Project description:PIWI proteins bind to PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and play key roles in the biogenesis and functions of piRNAs. It has been reported that PIWI proteins are essential for stem cell self-renewal and germline development in diverse organisms, and are ectopically expressed in multiple forms of cancer. However, the role of PIWI in cancer remains elusive. Here we report that one of the four PIWI proteins in humans, PIWIL4, is highly expressed in both breast cancer tissues and the cytoplasm of MDA-MB-231 cell line derived from breast cancer. Reducing PIWIL4 expression drastically impairs migration ability of MDA-MB-231 cells, significantly increases their apotosis, and mildly affects their proliferation. Our transcriptome and proteome analyses reveal that these functions are at least partially achieved via the PIWIL4 regulation of TGF-beta and FGF signaling pathways and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II proteins. These findings suggest that PIWIL4 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer.
Project description:PIWI proteins bind to PIWI-interacting RNAs (piRNAs) and play key roles in the biogenesis and functions of piRNAs. It has been reported that PIWI proteins are essential for stem cell self-renewal and germline development in diverse organisms, and are ectopically expressed in multiple forms of cancer. However, the role of PIWI in cancer remains elusive. Here we report that one of the four PIWI proteins in humans, PIWIL4, is highly expressed in both breast cancer tissues and the cytoplasm of MDA-MB-231 cell line derived from breast cancer. Reducing PIWIL4 expression drastically impairs migration ability of MDA-MB-231 cells, significantly increases their apotosis, and mildly affects their proliferation. Our transcriptome and proteome analyses reveal that these functions are at least partially achieved via the PIWIL4 regulation of TGF-beta and FGF signaling pathways and major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II proteins. These findings suggest that PIWIL4 may serve as a potential therapeutic target for breast cancer. Examination of small RNAs in two conditions
Project description:E2A is an essential regulator of early B-cell development. Here we demonstrated that E2A together with E2-2 controlled germinal-center B-cell and plasma cell development. As shown by identification of regulated E2A,E2-2 targets in activated B-cells, these E-proteins directly activated genes with important functions in germinal-center B-cells and plasma cells by inducing or maintaining DNase I hypersensitive sites. Through controlling multiple enhancers in the Igh 3â regulatory region and Aicda locus, E-proteins regulated class switching by inducing both Igh germline transcription and AID expression. By regulating 3â Igk enhancers and a distal element at the Prdm1 (Blimp1) locus, E-proteins contributed to Igk, Igh and Prdm1 activation in plasmablasts. These data identified E2A and E2-2 as central regulators of B-cell immunity. 56 samples in total: A) 38 RNA-Seq samples in 5 cell types: Follicular B cells (FO B cell, 2 genotypes, 2 replicates each) Activated B cells (Act B cell, 2 genoytpes, 6 stimulations, 2 replicates each) Pre-Plasmablasts (Pre-PB, 1 genotype, 2 stimulations, 2 replicates each) Plasmablasts (PB, 1 genotype, 2 stimulations, 2 replicates each) Germline Center B cells (GC B cell, 1 genotype, 2 replicates); B) 13 ChIP-Seq samples in 5 cell types: FO B cell (E2A, 2 crosslinking types, 1 replicate each) Act B cell (E2A, 2 crosslinking types, 2 stimulations, 1 replicate each; H3K27ac, 1 crosslinking type, 1 stimulation, 2 genotypes, 1 replicate each) Pre-PB (E2A, 2 crosslinking types, 1 stimulation, 1 replicate each) PB (E2A, 2 crosslinking types, 1 stimulation, 1 replicate each) Mature B cell (input); C) 5 ATAC Seq samples in 2 cell types: Act B cell (2 stimulations, 2 genotypes, 1 replicate each), Pre-PB (1 stimulation, 1 genotype, 1 replicate).