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Results for “Wnt Signaling Pathway”

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PubMed2024

The scramblases VMP1 and TMEM41B are required for primitive endoderm specification by targeting WNT signaling.

The ER-resident proteins VMP1 and TMEM41B share a conserved DedA domain, which confers lipid scramblase activity. Loss of either gene results in embryonic lethality in mice and defects in autophagy and lipid droplet metabolism. To investigate their role in pluripotency and lineage specification, we generated Vmp1 and Tmem41b mutations in mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs). We observed that ESCs carrying mutations in Vmp1 and Tmem41b show robust self-renewal and an unperturbed pluripotent expression profile but accumulate LC3-positive autophagosomes and lipid droplets consistent with defects in autophagy and lipid metabolism. ESCs carrying combined mutations in Vmp1 and Tmem41b can differentiate into a wide range of embryonic cell types. However, differentiation into primitive endoderm-like cells in culture is impaired, and the establishment of extra-embryonic endoderm stem (XEN) cells is delayed. Mechanistically, we show the deregulation of genes that are associated with WNT signaling. This is further confirmed by cell surface proteome profiling, which identified a significant reduction of the WNT-receptor FZD2 at the plasma membrane in Vmp1 and Tmem41b double mutant ESCs. Importantly, we show that transgenic expression of Fzd2 rescues XEN differentiation. Our findings identify the role of the lipid scramblases VMP1 and TMEM41B in WNT signaling during extra-embryonic endoderm development and characterize their distinct and overlapping functions.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

Comprehensive proximity proteomics expand the known interactome of the oncoprotein β-catenin.

The oncoprotein β-catenin has critical roles in cell adhesion and cell signalling. β-catenin affects human physiology and pathology through numerous interaction partners, of which many have been discovered by standard affinity purification-based proteomics. However, the interaction landscape of β-catenin remains incompletely understood, highlighting a need for new experimental approaches for the exploration of β-catenin biology. Proximity proteomics, which facilitate the discovery of molecules vicinal to proteins-of-interest by mass spectrometry, have recently emerged as a powerful complementary tool for the study of protein-protein interactions, but have not been applied to β-catenin so far. We investigated the interactome of β-catenin in model cell lines by proximity proteomics using expression constructs with the biotin ligases BioID and TurboID. Mass spectrometry analyses following biotin labelling identified numerous candidate interactors of β-catenin, including many that had not been observed in earlier studies using standard proteomics. Enrichment analyses suggested that proximity proteomics capture proteins associated with the known biological functions of β-catenin, including cell adhesion, Wnt/β-catenin signalling, and transcription regulation. The molecular tools and data generated in this study provide new insights into β-catenin biology and highlight potential new regulators of β-catenin function that warrant further exploration.

beta Catenin↗

PubMed2024

Core planar cell polarity genes VANGL1 and VANGL2 in predisposition to congenital vertebral malformations.

Congenital scoliosis (CS), affecting approximately 0.5 to 1 in 1,000 live births, is commonly caused by congenital vertebral malformations (CVMs) arising from aberrant somitogenesis or somite differentiation. While Wnt/ß-catenin signaling has been implicated in somite development, the function of Wnt/planar cell polarity (Wnt/PCP) signaling in this process remains unclear. Here, we investigated the role of Vangl1 and Vangl2 in vertebral development and found that their deletion causes vertebral anomalies resembling human CVMs. Analysis of exome sequencing data from multiethnic CS patients revealed a number of rare and deleterious variants in VANGL1 and VANGL2, many of which exhibited loss-of-function and dominant-negative effects. Zebrafish models confirmed the pathogenicity of these variants. Furthermore, we found that Vangl1 knock-in (p.R258H) mice exhibited vertebral malformations in a Vangl gene dose- and environment-dependent manner. Our findings highlight critical roles for PCP signaling in vertebral development and predisposition to CVMs in CS patients, providing insights into the molecular mechanisms underlying this disorder.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

Development of a chemical probe to enable characterization of the casein kinase 1γ subfamily.

The casein kinase 1γ (CK1γ) subfamily, while severely understudied, is implicated in diverse disease-relevant pathways, including WNT signaling and human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) replication. While genetic tools exist to study CK1γ, the selective inhibition of CK1γ through pharmacological means remains underexplored. Chemical probes, or potent and selective inhibitors, remain one of the most powerful pharmacological tools for uncovering protein biology. Herein, we developed several novel assays for assessing target engagement with the CK1γ subfamily in cells. Enabled by these assays, we conducted a comprehensive structure-activity relationship (SAR) campaign to develop the first chemical probe, SGC-CK1γ-1, for the CK1γ subfamily. SGC-CK1γ-1, which was developed alongside a structurally related negative control compound, potently and selectively inhibited the CK1γ kinases in living cells, plus inhibited both WNT signaling and human cytomegalovirus replication.

Journal Article↗

PubMed2025

A noncanonical role of glycolytic metabolites controlling the timing of mouse embryo segmentation.

Studies on the impact of metabolism on cell fate decisions are seeing a renaissance. However, a key challenge remains to distinguish signaling functions of metabolism from its canonical bioenergetic and biosynthetic roles, which underlie cellular homeostasis. Here, we tackled this challenge using mouse embryonic axis segmentation as an experimental model. First, we found that energetically subminimal amounts of glucose can support ongoing segmentation clock activity, providing evidence that glycolysis exerts a signaling function. Using a dynamical systems approach based on entrainment, we identified fructose 1,6-bisphosphate (FBP) as the potential signaling metabolite. Functionally, we demonstrated that glycolytic flux/FBP control the segmentation clock period and Wnt signaling in an anticorrelated manner. Critically, we showed that the slow segmentation clock phenotype caused by elevated glycolysis is mediated by Wnt signaling rather than cellular bioenergetic and biosynthetic state. Combined, our results demonstrate a modular organization of metabolic functions, revealing a signaling module of glycolysis that can be decoupled from its canonical metabolic functions.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

FZD5 drives macrophage-mediated immunomodulation and predicts prognosis in glioma: evidence from single-cell sequencing.

BACKGROUND: Gliomas are highly malignant brain tumors characterized by an immunosuppressive microenvironment, which limits therapeutic efficacy and contributes to poor clinical outcomes. The WNT/β-catenin signaling pathway is critically involved in tumor progression, and FZD5, a key receptor within this pathway, may participate in immune regulation. However, its specific role and underlying mechanisms in glioma remain unclear. METHODS: RNA-seq and microarray datasets from the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA) and The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), together with single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets from GEO, were comprehensively analyzed. The Seurat package was used to identify macrophage-related clusters and mitophagy-associated pathways. Cox and LASSO regression analyses, along with a prognostic nomogram, were applied to evaluate the prognostic significance of FZD5. Immune infiltration, functional enrichment, and immunotherapy response analyses were conducted, followed by validation using spatial transcriptomics, immunohistochemistry, and in vitro assays. RESULTS: In bulk glioma transcriptomes, FZD5 emerged as an independent predictor of poor prognosis. Crucially, single-cell and spatial analyses revealed that the biologically significant FZD5 signal originated predominantly within tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs), where it colocalized with the M2 marker CD163. Consistently, elevated FZD5 levels correlated with increased myeloid infiltration and an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment. Functionally, macrophage-expressed FZD5 was associated with mitophagy-related programs and promoted an M2-skewed phenotype, thereby enhancing glioma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion via macrophage-glioma crosstalk. CONCLUSION: FZD5 is a TAM-enriched marker in glioma tissues and a potential regulator of macrophage-associated immunosuppressive programs, supporting its utility as a prognostic biomarker and a candidate target for microenvironment-oriented interventions in glioma.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Post-transcriptional regulation of Profilin-2 by microRNAs and RNA-binding proteins forms a critical regulatory node for early embryonic cell fate decisions.

Post-transcriptional control by RNA binding proteins (RBPs) and microRNAs play central roles in mRNA stability and translation, yet how RBPs and microRNAs coordinate in developmental time to regulate cell fate remains poorly understood. Here, we demonstrate that post-transcriptional regulation of the Profilin 2 (Pfn2) transcript is essential for differentiation of embryonic stem cells (ESCs) into the primary germ layer lineages. The Pfn2 3'untranslated region has both an Iron Regulatory Protein binding site (IRE) and a nearby binding site for ESC enriched microRNAs. Deletion of this microRNA site leads to increased PFN2 and reduced FGF signaling during pluripotency transition prior to germ layer formation. In contrast, deletion of the IRE leads to decreased PFN2, a Wnt signaling defect, reduced nuclear beta-catenin, and a subsequent block in mesendodermal lineages during early germ layer formation. We further find that loss of the IRE site results in a cell autonomous defect in Wnt signaling and mesendodermal differentiation. The IRE site acts to stabilize beta-catenin, as disruption of the site leads to reduced nuclear beta-catenin levels. Together, these findings reveal the Pfn2 microRNA-IRE regulatory axis as a critical post-transcriptional regulatory node governing the switch from pluripotency to somatic differentiation.

MicroRNAs↗

PubMed2026

KLK6 is Associated with a Neutrophil-Dominant Immunosuppressive Microenvironment and Epigenetic Deregulation in Lung Adenocarcinoma.

INTRODUCTION: Lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) is the most prevalent histological subtype of lung cancer and is associated with poor survival despite advances in targeted therapies. Kallikrein-related peptidase 6 (KLK6) has been implicated in several malignancies, but its expression pattern, clinical relevance, and biological function in LUAD remain incompletely characterized. This study aimed to evaluate KLK6 expression and its associations with prognosis, epigenetic regulation, immune infiltration, and migratory phenotypes in LUAD. METHODS: RNA-seq expression and clinical data were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), Genotype-Tissue Expression (GTEx), and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases. KLK6 expression was analyzed in relation to clinicopathological parameters, survival outcomes, promoter methylation status (via UALCAN), and tumor-infiltrating immune cell abundance (via TIMER2.0). In vitro, KLK6 was knocked down using shRNA in A549 and H1299 LUAD cell lines. Cell migration was assessed by transwell assays, and the expression of Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition (EMT)- and Wnt signaling-related markers was examined by qRT-PCR and Western blotting. RESULTS: KLK6 expression was significantly upregulated in LUAD tissues compared with normal lung tissues. High KLK6 expression was associated with poorer overall survival (HR = 1.52, P = 0.009) and disease-specific survival (HR = 1.55, P = 0.03). ROC analysis showed that KLK6 discriminated stage I LUAD from normal tissues with an AUC of 0.73. Promoter hypomethylation was observed in LUAD tumors and correlated with increased KLK6 expression. Immune infiltration analysis revealed that KLK6-high tumors exhibited reduced B-cell infiltration and increased neutrophil infiltration. Functional experiments demonstrated that KLK6 knockdown significantly suppressed cell migration, accompanied by increased E-cadherin and decreased N-cadherin, Vimentin, Wnt5a, and β-catenin expression. DISCUSSION: These findings suggest that KLK6 overexpression in LUAD is driven in part by promoter hypomethylation and is closely linked to a neutrophil-dominant immunosuppressive microenvironment. Furthermore, KLK6 appears to promote LUAD cell migration through EMT- and Wnt-related signaling pathways. Collectively, these multi-layered data position KLK6 as a potential driver of aggressive tumor behavior and a candidate biomarker for risk stratification. CONCLUSION: KLK6 is aberrantly overexpressed in LUAD and is associated with poor prognosis and enhanced migratory capacity. It may serve as a promising prognostic biomarker and a potential therapeutic target for LUAD.

KLK6↗

PubMed2025

PKCζ, CTNNBIP1 and ALDH1A3 Expression in Luminal B Breast Cancer Indicates Decreased Hormone Therapy Effectiveness.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The role of catenin β interacting protein 1 (CTNNBIP1), a negative regulator of the canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway, in luminal A and B breast cancer stem cells treated with hormone therapy is unknown. This study investigated the relationship between CTNNBIP1 and aldehyde dehydrogenase 1 family member A3 (ALDH1A3) expression and its impact on disease-specific survival in luminal A and B breast cancer. Given that high protein kinase ζ (PKCζ) expression, together with elevated CTNNBIP1 or ALDH1A3, is linked to poor prognosis in luminal B tumors, we also examined their combined influence. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Gene expression and clinical data from the Molecular Taxonomy of Breast Cancer International Consortium (METABRIC; n=2,509) were analyzed using Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards models. Findings were validated with The Cancer Genome Atlas Pan-Cancer Atlas (TCGA; n=1,084). RESULTS: CTNNBIP1 high ALDH1A3 high indicated a poor prognosis in patients with luminal B breast cancer treated with hormone therapy in the METABRIC dataset and aromatase inhibitors as hormone therapy in the TCGA data set, suggesting that high CTNNBIP1 and ALDH1A3 expression contributed to decreased effectiveness of hormone therapy in patients with luminal B breast cancer. PKC ζ high CTNNBIP1 high ALDH1A3 high was associated with a poor prognosis in patients with luminal B breast cancer treated with hormone therapy and aromatase inhibitors, suggesting that high PKC ζ , CTNNBIP1 and ALDH1A3 expression contributed to decreased effectiveness of hormone therapy in patients with luminal B breast cancer. CONCLUSION: PKC ζ and CTNNBIP1 may be involved in the progression of ALDH1A3-positive luminal B breast cancer. In luminal B breast cancer, PKC ζ , CTNNBIP1 and ALDH1A3 could serve as molecular drug targets and prognostic biomarkers to predict the effectiveness of hormone therapy.

ALDH1A3↗

PubMed2026

Comparative in silico analysis of Apis mellifera immune responses to Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps mercedesae: Common and mite-specific molecular signatures.

Parasitic mites Varroa destructor and Tropilaelaps mercedesae represent major threats to global honey bee (Apis mellifera) health and productivity, yet comparative molecular insights into host responses remain limited. To address this, we systematically compiled published studies (2015-2025) reporting genes associated with honey bee interactions with V. destructor (11 studies, 87 genes), T. mercedesae (4 studies, 35 genes), and hygienic behavior (6 studies, 44 genes). Gene identifiers were harmonized to the Amel_HAv3.1 genome assembly, yielding three non-redundant sets: 64 Varroa-associated, 34 Tropilaelaps-associated, and 44 hygienic behavior-associated genes. Venn analysis identified 10 overlapping genes (including A0A088A8D5, A0A088ADL8, ABAE_APIME, Def1, Def2, Gapdh, HYTA_APIME, Imd, LOC726783, and Vg), suggesting conserved defense mechanisms, while 41 and 24 genes were uniquely associated with Varroa and Tropilaelaps, respectively. Enrichment analyses revealed Varroa-responsive genes were enriched in immune processes, chitin catabolism, and signaling pathways (Toll/Imd, MAPK, Wnt). Tropilaelaps-associated genes were enriched for antibacterial defense and stress response, with Toll/Imd signaling as the sole significantly enriched pathway. Overlapping genes reinforced core innate immunity activation. Protein-protein interaction network centrality analysis identified key hub genes: Def1, HYTA_APIME, ABAE_APIME, PPO, Imd, PGRP-LC, Vg for Varroa; and ACPH1_APIME, MRJP1, Vg, LOC726783 for Tropilaelaps. Results demonstrate that, despite differences in mite biology, honey bees show a conserved immune response against both parasites, centered on antibacterial defense, humoral immunity, and activation of the Toll/Imd pathway. Although limited by the in-silico nature and research asymmetries reflecting Tropilaelaps' emergence, this curated resource establishes a comprehensive framework for elucidating shared and distinct molecular defense mechanisms. Ultimately, this approach prioritizes diagnostic markers and candidate genes for functional validation and breeding strategies to enhance colony resilience against mite‑driven disease globally.

Animals↗

PubMed2004

SUMO: a regulator of gene expression and genome integrity.

Post-translational modification with the ubiquitin-like SUMO protein is involved in the regulation of many cellular key processes. The SUMO system modulates signal transduction pathways, including cytokine, Wnt, growth factor and steroid hormone signalling. SUMO frequently restrains the activity of downstream transcription factors in these pathways presumably by facilitating the recruitment of corepressors or mediating the assembly of repressor complexes. Additionally, evidence is accumulating that SUMO controls pathways important for the surveillance of genome integrity. SUMO regulates the PML/p53 tumour suppressor network, a key determinant in the cellular response to DNA damage. Moreover, proteins that maintain genomic stability by functioning at the interface between DNA replication, recombination and repair processes undergo SUMOylation. We will discuss some key findings that exemplify the role of SUMO in transcriptional regulation and genome surveillance.

Animals↗

PubMed2026

ZNF695 Promotes Colorectal Cancer Progression Through Transcriptional Activation of CBX8 and Subsequent Wnt/β-Catenin Signaling Activation.

In this investigation, we examined the functional mechanism of the transcription factor zinc finger protein 695 (ZNF695) and its target gene chromobox protein homolog 8 (CBX8) in colorectal cancer (CRC) migration and invasion. HCT-116 and LOVO cell lines were used to establish cell models with knocked-down ZNF695 and knocked-down or over-expressed CBX8. To comprehensively evaluate the functional contributions of ZNF695 and CBX8 to cellular phenotypes, we employed CCK-8, wound-healing, and Transwell assays to evaluate cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, respectively. To assess the impact of ZNF695 on tumor progression, we generated a xenograft model utilizing nude mice. A FLAG-ZNF695 expression plasmid was constructed, and ChIP-seq experiments were performed. By integrating mRNA sequencing data following ZNF695 knockdown with highly expressed genes in CRC from the TCGA database, CBX8 was identified as a putative downstream target of ZNF695. We employed a dual-luciferase reporter assay to validate the specific binding affinity of ZNF695 toward the CBX8 promoter region. To elucidate the specific biological cascades modulated by ZNF695 and CBX8, we conducted a comprehensive pathway enrichment analysis. Rescue experiments were conducted to determine whether the ZNF695/CBX8 regulatory axis upregulates the expression of the Wnt signaling pathway downstream targets, AXIN2 and CCND1. Both in vitro assays and in vivo models confirmed that silencing ZNF695 dramatically suppresses CRC cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, while concurrently impeding tumor progression. ChIP-seq coupled with dual-luciferase reporter assays substantiated the direct binding of ZNF695 to the CBX8 promoter. Furthermore, CBX8 depletion significantly attenuated the migratory and invasive phenotypes of CRC cells. Restoring CBX8 expression effectively rescued the migratory and invasive deficits in CRC cells induced by ZNF695 silencing. Re-expression of CBX8 in ZNF695-silenced cells restored Wnt/β-catenin signaling activity, accompanied by increased expression of AXIN2 and CCND1. ZNF695 promotes CRC progression by transcriptionally activating CBX8 and subsequently enhancing Wnt/β-catenin signaling, thereby promoting tumor cell proliferation, migration, and invasion.

Humans↗

PubMed2026

Single-cell profiling decodes patagium development in gliding mammal.

The gliding patagium represents a key adaptation for mammalian flight, but its cellular development remains unexplored. Using single-nucleus RNA sequencing of embryonic flying squirrel patagium and dorsal skin, we construct a single-cell atlas of patagium development and identify two distinct fibroblast subpopulations (Fp2 and Fr) highly enriched in the patagium. These fibroblasts are characterized by the patagium upregulation of Wnt5a, Fgf7, and Fgf10, and are associated with patagium morphogenesis through dermal-epidermal putative communication interactions between dermal fibroblasts (Fp2 and Fr) and epithelial basal keratinocytes. Specifically, Fp2 fibroblasts are potentially involved in distal dermal condensation and epithelial thickening together with elevated Wnt5a expression, while both Fp2 and Fr fibroblasts could play a role in epithelial polarization and thickening through Fgf7 and Fgf10, as suggested by ex vivo assays. Our data suggest that gliding patagium development results from the co-option of conserved WNT and FGF signaling pathways within a specialized fibroblast-epithelial context, illustrating how modifications of conserved developmental programs give rise to derived morphological traits.

Animals↗

PubMed2025

STUPPIT is a proximity labeling tool for labeling intermediary proteins that bridge two non-interacting proteins.

Decoding the complexities of signaling pathways is fundamental for deciphering the mechanisms underlying tissue development, homeostasis, and disease pathogenesis. Proximity labeling tools have been instrumental in identifying upstream or downstream effectors of specific proteins within signaling pathways. However, currently, there are no tools available to directly label and capture intermediary proteins that bridge two non-interacting proteins. Here, we developed Split-TurboID and PUP-IT based Protein Identification Tool (STUPPIT), a novel method combining split-TurboID and PUP-IT to biotinylate intermediary proteins of two non-interacting proteins through a two-step enzymatic reaction. STUPPIT was validated using three well-characterized protein triads, including YAP1/AMOT/β-actin, YAP1/LATS1/MOB1A, and β-catenin/α-catenin/β-actin using HEK293T human cell lines. Combining STUPPIT and proteomics, we identified novel intermediary proteins including ERC1 and USP7, which interacted both with β-catenin and SMAD4, key components of the Wnt and BMP signaling pathways. In conclusion, STUPPIT represents a powerful tool for labeling and capturing intermediary proteins between non-interacting partners, offering new insights into protein-protein interactions and advancing signal transduction research.

Humans↗

PubMed2025

Bioinformatics analysis of miR-2861 and miR-5011-5p that function as potential tumor suppressors in colorectal carcinogenesis.

BACKGROUND: The study aimed to was to investigate the relationship between miR-2861, miR-5011-5p, and colorectal carcinogenesis. METHOD: In the present study, it was isolated RNA from both the tumor and non-tumor tissue of a total of 80 CRC patients and after synthesizing the cDNA, it was performed qRT-PCR to determine the expression levels of miR‑2861 and miR‑5011-5p. In addition, it was predicted that dysregulated miRNAs targets, pathways and functional gene annotations that may be important in colorectal carcinogenesis using KEGG pathway and GO analysis. RESULTS: The resulting data revealed that both expression levels of miR-2861 and miR-5011-5p were significantly decreased in tumor tissues compared with non-tumor tissues of CRC patients. The GO and KEGG pathway analysis showed that miR-2861 and miR-5011-5p may participate in multiple the biological process, cellular components, and molecular function subcategories such as mitotic cell cycle, regulation of small GTPase mediated signal transduction, cell death, and acid binding transcription factor activity. It was also revealed that target genes of miRNAs can be found in signaling pathways such as TGF-beta, Rap1, Ras, cAMP, Wnt, mTOR and, PI3K-Akt signaling pathways. CONCLUSION: These findings imply that miR-2861 and miR-5011-5p might function as tumor suppressors in the development of CRC.

MicroRNAs↗

PubMed2021

RNA-seq Analysis of Peri-Implant Tissue Shows Differences in Immune, Notch, Wnt, and Angiogenesis Pathways in Aged Versus Young Mice.

The number of total joint replacements (TJRs) in the United States is increasing annually. Cementless implants are intended to improve upon traditional cemented implants by allowing bone growth directly on the surface to improve implant longevity. One major complication of TJR is implant loosening, which is related to deficient osseointegration in cementless TJRs. Although poor osseointegration in aged patients is typically attributed to decreased basal bone mass, little is known about the molecular pathways that compromise the growth of bone onto porous titanium implants. To identify the pathways important for osseointegration that are compromised by aging, we developed an approach for transcriptomic profiling of peri-implant tissue in young and aged mice using our murine model of osseointegration. Based on previous findings of changes of bone quality associated with aging, we hypothesized that aged mice have impaired activation of bone anabolic pathways at the bone-implant interface. We found that pathways most significantly downregulated in aged mice relative to young mice are related to angiogenic, Notch, and Wnt signaling. Downregulation of these pathways is associated with markedly increased expression of inflammatory and immune genes at the bone-implant interface in aged mice. These results identify osseointegration pathways affected by aging and suggest that an increased inflammatory response in aged mice may compromise peri-implant bone healing. Targeting the Notch and Wnt pathways, promoting angiogenesis, or modulating the immune response at the peri-implant site may enhance osseointegration and improve the outcome of joint replacement in older patients. © 2021 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

AGING↗

PubMed2026

GSTT1 promotes stemness and FGFR inhibitor sensitivity in pancreatic cancer through regulation of CD133 (PROM1).

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is among the deadliest malignancies, driven by metastatic progression and profound cellular heterogeneity. We previously identified glutathione S-transferase theta 1 (GSTT1) as a regulator of a slow-cycling, highly metastatic tumor cell population, suggesting that GSTT1High cells may possess stem-like properties. Here, we define the functional and molecular features of this subpopulation in metastatic PDA. Using a mCherry-tagged Gstt1 reporter system in metastatic murine PDAC cells, we enriched for Gstt1High cells and observed increased tumor sphere formation, accompanied by upregulation of stemness-associated genes including PROM1 (CD133) and activation of Wnt and FGF signaling pathways. In human PDA models, CD133HighGSTT1High cells exhibited enhanced tumor sphere initiation and expansion compared to other populations, defining a maximal stem-like state. Notably, sensitivity to FGFR inhibitors was observed only under tumor sphere conditions, highlighting a context-dependent therapeutic vulnerability. Mechanistically, FGFR3 expression correlated with GSTT1 and CD133 levels, and FGF signaling was required to sustain this state. GSTT1 knockdown reduced CD133 protein levels, impaired tumor sphere formation, and altered sensitivity to FGFR inhibition. These findings were largely recapitulated in patient-derived PDA organoids, where GSTT1 and PROM1 co-expression predicted increased tumor sphere formation and enhanced response to the multi-kinase inhibitor Nintedanib. Together, these results identify a GSTT1HighCD133High stem-like subpopulation in metastatic PDA and identify an FGFR-dependent signaling axis that sustains this state, representing a potential therapeutic vulnerability.

AC133 Antigen↗

PubMed2025

Global siRNA screen identifies human host factors critical for SARS-CoV-2 replication and late stages of infection.

Defining the subset of cellular factors governing SARS-CoV-2 replication can provide critical insights into viral pathogenesis and identify targets for host-directed antiviral therapies. While a number of genetic screens have previously reported SARS-CoV-2 host dependency factors, most of these approaches relied on utilizing pooled genome-scale CRISPR libraries, which are biased toward the discovery of host proteins impacting early stages of viral replication. To identify host factors involved throughout the SARS-CoV-2 infectious cycle, we conducted an arrayed genome-scale siRNA screen. Resulting data were integrated with published functional screens and proteomics data to reveal (i) common pathways that were identified in all OMICs datasets-including regulation of Wnt signaling and gap junctions, (ii) pathways uniquely identified in this screen-including NADH oxidation, or (iii) pathways supported by this screen and proteomics data but not published functional screens-including arachionate production and MAPK signaling. The identified proviral host factors were mapped into the SARS-CoV-2 infectious cycle, including 32 proteins that were determined to impact viral replication and 27 impacting late stages of infection, respectively. Additionally, a subset of proteins was tested across other coronaviruses revealing a subset of proviral factors that were conserved across pandemic SARS-CoV-2, epidemic SARS-CoV-1 and MERS-CoV, and the seasonal coronavirus OC43-CoV. Further studies illuminated a role for the heparan sulfate proteoglycan perlecan in SARS-CoV-2 viral entry and found that inhibition of the non-canonical NF-kB pathway through targeting of BIRC2 restricts SARS-CoV-2 replication both in vitro and in vivo. These studies provide critical insight into the landscape of virus-host interactions driving SARS-CoV-2 replication as well as valuable targets for host-directed antivirals.

Humans↗