scholarly journals ATG5 and ATG7 Expression Levels Are Reduced in Cutaneous Melanoma and Regulated by NRF1

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 ◽  
Author(s):  
Živa Frangež ◽  
Deborah Gérard ◽  
Zhaoyue He ◽  
Marios Gavriil ◽  
Yuniel Fernández-Marrero ◽  
...  

Autophagy is a highly conserved cellular process in which intracellular proteins and organelles are sequestered and degraded after the fusion of double-membrane vesicles known as autophagosomes with lysosomes. The process of autophagy is dependent on autophagy-related (ATG) proteins. The role of autophagy in cancer is very complex and still elusive. We investigated the expression of ATG proteins in benign nevi, primary and metastatic melanoma tissues using customized tissue microarrays (TMA). Results from immunohistochemistry show that the expression of ATG5 and ATG7 is significantly reduced in melanoma tissues compared to benign nevi. This reduction correlated with changes in the expression of autophagic activity markers, suggesting decreased basal levels of autophagy in primary and metastatic melanomas. Furthermore, the analysis of survival data of melanoma patients revealed an association between reduced ATG5 and ATG7 levels with an unfavourable clinical outcome. Currently, the mechanisms regulating ATG expression levels in human melanoma remains unknown. Using bioinformatic predictions of transcription factor (TF) binding motifs in accessible chromatin of primary melanocytes, we identified new TFs involved in the regulation of core ATGs. We then show that nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) stimulates the production of mRNA and protein as well as the promoter activity of ATG5 and ATG7. Moreover, NRF1 deficiency increased in vitro migration of melanoma cells. Our results support the concept that reduced autophagic activity contributes to melanoma development and progression, and identifies NRF1 as a novel TF involved in the regulation of both ATG5 and ATG7 genes.

2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (11) ◽  
pp. 3738-3749 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ulf Andersson ◽  
Richard C. Scarpulla

ABSTRACT The thermogenic peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPAR-γ) coactivator 1 (PGC-1) has previously been shown to activate mitochondrial biogenesis in part through a direct interaction with nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1). In order to identify related coactivators that act through NRF-1, we searched the databases for sequences with similarities to PGC-1. Here, we describe the first characterization of a 177-kDa transcriptional coactivator, designated PGC-1-related coactivator (PRC). PRC is ubiquitously expressed in murine and human tissues and cell lines; but unlike PGC-1, PRC was not dramatically up-regulated during thermogenesis in brown fat. However, its expression was down-regulated in quiescent BALB/3T3 cells and was rapidly induced by reintroduction of serum, conditions where PGC-1 was not detected. PRC activated NRF-1-dependent promoters in a manner similar to that observed for PGC-1. Moreover, NRF-1 was immunoprecipitated from cell extracts by antibodies directed against PRC, and both proteins were colocalized to the nucleoplasm by confocal laser scanning microscopy. PRC interacts in vitro with the NRF-1 DNA binding domain through two distinct recognition motifs that are separated by an unstructured proline-rich region. PRC also contains a potent transcriptional activation domain in its amino terminus adjacent to an LXXLL motif. The spatial arrangement of these functional domains coincides with those found in PGC-1, supporting the conclusion that PRC and PGC-1 are structurally and functionally related. We conclude that PRC is a functional relative of PGC-1 that operates through NRF-1 and possibly other activators in response to proliferative signals.


2001 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 644-654 ◽  
Author(s):  
Lei Huo ◽  
Richard C. Scarpulla

ABSTRACT In vitro studies have implicated nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF-1) in the transcriptional expression of nuclear genes required for mitochondrial respiratory function, as well as for other fundamental cellular activities. We investigated here the in vivo function of NRF-1 in mammals by disrupting the gene in mice. A portion of the NRF-1 gene that encodes the nuclear localization signal and the DNA-binding and dimerization domains was replaced through homologous recombination by a β-galactosidase–neomycin cassette. In the mutant allele, β-galactosidase expression is under the control of the NRF-1 promoter. Embryos homozygous for NRF-1 disruption die between embryonic days 3.5 and 6.5. β-Galactosidase staining was observed in growing oocytes and in 2.5- and 3.5-day-old embryos, demonstrating that the NRF-1 gene is expressed during oogenesis and during early stages of embryogenesis. Moreover, the embryonic expression of NRF-1 did not result from maternal carryover. While most isolated wild-type and NRF-1+/− blastocysts can develop further in vitro, the NRF-1−/− blastocysts lack this ability despite their normal morphology. Interestingly, a fraction of the blastocysts from heterozygous matings had reduced staining intensity with rhodamine 123 and NRF-1−/− blastocysts had markedly reduced levels of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). The depletion of mtDNA did not coincide with nuclear DNA fragmentation, indicating that mtDNA loss was not associated with increased apoptosis. These results are consistent with a specific requirement for NRF-1 in the maintenance of mtDNA and respiratory chain function during early embryogenesis.


2019 ◽  
Vol 218 (9) ◽  
pp. 2896-2918 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nathan Palmer ◽  
S. Zakiah A. Talib ◽  
Chandrahas Koumar Ratnacaram ◽  
Diana Low ◽  
Xavier Bisteau ◽  
...  

Meiosis generates four genetically distinct haploid gametes over the course of two reductional cell divisions. Meiotic divisions are characterized by the coordinated deposition and removal of various epigenetic marks. Here we propose that nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) regulates transcription of euchromatic histone methyltransferase 1 (EHMT1) to ensure normal patterns of H3K9 methylation during meiotic prophase I. We demonstrate that cyclin-dependent kinase (CDK2) can bind to the promoters of a number of genes in male germ cells including that of Ehmt1 through interaction with the NRF1 transcription factor. Our data indicate that CDK2-mediated phosphorylation of NRF1 can occur at two distinct serine residues and negatively regulates NRF1 DNA binding activity in vitro. Furthermore, induced deletion of Cdk2 in spermatocytes results in increased expression of many NRF1 target genes including Ehmt1. We hypothesize that the regulation of NRF1 transcriptional activity by CDK2 may allow the modulation of Ehmt1 expression, therefore controlling the dynamic methylation of H3K9 during meiotic prophase.


2021 ◽  
Vol 10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chao Liang ◽  
Xijiao Yu ◽  
Naping Xiong ◽  
Zhichang Zhang ◽  
Zhenyu Sun ◽  
...  

Despite advances in neoadjuvant chemotherapy, outcomes for patients with osteosarcoma resistant to first-line chemotherapy have been dismal for decades. There is thus an urgent need to develop novel targeted drugs to effectively treat refractory osteosarcoma. Dysregulation in the PI3K/AKT pathway has been observed during the development of osteosarcoma. Herein, we first evaluated p-AKT (Ser473) expression levels in osteosarcoma tissue using high-throughput tissue microarrays. Then, we demonstrated the role of pictilisib, a novel potent PI3K inhibitor, in osteosarcoma and related osteolysis. Functional studies of pictilisib in osteosarcoma cell lines and bone marrow-derived macrophages were performed in vitro. Patient-derived xenografts and orthotopic mouse models were used to assess the effects of pictilisib in vivo. The results showed that positive p-AKT expression levels after neoadjuvant chemotherapy were significantly associated with tumor cell necrosis rate. Pictilisib effectively inhibited the proliferation of osteosarcoma through G0/G1-S phase cell cycle arrest, and enhanced the sensitivity of osteosarcoma to doxorubicin, although it failed to induce cell apoptosis alone. In addition, pictilisib inhibited differentiation of osteoclasts and bone resorption in vitro and tumor-related osteolysis in vivo via inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/GSK3β and NF-κB pathways. Pictilisib combined with conventional chemotherapy drugs represents a potential treatment strategy to suppress tumor growth and bone destruction in p-AKT-positive patients.


Biomolecules ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 52
Author(s):  
Agnieszka Pinkowska ◽  
Katarzyna Nowinska ◽  
Urszula Ciesielska ◽  
Marzenna Podhorska-Okolow

Background: Current studies indicate irisin role in carcinogenesis. The aim of the study was to investigate the expression of irisin in LSCCs and to determine its association with clinicopathological factors, as well as recognized markers of proliferation, i.e., Ki-67 and MCM3,5,7 and MT-I/II proteins. Material and methods: The research material consisted of 140 cases of LSCCs, 57 cases of laryngeal papillomas (BLs) and 14 controls (benign hypertrophic changes). Tissue microarrays were used to perform IHC. Western blot and immunofluorescence were performed in laryngeal cancer cell lines and normal keratinocytes. Results: Irisin expression levels were significantly increased in LSCC compared to BLs (p < 0.0001) and controls (p = 0.001). We noted a positive moderate and weak correlation between irisin and Ki-67, MCM3 and MT-I/II. We observed an elevated level of irisin expression with increasing tumor size (T1–2 vs. T3–4; p = 0.0348). The levels of irisin were higher in N0 than in N1 and N2–3 (p = 0.0031 and p = 0.0457, respectively). Our in vitro study revealed a higher level of irisin in Larynx Epidermoid Carcinoma 2 (HEp-2) cells compared to the control Normal Human Keratinocyte (HaCat) cell line. Conclusions: Increased irisin expression levels in LSCC and its correlation with clinicopathological and proliferation factors may indicate the potential role of irisin as a biomarker in the diagnostic process of LSCC.


2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ken-ichi Takayama ◽  
Takeo Kosaka ◽  
Takashi Suzuki ◽  
Hiroshi Hongo ◽  
Mototsugu Oya ◽  
...  

AbstractInteractive networks of transcription factors (TFs) have critical roles in epigenetic and gene regulation for cancer progression. It is required to clarify underlying mechanisms for transcriptional activation through concerted efforts of TFs. Here, we show the essential role of disease phase-specific TF collaboration changes in advanced prostate cancer (PC). Investigation of the transcriptome in castration-resistant PC (CRPC) revealed OCT4 as a key TF in the disease pathology. OCT4 confers epigenetic changes by promoting complex formation with FOXA1 and androgen receptor (AR), the central signals for the progression to CRPC. Meanwhile, OCT4 facilitates a distinctive complex formation with nuclear respiratory factor 1 (NRF1) to gain chemo-resistance in the absence of AR. Mechanistically, we reveal that OCT4 increases large droplet formations with AR/FOXA1 as well as NRF1 in vitro. Disruption of TF collaborations using a nucleoside analogue, ribavirin, inhibited treatment-resistant PC tumor growth. Thus, our findings highlight the formation of TF collaborations as a potent therapeutic target in advanced cancer.


Nanomaterials ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (4) ◽  
pp. 931
Author(s):  
Mayra M. Ferrari Ferrari Barbosa ◽  
Alex Issamu Kanno ◽  
Leonardo Paiva Farias ◽  
Mariusz Madej ◽  
Gergö Sipos ◽  
...  

Innate immune cells such as monocytes and macrophages are activated in response to microbial and other challenges and mount an inflammatory defensive response. Exposed cells develop the so-called innate memory, which allows them to react differently to a subsequent challenge, aiming at better protection. In this study, using human primary monocytes in vitro, we have assessed the memory-inducing capacity of two antigenic molecules of Schistosoma mansoni in soluble form compared to the same molecules coupled to outer membrane vesicles of Neisseria lactamica. The results show that particulate challenges are much more efficient than soluble molecules in inducing innate memory, which is measured as the production of inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines (TNFα, IL-6, IL-10). Controls run with LPS from Klebsiella pneumoniae compared to the whole bacteria show that while LPS alone has strong memory-inducing capacity, the entire bacteria are more efficient. These data suggest that microbial antigens that are unable to induce innate immune activation can nevertheless participate in innate activation and memory when in a particulate form, which is a notion that supports the use of nanoparticulate antigens in vaccination strategies for achieving adjuvant-like effects of innate activation as well as priming for improved reactivity to future challenges.


Open Medicine ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (1) ◽  
pp. 672-688
Author(s):  
Yanbo Dong ◽  
Siyu Lu ◽  
Zhenxiao Wang ◽  
Liangfa Liu

AbstractThe chaperonin-containing T-complex protein 1 (CCT) subunits participate in diverse diseases. However, little is known about their expression and prognostic values in human head and neck squamous cancer (HNSC). This article aims to evaluate the effects of CCT subunits regarding their prognostic values for HNSC. We mined the transcriptional and survival data of CCTs in HNSC patients from online databases. A protein–protein interaction network was constructed and a functional enrichment analysis of target genes was performed. We observed that the mRNA expression levels of CCT1/2/3/4/5/6/7/8 were higher in HNSC tissues than in normal tissues. Survival analysis revealed that the high mRNA transcriptional levels of CCT3/4/5/6/7/8 were associated with a low overall survival. The expression levels of CCT4/7 were correlated with advanced tumor stage. And the overexpression of CCT4 was associated with higher N stage of patients. Validation of CCTs’ differential expression and prognostic values was achieved by the Human Protein Atlas and GEO datasets. Mechanistic exploration of CCT subunits by the functional enrichment analysis suggests that these genes may influence the HNSC prognosis by regulating PI3K-Akt and other pathways. This study implies that CCT3/4/6/7/8 are promising biomarkers for the prognosis of HNSC.


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