Project description:We used microarrays to generate differentially expressed gene profiles upon cardiomyocyte-specific overexpression of transcriptionally-active N-termini of either ATF6α or ATF6β
Project description:Hemodynamic stress on the mammalian heart results in compensatory hypertrophy and activation of the unfolded protein response through activating transcription factor 6α (ATF6α) in cardiac myocytes, but the roles of ATF6α or the related transcription factor ATF6β in regulating this hypertrophic response are not well-understood. Here we examined the effects of loss of ATF6α or ATF6β on the cardiac response to pressure overload. Mice gene-deleted for Atf6 or Atf6b were subjected to 2 weeks of transverse aortic constriction, and each showed a significant reduction in hypertrophy with reduced expression of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress-associated proteins compared with controls. However, with long-term pressure overload both Atf6 and Atf6b null mice showed enhanced decompensation typified by increased heart weight, pulmonary edema and reduced function compared to control mice. Our subsequent studies using cardiac-specific transgenic mice expressing the transcriptionally active N-terminus of ATF6α or ATF6β revealed that these factors control overlapping gene expression networks that include numerous ER protein chaperones and ER associated degradation components. This work reveals previously unappreciated roles for ATF6α and ATF6β in regulating the pressure overload induced cardiac hypertrophic response and in controlling the expression of genes that condition the ER during hemodynamic stress.
Project description:The bZIP transcription factor ATF6α is a master regulator of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response genes. In this report, we identify the multifunctional RNA polymerase II transcription factor Elongin as a cofactor for ATF6α-dependent transcription activation. Biochemical studies reveal that Elongin functions at least in part by facilitating ATF6α-dependent loading of Mediator at the promoters and enhancers of ER stress response genes. Depletion of Elongin from cells leads to impaired transcription of ER stress response genes and to defects in the recruitment of Mediator and, in particular, its CDK8 kinase subunit. Taken together, these findings bring to light a new role for Elongin as a loading factor for Mediator during the ER stress response.
Project description:The bZIP transcription factor ATF6α is a master regulator of endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress response genes. In this report, we identify the multifunctional RNA polymerase II transcription factor Elongin as a cofactor for ATF6α-dependent transcription activation. Biochemical studies reveal that Elongin functions at least in part by facilitating ATF6α-dependent loading of Mediator at the promoters and enhancers of ER stress response genes. Depletion of Elongin from cells leads to impaired transcription of ER stress response genes and to defects in the recruitment of Mediator and, in particular, its CDK8 kinase subunit. Taken together, these findings bring to light a new role for Elongin as a loading factor for Mediator during the ER stress response.
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fastest growing cause of cancer-related mortality with limited therapies. While endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) are implicated in HCC, the involvement of the UPR-transducer activating transcription factor 6 alpha (ATF6α) remains unclear. In contrast to the well-characterized role of ATF6α-activation as an adaptive response to ER-stress, we here demonstrate its hitherto unknown function as an ER stress-inducing oncoprotein and metabolic master-regulator restricting cancer-immunosurveillance. In human HCC, ATF6α-activation significantly correlated with reduced patient-survival, tumor-progression, local immunosuppression, and higher recurrence rates of liver-cancer upon hepatectomy. Hepatocyte-specific ATF6α-activation in mice induced progressive hepatitis with ER-stress, immunosuppression, and hepatocyte-proliferation. Concomitantly, activated-ATF6α increased glycolysis and repressed gluconeogenic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1). Restoring FBP1 expression prevented ATF6α-activation-related pathologies. Prolonged ATF6α-activation in hepatocytes triggered hepatocarcinogenesis, intratumoral T-cell infiltration, and nutrient-deprived immune-exhaustion. Immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) efficiently restored immunosurveillance and dramatically reduced HCC. In line, HCC patients with a significantly higher ATF6α-activation signature presented complete response to ICB monotherapy. Targeting Atf6 via germline, hepatocyte-specific ablation, or therapeutic delivery of antisense-oligonucleotides dampened HCC in preclinical liver-cancer models. Thus, prolonged ATF6α-activation drives ER-stress, leading to aberrant glucose metabolism-dependent immunosuppression in liver cancer. Our findings propose persistently activated ATF6α as an oncoprotein, stratification-marker for liver-cancer ICB, and targetable therapeutic strategy against HCC.
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fastest growing cause of cancer-related mortality with limited therapies. While endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) are implicated in HCC, the involvement of the UPR-transducer activating transcription factor 6 alpha (ATF6α) remains unclear. In contrast to the well-characterized role of ATF6α-activation as an adaptive response to ER-stress, we here demonstrate its hitherto unknown function as an ER stress-inducing oncoprotein and metabolic master-regulator restricting cancer-immunosurveillance. In human HCC, ATF6α-activation significantly correlated with reduced patient-survival, tumor-progression, local immunosuppression, and higher recurrence rates of liver-cancer upon hepatectomy. Hepatocyte-specific ATF6α-activation in mice induced progressive hepatitis with ER-stress, immunosuppression, and hepatocyte-proliferation. Concomitantly, activated-ATF6α increased glycolysis and repressed gluconeogenic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1). Restoring FBP1 expression prevented ATF6α-activation-related pathologies. Prolonged ATF6α-activation in hepatocytes triggered hepatocarcinogenesis, intratumoral T-cell infiltration, and nutrient-deprived immune-exhaustion. Immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) efficiently restored immunosurveillance and dramatically reduced HCC. In line, HCC patients with a significantly higher ATF6α-activation signature presented complete response to ICB monotherapy. Targeting Atf6 via germline, hepatocyte-specific ablation, or therapeutic delivery of antisense-oligonucleotides dampened HCC in preclinical liver-cancer models. Thus, prolonged ATF6α-activation drives ER-stress, leading to aberrant glucose metabolism-dependent immunosuppression in liver cancer. Our findings propose persistently activated ATF6α as an oncoprotein, stratification-marker for liver-cancer ICB, and targetable therapeutic strategy against HCC.
Project description:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the fastest growing cause of cancer-related mortality with limited therapies. While endoplasmic reticulum (ER)-stress and the unfolded protein response (UPR) are implicated in HCC, the involvement of the UPR-transducer activating transcription factor 6 alpha (ATF6α) remains unclear. In contrast to the well-characterized role of ATF6α-activation as an adaptive response to ER-stress, we here demonstrate its hitherto unknown function as an ER stress-inducing oncoprotein and metabolic master-regulator restricting cancer-immunosurveillance. In human HCC, ATF6α-activation significantly correlated with reduced patient-survival, tumor-progression, local immunosuppression, and higher recurrence rates of liver-cancer upon hepatectomy. Hepatocyte-specific ATF6α-activation in mice induced progressive hepatitis with ER-stress, immunosuppression, and hepatocyte-proliferation. Concomitantly, activated-ATF6α increased glycolysis and repressed gluconeogenic enzyme fructose-1,6-bisphosphatase 1 (FBP1). Restoring FBP1 expression prevented ATF6α-activation-related pathologies. Prolonged ATF6α-activation in hepatocytes triggered hepatocarcinogenesis, intratumoral T-cell infiltration, and nutrient-deprived immune-exhaustion. Immune-checkpoint blockade (ICB) efficiently restored immunosurveillance and dramatically reduced HCC. In line, HCC patients with a significantly higher ATF6α-activation signature presented complete response to ICB monotherapy. Targeting Atf6 via germline, hepatocyte-specific ablation, or therapeutic delivery of antisense-oligonucleotides dampened HCC in preclinical liver-cancer models. Thus, prolonged ATF6α-activation drives ER-stress, leading to aberrant glucose metabolism-dependent immunosuppression in liver cancer. Our findings propose persistently activated ATF6α as an oncoprotein, stratification-marker for liver-cancer ICB, and targetable therapeutic strategy against HCC.