miR-16 Targets Transcriptional Corepressor SMRT and Modulates NF-kappaB-Regulated Transactivation of Interleukin-8 Gene

The signaling pathways associated with the Toll-like receptors (TLRs) and nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) are essential to pro-inflammatory cytokine and chemokine expression, as well as initiating innate epithelial immune responses. The TLR/NF-κB signaling pathways must be stringently controlled through an intricate network of positive and negative regulatory elements. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are non-coding small RNAs that regulate the stability and/or translation of protein-coding mRNAs. Herein we report that miR-16 promotes NF-κB-regulated transactivation of the IL-8 gene by suppression of the silencing mediator for retinoid and thyroid hormone receptor (SMRT). LPS stimulation activated miR-16 gene transcription in human monocytes (U937) and biliary epithelial cells (H69) through MAPK-dependent mechanisms. Transfection of cells with the miR-16 precursor promoted LPS-induced production of IL-8, IL-6, and IL-1α, without a significant effect on their RNA stability. Instead, an increase in NF-κB-regulated transactivation of the IL-8 gene was confirmed in cells following transfection of miR-16 precursor. Importantly, miR-16 targeted the 3′-untranslated region of SMRT and caused translational suppression of SMRT. LPS decreased SMRT expression via upregulation of miR-16. Moreover, functional manipulation of SMRT altered NF-κB-regulated transactivation of LPS-induced IL-8 expression. These data suggest that miR-16 targets SMRT and modulates NF-κB-regulated transactivation of the IL-8 gene

Advances in estrogen receptor biology: prospects for improvements in targeted breast cancer therapy

Estrogen receptor (ER) has a crucial role in normal breast development and is expressed in the most common breast cancer subtypes. Importantly, its expression is very highly predictive for response to endocrine therapy. Current endocrine therapies for ER-positive breast cancers target ER function at multiple levels. These include targeting the level of estrogen, blocking estrogen action at the ER, and decreasing ER levels. However, the ultimate effectiveness of therapy is limited by either intrinsic or acquired resistance. Identifying the factors and pathways responsible for sensitivity and resistance remains a challenge in improving the treatment of breast cancer. With a better understanding of coordinated action of ER, its coregulatory factors, and the influence of other intracellular signaling cascades, improvements in breast cancer therapy are emerging

The Corepressor NCoR1 Antagonizes PGC-1α and Estrogen-Related Receptor α in the Regulation of Skeletal Muscle Function and Oxidative Metabolism

Skeletal muscle exhibits a high plasticity and accordingly can quickly adapt to different physiological and pathological stimuli by changing its phenotype largely through diverse epigenetic mechanisms. The nuclear receptor corepressor 1 (NCoR1) has the ability to mediate gene repression; however, its role in regulating biological programs in skeletal muscle is still poorly understood. We therefore studied the mechanistic and functional aspects of NCoR1 function in this tissue. NCoR1 muscle-specific knockout mice exhibited a 7.2% higher peak oxygen consumption (VO(2peak)), a 11% reduction in maximal isometric force, and increased ex vivo fatigue resistance during maximal stimulation. Interestingly, global gene expression analysis revealed a high overlap between the effects of NCoR1 deletion and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) coactivator 1α (PGC-1α) overexpression on oxidative metabolism in muscle. Importantly, PPARβ/δ and estrogen-related receptor α (ERRα) were identified as common targets of NCoR1 and PGC-1α with opposing effects on the transcriptional activity of these nuclear receptors. In fact, the repressive effect of NCoR1 on oxidative phosphorylation gene expression specifically antagonizes PGC-1α-mediated coactivation of ERRα. We therefore delineated the molecular mechanism by which a transcriptional network controlled by corepressor and coactivator proteins determines the metabolic properties of skeletal muscle, thus representing a potential therapeutic target for metabolic diseases

Hansen Type I disk disease at T1-2 in a Dachshund

A 7-year-old Dachshund was presented with chronic left thoracic limb lameness and acute neurological deficits to the hind limbs following trauma. A lesion was suspected between C7 and T2 on the basis of neurological examinations. Radiography and myelography identified a calcified intervertebral disk at C7-T1 and an extradural unilateral compressive lesion at T1-2. Computed tomography scans of the cranial thoracic spine revealed extrusion of disk material from the T1-2 intervertebral space resulting in marked spinal cord compression. Intervertebral disk disease is rarely reported at this location. The neurological condition deteriorated after a second myelogram, which was done to examine the thoracolumbar spine. A modified dorsal decompression of T1-2 was performed. The dog was euthanased due to further neurological deterioration 8 days after surgery

Fusion proteins of the retinoic acid-alpha recruit histone deacetylase in promyelocytic leukaemia

none15The transforming proteins of acute promyelocytic leukaemias (APL) are fusions of the promyelocytic leukaemia (PML) and the promyelocytic leukaemia zinc-finger (PLZF) proteins with retinoic acid receptor-alpha (RARalpha). These proteins retain the RARalpha DNA- and retinoic acid (RA)-binding domains, and their ability to block haematopoietic differentiation depends on the RARalpha DNA-binding domain. Thus RA-target genes are downstream effectors. However, treatment with RA induces differentiation of leukaemic blast cells and disease remission in PML-RARalpha APLs, whereas PLZF-RARa APLs are resistant to RA. Transcriptional regulation by RARs involves modifications of chromatin by histone deacetylases, which are recruited to RA-target genes by nuclear co-repressors. Here we show that both PML-RARalpha and PLZF-RARalpha fusion proteins recruit the nuclear co-repressor (N-CoR)-histone deacetylase complex through the RARalpha CoR box. PLZF-RARalpha contains a second, RA-resistant binding site in the PLZF amino-terminal region. High doses of RA release histone deacetylase activity from PML-RARalpha, but not from PLZF-RARalpha. Mutation of the N-CoR binding site abolishes the ability of PML-RARalpha to block differentiation, whereas inhibition of histone deacetylase activity switches the transcriptional and biological effects of PLZF-RARalpha from being an inhibitor to an activator of the RA signalling pathway. Therefore, recruitment of histone deacetylase is crucial to the transforming potential of APL fusion proteins, and the different effects of RA on the stability of the PML-RARalpha and PLZF-RARalpha co-repressor complexes determines the differential response of APLs to RA.mixedF. GRIGNANI; S. DE MATTEIS; C. NERVI; L. TOMASSONI; V. GELMETTI; M. CIOCE; M. FANELLI; M. RUTHARDT; F.F. FERRARA; I. ZAMIR; C. SEISER; F. GRIGNANI; M.A. LAZAR; S. MINUCCI; P.G. PELICCIF., Grignani; S., DE MATTEIS; C., Nervi; L., Tomassoni; V., Gelmetti; M., Cioce; Fanelli, Mirco; M., Ruthardt; F. F., Ferrara; I., Zamir; C., Seiser; F., Grignani; M. A., Lazar; S., Minucci; P. G., Pelicc