Project description:Transcriptional regulation is critically involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis, the mechanism of which remains incompletely understood. Here, we report that core-binding factor β (CBFβ) is commonly upregulated in human colorectal cancer and is associated with the survival rate of CRC patients. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of RUNX1-3 expression in CRC patients and other in vitro data revealed that CBFβ promotes cell proliferation and liver metastasis in a RUNX2-dependent way. Transcriptome sequencing, ChIP-seq and promoter-binding experiments demonstrated that the CBFβ/RUNX2 complex could activate the transcription of OPN, FAM129A and UPP1. Furthermore, CBFβ significantly promoted tumor growth and lung metastasis in a mouse xenograft model and an orthotopic liver metastasis model of CRC. Additionally, we identified that tumor-suppressive miR-143/145 could synergistically target CBFβ by specifically binding to its 3’-UTR region. An inverse correlation between miR-143/145 and CBFβ was verified in CRC patients. Our results represent the first report describing a mechanistic role for CBFβ-RUNX2 in the transcriptional activation of OPN, FAM129A and UPP1 in controlling colorectal cancer development, which may offer prognostic and therapeutic opportunities.
Project description:Transcriptional regulation is critically involved in colorectal cancer (CRC) pathogenesis, the mechanism of which remains incompletely understood. Here, we report that core-binding factor β (CBFβ) is commonly upregulated in human colorectal cancer and is associated with the survival rate of CRC patients. Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis of RUNX1-3 expression in CRC patients and other in vitro data revealed that CBFβ promotes cell proliferation and liver metastasis in a RUNX2-dependent way. Transcriptome sequencing, ChIP-seq and promoter-binding experiments demonstrated that the CBFβ/RUNX2 complex could activate the transcription of OPN, FAM129A and UPP1. Furthermore, CBFβ significantly promoted tumor growth and lung metastasis in a mouse xenograft model and an orthotopic liver metastasis model of CRC. Additionally, we identified that tumor-suppressive miR-143/145 could synergistically target CBFβ by specifically binding to its 3’-UTR region. An inverse correlation between miR-143/145 and CBFβ was verified in CRC patients. Our results represent the first report describing a mechanistic role for CBFβ-RUNX2 in the transcriptional activation of OPN, FAM129A and UPP1 in controlling colorectal cancer development, which may offer prognostic and therapeutic opportunities.
Project description:Colorectal cancer (CRC) is commonly associated with aberrant transcription regulation, but characteristics of the dysregulated transcription factors in CRC pathogenesis remain to be elucidated. In the present study, core-binding factor β (CBFβ) is found to be significantly upregulated in human CRC tissues and correlates with poor survival rate of CRC patients. Mechanistically, CBFβ is found to promote CRC cell proliferation, migration, invasion, and inhibit cell apoptosis in a RUNX2-dependent way. Transcriptome studies reveal that CBFβ and RUNX2 form a transcriptional complex that activates gene expression of OPN, FAM129A, and UPP1. Furthermore, CBFβ significantly promotes CRC tumor growth and live metastasis in a mouse xenograft model and a mouse liver metastasis model. In addition, tumor-suppressive miR-143/145 are found to inhibit CBFβ expression by specifically targeting its 3'-UTR region. Consistently, an inverse correlation between miR-143/miR-145 and CBFβ expression levels is present in CRC patients. Taken together, this study uncovers a novel regulatory role of CBFβ-RUNX2 complex in the transcriptional activation of OPN, FAM129A, and UPP1 during CRC development, and may provide important insights into CRC pathogenesis.
Project description:Background: Prostate cancer (PCa) cells preferentially metastasize to bone at least in part by acquiring osteomimetic properties. Runx2, an osteoblast master transcription factor, is aberrantly expressed in PCa cells, and promotes their metastatic phenotype. The transcriptional programs regulated by Runx2 have been extensively studied during osteoblastogenesis, where it activates or represses target genes in a context-dependent manner. However, little is known about the gene regulatory networks influenced by Runx2 in PCa cells. We therefore investigated genome-wide mRNA expression changes in PCa cells in response to Runx2. Results: We engineered a C4-2B PCa sub-line called C4-2B/Rx2dox, in which doxycycline (Dox) treatment stimulates Runx2 expression from very low levels to levels observed in other PCa cells. Transcriptome profiling using whole genome expression array followed by in silico analysis indicated that Runx2 upregulated a multitude of genes with prominent cancer-associated functions. They included secreted factors (CSF2, SDF-1), proteolytic enzymes (MMP9, CST7), cytoskeleton modulators (SDC2, Twinfilin, SH3PXD2A), intracellular signaling molecules (DUSP1, SPHK1, RASD1) and transcription factors (Sox9, SNAI2, SMAD3) functioning in epithelium to mesenchyme transition (EMT), tissue invasion, as well as homing and attachment to bone. Consistent with the gene expression data, induction of Runx2 in C4-2B cells enhanced their invasiveness. It also promoted cellular quiescence by blocking the G1/S phase transition during cell cycle progression. Furthermore, the cell cycle block was reversed as Runx2 levels declined after Dox withdrawal. Conclusions: The effects of Runx2 in C4-2B/Rx2dox cells, as well as similar observations made by employing LNCaP, 22RV1 and PC3 cells, highlight multiple mechanisms by which Runx2 promotes the metastatic phenotype of PCa cells, including tissue invasion, homing to bone and induction of high bone turnover. Runx2 is therefore an attractive target for the development of novel diagnostic, prognostic and therapeutic approaches to PCa management. Targeting Runx2 may prove more effective than focusing on its individual downstream genes and pathways. C4-2B/Rx2dox cells were subjected to microarray gene expression analysis after one and two days of treatment with either Dox or vehicle in biological quadruplicates (a total of 16 samples).
Project description:T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a high incidence of relapse. Here we show that Runt-related transcription factor 2, RUNX2 is upregulated in high-risk T-ALL with KMT2A rearrangements (KMT2A-R) or immature phenotype. In KMT2A-R cells, we identified RUNX2 as a direct target of the KMT2A chimeras, while it reciprocally binds the KMT2A promoter, establishing a regulatory feed-forward mechanism. Notably, RUNX2 is required for survival in immature and KMT2A-R T-ALL in vitro and in vivo. We report a direct transcriptional regulation of CXCR4 signaling by RUNX2, which thereby promotes cell migration and adhesion. Functionally, RUNX2 impacts T-ALL cell homing and exacerbates T-ALL progression to medullary and extramedullary sites. We demonstrate that RUNX2 enables these energy-demanding processes by increasing metabolic activity in T-ALL cells through positive regulation of both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Concurrently, RUNX2 upregulation results in increased mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis in T-ALL cells. As a proof of concept, immature and KMT2A-R T-ALL cells are vulnerable to pharmacological targeting of the interaction of RUNX2 with its co-factor CBFβ. In conclusion, we identify RUNX2 a dependency factor in immature and KMT2A-R T-ALL that regulates cell metabolism and disease progression
Project description:T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) is an aggressive hematologic malignancy with a high incidence of relapse. Here we show that Runt-related transcription factor 2, RUNX2 is upregulated in high-risk T-ALL with KMT2A rearrangements (KMT2A-R) or immature phenotype. In KMT2A-R cells, we identified RUNX2 as a direct target of the KMT2A chimeras, while it reciprocally binds the KMT2A promoter, establishing a regulatory feed-forward mechanism. Notably, RUNX2 is required for survival in immature and KMT2A-R T-ALL in vitro and in vivo. We report a direct transcriptional regulation of CXCR4 signaling by RUNX2, which thereby promotes cell migration and adhesion. Functionally, RUNX2 impacts T-ALL cell homing and exacerbates T-ALL progression to medullary and extramedullary sites. We demonstrate that RUNX2 enables these energy-demanding processes by increasing metabolic activity in T-ALL cells through positive regulation of both glycolysis and oxidative phosphorylation. Concurrently, RUNX2 upregulation results in increased mitochondrial dynamics and biogenesis in T-ALL cells. As a proof of concept, immature and KMT2A-R T-ALL cells are vulnerable to pharmacological targeting of the interaction of RUNX2 with its co-factor CBFβ. In conclusion, we identify RUNX2 a dependency factor in immature and KMT2A-R T-ALL that regulates cell metabolism and disease progression