Project description:We evaluated two matched human cell lines derived from primary melanocytes, termed pmel+BRAF(V600E) and pmel+BRAF(V600E)+MITF. These cells are therefore isogenic with the exception of the expression of MITF. Gene Set Enrichment Analysis of microarray data identified a highly significant induction of oxidative phosphorylation gene set in MITF expressing cells compared to control cells.
Project description:Cutaneous melanoma (CM) and uveal melanoma (UM) both originate from the melanocytic lineage but are primarily driven by distinct oncogenic drivers, BRAF/NRAS or GNAQ/GNA11 respectively. The melanocytic master transcriptional regulator, MITF, is essential for both CM development and maintenance, but its role in UM is largely unexplored. Here, we use zebrafish models to dissect the key UM oncogenic signaling events, and establish the role of MITF in UM tumors. Remarkably, mitfa deficiency was profoundly UM promoting, dramatically accelerating the onset and progression of tumors induced by Tg(mitfa:GNAQQ209L);tp53M214K/M214K. To further explore the role of MITF in GNAQ-driven tumorigenesis, we performed phospho-proteomics and total proteomics on 5 zebrafish GNAQ Tg(mitfa:GNAQQ209L);tp53M214K/M214K tumors and 5 zebrafish GNAQ Tg(mitfa:GNAQQ209L);tp53M214K/M214K;mitfa-/- tumors.
Project description:Thousands of enhancers are characterized in the human genome, yet few have been shown important in cancer. Inhibiting oncokinases, such as EGFR, ALK, HER2, and BRAF, is a mainstay of current cancer therapy but is hindered by innate drug resistance mediated by upregulation of the HGF receptor, MET. The mechanisms mediating such genomic responses to targeted therapy are unknown. Here, we identify lineage-specific MET enhancers for multiple common tumor types, including a melanoma lineage-specific MET enhancer that displays inducible chromatin looping and MET gene induction upon BRAF inhibition. Epigenomic analysis demonstrated that the melanocyte-specific transcription factor, MITF, mediates this enhancer function. Targeted genomic deletion (<7bp) of the MITF motif within the MET enhancer suppressed inducible chromatin looping and innate drug resistance, while maintaining MITF-dependent, inhibitor-induced melanoma cell differentiation. Epigenomic analysis can thus guide functional disruption of regulatory DNA to decouple pro- and anti-oncogenic functions of tumor lineage-enriched transcription factors mediating innate resistance to oncokinase therapy. COLO829 human melanoma cell line harboring the BRAFV600E mutation was treated with BRAF inhibtior PLX4032 (Vemurafenib) and/or a hairpin against MITF
Project description:Increased MITF expression contributes to melanoma progression and resistance to BRAF pathway inhibition. We show that, unexpectedly, lack of MITF is associated with more severe resistance to a range of inhibitors. Indeed, the presence of endogenous MITF was essential for robust drug responses. Both in primary and acquired resistance, MITF levels inversely correlated with expression of several activated receptor tyrosine kinases, most commonly AXL. The MITF-low/AXL-high/drug resistance phenotype was seen in roughly half of BRAF mutant and the majority of NRAS mutant melanoma cell lines. The dichotomous behavior of MITF in drug response was corroborated in vemurafenib-resistant biopsies, including MITF high and low clones in a relapsed patient. Drug cocktails containing AXL inhibitor enhanced melanoma cell elimination by BRAF or ERK inhibition. Our results demonstrate that a low MITF/AXL ratio predicts early resistance to multiple targeted drugs, and warrant clinical validation of AXL inhibitors to combat resistance of BRAF and NRAS mutant MITF-low melanomas. Experssion analysis by RNAseq of 14 melanoma cell lines.
Project description:Thousands of enhancers are characterized in the human genome, yet few have been shown important in cancer. Inhibiting oncokinases, such as EGFR, ALK, HER2, and BRAF, is a mainstay of current cancer therapy but is hindered by innate drug resistance mediated by upregulation of the HGF receptor, MET. The mechanisms mediating such genomic responses to targeted therapy are unknown. Here, we identify lineage-specific MET enhancers for multiple common tumor types, including a melanoma lineage-specific MET enhancer that displays inducible chromatin looping and MET gene induction upon BRAF inhibition. Epigenomic analysis demonstrated that the melanocyte-specific transcription factor, MITF, mediates this enhancer function. Targeted genomic deletion (<7bp) of the MITF motif within the MET enhancer suppressed inducible chromatin looping and innate drug resistance, while maintaining MITF-dependent, inhibitor-induced melanoma cell differentiation. Epigenomic analysis can thus guide functional disruption of regulatory DNA to decouple pro- and anti-oncogenic functions of tumor lineage-enriched transcription factors mediating innate resistance to oncokinase therapy. MITF ChIP-seq was performed in primary human melanocytes with overexpression of BRAFV600E or a lentiviral control (RFP), and in COLO829 melanoma cells treated with DMSO, or PLX4032
Project description:Obesity is associated with systemic inflammation that impairs mitochondrial function. This disruption curtails oxidative metabolism, limiting adipocyte lipid metabolism and thermogenesis, a metabolically beneficial program that dissipates chemical energy as heat. Here, we show that PGC1α, a key governor of mitochondrial biogenesis, is negatively regulated at the level of its mRNA translation by the RNA-binding protein RBM43. RBM43 is induced by inflammatory cytokines and suppresses mitochondrial biogenesis in a PGC1α-dependent manner. In mice, adipocyte-selective Rbm43 disruption elevates PGC1α translation and oxidative metabolism. In obesity, Rbm43 loss improves glucose tolerance, reduces adipose inflammation, and suppresses activation of the innate immune sensor cGAS-STING in adipocytes. We further identify a role for PGC1α in safeguarding against cytoplasmic accumulation of mitochondrial DNA, a cGAS ligand. The action of RBM43 defines a translational regulatory axis by which inflammatory signals dictate cellular energy metabolism and contribute to metabolic disease pathogenesis.