMID: 36266931 DOI: 10.1002/smll.202203723] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2022] [Revised: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Qualitative and quantitative analysis of transient signaling platforms in the plasma membrane has remained a key experimental challenge. Here, biofunctional nanodot arrays (bNDAs) are developed to spatially control dimerization and clustering of cell surface receptors at the nanoscale. High-contrast bNDAs with spot diameters of ≈300 nm are obtained by capillary nanostamping of bovine serum albumin bioconjugates, which are subsequently biofunctionalized by reaction with tandem anti-green fluorescence protein (GFP) clamp fusions. Spatially controlled assembly of active Wnt signalosomes is achieved at the nanoscale in the plasma membrane of live cells by capturing the co-receptor Lrp6 into bNDAs via an extracellular GFP tag. Strikingly, co-recruitment is observed of co-receptor Frizzled-8 as well as the cytosolic scaffold proteins Axin-1 and Disheveled-2 into Lrp6 nanodots in the absence of ligand. Density variation and the high dynamics of effector proteins uncover highly cooperative liquid-liquid phase separation (LLPS)-driven assembly of Wnt "signalodroplets" at the plasma membrane, pinpointing the synergistic effects of LLPS for Wnt signaling amplification. These insights highlight the potential of bNDAs for systematically interrogating nanoscale signaling platforms and condensation at the plasma membrane of live cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Philippi
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Christian P Richter
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Marie Kappen
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Isabelle Watrinet
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Yi Miao
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Mercedes Runge
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Lara Jorde
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Sergej Korneev
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Michael Holtmannspötter
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Rainer Kurre
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Joost C M Holthuis
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - K Christopher Garcia
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Department of Structural Biology, Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Andreas Plückthun
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Zurich, Winterthurerstr. 190, Zurich, 8057, Switzerland
| | - Martin Steinhart
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Jacob Piehler
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
| | - Changjiang You
- Department of Biology/Chemistry and Center for Cellular Nanoanalytics (CellNanOs), Osnabrück University, 49076, Osnabrück, Germany
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Selective Activation of the Wnt-Signaling Pathway as a Novel Therapy for the Treatment of Diabetic Retinopathy and Other Retinal Vascular Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2022; 14:pharmaceutics14112476. [PMID: 36432666 PMCID: PMC9697247 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics14112476] [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: 09/28/2022] [Revised: 11/07/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Retinal ischemia, often associated with various disorders such as diabetic retinopathy (DR), retinal vein occlusion, glaucoma, optic neuropathies, stroke, and other retinopathies, is a major cause of visual impairment and blindness worldwide. As proper blood supply to the retina is critical to maintain its high metabolic demand, any impediment to blood flow can lead to a decrease in oxygen supply, resulting in retinal ischemia. In the pathogenesis of DR, including diabetic macular edema (DME), elevated blood glucose leads to blood-retina barrier (BRB) disruptions, vascular leakage, and capillary occlusion and dropouts, causing insufficient delivery of oxygen to the retina, and ultimately resulting in visual impairment. Other potential causes of DR include neuronal dysfunction in the absence of vascular defect, genetic, and environmental factors. The exact disease progression remains unclear and varies from patient to patient. Vascular leakage leading to edema clearly links to visual impairment and remains an important target for therapy. Despite recent advances in the treatment of DME and DR with anti-VEGFs, effective therapies with new mechanisms of action to address current treatment limitations regarding vessel regeneration and reperfusion of ischemic retinal areas are still needed. The Wnt signaling pathway plays a critical role in proper vascular development and maintenance in the retina, and thus provides a novel therapeutic approach for the treatment of diabetic and other retinopathies. In this review, we summarize the potential of this pathway to address treatment gaps with current therapies, its promise as a novel and potentially disease modifying therapy for patients with DR and opportunities in other retinal vascular diseases.
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Antigenic mapping reveals sites of vulnerability on α-HCoV spike protein. Commun Biol 2022; 5:1179. [PMID: 36333470 PMCID: PMC9636267 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-022-04160-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Understanding the antigenic signatures of all human coronaviruses (HCoVs) Spike (S) proteins is imperative for pan-HCoV epitopes identification and broadly effective vaccine development. To depict the currently elusive antigenic signatures of α-HCoVs S proteins, we isolated a panel of antibodies against the HCoV-229E S protein and characterized their epitopes and neutralizing potential. We found that the N-terminal domain of HCoV-229E S protein is antigenically dominant wherein an antigenic supersite is present and appears conserved in HCoV-NL63, which holds potential to serve as a pan-α-HCoVs epitope. In the receptor binding domain, a neutralizing epitope is captured in the end distal to the receptor binding site, reminiscent of the locations of the SARS-CoV-2 RBD cryptic epitopes. We also identified a neutralizing antibody that recognizes the connector domain, thus representing the first S2-directed neutralizing antibody against α-HCoVs. The unraveled HCoVs S proteins antigenic similarities and variances among genera highlight the challenges faced by pan-HCoV vaccine design while supporting the feasibility of broadly effective vaccine development against a subset of HCoVs. The antigenic landscape of α-HCoVs S proteins is revealed, highlighting the challenges faced by pan-HCoV vaccine design but also revealing opportunities for development of broadly effective vaccines against a subset of HCoVs.
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Nelson AL, Fontana G, Miclau E, Rongstad M, Murphy W, Huard J, Ehrhart N, Bahney C. Therapeutic approaches to activate the canonical Wnt pathway for bone regeneration. J Tissue Eng Regen Med 2022; 16:961-976. [PMID: 36112528 PMCID: PMC9826348 DOI: 10.1002/term.3349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/16/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Activation of the canonical Wingless-related integration site (Wnt) pathway has been shown to increase bone formation and therefore has therapeutic potential for use in orthopedic conditions. However, attempts at developing an effective strategy to achieve Wnt activation has been met with several challenges. The inherent hydrophobicity of Wnt ligands makes isolating and purifying the protein difficult. To circumvent these challenges, many have sought to target extracellular inhibitors of the Wnt pathway, such as Wnt signaling pathway inhibitors Sclerostin and Dickkopf-1, or to use small molecules, ions and proteins to increase target Wnt genes. Here, we review systemic and localized bioactive approaches to enhance bone formation or improve bone repair through antibody-based therapeutics, synthetic Wnt surrogates and scaffold doping to target canonical Wnt. We conclude with a brief review of emerging technologies, such as mRNA therapy and Clustered Regularly Interspaced Short Palindromic Repeats technology, which serve as promising approaches for future clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Laura Nelson
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized MedicineSteadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI)VailColoradoUSA,School of Biomedical EngineeringColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - GianLuca Fontana
- Department of Orthopedics and RehabilitationUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Elizabeth Miclau
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized MedicineSteadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI)VailColoradoUSA
| | - Mallory Rongstad
- Department of Orthopedics and RehabilitationUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - William Murphy
- Department of Orthopedics and RehabilitationUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA,Department of Biomedical EngineeringUniversity of Wisconsin‐MadisonMadisonWisconsinUSA
| | - Johnny Huard
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized MedicineSteadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI)VailColoradoUSA,Department of Clinical SciencesColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Nicole Ehrhart
- School of Biomedical EngineeringColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA,Department of Clinical SciencesColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA
| | - Chelsea Bahney
- Center for Regenerative and Personalized MedicineSteadman Philippon Research Institute (SPRI)VailColoradoUSA,School of Biomedical EngineeringColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA,Department of Clinical SciencesColorado State UniversityFort CollinsColoradoUSA,Orthopaedic Trauma InstituteUniversity of California, San Francisco (UCSF)San FranciscoCaliforniaUSA
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Hu S, Liu S, Bian Y, Poddar M, Singh S, Cao C, McGaughey J, Bell A, Blazer LL, Adams JJ, Sidhu SS, Angers S, Monga SP. Single-cell spatial transcriptomics reveals a dynamic control of metabolic zonation and liver regeneration by endothelial cell Wnt2 and Wnt9b. Cell Rep Med 2022; 3:100754. [PMID: 36220068 PMCID: PMC9588996 DOI: 10.1016/j.xcrm.2022.100754] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/26/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 09/08/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The conclusive identity of Wnts regulating liver zonation (LZ) and regeneration (LR) remains unclear despite an undisputed role of β-catenin. Using single-cell analysis, we identified a conserved Wnt2 and Wnt9b expression in endothelial cells (ECs) in zone 3. EC-elimination of Wnt2 and Wnt9b led to both loss of β-catenin targets in zone 3, and re-appearance of zone 1 genes in zone 3, unraveling dynamicity in the LZ process. Impaired LR observed in the knockouts phenocopied models of defective hepatic Wnt signaling. Administration of a tetravalent antibody to activate Wnt signaling rescued LZ and LR in the knockouts and induced zone 3 gene expression and LR in controls. Administration of the agonist also promoted LR in acetaminophen overdose acute liver failure (ALF) fulfilling an unmet clinical need. Overall, we report an unequivocal role of EC-Wnt2 and Wnt9b in LZ and LR and show the role of Wnt activators as regenerative therapy for ALF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikai Hu
- School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Silvia Liu
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Yu Bian
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Minakshi Poddar
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Sucha Singh
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Catherine Cao
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Jackson McGaughey
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Aaron Bell
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Levi L Blazer
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jarret J Adams
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | | | - Stephane Angers
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Leslie Dan Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Satdarshan P Monga
- Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
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37
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Hu B, Rotherham M, Farrow N, Roach P, Dobson J, El Haj AJ. Immobilization of Wnt Fragment Peptides on Magnetic Nanoparticles or Synthetic Surfaces Regulate Wnt Signaling Kinetics. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms231710164. [PMID: 36077561 PMCID: PMC9456016 DOI: 10.3390/ijms231710164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2022] [Revised: 08/29/2022] [Accepted: 08/30/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt signaling plays an important role in embryogenesis and adult stem cell homeostasis. Its diminished activation is implicated in osteoporosis and degenerative neural diseases. However, systematic administration of Wnt-signaling agonists carries risk, as aberrantly activated Wnt/β-catenin signaling is linked to cancer. Therefore, technologies for local modulation and control of Wnt signaling targeted to specific sites of disease or degeneration have potential therapeutic value in the treatment of degenerative diseases. We reported a facile approach to locally activate the canonical Wnt signaling cascade using nanomagnetic actuation or ligand immobilized platforms. Using a human embryonic kidney (HEK293) Luc-TCF/LEF reporter cell line, we demonstrated that targeting the cell membrane Wnt receptor, Frizzled 2, with peptide-tagged magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) triggered canonical Wnt signaling transduction when exposed to a high-gradient, time-varying magnetic field, and the induced TCF/LEF signal transduction was shown to be avidity-dependent. We also demonstrated that the peptide retained signaling activity after functionalization onto glass surfaces, providing a versatile platform for drug discovery or recreation of the cell niche. In conclusion, these results showed that peptide-mediated Wnt signaling kinetics depended not only on ligand concentration but also on the presentation method of the ligand, which may be further modulated by magnetic actuation. This has important implications when designing future therapeutic platforms involving Wnt mimetics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bin Hu
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Center, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK
- CAS Key Laboratory for Biomedical Effects of Nanomaterials and Nanosafety & CAS Center for Excellence in Nanoscience, National Center for Nanoscience and Technology, Beijing 100190, China
| | - Michael Rotherham
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Heritage Building, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (A.J.E.H.); Tel.: +44-0121-371-8001 (A.J.E.H.)
| | - Neil Farrow
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Center, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK
| | - Paul Roach
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Center, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK
- Department of Chemistry, Loughborough University, Leicestershire, Loughborough LE11 3TU, UK
| | - Jon Dobson
- J Crayton Pruitt Family Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32611, USA
| | - Alicia J. El Haj
- School of Pharmacy and Bioengineering, Guy Hilton Research Center, Keele University, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire ST4 7QB, UK
- Healthcare Technologies Institute, School of Chemical Engineering, University of Birmingham, Heritage Building, Mindelsohn Way, Birmingham B15 2TH, UK
- Correspondence: (M.R.); (A.J.E.H.); Tel.: +44-0121-371-8001 (A.J.E.H.)
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Mahoney JP, Bruguera ES, Vasishtha M, Killingsworth LB, Kyaw S, Weis WI. PI(4,5)P 2-stimulated positive feedback drives the recruitment of Dishevelled to Frizzled in Wnt-β-catenin signaling. Sci Signal 2022; 15:eabo2820. [PMID: 35998232 PMCID: PMC9528458 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.abo2820] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
In the Wnt-β-catenin pathway, Wnt binding to Frizzled (Fzd) and LRP5 or LRP6 (LRP5/6) co-receptors inhibits the degradation of the transcriptional coactivator β-catenin by recruiting the cytosolic effector Dishevelled (Dvl). Polymerization of Dvl at the plasma membrane recruits the β-catenin destruction complex, enabling the phosphorylation of LRP5/6, a key step in inhibiting β-catenin degradation. Using purified Fzd proteins reconstituted in lipid nanodiscs, we investigated the factors that promote the recruitment of Dvl to the plasma membrane. We found that the affinity of Fzd for Dvl was not affected by Wnt ligands, in contrast to other members of the GPCR superfamily for which the binding of extracellular ligands affects the affinity for downstream transducers. Instead, Fzd-Dvl binding was enhanced by increased concentration of the lipid PI(4,5)P2, which is generated by Dvl-associated lipid kinases in response to Wnt and which is required for LRP5/6 phosphorylation. Moreover, binding to Fzd did not promote Dvl DEP domain dimerization, which has been proposed to be required for signaling downstream of Fzd. Our findings suggest a positive feedback loop in which Wnt-stimulated local PI(4,5)P2 production enhances Dvl recruitment and further PI(4,5)P2 production to support Dvl polymerization, LRP5/6 phosphorylation, and β-catenin stabilization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacob P Mahoney
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94035, USA
| | - Elise S Bruguera
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94035, USA
| | - Mansi Vasishtha
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94035, USA
| | - Lauren B Killingsworth
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94035, USA
| | - Saw Kyaw
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94035, USA
| | - William I Weis
- Departments of Structural Biology and Molecular and Cellular Physiology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94035, USA
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Roberts JS, Ma C, Robertson SY, Kang S, Han CS, Deng SX, Zheng JJ. R-etodolac is a more potent Wnt signaling inhibitor than enantiomer, S-etodolac. Biochem Biophys Rep 2022; 30:101231. [PMID: 35243012 PMCID: PMC8861132 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbrep.2022.101231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/09/2021] [Revised: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Etodolac is an FDA-approved nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) used to treat a variety of inflammatory diseases. The drug is administered as a racemate (50/50 mixture of R- and S- enantiomers), however, studies have shown that the two enantiomers have distinct biologic and pharmacokinetic differences. Wnt signaling, which plays key roles in cell proliferation, polarity, and differentiation, has been shown to be inhibited by R-etodolac; however, comparative analyses of R- and S-etodolac in this function have not been conducted. We used in silico molecular docking and TOPflash functional biologic assays to compare R- and S-enantiomers effect on Wnt signaling inhibition. Further, we used a cultivated limbal stem epithelial cell (cLSCs) model to investigate enantiospecific changes in the colony-forming efficiency (CFE) of cLSCs. The data shows that R-etodolac is a more potent inhibitor of Wnt signaling. In addition, consistently, while both enantiomers demonstrate a dose-dependent decrease in CFE of cLSCs, R-etodolac is a more potent inhibitor.
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Affiliation(s)
- JoAnn S. Roberts
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Chao Ma
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sarah Y.T. Robertson
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Stephen Kang
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Christiana S. Han
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sophie X. Deng
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Jie J. Zheng
- Stein Eye Institute, Department of Ophthalmology, David Geffen School of Medicine at University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
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Xie L, Fletcher RB, Bhatia D, Shah D, Phipps J, Deshmukh S, Zhang H, Ye J, Lee S, Le L, Newman M, Chen H, Sura A, Gupta S, Sanman LE, Yang F, Meng W, Baribault H, Vanhove GF, Yeh WC, Li Y, Lu C. Robust Colonic Epithelial Regeneration and Amelioration of Colitis via FZD-Specific Activation of Wnt Signaling. Cell Mol Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 14:435-464. [PMID: 35569814 PMCID: PMC9305022 DOI: 10.1016/j.jcmgh.2022.05.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2021] [Revised: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 05/05/2022] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS Current management of inflammatory bowel disease leaves a clear unmet need to treat the severe epithelial damage. Modulation of Wnt signaling might present an opportunity to achieve histological remission and mucosal healing when treating IBD. Exogenous R-spondin, which amplifies Wnt signals by maintaining cell surface expression of Frizzled (Fzd) and low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein receptors, not only helps repair intestine epithelial damage, but also induces hyperplasia of normal epithelium. Wnt signaling may also be modulated with the recently developed Wnt mimetics, recombinant antibody-based molecules mimicking endogenous Wnts. METHODS We first compared the epithelial healing effects of RSPO2 and a Wnt mimetic with broad Fzd specificity in an acute dextran sulfate sodium mouse colitis model. Guided by Fzd expression patterns in the colon epithelium, we also examined the effects of Wnt mimetics with subfamily Fzd specificities. RESULTS In the DSS model, Wnt mimetics repaired damaged colon epithelium and reduced disease activity and inflammation and had no apparent effect on uninjured tissue. We further identified that the FZD5/8 and LRP6 receptor-specific Wnt mimetic, SZN-1326-p, was associated with the robust repair effect. Through a range of approaches including single-cell transcriptome analyses, we demonstrated that SZN-1326-p directly impacted epithelial cells, driving transient expansion of stem and progenitor cells, promoting differentiation of epithelial cells, histologically restoring the damaged epithelium, and secondarily to epithelial repair, reducing inflammation. CONCLUSIONS It is feasible to design Wnt mimetics such as SZN-1326-p that impact damaged intestine epithelium specifically and restore its physiological functions, an approach that holds promise for treating epithelial damage in inflammatory bowel disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Chenggang Lu
- Correspondence Address correspondence to: Chenggang Lu, PhD, Surrozen, Inc., 171 Oyster Point Boulevard, Suite 400, South San Francisco, CA 94080.
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41
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Pincha N, Marangoni P, Haque A, Klein OD. Parallels in signaling between development and regeneration in ectodermal organs. Curr Top Dev Biol 2022; 149:373-419. [PMID: 35606061 PMCID: PMC10049776 DOI: 10.1016/bs.ctdb.2022.02.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Ectodermal organs originate from the outermost germ layer of the developing embryo and include the skin, hair, tooth, nails, and exocrine glands. These organs develop through tightly regulated, sequential and reciprocal epithelial-mesenchymal crosstalk, and they eventually assume various morphologies and functions while retaining the ability to regenerate. As with many other tissues in the body, the development and morphogenesis of these organs are regulated by a set of common signaling pathways, such as Shh, Wnt, Bmp, Notch, Tgf-β, and Eda. However, subtle differences in the temporal activation, the multiple possible combinations of ligand-receptor activation, the various cofactors, as well as the underlying epigenetic modulation determine how each organ develops into its adult form. Although each organ has been studied separately in considerable detail, the mechanisms underlying the parallels and differences in signaling that regulate their development have rarely been investigated. First, we will use the tooth, the hair follicle, and the mammary gland as representative ectodermal organs to explore how the development of signaling centers and establishment of stem cell populations influence overall growth and morphogenesis. Then we will compare how some of the major signaling pathways (Shh, Wnt, Notch and Yap/Taz) differentially regulate developmental events. Finally, we will discuss how signaling regulates regenerative processes in all three.
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Affiliation(s)
- Neha Pincha
- Program in Craniofacial Biology and Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Pauline Marangoni
- Program in Craniofacial Biology and Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Ameera Haque
- Program in Craniofacial Biology and Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States
| | - Ophir D Klein
- Program in Craniofacial Biology and Department of Orofacial Sciences, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States; Department of Pediatrics and Institute for Human Genetics, University of California, San Francisco, CA, United States.
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Abstract
The Wnt pathway is central to a host of developmental and disease-related processes. The remarkable conservation of this intercellular signaling cascade throughout metazoan lineages indicates that it coevolved with multicellularity to regulate the generation and spatial arrangement of distinct cell types. By regulating cell fate specification, mitotic activity, and cell polarity, Wnt signaling orchestrates development and tissue homeostasis, and its dysregulation is implicated in developmental defects, cancer, and degenerative disorders. We review advances in our understanding of this key pathway, from Wnt protein production and secretion to relay of the signal in the cytoplasm of the receiving cell. We discuss the evolutionary history of this pathway as well as endogenous and synthetic modulators of its activity. Finally, we highlight remaining gaps in our knowledge of Wnt signal transduction and avenues for future research. Expected final online publication date for the Annual Review of Biochemistry, Volume 91 is June 2022. Please see http://www.annualreviews.org/page/journal/pubdates for revised estimates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Youngsoo Rim
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Developmental Biology, and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA;
| | - Hans Clevers
- Hubrecht Institute and Oncode Institute, Royal Netherlands Academy of Arts and Sciences (KNAW), Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Roel Nusse
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Department of Developmental Biology, and Institute for Stem Cell Biology and Regenerative Medicine, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California, USA;
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43
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Shi F, Mendrola JM, Sheetz JB, Wu N, Sommer A, Speer KF, Noordermeer JN, Kan ZY, Perry K, Englander SW, Stayrook SE, Fradkin LG, Lemmon MA. ROR and RYK extracellular region structures suggest that receptor tyrosine kinases have distinct WNT-recognition modes. Cell Rep 2021; 37:109834. [PMID: 34686333 PMCID: PMC8650758 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/06/2021] [Revised: 08/06/2021] [Accepted: 09/22/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
WNTs play key roles in development and disease, signaling through Frizzled (FZD) seven-pass transmembrane receptors and numerous co-receptors including ROR and RYK family receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). We describe crystal structures and WNT-binding characteristics of extracellular regions from the Drosophila ROR and RYK orthologs Nrk (neurospecific receptor tyrosine kinase) and Derailed-2 (Drl-2), which bind WNTs though a FZD-related cysteine-rich domain (CRD) and WNT-inhibitory factor (WIF) domain respectively. Our crystal structures suggest that neither Nrk nor Drl-2 can accommodate the acyl chain typically attached to WNTs. The Nrk CRD contains a deeply buried bound fatty acid, unlikely to be exchangeable. The Drl-2 WIF domain lacks the lipid-binding site seen in WIF-1. We also find that recombinant DWnt-5 can bind Drosophila ROR and RYK orthologs despite lacking an acyl chain. Alongside analyses of WNT/receptor interaction sites, our structures provide further insight into how WNTs may recruit RTK co-receptors into signaling complexes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fumin Shi
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jeannine M Mendrola
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Joshua B Sheetz
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University West Campus, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Neo Wu
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Anselm Sommer
- Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University West Campus, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Kelsey F Speer
- Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Medicine (Hematology-Oncology), University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Jasprina N Noordermeer
- Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands
| | - Zhong-Yuan Kan
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Kay Perry
- NE-CAT, Department of Chemistry and Chemical Biology, Cornell University, Argonne National Laboratory, Argonne, IL 60439, USA
| | - S Walter Englander
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA
| | - Steven E Stayrook
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University West Campus, West Haven, CT 06516, USA
| | - Lee G Fradkin
- Molecular Cell Biology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden 2333 ZC, the Netherlands; Department of Neurobiology, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Worcester, MA 01655, USA
| | - Mark A Lemmon
- Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Graduate Group in Biochemistry and Molecular Biophysics, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA; Department of Pharmacology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA; Yale Cancer Biology Institute, Yale University West Campus, West Haven, CT 06516, USA; Cell and Molecular Biology Graduate Group, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA 19104, USA.
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44
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Bonnet C, Brahmbhatt A, Deng SX, Zheng JJ. Wnt signaling activation: targets and therapeutic opportunities for stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. RSC Chem Biol 2021; 2:1144-1157. [PMID: 34458828 PMCID: PMC8341040 DOI: 10.1039/d1cb00063b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/25/2021] [Accepted: 06/01/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Wnt proteins are secreted morphogens that play critical roles in embryonic development, stem cell proliferation, self-renewal, tissue regeneration and remodeling in adults. While aberrant Wnt signaling contributes to diseases such as cancer, activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling is a target of interest in stem cell therapy and regenerative medicine. Recent high throughput screenings from chemical and biological libraries, combined with improved gene expression reporter assays of Wnt/β-catenin activation together with rational drug design, led to the development of a myriad of Wnt activators, with different mechanisms of actions. Among them, Wnt mimics, antibodies targeting Wnt inhibitors, glycogen-synthase-3β inhibitors, and indirubins and other natural product derivatives are emerging modalities to treat bone, neurodegenerative, eye, and metabolic disorders, as well as prevent ageing. Nevertheless, the creation of Wnt-based therapies has been hampered by challenges in developing potent and selective Wnt activators without off-target effects, such as oncogenesis. On the other hand, to avoid these risks, their use to promote ex vivo expansion during tissue engineering is a promising application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clémence Bonnet
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
- INSERM, UMRS1138, Team 17, From Physiopathology of Ocular Diseases to Clinical Development, Paris University, Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, and Cornea Departement, Cochin Hospital, AP-HP F-75014 Paris France
| | - Anvi Brahmbhatt
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
| | - Sophie X Deng
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA
| | - Jie J Zheng
- Stein Eye Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA +1-3107947906 +1-3102062173
- Molecular Biology Institute, University of California Los Angeles CA USA
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45
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Chidiac R, Abedin M, Macleod G, Yang A, Thibeault PE, Blazer LL, Adams JJ, Zhang L, Roehrich H, Jo H, Seshagiri S, Sidhu SS, Junge HJ, Angers S. A Norrin/Wnt surrogate antibody stimulates endothelial cell barrier function and rescues retinopathy. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e13977. [PMID: 34105895 PMCID: PMC8261507 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202113977] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2021] [Revised: 05/14/2021] [Accepted: 05/17/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
The FZD4:LRP5:TSPAN12 receptor complex is activated by the secreted protein Norrin in retinal endothelial cells and leads to βcatenin-dependent formation of the blood-retina-barrier during development and its homeostasis in adults. Mutations disrupting Norrin signaling have been identified in several congenital diseases leading to hypovascularization of the retina and blindness. Here, we developed F4L5.13, a tetravalent antibody designed to induce FZD4 and LRP5 proximity in such a way as to trigger βcatenin signaling. Treatment of cultured endothelial cells with F4L5.13 rescued permeability induced by VEGF in part by promoting surface expression of junction proteins. Treatment of Tspan12-/- mice with F4L5.13 restored retinal angiogenesis and barrier function. F4L5.13 treatment also significantly normalized neovascularization in an oxygen-induced retinopathy model revealing a novel therapeutic strategy for diseases characterized by abnormal angiogenesis and/or barrier dysfunction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rony Chidiac
- Leslie Dan Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Md. Abedin
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual NeurosciencesUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMNUSA
| | - Graham Macleod
- Leslie Dan Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Andy Yang
- Leslie Dan Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | | | | | | | - Lingling Zhang
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual NeurosciencesUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMNUSA
| | - Heidi Roehrich
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual NeurosciencesUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMNUSA
| | - Ha‐Neul Jo
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual NeurosciencesUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMNUSA
| | | | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- AntlerA TherapeuticsFoster CityCAUSA
- Donnelly CentreUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
- Department of Molecular GeneticsUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
| | - Harald J Junge
- Department of Ophthalmology and Visual NeurosciencesUniversity of MinnesotaMinneapolisMNUSA
| | - Stephane Angers
- Leslie Dan Faculty of PharmacyUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
- AntlerA TherapeuticsFoster CityCAUSA
- Department of BiochemistryUniversity of TorontoTorontoONCanada
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46
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Enderle L, Shalaby KH, Gorelik M, Weiss A, Blazer LL, Paduch M, Cardarelli L, Kossiakoff A, Adams JJ, Sidhu SS. A T cell redirection platform for co-targeting dual antigens on solid tumors. MAbs 2021; 13:1933690. [PMID: 34190031 PMCID: PMC8253144 DOI: 10.1080/19420862.2021.1933690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
In order to direct T cells to specific features of solid cancer cells, we engineered a bispecific antibody format, named Dual Antigen T cell Engager (DATE), by fusing a single-chain variable fragment targeting CD3 to a tumor-targeting antigen-binding fragment. In this format, multiple novel paratopes against different tumor antigens were able to recruit T-cell cytotoxicity to tumor cells in vitro and in an in vivo pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma xenograft model. Since unique surface antigens in solid tumors are limited, in order to enhance selectivity, we further engineered “double-DATEs” targeting two tumor antigens simultaneously. The double-DATE contains an additional autonomous variable heavy-chain domain, which binds a second tumor antigen without itself eliciting a cytotoxic response. This novel modality provides a strategy to enhance the selectivity of immune redirection through binary targeting of native tumor antigens. The modularity and use of a common, stable human framework for all components enables a pipeline approach to rapidly develop a broad repertoire of tailored DATEs and double-DATEs with favorable biophysical properties and high potencies and selectivities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Leonie Enderle
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Karim H Shalaby
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Maryna Gorelik
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Alexander Weiss
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Levi L Blazer
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Marcin Paduch
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, Gordon Center for Integrative Science, Chicago, USA
| | - Lia Cardarelli
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Anthony Kossiakoff
- Institute for Biophysical Dynamics, Gordon Center for Integrative Science, Chicago, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, University of Chicago, Chicago, USA
| | - Jarrett J Adams
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Sachdev S Sidhu
- Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada.,Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
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Abstract
The liver is uniquely bestowed with an ability to regenerate following a surgical or toxicant insult. One of the most researched models to demonstrate the regenerative potential of this organ is the partial hepatectomy model, where two thirds of the liver is surgically resected. The remnant liver replenishes the lost mass within 1014 days in mice. The distinctive ability of the liver to regenerate has allowed living donor and split liver transplantation. One signaling pathway shown to be activated during the process of regeneration to contribute toward the mass and functional recovery of the liver is the Wnt/-catenin pathway. Very early after any insult to the liver, the cellmolecule circuitry of the Wnt/-catenin pathway is set into motion with the release of specific Wnt ligands from sinusoidal endothelial cells and macrophages, which, in a paracrine manner, engage Frizzled and LDL-related protein-5/6 coreceptors on hepatocytes to stabilize -catenin inducing its nuclear translocation. Nuclear -catenin interacts with T-cell factor family of transcription factors to induce target genes including cyclin D1 for proliferation, and others for regulating hepatocyte function. Working in collaboration with other signaling pathways, Wnt/-catenin signaling contributes to the restoration process without any compromise of function at any stage. Also, stimulation of this pathway through innovative means induces liver regeneration when this process is exhausted or compromised and thus has applications in the treatment of end-stage liver disease and in the field of liver transplantation. Thus, Wnt/-catenin signaling pathway is highly relevant in the discipline of hepatic regenerative medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shikai Hu
- *School of Medicine, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
- †Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Satdarshan P. Monga
- †Division of Experimental Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- ‡Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, Department of Medicine, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
- §Pittsburgh Liver Research Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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48
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Abstract
The WNT/β-catenin signalling pathway is a rich and complex network of cellular proteins that orchestrates diverse short-range cell-to-cell communication in metazoans and is essential for both embryonic development and adult homeostasis. Due to its fundamental importance in controlling cell behaviour at multiple levels, its deregulation is associated with a wide range of diseases in humans and identification of drugs targeting the pathway has attracted strong interest in the pharmaceutical sector. Transduction of WNT signals across the plasma membrane of cells involves a staggering degree of complexity and variety with respect to ligand-receptor, receptor-receptor and receptor-co-receptor interactions (Niehrs, Nat Rev Mol Cell Biol 13:767-779, 2012). Although the low-density-lipoprotein-receptor-related-protein (LRP) family is best known for its role in binding and endocytosis of lipoproteins, specific members appear to have additional roles in cellular communication. Indeed, for WNT/β-catenin signalling one apparently universal requirement is the presence of either LRP5 or LRP6 in combination with one of the ten Frizzled (FZD) WNT receptors (FZD1-10). In the 20 years since their discovery as WNT/FZD co-receptors, research on the LRP family has contributed greatly to our understanding of WNT signalling and LRPs have emerged as central players in WNT/β-catenin signalling. LRP5/6 are highly similar and represent the least redundant class of WNT receptor that transduce WNT/β-catenin signalling from a wide range of different WNT and FZD subtypes. This apparent simplicity however belies the complex arrangement of binding sites in the extracellular domain (ECD) of LRP5/6, which regulate interaction not only with WNTs but also with several inhibitors of WNT signalling. This chapter provides a historical overview, chronologically charting this remarkable progress in the field during the last 20 years of research on LRPs and their role in WNT/-catenin signalling. A more focused overview of the structural, functional and mechanistic aspects of LRP biology is also provided, together with the implications this has for pharmacological targeting of this notoriously intractable pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gary Davidson
- Institute of Biological and Chemical Systems-Functional Molecular Systems (IBSC-FMS), Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT), Eggenstein-Leopoldshafen, Germany.
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49
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Sonavane PR, Willert K. Controlling Wnt Signaling Specificity and Implications for Targeting WNTs Pharmacologically. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 269:3-28. [PMID: 34463853 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_529] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Wnt signaling is critical for proper development of the embryo and for tissue homeostasis in the adult. Activation of this signaling cascade is initiated by binding of the secreted Wnts to their receptors. With the mammalian genome encoding multiple Wnts and Wnt receptors, a longstanding question in the field has been how Wnt-receptor specificities are achieved. Emerging from these studies is a picture of exquisite control over Wnt protein production, secretion, distribution, and receptor interactions, culminating in activation of downstream signaling cascades that control a myriad of biological processes. Here we discuss mechanisms by which Wnt protein activities are tuned and illustrate how the multiple layers of regulation can be leveraged for therapeutic interventions in disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pooja R Sonavane
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Karl Willert
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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50
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de Man SMA, van Amerongen R. Zooming in on the WNT/CTNNB1 Destruction Complex: Functional Mechanistic Details with Implications for Therapeutic Targeting. Handb Exp Pharmacol 2021; 269:137-173. [PMID: 34486095 DOI: 10.1007/164_2021_522] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
WNT/CTNNB1 signaling is crucial for balancing cell proliferation and differentiation in all multicellular animals. CTNNB1 accumulation is the hallmark of WNT/CTNNB1 pathway activation and the key downstream event in both a physiological and an oncogenic context. In the absence of WNT stimulation, the cytoplasmic and nuclear levels of CTNNB1 are kept low because of its sequestration and phosphorylation by the so-called destruction complex, which targets CTNNB1 for proteasomal degradation. In the presence of WNT proteins, or as a result of oncogenic mutations, this process is impaired and CTNNB1 levels become elevated.Here we discuss recent advances in our understanding of destruction complex activity and inactivation, focusing on the individual components and interactions that ultimately control CTNNB1 turnover (in the "WNT off" situation) and stabilization (in the "WNT on" situation). We especially highlight the insights gleaned from recent quantitative, image-based studies, which paint an unprecedentedly detailed picture of the dynamic events that control destruction protein complex composition and function. We argue that these mechanistic details may reveal new opportunities for therapeutic intervention and could result in the destruction complex re-emerging as a target for therapy in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Saskia Madelon Ada de Man
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Renée van Amerongen
- Developmental, Stem Cell and Cancer Biology, Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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