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Publication
Journal: International Journal of Molecular Medicine
July/23/2020
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is a highly heterogeneous disease featured by the clonal accumulation of immature myeloid cells. Zinc finger E‑box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2)‑antisense RNA 1 (AS1) has been verified to participate in the progression of several types of cancer, including AML. However, the potential mechanisms of ZEB2‑AS1 in AML have not yet been fully elucidated. The present study aimed to elucidate the role and regulatory mechanisms of ZEB2‑AS1 in AML. The expression of ZEB2‑AS1, microRNA‑122‑5p (miRNA/miR‑122‑5p) and polo‑like kinase 1 (PLK1) was detected by reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT‑qPCR) in AML tissues or cells. Cell proliferation and apoptosis were examined by methyl thiazolyl tetrazolium (MTT) assay and apoptosis assay, respectively. The protein levels were examined by western blot analysis. The targeted sequence between miR‑122‑5p and ZEB2‑AS1 or PLK1 was predicted using an online database and verified by dual‑luciferase reporter assay. A mouse tumor xenograft model was established to confirm the effects of ZEB2‑AS1 on tumor growth in vivo. The results revealed that the expression levels of ZEB2‑AS1 and PLK1 were upregulated, while those of miR‑122‑5p were downregulated in AML tissues and cells. The knockdown of ZEB2‑AS1 inhibited proliferation and induced apoptosis in vitro, and inhibited tumor growth in vivo. By experimental verification, ZEB2‑AS1 was found to negatively regulate miR‑122‑5p expression and PLK1 was found to be a target gene of miR‑122‑5p. Furthermore, ZEB2‑AS1 was verified to regulate the expression of PLK1 by sponging miR‑122‑5p in AML cells. On the whole, the findings of the present study demonstrate that ZEB2‑AS1 promotes cell proliferation and inhibits apoptosis, at least partly by targeting PLK1 mediated by miR‑122‑5p in AML cells.
Publication
Journal: Orphanet Journal of Rare Diseases
June/16/2020
Abstract
Background: Mowat-Wilson syndrome (MWS; OMIM #235730) is a genetic condition caused by heterozygous mutations or deletions of the ZEB2 gene. It is characterized by moderate-severe intellectual disability, epilepsy, Hirschsprung disease and multiple organ malformations of which congenital heart defects and urogenital anomalies are the most frequent ones. To date, a clear description of the physical development of MWS patients does not exist. The aim of this study is to provide up-to-date growth charts specific for infants and children with MWS. Charts for males and females aged from 0 to 16 years were generated using a total of 2865 measurements from 99 MWS patients of different ancestries. All data were collected through extensive collaborations with the Italian MWS association (AIMW) and the MWS Foundation. The GAMLSS package for the R statistical computing software was used to model the growth charts. Height, weight, body mass index (BMI) and head circumference were compared to those from standard international growth charts for healthy children.
Results: In newborns, weight and length were distributed as in the general population, while head circumference was slightly smaller, with an average below the 30th centile. Up to the age of 7 years, weight and height distribution was shifted to slightly lower values than in the general population; after that, the difference increased further, with 50% of the affected children below the 5th centile of the general population. BMI distribution was similar to that of non-affected children until the age of 7 years, at which point values in MWS children increased with a less steep slope, particularly in males. Microcephaly was sometimes present at birth, but in most cases it developed gradually during infancy; many children had a small head circumference, between the 3rd and the 10th centile, rather than being truly microcephalic (at least 2 SD below the mean). Most patients were of slender build.
Conclusions: These charts contribute to the understanding of the natural history of MWS and should assist pediatricians and other caregivers in providing optimal care to MWS individuals who show problems related to physical growth. This is the first study on growth in patients with MWS.
Keywords: BMI; Body mass index; Growth charts; Head circumference; Height; Length; Mowat-Wilson syndrome; Weight; ZEB2.
Publication
Journal: Journal of clinical medicine
October/18/2019
Abstract
MicroRNAs of the miR-200 family have been shown experimentally to regulate epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). Although EMT is the postulated mechanism of development and progression of colorectal cancer (CRC), there are still limited and controversial data on expression of miR-200 family and their target genes during CRC cancerogenesis. Our study included formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded biopsy samples of 40 patients (10 adenomas and 30 cases of CRC with corresponding normal mucosa). Expression of miR-141, miR-200a/b/c and miR-429 and their target genes (CDKN1B, ONECUT2, PTPN13, RND3, SOX2, TGFB2 and ZEB2) was analysed using quantitative real-time PCR. Expression of E-cadherin was analysed using immunohistochemistry. All miRNAs were down-regulated and their target genes showed the opposite expression in CRC compared to adenoma. Down-regulation of the miR-200 family at the invasive front in comparison to the central part of tumour was observed as well as a correlation of expression of miR-200b, CDKN1B, ONECUT2 and ZEB2 expression to nodal metastases. Expression of the miR-200 family and SOX2 also correlated with E-cadherin staining. These results suggest that the miR-200 family and their target genes contribute to progression of adenoma to CRC, invasive properties and development of metastases. Our results strongly support the postulated hypotheses of partial EMT and intra-tumour heterogeneity during CRC cancerogenesis.
Publication
Journal: Medicine
September/13/2020
Abstract
Background: Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is the most aggressive and lethal subtype of breast cancer. Accumulating evidence showed long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) are abnormally expressed in TNBC and could be valuable prognostic tools for TNBC patients. This study aims to research the prognostic value of lncRNAs in TNBC, using the meta-analysis method.
Methods: We performed a detailed literature search on Pubmed, Scopus, and Web of Science for studies on the prognostic value of lncRNAs in TNBC. The meta-analysis method was used to determine the relationship between lncRNAs expression and survival of TNBC patients.
Results: A total of 2803 TNBC patients and 24 lncRNAs from 27 different articles were included in the present study. Subgroup analysis demonstrated that overexpression of lncRNAs in a group that is upregulated in TBNC showed a significant association with poor overall survival (HR = 1.86, 95%CI = 1.45-2.27, I = 41.9%) and disease-free survival (HR = 1.85, 95%CI = 1.37-2.33, I = 0%). Conversely, overexpression of lncRNAs in a downregulation group was markedly related to good overall survival (HR = 0.60, 95%CI = 0.43-0.77, I = 28.6%). Moreover, expression of lncRNA SNHG12, MALAT1, HOTAIR, HIF1A-AS2, HULC, LINC00096, ZEB2-AS1, LUCAT1, and LINC000173 showed a marked correlation with positive lymph node metastasis (LNM), while lncRNA MIR503HG, GAS5, TCONS_l2_00002973 showed the opposite effect. High expression level of MALAT1, HIF1A-AS2, HULC, LINC00096, ADPGK-AS1, ZEB2-AS1, LUCAT1 were positively correlated with distant metastasis (DM), while lncRNA MIR503HG showed the opposite effect. In addition, the mechanisms of lncRNAs in TNBC were summarized.
Conclusions: This meta-analysis demonstrated that abnormally expressed lncRNA were significantly associated with the survival of TNBC patients and may serve as biomarkers and therapeutic targets for TNBC prognosis.
Publication
Journal: Genome Medicine
November/9/2017
Abstract
Left-sided lesions (LSLs) account for an important fraction of severe congenital cardiovascular malformations (CVMs). The genetic contributions to LSLs are complex, and the mutations that cause these malformations span several diverse biological signaling pathways: TGFB, NOTCH, SHH, and more. Here, we use whole exome sequence data generated in 342 LSL cases to identify likely damaging variants in putative candidate CVM genes.
Using a series of bioinformatics filters, we focused on genes harboring population-rare, putative loss-of-function (LOF), and predicted damaging variants in 1760 CVM candidate genes constructed a priori from the literature and model organism databases. Gene variants that were not observed in a comparably sequenced control dataset of 5492 samples without severe CVM were then subjected to targeted validation in cases and parents. Whole exome sequencing data from 4593 individuals referred for clinical sequencing were used to bolster evidence for the role of candidate genes in CVMs and LSLs.
Our analyses revealed 28 candidate variants in 27 genes, including 17 genes not previously associated with a human CVM disorder, and revealed diverse patterns of inheritance among LOF carriers, including 9 confirmed de novo variants in both novel and newly described human CVM candidate genes (ACVR1, JARID2, NR2F2, PLRG1, SMURF1) as well as established syndromic CVM genes (KMT2D, NF1, TBX20, ZEB2). We also identified two genes (DNAH5, OFD1) with evidence of recessive and hemizygous inheritance patterns, respectively. Within our clinical cohort, we also observed heterozygous LOF variants in JARID2 and SMAD1 in individuals with cardiac phenotypes, and collectively, carriers of LOF variants in our candidate genes had a four times higher odds of having CVM (odds ratio = 4.0, 95% confidence interval 2.5-6.5).
Our analytical strategy highlights the utility of bioinformatic resources, including human disease records and model organism phenotyping, in novel gene discovery for rare human disease. The results underscore the extensive genetic heterogeneity underlying non-syndromic LSLs, and posit potential novel candidate genes and complex modes of inheritance in this important group of birth defects.
Publication
Journal: Cell Death and Differentiation
February/7/2019
Abstract
Since publication of the article, the authors were notified by ATCC that the cell line HCC1395 (ATCC® CRL-2324™ Lot 62235652) suffered a "low level of cell line cross-contamination" with another cell line.
Publication
Journal: Transplantation
July/8/2019
Abstract
Dysregulation of miRNAs has been implicated in airway diseases where TGF-β induced Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT) may contribute to pathophysiology. Our study investigated the role of miRNA-200b in TGF-β1 induced EMT in human bronchial epithelial cells.NanoString® nCounter miRNA assay was used to profile miRNA in control versus TGF- β1 (1, 4 and 24 hrs) stimulated BEAS-2B cells. Immortalized primary bronchial epithelial cell line (BEAS-2B cells), human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBECs) and PBECs derived post lung transplant were transfected with miR-200b-3p mimics and EMT marker expression was examined at RNA and protein level. MiRNA target studies was performed and validated using computational tools and luciferase assay. In situ hybridization was done on normal lung tissue to localize miR-200b-3p in airway epithelium.MiR-200b-3p was downregulated post TGF- β1 treatment compared to control in BEAS-2B. MiR-200b-3p mimic transfection prior to TGF-β1 stimulation maintained epithelial marker expression and downregulated mesenchymal cell markers at RNA and protein level in BEAS-2B cells and PBECs. Furthermore, miR-200b-3p mimics reversed established TGF-β1 induced EMT in BEAS-2B cells. MiR-200b-3p targets, ZNF532 and ZEB2 were validated as direct targets using luciferase assay. miR-200b-3p mimics suppress TGF-β1 induced EMT via inhibition of ZNF532 and ZEB2. In situ hybridization showed that miR-200b-3p is expressed in the normal lung epithelium. Additionally, miR-200b-3p mimics inhibit EMT in the presence of TGF-β1 in PBECs derived from lung allograft.We provide proof of concept that miR-200b-3p protects airway epithelial cells from EMT. Manipulating miR-200b-3p expression may represent a novel therapeutic modulator in airway pathophysiology.
Publication
Journal: British Journal of Ophthalmology
April/3/2019
Abstract
Vimentin is an intermediate-sized filament which is highly expressed in mesenchymal cells and is associated with epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). EMT markers ZEB2 and Slug lead to Vimentin overexpression and E-cadherin loss, resulting in invasion and metastasis. However, the status of Vimentin remains unexplored in eyelid sebaceous gland carcinoma (SGC). The study aims to determine status of Vimentin in SGC and its association with EMT markers E-cadherin, ZEB2 and Slug.Vimentin protein expression was undertaken in 66 cases with SGC by immunohistochemistry (IHC). Messenger RNA (mRNA) expression was determined in 42 fresh tissues by quantitative real-time PCR. Association of Vimentin with E-cadherin, ZEB2 and Slug was also analysed. Patients were followed up for 17-69 months (mean 34.02 ± 14.73 months).IHC revealed Vimentin overexpression in 37/66 (56%) cases. This overexpression showed significant association with lymph node metastasis (p=0.004) and pagetoid spread (p=0.05). Patients with high Vimentin expression also had poor disease-free survival (p=0.033). Univariate Cox regression model indicated that high Vimentin expression (p=0.043) and advanced tumour stage (p=0.002) were independent adverse prognostic factors. High Vimentin mRNA expression was seen in 16/42 (38%) cases and correlated significantly with lymph node metastasis (p=0.027), advanced tumour stage (p=0.002) and large tumour size (p=0.023). Vimentin expression overall showed a significant inverse association with E-cadherin and direct association with ZEB2 expression.Vimentin overexpression in SGC is associated with EMT and leads to poor clinical outcome. It also emerged as a novel predictor for lymph node metastasis and poor survival.
Publication
Journal: BMC Genetics
October/1/2020
Abstract
Background: Feather pecking (FP) is damaging behavior in laying hens leading to global economic losses in the layer industry and massive impairments of animal welfare. The objective of the study was to discover genetic variants and affected genes that lead to FP behavior. To achieve that we imputed low-density genotypes from two different populations of layers divergently selected for FP to sequence level by performing whole genome sequencing on founder and half-sib individuals. In order to decipher the genetic structure of FP, genome wide association studies and meta-analyses of two resource populations were carried out by focusing on the traits 'feather pecks delivered' (FPD) and the 'posterior probability of a hen to belong to the extreme feather pecking subgroup' (pEFP).
Results: In this meta-analysis, we discovered numerous genes that are affected by polymorphisms significantly associated with the trait FPD. Among them SPATS2L, ZEB2, KCHN8, and MRPL13 which have been previously connected to psychiatric disorders with the latter two being responsive to nicotine treatment. Gene set enrichment analysis revealed that phosphatidylinositol signaling is affected by genes identified in the GWAS and that the Golgi apparatus as well as brain structure may be involved in the development of a FP phenotype. Further, we were able to validate a previously discovered QTL for the trait pEFP on GGA1, which contains variants affecting NIPA1, KIAA1211L, AFF3, and TSGA10.
Conclusions: We provide evidence for the involvement of numerous genes in the propensity to exhibit FP behavior that could aid in the selection against this unwanted trait. Furthermore, we identified variants that are involved in phosphatidylinositol signaling, Golgi metabolism and cell structure and therefore propose changes in brain structure to be an influential factor in FP, as already described in human neuropsychiatric disorders.
Keywords: Chicken; Feather pecking; Genome wide association study; Imputation; Meta-analysis; Whole genome sequencing.
Publication
Journal: European Review for Medical and Pharmacological Sciences
December/4/2019
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is one of the most common malignancies around the world and effective therapeutic method is yet to be excavated for advance NSCLC. MicroRNA-507 (miR-507) was found to be aberrantly expressed and affected cancer cell behaviors in some types of cancers. However, the role of miR-507 in NSCLC is largely unknown. The expression, biological role, and the underlying mechanism of miR-507 in NSCLC were explored in this study.Quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) assay was applied for the detection of miR-507 in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK-8) and colony formation assays were carried out to assess the proliferative abilities of NSCLC cells. Cell invasive capabilities were determined by transwell assays. We used Dual-Luciferase reporter assays to verify the binding between miR-507 and zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2).MiR-507 was found to be downregulated in NSCLC tissues and cell lines. Low expression of miR-507 was correlated with poor prognosis of NSCLC. Overexpression of miR-507 repressed NSCLC cell invasion and proliferation. ZEB2 was predicted to be a direct downstream molecular of miR-507 and their direct binding was verified by Dual-Luciferase reporter assays. Up-regulation of ZEB2 could significantly rescue the suppressive effects of miR-507 on NSCLC cells' invasion and proliferation.MiR-507 was noticeably downregulated in NSCLC and correlated with poor prognosis of NSCLC patients. MiR-507 represses the invasion and proliferation of NSCLC via targeting ZEB2. This study indicated that miR-507 might serve as a potential therapeutic target for NSCLC.
Publication
Journal: Genetics in Medicine
November/4/2019
Abstract
Fetal akinesia has multiple clinical subtypes with over 160 gene associations, but the genetic etiology is not yet completely understood.In this study, 51 patients from 47 unrelated families were analyzed using next-generation sequencing (NGS) techniques aiming to decipher the genomic landscape of fetal akinesia (FA).We have identified likely pathogenic gene variants in 37 cases and report 41 novel variants. Additionally, we report putative pathogenic variants in eight cases including nine novel variants. Our work identified 14 novel disease-gene associations for fetal akinesia: ADSSL1, ASAH1, ASPM, ATP2B3, EARS2, FBLN1, PRG4, PRICKLE1, ROR2, SETBP1, SCN5A, SCN8A, and ZEB2. Furthermore, a sibling pair harbored a homozygous copy-number variant in TNNT1, an ultrarare congenital myopathy gene that has been linked to arthrogryposis via Gene Ontology analysis.Our analysis indicates that genetic defects leading to primary skeletal muscle diseases might have been underdiagnosed, especially pathogenic variants in RYR1. We discuss three novel putative fetal akinesia genes: GCN1, IQSEC3 and RYR3. Of those, IQSEC3, and RYR3 had been proposed as neuromuscular disease-associated genes recently, and our findings endorse them as FA candidate genes. By combining NGS with deep clinical phenotyping, we achieved a 73% success rate of solved cases.
Publication
Journal: Cellular Oncology
November/18/2018
Abstract
BACKGROUND
ZEB2 is a transcriptional repressor that regulates epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) through binding to bipartite E-box motifs in gene regulatory regions. Despite the abundant presence of E-boxes within the human genome and the multiplicity of pathophysiological processes regulated during ZEB2-induced EMT, only a small fraction of ZEB2 targets has been identified so far. Hence, we explored genome-wide ZEB2 binding by chromatin immunoprecipitation-sequencing (ChIP-seq) under endogenous ZEB2 expression conditions.
METHODS
For ChIP-Seq we used an anti-ZEB2 monoclonal antibody, clone 6E5, in SNU398 hepatocellular carcinoma cells exhibiting a high endogenous ZEB2 expression. The ChIP-Seq targets were validated using ChIP-qPCR, whereas ZEB2-dependent expression of target genes was assessed by RT-qPCR and Western blotting in shRNA-mediated ZEB2 silenced SNU398 cells and doxycycline-induced ZEB2 overexpressing colorectal carcinoma DLD1 cells. Changes in target gene expression were also assessed using primary human tumor cDNA arrays in conjunction with RT-qPCR. Additional differential expression and correlation analyses were performed using expO and Human Protein Atlas datasets.
RESULTS
Over 500 ChIP-Seq positive genes were annotated, and intervals related to these genes were found to include the ZEB2 binding motif CACCTG according to TOMTOM motif analysis in the MEME Suite database. Assessment of ZEB2-dependent expression of target genes in ZEB2-silenced SNU398 cells and ZEB2-induced DLD1 cells revealed that the GALNT3 gene serves as a ZEB2 target with the highest, but inversely correlated, expression level. Remarkably, GALNT3 also exhibited the highest enrichment in the ChIP-qPCR validation assays. Through the analyses of primary tumor cDNA arrays and expO datasets a significant differential expression and a significant inverse correlation between ZEB2 and GALNT3 expression were detected in most of the tumors. We also explored ZEB2 and GALNT3 protein expression using the Human Protein Atlas dataset and, again, observed an inverse correlation in all analyzed tumor types, except malignant melanoma. In contrast to a generally negative or weak ZEB2 expression, we found that most tumor tissues exhibited a strong or moderate GALNT3 expression.
CONCLUSIONS
Our observation that ZEB2 negatively regulates a GalNAc-transferase (GALNT3) that is involved in O-glycosylation adds another layer of complexity to the role of ZEB2 in cancer progression and metastasis. Proteins glycosylated by GALNT3 may be exploited as novel diagnostics and/or therapeutic targets.
Publication
Journal: Molecular Medicine Reports
April/8/2019
Abstract
Zinc finger E‑box binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) is a member of the Zfh1 family of two‑handed zinc finger/homeodomain proteins. To date, the role of ZEB2 in human laryngeal carcinoma has not been clearly defined. In the present study, the level of ZEB2 expression in laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) tissues and adjacent normal tissues was evaluated using reverse transcription‑quantitative polymerase chain reaction. The effects of ZEB2 on the growth, migration, invasion, cell cycle distribution and apoptosis of laryngeal cancer cells were also explored using MTT, Transwell and flow cytometry assays. It was identified that ZEB2 was upregulated in LSCC tissues compared with normal tissues. Silencing of ZEB2 inhibited the viability, migration and invasion of LSCC cells. It was also observed that ZEB2 silencing induced cell cycle arrest and apoptosis in LSCC cells. Furthermore, ZEB2 silencing inhibited the process of epithelial‑mesenchymal transition. Overall, the results indicated that ZEB2 promotes the progression of LSCC and that it may be a potential target for the treatment of this type of cancer.
Publication
Journal: International Journal of Biological Markers
March/11/2019
Abstract
The novel primary end-point of the present study was to ascertain β-arrestin-1 expression in a cohort of consecutive patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) with information available on their cigarette-smoking habits. A secondary end-point was to conduct a preliminary clinical and pathological investigation into the possible role of β-arrestin-1 in the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT), identified by testing for E-cadherin, Zeb1, and Zeb2 expression, in the setting of LSCC.The expression of β-arrestin-1, E-cadherin, zeb1, and zeb2 was ascertained in 20 consecutive LSCCs.Statistical analysis showed no significant associations between β-arrestin-1 and EMT (based on the expression of E-cadherin, Zeb1, and Zeb2). The combined effect of nicotine and β-arrestin-1 was significantly associated with a shorter disease-free survival ( P=0.01) in our series of LSCC. This latter result was also confirmed in an independent, publicly available LSCC cohort ( P=0.047).Further investigations on larger series (ideally in prospective settings) are needed before we can consider closer follow-up protocols and/or more aggressive treatments for patients with LSCC and a combination of nicotine exposure and β-arrestin-1 positivity in tumor cells at the time of their diagnosis. Further studies on how β-arrestin functions in cancer via different signaling pathways might reveal potential targets for the treatment of even advanced laryngeal malignancies.
Publication
Journal: Oncology Letters
June/29/2021
Abstract
[This retracts the article DOI: 10.3892/ol.2016.4577.].
Publication
Journal: Developmental Biology
September/19/2020
Abstract
The interplay between signaling molecules and transcription factors during retinal development is key to controlling the correct number of retinal cell types. Zeb2 (Sip1) is a zinc-finger multidomain transcription factor that plays multiple roles in central and peripheral nervous system development. Haploinsufficiency of ZEB2 causes Mowat-Wilson syndrome, a congenital disease characterized by intellectual disability, epilepsy and Hirschsprung disease. In the developing retina, Zeb2 is required for generation of horizontal cells and the correct number of interneurons; however, its potential function in controlling gliogenic versus neurogenic decisions remains unresolved. Here we present cellular and molecular evidence of the inhibition of Muller glia cell fate by Zeb2 in late stages of retinogenesis. Unbiased transcriptomic profiling of control and Zeb2-deficient early-postnatal retina revealed that Zeb2 functions in inhibiting Id1/2/4 and Hes1 gene expression. These neural progenitor factors normally inhibit neural differentiation and promote Muller glia cell fate. Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) supported direct regulation of Id1 by Zeb2 in the postnatal retina. Reporter assays and ChIP analyses in differentiating neural progenitors provided further evidence that Zeb2 inhibits Id1 through inhibition of Smad-mediated activation of Id1 transcription. Together, the results suggest that Zeb2 promotes the timely differentiation of retinal interneurons at least in part by repressing BMP-Smad/Notch target genes that inhibit neurogenesis. These findings show that Zeb2 integrates extrinsic cues to regulate the balance between neuronal and glial cell types in the developing murine retina.
Keywords: BMP; Muller glia; Retinal progenitor cell; Retinogenesis; Zeb2.
Publication
Journal: Development (Cambridge)
April/7/2020
Abstract
The transcription factor Zeb2 controls fate specification and subsequent differentiation and maturation of multiple cell types in various embryonic tissues. It binds many protein partners, including activated Smad proteins and the NuRD co-repressor complex. How Zeb2 subdomains support cell differentiation in various contexts has remained elusive. Here, we have studied the role of Zeb2 and its domains in neurogenesis and neural differentiation in the young postnatal ventricular-subventricular zone (V-SVZ), where neural stem cells generate olfactory bulb-destined interneurons. Conditional Zeb2 knockouts and separate acute loss- and gain-of-function approaches indicated that Zeb2 is essential to control apoptosis and neuronal differentiation of V-SVZ progenitors before and after birth, and identified Sox6 as Zeb2-dependent and potential downstream target gene. Zeb2 genetic inactivation impaired the differentiation potential of the V-SVZ niche in a cell-autonomous fashion. We also provide evidence that its normal function in the V-SVZ involves non-autonomous mechanisms as well. Additionally, we could demonstrate distinct roles for Zeb2 protein-binding domains, suggesting that Zeb2 partners co-determine neuronal output from the mouse V-SVZ in both quantitative and qualitative manners in early postnatal life.
Publication
Journal: Human Molecular Genetics
December/27/2018
Abstract
Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (ZEB2) is a key developmental regulator of the central nervous system (CNS). Although the transcriptional regulation of ZEB2 is essential for CNS development, the elements that regulate ZEB2 expression have yet to be identified. Here, we identified a proximal regulatory region of ZEB2 and characterized transcriptional enhancers during neuronal development. Using chromatin immunoprecipitation sequencing for active (H3K27ac) and repressed (H3K27me3) chromatin regions in human neuronal progenitors, combined with an in vivo zebrafish enhancer assay, we functionally characterized 18 candidate enhancers in the ZEB2 locus. Eight enhancers drove expression patterns that were specific to distinct mid/hindbrain regions (ZEB2#e3 and 5), trigeminal-like ganglia (ZEB2#e6 and 7), notochord (ZEB2#e2, 4 and 12) and whole brain (ZEB2#e14). We further dissected the minimal sequences that drive enhancer-specific activity in the mid/hindbrain and notochord. Using a reporter assay in human cells, we showed an increased activity of the minimal notochord enhancer ZEB2#e2 in response to AP-1 and DLX1/2 expressions, while repressed activity of this enhancer was seen in response to ZEB2 and TFAP2 expressions. We showed that Dlx1 but not Zeb2 and Tfap2 occupies Zeb2#e2 enhancer sequence in the mouse notochord at embryonic day 11.5. Using CRISPR/Cas9 genome editing, we deleted the ZEB2#e2 region, leading to reduction of ZEB2 expression in human cells. We thus characterized distal transcriptional enhancers and trans-acting elements that govern regulation of ZEB2 expression during neuronal development. These findings pave the path toward future analysis of the role of ZEB2 regulatory elements in neurodevelopmental disorders, such as Mowat-Wilson syndrome.
Publication
Journal: Pediatric and Developmental Pathology
April/7/2020
Abstract
Mowat-Wilson syndrome (MWS) is a syndromic form of Hirschsprung disease that is characterized by variable degrees of intellectual disability, characteristic facial dysmorphism, and a diverse set of other congenital malformations due to haploinsufficiency of ZEB2. A variety of brain malformations have been described in neuroimaging studies of MWS patients, and the role of ZEB2 in the brain has been studied in a multitude of genetically engineered mouse models that are now available. However, a paucity of autopsy information limits our ability to correlate data from neuroimaging studies and animal models with actual MWS patient tissues. Here, we report the autopsy neuropathology of a 19-year-old male patient with MWS. Autopsy neuropathology findings correlated well with the reported MWS neuroimaging data and are in keeping with data from genetically engineered MWS mouse models. This autopsy enhances our understanding of ZEB2 function in human brain development and demonstrates the reliability of MWS murine models.
Publication
Journal: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
April/8/2020
Abstract
Skeletal muscle differentiation is triggered by a unique family of myogenic basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors, including MyoD, MRF-4, Myf-5, and Myogenin. These transcription factors bind promoters and distant regulatory regions, including E-box elements, of genes whose expression is restricted to muscle cells. Other E-box binding zinc finger proteins target the same DNA response elements, however, their function in muscle development and regeneration is still unknown. Here, we show that the transcription factor zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 (Zeb2, Sip-1, Zfhx1b) is present in skeletal muscle tissues. We investigate the role of Zeb2 in skeletal muscle differentiation using genetic tools and transgenic mouse embryonic stem cells, together with single-cell RNA-sequencing and in vivo muscle engraftment capability. We show that Zeb2 over-expression has a positive impact on skeletal muscle differentiation in pluripotent stem cells and adult myogenic progenitors. We therefore propose that Zeb2 is a novel myogenic regulator and a possible target for improving skeletal muscle regeneration. The non-neural roles of Zeb2 are poorly understood.
Publication
Journal: Artificial Cells, Nanomedicine and Biotechnology
February/19/2020
Abstract
Smoking is an important factor in the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which is commonly characterised by cellular senescence and inflammation. Recently, miR-200b has emerged as an important target to cure lung disease; however, the function of miR-200b in reducing cellular senescence and inflammatory responses has not been reported. In this study, we found that miR-200b was downregulated in the lungs of COPD model mice, and its expression is correlated with cellular senescence and inflammatory responses. We hypothesised that miR-200b may be a potential novel therapy for treating COPD. We performed senescence-Associated-β-galactosidase (SA-β-GAL) staining, western blot, qRT-PCR and ELISA; our data suggested that miR-200b is an anti-aging factor in the lungs that is involved in inflammatory responses. We also confirmed that ZEB2 (Zinc finger E-box binding homeobox 2) is a target gene of miR-200b using luciferase reporter assay. In addition, we verified the function of ZEB2 in cellular senescence and inflammatory responses through transfection experiments. Moreover, we found that the protective effects of miR-200b are inhibited when cells overexpress the ZEB2 protein. In conclusion, our results suggest that miR-200b may attenuate cellular senescence and inflammatory responses by targeting ZEB2 in pulmonary emphysema.
Publication
Journal: Molecular Neurobiology
June/19/2018
Abstract
Mutations in the human transcription factor gene ZEB2 cause Mowat-Wilson syndrome, a congenital disorder characterized by multiple and variable anomalies including microcephaly, Hirschsprung disease, intellectual disability, epilepsy, microphthalmia, retinal coloboma, and/or optic nerve hypoplasia. Zeb2 in mice is involved in patterning neural and lens epithelia, neural tube closure, as well as in the specification, differentiation and migration of neural crest cells and cortical neurons. At present, it is still unclear how Zeb2 mutations cause retinal coloboma, whether Zeb2 inactivation results in retinal degeneration, and whether Zeb2 is sufficient to promote the differentiation of different retinal cell types. Here, we show that during mouse retinal development, Zeb2 is expressed transiently in early retinal progenitors and in all non-photoreceptor cell types including bipolar, amacrine, horizontal, ganglion, and Müller glial cells. Its retina-specific ablation causes severe loss of all non-photoreceptor cell types, cell fate switch to photoreceptors by retinal progenitors, and elevated apoptosis, which lead to age-dependent retinal degeneration, optic nerve hypoplasia, synaptic connection defects, and impaired ERG (electroretinogram) responses. Moreover, overexpression of Zeb2 is sufficient to promote the fate of all non-photoreceptor cell types at the expense of photoreceptors. Together, our data not only suggest that Zeb2 is both necessary and sufficient for the differentiation of non-photoreceptor cell types while simultaneously inhibiting the photoreceptor cell fate by repressing transcription factor genes involved in photoreceptor specification and differentiation, but also reveal a necessity of Zeb2 in the long-term maintenance of retinal cell types. This work helps to decipher the etiology of retinal atrophy associated with Mowat-Wilson syndrome and hence will impact on clinical diagnosis and management of the patients suffering from this syndrome.
Publication
Journal: Cell Reports
July/1/2020
Abstract
The astrocytic response to injury is characterized on the cellular level, but our understanding of the molecular mechanisms controlling the cellular processes is incomplete. The astrocytic response to injury is similar to wound-healing responses in non-neural tissues that involve epithelial-to-mesenchymal transitions (EMTs) and upregulation in ZEB transcription factors. Here we show that injury-induced astrogliosis increases EMT-related genes expression, including Zeb2, and long non-coding RNAs, including Zeb2os, which facilitates ZEB2 protein translation. In mouse models of either contusive spinal cord injury or transient ischemic stroke, the conditional knockout of Zeb2 in astrocytes attenuates astrogliosis, generates larger lesions, and delays the recovery of motor function. These findings reveal ZEB2 as an important regulator of the astrocytic response to injury and suggest that astrogliosis is an EMT-like process, which provides a conceptual connection for the molecular and cellular similarities between astrogliosis and wound-healing responses in non-neural tissue.
Keywords: astrocytes; epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition; long non-coding RNA; spinal cord injury; stroke; wound healing.
Publication
Journal: Stem Cell Research
August/3/2019
Abstract
Mowat-Wilson syndrome (MWS) is a complex developmental syndrome caused by heterozygous mutations in the Zinc finger E-box-binding homeobox 2 gene (ZEB2). We generated the first human iPSC lines from primary fibroblasts of two siblings with MWS carrying a heterozygous ZEB2 stop mutation (c.1027C > T; p.Arg343*) using the Sendai virus reprogramming system. Both iPSC lines were free from reprogramming vector genes, expressed pluripotency markers and showed potential to differentiate into the three germ layers. Genetic analysis confirmed normal karyotypes and a preserved stop mutation. These iPSC lines will provide a useful resource to study altered neural lineage fate and neuropathophysiology in MWS.
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