Expression Of NAB2 Research Articles

The transcriptional coregulator NAB2 is a target gene for the Wilms' tumor gene 1 protein (WT1) in leukemic cells.

The Wilms’ tumor gene 1 (WT1) is recurrently mutated in acute myeloid leukemia. Mutations and high expression of WT1 associate with a poor prognosis. In mice, WT1 cooperates with the RUNX1/RUNX1T1 (AML1/ETO) fusion gene in the induction of acute leukemia, further emphasizing a role for WT1 in leukemia development. Molecular mechanisms for WT1 are, however, incompletely understood. Here, we identify the transcriptional coregulator NAB2 as a target gene of WT1. Analysis of gene expression profiles of leukemic samples revealed a positive correlation between the expression of WT1 and NAB2, as well as a non-zero partial correlation. Overexpression of WT1 in hematopoietic cells resulted in increased NAB2 levels, while suppression of WT1 decreased NAB2 expression. WT1 bound and transactivated the proximal NAB2 promoter, as shown by ChIP and reporter experiments, respectively. ChIP experiments also revealed that WT1 can recruit NAB2 to the IRF8 promoter, thus modulating the transcriptional activity of WT1, as shown by reporter experiments. Our results implicate NAB2 as a previously unreported target gene of WT1 and that NAB2 acts as a transcriptional cofactor of WT1.

Nab2 maintains thymus cellularity with aging and stress.

Thymic cellularity is influenced by a variety of biological and environmental factors, such as age and stress; however, little is known about the molecular genetic mechanisms that regulate this process. Immediate early genes of the Early growth response (Egr) family have critical roles in immune function and response to environmental stress. The transcription factors, Egr1, Egr2 and Egr3, play roles in the thymus and in peripheral T-cell activation. Nab2, which binds Egrs 1, 2, and 3 as a co-regulator of transcription, also regulates peripheral T-cell activation. However, a role for Nab2 in the thymus has not been reported. Using Nab2-deficient (KO) mice we found that male Nab2KO mice have reduced thymus size and decreased numbers of thymocytes, compared with age-matched wildtype (WT) mice. Furthermore, the number of thymocytes in Nab2KO males decreases more rapidly with age. This effect is sex-dependent as female Nab2KO mice show neither reduced thymocyte numbers nor accelerated thymocyte loss with age, compared to female WT littermates. Since stress induces expression of Nab2 and the Egrs, we examined whether loss of Nab2 alters stress-induced decrease in thymic cellularity. Restraint stress induced a significant decrease in thymic cellularity in Nab2KO and WT mice, with significant changes in the thymocyte subset populations only in the Nab2KO mice. Stress reduced the percentage of DP cells by half and increased the percentage of CD4SP and CD8SP cells by roughly three-fold in Nab2KO mice. These findings indicate a requirement for Nab2 in maintaining thymocyte number in male mice with age and in response to stress.

Expression of Egr-1, Nab2 and Cav-1 and its relationship with scar hyperplasia

Objective To investigate the expression of early growth response protein 1 (Egr-1),NGFI-A binding protein 2 (Nab2) and caveolin 1 (Cav-1) in normal skin,flat-cicatrix and hypertrophic scar,and explore its role in the formation of hypertrophic scar.Methods The expression of Egr-1,Nab2 and Cav-1 protein in 9 normal skin tissues,8 flat-cicatrix tissues and 9 hypertrophic scar tissues were examined with immunohistochemistry SP method and were analyzed statistically.Results The expression of Egr-1 in epidermal cells of hypertrophic scar was significantly higher than that in normal skin and flat scar tissue.The expression of Egr-1 increased in the course of scar proliferation.The distribution patterns of Nab2 were different from Egr-1.The expression of Egr-1 was increased,while expression of Nab2 was decreased.The expression of Cav-1 in normal skin and flat-cicatrix was significantly higher than that in hypertrophic scar.Conclusions The expression of Egr-1,Nab2 and Cav-1 is closely related to the formation of hypertrophic scar,and the up-regulated expression of Egr-1 and the deficient expression of Nab2 and Cav-1 may be the indicators of the progress of formation of hypertrophic scar.

Differential diagnosis of solitary fibrous tumors: A study of 454 soft tissue tumors indicating the diagnostic value of nuclear STAT6 relocation and ALDH1 expression combined with in situ proximity ligation assay.

Solitary fibrous tumors (SFTs) are rare mesenchymal neoplasms, displaying variable morphological and clinicopathological features. Supportive immunohistochemical markers such as CD34, CD99, BCL2 and LSD1 are commonly applied in the differential diagnosis of SFTs, although none is sufficiently sensitive or specific enough. The aim of the present study was to examine the most differential markers for the reliable distinction of SFTs from histological mimics. We investigated the expression of STAT6, NAB2, ALDH1, GRIA2 and IGF2 in 454 comprehensive soft tissue tumors, comprising formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue samples from 80 SFTs and 374 other mesenchymal tumors. The Duolink in situ proximity ligation assay (PLA) was adopted for the detection of NAB2-STAT6 fusion proteins. STAT6 was expressed in all 80 SFT cases with a moderate-strong nuclear staining intensity. In contrast, only 4/374 (1%) non-SFT mesenchymal tumors showed a nuclear STAT6 staining pattern. Strong expression of NAB2 and IGF2 was detected in SFT and non-SFT cases. Positive GRIA2 immunoreactivity was found in 64% (SFT) and 8% (non-SFT), respectively. Expression of ALDH1 was moderate-strong in 76% (SFT), whereas only 2 non-SFT lesions showed positive ALDH1 immunoreactivity. Moreover, the presence of NAB2‑STAT6 fusion proteins was indicated in 71/78 (91%) SFT cases by PLA. Nuclear STAT6 and cytoplasmic ALDH1 expression are the most sensitive and specific markers in the differential diagnosis of SFTs. Furthermore, application of Duolink in situ proximity ligation assay can be helpful to detect the NAB2-STAT6 fusion protein in the majority of SFTs.

Meningeal hemangiopericytoma and solitary fibrous tumors carry the NAB2-STAT6 fusion and can be diagnosed by nuclear expression of STAT6 protein

Non-central nervous system hemangiopericytoma (HPC) and solitary fibrous tumor (SFT) are considered by pathologists as two variants of a single tumor entity now subsumed under the entity SFT. Recent detection of frequent NAB2-STAT6 fusions in both, HPC and SFT, provided additional support for this view. On the other hand, current neuropathological practice still distinguishes between HPC and SFT. The present study set out to identify genes involved in the formation of meningeal HPC. We performed exome sequencing and detected the NAB2-STAT6 fusion in DNA of 8/10 meningeal HPC thereby providing evidence of close relationship of these tumors with peripheral SFT. Due to the considerable effort required for exome sequencing, we sought to explore surrogate markers for the NAB2-STAT6 fusion protein. We adopted the Duolink proximity ligation assay and demonstrated the presence of NAB2-STAT6 fusion protein in 17/17 HPC and the absence in 15/15 meningiomas. More practical, presence of the NAB2-STAT6 fusion protein resulted in a strong nuclear signal in STAT6 immunohistochemistry. The nuclear reallocation of STAT6 was detected in 35/37 meningeal HPC and 25/25 meningeal SFT but not in 87 meningiomas representing the most important differential diagnosis. Tissues not harboring the NAB2-STAT6 fusion protein presented with nuclear expression of NAB2 and cytoplasmic expression of STAT6 proteins. In conclusion, we provide strong evidence for meningeal HPC and SFT to constitute variants of a single entity which is defined by NAB2-STAT6 fusion. In addition, we demonstrate that this fusion can be rapidly detected by STAT6 immunohistochemistry which shows a consistent nuclear reallocation. This immunohistochemical assay may prove valuable for the differentiation of HPC and SFT from other mesenchymal neoplasms.

Nab2 regulates secondary CD8+ T-cell responses through control of TRAIL expression

AbstractCD4+ Th cells are pivotal for the generation and maintenance of CD8+ T-cell responses. “Helped” CD8+ T cells receive signals during priming that prevent the induction of the proapoptotic molecule TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL) during reactivation, thereby enabling robust secondary expansion. Conversely, “helpless” CD8+ T cells primed in the absence of Th induce TRAIL expression after restimulation and undergo activation-induced cell death. In the present study, we investigated the molecular basis for the differential regulation of TRAIL in helped versus helpless CD8+ T cells by comparing their transcriptional profiles, and have identified a transcriptional corepressor, NGFI-A binding protein 2 (Nab2), that is selectively induced in helped CD8+ T cells. Enforced expression of Nab2 prevents TRAIL induction after restimulation of primary helpless CD8+ T cells, and expression of a dominant-negative form of Nab2 in helped CD8+ T cells impairs their secondary proliferative response that is reversible by TRAIL blockade. Finally, we observe that the CD8+ T-cell autocrine growth factor IL-2 coordinately increases Nab2 expression and decreases TRAIL expression. These findings identify Nab2 as a mediator of Th-dependent CD8+ T-cell memory responses through the regulation of TRAIL and the promotion of secondary expansion, and suggest a mechanism through which this operates.

The Transcriptional Cofactor Nab2 Is Induced by TGF-β and Suppresses Fibroblast Activation: Physiological Roles and Impaired Expression in Scleroderma

By stimulating collagen synthesis and myofibroblasts differentiation, transforming growth factor-β (TGF- β) plays a pivotal role in tissue repair and fibrosis. The early growth response-1 (Egr-1) transcription factor mediates profibrotic TGF-β responses, and its expression is elevated in biopsies from patients with scleroderma. NGF1-A-binding protein 2 (Nab2) is a conserved transcriptional cofactor that directly binds to Egr-1 and positively or negatively modulates Egr-1 target gene transcription. Despite the recognized importance of Nab2 in governing the intensity of Egr-1-dependent responses, the regulation and function of Nab2 in the context of fibrotic TGF-β signaling is unknown. Here we show that TGF-β caused a time-dependent stimulation of Nab2 protein and mRNA in normal fibroblasts. Ectopic expression of Nab2 in these cells blocked Egr-1-dependent transcriptional responses, and abrogated TGF-β-induced stimulation of collagen synthesis and myofibroblasts differentiation. These inhibitory effects of Nab2 involved recruitment of the NuRD chromatin remodeling complex to the COL1A2 promoter and were accompanied by reduced histone H4 acetylation. Mice with targeted deletion of Nab2 displayed increased collagen accumulation in the dermis, and genetic or siRNA-mediated loss of Nab2 in fibroblasts was associated with constitutively elevated collagen synthesis and accentuation of Egr-1-dependent TGF-β responses in vitro. Expression of Nab2 was markedly up-regulated in skin biopsies from patients with scleroderma, and was localized primarily to epidermal keratinocytes. In contrast, little Nab2 could be detected in dermal fibroblasts. These results identify Nab2 as a novel endogenous negative regulator of Egr-1-dependent TGF-β signaling responsible for setting the intensity of fibrotic responses. Defective Nab2 expression or function in dermal fibroblasts might play a role in persistent fibrotic responses in scleroderma.

Epidermal-growth-factor-induced proliferation of astrocytes requires Egr transcription factors

Stimulation of astrocytes with epidermal growth factor (EGF) induced proliferation and triggered the biosynthesis of the transcription factor Egr-1, involving the activation of the extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) signaling pathway. No differences in the proliferation rate of astrocytes prepared from wild-type or Egr-1-deficient mice were detected. However, expression of a dominant-negative mutant of Egr-1 that interfered with DNA-binding of all Egr proteins prevented EGF-induced proliferation of astrocytes. Site-directed mutagenesis of two crucial cysteine residues within the zinc finger DNA-binding domain revealed that DNA-binding of the Egr-1 mutant was essential to inhibit proliferation of EGF-stimulated astrocytes. Expression of NAB2 (a negative co-regulator of Egr-1, Egr-2 and Egr-3) or a dominant-negative mutant of Elk-1 (a key regulator of Egr-1 biosynthesis) abolished EGF-induced proliferation of astrocytes. Chromatin immunoprecipitation experiments showed that Egr-1, Egr-2 and Egr-3 bound to the gene expressing basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) in EGF-stimulated astrocytes. Egr-2 and Egr-3 also interacted with the bFGF gene in EGF-stimulated astrocytes prepared from Egr-1-deficient mice, indicating that loss of Egr-1 is compensated by other Egr proteins. Together, these data show that Egr transcription factors are essential for conversion of the mitogenic signal of EGF into a proliferative response.

PU.1 Dose-Dependently Induces Granulocyte or Macrophage Commitment by Targeting Lineage Restricted Genes and by Regulating Transcription Factors Egr2, Nab2, Cebpa and Gfi1.

PU.1 (Sfpi1) is an ets family transcription factor required for the proper generation of both myeloid (macrophages and neutrophils) and lymphoid lineages (B and T lymphocytes)(Scott 1994, McKercher 1996). Graded expression of exogenous PU.1 in murine PU.1-deficient fetal liver hematopoietic progenitors demonstrated that increased levels of PU.1 are required to initiate development of macrophages (DeKoter, 2000). We have studied the effects of graded expression of PU.1 on its occupancy in chromatin and on the development of myeloid cells in vitro. We measured changes in gene expression, PU.1 occupancy and histone modifications in PU.1-null hematopoietic progenitor cells stably expressing PU.1 fused to the ligand-binding domain of the estrogen receptor (PU.1-ER) (Walsh 2002). The level of active PU.1-ER was regulated with graded levels of the ER inducer tamoxifen. In vitro, intermediate levels of tamoxifen produced cells with granulocyte characteristics in the suspension cell fraction and macrophage-like characteristics in the attached fraction, whereas high levels of PU.1 produced mostly attached macrophage-like cells. Expression of granulocyte-specific PU.1 target mRNAs including gelatinase B (Mmp9) and myeloperoxidase (Mpo) were observed to be expressed only with intermediate levels of tamoxifen. In contrast, expression of macrophage PU.1 target mRNAs including Cd14, F4/80 and Cd68 mRNAs were observed to be gradually upregulated upon PU.1-ER activation, with the maximum expression at the highest levels of tamoxifen. Thus, the expression levels of PU.1 target genes and phenotypic characteristics of the cells are dependent on PU.1 levels. Interestingly, macrophage-like cells can be produced from granulocytic-like cells by changing tamoxifen levels and vice versa. Chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed specific PU.1 occupancy within regulatory regions of the genes predominantly expressed in macrophages including Cd14 and Cd11b after treatment with high levels of tamoxifen. Specific PU.1 occupancy within regulatory regions of the granulocyte specific genes including MMP9 was observed at intermediate levels of tamoxifen. Suprisingly, chromatin immunoprecipitation analysis revealed specific PU.1 occupancy within regulatory regions of the lymphocytic PU.1 target genes including Interleukin-7 receptor (Il-7r) and RAG1 at intermediate levels of tamoxifen even though expression of these genes was not detected. Accumulation of acetylated K9 and methylated K4 of histone H3 in gene loci of macrophage and granulocytic markers such as Cd14, Cd11b, and Mmp9 correlated with their mRNA expression. However, lymphocyte-specific regulatory regions including that of Il-7r gene were hypoacetylated in H3K9 despite a marked PU.1 recruitment suggesting additional factors may be required for PU.1 mediated transactivation. To identify these molecules we have tested PU.1-dependent transcription factors: Egr2, Nab2, Cebpa and Gfi-1 and found that upon increasing PU.1 levels, expression of Egr2/Nab2 and Gfi-1/Cebpa changed in a reciprocal manner and these changes preceded expression of the lineage specific markers. We are currently testing if PU.1 directly regulates expression of Egr2, Nab2, Cebpa and Gfi-1 during granulocytic/macrophage differentiation.

Prostaglandin F2α Stimulates the Expression and Secretion of Transforming Growth Factor B1 Via Induction of the Early Growth Response 1 Gene (EGR1) in the Bovine Corpus Luteum

In most mammals, prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) is believed to be a trigger that induces the regression of the corpus luteum (CL), whereby progesterone synthesis is inhibited, the luteal structure involutes, and the reproductive cycle resumes. Studies have shown that the early growth response 1 (EGR1) protein can induce the expression of proapoptotic proteins, suggesting that EGR1 may play a role in luteal regression. Our hypothesis is that EGR1 mediates the actions of PGF2alpha by inducing the expression of TGF beta1 (TGFB1), a key tissue remodeling protein. The levels of EGR1 mRNA and protein were up-regulated in the bovine CL during PGF2alpha-induced luteolysis in vivo and in PGF2alpha-treated luteal cells in vitro. Using chemical and genetic approaches, the RAF/MAPK kinase (MEK) 1/ERK pathway was identified as a proximal signaling event required for the induction of EGR1 in PGF2alpha-treated cells. Treatment with PGF2alpha increased the expression of TGFB1 mRNA and protein as well as the binding of EGR1 protein to TGFB1 promoter in bovine luteal cells. The effect of PGF2alpha on TGFB1 expression was mimicked by a protein kinase C (PKC)/RAF/MEK1/ERK activator or adenoviral-mediated expression of EGR1. The stimulatory effect of PGF2alpha on TGFB1 mRNA and TGFB1 protein secretion was inhibited by blockade of MEK1/ERK signaling and by adenoviral-mediated expression of NAB2, an EGR1 binding protein that inhibits EGR1 transcriptional activity. Treatment of luteal cells with TGFB1 reduced progesterone secretion, implicating TGFB1 in luteal regression. These studies demonstrate that PGF2alpha stimulates the expression of EGR1 and TGFB1 in the CL. We suggest that EGR1 plays a role in the expression of genes whose cognate proteins coordinate luteal regression.

Egr-1 Induces the Expression of Its Corepressor Nab2 by Activation of the Nab2 Promoter Thereby Establishing a Negative Feedback Loop

The transcription factor Egr-1 regulates the expression of numerous genes involved in differentiation, growth, and in response to environmental signals. Egr-1 activity is modulated in part through the binding of corepressors Nab1 and Nab2. Nab2 appears crucial for controlling Egr-1-mediated transactivation because it is a delayed early response gene, induced by the same stimuli that induce the immediate early gene Egr-1. To identify important elements regulating Nab2 expression, we cloned the human Nab2 gene and investigated the 5'-region. The TATA- and initiator-less Nab2 promoter, located from -679 to -74 bp, contains a total of 11 Egr binding sites, including a cluster of multiple overlapping Egr/Sp1 sites between -329 and -260 bp. This region is critical for basal promoter activity as well as for maximum induction by phorbol esters. Electromobility shifts show that Sp1 binds to this region in normal and stimulated cells, whereas stimulation induces binding of Egr-1. In addition Egr-1 activates the Nab2 promoter in a pattern similar to phorbol esters, suggesting that Egr-1 is a major inducer of protein kinase C-mediated Nab2 induction. Depletion of Egr-1 by each of two distinct Egr-1 short-interfering RNAs reduces Nab2 expression and inducibility, confirming that Egr-1 is an important regulator of Nab2 expression. Transfection experiments show that Egr-1-induced Nab2 promoter activity is itself repressed by Nab2. These results indicate that Egr-1 mediates the induction of its own repressor, thereby preventing a permanent transactivation of Egr-1 target genes and a damaging overreaction in response to environmental signals.

Identification of Signaling-Induced Transcription Pathway Determinants that Influence Erythro-Megakaryocytic Lineage Commitment.

Erythroid and megakaryocytic cells are derived from a common precursor and share many of the same transcriptional regulators. We and others have demonstrated a critical role for sustained activation of extracellular-related (ERK) kinase in PKC-induced megakaryocytic differentiation of K562 cells. However, the transcriptional mechanisms underlying this process are largely unknown. Our prior studies have focused on late stage megakaryocyte specific genes such as glycoprotein IIb/CD41. In order to understand the early transcriptional events regulating this process, we have begun to examine the mechanisms regulating the expression of CD9, a tetraspanin molecule that is currently the earliest identified marker of megakaryocyte differentiation. The PKC agonist ingenol 3,20 dibenzoate (IDB) rapidly induced CD9 expression in both K562 cells as well as in primary human CD34+ progenitor cells, much earlier than the kinetics for CD41 induction. CD9 induction by PKC was dependent on ERK activation. Recently, it has been shown that immediate early gene expression, including the transcription factor Egr-1, is highly sensitive to the duration and amplitude of ERK activity. Egr-1 has been previously implicated in the regulation of hematopoietic lineage commitment. PKC/ERK activation rapidly and strongly induced Egr-1 expression, which remained elevated for up to 96 hrs after IDB treatment of K562 cells. Egr-1 induction was closely followed by CD9 induction, suggesting a causal relationship. This was supported by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) analysis, which showed strong recruitment of Egr-1 to the CD9 promoter during PKC/ERK-induced differentiation. KLF5, a known downstream target of Egr-1, was identified as an additional target of PKC/ERK signaling during megakaryocytic differentiation. KLF5, a novel GC binding factor, was found to be expressed in primary megakaryocytes and not in erythroid cells. KLF5 expression was induced by IDB treatment, and ChIP analysis showed that Egr-1 was recruited to the KLF5 promoter during PKC/ERK-induced differentiation. KLF5 has been shown previously to regulate known megakaryocyte-expressed genes PDGF-A and TGF-β expression in vascular smooth muscle, but a role in megakaryocyte gene expression has not been previously suggested. To better understand the regulation of Egr-1 in erythromegakaryocytic differentiation, Nab2, a natural co-repressor of Egr-1 was also evaluated. Control K562 cells strongly expressed c-myc and Nab2. ChIP studies show that c-myc binds to the Nab2 promoter in control K562 cells and both c-myc and Nab2 expression strongly declined during the first 24 hours after PKC stimulation. Enforced expression of Nab2 not only blocked CD9 induction by IDB, but also induced marked hemoglobinization of K562 cells. Taken together, these findings suggest a novel and critical role for the balance in Egr-1/Nab2 activity as a regulatory mechanism in erythroid versus megakaryocytic differentiation pathways.

Frequent and early loss of the EGR1 corepressor NAB2 in human prostate carcinoma

The transcription factor EGR1 is frequently overexpressed in human prostate cancer and regulates the expression of several genes important for tumor progression. In addition, mice lacking the Egr1 gene show a defect in prostate tumorigenesis. NAB2 is a novel corepressor molecule that modulates EGR1 activity and is induced by the same stimuli that induce EGR1. The human NAB2 gene has been localized to 12q13.3-14.1, within a chromosomal region that is thought to harbor a prostate tumor suppressor. We have examined the expression of NAB2 in human prostate carcinoma specimens. We show here that NAB2 protein expression is lost in a majority of primary prostate carcinoma specimens, including many samples that have high EGR1 levels. This loss occurs early in the tumorigenic process and is sustained, as it is seen in precursor prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia lesions as well as in metastases. Furthermore, loss of NAB2 did not correlate with the tumor grade or stage. Our findings suggest that high levels of EGR1 coupled with low levels of NAB2 can result in high, unrestrained EGR1 transcriptional activity in human prostate cancers. HUM PATHOL 32:935-939. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company