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Lan Y, Pi W, Zhou Z, Meng Y, DanMei, Xu Y, Xia X, WeiWang, Yang H, Spring Kong FM. Effect of radiation fractionation on IDO1 via the NF-κB/COX2 axis in non-small cell lung cancer. Int Immunopharmacol 2023; 124:110956. [PMID: 37751656 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2023.110956] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 09/13/2023] [Accepted: 09/14/2023] [Indexed: 09/28/2023]
Abstract
Radiotherapy (RT) is the mainstay treatment modality for lung cancer. We recently reported that conventionally fractionated radiotherapy (CRT) with daily fractionation of 2Gy significantly increased the activity of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO1), a known immune checkpoint, which predicted poorer long-term survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), while stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) using fractionation size of 10Gy did not increase IDO1 activity and had better survival. Here we hypothesized that the hypofractionated SBRT kind of dose fraction stimulates host antitumor immunity via downregulating IDO1 in which CRT could not. We tested this hypothesis in vitro and in vivo using 10Gyx1 and 2Gyx8 fractionations in the laboratory. The results demonstrated that, although there was an initial downregulation after RT, the expression of IDO1 was ultimately upregulated by both fractionation regimens. The 10Gyx1 regimen had minimum upregulation, while the 2Gyx8 regimen significantly increased in IDO1 expression which was positively correlated with the elevated expressions of p-NF-κB and COX2. Pharmacological inhibition of COX2 abolished RT-induced IDO1 expression. Furthermore, the IDO1 inhibitor, D-1-methyl-tryptophan (D-1MT), exerted RT-related tumor-killing effects in the NSCLC cell lines and mouse models. These findings suggest that, in addition to being an immune suppressor, IDO1 may serve as an adaptive resistance factor in RT. Furthermore, an unappreciated mechanism may exist, where a larger fraction size might be superior to conventional sizes in cancer treatment. This study may provide a rationale for future research in using IDO1 as a biomarker to personalize RT dose fractionation and COX2 inhibitor to decrease radiation immune suppression from CRT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanli Lan
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province 317000, China; The Sixth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui City People's Hospital, Department of Oncology, Lishui 323000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province 317000, China
| | - Zhangjie Zhou
- The Fifth Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Lishui Municipal Central Hospital, Department of General Medicine, Lishui 323000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Yinnan Meng
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province 317000, China; Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong University Shenzhen Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - DanMei
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province 317000, China
| | - Yixiu Xu
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province 317000, China
| | - Xinhang Xia
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province 317000, China
| | - WeiWang
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province 317000, China
| | - HaiHua Yang
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province 317000, China.
| | - Feng-Ming Spring Kong
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Zhejiang Province 317000, China; Department of Clinical Oncology, Hong Kong University Shenzhen Hospital, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, the University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
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Xia X, Pi W, Chen M, Wang W, Cai D, Wang X, Lan Y, Yang H. Emerging roles of PHLPP phosphatases in lung cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1216131. [PMID: 37576883 PMCID: PMC10414793 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1216131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/03/2023] [Accepted: 07/12/2023] [Indexed: 08/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Pleckstrin homologous domain leucine-rich repeating protein phosphatases (PHLPPs) were originally identified as protein kinase B (Akt) kinase hydrophobic motif specific phosphatases to maintain the cellular homeostasis. With the continuous expansion of PHLPPs research, imbalanced-PHLPPs were mainly found as a tumor suppressor gene of a variety of solid tumors. In this review, we simply described the history and structures of PHLPPs and summarized the recent achievements in emerging roles of PHLPPs in lung cancer by 1) the signaling pathways affected by PHLPPs including Phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT, RAS/RAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK)/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and Protein kinase C (PKC) signaling cascades. 2) function of PHLPPs regulatory factor USP46 and miR-190/miR-215, 3) the potential roles of PHLPPs in disease prognosis, Epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR)- tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistance and DNA damage, 4) and the possible function of PHLPPs in radiotherapy, ferroptosis and inflammation response. Therefore, PHLPPs can be considered as either biomarker or prognostic marker for lung cancer treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | | | | | - Haihua Yang
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Taizhou Hospital Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, Zhejiang, China
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Liu X, Li D, Pi W, Wang B, Xu S, Yu L, Yao L, Sun Z, Jiang J, Mi Y. LCZ696 protects against doxorubicin-induced cardiotoxicity by inhibiting ferroptosis via AKT/SIRT3/SOD2 signaling pathway activation. Int Immunopharmacol 2022; 113:109379. [PMID: 36330913 DOI: 10.1016/j.intimp.2022.109379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
Doxorubicin (DOX) is an effective and widely used anticancer drug but has limited clinical applicability because of its cardiotoxicity. Ferroptosis plays a key role in DOX-induced cardiac damage and cardiomyocyte cell death. The inhibition of ferroptosis reverses DOX-induced cardiotoxicity (DIC). LCZ696, a first-in-class angiotensin receptor neprilysin inhibitor, protects against DIC. However, the mechanism of action of LCZ696, especially its effect on ferroptosis, is incompletely understood. This study investigates the cardioprotective effects of LCZ696 on DIC in vivo and in vitro.Cardiotoxicity was induced in Wistar rats by tail intravenous injection of 2.5 mg/kg DOX once a week for six weeks. Rats and H9c2 cells were treated with or without LCZ696 to determine the cardioprotective role and underlying mechanisms of LCZ696 against DIC. To assess the role of SIRT3 and correlated pathways in ferroptosis, SIRT3 knockout was performed using lentiviral vectors, and AKT was inhibited with LY294002. LCZ696 significantly attenuated DIC by decreasing the concentrations of lipid reactive oxygen species and malondialdehyde and increasing the levels of glutathione peroxidase-4 and reduced glutathione in cells and heart tissues. Moreover, LCZ696 remodeled myocardial structures and improved heart ventricular function in DOX-treated rats. LCZ696 treatment increased SIRT3 expression and deacetylated its target gene SOD2, and these changes were mediated by AKT activation. SIRT3 knockdown and AKT inhibition induced lipid peroxidation and reduced the protective effect of LCZ696 in H9c2 cells. Collectively,LCZ696 prevents DIC by inhibiting ferroptosis via AKT/SIRT3/SOD2 signaling pathway activation. Thus, LZC696 is a potential therapeutic strategy for DIC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoman Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China; Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Danlei Li
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China; Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Taizhou hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Bin Wang
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China; Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Shasha Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China; Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lei Yu
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China; Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Lei Yao
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China; Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhenzhu Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China; Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China.
| | - Jianjun Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China; Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China.
| | - Yafei Mi
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China; Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China.
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Li D, Pi W, Sun Z, Liu X, Jiang J. Ferroptosis and its role in cardiomyopathy. Biomed Pharmacother 2022; 153:113279. [PMID: 35738177 DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2022.113279] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2022] [Revised: 06/03/2022] [Accepted: 06/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Heart disease is the leading cause of death worldwide. Cardiomyopathy is a disease characterized by the heart muscle damage, resulting heart in a structurally and functionally change, as well as heart failure and sudden cardiac death. The key pathogenic factor of cardiomyopathy is the loss of cardiomyocytes, but the related molecular mechanisms remain unclear. Ferroptosis is a newly discovered regulated form of cell death, characterized by iron accumulation and lipid peroxidation during cell death. Recent studies have shown that ferroptosis plays an important regulatory roles in the occurrence and development of many heart diseases such as myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury, cardiomyopathy and heart failure. However, the systemic association of ferroptosis and cardiomyopathy remains largely unknown and needs to be elucidated. In this review, we provide an overview of the molecular mechanisms of ferroptosis and its role in individual cardiomyopathies, highlight that targeting ferroptosis maybe a potential therapeutic strategy for cardiomyopathy therapy in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlei Li
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Department of Radiation Oncology, Affiliated Taizhou hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Zhenzhu Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Xiaoman Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China
| | - Jianjun Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai 317000, Zhejiang Province, China.
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Li D, Liu X, Pi W, Zhang Y, Yu L, Xu C, Sun Z, Jiang J. Fisetin Attenuates Doxorubicin-Induced Cardiomyopathy In Vivo and In Vitro by Inhibiting Ferroptosis Through SIRT1/Nrf2 Signaling Pathway Activation. Front Pharmacol 2022; 12:808480. [PMID: 35273493 PMCID: PMC8902236 DOI: 10.3389/fphar.2021.808480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 29.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Accepted: 12/31/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Doxorubicin (DOX) is an anthracycline antibiotic that is used extensively for the management of carcinoma; however, its clinical application is limited due to its serious cardiotoxic side effects. Ferroptosis represents iron-dependent and reactive oxygen species (ROS)-related cell death and has been proven to contribute to the progression of DOX-induced cardiomyopathy. Fisetin is a natural flavonoid that is abundantly present in fruits and vegetables. It has been reported to exert cardioprotective effects against DOX-induced cardiotoxicity in experimental rats. However, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. The present study investigated the cardioprotective role of fisetin and the underlying molecular mechanism through experiments in the DOX-induced cardiomyopathy rat and H9c2 cell models. The results revealed that fisetin treatment could markedly abate DOX-induced cardiotoxicity by alleviating cardiac dysfunction, ameliorating myocardial fibrosis, mitigating cardiac hypertrophy in rats, and attenuating ferroptosis of cardiomyocytes by reversing the decline in the GPX4 level. Mechanistically, fisetin exerted its antioxidant effect by reducing the MDA and lipid ROS levels and increasing the glutathione (GSH) level. Moreover, fisetin exerted its protective effect by increasing the SIRT1 expression and the Nrf2 mRNA and protein levels and its nuclear translocation, which resulted in the activation of its downstream genes such as HO-1 and FTH1. Selective inhibition of SIRT1 attenuated the protective effects of fisetin in the H9c2 cells, which in turn decreased the GSH and GPX4 levels, as well as Nrf2, HO-1, and FTH1 expressions. In conclusion, fisetin exerts its therapeutic effects against DOX-induced cardiomyopathy by inhibiting ferroptosis via SIRT1/Nrf2 signaling pathway activation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danlei Li
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Xiaoman Liu
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Key Laboratory of Radiation Oncology of Taizhou, Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Institute of Enze Medical Health Academy, Affiliated Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Yang Zhang
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Lei Yu
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Cheng Xu
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Zhenzhu Sun
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
| | - Jianjun Jiang
- Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital of Zhejiang Province Affiliated to Wenzhou Medical University, Linhai, China
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Pi W, Lan Y, Xia X, Wang W, Meng Y, Yang H, Kong F. P12.07 Radiation Mediated Down-Regulation of Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) Expression in Lung Cancer Cells is Associated with iNOS-NO Pathway. J Thorac Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2021.08.329] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Wang X, Xia X, Meng Y, Wang W, Pi W, Zhou S, Yang H. MA11.07 Lung Squamous Cell Carcinoma Prognosis Based on Ferroptosis DNA Methylation Status. J Thorac Oncol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2021.08.168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Zhang H, Wang W, Pi W, Bi N, DesRosiers C, Kong F, Cheng M, Yang L, Lautenschlaeger T, Jolly S, Jin J, Kong FMS. Genetic Variations in the Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Pathway May Improve Predictive Power for Overall Survival in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer. Front Oncol 2021; 11:599719. [PMID: 34307117 PMCID: PMC8294034 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.599719] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/28/2020] [Accepted: 02/12/2021] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Purpose: Transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), a known immune suppressor, plays an important role in tumor progression and overall survival (OS) in many types of cancers. We hypothesized that genetic variations of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in the TGF-β1 pathway can predict survival in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after radiation therapy. Materials and Methods: Fourteen functional SNPs in the TGF-β1 pathway were measured in 166 patients with NSCLC enrolled in a multi-center clinical trial. Clinical factors, including age, gender, ethnicity, smoking status, stage group, histology, Karnofsky Performance Status, equivalent dose at 2 Gy fractions (EQD2), and the use of chemotherapy, were first tested under the univariate Cox's proportional hazards model. All significant clinical predictors were combined as a group of predictors named “Clinical.” The significant SNPs under the Cox proportional hazards model were combined as a group of predictors named “SNP.” The predictive powers of models using Clinical and Clinical + SNP were compared with the cross-validation concordance index (C-index) of random forest models. Results: Age, gender, stage group, smoking, histology, and EQD2 were identified as significant clinical predictors: Clinical. Among 14 SNPs, BMP2:rs235756 (HR = 0.63; 95% CI:0.42–0.93; p = 0.022), SMAD9:rs7333607 (HR = 2.79; 95% CI 1.22–6.41; p = 0.015), SMAD3:rs12102171 (HR = 0.68; 95% CI: 0.46–1.00; p = 0.050), and SMAD4: rs12456284 (HR = 0.63; 95% CI: 0.43–0.92; p = 0.016) were identified as powerful predictors of SNP. After adding SNP, the C-index of the model increased from 84.1 to 87.6% at 24 months and from 79.4 to 84.4% at 36 months. Conclusion: Genetic variations in the TGF-β1 pathway have the potential to improve the prediction accuracy for OS in patients with NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hong Zhang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland Baltimore, Baltimore, MD, United States
| | - Weili Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Case Western Reserve University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Laboratory of Cellular and Molecular Radiation Oncology, Department of Radiation Oncology, Radiation Oncology Institue of Enze Medical Health Academy, Affiliated Taizhou Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Taizhou, China
| | - Nan Bi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Colleen DesRosiers
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, IU Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Fengchong Kong
- Michigan Medicine Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Monica Cheng
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, IU Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Li Yang
- Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Li Ka SHing Medical School, Shenzhen, China
| | - Tim Lautenschlaeger
- Departments of Radiation Oncology, IU Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, United States
| | - Shruti Jolly
- Michigan Medicine Radiation Oncology, University Hospital, Ann Arbor, MI, United States
| | - Jianyue Jin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Case Western Reserve University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States
| | - Feng-Ming Spring Kong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Case Western Reserve University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Cleveland, OH, United States.,Department of Clinical Oncology, The University of Hong Kong-Shenzhen Hospital, Li Ka SHing Medical School, Shenzhen, China
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Wang W, Huang L, Jin JY, Pi W, Ellsworth SG, Jolly S, Mellor AL, Machtay M, Kong FM(S. A Validation Study on IDO Immune Biomarkers for Survival Prediction in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer: Radiation Dose Fractionation Effect in Early-Stage Disease. Clin Cancer Res 2019; 26:282-289. [DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-19-1202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/11/2019] [Revised: 06/24/2019] [Accepted: 08/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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Xu Y, Pi W, Rudic RD. Old and New Roles and Evolving Complexities of Cardiovascular Clocks. Yale J Biol Med 2019; 92:283-290. [PMID: 31249489 PMCID: PMC6585526] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022]
Abstract
The cardiovascular (CV) system has been established to be significantly influenced by the molecular components of circadian rhythm. Oscillations of circadian rhythm occur within the circulation to affect thrombosis and blood pressure and within CV tissues including arteries, heart, and kidney to control function. Physiologic and molecular oscillations of circadian rhythm have been well connected via global, tissue-specific, and transgenic reporter mouse models of key core clock signals such as Bmal1, Period, and Clock, which can produce both pathology and protection with their mutation. With different nuances of CV clock action continuing to emerge in studies of the cardiovascular system, new questions are raised in both new and old mouse model system observations that underscore the importance, complexity, and continued study of the circadian clock mechanism in cardiovascular disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - R. D. Rudic
- To whom all correspondence should be addressed: Dan Rudic, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, CB3620; Tel:706 721-7649, Fax 706 721-2347, E-mail:
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Arjunan P, Meghil MM, Pi W, Xu J, Lang L, El-Awady A, Sullivan W, Rajendran M, Rabelo MS, Wang T, Tawfik OK, Kunde-Ramamoorthy G, Singh N, Muthusamy T, Susin C, Teng Y, Arce RM, Cutler CW. Oral Pathobiont Activates Anti-Apoptotic Pathway, Promoting both Immune Suppression and Oncogenic Cell Proliferation. Sci Rep 2018; 8:16607. [PMID: 30413788 PMCID: PMC6226501 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-018-35126-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/30/2018] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Chronic periodontitis (CP) is a microbial dysbiotic disease linked to increased risk of oral squamous cell carcinomas (OSCCs). To address the underlying mechanisms, mouse and human cell infection models and human biopsy samples were employed. We show that the ‘keystone’ pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis, disrupts immune surveillance by generating myeloid-derived dendritic suppressor cells (MDDSCs) from monocytes. MDDSCs inhibit CTLs and induce FOXP3 + Tregs through an anti-apoptotic pathway. This pathway, involving pAKT1, pFOXO1, FOXP3, IDO1 and BIM, is activated in humans with CP and in mice orally infected with Mfa1 expressing P. gingivalis strains. Mechanistically, activation of this pathway, demonstrating FOXP3 as a direct FOXO1-target gene, was demonstrated by ChIP-assay in human CP gingiva. Expression of oncogenic but not tumor suppressor markers is consistent with tumor cell proliferation demonstrated in OSCC-P. gingivalis cocultures. Importantly, FimA + P. gingivalis strain MFI invades OSCCs, inducing inflammatory/angiogenic/oncogenic proteins stimulating OSCCs proliferation through CXCR4. Inhibition of CXCR4 abolished Pg-MFI-induced OSCCs proliferation and reduced expression of oncogenic proteins SDF-1/CXCR4, plus pAKT1-pFOXO1. Conclusively, P. gingivalis, through Mfa1 and FimA fimbriae, promotes immunosuppression and oncogenic cell proliferation, respectively, through a two-hit receptor-ligand process involving DC-SIGN+hi/CXCR4+hi, activating a pAKT+hipFOXO1+hiBIM−lowFOXP3+hi and IDO+hi- driven pathway, likely to impact the prognosis of oral cancers in patients with periodontitis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pachiappan Arjunan
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America.
| | - Mohamed M Meghil
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America.,Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, Indiana, United States of America
| | - Jinxian Xu
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Liwei Lang
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Ahmed El-Awady
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - William Sullivan
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute, California, United States of America
| | - Mythilypriya Rajendran
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Mariana Sousa Rabelo
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America.,Department of Periodontics, University of São Paulo, Sao Paulo, Brazil
| | - Tong Wang
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Omnia K Tawfik
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Nagendra Singh
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cancer Research Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Thangaraju Muthusamy
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Cancer Research Center, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Cristiano Susin
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Roger M Arce
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Christopher W Cutler
- Department of Periodontics, Dental College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America.
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12
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Wang W, Jin J, Pi W, Jolly S, Kong F. Immune-related Cytokine Expression Predicts Survival in Early Stage Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Patients. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2018. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2018.07.1913] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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13
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Habtetsion T, Ding ZC, Pi W, Li T, Lu C, Chen T, Xi C, Spartz H, Liu K, Hao Z, Mivechi N, Huo Y, Blazar BR, Munn DH, Zhou G. Alteration of Tumor Metabolism by CD4+ T Cells Leads to TNF-α-Dependent Intensification of Oxidative Stress and Tumor Cell Death. Cell Metab 2018; 28:228-242.e6. [PMID: 29887396 PMCID: PMC6082691 DOI: 10.1016/j.cmet.2018.05.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2017] [Revised: 03/05/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
The inhibitory effects of cancer on T cell metabolism have been well established, but the metabolic impact of immunotherapy on tumor cells is poorly understood. Here, we developed a CD4+ T cell-based adoptive immunotherapy protocol that was curative for mice with implanted colorectal tumors. By conducting metabolic profiling on tumors, we show that adoptive immunotherapy profoundly altered tumor metabolism, resulting in glutathione depletion and accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in tumor cells. We further demonstrate that T cell-derived tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) can synergize with chemotherapy to intensify oxidative stress and tumor cell death in an NADPH (nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate hydrogen) oxidase-dependent manner. Reduction of oxidative stress, by preventing TNF-α-signaling in tumor cells or scavenging ROS, antagonized the therapeutic effects of adoptive immunotherapy. Conversely, provision of pro-oxidants after chemotherapy can partially recapitulate the antitumor effects of T cell transfer. These findings imply that reinforcing tumor oxidative stress represents an important mechanism underlying the efficacy of adoptive immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tsadik Habtetsion
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15(th) Street, CN-4140, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Zhi-Chun Ding
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15(th) Street, CN-4140, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Tao Li
- Department of Oncology and Surgery, General Hospital of Ningxia Medical University, 804 Shengli Road, Yinchuan, Ningxia Province 750004, PR China
| | - Chunwan Lu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Tingting Chen
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15(th) Street, CN-4140, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Caixia Xi
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15(th) Street, CN-4140, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; Molecular Chaperone Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Helena Spartz
- Department of Pathology, Section of Anatomic Pathology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Kebin Liu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Zhonglin Hao
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15(th) Street, CN-4140, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Nahid Mivechi
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15(th) Street, CN-4140, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; Molecular Chaperone Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Yuqing Huo
- Vascular Biology Center, Department of Cellular Biology and Anatomy, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Bruce R Blazar
- Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - David H Munn
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15(th) Street, CN-4140, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Gang Zhou
- Georgia Cancer Center, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, 1120 15(th) Street, CN-4140, Augusta, GA 30912, USA; Department of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.
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14
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Kong FMS, Wang W, Durm G, Wan J, Jin J, Pi W, Hu C, Langer MP, Lautenschlaeger T, Paczesny S, Birdas TJ, Hanna NH. The effect of thoracic radiation on overall survival and their association with systemic immune therapy in stage IV NSCLC: Findings from the National Cancer Database. J Clin Oncol 2018. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2018.36.15_suppl.9103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Affiliation(s)
| | - Weili Wang
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Dept of Radiation Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Gerg Durm
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Dept of Hematology/Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Jun Wan
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Dept of Radiation Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Jianyue Jin
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Dept of Radiation Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Dept of Radiation Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Chen Hu
- Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
| | - Mark P Langer
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Dept of Radiation Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Tim Lautenschlaeger
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Dept of Radiation Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Sophie Paczesny
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Dept of PED-Hematology/Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Thomas J Birdas
- Indiana University School of Medicine, Dept of Cardiosurgery, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Nasser H. Hanna
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
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15
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Xie X, Tang SC, Cai Y, Pi W, Deng L, Wu G, Chavanieu A, Teng Y. Suppression of breast cancer metastasis through the inactivation of ADP-ribosylation factor 1. Oncotarget 2018; 7:58111-58120. [PMID: 27517156 PMCID: PMC5295416 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.11185] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2016] [Accepted: 08/05/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Metastasis is the major cause of cancer-related death in breast cancer patients, which is controlled by specific sets of genes. Targeting these genes may provide a means to delay cancer progression and allow local treatment to be more effective. We report for the first time that ADP-ribosylation factor 1 (ARF1) is the most amplified gene in ARF gene family in breast cancer, and high-level amplification of ARF1 is associated with increased mRNA expression and poor outcomes of patients with breast cancer. Knockdown of ARF1 leads to significant suppression of migration and invasion in breast cancer cells. Using the orthotopic xenograft model in NSG mice, we demonstrate that loss of ARF1 expression in breast cancer cells inhibits pulmonary metastasis. The zebrafish-metastasis model confirms that the ARF1 gene depletion suppresses breast cancer cells to metastatic disseminate throughout fish body, indicating that ARF1 is a very compelling target to limit metastasis. ARF1 function largely dependents on its activation and LM11, a cell-active inhibitor that specifically inhibits ARF1 activation through targeting the ARF1-GDP/ARNO complex at the Golgi, significantly impairs metastatic capability of breast cancer cell in zebrafish. These findings underline the importance of ARF1 in promoting metastasis and suggest that LM11 that inhibits ARF1 activation may represent a potential therapeutic approach to prevent or treat breast cancer metastasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiayang Xie
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Emory Children's Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Shou-Ching Tang
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Tianjin Medical University Cancer Institute and Hospital, Tianjin, P.R. China
| | - Yafei Cai
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Libin Deng
- Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Guangyu Wu
- Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Alain Chavanieu
- Institut des Biomolécules Max Mousseron (IBMM), UMR 5247, Université de Montpellier, CNRS, ENSCM, France
| | - Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA
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16
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Wang W, Huang L, Jin JY, Jolly S, Zang Y, Wu H, Yan L, Pi W, Li L, Mellor AL, Kong FMS. IDO Immune Status after Chemoradiation May Predict Survival in Lung Cancer Patients. Cancer Res 2017; 78:809-816. [PMID: 29118088 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-2995] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2017] [Revised: 10/17/2017] [Accepted: 10/31/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023]
Abstract
Host immunity influences the impact of radiotherapy (RT) in cancer, but mechanistic connections remain obscure. In this study, we investigated the relationship of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) systemic activity on clinical outcomes in RT-treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). IDO-mediated production of kynurenine and the kynurenine:tryptophan ratio in patient blood serum were determined for stage III NSCLC patients at times before, during, and after RT administration and then correlated to overall survival (OS), progression-free survival, and disease progression rate in patients. We found the impact of RT on these serum IDO markers to be heterogeneous in patients. On average, kynurenine:tryptophan ratios were reduced during RT but restored after RT. Notably, both baseline levels of kynurenine:tryptophan and changes in the levels of kynurenine after RT were significantly associated with OS. When combined, favorable change and favorable baseline corresponded with very long-term OS (median OS was not reached after 57 months of median follow-up). Favorable change combined with unfavorable baseline still corresponded with a lack of distant metastases. Our results suggest that RT alters IDO-mediated immune status in NSCLC patients and that changes in this serum biomarker may be useful to predict outcomes and perhaps personalize RT dosage to improve survival.Significance: Radiotherapy appears to influence systemic IDO activity and to exert a significant impact on metastatic risk and overall survival, with possible implications for defining a biomarker to optimize radiation dose in patients to improve outcomes. Cancer Res; 78(3); 809-16. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Weili Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Lei Huang
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Framlington Place, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Jian-Yue Jin
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
| | - Shruti Jolly
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan
| | - Yong Zang
- Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Huanmei Wu
- Indiana University School of Informatics and Computing, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Li Yan
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Lang Li
- Department of Biostatistics, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana
| | - Andrew L Mellor
- Institute of Cellular Medicine, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Framlington Place, Newcastle University, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, United Kingdom
| | - Feng-Ming Spring Kong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indiana.
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17
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Long D, Kong F, Galle J, Tann M, Pi W, Furukawa Y, Haskins C, Yao H, Jin J, Cox J, Ellsworth S. Identification of Novel Prognostic Factors via Volumetric Analysis in Patients with Hepatocellular Carcinoma Treated With Liver Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2017. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.06.1004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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18
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Zhu X, Hu T, Ho MH, Wang Y, Yu M, Patel N, Pi W, Choi JH, Xu H, Ganapathy V, Kutlar F, Kutlar A, Tuan D. Hydroxyurea differentially modulates activator and repressors of γ-globin gene in erythroblasts of responsive and non-responsive patients with sickle cell disease in correlation with Index of Hydroxyurea Responsiveness. Haematologica 2017; 102:1995-2004. [PMID: 28971909 PMCID: PMC5709098 DOI: 10.3324/haematol.2017.175646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2017] [Accepted: 09/29/2017] [Indexed: 01/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Hydroxyurea (HU), the first of two drugs approved by the US Food and Drug Administration for treating patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), produces anti-sickling effect by re-activating fetal γ-globin gene to enhance production of fetal hemoglobin. However, approximately 30% of the patients do not respond to HU therapy. The molecular basis of non-responsiveness to HU is not clearly understood. To address this question, we examined HU-induced changes in the RNA and protein levels of transcription factors NF-Y, GATA-1, -2, BCL11A, TR4, MYB and NF-E4 that assemble the γ-globin promoter complex and regulate transcription of γ-globin gene. In erythroblasts cultured from peripheral blood CD34+ cells of patients with SCD, we found that HU-induced changes in the protein but not the RNA levels of activator GATA-2 and repressors GATA-1, BCL11A and TR4 correlated with HU-induced changes in fetal hemoglobin (HbF) levels in the peripheral blood of HU high and low responders. However, HU did not significantly induce changes in the protein or RNA levels of activators NF-Y and NF-E4. Based on HU-induced changes in the protein levels of GATA-2, -1 and BCL11A, we calculated an Index of Hydroxyurea Responsiveness (IndexHU-3). Compared to the HU-induced fold changes in the individual transcription factor protein levels, the numerical values of IndexHU-3 statistically correlated best with the HU-induced peripheral blood HbF levels of the patients. Thus, IndexHU-3 can serve as an appropriate indicator for inherent HU responsiveness of patients with SCD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingguo Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, GA, USA
| | - Tianxiang Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, GA, USA
| | - Meng Hsuan Ho
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, GA, USA.,School of Dentistry, Meharry Medical College, Nashville, TN, USA
| | - Yongchao Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, GA, USA.,Department of Pharmacology and Nutritional Sciences, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Miao Yu
- Georgia Cancer Research Center, Augusta University, GA, USA
| | - Niren Patel
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Augusta University, GA, USA
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, GA, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN, USA
| | - Jeong-Hyeon Choi
- Georgia Cancer Research Center, Augusta University, GA, USA.,Department of Biostatistics, Augusta University, GA, USA
| | - Hongyan Xu
- Department of Biostatistics, Augusta University, GA, USA
| | - Vadivel Ganapathy
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, GA, USA.,Department of Cell Biology and Biochemistry, Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, Lubbock, TX, USA
| | - Ferdane Kutlar
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Augusta University, GA, USA
| | - Abdullah Kutlar
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Augusta University, GA, USA
| | - Dorothy Tuan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, GA, USA
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19
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Ellsworth SG, Rabatic BM, Chen J, Zhao J, Campbell J, Wang W, Pi W, Stanton P, Matuszak M, Jolly S, Miller A, Kong FM. Principal component analysis identifies patterns of cytokine expression in non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing definitive radiation therapy. PLoS One 2017; 12:e0183239. [PMID: 28934231 PMCID: PMC5608186 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0183239] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/10/2017] [Accepted: 08/01/2017] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Background/Purpose Radiation treatment (RT) stimulates the release of many immunohumoral factors, complicating the identification of clinically significant cytokine expression patterns. This study used principal component analysis (PCA) to analyze cytokines in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients undergoing RT and explore differences in changes after hypofractionated stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) and conventionally fractionated RT (CFRT) without or with chemotherapy. Methods The dataset included 141 NSCLC patients treated on prospective clinical protocols; PCA was based on the 128 patients who had complete CK values at baseline and during treatment. Patients underwent SBRT (n = 16), CFRT (n = 18), or CFRT (n = 107) with concurrent chemotherapy (ChRT). Levels of 30 cytokines were measured from prospectively collected platelet-poor plasma samples at baseline, during RT, and after RT. PCA was used to study variations in cytokine levels in patients at each time point. Results Median patient age was 66, and 22.7% of patients were female. PCA showed that sCD40l, fractalkine/C3, IP10, VEGF, IL-1a, IL-10, and GMCSF were responsible for most variability in baseline cytokine levels. During treatment, sCD40l, IP10, MIP-1b, fractalkine, IFN-r, and VEGF accounted for most changes in cytokine levels. In SBRT patients, the most important players were sCD40l, IP10, and MIP-1b, whereas fractalkine exhibited greater variability in CFRT alone patients. ChRT patients exhibited variability in IFN-γ and VEGF in addition to IP10, MIP-1b, and sCD40l. Conclusions PCA can identify potentially significant patterns of cytokine expression after fractionated RT. Our PCA showed that inflammatory cytokines dominate post-treatment cytokine profiles, and the changes differ after SBRT versus CFRT, with vs without chemotherapy. Further studies are planned to validate these findings and determine the clinical significance of the cytokine profiles identified by PCA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Susannah G. Ellsworth
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Bryan M. Rabatic
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, United States of America
| | - Jie Chen
- Department of Biostatistics & Epidemiology, Augusta University; Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jing Zhao
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jeffrey Campbell
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Weili Wang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Paul Stanton
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Augusta University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Martha Matuszak
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Shruti Jolly
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan School of Medicine, Ann Arbor, United States of America
| | - Amy Miller
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, United States of America
| | - Feng-Ming Kong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, Indianapolis, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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20
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Hu T, Pi W, Zhu X, Yu M, Ha H, Shi H, Choi JH, Tuan D. Long non-coding RNAs transcribed by ERV-9 LTR retrotransposon act in cis to modulate long-range LTR enhancer function. Nucleic Acids Res 2017; 45:4479-4492. [PMID: 28132025 PMCID: PMC5416847 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkx055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2016] [Accepted: 01/23/2017] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
LTR retrotransposons are repetitive DNA elements comprising ∼10% of the human genome. However, LTR sequences are disproportionately present in human long, non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs). Whether and how the LTR lncRNAs serve biological functions are largely unknown. Here we show that in primary human erythroblasts, lncRNAs transcribed from the LTR retrotransposons of ERV-9 human endogenous retrovirus activated transcription of key erythroid genes and modulated ex vivo erythropoiesis. To dissect the functional mechanism of ERV-9 lncRNAs, we performed genome-wide RNA and ChIRP analyses before and after global knockdown or locus-specific deletion of ERV-9 lncRNAs in human erythroblasts carrying ∼4000 copies of the ERV-9 LTRs and in transgenic mouse erythroblasts carrying a single copy of the primate-specific ERV-9 LTR in the 100 kb human β-globin gene locus. We found that ERV-9 lncRNAs acted in cis to stabilize assembly of the ERV-9 LTR enhancer complex and facilitate long-range LTR enhancer function in activating transcription of downstream, cis-linked globin genes. Our findings suggested that LTR lncRNAs transcribed from many of the 4000 copies of ERV-9 LTR retrotransposons acted by a similar cis mechanism to modulate LTR enhancer function in activating transcription of downstream genes critical to cellular processes including erythropoiesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxiang Hu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Xingguo Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Miao Yu
- Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Hongseok Ha
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Huidong Shi
- Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Jeong-Hyeon Choi
- Department of Biostatics and Epidemiology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
| | - Dorothy Tuan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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21
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Teng Y, Cai Y, Pi W, Gao L, Shay C. Augmentation of the anticancer activity of CYT997 in human prostate cancer by inhibiting Src activity. J Hematol Oncol 2017; 10:118. [PMID: 28606127 PMCID: PMC5469135 DOI: 10.1186/s13045-017-0485-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/02/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Abnormalities of tubulin polymerization and microtubule assembly are often seen in cancer, which make them very suitable targets for the development of therapeutic approach against rapidly dividing and aggressive cancer cells. CYT997 is a novel microtubule-disrupting agent with anticancer activity in multiple cancer types including prostate cancer. However, the molecular mechanisms of action of CYT997 in prostate cancer have not been well characterized. Methods Src knockdown cells were achieved by lentiviral-mediated interference. The drug effects on cell proliferation were measured by MTS. The drug effects on cell viability and death were determined by Cell Titer-Glo® Luminescent cell viability kit and flow cytometry with Zombie Aqua™ staining. The drug effects on apoptosis were assessed by Cell Death Detection Elisa kit and Western blot with a cleaved PARP antibody. The drug effects on cell invasion were examined by Matrigel-coated Boyden chambers. Oxidative stress was detected by DCFH-DA staining and electrochemical biosensor. Mouse models generated by subcutaneous or intracardiac injection were used to investigate the in vivo drug efficacy in tumor growth and metastasis. Results CYT997 effectively inhibited proliferation, survival, and invasion of prostate cancer cells via blocking multiple oncogenic signaling cascades but not the Src pathway. Inhibition of Src expression by small hairpin RNA or inactivation of Src by dasatinib increased the CYT997-induced cytotoxicity of in vitro. Moreover, the combination of dasatinib and CYT997 exhibited a superior inhibitory effect on tumor growth and metastasis compared with either of the drugs alone. Conclusion Our findings demonstrate that blockage of Src augments the anticancer effect of CYT997 on prostate cancer and suggest that co-treatment of dasatinib and CYT997 may represent an effective therapeutic regimen for limiting prostate cancer. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13045-017-0485-0) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Teng
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA. .,Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, 1120 15th Street, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA. .,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.
| | - Yafei Cai
- College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing, 210095, China
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA.,Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN, 46202, USA
| | - Lixia Gao
- Department of Oral Biology, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, 30912, USA
| | - Chloe Shay
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory Children's Center, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA
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22
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Maluccio MA, Zang Y, Pi W, Tann M, Kubal C, Lacerda MA, O'Neil BH, Agarwal DM, Kong FM(S. Survival in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): A report of 1444 patients treated within a multidisciplinary program. J Clin Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.e15652] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
e15652 Background: The evolution of treatment for HCC has seen novel therapies emerge as front line treatment alternatives. The aim of this study was to report survival in HCC patients treated within the context of a robust multidisciplinary program and to identify patient and tumor specific factors that direct patient centered treatment decisions and optimize outcome. Methods: This is retrospective analysis of medical records identified through the cancer registry at our institution from 2000 to 2016. Variables analyzed for survival significance included patient factors (age, gender, race, tobacco history, alcohol history, and marital status) and tumor factors (tumor size, histology grade, AFP level, SEER stage, clinical and pathologic stage). Survival was estimated from the time of diagnosis to the last contact. Results: A total of 1444 consecutive patients with confirmed HCC were eligible for this analysis. Median follow-up was 45 months. Median survival was 18 months (95% CI: 11-25 months). The overall 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 63, 40, and 35%, respectively. Significant prognostic parameters were SEER stage (HR = 2.3, p = 2x10-16 local as the reference), pathologic stage (HR = 1.2, p = 3×10-9), tobacco history (HR = 1.2, p = 0.03), , and clinical stage (HR = 1.1, p = 4x10-5). Of a total of 380 patients resected, median and 3-year survival were 75 months and 63% (95% CI: 58-69%). The only significant prognostic parameter associated with survival in resection patients was SEER stage (HR = 1.7, p = 0.002). The 5 year survival for all patients versus those resected were 44% (95% CI: 40-48) /59% (95% CI: 53-65), 21% (95% CI: 17-27) /36% (95% CI: 24-54), and 11% (95% CI: 5-20) /25% (95% CI: 6-100) for localized, regional, and distant disease, respectively. Conclusions: Survival has improved for patients with HCC due to an increased number of available options and better methods to identify tumor and patients specific variables that individualize care. The significance of SEER stage suggests that early detection remains critical for survival.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Yong Zang
- Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Indiana University, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Mark Tann
- Indiana University Department of Radiology, Indianapolis, IN
| | | | - Marco A Lacerda
- Indiana University Department of Gastroenterology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Bert H. O'Neil
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
| | - David M Agarwal
- Indiana University Department of Radiology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Feng-Ming (Spring) Kong
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Indiana University Simon Cancer Center, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
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Kong FM, Zang Y, Pi W, Long D, Ellsworth S, Saito N, Ghabril M, Lacerda MA, Agarwal DM, O’Neil B, Tann M, Zellars RC, Maluccio MA. Stereotactic body radiation therapy to generate comparable survival to surgery in treating hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC): Results of 756 patients. J Clin Oncol 2017. [DOI: 10.1200/jco.2017.35.15_suppl.4080] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
4080 Background: Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT) has emerged as a viable treatment option in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This study aimed to compare survival outcomes after SBRT with other front line local treatments for HCC. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients identified through our cancer registry from 2000 to 2016. Patients treated with any local therapy alone were eligible: SBRT, surgery, conventional external beam radiation (CEBRT), and other local therapies including brachytherapy. Patients treated with combined therapies such as SBRT plus liver transplant were excluded. The primary endpoint was overall survival which was estimated from the time of diagnosis. Differences between the groups were compared using log-rank test. The data are presented as median (95%CI). Results: A total of 756 patients with a median follow-up of 45 months (mo) met the selection criteria: 116, 380, 43, and 217 patients received SBRT, surgery, CEBRT, and other local treatment, respectively. Median age was 61, 60, 61 and 60 years, respectively. The median overall survival/3 year overall survival rate were 49 (32-66) mo /53% (44-65%) for patients treated with SBRT, which were not significantly different from 75 (57-94) mo /63% (58-69%) of surgery (p = 0.27), non-significantly better than 22 (13-31) mo /41% (27-60%) of CEBRT (p = 0.13), significantly better than 15 (13-20) mo /26% (20-34%) of other local treatments (p = 3×10-7). After adjusting for significant prognostic factors including age, race, status of tobacco abuse, history of alcohol use, tumor size, histology grade and stage, the survival outcomes of SBRT remained to be insignificantly different from surgery (HR = 0.8, p = 0.2), have a trend of significant difference from CEBRT (HR = 1.4, p = 0.1) and remarkably superior to that of other local treatments (HR = 1.8, p = 2×10-4). Conclusions: This study suggests that SBRT is an excellent front line option for HCC, potentially comparable to surgical resection and associated with longer survival than other front line local treatments. Randomized studies are needed to validate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Feng Ming Kong
- Indiana University Department of Radiation Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Yong Zang
- Indiana University Department of Biostatistics, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Indiana University Department of Radiation Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - David Long
- Indiana University Melvin and Bren Simon Cancer Center, Indianapolis, IN
| | | | - Naoyuki Saito
- Indiana University Department of Radiation Oncology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Marwan Ghabril
- Indiana University Department of Gastroenterology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Marco A Lacerda
- Indiana University Department of Gastroenterology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - David M Agarwal
- Indiana University Department of Radiology, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Bert O’Neil
- Indiana University Department of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN
| | - Mark Tann
- Indiana University Department of Radiology, Indianapolis, IN
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Abstract
LTR retrotransposons are repetitive DNA elements comprising ∼10% of the human genome. They are silenced by hypermethylation of cytosines in CpG dinucleotides and are considered parasitic DNA serving no useful function for the host genome. However, hypermethylated LTRs contain enhancer and promoter sequences and can promote tissue-specific transcription of cis-linked genes. To resolve the apparent paradox of hypermethylated LTRs possessing transcriptional activities, we studied the ERV-9 LTR retrotransposon located at the 5' border of the transcriptionally active β-globin gene locus in human erythroid progenitor and erythroleukemia K562 cells. We found that the ERV-9 LTR, containing 65 CpGs in 1.7 kb DNA, was hypermethylated (with > 90% methylated CpGs). Hypermethylated LTR possessed transcriptional enhancer activity, since in vivo deletion of the LTR by CRISPR-cas9 suppressed transcription of the globin genes by > 50%. ChIP-qPCR and ChIP-seq studies showed that the hypermethylated LTR enhancer spanning recurrent CCAATCG and GATA motifs associated respectively with key transcription factors (TFs) NF-Y and GATA-1 and -2 at reduced levels, compared with the unmethylated LTR in transfected LTR-reporter gene plasmids. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays with methylated LTR enhancer probe showed that the methylated probe bound both NF-Y and GATA-1 and -2 with lower affinities than the unmethylated enhancer probe. Thus, hypermethylation drastically reduced, but did not totally abolish, the binding affinities of the enhancer motifs to the key TFs to assemble the LTR-pol II transcription complex that activated transcription of cis-linked genes at reduced efficiency.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tianxiang Hu
- a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta , GA , USA
| | - Xingguo Zhu
- a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta , GA , USA
| | - Wenhu Pi
- a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta , GA , USA
| | - Miao Yu
- b Georgia Cancer Center , Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta , GA , USA
| | - Huidong Shi
- b Georgia Cancer Center , Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta , GA , USA
| | - Dorothy Tuan
- a Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology , Medical College of Georgia, Augusta University , Augusta , GA , USA
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Yan L, Zhang H, King M, Wu H, Huang C, Pi W, Pu Y, Tan M, Kong FM(S. PS01.47: PET Volumetric Prognostic Index may be the Most Significant Survival Factor in Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer Treated with Chemoradiation. J Thorac Oncol 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtho.2016.09.082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
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Jin J, Wang W, Ten Haken R, Zhang H, Campbell J, Pi W, Lawrence T, Kong F. Radiosensitive Patients Have Worse Survival After Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy (SBRT)—Is Dose De-Escalation in SBRT Needed for These Patients? Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2016.06.1767] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Wang S, Kuczma M, Pi W, Kong V, Campbell J, Jin J, Zhou G, Kong F. Combined Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy and Immunotherapy on 4T1 Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Murine Model. Int J Radiat Oncol Biol Phys 2016. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ijrobp.2016.06.2088] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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teng Y, Pi W, Cowell J. Abstract 687: Critical role and mechanism of WASF3 in HER2/HER3 regulation of breast cancer metastasis. Cancer Res 2016. [DOI: 10.1158/1538-7445.am2016-687] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Abstract
WASF3 is overexpressed in high-grade breast cancer and promotes invasion and metastasis but does not affect proliferation. The HER2/ERBB2/NEU gene is also frequently overexpressed in breast cancer and has been shown to promote invasion and metastasis in these tumors. Here we show that WASF3 in present in the HER2 immunocomplex and suppression of WASF3 function leads to suppression of invasion even in the presence of HER2 expression. Overexpression of both HER2 and WASF3 in non-metastatic MCF7 breast cancer cells promotes invasion and metastasis more significantly than either gene alone. HER2 forms homodimers as well as heterodimers with other HER family members and we now show that the ability of WASF3 to promote invasion is highly dependent on the HER2/HER3 heterodimer. The engagement of WASF3 with the HER2/HER3 complex facilitates its phospho-activation and transcriptional upregulation, which is facilitated by HER2/HER3 activation of JAK/STAT signaling. In breast cancer cells overexpressing HER2, therefore, WASF3 is specifically required to facilitate the invasion/metastasis response. Targeting WASF3, therefore, could be a potential therapeutic approach to suppress metastasis of HER2-overexpressing breast tumors.
Citation Format: yong teng, Wenhu Pi, John Cowell. Critical role and mechanism of WASF3 in HER2/HER3 regulation of breast cancer metastasis. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 107th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2016 Apr 16-20; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2016;76(14 Suppl):Abstract nr 687.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Georgia Regents Univ, augusta, GA
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Ding ZC, Liu C, Cao Y, Habtetsion T, Kuczma M, Pi W, Kong H, Cacan E, Greer SF, Cui Y, Blazar BR, Munn DH, Zhou G. IL-7 signaling imparts polyfunctionality and stemness potential to CD4(+) T cells. Oncoimmunology 2016; 5:e1171445. [PMID: 27471650 DOI: 10.1080/2162402x.2016.1171445] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2016] [Revised: 03/22/2016] [Accepted: 03/23/2016] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The functional status of CD4(+) T cells is a critical determinant of antitumor immunity. Polyfunctional CD4(+) T cells possess the ability to concomitantly produce multiple Th1-type cytokines, exhibiting a functional attribute desirable for cancer immunotherapy. However, the mechanisms by which these cells are induced are neither defined nor it is clear if these cells can be used therapeutically to treat cancer. Here, we report that CD4(+) T cells exposed to exogenous IL-7 during antigenic stimulation can acquire a polyfunctional phenotype, characterized by their ability to simultaneously express IFNγ, IL-2, TNFα and granzyme B. This IL-7-driven polyfunctional phenotype was associated with increased histone acetylation in the promoters of the effector genes, indicative of increased chromatin accessibility. Moreover, forced expression of a constitutively active (CA) form of STAT5 recapitulated IL-7 in inducing CD4(+) T-cell polyfunctionality. Conversely, the expression of a dominant negative (DN) form of STAT5 abolished the ability of IL-7 to induce polyfunctional CD4(+) T cells. These in-vitro-generated polyfunctional CD4(+) T cells can traffic to tumor and expand intratumorally in response to immunization. Importantly, adoptive transfer of polyfunctional CD4(+) T cells following lymphodepletive chemotherapy was able to eradicate large established tumors. This beneficial outcome was associated with the occurrence of antigen epitope spreading, activation of the endogenous CD8(+) T cells and persistence of donor CD4(+) T cells exhibiting memory stem cell attributes. These findings indicate that IL-7 signaling can impart polyfunctionality and stemness potential to CD4(+) T cells, revealing a previously unknown property of IL-7 that can be exploited in adoptive T-cell immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zhi-Chun Ding
- Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University , Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Chufeng Liu
- Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Department of Orthodontics, Guangdong Provincial Stomatological Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou, PR, China
| | - Yang Cao
- Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Department of Orthodontics, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Stomatology, Hospital of Stomatology, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou, PR, China
| | - Tsadik Habtetsion
- Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University , Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Michal Kuczma
- Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University , Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Augusta University , Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Heng Kong
- Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University, Augusta, GA, USA; Department of Thyroid and Breast Surgery, Shenzhen Nanshan District People's Hospital, Shenzhen, Guangzhou, PR, China
| | - Ercan Cacan
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Susanna F Greer
- Department of Biology, Georgia State University , Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Yan Cui
- Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University , Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Bruce R Blazar
- Department of Pediatrics and Division of Blood and Marrow Transplantation, University of Minnesota , Minneapolis, MN, USA
| | - David H Munn
- Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University , Augusta, GA, USA
| | - Gang Zhou
- Cancer Immunology, Inflammation and Tolerance Program, Georgia Cancer Center, Augusta University , Augusta, GA, USA
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Cai Y, Pi W, Sivaprakasam S, Zhu X, Zhang M, Chen J, Makala L, Lu C, Wu J, Teng Y, Pace B, Tuan D, Singh N, Li H. UFBP1, a Key Component of the Ufm1 Conjugation System, Is Essential for Ufmylation-Mediated Regulation of Erythroid Development. PLoS Genet 2015; 11:e1005643. [PMID: 26544067 PMCID: PMC4636156 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1005643] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2015] [Accepted: 10/11/2015] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The Ufm1 conjugation system is an ubiquitin-like modification system that consists of Ufm1, Uba5 (E1), Ufc1 (E2), and less defined E3 ligase(s) and targets. The biological importance of this system is highlighted by its essential role in embryogenesis and erythroid development, but the underlying mechanism is poorly understood. UFBP1 (Ufm1 binding protein 1, also known as DDRGK1, Dashurin and C20orf116) is a putative Ufm1 target, yet its exact physiological function and impact of its ufmylation remain largely undefined. In this study, we report that UFBP1 is indispensable for embryonic development and hematopoiesis. While germ-line deletion of UFBP1 caused defective erythroid development and embryonic lethality, somatic ablation of UFBP1 impaired adult hematopoiesis, resulting in pancytopenia and animal death. At the cellular level, UFBP1 deficiency led to elevated ER (endoplasmic reticulum) stress and activation of unfolded protein response (UPR), and consequently cell death of hematopoietic stem/progenitor cells. In addition, loss of UFBP1 suppressed expression of erythroid transcription factors GATA-1 and KLF1 and blocked erythroid differentiation from CFU-Es (colony forming unit-erythroid) to proerythroblasts. Interestingly, depletion of Uba5, a Ufm1 E1 enzyme, also caused elevation of ER stress and under-expression of erythroid transcription factors in erythroleukemia K562 cells. By contrast, knockdown of ASC1, a newly identified Ufm1 target that functions as a transcriptional co-activator of hormone receptors, led to down-regulation of erythroid transcription factors, but did not elevate basal ER stress. Furthermore, we found that ASC1 was associated with the promoters of GATA-1 and Klf1 in a UFBP1-dependent manner. Taken together, our findings suggest that UFBP1, along with ASC1 and other ufmylation components, play pleiotropic roles in regulation of hematopoietic cell survival and differentiation via modulating ER homeostasis and erythroid lineage-specific gene expression. Modulating the activity of this novel ubiquitin-like system may represent a novel approach to treat blood-related diseases such as anemia. Protein modification by Ubiquitin (Ub) and Ubiquitin-like proteins (Ubl) plays pivotal roles in a wide range of cellular functions and signaling pathways. The Ufm1 conjugation system is a novel ubiquitin-like system, yet its biological functions and working mechanism remains poorly understood. UFBP1 is a putative Ufm1 target that has been implicated in several signaling pathways but little is known regarding its in vivo function. In this report, by using multiple knockout mouse models, we demonstrate that UFBP1 is essential for murine development and blood cell development. While germ-line deletion of UFBP1 caused defective red blood cell development and embryonic lethality, somatic ablation of UFBP1 impaired production of mature red blood cells and other types of hematopoietic cells. We found that depletion of UFBP1 led to elevated stress in the endoplasmic reticulum that in turn caused cell death of hematopoietic stem cells. Furthermore, UFBP1 deficiency diminished expression of key transcription factors essential for red blood cell development. Taken together, our study provides strong genetic evidence for the essential role of UFBP1 as well as other components of the Ufm1 system in hematopoietic development. Therefore, the ufmylation pathway may represent a novel therapeutic target in treatment of blood diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yafei Cai
- Department of Bioscience, College of Life Sciences, Anhui Normal University, Wuhu, Anhui, China
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Satish Sivaprakasam
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Xiaobin Zhu
- Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Zhongnan Hospital of Wuhan University, Wuhan, China
| | - Mingsheng Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science & Technology, Wuhan, China
| | - Jijun Chen
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Levi Makala
- Department of Pediatrics, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Chunwan Lu
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Jianchu Wu
- Department of Periodontics, College of Dentistry, Cancer Center, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Yong Teng
- Cancer Center, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Betty Pace
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Dorothy Tuan
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Nagendra Singh
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
- * E-mail: (NS); (HL)
| | - Honglin Li
- Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, Georgia Regents University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
- The 10th People’s Hospital, Tongji University, Shanghai, China
- * E-mail: (NS); (HL)
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Zhu X, Wang Y, Pi W, Liu H, Wickrema A, Tuan D. NF-Y recruits both transcription activator and repressor to modulate tissue- and developmental stage-specific expression of human γ-globin gene. PLoS One 2012; 7:e47175. [PMID: 23071749 PMCID: PMC3468502 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0047175] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2012] [Accepted: 09/10/2012] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The human embryonic, fetal and adult β-like globin genes provide a paradigm for tissue- and developmental stage-specific gene regulation. The fetal γ-globin gene is expressed in fetal erythroid cells but is repressed in adult erythroid cells. The molecular mechanism underlying this transcriptional switch during erythroid development is not completely understood. Here, we used a combination of in vitro and in vivo assays to dissect the molecular assemblies of the active and the repressed proximal γ-globin promoter complexes in K562 human erythroleukemia cell line and primary human fetal and adult erythroid cells. We found that the proximal γ-globin promoter complex is assembled by a developmentally regulated, general transcription activator NF-Y bound strongly at the tandem CCAAT motifs near the TATA box. NF-Y recruits to neighboring DNA motifs the developmentally regulated, erythroid transcription activator GATA-2 and general repressor BCL11A, which in turn recruit erythroid repressor GATA-1 and general repressor COUP-TFII to form respectively the NF-Y/GATA-2 transcription activator hub and the BCL11A/COUP-TFII/GATA-1 transcription repressor hub. Both the activator and the repressor hubs are present in both the active and the repressed γ-globin promoter complexes in fetal and adult erythroid cells. Through changes in their levels and respective interactions with the co-activators and co-repressors during erythroid development, the activator and the repressor hubs modulate erythroid- and developmental stage-specific transcription of γ-globin gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xingguo Zhu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia and College of Graduate Studies, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Yongchao Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia and College of Graduate Studies, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Wenhu Pi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia and College of Graduate Studies, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Hui Liu
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Amittha Wickrema
- Department of Medicine, University of Chicago, Chicago, Illinois, United States of America
| | - Dorothy Tuan
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia and College of Graduate Studies, Georgia Health Sciences University, Augusta, Georgia, United States of America
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Li F, Chen X, Pi W, Liu C, Shi Z. Collection of Oocytes Through Transvaginal Ovum Pick-up for In Vitro Embryo Production in Nanyang Yellow Cattle. Reprod Domest Anim 2007; 42:666-70. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2006.00842.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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Abstract
In the human ε−globin gene locus, the HS2 enhancer in the Locus Control Region regulates transcription of the embryonic ε-globin gene located over 10 kb away. The mechanism of long-range HS2 enhancer function was not fully established. Here we show that the HS2 enhancer complex containing the enhancer DNA together with RNA polymerase II (pol II) and TBP tracks along the intervening DNA, synthesizing short, polyadenylated, intergenic RNAs to ultimately loop with the ε-globin promoter. Guided by this facilitated tracking and transcription mechanism, the HS2 enhancer delivers pol II and TBP to the cis-linked globin promoter to activate mRNA synthesis from the target gene. An insulator inserted in the intervening DNA between the enhancer and the promoter traps the enhancer DNA and the associated pol II and TBP at the insulator site, blocking mid-stream the facilitated tracking and transcription mechanism of the enhancer complex, thereby blocking long-range enhancer function.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Dorothy Tuan
- *To whom correspondence should be addressed. 706 721 0272706 721 6608
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Ling J, Baibakov B, Pi W, Emerson BM, Tuan D. The HS2 enhancer of the beta-globin locus control region initiates synthesis of non-coding, polyadenylated RNAs independent of a cis-linked globin promoter. J Mol Biol 2005; 350:883-96. [PMID: 15979088 DOI: 10.1016/j.jmb.2005.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/08/2005] [Revised: 05/06/2005] [Accepted: 05/18/2005] [Indexed: 11/24/2022]
Abstract
The HS2 enhancer in the beta-globin locus control region (LCR) regulates transcription of the globin genes 10-50 kb away. Earlier studies show that a transcription mechanism initiated by the HS2 enhancer through the intervening DNA in the direction of the cis-linked promoter and gene mediates long-range enhancer function. Here, we further analyzed the enhancer-initiated RNAs and their mode of transcription from the HS2 enhancer in the endogenous genome of erythroid K562 cells, in plasmids integrated into K562 cells and in purified DNA used as template in in vitro transcription reactions. We found that the HS2 enhancer was able to initiate transcription autonomously in the absence of a cis-linked globin promoter. The enhancer-initiated, intergenic RNAs were different from the mRNA synthesized at the promoter in several aspects. The enhancer RNAs were synthesized not from a defined site but from multiple sites both within and as far as 1 kb downstream of the enhancer. The enhancer RNAs did not appear to contain a normal cap structure at the 5' ends. They were polyadenylated at multiple sites within 3 kb downstream of their initiation sites and were therefore shorter than 3 kb in lengths. The enhancer RNAs remained in discrete spots within the nucleus and were not processed into mRNA or translated into proteins. These particular features of enhancer-initiated transcription indicate that the transcriptional complex assembled by the enhancer was different from the basal transcription complex assembled at the promoter. The results suggest that in synthesizing non-coding, intergenic RNAs, the enhancer-assembled transcription complex could track through the intervening DNA to reach the basal promoter complex and activate efficient mRNA synthesis from the promoter.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Ling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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Yu X, Zhu X, Pi W, Ling J, Ko L, Takeda Y, Tuan D. The long terminal repeat (LTR) of ERV-9 human endogenous retrovirus binds to NF-Y in the assembly of an active LTR enhancer complex NF-Y/MZF1/GATA-2. J Biol Chem 2005; 280:35184-94. [PMID: 16105833 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m508138200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 37] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The solitary ERV-9 long terminal repeat (LTR) located upstream of the HS5 site in the human beta-globin locus control region exhibits prominent enhancer activity in embryonic and erythroid cells. The LTR enhancer contains 14 tandemly repeated subunits with recurrent CCAAT, GTGGGGA, and GATA motifs. Here we showed that in erythroid K562 cells these DNA motifs bound the following three transcription factors: ubiquitous NF-Y and hematopoietic MZF1 and GATA-2. These factors and their target DNA motifs exhibited a hierarchy of DNA/protein and protein/protein binding affinities: NF-Y/CCAAT > NF-Y/GATA-2 > NF-Y/MZF1 > MZF1/GTGGGGA; GATA-2/GATA. Through protein/protein interactions, NF-Y bound at the CCAAT motif recruited MZF1 and GATA-2, but not Sp1 and GATA-1, and stabilized their binding to the neighboring GTGGGGA and GATA sites to assemble a novel LTR enhancer complex, NF-Y/MZF1/GATA-2. In the LTR-HS5-epsilonp-GFP plasmid integrated into K562 cells, mutation of the CCAAT motif in the LTR enhancer to abolish NF-Y binding inactivated the enhancer, closed down the chromatin structure of the epsilon-globin promoter, and silenced transcription of the green fluorescent protein gene. The results indicated that NF-Y bound at the CCAAT motifs assembled a robust LTR enhancer complex, which could act over the intervening DNA to remodel the chromatin structure and to stimulate the transcription of the downstream gene locus.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiuping Yu
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA
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Ling J, Ainol L, Zhang L, Yu X, Pi W, Tuan D. HS2 enhancer function is blocked by a transcriptional terminator inserted between the enhancer and the promoter. J Biol Chem 2004; 279:51704-13. [PMID: 15465832 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m404039200] [Citation(s) in RCA: 62] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The HS2 enhancer in the beta-globin locus control region regulates transcription of the globin genes 10-50 kb away. How the HS2 enhancer acts over this distance is not clearly understood. Earlier studies show that in erythroid cells the HS2 enhancer initiates synthesis of intergenic RNAs from sites within and downstream of the enhancer, and the enhancer-initiated RNAs are transcribed through the intervening DNA into the cis-linked promoter and gene. To investigate the functional significance of the enhancer-initiated transcription, here we inserted the lac operator sequence in the intervening DNA between the HS2 enhancer and the epsilon-globin promoter in reporter plasmids and integrated the plasmids into erythroid K562 cells expressing the lac repressor protein. We found that the interposed lac operator/repressor complex blocked the elongation of enhancer-initiated transcription through the intervening DNA and drastically reduced HS2 enhancer function as measured by the level of mRNA synthesized from the epsilon-globin promoter. The results indicate that the tracking and transcription mechanism of the HS2 enhancer-assembled transcriptional machinery from the enhancer through the intervening DNA into the cis-linked promoter can mediate enhancer-promoter interaction over a long distance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Ling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, Georgia 30912, USA
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Ling J, Zhang L, Jin H, Pi W, Kosteas T, Anagnou NP, Goodman M, Tuan D. Dynamic retrotransposition of ERV-9 LTR and L1 in the beta-globin gene locus during primate evolution. Mol Phylogenet Evol 2004; 30:867-71. [PMID: 15012967 DOI: 10.1016/j.ympev.2003.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2003] [Revised: 09/23/2003] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Ling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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Pi W, Yang Z, Wang J, Ruan L, Yu X, Ling J, Krantz S, Isales C, Conway SJ, Lin S, Tuan D. The LTR enhancer of ERV-9 human endogenous retrovirus is active in oocytes and progenitor cells in transgenic zebrafish and humans. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2004; 101:805-10. [PMID: 14718667 PMCID: PMC321762 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0307698100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/03/2003] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The solitary LTRs of ERV-9 human endogenous retrovirus are middle repetitive DNAs associated with 3,000-4,000 human gene loci including the beta-globin gene locus where the ERV-9 LTR is juxtaposed to the locus control region (beta-LCR) far upstream of the globin genes. The ERV-9 LTRs are conserved during primate evolution, but their function in the primate genomes is unknown. Here, we show that in transgenic zebrafish harboring the beta-globin ERV-9 LTR coupled to the GFP gene, the LTR enhancer was active and initiated synthesis of GFP mRNA in oocytes but not in spermatozoa, and GFP expression in the embryos was maternally inherited. The LTR enhancer was active also in stem/progenitor cell regions of adult tissues of transgenic zebrafish. In human tissues, ERV-9 LTR enhancer was active also in oocytes and stem/progenitor cells but not in spermatozoa and a number of differentiated, adult somatic cells. Transcriptional analyses of the human beta-globin gene locus showed that the beta-globin ERV-9 LTR enhancer initiated RNA synthesis from the LTR in the direction of the downstream beta locus control region and globin genes in ovary and erythroid progenitor cells. The findings suggest that, during oogenesis, ERV-9 LTR enhancers in the human genome could activate the cis-linked gene loci to synthesize maternal mRNAs required for early embryogenesis. Alternatively, the ERV-9 LTR enhancers, in initiating RNA syntheses into the downstream genomic DNAs, could transcriptionally potentiate and preset chromatin structure of the cis-linked gene loci in oocytes and adult stem/progenitor cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenhu Pi
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and Institute of Molecular Medicine and Genetics, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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Ling J, Pi W, Yu X, Bengra C, Long Q, Jin H, Seyfang A, Tuan D. The ERV-9 LTR enhancer is not blocked by the HS5 insulator and synthesizes through the HS5 site non-coding, long RNAs that regulate LTR enhancer function. Nucleic Acids Res 2003; 31:4582-96. [PMID: 12888519 PMCID: PMC169934 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkg646] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/15/2022] Open
Abstract
A solitary long terminal repeat (LTR) of ERV-9 human endogenous retrovirus is located upstream of the HS5 site in the human beta-globin locus control region and possesses unique enhancer activity in erythroid K562 cells. In cells transfected with plasmid LTR-HS5-epsilonp-GFP, the LTR enhancer activates the GFP reporter gene and is not blocked by the interposed HS5 site, which has been reported to have insulator function. The LTR enhancer initiates synthesis of long RNAs from the LTR promoter through the intervening HS5 site into the epsilon-globin promoter and the GFP gene. Synthesis of the sense, long LTR RNAs is correlated with high level synthesis of GFP mRNA from the epsilon-globin promoter. Mutations of the LTR promoter and/or the epsilon-globin promoter show that (i) the LTR enhancer can autonomously initiate synthesis of LTR RNAs independent of the promoters and (ii) the LTR RNAs are not processed into GFP mRNA or translated into GFP. However, reversing the orientation of the LTR in plasmid (LTR)rev-HS5-epsilonp-GFP, thus reversing the direction of synthesis of LTR RNAs in the antisense direction away from the epsilon-globin promoter and GFP gene drastically reduces the level of GFP mRNA and thus LTR enhancer function. The results suggest that the LTR-assembled transcription machinery in synthesizing non-coding, LTR RNAs can reach the downstream epsilon-globin promoter to activate transcription of the GFP gene.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Ling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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Ling J, Pi W, Bollag R, Zeng S, Keskintepe M, Saliman H, Krantz S, Whitney B, Tuan D. The solitary long terminal repeats of ERV-9 endogenous retrovirus are conserved during primate evolution and possess enhancer activities in embryonic and hematopoietic cells. J Virol 2002; 76:2410-23. [PMID: 11836419 PMCID: PMC153808 DOI: 10.1128/jvi.76.5.2410-2423.2002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
The solitary long terminal repeats (LTRs) of ERV-9 endogenous retrovirus contain the U3, R, and U5 regions but no internal viral genes. They are middle repetitive DNAs present at 2,000 to 4,000 copies in primate genomes. Sequence analyses of the 5" boundary area of the erythroid beta-globin locus control region (beta-LCR) and the intron of the embryonic axin gene show that a solitary ERV-9 LTR has been stably integrated in the respective loci for at least 15 million years in the higher primates from orangutan to human. Functional studies utilizing the green fluorescent protein (GFP) gene as the reporter in transfection experiments show that the U3 region of the LTRs possesses strong enhancer activity in embryonic cells of widely different tissue origins and in adult cells of blood lineages. In both the genomic LTRs of embryonic placental cells and erythroid K562 cells and transfected LTRs of recombinant GFP plasmids in K562 cells, the U3 enhancer activates synthesis of RNAs that are initiated from a specific site 25 bases downstream of the AATAAA (TATA) motif in the U3 promoter. A second AATAAA motif in the R region does not serve as the TATA box or as the polyadenylation signal. The LTR-initiated RNAs extend through the R and U5 regions into the downstream genomic DNA. The results suggest that the ERV-9 LTR-initiated transcription process may modulate transcription of the associated gene loci in embryonic and hematopoietic cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianhua Ling
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, School of Medicine, Medical College of Georgia, Augusta, GA 30912, USA
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Migliaccio AR, Bengra C, Ling J, Pi W, Li C, Zeng S, Keskintepe M, Whitney B, Sanchez M, Migliaccio G, Tuan D. Stable and unstable transgene integration sites in the human genome: extinction of the Green Fluorescent Protein transgene in K562 cells. Gene 2000; 256:197-214. [PMID: 11054549 DOI: 10.1016/s0378-1119(00)00353-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
In gene transfer experiments including gene therapy studies, expression of the integrated transgenes in host cells often declines with time. The molecular basis of this phenomenon is not clearly understood. We have used the Green Fluorescent Protein (GFP) gene as both a selectable marker and a reporter to study long-term transgene integration and expression in K562 cells. Cells transfected with plasmids containing the GFP gene coupled to the HS2 or HS3 enhancer of the human beta-globin Locus Control Region (LCR) or the cytomegalovirus (CMV) enhancer were sorted by either fluorescence-activated-cell-sorting (FACS) alone or FACS combined with drug selection based on a co-integrated drug resistance gene. The two groups of selected cells were subsequently cultured for long periods up to 250 cell generations. Comparison of long-term GFP transgene integration and expression in these two groups of cells revealed that the K562 genome contains two types of transgene integration sites: i) abundant unstable sites that permit transcription but not long-term integration of the transgenes and thus eliminate the transgenes in 60-250 cell generations and ii) rare stable sites that permit both efficient transcription and long-term stable integration of the transgenes for at least 200 cell generations. Our results indicate that extinction of GFP expression with time is due at least in part to elimination of the gene from the host genome and not entirely to transcriptional silencing of the gene. However, long-term, stable expression of the transgene can be achieved in cells containing the transgene integrated into the rare, stable host sites.
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Affiliation(s)
- A R Migliaccio
- Laboratorio di Biologia Cellulare, Instituto Superiore di Sanita, Rome, Italy
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