Project description:During cancer evolution, cellular differentiation programs become dysregulated. The transcription factor Nkx2-1 is a master regulator of pulmonary differentiation that is downregulated in poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma. Here we use conditional murine genetics to study the fate of lung epithelial cells upon loss of their master cell fate regulator. Nkx2-1 deletion in normal and neoplastic lung causes not only loss of pulmonary identity but also gastric transdifferentiation. Nkx2-1 maintains pulmonary identity by sequestering the Foxa1 transcription factor at lung-specific loci and inhibiting Foxa1 binding to gastrointestinal targets. Murine Nkx2-1-negative lung tumors mimic the mucinous subtype of human lung adenocarcinoma, which also exhibits gastric transdifferentiation. Nkx2-1-negative lung adenocarcinomas are dependent on the gastrointestinal gene Hnf4a for efficient initiation. Thus, loss of Nkx2-1 results in transdifferentiation rather than stable dedifferentiation in vivo, suggesting that inactivation of both active and latent differentiation programs may be required for tumors to reach a primitive, dedifferentiated state. The study was designed to compare the expression profiles of Nkx2-1-positive lung adenocarcinomas with tumors in which Nkx2-1 was deleted at the time of initiation or 6-7 months after initiation.
Project description:Tissue-specific differentiation programs become dysregulated during cancer evolution. The transcription factor Nkx2-1 is a master regulator of pulmonary differentiation that is downregulated in poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma. Here we use conditional murine genetics to study the fate of lung epithelial cells upon loss of their master cell fate regulator. Nkx2-1 deletion in normal and neoplastic lung causes not only loss of pulmonary identity but also gastric transdifferentiation. Nkx2-1 maintains pulmonary identity by sequestering the Foxa1 transcription factor at lung-specific loci and by inhibiting Foxa1 binding to gastrointestinal targets. Murine Nkx2-1-negative lung tumors mimic the mucinous subtype of human lung adenocarcinoma, which also exhibits gastric transdifferentiation. Nkx2-1-negative lung adenocarcinomas are dependent on the gastrointestinal gene Hnf4a for efficient initiation. Thus, loss of Nkx2-1 causes transdifferentiation rather than stable dedifferentiation in vivo, suggesting that inactivation of both active and latent differentiation programs are required for tumors to reach a primitive, dedifferentiated state. ChIP-seq data from murine lung adenocarcinomas on (i) transcription factors Nkx2-1 and Foxa in Nkx2-1-deleted tumors and Nkx2-1-positive control tumors, and (ii) four histone marks in Nkx2-1-deleted tumors and Nkx2-1-positive control tumors. (All samples in duplicate and with input controls, i.e. (2 x [(3+3) + (2+8)]) - 1 = 31 samples total - 1 input control used for transcription factor and histone mark, GSM1059357)
Project description:Tissue-specific differentiation programs become dysregulated during cancer evolution. The transcription factor Nkx2-1 is a master regulator of pulmonary differentiation that is downregulated in poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma. Here we use conditional murine genetics to study the fate of lung epithelial cells upon loss of their master cell fate regulator. Nkx2-1 deletion in normal and neoplastic lung causes not only loss of pulmonary identity but also gastric transdifferentiation. Nkx2-1 maintains pulmonary identity by sequestering the Foxa1 transcription factor at lung-specific loci and by inhibiting Foxa1 binding to gastrointestinal targets. Murine Nkx2-1-negative lung tumors mimic the mucinous subtype of human lung adenocarcinoma, which also exhibits gastric transdifferentiation. Nkx2-1-negative lung adenocarcinomas are dependent on the gastrointestinal gene Hnf4a for efficient initiation. Thus, loss of Nkx2-1 causes transdifferentiation rather than stable dedifferentiation in vivo, suggesting that inactivation of both active and latent differentiation programs are required for tumors to reach a primitive, dedifferentiated state.
Project description:During cancer evolution, cellular differentiation programs become dysregulated. The transcription factor Nkx2-1 is a master regulator of pulmonary differentiation that is downregulated in poorly differentiated lung adenocarcinoma. Here we use conditional murine genetics to study the fate of lung epithelial cells upon loss of their master cell fate regulator. Nkx2-1 deletion in normal and neoplastic lung causes not only loss of pulmonary identity but also gastric transdifferentiation. Nkx2-1 maintains pulmonary identity by sequestering the Foxa1 transcription factor at lung-specific loci and inhibiting Foxa1 binding to gastrointestinal targets. Murine Nkx2-1-negative lung tumors mimic the mucinous subtype of human lung adenocarcinoma, which also exhibits gastric transdifferentiation. Nkx2-1-negative lung adenocarcinomas are dependent on the gastrointestinal gene Hnf4a for efficient initiation. Thus, loss of Nkx2-1 results in transdifferentiation rather than stable dedifferentiation in vivo, suggesting that inactivation of both active and latent differentiation programs may be required for tumors to reach a primitive, dedifferentiated state.
Project description:Profound changes in cancer cell identity can alter malignant potential and therapeutic response. Loss of the pulmonary lineage specifier NKX2-1 augments the growth of KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma and causes pulmonary to gastric transdifferentiation. Here we show that the transcription factors FoxA1 and FoxA2 are required for initiation of mucinous NKX2-1-negative lung adenocarcinomas in the mouse and for activation of their gastric differentiation program. Foxa1/2 deletion severely impairs tumor initiation and causes a proximal shift in cellular identity, yielding tumors expressing markers of the squamocolumnar junction of the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast, stochastic loss of FoxA1/2 expression in NKX2-1-negative tumors is associated with keratinizing squamous differentiation. Using sequential in vivo recombination, we find that FoxA1/2 loss in established KRAS-driven neoplasia is sufficient for direct induction of keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas in the lung. Thus, NKX2-1, FoxA1 and FoxA2 coordinately regulate the growth and identity of lung adenocarcinoma in a context-specific manner.
Project description:Profound changes in cancer cell identity can alter malignant potential and therapeutic response. Loss of the pulmonary lineage specifier NKX2-1 augments the growth of KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma and causes pulmonary to gastric transdifferentiation. Here we show that the transcription factors FoxA1 and FoxA2 are required for initiation of mucinous NKX2-1-negative lung adenocarcinomas in the mouse and for activation of their gastric differentiation program. Foxa1/2 deletion severely impairs tumor initiation and causes a proximal shift in cellular identity, yielding tumors expressing markers of the squamocolumnar junction of the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast, stochastic loss of FoxA1/2 expression in NKX2-1-negative tumors is associated with keratinizing squamous differentiation. Using sequential in vivo recombination, we find that FoxA1/2 loss in established KRAS-driven neoplasia is sufficient for direct induction of keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas in the lung. Thus, NKX2-1, FoxA1 and FoxA2 coordinately regulate the growth and identity of lung adenocarcinoma in a context-specific manner.
Project description:The ability of cancer cells to alter their identity is essential for tumor survival and progression. Loss of the pulmonary lineage specifier NKX2-1 within KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) enhances tumor progression and results in a pulmonary-to-gastric lineage switch that is dependent upon the activity of pioneer factors FoxA1 and FoxA2; however, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we show that FoxA1/2 reprogram the epigenetic landscape of NKX2-1-negative LUAD to facilitate a gastric differentiation program. Using sequential recombination models, we find that FoxA1/2 are required for demethylation of gastric-defining genes after Nkx2-1 deletion. FoxA1 colocalizes with TET3, an enzyme that mediates DNA demethylation, in NKX2-1-negative tumors. Deletion of Foxa1/2 results in loss of TET3 occupancy at key gastric marker genes, indicating that FoxA1/2 recruit TET3 to lineage-specific sites. H3K27ac ChIP-seq and HiChIP show that FoxA1/2 also control the activity of enhancers and promoters as well as their 3D interactions at gastric target genes following NKX2-1 loss. Furthermore, oncogenic KRAS is required for the FoxA1/2-dependent epigenetic reprogramming in NKX2-1-negative LUAD. This work demonstrates the role of FoxA1/2 in rewiring the methylation and histone landscape and cis-regulatory dynamics of NKX2-1-negative LUAD to drive cancer cell lineage switching.
Project description:The ability of cancer cells to alter their identity is essential for tumor survival and progression. Loss of the pulmonary lineage specifier NKX2-1 within KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) enhances tumor progression and results in a pulmonary-to-gastric lineage switch that is dependent upon the activity of pioneer factors FoxA1 and FoxA2; however, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we show that FoxA1/2 reprogram the epigenetic landscape of NKX2-1-negative LUAD to facilitate a gastric differentiation program. Using sequential recombination models, we find that FoxA1/2 are required for demethylation of gastric-defining genes after Nkx2-1 deletion. FoxA1 colocalizes with TET3, an enzyme that mediates DNA demethylation, in NKX2-1-negative tumors. Deletion of Foxa1/2 results in loss of TET3 occupancy at key gastric marker genes, indicating that FoxA1/2 recruit TET3 to lineage-specific sites. H3K27ac ChIP-seq and HiChIP show that FoxA1/2 also control the activity of enhancers and promoters as well as their 3D interactions at gastric target genes following NKX2-1 loss. Furthermore, oncogenic KRAS is required for the FoxA1/2-dependent epigenetic reprogramming in NKX2-1-negative LUAD. This work demonstrates the role of FoxA1/2 in rewiring the methylation and histone landscape and cis-regulatory dynamics of NKX2-1-negative LUAD to drive cancer cell lineage switching.
Project description:The ability of cancer cells to alter their identity is essential for tumor survival and progression. Loss of the pulmonary lineage specifier NKX2-1 within KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) enhances tumor progression and results in a pulmonary-to-gastric lineage switch that is dependent upon the activity of pioneer factors FoxA1 and FoxA2; however, the underlying mechanism remains largely unknown. Here, we show that FoxA1/2 reprogram the epigenetic landscape of NKX2-1-negative LUAD to facilitate a gastric differentiation program. Using sequential recombination models, we find that FoxA1/2 are required for demethylation of gastric-defining genes after Nkx2-1 deletion. FoxA1 colocalizes with TET3, an enzyme that mediates DNA demethylation, in NKX2-1-negative tumors. Deletion of Foxa1/2 results in loss of TET3 occupancy at key gastric marker genes, indicating that FoxA1/2 recruit TET3 to lineage-specific sites. H3K27ac ChIP-seq and HiChIP show that FoxA1/2 also control the activity of enhancers and promoters as well as their 3D interactions at gastric target genes following NKX2-1 loss. Furthermore, oncogenic KRAS is required for the FoxA1/2-dependent epigenetic reprogramming in NKX2-1-negative LUAD. This work demonstrates the role of FoxA1/2 in rewiring the methylation and histone landscape and cis-regulatory dynamics of NKX2-1-negative LUAD to drive cancer cell lineage switching.