APOA5 alleviates reactive oxygen species to promote oxaliplatin resistance in PIK3CA-mutated colorectal cancer
Although platinum-based chemotherapy is the frontline regimen for colorectal cancer (CRC),drug resistance remains a major challenge affecting its therapeutic efficiency. However,there is limited research on the correlation between chemotherapy resistance and lipid metabolism,including PIK3CA mutant tumors. In this present study,we found that PIK3CA-E545K mutation attenuated cell apoptosis and increased the cell viability of CRC with L-OHP treatment in vitro and in vivo . Mechanistically,PIK3CA-E545K mutation promoted the nuclear accumulation of SREBP1,which promoted the transcription of Apolipoprotein A5 (APOA5). APOA5 activated the PPARγ signaling pathway to alleviate reactive oxygen species (ROS) production following L-OHP treatment,which contributed to cell survival of CRC cells. Moreover,APOA5 overexpression enhanced the stemness-related traits of CRC cells. Increased APOA5 expression was associated with PIK3CA mutation in tumor specimens and poor response to first-line chemotherapy,which was an independent detrimental factor for chemotherapy sensitivity in CRC patients. Taken together,this study indicated that PIK3CA-E545K mutation promoted L-OHP resistance by upregulating APOA5 transcription in CRC,which could be a potent target for improving L-OHP chemotherapeutic efficiency. Our study shed light to improve chemotherapy sensitivity through nutrient management in CRC.
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Sharma S et al. ( 2015)
Nature Communications 6 6881
APOBEC3A cytidine deaminase induces RNA editing in monocytes and macrophages
The extent,regulation and enzymatic basis of RNA editing by cytidine deamination are incompletely understood. Here we show that transcripts of hundreds of genes undergo site-specific CtextgreaterU RNA editing in macrophages during M1 polarization and in monocytes in response to hypoxia and interferons. This editing alters the amino acid sequences for scores of proteins,including many that are involved in pathogenesis of viral diseases. APOBEC3A,which is known to deaminate cytidines of single-stranded DNA and to inhibit viruses and retrotransposons,mediates this RNA editing. Amino acid residues of APOBEC3A that are known to be required for its DNA deamination and anti-retrotransposition activities were also found to affect its RNA deamination activity. Our study demonstrates the cellular RNA editing activity of a member of the APOBEC3 family of innate restriction factors and expands the understanding of CtextgreaterU RNA editing in mammals.
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I. A. Windham et al. (Feb 2024)
The Journal of Cell Biology 223 4
APOE traffics to astrocyte lipid droplets and modulates triglyceride saturation and droplet size
Windham et al. discover that APOE in astrocytes can traffic to lipid droplets (LDs),where it modulates LD composition and size. Astrocytes expressing the Alzheimer’s risk variant APOE4 form large LDs with impaired turnover and increased peroxidation sensitivity.
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Huang Y-WA et al. (JAN 2017)
Cell 168 3 427--441.e21
ApoE2, ApoE3, and ApoE4 Differentially Stimulate APP Transcription and Aβ Secretion.
Human apolipoprotein E (ApoE) apolipoprotein is primarily expressed in three isoforms (ApoE2,ApoE3,and ApoE4) that differ only by two residues. ApoE4 constitutes the most important genetic risk factor for Alzheimer's disease (AD),ApoE3 is neutral,and ApoE2 is protective. How ApoE isoforms influence AD pathogenesis,however,remains unclear. Using ES-cell-derived human neurons,we show that ApoE secreted by glia stimulates neuronal Aβ production with an ApoE4< ApoE3< ApoE2 potency rank order. We demonstrate that ApoE binding to ApoE receptors activates dual leucine-zipper kinase (DLK),a MAP-kinase kinase kinase that then activates MKK7 and ERK1/2 MAP kinases. Activated ERK1/2 induces cFos phosphorylation,stimulating the transcription factor AP-1,which in turn enhances transcription of amyloid-β precursor protein (APP) and thereby increases amyloid-β levels. This molecular mechanism also regulates APP transcription in mice in vivo. Our data describe a novel signal transduction pathway in neurons whereby ApoE activates a non-canonical MAP kinase cascade that enhances APP transcription and amyloid-β synthesis.
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(Mar 2024)
Frontiers in Molecular Neuroscience 17
APOE3 Christchurch modulates ?-catenin/Wnt signaling in iPS cell-derived cerebral organoids from Alzheimer's cases
A patient with the PSEN1 E280A mutation and homozygous for APOE3 Christchurch (APOE3Ch) displayed extreme resistance to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cognitive decline and tauopathy,despite having a high amyloid burden. To further investigate the differences in biological processes attributed to APOE3Ch,we generated induced pluripotent stem (iPS) cell-derived cerebral organoids from this resistant case and a non-protected control,using CRISPR/Cas9 gene editing to modulate APOE3Ch expression. In the APOE3Ch cerebral organoids,we observed a protective pattern from early tau phosphorylation. ScRNA sequencing revealed regulation of Cadherin and Wnt signaling pathways by APOE3Ch,with immunostaining indicating elevated ?-catenin protein levels. Further in vitro reporter assays unexpectedly demonstrated that ApoE3Ch functions as a Wnt3a signaling enhancer. This work uncovered a neomorphic molecular mechanism of protection of ApoE3 Christchurch,which may serve as the foundation for the future development of protected case-inspired therapeutics targeting AD and tauopathies.
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(Jun 2025)
Stem Cell Reports 20 7
APOE4 impacts cortical neurodevelopment and alters network formation in human brain organoids
SummaryApolipoprotein E4 (APOE4) is the leading genetic risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease. While most studies examine the role of APOE4 in aging,APOE4 causes persistent changes in brain structure as early as infancy and is associated with altered functional connectivity that extends beyond adolescence. Here,we used human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cortical and ganglionic eminence organoids (COs and GEOs) to examine APOE4’s influence during the development of cortical excitatory and inhibitory neurons. We show that APOE4 reduces cortical neurons and increases glia by promoting gliogenic transcriptional programs. In contrast,APOE4 increases proliferation and differentiation of GABAergic progenitors resulting in early and persistent increases in GABAergic neurons. Multi-electrode array recordings in assembloids revealed that APOE4 disrupts neural network function resulting in heightened excitability and synchronicity. Together,our data provide new insights on how APOE4 influences cortical neurodevelopmental processes and the establishment of functional networks. Highlights•APOE4 accelerates differentiation and maturation at developmental time points•APOE4 results in a loss of cortical neurons and increase in astrocytes and outer radial glia•APOE4 enhances proliferation,differentiation,and maturation of GABAergic neurons•APOE4 alters GABA-related genes,linked to increased GABA response and synchronicity Meyer-Acosta et al. reveal that Alzheimer’s disease genetic risk factor APOE4 decreases cortical neurons and increases glia in cortical organoids and enhances GABAergic neuron maturation in ganglionic eminence organoids derived from iPSCs. These cellular changes result in heightened excitability and synchronicity in APOE4-fused organoids,providing insight into the cellular processes that may underlie altered brain structure observed in APOE4 infants.
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M. S. Haney et al. (Mar 2024)
Nature 628 8006
APOE4/4 is linked to damaging lipid droplets in Alzheimer’s disease microglia
Several genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease implicate genes involved in lipid metabolism and many of these lipid genes are highly expressed in glial cells 1 . However,the relationship between lipid metabolism in glia and Alzheimer’s disease pathology remains poorly understood. Through single-nucleus RNA sequencing of brain tissue in Alzheimer’s disease,we have identified a microglial state defined by the expression of the lipid droplet-associated enzyme ACSL1 with ACSL1-positive microglia being most abundant in patients with Alzheimer’s disease having the APOE4/4 genotype. In human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived microglia,fibrillar Aβ induces ACSL1 expression,triglyceride synthesis and lipid droplet accumulation in an APOE-dependent manner. Additionally,conditioned media from lipid droplet-containing microglia lead to Tau phosphorylation and neurotoxicity in an APOE-dependent manner. Our findings suggest a link between genetic risk factors for Alzheimer’s disease with microglial lipid droplet accumulation and neurotoxic microglia-derived factors,potentially providing therapeutic strategies for Alzheimer’s disease. Subject terms: Alzheimer's disease,Microglia,Neuroimmunology
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Allan LL et al. (SEP 2009)
Blood 114 12 2411--6
Apolipoprotein-mediated lipid antigen presentation in B cells provides a pathway for innate help by NKT cells.
Natural killer T (NKT) cells are innate-like lymphocytes that recognize lipid antigens and have been shown to enhance B-cell activation and antibody production. B cells typically recruit T-cell help by presenting internalized antigens recognized by their surface antigen receptor. Here,we demonstrate a highly efficient means whereby human B cells present lipid antigens to NKT cells,capturing the antigen using apolipoprotein E (apoE) and the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDL-R). ApoE dramatically enhances B-cell presentation of alpha-galactosylceramide (alphaGalCer),an exogenous CD1d presented antigen,inducing activation of NKT cells and the subsequent activation of B cells. B cells express the LDL-R on activation,and the activation of NKT cells by B cells is completely LDL-R dependent,as shown by blocking experiments and the complete lack of presentation when using apoE2,an isoform of apoE incapable of LDL-R binding. The dependence on apoE and the LDL-R is much more pronounced in B cells than we had previously seen in dendritic cells,which can apparently use alternate pathways of lipid antigen uptake. Thus,B cells use an apolipoprotein-mediated pathway of lipid antigen presentation,which constitutes a form of innate help for B cells by NKT cells.
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Neureiter D et al. (JAN 2007)
Scandinavian journal of gastroenterology 42 1 103--16
Apoptosis, proliferation and differentiation patterns are influenced by Zebularine and SAHA in pancreatic cancer models.
OBJECTIVE Pancreatic cancer continues to be an urgent clinical problem. We used the novel DNA methyltransferase inhibitor Zebularine and the histone deacetylase inhibitor SAHA to investigate the epigenetic influence on viability and differentiation of the pancreatic cancer cell lines YAP C,DAN G and Panc-89 in vitro and in vivo. MATERIAL AND METHODS Cell vitality,proliferation and expression of PDX-1,cytokeratin 7 and 20,chromogranin A,vimentin,bax and bcl-2 were determined on the protein and mRNA level in vitro and in a subcutaneous xenograft model. RESULTS A time- and dose-dependent increase of apoptosis,paralleled by decreased proliferation,was observed after incubation with single agents or a combination therapy with lower concentrations. This was associated with up-regulation of pro-apoptotic bax and a phenotypic stabilization by the enhanced expression of cytokeratin 7. In vivo,growth of xenografts was delayed with the most pronounced effect in Panc-89 after 1 week of daily intraperitoneal injections of Zebularine paralleled with CK7 up-regulation and down-regulation of dedifferentiation markers. CONCLUSIONS Epigenetic modulation via inhibition of DNA methyltransferase and histone deacetylase induces apoptosis in human pancreatic cancer cells in vitro and delays xenograft growth in vivo,which is associated with a morphological/molecular phenotypic stabilization. These compounds may therefore be suitable as adjunctive therapeutic agents in the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
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Aranha M et al. (JAN 2010)
BMC genomics 11 514
Apoptosis-associated microRNAs are modulated in mouse, rat and human neural differentiation.
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRs or miRNAs) regulate several biological processes in the cell. However,evidence for miRNAs that control the differentiation program of specific neural cell types has been elusive. Recently,we have shown that apoptosis-associated factors,such as p53 and caspases participate in the differentiation process of mouse neural stem (NS) cells. To identify apoptosis-associated miRNAs that might play a role in neuronal development,we performed global miRNA expression profiling experiments in NS cells. Next,we characterized the expression of proapoptotic miRNAs,including miR-16,let-7a and miR-34a in distinct models of neural differentiation,including mouse embryonic stem cells,PC12 and NT2N cells. In addition,the expression of antiapoptotic miR-19a and 20a was also evaluated. RESULTS The expression of miR-16,let-7a and miR-34a was consistently upregulated in neural differentiation models. In contrast,expression of miR-19a and miR-20a was downregulated in mouse NS cell differentiation. Importantly,differential expression of specific apoptosis-related miRNAs was not associated with increased cell death. Overexpression of miR-34a increased the proportion of postmitotic neurons of mouse NS cells. CONCLUSIONS In conclusion,the identification of miR-16,let-7a and miR-34a,whose expression patterns are conserved in mouse,rat and human neural differentiation,implicates these specific miRNAs in mammalian neuronal development. The results provide new insights into the regulation of neuronal differentiation by apoptosis-associated miRNAs.
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(Jul 2025)
Stem Cell Research & Therapy 16
Apoptotic vesicles of mesenchymal stem cells promote M2 polarization and alleviate early-onset preeclampsia via miR-191-5p
BackgroundMacrophages play a crucial role in the development of early-onset preeclampsia (EOPE),which may be closely associated with an imbalance in macrophage M1/M2 polarization. Mesenchymal stem cell (MSC)-derived apoptotic vesicles (apoVs) have anti-inflammatory,tissue repair,and immunomodulatory functions. MSC-apoVs may ameliorate EOPE by regulating macrophage polarization,but the underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified.MethodsMacrophage infiltration and M1/M2 polarization were first analyzed in the placentas of PE patients and normal pregancies to identify macrophage alterations in EOPE placentas. MSC-apoVs were extracted and characterized. The effects of MSC-apoVs on macrophage polarization and trophoblasts invasion were validated in vivo and in vitro. miRNA transcriptomic sequencing of MSC-apoVs was conducted to identify key miRNAs involved in macrophage M2 polarization and to investigate upstream and downstream regulation factors,which were further validated in vivo and in vitro.ResultsThe proportion of M2 macrophages was significantly reduced in EOPE placentas. MSC-apoVs carrying high levels of miR-191-5p recruited macrophages,downregulated CDK6 protein expression,stabilized mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP),and promoted M2 polarization of macrophages. This enhanced the invasion of trophoblasts and improved EOPE pregnancy outcomes in mice,including reduced blood pressure,decreased urine protein,and improved embryo quality. Overexpression of miR-191-5p mimics in MSC-apoVs further alleviated EOPE-related symptoms,whereas inhibition of miR-191-5p reduced the therapeutic effect of MSC-apoVs. Further experiments confirmed that M2 macrophages polarized by MSC-apoVs promote trophoblasts invasion by secreting platelet-derived growth factor-AB (PDGF-AB),which binds to platelet-derived growth factor receptor-beta (PDGFR-β) on trophoblasts,directly activating the downstream PI3K-AKT-mTOR signaling pathway,thereby improving EOPE.ConclusionOur findings reveal the crucial role of M2 macrophages in the pathogenesis of EOPE. MSC-apoVs with high miR-191-5p recruit macrophages,downregulate CDK6,stabilize MMP,and promote M2 polarization,increasing PDGF-AB secretion,which enhances trophoblasts invasion and thereby treat EOPE. Therefore,MSC-apoVs therapy may serve as a promising strategy to improve the prognosis of EOPE.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s13287-025-04546-5.
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Freire M et al. ( 2015)
BioMed Research International 2015 1--7
Application of AMOR in craniofacial rabbit bone bioengineering
Endogenous molecular and cellular mediators modulate tissue repair and regeneration. We have recently described antibody mediated osseous regeneration (AMOR) as a novel strategy for bioengineering bone in rat calvarial defect. This entails application of anti-BMP-2 antibodies capable of in vivo capturing of endogenous osteogenic BMPs (BMP-2,BMP-4,and BMP-7). The present study sought to investigate the feasibility of AMOR in other animal models. To that end,we examined the efficacy of a panel of anti-BMP-2 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) and a polyclonal Ab immobilized on absorbable collagen sponge (ACS) to mediate bone regeneration within rabbit calvarial critical size defects. After 6 weeks,de novo bone formation was demonstrated by micro-CT imaging,histology,and histomorphometric analysis. Only certain anti-BMP-2 mAb clones mediated significant in vivo bone regeneration,suggesting that the epitopes with which anti-BMP-2 mAbs react are critical to AMOR. Increased localization of BMP-2 protein and expression of osteocalcin were observed within defects,suggesting accumulation of endogenous BMP-2 and/or increased de novo expression of BMP-2 protein within sites undergoing bone repair by AMOR. Considering the ultimate objective of translation of this therapeutic strategy in humans,preclinical studies will be necessary to demonstrate the feasibility of AMOR in progressively larger animal models.
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