Project description:NR4A1 (Nur77, TR3) is an orphan nuclear receptor that is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells and tumors and exhibits pro-oncogenic activity. Knockdown of NR4A1 by RNA interference (siNR4A1) in Panc1 cells and analysis of the proteome resulted in induction of several markers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress including glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP), activating transcription factor-3 (ATF-3) and AFT-6. These effects were accompanied by induction of apoptosis and similar results were observed after treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with the known inactivator of NR4A1, 1,1-bis(3’-indolyl)-1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)methane (DIM-C-pPhOH). Both siNR4A1 (transfected) and DIM-C-pPhOH also induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induction of ROS and ER stress by these agents was attenuated after cotreatment with antioxidants. Transfection of Panc1 cells with siNR4A1 follow by analysis of gene expression by arrays identified ROS metabolism genes regulated by NR4A1. Knockdown of one of these genes, thioredoxin domain containing 5 (TXNDC5) also resulted in induction of ROS and ER stress demonstrating that NR4A1 regulates levels of ER stress and ROS in pancreatic cancer cells to facilitate cell proliferation and survival. Inactivation of this receptor by siNR4A1 or DIM-C-pPhOH decreases TXNDC5 resulting in activation of ROS/ER stress and pro-apoptotic pathways and represents a novel pathway for inducing cell death in pancreatic cancer cells. Two groups of samples are included: 1. siControl; 2. siNR4A1 treatment in PAC1 cell. Transfection of Panc1 cells with siNR4A1 follow by analysis of gene expression by arrays identified ROS metabolism genes regulated by NR4A1.
Project description:NR4A1 (Nur77, TR3) is an orphan nuclear receptor that is overexpressed in pancreatic cancer cells and tumors and exhibits pro-oncogenic activity. Knockdown of NR4A1 by RNA interference (siNR4A1) in Panc1 cells and analysis of the proteome resulted in induction of several markers of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress including glucose-related protein 78 (GRP78), CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein-homologous protein (CHOP), activating transcription factor-3 (ATF-3) and AFT-6. These effects were accompanied by induction of apoptosis and similar results were observed after treatment of pancreatic cancer cells with the known inactivator of NR4A1, 1,1-bis(3’-indolyl)-1-(p-hydroxyphenyl)methane (DIM-C-pPhOH). Both siNR4A1 (transfected) and DIM-C-pPhOH also induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) and induction of ROS and ER stress by these agents was attenuated after cotreatment with antioxidants. Transfection of Panc1 cells with siNR4A1 follow by analysis of gene expression by arrays identified ROS metabolism genes regulated by NR4A1. Knockdown of one of these genes, thioredoxin domain containing 5 (TXNDC5) also resulted in induction of ROS and ER stress demonstrating that NR4A1 regulates levels of ER stress and ROS in pancreatic cancer cells to facilitate cell proliferation and survival. Inactivation of this receptor by siNR4A1 or DIM-C-pPhOH decreases TXNDC5 resulting in activation of ROS/ER stress and pro-apoptotic pathways and represents a novel pathway for inducing cell death in pancreatic cancer cells.
Project description:Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) sustain life-long hematopoiesis and emerge during mid-gestation from hemogenic endothelial (HE) progenitors via an endothelial to hematopoietic transition (EHT). The full scope of molecular mechanisms governing this process remains unclear. The NR4A subfamily of orphan nuclear receptors act as tumour suppressors in myeloid leukemogenesis and have never been implicated in HSC specification. Here, we report that Nr4a1 and Nr4a2 expression is upregulated in hemogenic endothelium during EHT. Progressive genetic ablation of Nr4a gene dosage results in a gradual decrease in numbers of nascent c-Kit+ hematopoietic progenitors in developing embryos, c-Kit+ cell cluster size in the dorsal aorta, and a block in HSC maturation, revealed by an accumulation of pro-HSCs and pre-HSC-type I cells and decreased numbers of pre-HSC-type II cells. Consistent with these observations, cells isolated from E11.5 Nr4a1-/-; Nr4a2-/- aorta-gonads-mesonephros (AGM) are devoid of in vivo long-term hematopoietic repopulating potential. Molecularly, employing spatial transcriptomic analysis we determined that the genetic ablation of Nr4a1 and Nr4a2 prevents NOTCH signaling from being downregulated in intra-aortic clusters and thus for pro-HSCs to mature into HSCs. Interestingly, this defect is partially rescued via ex vivo culture of dissected AGMs with SCF, IL3 and FLT3L, which may bypass NOTCH-dependent regulation. Overall, our data reveal a novel role for the NR4A family of orphan nuclear receptors in EHT.