Generation of onco-enhancer enhances chromosomal remodeling and accelerates tumorigenesis

Abstract Chromatin remodeling impacts the structural neighborhoods and regulates gene expression. However, the role of enhancer-guided chromatin remodeling in the gene regulation remains unclear. Here, using RNA-seq and ChIP-seq, we identified for the first time that neurotensin (NTS) serves as a key oncogene in uveal melanoma and that CTCF interacts with the upstream enhancer of NTS and orchestrates an 800 kb chromosomal loop between the promoter and enhancer. Intriguingly, this novel CTCF-guided chromatin loop was ubiquitous in a cohort of tumor patients. In addition, a disruption in this chromosomal interaction prevented the histone acetyltransferase EP300 from embedding in the promoter of NTS and resulted in NTS silencing. Most importantly, in vitro and in vivo experiments showed that the ability of tumor formation was significantly suppressed via deletion of the enhancer by CRISPR-Cas9. These studies delineate a novel onco-enhancer guided epigenetic mechanism and provide a promising therapeutic concept for disease therapy.

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Nuclear Ssr4 Is Required for the In Vitro and In Vivo Asexual Cycles and Global Gene Activity of Beauveria bassiana

mSystems ◽

10.1128/msystems.00677-19 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 (2) ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Wei Shao ◽

Qing Cai ◽

Sen-Miao Tong ◽

Sheng-Hua Ying ◽

Ming-Guang Feng

Keyword(s):

Chromatin Remodeling ◽

Inorganic Ions ◽

Global Gene Expression ◽

Gene Activity ◽

Fungal Genome ◽

Cellular Events ◽

First Time

Ssr4 is known to serve as a cosubunit of chromatin-remodeling SWI/SNF and RSC complexes in yeasts but has not been functionally characterized in fungi. This study unveils for the first time the pleiotropic effects caused by deletion of ssr4 and its role in mediating global gene expression in a fungal insect pathogen. Our findings confirm an essential role of Ssr4 in hydrophobin biosynthesis and assembly required for growth, differentiation, and development of aerial hyphae for conidiation and conidial adhesion to insect surface and its essentiality for insect pathogenicity and virulence-related cellular events. Importantly, Ssr4 can regulate nearly one-fourth of all genes in the fungal genome in direct and indirect manners, including dozens involved in gene activity and hundreds involved in metabolism and/or transport of carbohydrates, amino acids, lipids, and/or inorganic ions. These findings highlight a significance of Ssr4 for filamentous fungal lifestyle.

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Cathepsin L plays a key role in SARS-CoV-2 infection in humans and humanized mice and is a promising target for new drug development

Signal Transduction and Targeted Therapy ◽

10.1038/s41392-021-00558-8 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 6 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Miao-Miao Zhao ◽

Wei-Li Yang ◽

Fang-Yuan Yang ◽

Li Zhang ◽

Wei-Jin Huang ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Drug Development ◽

Cathepsin L ◽

Human Cells ◽

New Drugs ◽

Disease Course ◽

Promising Target ◽

First Time

AbstractTo discover new drugs to combat COVID-19, an understanding of the molecular basis of SARS-CoV-2 infection is urgently needed. Here, for the first time, we report the crucial role of cathepsin L (CTSL) in patients with COVID-19. The circulating level of CTSL was elevated after SARS-CoV-2 infection and was positively correlated with disease course and severity. Correspondingly, SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection increased CTSL expression in human cells in vitro and human ACE2 transgenic mice in vivo, while CTSL overexpression, in turn, enhanced pseudovirus infection in human cells. CTSL functionally cleaved the SARS-CoV-2 spike protein and enhanced virus entry, as evidenced by CTSL overexpression and knockdown in vitro and application of CTSL inhibitor drugs in vivo. Furthermore, amantadine, a licensed anti-influenza drug, significantly inhibited CTSL activity after SARS-CoV-2 pseudovirus infection and prevented infection both in vitro and in vivo. Therefore, CTSL is a promising target for new anti-COVID-19 drug development.

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Secreted KIAA1199 promotes the progression of rheumatoid arthritis by mediating hyaluronic acid degradation in an ANXA1-dependent manner

Cell Death and Disease ◽

10.1038/s41419-021-03393-5 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Wei Zhang ◽

Guoyu Yin ◽

Heping Zhao ◽

Hanzhi Ling ◽

Zhen Xie ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽

Hyaluronic Acid ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Collagen Induced Arthritis ◽

Intracellular Degradation ◽

Main Pathway ◽

First Time

AbstractIn inflamed joints, enhanced hyaluronic acid (HA) degradation is closely related to the pathogenesis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA). KIAA1199 has been identified as a hyaladherin that mediates the intracellular degradation of HA, but its extracellular function remains unclear. In this study, we found that the serum and synovial levels of secreted KIAA1199 (sKIAA1199) and low-molecular-weight HA (LMW-HA, MW < 100 kDa) in RA patients were significantly increased, and the positive correlation between them was shown for the first time. Of note, treatment with anti-KIAA1199 mAb effectively alleviated the severity of arthritis and reduced serum LMW-HA levels and cytokine secretion in collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) mice. In vitro, sKIAA1199 was shown to mediate exogenous HA degradation by attaching to the cell membrane of RA fibroblast-like synoviosytes (RA FLS). Furthermore, the HA-degrading activity of sKIAA1199 depended largely on its adhesion to the membrane, which was achieved by its G8 domain binding to ANXA1. In vivo, kiaa1199-KO mice exhibited greater resistance to collagen-induced arthritis. Interestingly, this resistance could be partially reversed by intra-articular injection of vectors encoding full-length KIAA1199 instead of G8-deleted KIAA119 mutant, which further confirmed the indispensable role of G8 domain in KIAA1199 involvement in RA pathological processes. Mechanically, the activation of NF-κB by interleukin-6 (IL-6) through PI3K/Akt signaling is suggested to be the main pathway to induce KIAA1199 expression in RA FLS. In conclusion, our study supported the contribution of sKIAA1199 to RA pathogenesis, providing a new therapeutic target for RA by blocking sKIAA1199-mediated HA degradation.

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Arginase Activity in Eisenia andrei Coelomocytes: Function in the Earthworm Innate Response

International Journal of Molecular Sciences ◽

10.3390/ijms22073687 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 22 (7) ◽

pp. 3687

Author(s):

Joanna Homa ◽

Alina Klosowska ◽

Magdalena Chadzinska

Keyword(s):

Immune Response ◽

Wound Healing ◽

Arginase Activity ◽

Eisenia Andrei ◽

Heavy Metals Ions ◽

First Time ◽

Important Marker

Arginase is the manganese metalloenzyme catalyzing the conversion of l-arginine to l-ornithine and urea. In vertebrates, arginase is involved in the immune response, tissue regeneration, and wound healing and is an important marker of alternative anti-inflammatory polarization of macrophages. In invertebrates, data concerning the role of arginase in these processes are very limited. Therefore, in the present study, we focused on the changes in arginase activity in the coelomocytes of Eisenia andrei. We studied the effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS), hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), heavy metals ions (e.g., Mn2+), parasite infection, wound healing, and short-term fasting (5 days) on arginase activity. For the first time in earthworms, we described arginase activity in the coelomocytes and found that it can be up-regulated upon in vitro stimulation with LPS and H2O2 and in the presence of Mn2+ ions. Moreover, arginase activity was also up-regulated in animals in vivo infected with nematodes or experiencing segment amputation, but not in fasting earthworms. Furthermore, we confirmed that the activity of coelomocyte arginase can be suppressed by l-norvaline. Our studies strongly suggest that similarly to the vertebrates, also in the earthworms, coelomocyte arginase is an important element of the immune response and wound healing processes.

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The Extracellular Small Leucine-Rich Proteoglycan Biglycan Is a Key Player in Gastric Cancer Aggressiveness

Cancers ◽

10.3390/cancers13061330 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 13 (6) ◽

pp. 1330

Author(s):

Filipe Pinto ◽

Liliana Santos-Ferreira ◽

Marta T. Pinto ◽

Catarina Gomes ◽

Celso A. Reis

Keyword(s):

Clinical Value ◽

Knock Out ◽

Angiogenic Potential ◽

In Vivo Experiments ◽

Cancer Aggressiveness ◽

Advanced Stages ◽

Oncogenic Gene

Biglycan (BGN gene), an extracellular proteoglycan, has been described to be associated with cancer aggressiveness. The purpose of this study was to clarify the clinical value of biglycan as a biomarker in multiple independent GC cohorts and determine the in vitro and in vivo role of biglycan in GC malignant features. We found that BGN is commonly over-expressed in all analyzed cohorts, being associated with disease relapse and poor prognosis in patients with advanced stages of disease. In vitro and in vivo experiments demonstrated that biglycan knock-out GC cells display major phenotypic changes with a lower cell survival, migration, and angiogenic potential when compared with biglycan expressing cells. Biglycan KO GC cells present increased levels of PARP1 and caspase-3 cleavage and a decreased expression of mesenchymal markers. Importantly, biglycan deficient GC cells that were supplemented with exogenous biglycan were able to restore biological features, such as survival, clonogenic and migratory capacities. Our in vitro and in vivo findings were validated in human GC samples, where BGN expression was associated with several oncogenic gene signatures that were associated with apoptosis, cell migration, invasion, and angiogenesis. This study provided new insights on biglycan role in GC that should be taken in consideration as a key cellular regulator with major impact in tumor progression and patients’ clinical outcome.

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Paradoxical effect of salbutamol in a model of acute organophosphates intoxication in guinea pigs: role of substance P release

AJP Lung Cellular and Molecular Physiology ◽

10.1152/ajplung.00253.2005 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 292 (4) ◽

pp. L915-L923 ◽

Cited By ~ 10

Author(s):

Jaime Chávez ◽

Patricia Segura ◽

Mario H. Vargas ◽

José Luis Arreola ◽

Edgar Flores-Soto ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Substance P ◽

Guinea Pigs ◽

Smooth Muscle Contraction ◽

In Vivo Experiments ◽

Intracellular Ca ◽

Neurokinin 1 ◽

Substance P Release

Organophosphates induce bronchoobstruction in guinea pigs, and salbutamol only transiently reverses this effect, suggesting that it triggers additional obstructive mechanisms. To further explore this phenomenon, in vivo (barometric plethysmography) and in vitro (organ baths, including ACh and substance P concentration measurement by HPLC and immunoassay, respectively; intracellular Ca2+ measurement in single myocytes) experiments were performed. In in vivo experiments, parathion caused a progressive bronchoobstruction until a plateau was reached. Administration of salbutamol during this plateau decreased bronchoobstruction up to 22% in the first 5 min, but thereafter airway obstruction rose again as to reach the same intensity as before salbutamol. Aminophylline caused a sustained decrement (71%) of the parathion-induced bronchoobstruction. In in vitro studies, paraoxon produced a sustained contraction of tracheal rings, which was fully blocked by atropine but not by TTX, ω-conotoxin (CTX), or epithelium removal. During the paraoxon-induced contraction, salbutamol caused a temporary relaxation of ∼50%, followed by a partial recontraction. This paradoxical recontraction was avoided by the M2- or neurokinin-1 (NK1)-receptor antagonists (methoctramine or AF-DX 116, and L-732138, respectively), accompanied by a long-lasting relaxation. Forskolin caused full relaxation of the paraoxon response. Substance P and, to a lesser extent, ACh released from tracheal rings during 60-min incubation with paraoxon or physostigmine, respectively, were significantly increased when salbutamol was administered in the second half of this period. In myocytes, paraoxon did not produce any change in the intracellular Ca2+ basal levels. Our results suggested that: 1) organophosphates caused smooth muscle contraction by accumulation of ACh released through a TTX- and CTX-resistant mechanism; 2) during such contraction, salbutamol relaxation is functionally antagonized by the stimulation of M2 receptors; and 3) after this transient salbutamol-induced relaxation, a paradoxical contraction ensues due to the subsequent release of substance P.

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Fitness of Isolates of Phytophthora capsici Resistant to Mefenoxam from Squash and Pepper Fields in North Carolina

Plant Disease ◽

10.1094/pdis-92-10-1439 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 92 (10) ◽

pp. 1439-1443 ◽

Cited By ~ 24

Author(s):

Adalberto C. Café-Filho ◽

Jean Beagle Ristaino

Keyword(s):

North Carolina ◽

Phytophthora Capsici ◽

Colony Growth ◽

Relative Fitness ◽

In Planta ◽

Phytophthora Blight ◽

In Vivo Experiments ◽

First Time

Despite the wide adoption of mefenoxam (Ridomil Gold EC) for vegetables in North Carolina, the incidence of Phytophthora blight on pepper (Capsicum annuum) and squash (Cucurbita pepo) is high. Seventy-five isolates of Phytophthora capsici were collected in five pepper and one squash field in order to assess mefenoxam sensitivity. The relative fitness of resistant and sensitive isolates was contrasted in vitro by their respective rates of colony growth and their ability to produce sporangia in unamended V8 juice agar medium. In in vivo experiments, the aggressiveness of isolates on pepper was evaluated. The frequency of resistant isolates in North Carolina populations was 63%, considerably higher than resistance levels in areas where mefenoxam is not widely adopted. Resistant isolates grew on amended media at rates >80 to 90% and >100% of the nonamended control at 100 μg ml-1 and 5 μg ml-1, respectively. Sensitive isolates did not growth at 5 or 100 μg ml-1. All isolates from three fields, including two pepper and a squash field, were resistant to mefenoxam. Populations from other fields were composed of either mixes of sensitive and resistant isolates or only sensitive isolates. Response to mefenoxam remained stable during the course of in vitro and in planta experiments. Occurrence of a mefenoxam-resistant population of P. capsici on squash is reported here for the first time in North Carolina. When measured by rate of colony growth, sporulation in vitro, or aggressiveness in planta, fitness of resistant isolates was not reduced. Mefenoxam-resistant isolates from squash were as aggressive on pepper as sensitive or resistant pepper isolates. These results suggest that mefenoxam-resistant populations of P. capsici are as virulent and fit as sensitive populations.

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Abstract P283: Parkin Mediates Mitophagy in Cardioprotection

Circulation Research ◽

10.1161/res.109.suppl_1.ap283 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 109 (suppl_1) ◽

Author(s):

Allen M Andres ◽

Chengqun Huang ◽

Eric P Ratliff ◽

Genaro Hernandez ◽

Pamela Lee ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Ex Vivo ◽

Wild Type ◽

Simulated Ischemia ◽

Selective Targeting ◽

Cardioprotective Effects ◽

Mitochondrial Turnover ◽

First Time

Autophagy-dependent mitochondrial turnover in response to cellular stress is necessary for maintaining cellular homeostasis. However, the mechanisms that govern the selective targeting of damaged mitochondria are poorly understood. Parkin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, has been shown to be essential for the selective clearance of damaged mitochondria. Parkin is expressed in the heart, yet its function has not been investigated in the context of cardioprotection. We previously reported that autophagy is required for cardioprotection by ischemic preconditioning (IPC). In the present study, we used simulated ischemia in vitro and IPC in hearts (in vivo and ex vivo) to investigate the role of Parkin in mediating cardioprotection. In HL-1 cells, simulated ischemia induced Parkin translocation to mitochondria and mitochondrial elimination. Mitochondrial loss was blunted in Atg5-deficient cells, revealing the requirement for autophagy in mitochondrial elimination. Consistent with previous reports implicating p62/SQSTM1 in mitophagy, we found that downregulation of p62 attenuated mitophagy and exacerbated cell death in HL-1 cardiomyocytes subjected to simulated ischemia. While wild type mice showed p62 translocation to mitochondria after IPC, Parkin knockout mice exhibited attenuated translocation of p62 to mitochondria. Importantly, ablation of Parkin in mice abolished the cardioprotective effects of IPC. These results reveal for the first time the crucial role of Parkin and mitophagy in cardioprotection.

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A role for the EphA family in the topographic targeting of vomeronasal axons

Development ◽

10.1242/dev.128.6.895 ◽

2001 ◽

Vol 128 (6) ◽

pp. 895-906

Author(s):

B. Knoll ◽

K. Zarbalis ◽

W. Wurst ◽

U. Drescher

Keyword(s):

Tyrosine Kinases ◽

Expression Patterns ◽

Eph Receptors ◽

Accessory Olfactory Bulb ◽

In Vivo Experiments ◽

Receptor Concentration ◽

High Ligand

We have investigated the role of the Eph family of receptor tyrosine kinases and their ligands in the establishment of the vomeronasal projection in the mouse. Our data show intriguing differential expression patterns of ephrin-A5 on vomeronasal axons and of EphA6 in the accessory olfactory bulb (AOB), such that axons with high ligand concentration project onto regions of the AOB with high receptor concentration and vice versa. These data suggest a mechanism for development of this projection that is the opposite of the repellent interaction between Eph receptors and ligands observed in other systems. In support of this idea, when given the choice of whether to grow on lanes containing EphA-F(c)/laminin or F(c)/laminin protein (in the stripe assay), vomeronasal axons prefer to grow on EphA-F(c)/laminin. Analysis of ephrin-A5 mutant mice revealed a disturbance of the topographic targeting of vomeronasal axons to the AOB. In summary, these data, which are derived from in vitro and in vivo experiments, indicate an important role of the EphA family in setting up the vomeronasal projection.

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Binding of 63Ni(II) to Ultrafiltrable Constituents of Rabbit Serum In Vivo and In Vitro

Clinical Chemistry ◽

10.1093/clinchem/21.4.521 ◽

1975 ◽

Vol 21 (4) ◽

pp. 521-527 ◽

Cited By ~ 16

Author(s):

Noritake Asato ◽

Maria van Soestbergen ◽

F William Sunderman

Keyword(s):

Rabbit Serum ◽

Total Serum ◽

In Vivo Experiments ◽

The Mean ◽

Layer Chromatography ◽

In Vivo Administration ◽

Mean Concentration

Abstract Binding of 63Ni(Il) to ultrafiltrable constituents of rabbit serum was studied (a) after in vitro incubation (2 h, 37 °C) of rabbit serum with 63NiCl2 (10-100 µmol/liter), and (b) at intervals (0.25-2 h) after in vivo administration of 63NiCl2 (40-160 µmol/kg body wt, i.v.). Serum ultrafiltrates were fractionated by thin-layer chromatography, and the separated compounds made visible by autoradiography and by ninhydrin staining. Several (≃5) ultrafiltrable 63Ni-complexes were demonstrable as distinct radiodense 63Ni-bands with chromatographic mobilities corresponding to those of ninhydrin-positive bands. Unbound 63Ni(II) was not detected in serum ultrafiltrates in either the in vitro or in vivo experiments. In sera (n = 10) incubated in vitro with 63Ni(II) (10 µmol/ liter), the mean percentage of ultrafiltrable 63Ni was 36% (range = 33-38) of total serum 63Ni. In contrast, in sera (n = 10) obtained 2 h after i.v. injection of 63Ni(II) (40 µmol/kg), the mean concentration of total serum 63Ni was 10.8 µmol/liter (range = 6-14), and the mean percentage of ultrafiltrable 63Ni was 15% (range = 9-21) of total serum 63Ni. The disparity between the percentages of ultrafiltrable 63Ni obtained in vitro and in vivo was obviated when the in vivo experiments were performed in rabbits bilaterally nephrectomized, with ligated common bile ducts. This investigation confirms the existence of several nickel receptors in serum ultrafiltrates and substantiates the role of ultrafiltrable complexes in the excretion of nickel.

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