COX-2 overexpression in a conditional KrasG12D mouse model
Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Pancreatic ductal cells and preneoplastic lesions derived from wild type, Keratin 5 COX-2, P48Cretg/wt K-RasG12D/wt and K5 COX-2 P48Cretg/wt K-RasG12D/wt mouse genotypes were laser capture microdissected. Total RNA was isolated and analysed with Illumuna Sentrix 8 chips.
Project description:Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). However, how COX-2 promotes PDAC development is unclear. While previous studies have evaluated the efficacy of COX-2 inhibition via the use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib in PDAC models, none have addressed the cell intrinsic vs. microenvironment roles of COX-2 in modulating PDAC initiation and progression. We tested the cell intrinsic role of COX-2 in PDAC progression, using both loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches. Cox-2 deletion in Pdx1+ pancreatic progenitor cells significantly delays the development of PDAC in mice with K-ras activation and Pten haploinsufficiency. Conversely, COX-2 over-expression promotes early onset and progression of PDAC in the K-ras mouse model. Loss of PTEN function is a critical factor in determining lethal PDAC onset and overall survival. Mechanistically, COX-2 over-expression increases P-AKT levels in the precursor lesions of Pdx1+;K-rasG12D/+;Ptenlox/+ mice in the absence of Pten LOH. In contrast, Cox-2 deletion in the same setting diminishes P-AKT levels and delays cancer progression. These data suggest an important cell intrinsic role for COX-2 in tumor initiation and progression through activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. PDAC that is independent of intrinsic COX-2 expression eventually develops with decreased FKBP5 and increased GRP78 expression, two alternate pathways leading to AKT activation. Together, these results support a cell intrinsic role for COX-2 in PDAC development and suggest that, while anti-COX-2 therapy may delay the development and progression of PDAC, mechanisms known to increase chemoresistance through AKT activation must also be overcome. Murine mutants with pancreatic specific loss of Pten (Pten +/-) and K-ras activation (K-rasG12D) and either COX-2 over-expression (Cox-2 COE) or knockout (Cox-2 KO) under regulation of the Pdx-1 promoter developed pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma. RNA was extracted from pancreatic tumors from individual mutants with pathology thought to closely mimic the human disease. Pancreatic tissue was subject to RNA extraction and hybridization on Affymetrix cDNA microarrays.
Project description:To further understand the physiological role of cyclooxygenase (COX), the critical enzyme involved in the production of eicosanoids from arachidonic acid, we performed microarray analysis of gene expression in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of mice deficient in COX-1 (COX-1-/-) or COX-2 (COX-2-/-). Expression of lipid (ATP citrate lyase, acetyl-CoA acetyltransferase, hydroxyacyl-CoA dehydrogenase) and homocysteine (methionine adenosyltransferase, S-adenosylhomocysteine hydrolase) metabolism genes was increased in the cerebral cortex of COX-2 -/- mice. Further, expression of GABAergic neurotransmission genes (GABA transporter 3, GABA-A receptor subunit ?1) was altered in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of COX-2 -/- mice. A COX isoform specific effect was observed in the expression of Janus Kinase (JAK) 1 and 2. COX-1 -/- mice exhibited an increase in JAK1 expression while COX-2 -/- mice exhibited a decrease in JAK2 expression, an observation consistent with a previously demonstrated COX isoform specific effect on the expression of NF-kB. In summary, this study demonstrates the wide ranging effects of genetic deletion of COX isoforms in the mouse brain and suggests that inhibition of COX activity may alter the profile of gene expression in specific areas of the brain. We used nylon cDNA microarrays to detail the global programme of gene expression in the Cerebral Cortex and Hippocampus of COX-1 and COX-2 null (knockout) mice Keywords: brain, cerebral cortex, hippocampus, COX-1 WT, COX-1 KO, COX-2 WT, COX-2 KO and COX-2 heterozygous
Project description:Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) is upregulated in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinomas (PDAC). However, how COX-2 promotes PDAC development is unclear. While previous studies have evaluated the efficacy of COX-2 inhibition via the use of non steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) or the COX-2 inhibitor celecoxib in PDAC models, none have addressed the cell intrinsic vs. microenvironment roles of COX-2 in modulating PDAC initiation and progression. We tested the cell intrinsic role of COX-2 in PDAC progression, using both loss-of-function and gain-of-function approaches. Cox-2 deletion in Pdx1+ pancreatic progenitor cells significantly delays the development of PDAC in mice with K-ras activation and Pten haploinsufficiency. Conversely, COX-2 over-expression promotes early onset and progression of PDAC in the K-ras mouse model. Loss of PTEN function is a critical factor in determining lethal PDAC onset and overall survival. Mechanistically, COX-2 over-expression increases P-AKT levels in the precursor lesions of Pdx1+;K-rasG12D/+;Ptenlox/+ mice in the absence of Pten LOH. In contrast, Cox-2 deletion in the same setting diminishes P-AKT levels and delays cancer progression. These data suggest an important cell intrinsic role for COX-2 in tumor initiation and progression through activation of the PI3K/AKT pathway. PDAC that is independent of intrinsic COX-2 expression eventually develops with decreased FKBP5 and increased GRP78 expression, two alternate pathways leading to AKT activation. Together, these results support a cell intrinsic role for COX-2 in PDAC development and suggest that, while anti-COX-2 therapy may delay the development and progression of PDAC, mechanisms known to increase chemoresistance through AKT activation must also be overcome.
Project description:Cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) catalyzes the oxidation of arachidonic acid (AA) into a single product that is the source of all prostaglandins (PGs), ligands of multiple pro-inflammatory pathways. AA catalysis results in suicide inactivation, rendering the enzyme catalytically inactive. We report that catalytic activity also leads to controlled cleavage of COX-2, an event that is differentially regulated by fatty acids, and blocked by COX inhibitors. Using mass spectrometry, we identified two adjacent cleavage points within the catalytic domain, which give rise to COX-2 fragments that are catalytically inactive and localize to different cellular compartments. These fragments were also detected in human colon tumors. Expression of one of these fragments in cells significantly reduced mitochondrial function, increased lactate production, and enhanced proliferation.
Project description:We performed RNA sequencing in isogenic models of COX-1 proficient (OV3/SCR) and COX-1 deficient (OV3/COX1KD) OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells. COX-1 knockdown was associated with a coordinated anti-oncogenic phenotype, with growth, angiogenesis, migration/invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition among the pathways down-regulated.
Project description:We performed RNA sequencing in isogenic models of COX-1 proficient (OV3/SCR) and COX-1 deficient (OV3/COX1KD) OVCAR-3 ovarian cancer cells. COX-1 knockdown was associated with a coordinated anti-oncogenic phenotype, with growth, angiogenesis, migration/invasion, and epithelial-mesenchymal transition among the pathways down-regulated. RNA sequencing was performed at Vanderbilt Technologies for Advanced Genomics (VANTAGE) using Illumina HiSeq 2500.
Project description:CONTEXT Nowadays, the molecular mechanisms involved in endometrial receptivity and implantation are still not clear. OBJECTIVE The gene expression of human endometrium of patients undergoing an IVF treatment with GnRH antagonists/rec-FSH was studied. CONCLUSIONS COX-2 has been extensively studied as a crucial fertility element in both knock-out mice and human. It appears that increased expression of COX-2 and/or SCGB1D2 on the day of oocyte retrieval in GnRH antagonist/rec-FSH stimulated cycles coincides with a lower probability of achieving a clinical pregnancy in this cycle. Keywords: gene expression analysis, clinical pregnancy in IVF stimulated cycles Endometrial biopsies taken from patients on day of oocyte retrieval in stimulated IVF cycles with 1 or 2 embryos replaced in the same cycle. Gene expression of pregnant patients (n=4) was compared with matched non-pregnant patients (n=4)
Project description:Endothelial cells control inflammation in inflammatory and infectious diseases through regulating endothelial gene expression and permeability. Roundabout4 (Robo4) is an endothelial-specific protein that stabilizes endothelial cells. Robo4 has been shown to ameliorate mouse inflammatory and severe infectious diseases, such as sepsis and COVID-19 by reducing vascular permeability. Despite this, it remains uncertain whether these are the only mechanisms by which Robo4 ameliorates the diseases. In this study, we carried out an RNA-seq analysis to investigate the genes regulated by Robo4 in endothelial cells stimulated by TNFα and identified gene, prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2) , which codes for Cycloocygenase-2 (COX-2). Mechanistic analysis revealed that Robo4 curbs COX-2 expression and endothelial hyperpermeability by preventing prolonged Rac1 activation. Analysis of Robo4 interacting protein identified IQ motif containing GTPase activating protein 1 (IQGAP1) that maintains active Rac1. Robo4 enhanced ubiquitination of IQGAP1 with a ubiquitin E3 ligase, TNF receptor-associated factor 7 (TRAF7), to inactivate Rac1. Finally, Robo4 deficiency exacerbates COX-2 -associated inflammatory diseases, including arthritis, edema, and pain in mouse models. Taken together, Robo4 inhibits Rac1 activation by interacting with TRAF7 and IQGAP1, thereby suppressing the endothelial expression of COX-2 and reducing hyperpermeability. Thus, we uncovered further Robo4 capabilities that suppresses COX-2 and inflammatory diseases, as well as their underlying mechanisms, indicating that endothelial Robo4 is a potential therapeutic target for diverse inflammatory diseases.
Project description:Tumor-stromal communication within the microenvironment contributes to initiation of metastasis and may present a therapeutic opportunity. Using serial single cell RNA-sequencing in an orthotopic mouse prostate cancer model, we find upregulation of Prolactin receptor as cancer cells that have disseminated to the lung expand into micrometastases. Secretion of the ligand Prolactin by adjacent lung stromal cells is induced by tumor cell production of the COX-2 synthetic product prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2). PGE-2 treatment of fibroblasts activates the nuclear orphan receptor NR4A (Nur77), with Prolactin as a major transcriptional target for the NR4A-Retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimer. Ectopic expression of Prolactin receptor in mouse cancer cells enhances micrometastasis, while treatment with the COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib abrogates Prolactin secretion by fibroblasts and reduces tumor initiation. Across multiple human cancers, COX-2, Prolactin, and Prolactin receptor show consistent differential expression in tumor and stromal compartments. Such paracrine crosstalk may thus contribute to the documented efficacy of COX-2 inhibitors in cancer suppression.
Project description:Tumor-stromal communication within the microenvironment contributes to initiation of metastasis and may present a therapeutic opportunity. Using serial single cell RNA-sequencing in an orthotopic mouse prostate cancer model, we find upregulation of Prolactin receptor as cancer cells that have disseminated to the lung expand into micrometastases. Secretion of the ligand Prolactin by adjacent lung stromal cells is induced by tumor cell production of the COX-2 synthetic product prostaglandin E-2 (PGE-2). PGE-2 treatment of fibroblasts activates the nuclear orphan receptor NR4A (Nur77), with Prolactin as a major transcriptional target for the NR4A-Retinoid X receptor (RXR) heterodimer. Ectopic expression of Prolactin receptor in mouse cancer cells enhances micrometastasis, while treatment with the COX-2 inhibitor Celecoxib abrogates Prolactin secretion by fibroblasts and reduces tumor initiation. Across multiple human cancers, COX-2, Prolactin, and Prolactin receptor show consistent differential expression in tumor and stromal compartments. Such paracrine crosstalk may thus contribute to the documented efficacy of COX-2 inhibitors in cancer suppression.