Project description:Most liver tumors arise on the basis of chronic liver diseases that trigger inflammatory responses. Besides inflammation, subsequent defects in the p53-signaling pathway frequently occurs in liver cancer. In this study, we analyzed the consequences of inflammation and p53 loss in liver carcinogenesis. We used inducible liver-specific transgenic mouse strains to analyze the consequences of NF-κB/p65 activation mimicking chronic inflammation and subsequent p53 loss. Ikk2ca driven NF-κB/p65 activation in mice results in liver fibrosis, the formation of ectopic lymphoid structures and carcinogenesis independent of p53 expression. Subsequent deletion of Trp53 led to an increased tumor formation, metastasis and a shift in tumor differentiation towards intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma. In addition, loss of Trp53 in an inflammatory liver resulted in elevated chromosomal instability and indicated a distinct aberration pattern. In conclusion, activation of NF-κB/p65 mimicking chronic inflammation provokes the formation of liver carcinoma. Collateral disruption of Trp53 supports tumor progression and influences tumor differentiation and heterogeneity.
Project description:Multiple sclerosis is an autoimmune disease of the central nervous system (CNS) mediated by CD4+ T cells and modeled via experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Inhibition of PRMT5, the major Type II arginine methyltransferase, suppresses pathogenic T cell responses and EAE. PRMT5 is transiently induced in proliferating memory inflammatory Th1 cells and during EAE. However, the mechanisms driving PRMT5 protein induction and repression as T cells expand and return to resting is currently unknown. Here, we used naive mouse and memory mouse and human Th1/Th2 cells as models to identify mechanisms controlling PRMT5 protein expression in initial and recall T cell activation. Initial activation of naive mouse T cells resulted in NF-κB-dependent transient Prmt5 transcription and NF-κB, mTOR and MYC-dependent PRMT5 protein induction. In murine memory Th cells, transcription and miRNA loss supported PRMT5 induction to a lesser extent than in naive T cells. In contrast, NF-κB/MYC/mTOR-dependent non-transcriptional PRMT5 induction played a major role. These results highlight the importance of the NF-κB/mTOR/MYC axis in PRMT5-driven pathogenic T cell expansion and may guide targeted therapeutic strategies for MS.
Project description:Scutellarein (SCU) is a well-known flavone with a broad range of biological activities against several cancers. Human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is major cancer type due to its poor prognosis even after treatment with chemotherapeutic drugs, which causes a variety of side effects in patients. Therefore, efforts have been made to develop effective biomarkers in the treatment of HCC in order to improve therapeutic outcomes using natural based agents. The current study used SCU as a treatment approach against HCC using the HepG2 cell line. Based on the cell viability assessment up to a 200 μM concentration of SCU, three low-toxic concentrations of (25, 50, and 100) μM were adopted for further investigation. SCU induced cell cycle arrest at the G2/M phase and inhibited cell migration and proliferation in HepG2 cells in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, increased PTEN expression by SCU led to the subsequent downregulation of PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling pathway related proteins. In addition, SCU regulated the metastasis with EMT and migration-related proteins in HepG2 cells. In summary, SCU inhibits cell proliferation and metastasis in HepG2 cells through PI3K/Akt/NF-κB signaling by upregulation of PTEN, suggesting that SCU might be used as a potential agent for HCC therapy.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human control and Néstor-Guillermo Progeria Syndrome (NGPS) fibroblasts and induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). Somatic cell reprogramming involves rejuvenation of adult cells and relies on the ability to erase age-associated molecular marks. Accordingly, reprogramming efficiency declines with ageing, and age-associated features such as genetic instability, cell senescence or telomere shortening negatively affect this process. However, the regulatory mechanisms that constitute age-associated barriers for cell reprogramming remain largely unknown. Here, by using cells from patients with premature ageing, we demonstrate that NF-κB activation is a critical barrier for the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in ageing. We show that NF-κB repression occurs during cell reprogramming towards a pluripotent state. Conversely, ageing-associated NF-κB hyperactivation impairs generation of iPSCs by eliciting reprogramming repressors DOT1L and YY1, reinforcing cell senescence signals and down-regulating pluripotency genes. We also show that genetic and pharmacological NF-κB inhibitory strategies significantly increase the reprogramming efficiency of fibroblasts from Néstor-Guillermo Progeria Syndrome (NGPS) and Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) patients, as well as from normal aged donors. Finally, we demonstrate that DOT1L inhibition in vivo ameliorates the accelerated ageing phenotype and extends lifespan in a progeroid animal model. Collectively, our results provide evidence for a novel role of NF-κB in the control of cell fate transitions and reinforce the interest of studying age-associated molecular impairments to implement cell reprogramming methodologies, and to identify new targets of rejuvenation strategies. Control and NGPS fibroblasts were reprogrammed. RNA was extracted and transcriptional profiling was obtained with GeneChip Human Exon 1.0 ST Arrays.
Project description:Transcriptional profiling of human control and Néstor-Guillermo Progeria Syndrome (NGPS) mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs). Somatic cell reprogramming involves rejuvenation of adult cells and relies on the ability to erase age-associated molecular marks. Accordingly, reprogramming efficiency declines with ageing, and age-associated features such as genetic instability, cell senescence or telomere shortening negatively affect this process. However, the regulatory mechanisms that constitute age-associated barriers for cell reprogramming remain largely unknown. Here, by using cells from patients with premature ageing, we demonstrate that NF-κB activation is a critical barrier for the generation of induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) in ageing. We show that NF-κB repression occurs during cell reprogramming towards a pluripotent state. Conversely, ageing-associated NF-κB hyperactivation impairs generation of iPSCs by eliciting reprogramming repressors DOT1L and YY1, reinforcing cell senescence signals and down-regulating pluripotency genes. We also show that genetic and pharmacological NF-κB inhibitory strategies significantly increase the reprogramming efficiency of fibroblasts from Néstor-Guillermo Progeria Syndrome (NGPS) and Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome (HGPS) patients, as well as from normal aged donors. Finally, we demonstrate that DOT1L inhibition in vivo ameliorates the accelerated ageing phenotype and extends lifespan in a progeroid animal model. Collectively, our results provide evidence for a novel role of NF-κB in the control of cell fate transitions and reinforce the interest of studying age-associated molecular impairments to implement cell reprogramming methodologies, and to identify new targets of rejuvenation strategies. Control and NGPS MSCs were differentiated into bone in the presence or absence of sodium salicylate. Total RNA was extracted and global gene expression was analyzed.
Project description:Elevations in plasma levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and C-reactive protein (CRP) in patient blood have been associated with impairments in cognitive abilities and more severe psychiatric symptoms in people with schizophrenia. The transcription factor nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) regulates the gene expression of pro-inflammatory factors whose protein products trigger CRP release. NF-κB activation pathway mRNAs are increased in the brain in schizophrenia and are strongly related to neuroinflammation. Thus, it is likely that this central immune regulator is also dysregulated in the blood and associated with cytokine and CRP levels. We measured levels of six pro-inflammatory cytokine mRNAs and 18 mRNAs encoding NF-κB pathway members in peripheral blood leukocytes from 87 people with schizophrenia and 83 healthy control subjects. We then assessed the relationships between the alterations in NF-κB pathway genes, pro-inflammatory cytokine and CRP levels, psychiatric symptoms and cognition in people with schizophrenia. IL-1β and IFN-γ mRNAs were increased in patients compared to controls (both p < 0.001), while IL-6, IL-8, IL-18, and TNF-α mRNAs did not differ. Recursive two-step cluster analysis revealed that high levels of IL-1β mRNA and high levels of plasma CRP defined 'high inflammation' individuals in our cohort, and a higher proportion of people with schizophrenia were identified as displaying 'high inflammation' compared to controls using this method (p = 0.03). Overall, leukocyte expression of the NF-κB-activating receptors, TLR4 and TNFR2, and the NF-κB subunit, RelB, was increased in people with schizophrenia compared to healthy control subjects (all p < 0.01), while NF-κB-inducing kinase mRNAs IKKβ and NIK were downregulated in patients (all p < 0.05). We found that elevations in TLR4 and RelB appear more related to inflammatory status than to a diagnosis of schizophrenia, but changes in TNFR2 occur in both the high and low inflammation patients (but were exaggerated in high inflammation patients). Further, decreased leukocyte expression of IKKβ and NIK mRNAs was unique to high inflammation patients, which may represent schizophrenia-specific dysregulation of NF-κB that gives rise to peripheral inflammation in a subset of patients.
Project description:Vaccinia virus protein A49 inhibits NF-κB activation by molecular mimicry and has a motif near the N terminus that is conserved in IκBα, β-catenin, HIV Vpu, and some other proteins. This motif contains two serines, and for IκBα and β-catenin, phosphorylation of these serines enables recognition by the E3 ubiquitin ligase β-TrCP. Binding of IκBα and β-catenin by β-TrCP causes their ubiquitylation and thereafter proteasome-mediated degradation. In contrast, HIV Vpu and VACV A49 are not degraded. This paper shows that A49 is phosphorylated at serine 7 but not serine 12 and that this is necessary and sufficient for binding β-TrCP and antagonism of NF-κB. Phosphorylation of A49 S7 occurs when NF-κB signaling is activated by addition of IL-1β or overexpression of TRAF6 or IKKβ, the kinase needed for IκBα phosphorylation. Thus, A49 shows beautiful biological regulation, for it becomes an NF-κB antagonist upon activation of NF-κB signaling. The virulence of viruses expressing mutant A49 proteins or lacking A49 (vΔA49) was tested. vΔA49 was attenuated compared with WT, but viruses expressing A49 that cannot bind β-TrCP or bind β-TrCP constitutively had intermediate virulence. So A49 promotes virulence by inhibiting NF-κB activation and by another mechanism independent of S7 phosphorylation and NF-κB antagonism. Last, a virus lacking A49 was more immunogenic than the WT virus.
Project description:Chronic NF-κB activation in inflammation and cancer has long been linked to persistent activation of NF-κB-responsive gene promoters. However, NF-κB factors also massively bind to gene bodies. Here, we demonstrate that recruitment of the NF-κB factor RELA to intragenic regions regulates alternative splicing upon NF-κB activation by the viral oncogene Tax of HTLV-1. Integrative analyses of RNA splicing and chromatin occupancy, combined with chromatin tethering assays, demonstrate that DNA-bound RELA interacts with and recruits the splicing regulator DDX17, in an NF-κB activation-dependent manner. This leads to alternative splicing of target exons due to the RNA helicase activity of DDX17. Similar results were obtained upon Tax-independent NF-κB activation, indicating that Tax likely exacerbates a physiological process where RELA provides splice target specificity. Collectively, our results demonstrate a physical and direct involvement of NF-κB in alternative splicing regulation, which significantly revisits our knowledge of HTLV-1 pathogenesis and other NF-κB-related diseases.
Project description:The PI3K pathway is one of the most dysregulated signaling pathways in epithelial cancers and has become an attractive therapeutic target under active preclinical and clinical development. However, recent clinical trial studies revealed that blockade of PI3K activity in advanced cancer often leads to the development of resistance and relapse of the diseases. Intense efforts have been made to elucidate resistance mechanisms and identify rational drug combinations with PI3K inhibitors in solid tumors. In the current study, we found that PI3K inhibition by GDC-0941 increased macrophage infiltration and induced the expression of macrophage-associated cytokines and chemokines in the mouse 4T1 breast tumor model. Using the in vitro co-culture system, we showed that the presence of macrophages led to the activation of NF-κB signaling in 4T1 tumor cells, rendering tumor cells resistant to PI3K inhibition by GDC-0941. Furthermore, we found that Aspirin could block the activation of NF-κB signaling induced by PI3K inhibition, and combined use of GDC-0941 and Aspirin resulted in attenuated cell growth and enhanced apoptosis of 4T1 cells in the in vitro co-culture system with the presence of macrophages. Consistently, the combination treatment also effectively reduced tumor burden, macrophage infiltration and pulmonary metastasis in in vivo 4T1 breast tumor model. Together, our results suggested macrophages in microenvironment may contribute to the resistance of breast cancer cells to PI3K inhibition and reveal a new combination paradigm to improve the efficacy of PI3K-targeted therapy.
Project description:Sunitinib is used as standard treatment for metastatic or unresectable clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). However, ccRCC eventually develops resistance to sunitinib in most cases, and the mechanisms underlying such resistance have not been fully determined. Nuclear receptors (NRs) are a class of transcription factors that regulate many cellular functions by controlling gene expression, and they also play important roles in tumor development, proliferation and progression in various types of cancers. In the present study, we aimed to explore the mechanisms underlying sunitinib resistance in RCC and the potential role of NRs in sunitinib resistance. The expression profile of NRs was obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) RNAseq database. A total of 138 patients from GSE65615 were examined in this study. From the GEO metadata, we found that the expressions of three genes, encoding peroxisome proliferator activated receptor alpha (PPARα), androgen receptor (AR) and PPARγ, were significantly increased in sunitinib-treated samples compared with control samples. RT-PCR analysis showed that the PPARα expression at the mRNA level was significantly increased in sunitinib-resistant A498, CaKi-1 and 780-O ccRCC lines compared with their sunitinib-sensitive parental cells. Furthermore, knockdown of PPARα significantly inhibited cell proliferation in all three sunitinib-resistant ccRCC lines, successfully overcoming the resistance to sunitinib. Our results also showed that nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signaling pathway was activated in sunitinib-resistant ccRCC lines, indicating that PPARα and NF-κB inhibition could play a synergistic role to modulate sunitinib resistance and suggesting that PPARα could be used as a potential target to overcome sunitinib resistance via the NF-κB pathway.