Project description:SETD2 Loss Creates A Permissive Epigenetic Landscape that Promotes Kidney Cancer Metastasis and Engenders Therapeutic Vulnerabilities
Project description:Understanding the molecular mechanisms of pathological vascular remodeling is important for treating cardiovascular diseases and complications. Recent studies have highlighted a role of deubiquitinases in vascular pathophysiology. In this study, we investigated the role of a deubiquitinase, OTUD1, in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced vascular remodeling. We identified upregulated OTUD1 in the vascular endothelium of Ang II-challenged mice and showed OTUD1 deletion attenuated vascular remodeling, collagen deposition, and EndMT. Conversely, OTUD1 overexpression aggravated these pathological changes both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, SMAD3 was identified as a substrate of OTUD1 using co-immunoprecipitation followed with LC-MS/MS. We found OTUD1 stabilizes SMAD3 and facilitates SMAD3/SMAD4 complex formation and subsequent nuclear translocation through both K48- and K63-linked deubiquitination. OTUD1-mediated SMAD3 activation regulate the transcription of genes involved in vascular EndMT and remodeling in HUVECs. Finally, SMAD3 inhibition reversed OTUD1-promoted vascular remodeling. Our findings demonstrate endothelial OTUD1 promoted Ang II-induced vascular remodeling by deubiquitinating SMAD3. This study identified SMAD3 as a target of OTUD1 and indicates OTUD1 as a potential therapeutic target for the diseases related to vascular remodeling.
Project description:Uncontrolled accumulation of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMC) to the distal pulmonary arterioles (PAs) is one of the major characteristics of pulmonary hypertension (PH). Cellular senescence contributes to aging and lung diseases associated with PH and links to PH progression. However, the mechanism by which cellular senescence controls vascular remodeling in PH is not fully understood. The levels of senescence marker, p16INK4A and senescence-associated β-galactosidase (SA-β-gal) activity are higher in PA endothelial cells (ECs) isolated from idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension (IPAH) patients compared to those from healthy individuals. Hypoxia-induced accumulation of α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA)-positive cells to the PAs is attenuated in p16fl/fl-Cdh5(PAC)-CreERT2 (p16iΔEC) mice after tamoxifen induction. We have reported that endothelial TWIST1 mediates hypoxia-induced vascular remodeling by increasing platelet-derived growth factor (PDGFB) expression. Transcriptomic analyses of IPAH patient or hypoxia-induced mouse lung ECs reveal the alteration of senescence-related gene expression and their interaction with TWIST1. Knockdown of p16INK4A attenuates the expression of PDGFB and TWIST1 in IPAH patient PAECs or hypoxia-treated mouse lungs and suppresses accumulation of αSMA–positive cells to the supplemented ECs in the gel implanted on the mouse lungs. Hypoxia-treated mouse lung EC-derived exosomes stimulate DNA synthesis and migration of PASMCs in vitro and in the gel implanted on the mouse lungs, while p16iΔEC mouse lung EC-derived exosomes inhibit the effects. These results suggest that endothelial senescence controls αSMA–positive cell proliferation and migration in PH through TWIST1-PDGFB signaling.
Project description:Identify therapeutic vulnerabilities of palbociclib resistance in metastatic breast cancer patient-derived xenograft models and identify key biomarkers that correlate with development of resistance to inform new treatment directions
Project description:<p>Metabolic reprogramming is a hallmark of cancer and is crucial for cancer progression, making it an attractive therapeutic target. Understanding the role of metabolic reprogramming in cancer initiation could help identify prevention strategies. To address this, we investigated metabolism during acinar-to-ductal metaplasia (ADM), the first step of pancreatic carcinogenesis. Glycolytic markers were elevated in ADM lesions compared to normal tissue from human samples. Comprehensive metabolic assessment in three mouse models with pancreas-specific activation of KRAS, PI3K or MEK1 using Seahorse measurements, NMR metabolome analysis, mass spectrometry, isotope tracing and RNA-seq analysis revealed a switch from oxidative phosphorylation to glycolysis in ADM. Blocking the metabolic switch attenuated ADM formation. Furthermore, mitochondrial metabolism was required for de novo synthesis of serine and glutathione but not for ATP production. MYC mediated the increase in GSH intermediates in ADM, and inhibition of GSH synthesis suppressed ADM development. This study thus identifies metabolic changes and vulnerabilities in the early stages of pancreatic carcinogenesis.</p>
Project description:Inducing senescence in cancer cells is emerging as a new therapeutic strategy. We tested the senescence induction of palbociclib and indisulam in SUM159 cells, and profiled these for senescence associated gene signatures.
Project description:The objective of this study was to compare blank control mice (NS V) with AngII-induced hypertensive mice (AngII V). Angii-induced hypertensive mice (AngII V) and liensinine intervention group (Lien V); Different genes expressed in vascular tissue and identify new targets for reversing hypertension-induced vascular remodeling.
Project description:Understanding the molecular mechanisms of pathological vascular remodeling is important for treating cardiovascular diseases and complications. Recent studies have highlighted a role of deubiquitinases in vascular pathophysiology. In this study, we investigated the role of a deubiquitinase, OTUD1, in angiotensin II (Ang II)-induced vascular remodeling. We identified upregulated OTUD1 in the vascular endothelium of Ang II-challenged mice and showed OTUD1 deletion attenuated vascular remodeling, collagen deposition, and EndMT. Conversely, OTUD1 overexpression aggravated these pathological changes both in vivo and in vitro. Mechanistically, SMAD3 was identified as a substrate of OTUD1 using co-immunoprecipitation followed with LC-MS/MS. We found OTUD1 stabilizes SMAD3 and facilitates SMAD3/SMAD4 complex formation and subsequent nuclear translocation through both K48- and K63-linked deubiquitination. OTUD1-mediated SMAD3 activation regulate the transcription of genes involved in vascular EndMT and remodeling in HUVECs. Finally, SMAD3 inhibition reversed OTUD1-promoted vascular remodeling. Our findings demonstrate endothelial OTUD1 promoted Ang II-induced vascular remodeling by deubiquitinating SMAD3. This study identified SMAD3 as a target of OTUD1 and indicates OTUD1 as a potential therapeutic target for the diseases related to vascular remodeling.