Bhlhe40 Regulates Proliferation and Angiogenesis in Mouse Embryoid Bodies under Hypoxia.

Knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that underlie the regulation of major adaptive responses to an unbalanced oxygen tension is central to understanding tissue homeostasis and disease. Hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs) coordinate changes in the transcriptome that control these adaptive responses. Here, we focused on the functional role of the transcriptional repressor basic-helix-loop-helix family member e40 (Bhlhe40), which we previously identified in a meta-analysis as one of the most consistently upregulated genes in response to hypoxia across various cell types. We investigated the role of Bhlhe40 in controlling proliferation and angiogenesis using a gene editing strategy in mouse embryonic stem cells (mESCs) that we differentiated in embryoid bodies (EBs). We observed that hypoxia-induced Bhlhe40 expression was compatible with the rapid proliferation of pluripotent mESCs under low oxygen tension. However, in EBs, hypoxia triggered a Bhlhe40-dependent cell cycle arrest in most progenitor cells and endothelial cells within vascular structures. Furthermore, Bhlhe40 knockout increased the basal vascularization of the EBs in normoxia and exacerbated the hypoxia-induced vascularization, supporting a novel role for Bhlhe40 as a negative regulator of blood vessel formation. Our findings implicate Bhlhe40 in mediating key functional adaptive responses to hypoxia, such as proliferation arrest and angiogenesis.

p73 is required for vessel integrity controlling endothelial junctional dynamics through Angiomotin.

Preservation of blood vessel integrity, which is critical for normal physiology and organ function, is controlled at multiple levels, including endothelial junctions. However, the mechanism that controls the adequate assembly of endothelial cell junctions is not fully defined. Here, we uncover TAp73 transcription factor as a vascular architect that orchestrates transcriptional programs involved in cell junction establishment and developmental blood vessel morphogenesis and identify Angiomotin (AMOT) as a TAp73 direct transcriptional target. Knockdown of p73 in endothelial cells not only results in decreased Angiomotin expression and localization at intercellular junctions, but also affects its downstream function regarding Yes-associated protein (YAP) cytoplasmic sequestration upon cell-cell contact. Analysis of adherens junctional morphology after p73-knockdown in human endothelial cells revealed striking alterations, particularly a sharp increase in serrated junctions and actin bundles appearing as stress fibers, both features associated with enhanced barrier permeability. In turn, stabilization of Angiomotin levels rescued those junctional defects, confirming that TAp73 controls endothelial junction dynamics, at least in part, through the regulation of Angiomotin. The observed defects in monolayer integrity were linked to hyperpermeability and reduced transendothelial electric resistance. Moreover, p73-knockout retinas showed a defective sprout morphology coupled with hemorrhages, highlighting the physiological relevance of p73 regulation in the maintenance of vessel integrity in vivo. We propose a new model in which TAp73 acts as a vascular architect integrating transcriptional programs that will impinge with Angiomotin/YAP signaling to maintain junctional dynamics and integrity, while balancing endothelial cell rearrangements in angiogenic vessels.

Hypoxia classifier for transcriptome datasets.

Molecular gene signatures are useful tools to characterize the physiological state of cell populations, but most have developed under a narrow range of conditions and cell types and are often restricted to a set of gene identities. Focusing on the transcriptional response to hypoxia, we aimed to generate widely applicable classifiers sourced from the results of a meta-analysis of 69 differential expression datasets which included 425 individual RNA-seq experiments from 33 different human cell types exposed to different degrees of hypoxia (0.1-5%[Formula: see text]) for 2-48 h. The resulting decision trees include both gene identities and quantitative boundaries, allowing for easy classification of individual samples without control or normoxic reference. Each tree is composed of 3-5 genes mostly drawn from a small set of just 8 genes (EGLN1, MIR210HG, NDRG1, ANKRD37, TCAF2, PFKFB3, BHLHE40, and MAFF). In spite of their simplicity, these classifiers achieve over 95% accuracy in cross validation and over 80% accuracy when applied to additional challenging datasets. Our results indicate that the classifiers are able to identify hypoxic tumor samples from bulk RNAseq and hypoxic regions within tumor from spatially resolved transcriptomics datasets. Moreover, application of the classifiers to histological sections from normal tissues suggest the presence of a hypoxic gene expression pattern in the kidney cortex not observed in other normoxic organs. Finally, tree classifiers described herein outperform traditional hypoxic gene signatures when compared against a wide range of datasets. This work describes a set of hypoxic gene signatures, structured as simple decision tress, that identify hypoxic samples and regions with high accuracy and can be applied to a broad variety of gene expression datasets and formats.

Metabolic labeling of RNA uncovers the contribution of transcription and decay rates on hypoxia-induced changes in RNA levels.

Cells adapt to environmental changes, including fluctuations in oxygen levels, through the induction of specific gene expression programs. However, most transcriptomic studies do not distinguish the relative contribution of transcription, RNA processing, and RNA degradation processes to cellular homeostasis. Here we used metabolic labeling followed by massive parallel sequencing of newly transcribed and preexisting RNA fractions to simultaneously analyze RNA synthesis and decay in primary endothelial cells exposed to low oxygen tension. We found that changes in transcription rates induced by hypoxia are the major determinant of changes in RNA levels. However, degradation rates also had a significant contribution, accounting for 24% of the observed variability in total mRNA. In addition, our results indicated that hypoxia led to a reduction of the overall mRNA stability from a median half-life in normoxia of 8.7 h, to 5.7 h in hypoxia. Analysis of RNA content per cell confirmed a decrease of both mRNA and total RNA in hypoxic samples and that this effect is dependent on the EGLN/HIF/TSC2 axis. This effect could potentially contribute to fundamental global responses such as inhibition of translation in hypoxia. In summary, our study provides a quantitative analysis of the contribution of RNA synthesis and stability to the transcriptional response to hypoxia and uncovers an unexpected effect on the latter.

Hypoxia compensates cell cycle arrest with progenitor differentiation during angiogenesis.

Angiogenesis, the main mechanism that allows vascular expansion for tissue regeneration or disease progression, is often triggered by an imbalance between oxygen consumption and demand. Here, by analyzing changes in the transcriptomic profile of endothelial cells (ECs) under hypoxia we uncovered that the repression of cell cycle entry and DNA replication stand as central responses in the early adaptation of ECs to low oxygen tension. Accordingly, hypoxia imposed a restriction in S-phase in ECs that is mediated by Hypoxia-Inducible Factors. Our results indicate that the induction of angiogenesis by hypoxia in Embryoid Bodies generated from murine Stem Cells is accomplished by the compensation of decreased S-phase entry in mature ECs and differentiation of progenitor cells. This conditioning most likely allows an optimum remodeling of the vascular network. Identification of the molecular underpinnings of cell cycle arrest by hypoxia would be relevant for the design of improved strategies aimed to suppress angiogenesis in pathological contexts where hypoxia is a driver of neovascularization.

TFEA.ChIP: a tool kit for transcription factor binding site enrichment analysis capitalizing on ChIP-seq datasets.

SUMMARY: The computational identification of the transcription factors (TFs) [more generally, transcription regulators, (TR)] responsible for the co-regulation of a specific set of genes is a common problem found in genomic analysis. Herein, we describe TFEA.ChIP, a tool that makes use of ChIP-seq datasets to estimate and visualize TR enrichment in gene lists representing transcriptional profiles. We validated TFEA.ChIP using a wide variety of gene sets representing signatures of genetic and chemical perturbations as input and found that the relevant TR was correctly identified in 126 of a total of 174 analyzed. Comparison with other TR enrichment tools demonstrates that TFEA.ChIP is an highly customizable package with an outstanding performance. AVAILABILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION: TFEA.ChIP is implemented as an R package available at Bioconductor https://www.bioconductor.org/packages/devel/bioc/html/TFEA.ChIP.html and github https://github.com/LauraPS1/TFEA.ChIP_downloads. A web-based GUI to the package is also available at https://www.iib.uam.es/TFEA.ChIP/. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: Supplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.

Intussusceptive Vascular Remodeling Precedes Pathological Neovascularization.

Objective- Pathological neovascularization is crucial for progression and morbidity of serious diseases such as cancer, diabetic retinopathy, and age-related macular degeneration. While mechanisms of ongoing pathological neovascularization have been extensively studied, the initiating pathological vascular remodeling (PVR) events, which precede neovascularization remains poorly understood. Here, we identify novel molecular and cellular mechanisms of preneovascular PVR, by using the adult choriocapillaris as a model. Approach and Results- Using hypoxia or forced overexpression of VEGF (vascular endothelial growth factor) in the subretinal space to induce PVR in zebrafish and rats respectively, and by analyzing choriocapillaris membranes adjacent to choroidal neovascular lesions from age-related macular degeneration patients, we show that the choriocapillaris undergo robust induction of vascular intussusception and permeability at preneovascular stages of PVR. This PVR response included endothelial cell proliferation, formation of endothelial luminal processes, extensive vesiculation and thickening of the endothelium, degradation of collagen fibers, and splitting of existing extravascular columns. RNA-sequencing established a role for endothelial tight junction disruption, cytoskeletal remodeling, vesicle- and cilium biogenesis in this process. Mechanistically, using genetic gain- and loss-of-function zebrafish models and analysis of primary human choriocapillaris endothelial cells, we determined that HIF (hypoxia-induced factor)-1α-VEGF-A-VEGFR2 signaling was important for hypoxia-induced PVR. Conclusions- Our findings reveal that PVR involving intussusception and splitting of extravascular columns, endothelial proliferation, vesiculation, fenestration, and thickening is induced before neovascularization, suggesting that identifying and targeting these processes may prevent development of advanced neovascular disease in the future. Visual Overview- An online visual overview is available for this article.

The SIN3A histone deacetylase complex is required for a complete transcriptional response to hypoxia.

Cells adapt to environmental changes, including fluctuations in oxygen levels, through the induction of specific gene expression programs. To identify genes regulated by hypoxia at the transcriptional level, we pulse-labeled HUVEC cells with 4-thiouridine and sequenced nascent transcripts. Then, we searched genome-wide binding profiles from the ENCODE project for factors that correlated with changes in transcription and identified binding of several components of the Sin3A co-repressor complex, including SIN3A, SAP30 and HDAC1/2, proximal to genes repressed by hypoxia. SIN3A interference revealed that it participates in the downregulation of 75% of the hypoxia-repressed genes in endothelial cells. Unexpectedly, it also blunted the induction of 47% of the upregulated genes, suggesting a role for this corepressor in gene induction. In agreement, ChIP-seq experiments showed that SIN3A preferentially localizes to the promoter region of actively transcribed genes and that SIN3A signal was enriched in hypoxia-repressed genes, prior exposure to the stimulus. Importantly, SINA3 occupancy was not altered by hypoxia in spite of changes in H3K27ac signal. In summary, our results reveal a prominent role for SIN3A in the transcriptional response to hypoxia and suggest a model where modulation of the associated histone deacetylase activity, rather than its recruitment, determines the transcriptional output.

The human PKP2/plakophilin-2 gene is induced by Wnt/ß-catenin in normal and colon cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Colorectal cancer results from the malignant transformation of colonic epithelial cells. Stromal fibroblasts are the main component of the tumour microenvironment, and play an important role in the progression of this and other neoplasias. Wnt/ß-catenin signalling is essential for colon homeostasis, but aberrant, constitutive activation of this pathway is a hallmark of colorectal cancer. Here we present the first transcriptomic study on the effect of a Wnt factor on human colonic myofibroblasts. Wnt3A regulates the expression of 1,136 genes, of which 662 are upregulated and 474 are downregulated in CCD-18Co cells. A set of genes encoding inhibitors of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway stand out among those induced by Wnt3A, which suggests that there is a feedback inhibitory mechanism. We also show that the PKP2 gene encoding the desmosomal protein Plakophilin-2 is a novel direct transcriptional target of Wnt/ß-catenin in normal and colon cancer-associated fibroblasts. PKP2 is induced by ß-catenin/TCF through three binding sites in the gene promoter and one additional binding site located in an enhancer 20 kb upstream from the transcription start site. Moreover, Plakophilin-2 antagonizes Wnt/ß-catenin transcriptional activity in HEK-293T cells, which suggests that it may act as an intracellular inhibitor of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. Our results demonstrate that stromal fibroblasts respond to canonical Wnt signalling and that Plakophilin-2 plays a role in the feedback control of this effect suggesting that the response to Wnt factors in the stroma may modulate Wnt activity in the tumour cells.

Classification of Airflow Limitation Based on z-Score Underestimates Mortality in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

RATIONALE: Global Lung Function Initiative recommends reporting lung function measures as z-score, and a classification of airflow limitation (AL) based on this parameter has recently been proposed. OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the prognostic capacity of the AL classifications based on z-score or percentage predicted of FEV1 in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). METHODS: A cohort of 2,614 patients with COPD recruited outside the hospital setting was examined after a mean (± SD) of 57 ± 13 months of follow-up, totaling 10,322 person-years. All-cause mortality was analyzed, evaluating the predictive capacity of several AL staging systems. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Based on Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease guidelines, 461 patients (17.6%) had mild, 1,452 (55.5%) moderate, 590 (22.6%) severe, and 111 (4.2%) very severe AL. According to z-score classification, 66.3% of patients remained with the same severity, whereas 23.7% worsened and 10.0% improved. Unlike other staging systems, patients with severe AL according to z-score had higher mortality than those with very severe AL (increase of risk by 5.2 and 3.9 times compared with mild AL, respectively). The predictive capacity for 5-year survival was slightly higher for FEV1 expressed as percentage of predicted than as z-score (area under the curve: 0.714-0.760 vs. 0.649-0.708, respectively). A severity-dependent relationship between AL grades by z-score and mortality was only detected in patients younger than age 60 years. CONCLUSIONS: In patients with COPD, the AL classification based on z-score predicts worse mortality than those based on percentage of predicted. It is possible that the z-score underestimates AL severity in patients older than 60 years of age with severe functional impairment.

Identification of non-coding genetic variants in samples from hypoxemic respiratory disease patients that affect the transcriptional response to hypoxia.

A wide range of diseases course with an unbalance between the consumption of oxygen by tissues and its supply. This situation triggers a transcriptional response, mediated by the hypoxia inducible factors (HIFs), that aims to restore oxygen homeostasis. Little is known about the inter-individual variation in this response and its role in the progression of disease. Herein, we sought to identify common genetic variants mapping to hypoxia response elements (HREs) and characterize their effect on transcription. To this end, we constructed a list of genome-wide HIF-binding regions from publicly available experimental datasets and studied the genetic variability in these regions by targeted re-sequencing of genomic samples from 96 chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and 144 obstructive sleep apnea patients. This study identified 14 frequent variants disrupting potential HREs. The analysis of the genomic regions containing these variants by means of reporter assays revealed that variants rs1009329, rs6593210 and rs150921338 impaired the transcriptional response to hypoxia. Finally, using genome editing we confirmed the functional role of rs6593210 in the transcriptional regulation of EGFR. In summary, we found that inter-individual variability in non-coding regions affect the response to hypoxia and could potentially impact on the progression of pulmonary diseases.

Improving analysis of transcription factor binding sites within ChIP-Seq data based on topological motif enrichment.

BACKGROUND: Chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) coupled to high-throughput sequencing (ChIP-Seq) techniques can reveal DNA regions bound by transcription factors (TF). Analysis of the ChIP-Seq regions is now a central component in gene regulation studies. The need remains strong for methods to improve the interpretation of ChIP-Seq data and the study of specific TF binding sites (TFBS). RESULTS: We introduce a set of methods to improve the interpretation of ChIP-Seq data, including the inference of mediating TFs based on TFBS motif over-representation analysis and the subsequent study of spatial distribution of TFBSs. TFBS over-representation analysis applied to ChIP-Seq data is used to detect which TFBSs arise more frequently than expected by chance. Visualization of over-representation analysis results with new composition-bias plots reveals systematic bias in over-representation scores. We introduce the BiasAway background generating software to resolve the problem. A heuristic procedure based on topological motif enrichment relative to the ChIP-Seq peaks' local maximums highlights peaks likely to be directly bound by a TF of interest. The results suggest that on average two-thirds of a ChIP-Seq dataset's peaks are bound by the ChIP'd TF; the origin of the remaining peaks remaining undetermined. Additional visualization methods allow for the study of both inter-TFBS spatial relationships and motif-flanking sequence properties, as demonstrated in case studies for TBP and ZNF143/THAP11. CONCLUSIONS: Topological properties of TFBS within ChIP-Seq datasets can be harnessed to better interpret regulatory sequences. Using GC content corrected TFBS over-representation analysis, combined with visualization techniques and analysis of the topological distribution of TFBS, we can distinguish peaks likely to be directly bound by a TF. The new methods will empower researchers for exploration of gene regulation and TF binding.

A role for insulator elements in the regulation of gene expression response to hypoxia.

Hypoxia inducible factor (HIF) up-regulates the transcription of a few hundred genes required for the adaptation to hypoxia. This restricted set of targets is in sharp contrast with the widespread distribution of the HIF binding motif throughout the genome. Here, we investigated the transcriptional response of GYS1 and RUVBL2 genes to hypoxia to understand the mechanisms that restrict HIF activity toward specific genes. GYS1 and RUVBL2 genes are encoded by opposite DNA strands and separated by a short intergenic region (~1 kb) that contains a functional hypoxia response element equidistant to both genes. However, hypoxia induced the expression of GYS1 gene only. Analysis of the transcriptional response of chimeric constructs derived from the intergenic region revealed an inhibitory sequence whose deletion allowed RUVBL2 induction by HIF. Enhancer blocking assays, performed in cell culture and transgenic zebrafish, confirmed the existence of an insulator element within this inhibitory region that could explain the differential regulation of GYS1 and RUVBL2 by hypoxia. Hence, in this model, the selective response to HIF is achieved with the aid of insulator elements. This is the first report suggesting a role for insulators in the regulation of differential gene expression in response to environmental signals.

SinglePointRNA, an user-friendly application implementing single cell RNA-seq analysis software.

Single-cell transcriptomics techniques, such as scRNA-seq, attempt to characterize gene expression profiles in each cell of a heterogeneous sample individually. Due to growing amounts of data generated and the increasing complexity of the computational protocols needed to process the resulting datasets, the demand for dedicated training in mathematical and programming skills may preclude the use of these powerful techniques by many teams. In order to help close that gap between wet-lab and dry-lab capabilities we have developed SinglePointRNA, a shiny-based R application that provides a graphic interface for different publicly available tools to analyze single cell RNA-seq data. The aim of SinglePointRNA is to provide an accessible and transparent tool set to researchers that allows them to perform detailed and custom analysis of their data autonomously. SinglePointRNA is structured in a context-driven framework that prioritizes providing the user with solid qualitative guidance at each step of the analysis process and interpretation of the results. Additionally, the rich user guides accompanying the software are intended to serve as a point of entry for users to learn more about computational techniques applied to single cell data analysis. The SinglePointRNA app, as well as case datasets for the different tutorials are available at www.github.com/ScienceParkMadrid/SinglePointRNA.

Genome-wide identification of hypoxia-inducible factor binding sites and target genes by a probabilistic model integrating transcription-profiling data and in silico binding site prediction.

The transcriptional response driven by Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) is central to the adaptation to oxygen restriction. Hence, the complete identification of HIF targets is essential for understanding the cellular responses to hypoxia. Herein we describe a computational strategy based on the combination of phylogenetic footprinting and transcription profiling meta-analysis for the identification of HIF-target genes. Comparison of the resulting candidates with published HIF1a genome-wide chromatin immunoprecipitation indicates a high sensitivity (78%) and specificity (97.8%). To validate our strategy, we performed HIF1a chromatin immunoprecipitation on a set of putative targets. Our results confirm the robustness of the computational strategy in predicting HIF-binding sites and reveal several novel HIF targets, including RE1-silencing transcription factor co-repressor (RCOR2). In addition, mapping of described polymorphisms to the predicted HIF-binding sites identified several single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) that could alter HIF binding. As a proof of principle, we demonstrate that SNP rs17004038, mapping to a functional hypoxia response element in the macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) locus, prevents induction of this gene by hypoxia. Altogether, our results show that the proposed strategy is a powerful tool for the identification of HIF direct targets that expands our knowledge of the cellular adaptation to hypoxia and provides cues on the inter-individual variation in this response.

Formal Meta-Analysis of Hypoxic Gene Expression Profiles Reveals a Universal Gene Signature.

Integrating transcriptional profiles results in identifying gene expression signatures that are more robust than those obtained for individual datasets. However, a direct comparison of datasets derived from heterogeneous experimental conditions is problematic, hence their integration requires applying of specific meta-analysis techniques. The transcriptional response to hypoxia has been the focus of intense research due to its central role in tissue homeostasis and prevalent diseases. Accordingly, many studies have determined the gene expression profile of hypoxic cells. Yet, despite this wealth of information, little effort has been made to integrate these datasets to produce a robust hypoxic signature. We applied a formal meta-analysis procedure to datasets comprising 430 RNA-seq samples from 43 individual studies including 34 different cell types, to derive a pooled estimate of the effect of hypoxia on gene expression in human cell lines grown ingin vitro. This approach revealed that a large proportion of the transcriptome is significantly regulated by hypoxia (8556 out of 20,888 genes identified across studies). However, only a small fraction of the differentially expressed genes (1265 genes, 15%) show an effect size that, according to comparisons to gene pathways known to be regulated by hypoxia, is likely to be biologically relevant. By focusing on genes ubiquitously expressed, we identified a signature of 291 genes robustly and consistently regulated by hypoxia. Overall, we have developed a robust gene signature that characterizes the transcriptomic response of human cell lines exposed to hypoxia in vitro by applying a formal meta-analysis to gene expression profiles.

ERK5 Is a Major Determinant of Chemical Sarcomagenesis: Implications in Human Pathology.

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of tumors in which the role of ERK5 is poorly studied. To clarify the role of this MAPK in sarcomatous pathology, we used a murine 3-methyl-cholanthrene (3MC)-induced sarcoma model. Our data show that 3MC induces pleomorphic sarcomas with muscle differentiation, showing an increased expression of ERK5. Indeed, this upregulation was also observed in human sarcomas of muscular origin, such as leiomyosarcoma or rhabdomyosarcoma. Moreover, in cell lines derived from these 3MC-induced tumors, abrogation of Mapk7 expression by using specific shRNAs decreased in vitro growth and colony-forming capacity and led to a marked loss of tumor growth in vivo. In fact, transcriptomic profiling in ERK5 abrogated cell lines by RNAseq showed a deregulated gene expression pattern for key biological processes such as angiogenesis, migration, motility, etc., correlating with a better prognostic in human pathology. Finally, among the various differentially expressed genes, Klf2 is a key mediator of the biological effects of ERK5 as indicated by its specific interference, demonstrating that the ERK5-KLF2 axis is an important determinant of sarcoma biology that should be further studied in human pathology.

Comparative Study of Organoids from Patient-Derived Normal and Tumor Colon and Rectal Tissue.

Colon and rectal tumors, often referred to as colorectal cancer, show different gene expression patterns in studies that analyze whole tissue biopsies containing a mix of tumor and non-tumor cells. To better characterize colon and rectal tumors, we investigated the gene expression profile of organoids generated from endoscopic biopsies of rectal tumors and adjacent normal colon and rectum mucosa from therapy-naive rectal cancer patients. We also studied the effect of vitamin D on these organoid types. Gene profiling was performed by RNA-sequencing. Organoids from a normal colon and rectum had a shared gene expression profile that profoundly differed from that of rectal tumor organoids. We identified a group of genes of the biosynthetic machinery as rectal tumor organoid-specific, including those encoding the RNA polymerase II subunits POLR2H and POLR2J. The active vitamin D metabolite 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3/calcitriol upregulated stemness-related genes (LGR5, LRIG1, SMOC2, and MSI1) in normal rectum organoids, while it downregulated differentiation marker genes (TFF2 and MUC2). Normal colon and rectum organoids share similar gene expression patterns and respond similarly to calcitriol. Rectal tumor organoids display distinct and heterogeneous gene expression profiles, with differences with respect to those of colon tumor organoids, and respond differently to calcitriol than normal rectum organoids.

Vitamin D differentially regulates colon stem cells in patient-derived normal and tumor organoids.

Intestine is a major target of vitamin D and several studies indicate an association between vitamin D deficiency and inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD), but also increased colorectal cancer (CRC) risk and mortality. However, the putative effects of 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (calcitriol), the active vitamin D metabolite, on human colonic stem cells are unknown. Here we show by immunohistochemistry and RNAscope in situ hybridization that vitamin D receptor (VDR) is unexpectedly expressed in LGR5+ colon stem cells in human tissue and in normal and tumor organoid cultures generated from patient biopsies. Interestingly, normal and tumor organoids respond differentially to calcitriol with profound and contrasting changes in their transcriptomic profiles. In normal organoids, calcitriol upregulates stemness-related genes, such as LGR5, SMOC2, LRIG1, MSI1, PTK7, and MEX3A, and inhibits cell proliferation. In contrast, in tumor organoids calcitriol has little effect on stemness-related genes while it induces a differentiated phenotype, and variably reduces cell proliferation. Concordantly, electron microscopy showed that calcitriol does not affect the blastic undifferentiated cell phenotype in normal organoids but it induces a series of differentiated features in tumor organoids. Our results constitute the first demonstration of a regulatory role of vitamin D on human colon stem cells, indicating a homeostatic effect on colon epithelium with relevant implications in IBD and CRC.

Vitamin D and Wnt3A have additive and partially overlapping modulatory effects on gene expression and phenotype in human colon fibroblasts.

The Wnt/ß-catenin signalling pathway is essential for intestinal epithelium homeostasis, but its aberrant activation is a hallmark of colorectal cancer (CRC). Several studies indicate that the bioactive vitamin D metabolite 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) inhibits proliferation and promotes epithelial differentiation of colon carcinoma cells in part through antagonism of the Wnt/ß-catenin pathway. It is now accepted that stromal fibroblasts are crucial in healthy and pathologic intestine: pericryptal myofibroblasts are constituents of the stem cell niche and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) contribute to CRC progression. However, studies on the combined action of 1,25(OH)2D3 and Wnt factors in colon fibroblasts are lacking. Here we show by global transcriptomic studies that 1,25(OH)2D3 and Wnt3A have profound, additive, partially overlapping effects on the gene expression profile of CCD-18Co human colon myofibroblasts. Moreover, 1,25(OH)2D3 and Wnt3A inhibit CCD-18Co cell proliferation and migration, while 1,25(OH)2D3 reduces, but Wnt3A increases, their capacity to contract collagen gels (a marker of fibroblast activation). These data were largely confirmed in patient-derived primary colon normal fibroblasts and CAFs, and in fibroblasts from other origins. Our results indicate that 1,25(OH)2D3 and Wnt3A are strong regulators of colon fibroblast biology and contribute to a better knowledge of intestinal homeostasis and stromal fibroblast action in CRC.