TP73 is a member of the TP53 gene family and produces N- and C-terminal protein isoforms through alternative promoters, alternative translation initiation and alternative splicing. Most notably, p73 protein isoforms may either contain a p53-like transactivation domain (TAp73 isoforms) or lack this domain (ΔTAp73 isoforms) and these variants have opposing or independent functions. To date, there is a lack of well-characterised isoform-specific p73 antibodies. Here, we produced polyclonal and monoclonal antibodies to N-terminal p73 variants and the C-terminal p73α isoform, the most common variant in human tissues. These reagents show that TAp73 is a marker of multiciliated epithelial cells, while ΔTAp73 is a marker of non-proliferative basal/reserve cells in squamous epithelium. We were unable to detect ΔNp73 variant proteins, in keeping with recent data that this is a minor form in human tissues. Most cervical squamous cell carcinomas (79%) express p73α, and the distribution of staining in basal cells correlated with lower tumour grade. TAp73 was found in 17% of these tumours, with a random distribution and no association with clinicopathological features. These data indicate roles for ΔTAp73 in maintaining a non-proliferative state of undifferentiated squamous epithelial cells and for TAp73 in the production of differentiated multiciliated cells.

• Klíčová slova
• Cervical cancer, Endometrium, Fallopian tube, Multiciliated cells, Squamous epithelial stem cells, p73 isoforms,
• MeSH
• epitelové buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• monoklonální protilátky MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádory děložního čípku metabolismus   patologie   genetika   MeSH
• nádory metabolismus   patologie   genetika   MeSH
• protein - isoformy * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• protein p73 * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• spinocelulární karcinom metabolismus   patologie   genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• delta Np73 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• monoklonální protilátky MeSH
• protein - isoformy * MeSH
• protein p73 * MeSH
• TP73 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč

The p53 family of proteins evolved from a common ancestor into three separate genes encoding proteins that act as transcription factors with distinct cellular roles. Isoforms of each member that lack specific regions or domains are suggested to result from alternative transcription start sites, alternative splicing or alternative translation initiation, and have the potential to exponentially increase the functional repertoire of each gene. However, evidence supporting the presence of individual protein variants at functional levels is often limited and is inferred by mRNA detection using highly sensitive amplification techniques. We provide a critical appraisal of the current evidence for the origins, expression, functions and regulation of p53-family isoforms. We conclude that despite the wealth of publications, several putative isoforms remain poorly established. Future research with improved technical approaches and the generation of isoform-specific protein detection reagents is required to establish the physiological relevance of p53-family isoforms in health and disease. In addition, our analyses suggest that p53-family variants evolved partly through convergent rather than divergent evolution from the ancestral gene.

• MeSH
• alternativní sestřih * MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• messenger RNA metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• molekulární evoluce MeSH
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 * metabolismus   genetika   MeSH
• počátek transkripce MeSH
• protein - isoformy * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• messenger RNA MeSH
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 * MeSH
• protein - isoformy * MeSH

TGFβ has roles in inflammation, wound healing, epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT), and cancer stem cell states, and acts as a tumor suppressor gene for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). SCCs are also characterized by high levels of ΔNp63, which induces epithelial cell phenotypes and maintains squamous stem cells. Previous studies indicate a complex interplay between ΔNp63 and TGFβ signaling, with contradictory effects reported. We investigated the effects of TGFβ on p63 isoform proteins and mRNAs in non-malignant squamous and SCC cells, and the role of either canonical or non-canonical TGFβ signaling pathways. TGFβ selectively increased ΔNp63 protein levels in non-malignant keratinocytes in association with SMAD3 activation and was prevented by TGFβ receptor inhibition, indicating activation of canonical TGFβ pathway signaling. TP63 isoform mRNAs showed discordance from protein levels, with an initial increase in both TAP63 and ΔNP63 mRNAs followed by a decrease at later times. These data demonstrate complex and heterogeneous effects of TGFβ in squamous cells that depend on the extent of canonical TGFβ pathway aberrations. The interplay between TGFβ and p63 is likely to influence the magnitude of EMT states in SCC, with clinical implications for tumor progression and response to therapy.

• Klíčová slova
• EMT, Squamous cell carcinoma, TAp63, TGFβ, ΔNp63,
• MeSH
• epitelo-mezenchymální tranzice * genetika   MeSH
• epitelové buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• protein - isoformy genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• spinocelulární karcinom * genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• transformující růstový faktor beta MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• transformující růstový faktor beta MeSH

The TP63 gene encodes two major protein variants; TAp63 contains a p53-like transcription domain and consequently has tumor suppressor activities whereas ΔNp63 lacks this domain and acts as an oncogene. The two variants show distinct expression patterns in normal tissues and tumors, with lymphocytes and lymphomas/leukemias expressing TAp63, and basal epithelial cells and some carcinomas expressing high levels of ΔNp63, most notably squamous cell carcinomas (SCC). Whilst the transcriptional functions of TAp63 and ΔNp63 isoforms are known, the mechanisms involved in their regulation are poorly understood. Using squamous epithelial cells that contain high levels of ΔNp63 and low/undetectable TAp63, the DNA demethylating agent decitabine (5-aza-2'-deoxycytidine, 5-dAza) caused a dose-dependent increase in TAp63, with a simultaneous reduction in ΔNp63, indicating DNA methylation-dependent regulation at the isoform-specific promoters. The basal cytokeratin KRT5, a direct ΔNp63 transcriptional target, was also reduced, confirming functional alteration of p63 activity after DNA demethylation. We also showed high level methylation of three CpG sites in the TAP63 promoter in these cells, which was reduced by decitabine. DNMT1 depletion using inducible shRNAs partially replicated these effects, including an increase in the ratio of TAP63:ΔNP63 mRNAs, a reduction in ΔNp63 protein and reduced KRT5 mRNA levels. Finally, high DNA methylation levels were found at the TAP63 promoter in clinical SCC samples and matched normal tissues. We conclude that DNA methylation at the TAP63 promoter normally silences transcription in squamous epithelial cells, indicating DNA methylation as a therapeutic approach to induce this tumor suppressor in cancer. That decitabine simultaneously reduced the oncogenic activity of ΔNp63 provides a "double whammy" for SCC and other p63-positive carcinomas. Whilst a variety of mechanisms may be involved in producing the opposite effects of DNA demethylation on TAp63 and ΔNp63, we propose an "either or" mechanism in which TAP63 transcription physically interferes with the ability to initiate transcription from the downstream ΔNP63 promoter on the same DNA strand. This mechanism can explain the observed inverse expression of p63 isoforms in normal cells and cancer.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA methylation, TAp63, alternative promoter usage, decitabine, keratinocytes, squamous cell carcinoma, ΔNp63,
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH

BACKGROUND: ΔNp63 overexpression is a common event in squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) that contributes to tumorigenesis, making ΔNp63 a potential target for therapy. METHODS: We created inducible TP63-shRNA cells to study the effects of p63-depletion in SCC cell lines and non-malignant HaCaT keratinocytes. DNA damaging agents, growth factors, signaling pathway inhibitors, histone deacetylase inhibitors, and metabolism-modifying drugs were also investigated for their ability to influence ΔNp63 protein and mRNA levels. RESULTS: HaCaT keratinocytes, FaDu and SCC-25 cells express high levels of ΔNp63. HaCaT and FaDu inducible TP63-shRNA cells showed reduced proliferation after p63 depletion, with greater effects on FaDu than HaCaT cells, compatible with oncogene addiction in SCC. Genotoxic insults and histone deacetylase inhibitors variably reduced ΔNp63 levels in keratinocytes and SCC cells. Growth factors that regulate proliferation/survival of squamous cells (IGF-1, EGF, amphiregulin, KGF, and HGF) and PI3K, mTOR, MAPK/ERK or EGFR inhibitors showed lesser and inconsistent effects, with dual inhibition of PI3K and mTOR or EGFR inhibition selectively reducing ΔNp63 levels in HaCaT cells. In contrast, the antihyperlipidemic drug lovastatin selectively increased ΔNp63 in HaCaT cells. CONCLUSIONS: These data confirm that ΔNp63-positive SCC cells require p63 for continued growth and provide proof of concept that p63 reduction is a therapeutic option for these tumors. Investigations of ΔNp63 regulation identified agent-specific and cell-specific pathways. In particular, dual inhibition of the PI3K and mTOR pathways reduced ΔNp63 more effectively than single pathway inhibition, and broad-spectrum histone deacetylase inhibitors showed a time-dependent biphasic response, with high level downregulation at the transcriptional level within 24 h. In addition to furthering our understanding of ΔNp63 regulation in squamous cells, these data identify novel drug combinations that may be useful for p63-based therapy of SCC.

• Klíčová slova
• DNA damage, Growth factor signaling, Histone deacetylase inhibitors, Oncogene addiction, Squamous cell carcinoma, ΔNp63,
• MeSH
• inhibitory histondeacetylas MeSH
• karcinogeneze MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 * genetika   MeSH
• rodina MeSH
• spinocelulární karcinom * farmakoterapie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• transkripční faktory metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• inhibitory histondeacetylas MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny MeSH
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 * MeSH
• TP63 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• transkripční faktory MeSH

Like other malignancies, prostate tumors are thought to contain cancer stem-like cells (CSCs) that are responsible for growth, metastasis, and therapy resistance. ΔNp63 (also called p40) is a regulator of normal prostate stem/progenitor cell activities and a marker of normal basal epithelial cells. The levels of ΔNp63 are reduced in prostate adenocarcinomas, although there is also evidence that ΔNp63 is involved in CSC regulation and drives metastasis to the bone. We studied metastatic deposits of prostate cancers with isoform-specific ΔNp63 and TAp63 antibodies. We identified p63-positive cells in only 3 of 42 metastatic prostate tumors (7%), including 2/38 (5.3%) "usual-type" adenocarcinomas. ΔNp63 and TAp63 isoforms were present in the nuclei of a small subpopulation (< 1%) of tumor cells in these metastases. ΔNp63-positive cells showed a basal-like cell phenotype (cytokeratin 8- and androgen receptor-negative, high molecular weight cytokeratin- and cytokeratin 19-positive), distinct from the tumor bulk. TAp63-positive cells were similar but were sometimes cytokeratin 8-positive. A subset of ΔNp63-positive tumor cells were CD44-positive, a marker of "basal" CSCs but were not positive for the "epithelial" CSC marker ALDH1. TAp63 was not associated with either of these CSC markers. None of the tumors containing p63-positive cells showed evidence of bone metastasis, compared with 28% of the p63-negative tumors. These data show that both ΔNp63 and TAp63 are present in only a small proportion of prostate adenocarcinomas and do not associate with metastasis. The data suggest heterogeneity of CSCs in prostate cancer, similar to other cancer types.

• Klíčová slova
• CD44, Cancer stem cells, Metastasis, Prostate cancer, p40, p63,
• MeSH
• adenokarcinom metabolismus   sekundární   MeSH
• dospělí MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorové biomarkery metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorové kmenové buňky metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny metabolismus   MeSH
• nádory kostí metabolismus   sekundární   MeSH
• nádory prostaty metabolismus   patologie   MeSH
• retrospektivní studie MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• studie případů a kontrol MeSH
• transkripční faktory metabolismus   MeSH
• Check Tag
• dospělí MeSH
• lidé středního věku MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• mužské pohlaví MeSH
• senioři nad 80 let MeSH
• senioři MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• nádorové biomarkery MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny MeSH
• TP63 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• transkripční faktory MeSH

p73 is a member of the p53 protein family and has essential functions in several signaling pathways involved in development, differentiation, DNA damage responses and cancer. As a transcription factor, p73 achieves these functions by binding to consensus DNA sequences and p73 shares at least partial target DNA binding sequence specificity with p53. Transcriptional activation by p73 has been demonstrated for more than fifty p53 targets in yeast and/or human cancer cell lines. It has also been shown previously that p53 binding to DNA is strongly dependent on DNA topology and the presence of inverted repeats that can form DNA cruciforms, but whether p73 transcriptional activity has similar dependence has not been investigated. Therefore, we evaluated p73 binding to a set of p53-response elements with identical theoretical binding affinity in their linear state, but different probabilities to form extra helical structures. We show by a yeast-based assay that transactivation in vivo correlated more with the relative propensity of a response element to form cruciforms than to its expected in vitro DNA binding affinity. Structural features of p73 target sites are therefore likely to be an important determinant of its transactivation function.

• MeSH
• aktivace transkripce MeSH
• konformace nukleové kyseliny MeSH
• kvasinky genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 metabolismus   MeSH
• obrácené repetice * MeSH
• protein p73 chemie   genetika   metabolismus   MeSH
• sekvence nukleotidů MeSH
• vazba proteinů MeSH
• vazebná místa * MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• nádorový supresorový protein p53 MeSH
• protein p73 MeSH

Signal Transducer and Activator of Transcription 3 (STAT3) is a transcription factor with many important functions in the biology of normal and transformed cells. Its regulation is highly complex as it is involved in signaling pathways in many different cell types and under a wide variety of conditions. Besides other functions, STAT3 is an important regulator of normal stem cells and cancer stem cells. p63 which is a member of the p53 protein family is also involved in these functions and is both physically and functionally connected with STAT3. This review summarizes STAT3 function and regulation, its role in stem cell and cancer stem cell properties and highlights recent reports about its relationship to p63.

• Klíčová slova
• Cancer stem cells, STAT3, Stem cells, p63,
• MeSH
• fosforylace MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lidské embryonální kmenové buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• metylace MeSH
• mikro RNA metabolismus   MeSH
• myší embryonální kmenové buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• myši MeSH
• nádorové kmenové buňky metabolismus   MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• nádory metabolismus   MeSH
• přeprogramování buněk MeSH
• transkripční faktor STAT3 chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• transkripční faktory chemie   metabolismus   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• myši MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• přehledy MeSH
• Názvy látek
• mikro RNA MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny MeSH
• TP63 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• transkripční faktor STAT3 MeSH
• transkripční faktory MeSH

The TP63 gene encodes two major protein variants that differ in their N-terminal sequences and have opposing effects. In breast, ΔNp63 is expressed by immature stem/progenitor cells and mature myoepithelial/basal cells and is a characteristic feature of basal-like triple-negative breast cancers (TNBCs). The expression and potential role of TAp63 in the mammary gland and breast cancers is less clear, partly due to the lack of studies that employ p63 isoform-specific antibodies. We used immunohistochemistry with ΔNp63-specific or TAp63-specific monoclonal antibodies to investigate p63 isoforms in 236 TNBCs. TAp63, but not ΔNp63, was seen in tumour-associated lymphocytes and other stromal cells. Tumour cells showed nuclear staining for ΔNp63 in 17% of TNBCs compared to 7.3% that were positive for TAp63. Whilst most TAp63+ tumours also contained ΔNp63+ cells, the levels of the two isoforms were independent of each other. ΔNp63 associated with metaplastic and medullary cancers, and with a basal phenotype, whereas TAp63 associated with androgen receptor, BRCA1/2 wild-type status and PTEN positivity. Despite the proposed effects of p63 on proliferation, Ki67 did not correlate with either p63 isoform, nor did they associate with p53 mutation status. ΔNp63 showed no association with patient outcomes, whereas TAp63+ patients showed fewer recurrences and improved overall survival. These findings indicate that both major p63 protein isoforms are expressed in TNBCs with different tumour characteristics, indicating distinct functional activities of p63 variants in breast cancer. Analysis of individual p63 isoforms provides additional information into TNBC biology, with TAp63 expression indicating improved prognosis.

• Klíčová slova
• Androgen receptor, BRCA1, BRCA2, PTEN, TAp63, Triple-negative breast cancer, ΔNp63,
• MeSH
• fenotyp MeSH
• fosfohydroláza PTEN genetika   MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• lokální recidiva nádoru genetika   MeSH
• mutace genetika   MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny genetika   MeSH
• protein - isoformy genetika   MeSH
• protein BRCA1 genetika   MeSH
• protein BRCA2 genetika   MeSH
• regulace genové exprese u nádorů genetika   MeSH
• transkripční faktory genetika   MeSH
• triple-negativní karcinom prsu genetika   metabolismus   mortalita   MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• Názvy látek
• BRCA1 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• BRCA2 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• fosfohydroláza PTEN MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• protein BRCA1 MeSH
• protein BRCA2 MeSH
• PTEN protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• TP63 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• transkripční faktory MeSH

BACKGROUND: p63, a member of the p53 protein family, plays key roles in epithelial development and carcinogenesis. In breast cancer, p63 expression has been found predominantly in basal-A (epithelial-type) triple-negative breast carcinomas (TNBC). To investigate the functional role of p63 in basal-A TNBC, we created MDA-MB-468 cell lines with inducible expression of the two major N-terminal p63 isoforms, TAp63α and ∆Np63α. RESULTS: TAp63α did not have significant effect on gene expression profile and cell phenotype, whilst the main effect of ΔNp63α was reduction of cell adhesion. Gene expression profiling revealed genes involved in cell adhesion and migration whose expression relies on overexpression of ΔNp63α. Reduced cell adhesion also led to decreased cell proliferation in vitro and in vivo. Similar data were obtained in another basal-A cell line, BT-20, but not in BT-549 basal-B (mesenchymal-like) TNBC cells. CONCLUSIONS: In basal-A TNBC cells, ∆Np63α has much stronger effects on gene expression than TAp63α. Although p63 is mentioned mostly in connection with breast cell differentiation and stem cell regulation, we showed that a major effect of p63 is regulation of cell adhesion, a process important in metastasis and invasion of tumour cells. That this effect is not seen in mesenchymal-type TNBC cells suggests lineage-dependent functions, mirroring the expression of ∆Np63α in primary human breast cancers.

• Klíčová slova
• Adhesion, Triple-negative breast cancer, p63 isoforms,
• MeSH
• buněčná adheze genetika   MeSH
• buněčný cyklus genetika   MeSH
• exprese genu * MeSH
• heterografty MeSH
• kultivované buňky MeSH
• lidé MeSH
• modely nemocí na zvířatech MeSH
• nádorové buněčné linie MeSH
• nádorové supresorové proteiny genetika   MeSH
• proliferace buněk MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• stanovení celkové genové exprese MeSH
• transkripční faktory genetika   MeSH
• triple-negativní karcinom prsu genetika   patologie   MeSH
• viabilita buněk genetika   MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Check Tag
• lidé MeSH
• ženské pohlaví MeSH
• zvířata MeSH
• Publikační typ
• časopisecké články MeSH
• práce podpořená grantem MeSH
• Názvy látek
• nádorové supresorové proteiny MeSH
• protein - isoformy MeSH
• TP63 protein, human MeSH Prohlížeč
• transkripční faktory MeSH