Project description:HMGA2, Tet1 and HOXA9 are all regulated human breast tumorigenesis. We use gene expression array analysis to identify and compare the genes regulated by HMGA2, Tet1 and/or HOXA9 in human breast cancer cells.
Project description:HMGA2 has been implicated in tumor progression. Identification of microRNAs regulated by HMGA2 helps us to understand how HMGA2 regulates tumor metastasis via its downstream target mircoRNAs and genes. Total RNA was extracted from 1833 cells with control or depleted HMGA2 expression, respectively. Exiqon miRCURY LNA 5th generation expression array was performed to identify the microRNAs regulated by HMGA2.
Project description:HMGA2 has been implicated in tumor progression. Identification of microRNAs regulated by HMGA2 helps us to understand how HMGA2 regulates tumor metastasis via its downstream target mircoRNAs and genes.
Project description:CdGAP/ARHGAP31 is a molecular target of TGFb-mediated EMT and required for Her2-positive breast cancer growth and metastasis Metastasis is the leading cause of death in breast cancer patients. The epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) has a crucial role in metastasis and is highly critical for tumor cell dissemination. CdGAP/ARHGAP31 is highly expressed in breast cancer tissues and is associated with poor clinical outcome in breast cancer patients. CdGAP cooperates in a GAP-independent manner with the transcriptional repressor Zeb2 to function as a critical modulator of breast cancer through repression of E-cadherin transcription. In this study, we used a murine model of Her2+ breast cancer to investigate further the role of CdGAP in breast tumorigenesis. We found that CdGAP was essential for tumor formation and metastasis to the lungs in the Her2+ mouse breast cancer model. We determined that CdGAP is required for intravasation and growth at the metastatic sites. By using global gene expression approaches, we found that CdGAP depletion in Her2+ primary tumors was associated with an EMT signature, including a decreased expression of the metastatic factor claudin-2 and an increase in E-cadherin expression. In Her2+ breast cancer cells, CdGAP expression is positively regulated by the TGFb canonical pathway in a smad-dependent manner and regulates cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and adhesion. CdGAP was found to interact with the focal adhesion protein Talin and regulates focal adhesion dynamics in breast cancer cells. Collectively, CdGAP appears as a potential anti-metastatic target for the treatment of Her2+ breast cancer.
Project description:Increasing evidence links metabolic activity and cell growth to decline in hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) function during aging. The Lin28b/Hmga2 pathway controls tissue development and in the hematopoietic system the postnatal downregulation of this pathway causes a decrease in self renewal of adult HSCs compared to fetal HSCs. Igf2bp2 is an RNA binding protein and a mediator of the Lin28b/Hmga2 pathway, which regulates metabolism and growth signaling by influencing RNA stability and translation of its target genes. It is currently unknown whether Lin28/Hmga2/Igf2bp2 signaling impacts on aging-associated impairments in HSC function and hematopoiesis. Here, we analyzed homozygous Igf2bp2 germline knockout mice and wildtype control animals to address this question. The study shows that Igf2bp2 deletion rescues aging phenotypes of the hematopoietic system, such as the expansion of HSC numbers in bone marrow and the biased increase of myeloid cells in peripheral blood. This rescue of hematopoietic aging coincides with reduced mitochondrial metabolism and glycolysis in Igf2bp2-/- HSCs compared to Igf2bp2+/+ HSCs. Conversely, Igf2bp2 overexpression activates protein synthesis pathways in HSCs and leads to a rapid loss of self renewal by enhancing myeloid skewed differentiation in an mTOR/PI3K-dependent manner. Together, these results show that Igf2bp2 regulates energy metabolism and growth signaling in HSCs and that the activity of this pathways influences self renewal, differentiation, and aging of HSCs.
Project description:DNA hypermethylation is known to contribute to the formation of cancer. However, DNA hypomethylation has received far less attention and the factors controlling the balance between hypo and hypermethylation and its impact on tumorigenesis remains unclear. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype of breast cancer that does not overexpress the hormone receptors or HER2/NEU, is one of the most hypomethylated cancers observed. Importantly, TNBCs are often a therapeutic challenge because of advanced presentation and lack of targeted therapies. TET1 is a DNA demethylase that regulates DNA methylation, hydroxymethylation and gene expression. We found that TET1 is specifically overexpressed in TNBC, where it is associated with hypomethylation and a worse overall survival. Further, we uncover an intricate network connecting TET1 expression to maintaining activation of cancer specific pathways, including PI3K, EGFR and PDGF. In TET1 KO cells, we observed reduced phospho-4EBP1 and decreased expression of genes in the PI3K pathway, suggesting loss of PI3K-mTOR activity is concomitant with loss of TET1. Additionally, TET1 KO cells have reduced cellular proliferation and migration. Our work establishes TET1 as an oncogene that contributes to the aberrant hypomethylation observed in cancer and suggests TET1 could serve as a novel druggable target for therapeutic intervention.
Project description:DNA hypermethylation is known to contribute to the formation of cancer. However, DNA hypomethylation has received far less attention and the factors controlling the balance between hypo and hypermethylation and its impact on tumorigenesis remains unclear. Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC), a subtype of breast cancer that does not overexpress the hormone receptors or HER2/NEU, is one of the most hypomethylated cancers observed. Importantly, TNBCs are often a therapeutic challenge because of advanced presentation and lack of targeted therapies. TET1 is a DNA demethylase that regulates DNA methylation, hydroxymethylation and gene expression. We found that TET1 is specifically overexpressed in TNBC, where it is associated with hypomethylation and a worse overall survival. Further, we uncover an intricate network connecting TET1 expression to maintaining activation of cancer specific pathways, including PI3K, EGFR and PDGF. In TET1 KO cells, we observed reduced phospho-4EBP1 and decreased expression of genes in the PI3K pathway, suggesting loss of PI3K-mTOR activity is concomitant with loss of TET1. Additionally, TET1 KO cells have reduced cellular proliferation and migration. Our work establishes TET1 as an oncogene that contributes to the aberrant hypomethylation observed in cancer and suggests TET1 could serve as a novel druggable target for therapeutic intervention.
Project description:The transcription regulator High Mobility Group AT-Hook 2 (HMGA2) plays an important role in many types of cancers, but the molecular mechanisms are not fully elucidated. We found by knock-down studies that HMGA2 controls expression of ATF4 and the enzymes in the serine synthesis pathway in triple negative breast cancer cells, and that HMGA2 expression correlates with poor clinical outcome in ER negative breast cancers. Furthermore, we found that the metabolism was dysregulated in cells with reduced HMGA2 expression, which affected their response to mitochondrial stressors and to changed carbon sources. Altogether, our findings demonstrate that HMGA2 is a regulator of serine biosynthesis and metabolism, consistent with the well-known role of HMGA2 as a regulator of proliferation, epithelial-mesenchymal transition and stemness.