Human Hepatocyte Nuclear Factor 4-α Encodes Isoforms with Distinct Transcriptional Functions.
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ABSTRACT:
SUBMITTER: Lambert E
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7196586 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:HNF4α is a nuclear receptor regulating the transcription of genes involved mainly in development, cell differentiation and metabolism. Opposite functions for the two classes of P1 and P2 isoforms of HNF4α have recently been highlighted. These classes include 12 variants of HNF4α that can be expressed by the use of two promoters and by alternative splicing. Until now, the characterization of this transcription factor has ignored this diversity and has remained confined to the study of a fraction of the isoforms. We therefore wanted to clarify the situation by specifically characterizing the transcriptional functions of the 12 isoforms of HNF4α. We have generated for this purpose stable lines expressing each isoform of HNF4α in HCT 116 cells. We analyzed the whole transcriptome associated with each isoform by sequencing RNA, as well as their proteome by a BioID approach coupled to quantitative mass spectrometry. We noted major differences in the transcriptional function of the 12 isoforms. The α4, α5 and α6 isoforms have been characterized for the first time, and show a greatly reduced transcriptional potential. We have shown that these isoforms are unable to recognize the consensus response element of HNF4α. The α1 and α2 isoforms are the most potent regulators of gene expression, while the α3 isoform exhibits significantly reduced activity. Several transcription factors and coregulators have been identified as potential specific partners for certain HFH4α isoforms. The IRF-2BP2 co-repressor interacts specifically with isoforms which include the long form of the F domain of HNF4α. This specific interaction could explain the large number of genes modulated negatively by α1 and α2 compared to α3. The analysis integrating the vast amount of transcriptomic and proteomic data allows the identification of transcriptional regulatory mechanisms specific to certain isoforms, demonstrating the importance of considering all isoforms which can have diverse functions.
2020-04-17 | PXD012146 | Pride
Project description:WNT5A, a member of the WNT family of secreted lipid-modified glycoproteins, is a critical regulator of a host of developmental processes, including limb formation, lung morphogenesis, intestinal elongation and mammary gland development. Altered WNT5A expression has been associated with a number of cancers. Interestingly, in certain types of cancers, such as hematological malignancies and colorectal carcinoma, WNT5A is inactivated and exerts a tumor suppressive function, while in other cancers, such as melanoma and gastric carcinoma, WNT5A is overexpressed and promotes tumor progression. The mechanism by which WNT5A achieves these distinct activities in cancers is poorly understood. Here, we provide evidence that the WNT5A gene produces two protein isoforms, WNT5A-long (WNT5A-L) and WNT5A-short (WNT5A-S). Amino-terminal sequencing and a WNT5A-L specific antibody demonstrate that the mature and secreted isoforms are distinct, with WNT5A-L carrying an additional 18 N-terminal amino acids. Biochemical analysis indicates that both purified proteins are similar with respect to their stability, hydrophobicity and WNT/?-catenin signaling activity. Nonetheless, modulation of these two WNT5A isoforms, either through ectopic expression or knockdown, demonstrates that they exert distinct activities in cancer cell lines: while WNT5A-L inhibits proliferation of tumor cell lines, WNT5A-S promotes their growth. Finally, we show that expression of these two WNT5A isoforms is altered in breast and cervix carcinomas, as well as in the most aggressive neuroblastoma tumors. In these cancers, WNT5A-L is frequently down-regulated, whereas WNT5A-S is found overexpressed in a significant fraction of tumors. Altogether, our study provides evidence that the distinct activities of WNT5A in cancer can be attributed to the production of two WNT5A isoforms.
| S-EPMC3832467 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 (HNF4) was first identified as a DNA binding activity in rat liver nuclear extracts. Protein purification had then led to the cDNA cloning of rat HNF4, which was found to be an orphan member of the nuclear receptor superfamily. Binding sites for this factor were identified in many tissue-specifically expressed genes, and the protein was found to be essential for early embryonic development in the mouse. We have now isolated cDNAs encoding the human homolog of the rat and mouse HNF4 splice variant HNF4 alpha 2, as well as a previously unknown splice variant of this protein, which we called HNF alpha 4. More importantly, we also cloned a novel HNF4 subtype (HNF4 gamma) derived from a different gene and showed that the genes encoding HNF 4 alpha and HNF4 gamma are located on human chromosomes 20 and 8, respectively. Northern (RNA) blot analysis revealed that HNF4 GAMMA is expressed in the kidney, pancreas, small intestine, testis, and colon but not in the liver, while HNF4 alpha RNA was found in all of these tissues. By cotransfection experiments in C2 and HeLa cells, we showed that HNF4 gamma is significantly less active than HNF4 alpha 2 and that the novel HNF4 alpha splice variant HNF4 alpha 4 has no detectable transactivation potential. Therefore, the differential expression of distinct HNF4 proteins may play a key role in the differential transcriptional regulation of HNF4-dependent genes.
| S-EPMC231074 | biostudies-other
Project description:Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α (HNF4α, NR2A1) is a nuclear receptor which has a critical role in hepatocyte differentiation and the maintenance of homeostasis in the adult liver. However, a detailed understanding of native HNF4α in the steady state remains to be elucidated. Here we report the native HNF4α isoforms, phosphorylation status and complexes in the steady state, as shown by shotgun proteomics in HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells. Shotgun proteomic analysis revealed the complexity of native HNF4α, including multiple phosphorylation sites and inter-isoform heterodimerization. The associating complexes identified by label-free semi-quantitative proteomic analysis include the following: the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit, histone acetyltransferase complexes, mRNA splicing complex, other nuclear receptor coactivator complexes, the chromatin remodeling complex, and the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation complex. Among the associating proteins, GRB10 interacting GYF protein 2 (GIGYF2, PERQ2) is a new candidate cofactor in metabolic regulation. Moreover, an unexpected heterodimerization of HNF4α and Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4γ was found. A biochemical and genome-wide analysis of transcriptional regulation showed that this heterodimerization activates gene transcription. The genes thus transcribed include the cell death-inducing DEF45-like effector b (CIDEB) gene, which is an important regulator of lipid metabolism in the liver. This suggests that the analysis of the distinctive stoichiometric balance of native HNF4α and its cofactor complexes described here is important for an accurate understanding of transcriptional regulation. This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below. Refer to individual Series.
2010-12-22 | E-GEOD-18990 | biostudies-arrayexpress
Project description:Hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4α) nuclear receptor is a master regulator of hepatocyte development, nutrient transport and metabolism. HNF4α is regulated both at the transcriptional and post-transcriptional levels by different mechanisms. Several kinases (PKA, PKC, AMPK) were shown to phosphorylate and decrease the activity of HNF4α. Activation of the ERK1/2 signalling pathway, inducing proliferation and survival, inhibits the expression of HNF4α. However, based on our previous results we hypothesized that HNF4α is also regulated at the post-transcriptional level by ERK1/2. Here we show that ERK1/2 is capable of directly phosphorylating HNF4α in vitro at several phosphorylation sites including residues previously shown to be targeted by other kinases, as well. Furthermore, we also demonstrate that phosphorylation of HNF4α leads to a reduced trans-activational capacity of the nuclear receptor in luciferase reporter gene assay. We confirm the functional relevance of these findings by demonstrating with ChIP-qPCR experiments that 30-minute activation of ERK1/2 leads to reduced chromatin binding of HNF4α. Accordingly, we have observed decreasing but not disappearing binding of HNF4α to the target genes. In addition, 24-hour activation of the pathway further decreased HNF4α chromatin binding to specific loci in ChIP-qPCR experiments, which confirms the previous reports on the decreased expression of the HNF4a gene due to ERK1/2 activation. Our data suggest that the ERK1/2 pathway plays an important role in the regulation of HNF4α-dependent hepatic gene expression.
| S-EPMC5308853 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α (HNF4α, NR2A1) is a nuclear receptor which has a critical role in hepatocyte differentiation and the maintenance of homeostasis in the adult liver. However, a detailed understanding of native HNF4α in the steady state remains to be elucidated. Here we report the native HNF4α isoforms, phosphorylation status and complexes in the steady state, as shown by shotgun proteomics in HepG2 hepatocarcinoma cells. Shotgun proteomic analysis revealed the complexity of native HNF4α, including multiple phosphorylation sites and inter-isoform heterodimerization. The associating complexes identified by label-free semi-quantitative proteomic analysis include the following: the DNA-dependent protein kinase catalytic subunit, histone acetyltransferase complexes, mRNA splicing complex, other nuclear receptor coactivator complexes, the chromatin remodeling complex, and the nucleosome remodeling and histone deacetylation complex. Among the associating proteins, GRB10 interacting GYF protein 2 (GIGYF2, PERQ2) is a new candidate cofactor in metabolic regulation. Moreover, an unexpected heterodimerization of HNF4α and Hepatocyte nuclear factor-4γ was found. A biochemical and genome-wide analysis of transcriptional regulation showed that this heterodimerization activates gene transcription. The genes thus transcribed include the cell death-inducing DEF45-like effector b (CIDEB) gene, which is an important regulator of lipid metabolism in the liver. This suggests that the analysis of the distinctive stoichiometric balance of native HNF4α and its cofactor complexes described here is important for an accurate understanding of transcriptional regulation. This SuperSeries is composed of the SubSeries listed below.
2010-12-22 | GSE18990 | GEO
Project description:BackgroundMesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can migrate to tissue injury sites where they can induce multipotential differentiation and anti-inflammation effects to treat tissue injury. When traditional therapeutic methods do not work, MSCs are considered to be one of the best candidates for cell therapy. MSCs have been used for treating several injury- and inflammation-associated diseases, including liver cirrhosis. However, the therapeutic effect of MSCs is limited. In some cases, the anti-inflammatory function of naïve MSCs is not enough to rescue tissue injury.MethodsCarbon tetrachloride (CCl4) was used to establish a mouse liver cirrhosis model. Enhanced green fluorescence protein (EGFP) and hepatocyte nuclear factor-4α (HNF-4α) overexpression adenoviruses were used to modify MSCs. Three weeks after liver injury induction, mice were injected with bone marrow MSCs via their tail vein. The mice were then sacrificed 3 weeks after MSC injection. Liver injury was evaluated by measuring glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (ALT) and glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (AST) levels. Histological and molecular evaluations were performed to study the mechanisms.ResultsWe found that HNF-4α-overexpressing MSCs had a better treatment effect than unmodified MSCs on liver cirrhosis. In the CCl4-induced mouse liver injury model, we found that HNF-4α-MSCs reduced inflammation in the liver and alleviated liver injury. In addition, we found that HNF-4α promoted the anti-inflammatory effect of MSCs by enhancing nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression, which was dependent on the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) signalling pathway.ConclusionsMSCs overexpressing HNF-4α exerted good therapeutic effects against mouse liver cirrhosis due to an enhanced anti-inflammatory effect. Gene modification is likely a promising method for improving the effects of cell therapy.
| S-EPMC6537220 | biostudies-literature
Project description:AIM:To uncover the role of hepatocyte nuclear factor 4 alpha (HNF4?) in regulating hepatic expression of microRNAs. METHODS:Microarray and real-time PCR were used to determine hepatic expression of microRNAs in young-adult mice lacking Hnf4? expression in liver (Hnf4?-LivKO). Integrative genomics viewer software was used to analyze the public chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing datasets for DNA-binding of HNF4?, RNA polymerase-II, and histone modifications to loci of microRNAs in mouse liver and human hepatoma cells. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was conducted to determine effects of HNF4? on the promoters of mouse and human microRNAs as well as effects of microRNAs on the untranslated regions (3'UTR) of two genes in human hepatoma cells. RESULTS:Microarray data indicated that most microRNAs remained unaltered by Hnf4? deficiency in Hnf4?-LivKO mice. However, certain liver-predominant microRNAs were down-regulated similarly in young-adult male and female Hnf4?-LivKO mice. The down-regulation of miR-101, miR-192, miR-193a, miR-194, miR-215, miR-802, and miR-122 as well as induction of miR-34 and miR-29 in male Hnf4?-LivKO mice were confirmed by real-time PCR. Analysis of public chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing data indicates that HNF4? directly binds to the promoters of miR-101, miR-122, miR-194-2/miR-192 and miR-193, which is associated with histone marks of active transcription. Luciferase reporter assay showed that HNF4? markedly activated the promoters of mouse and human miR-101b/miR-101-2 and the miR-194/miR-192 cluster. Additionally, miR-192 and miR-194 significantly decreased activities of luciferase reporters for the 3'UTR of histone H3F3 and chromodomain helicase DNA binding protein 1 (CHD1), respectively, suggesting that miR-192 and miR-194 might be important in chromosome remodeling through directly targeting H3F3 and CHD1. CONCLUSION:HNF4? is essential for hepatic basal expression of a group of liver-enriched microRNAs, including miR-101, miR-192, miR-193a, miR-194 and miR-802, through which HNF4? may play a major role in the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression and maintenance of the epigenome in liver.
| S-EPMC5295159 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The TRIB1 locus has been linked to both cardiovascular disease and hepatic steatosis. Recent efforts have revealed TRIB1 to be a major regulator of liver function, largely, but not exclusively, via CEBPA degradation. We recently uncovered a functional interaction between TRIB1 and HNF4A, another key regulator of hepatic function, whose molecular underpinnings remained to be clarified. Here we have extended these findings. In hepatoma models, HNF4A levels were found to depend on TRIB1, independently of its impact on CEBPA. Using a reporter assay model, MTTP reporter activity, which depends on HNF4A, positively correlated with TRIB1 levels. Confocal microscopy demonstrated partial colocalization of TRIB1 and HNF4A. Using overexpressed proteins we demonstrate that TRIB1 and HNF4A can form complexes in vivo. Mapping of the interaction interfaces identified two distinct regions within TRIB1 which associated with the N-terminal region of HNF4A. Lastly, the TRIB1-HNF4A interaction resisted competition with a CEPBA-derived peptide, suggesting different binding modalities. Together these findings establish that TRIB1 is required for HNF4A function. This regulatory axis represents a novel CEBPA-independent aspect of TRIB1 function predicted to play an important role in liver physiology.
| S-EPMC5514136 | biostudies-literature
Project description:The nuclear receptor HNF4alpha is regulating a wide set of genes associated with development, cell differentiation, inflammation and metabolism. In human, 12 variants of HNF4α can be expressed by the use of two promoters and by alternative splicing. Until now, the characterization of this transcription factor has ignored this diversity and has remained confined to the study of a fraction of the isoforms. We therefore wanted to clarify the situation by specifically characterizing the transcriptional functions of the 12 isoforms of HNF4α. We have generated for this purpose stable lines expressing each isoform of HNF4α in HCT 116 cells. The expression of each isoform was then induced for 48 hours and the whole transcriptome was analyzed by RNA sequencing. The transcriptome associated with each specific isoform was then compared to empty control cells to determine the specific transcriptional functions of HNF4alpha's isoforms.
2019-06-28 | GSE125852 | GEO