Project description:We investigated the clinical implications of lung developmental transcription factors (TTF-1, NKX2-8, and PAX9) which we recently discovered as cooperating oncogenes activated by way of gene amplification at chromosome 14q13 in lung cancer. Using stable transfectants of human bronchial epithelial cells, RNA expression profiles (signatures) representing activation of the biological pathways defined by each of the three genes were determined and used to risk stratify a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) clinical dataset consisting of ninety-one early stage tumors. Co-activation of the TTF-1 and NKX2-8 pathways identified a cluster of patients with poor survival, representing approximately 20% of patients with early stage NSCLC, whereas activation of individual pathways did not reveal significant prognostic power. Importantly, the poor prognosis associated with co-activation of TTF-1 and NKX2-8 was validated in two other independent clinical datasets. Further, lung cancer cell lines showing co-activation of the TTF-1 and NKX2-8 pathways were shown to exhibit resistance to cisplatin, the standard of care for the treatment of NSCLC. Since TTF-1 and NKX2-8 lack specific inhibitors at the current time, we explored an alternative therapeutic strategy. Using signatures of signaling pathway activation, we identified deregulation of specific oncogenic pathways (Ras and Myc) in the TTF-1/NKX2-8 co-activated cohort. In vitro experiments demonstrated the ability of a Ras pathway-specific therapy to inhibit tumor cell growth in TTF-1/NKX-2 activated cells, thus, suggesting that modulation of the Ras pathway is a rational strategy to targeted therapy in high risk NSCLC patients with co-activation of specific lung developmental pathways. Experiment Overall Design: Six controls and six replicates of each transcription factor (TTF1, NKX2-8, PAX9) were prepared and analyzed.
Project description:We investigated the clinical implications of lung developmental transcription factors (TTF-1, NKX2-8, and PAX9) which we recently discovered as cooperating oncogenes activated by way of gene amplification at chromosome 14q13 in lung cancer. Using stable transfectants of human bronchial epithelial cells, RNA expression profiles (signatures) representing activation of the biological pathways defined by each of the three genes were determined and used to risk stratify a non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) clinical dataset consisting of ninety-one early stage tumors. Co-activation of the TTF-1 and NKX2-8 pathways identified a cluster of patients with poor survival, representing approximately 20% of patients with early stage NSCLC, whereas activation of individual pathways did not reveal significant prognostic power. Importantly, the poor prognosis associated with co-activation of TTF-1 and NKX2-8 was validated in two other independent clinical datasets. Further, lung cancer cell lines showing co-activation of the TTF-1 and NKX2-8 pathways were shown to exhibit resistance to cisplatin, the standard of care for the treatment of NSCLC. Since TTF-1 and NKX2-8 lack specific inhibitors at the current time, we explored an alternative therapeutic strategy. Using signatures of signaling pathway activation, we identified deregulation of specific oncogenic pathways (Ras and Myc) in the TTF-1/NKX2-8 co-activated cohort. In vitro experiments demonstrated the ability of a Ras pathway-specific therapy to inhibit tumor cell growth in TTF-1/NKX-2 activated cells, thus, suggesting that modulation of the Ras pathway is a rational strategy to targeted therapy in high risk NSCLC patients with co-activation of specific lung developmental pathways. Keywords: Transcription factor expression analysis
Project description:We evaluated the role of TTF-1/NKX2-1 on Smad3 and Smad4 binding in lung cancer cell lines. Smad3 binding sites in A549 cells and Smad3, Smad4, and TTF-1/NKX2-1 binding sites in H441 cells were determined by ChIP-seq.
Project description:Hsa-mir-365-2 is one of the two precursors that give rise to miR-365. We discovered that miR-365 directly regulates a lung cancer and developmental gene termed thyroid transcription factor 1 (TTF-1 or NKX2-1). Hsa-mir-365-2 was transfected into NCI-H441 cells via retrovirus-mediated gene transfer. Arrays hybridized: Affymetrix GeneChip Human Gene 1.0 ST Array.
Project description:Although Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1, encoded by NKX2-1 gene) is highly expressed in small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LADC), difference in the functional roles of TTF-1 between SCLC and LADC remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to clarify the differences in the TTF-1 binding regions and functional roles in SCLC and LADC. Employing chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) , here we compared the genome-wide TTF-1-binding profiles and the TTF-1-mediated transcriptional programs in a SCLC and a LADC cell lines. We also investigated ASCL1 binding regions in SCLC cells.
Project description:Although Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1, encoded by NKX2-1 gene) is highly expressed in small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LADC), difference in the functional roles of TTF-1 between SCLC and LADC remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to clarify the differences in the TTF-1 binding regions and functional roles in SCLC and LADC. Employing chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) , here we compared the genome-wide TTF-1-binding profiles and the TTF-1-mediated transcriptional programs in a SCLC and a LADC cell lines. We also investigated ASCL1 binding regions in SCLC cells.
Project description:Although Thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF-1, encoded by NKX2-1 gene) is highly expressed in small cell lung carcinoma (SCLC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LADC), difference in the functional roles of TTF-1 between SCLC and LADC remains to be elucidated. The aim of this study was to clarify the differences in the TTF-1 binding regions and functional roles in SCLC and LADC. Employing chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) , here we compared the genome-wide TTF-1-binding profiles and the TTF-1-mediated transcriptional programs in a SCLC and a LADC cell lines. We also investigated ASCL1 binding regions in SCLC cells. To validate whether the changes in TTF-1 or ASCL1 binding to the genome indeed resulted in changes in target gene expression, we performed RNA-seq transcriptome analyses in H209 cells with TTF-1 or ASCL1 knockdown. Data were also obtained from H441 cells transfected with TTF-1 siRNAs.
Project description:Despite the high prevalence and poor outcome of patients with metastatic lung cancer, the mechanisms of tumour progression and metastasis remain largely uncharacterized. We modelled human lung adenocarcinoma, which frequently harbours activating point mutations in KRAS1 and inactivation of the p53-pathway2, using conditional alleles in mice3-5. Lentiviral-mediated somatic activation of oncogenic Kras and deletion of p53 in the lung epithelial cells of KrasLSL-G12D/+;p53flox/flox mice initiates lung adenocarcinoma development4. Although tumours are initiated synchronously by defined genetic alterations, only a subset become malignant, suggesting that disease progression requires additional alterations. Identification of the lentiviral integration sites allowed us to distinguish metastatic from non-metastatic tumours and determine the gene expression alterations that distinguish these tumour types. Cross-species analysis identified the NK-2 related homeobox transcription factor Nkx2-1 (Ttf-1/Titf1) as a candidate suppressor of malignant progression. In this mouse model, Nkx2-1-negativity is pathognomonic of high-grade poorly differentiated tumours. Gain- and loss-of-function experiments in cells derived from metastatic and non-metastatic tumours demonstrated that Nkx2-1 controls tumour differentiation and limits metastatic potential in vivo. Interrogation of Nkx2-1 regulated genes, analysis of tumours at defined developmental stages, and functional complementation experiments indicate that Nkx2-1 constrains tumours in part by repressing the embryonically-restricted chromatin regulator Hmga2. While focal amplification of NKX2-1 in a fraction of human lung adenocarcinomas has focused attention on its oncogenic function6-9, our data specifically link Nkx2-1 downregulation to loss of differentiation, enhanced tumour seeding ability, and increased metastatic proclivity. Thus, the oncogenic and suppressive functions of Nkx2-1 in the same tumour type substantiate its role as a dual function lineage factor. 23 cell lines derived from primary tumor or metastasis. 6 samples analyzed to determine the effect of Nkx2-1 knockdown on gene expression
Project description:Cell migration driven by actomyosin filament assembly is a critical step in tumour invasion and metastasis. Herein, we report identification of myosin binding protein H (MYBPH) as a transcriptional target of NKX2-1 (also known as TTF-1 and TITF1), a lineage-survival oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma. MYBPH inhibits assembly competence-conferring phosphorylation of the myosin regulatory light chain (RLC) as well as activating phosphorylation of LIM domain kinase (LIMK). These are unexpectedly implemented through direct physical interaction of MYBPH with Rho kinase 1 (ROCK1) rather than with RLC. In addition, MYBPH is shown to directly bind with non-muscle myosin heavy chain IIA (NMHC IIA), resulting in inhibition of NMHC IIA assembly. Thus, MYBPH plays multi-facetted roles in negative regulation of actomyosin organization, which in turn reduces cell motility, invasion, and metastasis. Finally, we also show that MYBPH is epigenetically inactivated by promoter DNA methylation in a fraction of lung adenocarcinomas abundantly expressing NKX2-1, which appears to be in accordance with its deleterious function for lung adenocarcinoma invasion and metastasis, as well as with the paradoxical association of NKX2-1 expression with favourable prognosis in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Dye-swap experiment, vector control vs. transiently transfectanted with TTF-1 in HPL1D, immortalized human peripheral lung epithelial cell line.