Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 recruits FACT and RNF20/40 to mediate histone ubiquitination and transcriptional activation of target genes.

Hypoxia-inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) is a transcriptional activator that mediates cellular adaptation to decreased oxygen availability. HIF-1 recruits chromatin-modifying enzymes leading to changes in histone acetylation, citrullination, and methylation at target genes. Here, we demonstrate that hypoxia-inducible gene expression in estrogen receptor (ER)-positive MCF7 and ER-negative SUM159 human breast cancer cells requires the histone H2A/H2B chaperone facilitates chromatin transcription (FACT) and the H2B ubiquitin ligase RING finger protein 20/40 (RNF20/40). Knockdown of FACT or RNF20/40 expression leads to decreased transcription initiation and elongation at HIF-1 target genes. Mechanistically, FACT and RNF20/40 are recruited to hypoxia response elements (HREs) by HIF-1 and stabilize binding of HIF-1 (and each other) at HREs. Hypoxia induces the monoubiquitination of histone H2B at lysine 120 at HIF-1 target genes in an HIF-1-dependent manner. Together, these findings delineate a cooperative molecular mechanism by which FACT and RNF20/40 stabilize multiprotein complex formation at HREs and mediate histone ubiquitination to facilitate HIF-1 transcriptional activity.

HIF inhibitor 32-134D eradicates murine hepatocellular carcinoma in combination with anti-PD1 therapy.

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a major cause of cancer mortality worldwide and available therapies, including immunotherapies, are ineffective for many patients. HCC is characterized by intratumoral hypoxia, and increased expression of hypoxia-inducible factor 1α (HIF-1α) in diagnostic biopsies is associated with patient mortality. Here we report the development of 32-134D, a low-molecular-weight compound that effectively inhibits gene expression mediated by HIF-1 and HIF-2 in HCC cells, and blocks human and mouse HCC tumor growth. In immunocompetent mice bearing Hepa1-6 HCC tumors, addition of 32-134D to anti-PD1 therapy increased the rate of tumor eradication from 25% to 67%. Treated mice showed no changes in appearance, behavior, body weight, hemoglobin, or hematocrit. Compound 32-134D altered the expression of a large battery of genes encoding proteins that mediate angiogenesis, glycolytic metabolism, and responses to innate and adaptive immunity. This altered gene expression led to significant changes in the tumor immune microenvironment, including a decreased percentage of tumor-associated macrophages and myeloid-derived suppressor cells, which mediate immune evasion, and an increased percentage of CD8+ T cells and natural killer cells, which mediate antitumor immunity. Taken together, these preclinical findings suggest that combining 32-134D with immune checkpoint blockade may represent a breakthrough therapy for HCC.

Smoothened signaling in the mouse osteoblastoid lineage is required for efficient B lymphopoiesis.

The stromal signals that promote B lymphopoiesis remain poorly understood. Hedgehog (Hh) signaling promotes B lymphopoiesis in a non-cell-autonomous fashion in vitro, and depletion of the Hh effector Smoothened (Smo) from stromal cells is associated with the loss of osteoblastoid markers. These observations suggested that Hh signaling in the osteoblastoid lineage promotes B lymphopoiesis in vivo. To test this, we employed a mouse model for conditional ablation of Smo in the osteoblastoid lineage. Depletion of Smo from osteoblastoid cells is associated with profound and selective reductions in the number and proportion of bone marrow B-lymphoid progenitors. Upon partial bone marrow ablation, mutant animals exhibit delayed repopulation of the B-lymphoid compartment after the early lymphoid progenitor stage. Primary osteoblasts from mutant mice are defective in supporting B lymphopoiesis in vitro, whereas hematopoietic progenitors from mutant mice exhibit normal differentiation. We conclude that efficient B lymphopoiesis in vivo is dependent on the maintenance of Hh signaling in the osteoblastoid lineage.

Orientation-dependent regulation of integrated HIV-1 expression by host gene transcriptional readthrough.

Integrated HIV-1 genomes are found within actively transcribed host genes in latently infected CD4(+) T cells. Readthrough transcription of the host gene might therefore suppress HIV-1 gene expression and promote the latent infection that allows viral persistence in patients on therapy. To address the effect of host gene readthrough, we used homologous recombination to insert HIV-1 genomes in either orientation into an identical position within an intron of an actively transcribed host gene, hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HPRT). Constructs were engineered to permit or block readthrough transcription of HPRT. Readthrough transcription inhibited HIV-1 gene expression for convergently orientated provirus but enhanced HIV-1 gene expression when HIV-1 was in the same orientation as the host gene. Orientation had a >10-fold effect on HIV-1 gene expression. Due to the nature of HIV-1 integration sites in vivo, this orientation-dependent regulation can influence the vast majority of infected cells and adds complexity to the maintenance of latency.

Mimicry of pre-B cell receptor signaling by activation of the tyrosine kinase Blk.

During B lymphoid ontogeny, assembly of the pre-B cell receptor (BCR) is a principal developmental checkpoint at which several Src-related kinases may play redundant roles. Here the Src-related kinase Blk is shown to effect functions associated with the pre-BCR. B lymphoid expression of an active Blk mutant caused proliferation of B progenitor cells and enhanced responsiveness of these cells to interleukin 7. In mice lacking a functional pre-BCR, active Blk supported maturation beyond the pro-B cell stage, suppressed VH to DJH rearrangement, relieved selection for productive heavy chain rearrangement, and stimulated kappa rearrangement. These alterations were accompanied by tyrosine phosphorylation of immunoglobulin beta and Syk, as well as changes in gene expression consistent with developmental maturation. Thus, sustained activation of Blk induces responses normally associated with the pre-BCR.