ABSTRACT: RNA sequencing was used to identify gene expression changes in pancreatic acinar cells with ectopic expression of the homeodomain transcription factor Prox1
Project description:Oncogenic mutations in Kras initiate neoplastic transformation in the pancreas through a process that hijacks the activity of developmental regulators and induces an inflammatory microenvironment. We report that the homeodomain transcription factor Prox1 is a novel component of a progenitor signature that is activated in acinar cells undergoing dedifferentiation and ductal metaplasia conversion. Also, the conditional deletion of a single Prox1 allele markedly accelerates early transformation and significantly enhances features of inflammation in pancreatic tissues carrying a Kras oncogene. By using in vitro and in silico approaches, we demonstrate that Prox1 negatively regulates the expression of proinflammatory genes and genes implicated in malignant transformation in pancreatic cells. Microrrays were used to identify gene expression profiles and pathways that are differentially activated after enforced expression of PROX1 in the PROX1-negative human pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) cell line Capan1. MSCV retroviral transduction was used to generate Capan1 cells that ectopically express PROX1 and selected for puromycin resistance. Three independent transductions with control virus (MSCV_puro) and 3 independent transductions with Prox1-cDNA virus (MSCV_PROX1_puro) were conducted for these experiments.
Project description:Oncogenic mutations in Kras initiate neoplastic transformation in the pancreas through a process that hijacks the activity of developmental regulators and induces an inflammatory microenvironment. We report that the homeodomain transcription factor Prox1 is a novel component of a progenitor signature that is activated in acinar cells undergoing dedifferentiation and ductal metaplasia conversion. Also, the conditional deletion of a single Prox1 allele markedly accelerates early transformation and significantly enhances features of inflammation in pancreatic tissues carrying a Kras oncogene. By using in vitro and in silico approaches, we demonstrate that Prox1 negatively regulates the expression of proinflammatory genes and genes implicated in malignant transformation in pancreatic cells.
Project description:Oncogenic mutations in Kras initiate neoplastic transformation in the pancreas through a process that hijacks the activity of developmental regulators and induces an inflammatory microenvironment. We report that the homeodomain transcription factor Prox1 is a novel component of a progenitor signature that is activated in acinar cells undergoing dedifferentiation and ductal metaplasia conversion. Also, the conditional deletion of a single Prox1 allele markedly accelerates early transformation and significantly enhances features of inflammation in pancreatic tissues carrying a Kras oncogene. By using in vitro and in silico approaches, we demonstrate that Prox1 negatively regulates the expression of proinflammatory genes and genes implicated in malignant transformation in pancreatic cells.
Project description:Acinar cells make up the majority of all cells in the pancreas, yet the source of new acinar cells during homeostasis remains unknown. Using multicolor lineage-tracing and organoid-formation assays, we identified the presence of a progenitor-like acinar cell subpopulation. These cells have long-term self-renewal capacity, albeit in a unipotent fashion. We further demonstrate that binuclear acinar cells are terminally differentiated acinar cells. Transcriptome analysis of single acinar cells revealed the existence of a minor population of cells expressing progenitor markers. Interestingly, a gain of the identified markers accompanied by a transient gain of proliferation was observed following chemically induced pancreatitis. Altogether, our study identifies a functionally and molecularly distinct acinar subpopulation and thus transforms our understanding of the acinar cell compartment as a pool of equipotent secretory cells.
Project description:Multipotent pancreatic progenitors (MPC) are defined as Ptf1a+, Mychigh, Cpa+ cells. During the transition from MPC to unipotent acinar progenitors, c-Myc is down-regulated whereas Ptf1a is up-regulated, leading to the deployment of the acinar program. Here, we show that c-Myc and Ptf1a interact directly and c-Myc binds to, and represses, the transcriptional activity of the PTF1 complex in vitro and in vivo. Using Ela1-Myc mice, in which c-Myc is overexpressed in acinar cells starting at E14.5, we find that acinar cells fail to undergo normal maturation at P1 and this is followed by a massive subsequent repression of the acinar programme. Lineage tracing with Ptf1aCreERT2;Rosa26YFP and Ela1-Myc;Ptf1aCreERT2;Rosa26YFP mice receiving TMX at E15.5 and analyzed at E18.5 revealed that c-Myc overexpression is associated with activation of a hepatic programme but not with pancreatic lineage misspecification At 8 weeks, the silencing of the acinar program is associated with increased expression of the PRC2 complex in a c-Myc dependent manner. Genome wide studies show that Ptf1a and c-Myc display partially overlapping chromatin occupancy patterns and DNA binding competition. We conclude that c-Myc down-regulation during development is crucial for the maturation of pre-acinar to acinar cells. c-Myc overexpression may contribute to pancreatic carcinogenesis by restraining cell differentiation and rendering cells susceptible to transformation.
Project description:Multipotent pancreatic progenitors (MPC) are defined as Ptf1a+, Mychigh, Cpa+ cells. During the transition from MPC to unipotent acinar progenitors, c-Myc is down-regulated whereas Ptf1a is up-regulated, leading to the deployment of the acinar program. Here, we show that c-Myc and Ptf1a interact directly and c-Myc binds to, and represses, the transcriptional activity of the PTF1 complex in vitro and in vivo. Using Ela1-Myc mice, in which c-Myc is overexpressed in acinar cells starting at E14.5, we find that acinar cells fail to undergo normal maturation at P1 and this is followed by a massive subsequent repression of the acinar programme. Lineage tracing with Ptf1aCreERT2;Rosa26YFP and Ela1-Myc;Ptf1aCreERT2;Rosa26YFP mice receiving TMX at E15.5 and analyzed at E18.5 revealed that c-Myc overexpression is associated with activation of a hepatic programme but not with pancreatic lineage misspecification At 8 weeks, the silencing of the acinar program is associated with increased expression of the PRC2 complex in a c-Myc dependent manner. Genome wide studies show that Ptf1a and c-Myc display partially overlapping chromatin occupancy patterns and DNA binding competition. We conclude that c-Myc down-regulation during development is crucial for the maturation of pre-acinar to acinar cells. c-Myc overexpression may contribute to pancreatic carcinogenesis by restraining cell differentiation and rendering cells susceptible to transformation.
Project description:The homeobox transcription factor Prox1 is critical for organogenesis including brain, retina, liver and pancreas and lymphatic system. Prox1 is transiently expressed in mouse cochlear hair cells (HCs) and supporting cells (SCs), however, it remains elusive about its in vivo DNA binding site and roles during cochlear development. Here, by using fresh cochlear tissues and Prox1 antibody, we firstly mapped out the genome-wide binding sites of Prox1 via Cleavage Under Targets and Release Using Nuclease (CUT&RUN). Gene function enrichment analysis suggests several potential functions of Prox1, one of which is regulating cell cycle progression. Secondly, to validate our CUT&RUN data, we further performed in vivo prox1 gain-of-function studies through genetic approaches. Onset of ectopic Prox1 at early embryonic otocyst leads to shorter cochlea with density of HCs and SCs distribution, suggesting a precocious cell cycle exit of cochlear sensory progenitor cells. These findings highlight the power of CUT&RUN in mapping DNA binding sites even in tissues (i.e. cochlea) with rare cells, as well as providing the first genetic evidence to support roles of Prox1 in regulating progenitor pools of cochlear progenitors.