Human PRRX1 and PRRX2 genes: cloning, expression, genomic localization, and exclusion as disease genes for Nager syndrome

In this study, we extend our examination of the function of the Prrx1 (a.k.a. Mhox, Prx1, K-2, and Pmx1) as well as Prrx2 (a.k.a. S8 and Prx2) genes by characterizing the expression of the human orthologs and their potential for causing specific human malformations. The expression pattern of PRRX2 and its close relative, PRRX1, were analyzed in human tissue by RT-PCR. Although the expression of these human genes is similar to their mouse orthologs, there are notable differences in expression. PRRX2 was detected in the human kidney and lung, whereas in mice and chickens neither of these tissues has been reported to express Prrx2. For PRRX1 the expression pattern was quite similar to other vertebrates, but the ratio of the two isoforms was reversed. To begin the search for the gene-disease connection, both genes were mapped to human chromosomes by FISH. The PRRX1 locus maps to 1q23, whereas the PRRX2 locus maps to 9q34.1. This localization, along with the recently described phenotypes of the gene-targeted Prrx1, Prrx2 and double mutant mice, enabled us to search the human disease databases for similar malformations. This examination suggested that mutations at the PRRX1 and/or PRRX2 loci could result in Nager Acrofacial Dysostosis (NAFD) syndrome. We obtained DNA samples from eight patients with NAFD, as well as two patients with Miller syndrome, and analyzed them for mutations in the PRRX1 and PRRX2 genes. The data excludes mutations in the presumed coding sequences of these genes from causing NAFD. Received: 21 March 2000 / Accepted: 5 July 2000     

PRRX1 promotes malignant properties in human osteosarcoma

Paired related homeobox 1 (PRRX1) is a marker of limb bud mesenchymal cells, and deficiency of p53 or Rb in Prrx1-positive cells induces osteosarcoma in several mouse models. However, the regulatory roles of PRRX1 in human osteosarcoma have not been defined. In this study, we performed PRRX1 immunostaining on 35 human osteosarcoma specimens to assess the correlation between PRRX1 level and overall survival. In patients with osteosarcoma, the expression level of PRRX1 positively correlated with poor prognosis or the ratio of lung metastasis. Additionally, we found PRRX1 expression on in 143B cells, a human osteosarcoma line with a high metastatic capacity. Downregulation of PRRX1 not only suppressed proliferation and invasion but also increased the sensitivity to cisplatin and doxorubicin. When 143B cells were subcutaneously transplanted into nude mice, PRRX1 knockdown decreased tumor sizes and rates of lung metastasis. Interestingly, forskolin, a chemical compound identified by Connectivity Map analysis using RNA expression signatures during PRRX1 knockdown, decreased tumor proliferation and cell migration to the same degree as PRRX1 knockdown. These results demonstrate that PRRX1 promotes tumor malignancy in human osteosarcoma.     

Coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor-positive cells compose the putative stem/progenitor cell niches in the marginal cell layer and parenchyma of the rat anterior pituitary

The pituitary gland is a slow generative tissue but actively responds to demands by changing homeostasis. The marginal cell layer (MCL) facing the residual lumen has long been indicated as a stem/progenitor cell niche of the pituitary. On the other hand, the coxsackievirus and adenovirus receptor (CAR), which localizes at the tight-junction of the polarized epithelium, is known to participate in the development, differentiation and regeneration of specified tissues. The present study attempts to characterize the cells lining the MCL during pituitary development by immunohistochemistry of CAR. Consequently, we found that CAR localizes in an apical surface of the single cell layer facing the oral cavity in the invaginating oral epithelium on rat embryonic day (E) 11.5. On E13.5, when this single layer constructs the MCL in the pituitary primordium Rathke’s pouch, CAR-positive cells occupied the MCL and this localization pattern of CAR was persistently maintained throughout life. Moreover, clusters of CAR-positive cells were also found in the parenchyma. CAR-positive cells were positive for stem/progenitor cell markers sex-determining region Y-box 2 (SOX2) and epithelial calcium-dependent adhesion (E-cadherin). However, prior to the postnatal growth wave, cells positive for CAR in the basolateral surface constructed multiple cell layers beneath the MCL and cell-type transition to a putative migratory cell phenotype by fading of SOX2 and E-cadherin occurred, suggesting the composition of new putative niches in the parenchyma. These data, together with our previous reports, suggest that CAR-positive cells are pituitary stem/progenitor cells and compose putative stem/progenitor cell niches in the MCL and parenchyma.     

PROP1与联合垂体激素缺乏症

垂体特异性转录因子祖先蛋白(PROP l),是成对同源转录因子,在垂体腺中呈特异性表达,参与早期胚胎垂体的发育,因此,PROP1基因对于垂体前叶的发育是必需的。PROP1启动胚胎期垂体特异性转录因子(PIT-1)的起始表达并维持个体出生后的持续表达,且可直接促使PIT-1细胞系的前体分化为促性腺细胞系。其基因突变可使人、鼠患有联合垂体激素缺乏症(CPHD),表现为生长激素(GH)、促乳素(PRL)、促甲状腺素(TSH)以及促黄体激素(LH)、促卵泡激素(FSH)或促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)缺乏,垂体核磁共振成像显示垂体萎缩。在其它哺乳动物中PROP1突变也会引起垂体和性腺激素异常。就PROP1基因的结构与功能,以及与CPHD间的关系作一综述。     

N-cadherin loss in POMC-expressing cells leads to pituitary disorganization

Pituitary tumors are the third most common intracranial tumor in humans and can cause altered hormone secretions leading to hypercortisolism, acromegaly, and infertility. Reduced expression of the cell adhesion molecule N-cadherin has been linked with the formation of pituitary tumors, but its role in normal pituitary gland physiology or tumor initiation is unknown. In the murine pituitary, N-cadherin expression is detected in virtually all cells of the posterior, intermediate, and anterior lobes. N-cadherin may function to initiate important cues such as controlling proliferation, directing cell placement, and promoting formation of cell networks that coordinately release hormones into the bloodstream. To address this, we generated mice lacking N-cadherin in proopiomelanocortin-expressing melanotrope and corticotrope cells of the intermediate and anterior lobes of the pituitary. We observed that intermediate lobe cells can aberrantly displace SOX2-containing progenitor cells in the N-cadherin conditional knockout mice at postnatal d 1. By postnatal d 30, although a reduction in α- and β-catenin membrane staining occurs, there is little effect on intermediate lobe architecture with N-cadherin loss. Also, despite these changes in adherens junction molecules, no alterations in cell proliferation occur. In contrast, loss of N-cadherin in the corticotropes leads to aberrant cell clustering and a reduction in Pomc mRNA. Taken together, our data reveal important roles of N-cadherin in pituitary cell placement and that loss of N-cadherin alone does not lead to pituitary tumor formation.     

MiR-124 Radiosensitizes Human Colorectal Cancer Cells by Targeting PRRX1

One of the challenges in the treatment of colorectal cancer patients is that these tumors show resistance to radiation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are involved in essential biological activities, including chemoresistance and radioresistance. Several research studies have indicated that miRNA played an important role in sensitizing cellular response to ionizing radiation (IR). In this study, we found that miR-124 was significantly down-regulated both in CRC-derived cell lines and clinical CRC samples compared with adjacent non-tumor colorectal tissues, MiR-124 could sensitize human colorectal cancer cells to IR in vitro and in vivo. We identified PRRX1, a new EMT inducer and stemness regulator as a novel direct target of miR-124 by using target prediction algorithms and luciferase assay. PRRX1 knockdown could sensitize CRC cells to IR similar to the effects caused by miR-124. Overexpression of PRRX1 in stably overexpressed-miR-124 cell lines could rescue the effects of radiosensitivity enhancement brought by miR-124. Taking these observations into consideration, we illustrated that miR-124 could increase the radiosensitivity of CRC cells by blocking the expression of PRRX1, which indicated miR-124 could act as a great therapeutic target for CRC patients.     

The expression of NOTCH2, HES1 and SOX9 during mouse retinal development

Notch signaling is an important regulator of both developmental and post-developmental processes. In the developing retina, Notch1 is required for the maintenance of retinal progenitor cells and for inhibiting photoreceptor cell fate, while Notch3 is required for inhibiting ganglion cell fate. Here we used immunolabeling coupled with a knock-in reporter approach to obtain a detailed spatiotemporal expression pattern of Notch2 during mouse retinal development. Although previous in situ hybridization studies did not reveal appreciable levels of Notch2 in the developing retina, we detected NOTCH2 protein and reporter expression in early embryonic retinal progenitors that also expressed the Notch downstream gene, HES1. In the postnatal retina, NOTCH2, as well as the Notch downstream genes, HES1 and SOX9, were detected in VSX2/Cyclin D1/SOX2-expressing cells in the postnatal retina, and in the mature retina NOTCH2 was most abundant in Müller glia. Our findings indicate a potential role for Notch2 in the developing and mature retina.     

Premature differentiation and aberrant movement of pituitary cells lacking both Hes1 and Prop1

In the pituitary, the transition from proliferating progenitor cell into differentiated hormone producing cell is carefully regulated in a time-dependent and spatially-restricted manner. We report that two targets of Notch signaling, Hes1 and Prop1, are needed to maintain progenitors within Rathke's pouch and for the restriction of differentiated cells to the ventral pituitary. We observed ACTH and αGSU producing cells that had prematurely differentiated within Rathke's pouch along with correlated ectopic expression of Mash1 only when both Prop1 and Hes1 were lost. We also discovered that downregulation of N-cadherin expression in cells as they transition from Rathke's pouch to the anterior lobe appears to be essential for their movement. In the Prop1 mutant, cells are trapped in Rathke's pouch and N-cadherin expression remains high. Also, Slug, a marker of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, is absent in the dorsal anterior lobe. When Hes1 is lost in the Prop1 mutant, N-cadherin is downregulated and cells are able to exit Rathke's pouch but have lost their migrational cues and form ectopic foci surrounding Rathke's pouch. Our data reveal important overlapping functions of Hes1 and Prop1 in cell differentiation and movement that are critical for pituitary organogenesis.     

Prrx1 promotes stemness and angiogenesis via activating TGF-β/smad pathway and upregulating proangiogenic factors in glioma

Glioma is one of the most lethal cancers with highly vascularized networks and growing evidences have identified glioma stem cells (GSCs) to account for excessive angiogenesis in glioma. Aberrant expression of paired-related homeobox1 (Prrx1) has been functionally associated with cancer stem cells including GSCs. In this study, Prrx1 was found to be markedly upregulated in glioma specimens and elevated Prrx1 expression was inversely correlated with prognosis of glioma patients. Prrx1 potentiated stemness acquisition in non-stem tumor cells (NSTCs) and stemness maintenance in GSCs, accompanied with increased expression of stemness markers such as SOX2. Prrx1 also promoted glioma angiogenesis by upregulating proangiogenic factors such as VEGF. Consistently, silencing Prrx1 markedly inhibited glioma proliferation, stemness, and angiogenesis in vivo. Using a combination of subcellular proteomics and in vitro analyses, we revealed that Prrx1 directly bound to the promoter regions of TGF-β1 gene, upregulated TGF-β1 expression, and ultimately activated the TGF-β/smad pathway. Silencing TGF-β1 mitigated the malignant behaviors induced by Prrx1. Activation of this pathway cooperates with Prrx1 to upregulate the expression of stemness-related genes and proangiogenic factors. In summary, our findings revealed that Prrx1/TGF-β/smad signal axis exerted a critical role in glioma stemness and angiogeneis. Disrupting the function of this signal axis might represent a new therapeutic strategy in glioma patients.Subject terms: Cancer stem cells, Oncogenes, Tumour angiogenesis