Project description:SOX9 is critical for prostate development and is implicated in prostate cancer, we used transcriptome profiling in combination with SOX9 ChIP-seq to identify genes and pathways it regulates in normal or neoplastic epithelium. We used microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression in TMPRSS2/ERG fusion positive prostate cancer cell line with high basal expression of SOX9 by comparing the expression changes between SOX9 knockdown versus control.
Project description:SOX9 is critical for prostate development and is implicated in prostate cancer, we used SOX9 ChIP-seq in combination with transcriptome profiling to identify genes and pathways it regulates in normal or neoplastic epithelium.
Project description:The transcription factor SOX9 is critical for prostate development, and dysregulation of SOX9 is implicated in prostate cancer (PCa). However, the SOX9-dependent genes and pathways involved in both normal and neoplastic prostate epithelium are largely unknown. Here, we performed SOX9 ChIP sequencing analysis and transcriptome profiling of PCa cells and determined that SOX9 positively regulates multiple WNT pathway genes, including those encoding WNT receptors (frizzled [FZD] and lipoprotein receptor-related protein [LRP] family members) and the downstream ?-catenin effector TCF4. Analyses of PCa xenografts and clinical samples both revealed an association between the expression of SOX9 and WNT pathway components in PCa. Finally, treatment of SOX9-expressing PCa cells with a WNT synthesis inhibitor (LGK974) reduced WNT pathway signaling in vitro and tumor growth in murine xenograft models. Together, our data indicate that SOX9 expression drives PCa by reactivating the WNT/?-catenin signaling that mediates ductal morphogenesis in fetal prostate and define a subgroup of patients who would benefit from WNT-targeted therapy.
Project description:DNAPK was identified as the most significantly expressed kinase associated with metastatic progression in high-risk prostate cancer. GSEA analysis on DNAPK knockdwon samples and on patient data nominated Wnt signaling as the top pathway associated with DNAPK Our data indicates that DNAPK regulates Wnt signaling pathway.
Project description:Mammalian intestinal epithelium stem cells (IESCs) and their daughter cells require the participation of DNA methylation and the transcription factor Sox9 for proliferation and differentiation. Combining methylated DNA immunoprecipitation with microarray hybridization, we demonstrate that hypomethylation in promoter participates in the aberrant formation of crypts in diabetic db/db mice through ectopic Wnt signaling. More importantly, increased expression of Sox9 is accompanied by the loss of methylation in its promoter in IESCs. Using ChIP-seq analysis for Sox9 in IESCs, we demonstrate that Sox9 primarily targets the enhancers of Wnt signaling pathway-related genes. Sox9 is not only predominately acting as a transcriptional activator at proximal enhancer but also as a potential transcriptional inhibitor at distant enhancer. Lack of Sox9 transcriptional activation in specific repressors of Wnt signaling pathway results in loss of intrinsic inhibitory action and ultimately produces over-activation of this pathway in diabetes mellitus.
Project description:The Wnt signaling pathway is playing a crucial role during development and adult tissue homeostasis. However, the tissue and cell type-specific regulation of Wnt pathway activity remains incompletely understood. Here we identify FOXB2, an uncharacterized forkhead box family transcription factor, as a potent activator of Wnt signaling in normal and cancer cells. Proximity-dependent biotinylation assay (BioID) coupled with mass spectrometry identified transcriptional co-regulators required for FOXB2-dependent Wnt activation.
Project description:Mammalian intestinal epithelium stem cells (IESCs) and their daughter cells require the participation of DNA methylation and the transcription factor Sox9 for proliferation and differentiation. Combining methylated DNA immunoprecipitation with microarray hybridization, we demonstrate that hypomethylation in promoter participates in the aberrant formation of crypts in diabetic db/db mice through ectopic Wnt signaling. More importantly, increased expression of Sox9 is accompanied by the loss of methylation in its promoter in IESCs. Using ChIP-seq analysis for Sox9 in IESCs, we demonstrate that Sox9 primarily targets the enhancers of Wnt signaling pathway-related genes. Sox9 is not only predominately acting as a transcriptional activator at proximal enhancer but also as a potential transcriptional inhibitor at distant enhancer. Lack of Sox9 transcriptional activation in specific repressors of Wnt signaling pathway results in loss of intrinsic inhibitory action and ultimately produces over-activation of this pathway in diabetes mellitus.
Project description:To study genetic factors that influence the progression and therapeutic response of advanced prostate cancer, we developed a fast and flexible system that introduces genetic alterations relevant to human disease directly into the prostate glands of mice using tissue electroporation. These electroporation based genetically engineered mouse models (EPO-GEMM) recapitulate features of traditional germline models and, by modeling genetic factors linked to late stage human disease, can produce tumors that are metastatic and castration resistant. Unexpectedly, a subset of particularly metastatic tumors acquired WNT pathway alterations, which are also associated with metastatic prostate cancer in humans. Harnessing features linked to the EPO-GEMM approach, we validate the WNT pathway as a key event in driving metastatic disease, a finding that we confirm in an orthogonal approach using mouse prostate organoids. Moreover, we show that tumors harboring WNT pathway alterations are sensitive to pharmacological WNT pathway inhibition. Thus, by leveraging the power of EPO-GEMMs, our studies reveal a functional role for WNT signaling in driving prostate cancer metastasis and validate the WNT pathway as an actionable therapeutic target in metastatic prostate cancer.