FoxO3 modulates endothelial gene expression and function by direct and indirect mechanisms
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ABSTRACT: FoxO transcription factors represent targets of the PI3K/PKB survival pathway controlling important biological processes such as stress responses, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, vascular remodelling and metabolism. Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of alternative mechanisms of FoxO-dependent gene expression beyond classical binding to a FoxO-responsive DNA binding element (FRE). Here we explored the relative contribution of those mechanisms by comparing the transcriptional responses to conditional activation of FoxO3 and a corresponding FRE-binding mutant in primary human endothelial cells. Microarray analysis revealed several functional gene clusters regulated in absence of an intact DNA-binding domain. Notably, both mutants triggered apoptosis albeit with different efficiencies. This was associated with regulation of overlapping and distinct proapototic gene clusters. Subsequent analysis demonstrated important roles for the Bcl2-like family members BIM and NOXA in this process. Remarkably, BIM was effectively induced by the FoxO3 FRE-binding mutant and BIM depletion could rescue its proapoptotic effect. Our study provides the first comprehensive analysis of alternatively regulated FoxO3 targets in primary cells and underscores the importance of such genes for endothelial function and integrity. HUVEC were infected in 4 independent experiments with either empty pBabe puro vector, pBP-FoxO3.A3.ER, or pBP FoxO3.A3.ER.H212R in three consecutive rounds and 72h post infection.
Project description:FoxO transcription factors represent targets of the PI3K/PKB survival pathway controlling important biological processes such as stress responses, cell cycle progression, apoptosis, vascular remodelling and metabolism. Recent studies have demonstrated the existence of alternative mechanisms of FoxO-dependent gene expression beyond classical binding to a FoxO-responsive DNA binding element (FRE). Here we explored the relative contribution of those mechanisms by comparing the transcriptional responses to conditional activation of FoxO3 and a corresponding FRE-binding mutant in primary human endothelial cells. Microarray analysis revealed several functional gene clusters regulated in absence of an intact DNA-binding domain. Notably, both mutants triggered apoptosis albeit with different efficiencies. This was associated with regulation of overlapping and distinct proapototic gene clusters. Subsequent analysis demonstrated important roles for the Bcl2-like family members BIM and NOXA in this process. Remarkably, BIM was effectively induced by the FoxO3 FRE-binding mutant and BIM depletion could rescue its proapoptotic effect. Our study provides the first comprehensive analysis of alternatively regulated FoxO3 targets in primary cells and underscores the importance of such genes for endothelial function and integrity.
Project description:Forkhead Box O (FoxO) transcription factors are conserved proteins involved in the regulation of life span and age-related diseases, such as diabetes and cancer. Stress stimuli or growth factor deprivation promote nuclear localization and activation of FoxO proteins, which - depending on the cellular context - leads to cell cycle arrest or apoptosis. Moreover, FoxOs can control oxidative stress resistance and cell metabolism. In endothelial cells (ECs), they additionally regulate angiogenesis and may promote inflammation and vessel destabilization implicating a role of FoxOs in vascular diseases. In several cancers, FoxO transcription factors exert a tumor-suppressive function, due to their critical role in regulating proliferation and survival. Others and we have previously shown that FoxOs can regulate these processes via two different mechanisms: either by direct binding to FoxO-responsive elements (FRE) at the promoter of target genes or by a poorly understood alternative process that does not require direct DNA binding and regulates key targets in primary human ECs. Here we performed an interaction study in ECs to identify new nuclear FoxO3 interaction partners, which might contribute to FoxO-dependent gene regulation. Mass spectrometry analysis of FoxO3-interacting proteins revealed Transformation/Transcription Domain-Associated Protein (TRRAP), a member of multiple histone acetyltransferase (HAT) complexes, as novel binding partner of FoxO family proteins. TRRAP is required to support FoxO3 transactivation and FoxO3-dependent apoptosis in ECs via transcriptional activation of the proapoptotic Bcl-2 family member BIM. Moreover, FoxO-TRRAP interaction might explain FoxO-induced alternative gene regulation via TRRAP-dependent recruitment to target promoters lacking FRE sequences.
Project description:The PI3K-PKB/c-akt-FOXO signalling network provides a major intracellular hub for regulation of cell proliferation, survival and stress resistance1. Here we report a novel function for FOXO transcription factors in regulating autophagy through modulation of intracellular glutamine levels. To identify novel transcriptional targets of this module we performed an unbiased microarray analysis after conditional activation of the key components PI3K, PKB, FOXO3 and FOXO4. Utilising this global pathway approach we identified glutamine synthetase (GS) as being transcriptionally regulated by PI3K-PKB-FOXO signalling. FOXO-mediated increase in GS expression specifically induced glutamine production independently of cell type, and this was evolutionary conserved. FOXO activation resulted in mTOR inhibition by preventing the translocation of mTOR to lysosomal membranes, which was dependent on GS activity. Increased GS activity resulted in increased autophagosome turnover as measured by LC3 lipidation, p62 degradation, and confocal imaging of LC3, p62, WIPI-1, ULK2 and Atg12. Inhibition of FOXO3-mediated autophagy resulted in increased apoptosis, suggesting that the induction of autophagy by FOXO3-mediated upregulation of GS is important for cellular survival. These findings reveal a novel signalling network that can directly modulate autophagy through regulation of glutamine metabolism. conditional activation of pkb and pi3k were followed in a timeseries. Each timepoint consists of 4 independent replicates, labeled with either cy3 or cy5 and put on array against time0.
Project description:The PI3K-PKB/c-akt-FOXO signalling network provides a major intracellular hub for regulation of cell proliferation, survival and stress resistance1. Here we report a novel function for FOXO transcription factors in regulating autophagy through modulation of intracellular glutamine levels. To identify novel transcriptional targets of this module we performed an unbiased microarray analysis after conditional activation of the key components PI3K, PKB, FOXO3 and FOXO4. Utilising this global pathway approach we identified glutamine synthetase (GS) as being transcriptionally regulated by PI3K-PKB-FOXO signalling. FOXO-mediated increase in GS expression specifically induced glutamine production independently of cell type, and this was evolutionary conserved. FOXO activation resulted in mTOR inhibition by preventing the translocation of mTOR to lysosomal membranes, which was dependent on GS activity. Increased GS activity resulted in increased autophagosome turnover as measured by LC3 lipidation, p62 degradation, and confocal imaging of LC3, p62, WIPI-1, ULK2 and Atg12. Inhibition of FOXO3-mediated autophagy resulted in increased apoptosis, suggesting that the induction of autophagy by FOXO3-mediated upregulation of GS is important for cellular survival. These findings reveal a novel signalling network that can directly modulate autophagy through regulation of glutamine metabolism. conditional activation of foxo3 and foxo4 were followed in a timeseries. Each timepoint consists of 4 independent replicates, labeled with either cy3 or cy5 and put on array against time0 as reference.
Project description:The PI3K-PKB/c-akt-FOXO signalling network provides a major intracellular hub for regulation of cell proliferation, survival and stress resistance1. Here we report a novel function for FOXO transcription factors in regulating autophagy through modulation of intracellular glutamine levels. To identify novel transcriptional targets of this module we performed an unbiased microarray analysis after conditional activation of the key components PI3K, PKB, FOXO3 and FOXO4. Utilising this global pathway approach we identified glutamine synthetase (GS) as being transcriptionally regulated by PI3K-PKB-FOXO signalling. FOXO-mediated increase in GS expression specifically induced glutamine production independently of cell type, and this was evolutionary conserved. FOXO activation resulted in mTOR inhibition by preventing the translocation of mTOR to lysosomal membranes, which was dependent on GS activity. Increased GS activity resulted in increased autophagosome turnover as measured by LC3 lipidation, p62 degradation, and confocal imaging of LC3, p62, WIPI-1, ULK2 and Atg12. Inhibition of FOXO3-mediated autophagy resulted in increased apoptosis, suggesting that the induction of autophagy by FOXO3-mediated upregulation of GS is important for cellular survival. These findings reveal a novel signalling network that can directly modulate autophagy through regulation of glutamine metabolism.
Project description:The PI3K-PKB/c-akt-FOXO signalling network provides a major intracellular hub for regulation of cell proliferation, survival and stress resistance1. Here we report a novel function for FOXO transcription factors in regulating autophagy through modulation of intracellular glutamine levels. To identify novel transcriptional targets of this module we performed an unbiased microarray analysis after conditional activation of the key components PI3K, PKB, FOXO3 and FOXO4. Utilising this global pathway approach we identified glutamine synthetase (GS) as being transcriptionally regulated by PI3K-PKB-FOXO signalling. FOXO-mediated increase in GS expression specifically induced glutamine production independently of cell type, and this was evolutionary conserved. FOXO activation resulted in mTOR inhibition by preventing the translocation of mTOR to lysosomal membranes, which was dependent on GS activity. Increased GS activity resulted in increased autophagosome turnover as measured by LC3 lipidation, p62 degradation, and confocal imaging of LC3, p62, WIPI-1, ULK2 and Atg12. Inhibition of FOXO3-mediated autophagy resulted in increased apoptosis, suggesting that the induction of autophagy by FOXO3-mediated upregulation of GS is important for cellular survival. These findings reveal a novel signalling network that can directly modulate autophagy through regulation of glutamine metabolism.
Project description:Forkhead Box O (FOXO) transcription factors are versatile players in diverse cellular processes, affecting tumorigenesis, metabolism, stem cell maintenance and lifespan. To understand the transcriptional output of FOXO3 activation, we investigate features that define the subset of enhancer binding events that actually contribute to gene regulation. We show FOXO3 transcriptional output is determined by the amount of bound FOXO3, which in turn is determined by motif presence, pre-existing enhancer activity and accessibility. In this manner, FOXO3 amplifies pre-existing levels of activity marks and potentiates enhancer RNA transcription. We conclude that not only enhancer presence and sequence content, but also the pre-existing activity dictates FOXO3 binding and transcriptional output. Considering the flexible and cell type specific nature of regulatory regions and their activity, our observations provide a novel explanation for the diversity in FOXO transcriptional programs and introduce chromatin context as a new player in the regulation of FOXO activity in ageing and disease. Examination of histone modifications and transcriptome changes upon FOXO activation
Project description:This SuperSeries is composed of the following subset Series: GSE35701: CP001: Modulation of glutamine metabolism by the PI3K-PKB/c-akt-FOXO network regulates autophagy GSE35703: CP003: Modulation of glutamine metabolism by the PI3K-PKB/c-akt-FOXO network regulates autophagy Refer to individual Series
Project description:Forkhead Box O (FOXO) transcription factors are versatile players in diverse cellular processes, affecting tumorigenesis, metabolism, stem cell maintenance and lifespan. To understand the transcriptional output of FOXO3 activation, we investigate features that define the subset of enhancer binding events that actually contribute to gene regulation. We show FOXO3 transcriptional output is determined by the amount of bound FOXO3, which in turn is determined by motif presence, pre-existing enhancer activity and accessibility. In this manner, FOXO3 amplifies pre-existing levels of activity marks and potentiates enhancer RNA transcription. We conclude that not only enhancer presence and sequence content, but also the pre-existing activity dictates FOXO3 binding and transcriptional output. Considering the flexible and cell type specific nature of regulatory regions and their activity, our observations provide a novel explanation for the diversity in FOXO transcriptional programs and introduce chromatin context as a new player in the regulation of FOXO activity in ageing and disease.
Project description:FOXO transcription factors are key players in diverse cellular processes affecting tumorigenesis, stem cell maintenance and lifespan. To gain insight into mechanisms of FOXO regulated target gene expression, we studied genome-wide effects of FOXO3 activation. Profiling RNA polymerase II changes shows FOXO3 regulates gene expression through transcription initiation. Correlative analysis of FOXO3 and RNA polymerase II ChIP-seq profiles demonstrates FOXO3 to act as a transcriptional activator. Furthermore, this analysis reveals a significant part of FOXO3 gene regulation proceeds through enhancer regions. FOXO3 binds to pre-existing enhancers and further activates these enhancers as shown by changes in histone acetylation and RNA polymerase II recruitment. In addition, FOXO3-mediated enhancer activation correlates with regulation of adjacent genes and pre-existence of chromatin loops between FOXO3 bound enhancers and target genes. Combined, our data elucidate how FOXOs regulate gene transcription and provide insight into mechanisms by which FOXOs can induce different gene expression programs depending on chromatin architecture. Paper with published gene expression: PMID 22139133. Examination of FOXO3 binding and changes in RNAPII occupancy (0, 4, 24 hours after induction) in colorectal cell line