A

MTG16 (CBFA2T3) regulates colonic epithelial differentiation, colitis, and tumorigenesis by repressing E protein transcription factors

bioRxiv (Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory)

Abstract

Abstract Aberrant epithelial differentiation and regeneration contribute to colon pathologies including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and colitis-associated cancer (CAC). MTG16 (CBFA2T3) is a transcriptional corepressor expressed in the colonic epithelium. MTG16 deficiency in mice exacerbates colitis and increases tumor burden in CAC, though the underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we identified MTG16 as a central mediator of epithelial differentiation, promoting goblet and restraining enteroendocrine cell development in homeostasis and enabling regeneration following dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced colitis. Transcriptomic analyses implicated increased E box-binding transcription factor (E protein) activity in MTG16-deficient colon crypts. Using a novel mouse model with a point mutation that disrupts MTG16:E protein complex formation ( Mtg16 P209T ), we established that MTG16 exerts control over colonic epithelial differentiation and regeneration by repressing E protein-mediated transcription. Mimicking murine colitis, MTG16 expression was increased in biopsies from patients with active IBD compared to unaffected controls. Finally, uncoupling MTG16:E protein interactions only partially phenocopied the enhanced tumorigenicity of Mtg16 -/- colon in the azoxymethane(AOM)/DSS-induced model of CAC, indicating that MTG16 protects from tumorigenesis through additional mechanisms. Collectively, our results demonstrate that MTG16, via its repression of E protein targets, is a key regulator of cell fate decisions during colon homeostasis, colitis, and cancer. Graphical Abstract

Authors 20

  1. Vanderbilt University

    Affiliation as printed

    Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 373, USA

  2. Vanderbilt University · Leiden University Medical Center · Willem-Alexander Kinderziekenhuis · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Willem-Alexander Children’s Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

    Willem-Alexander Children's Hospital, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands

  3. Vanderbilt University

    Affiliation as printed

    Vanderbilt University, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  4. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  5. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Program in Chemical and Physical Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Program in Chemical and Physical Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 3232, USA

  6. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  7. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  8. Vanderbilt University

    Affiliation as printed

    Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  9. Vanderbilt University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

  10. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  11. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA

  12. Vanderbilt University · VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Mucosal Inflammation and Cancer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Health Care System, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  13. University of Helsinki

    Affiliation as printed

    Applied Tumor Genomics Research Program, Research Programs Unit, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    Department of Medical and Clinical Genetics, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

    iCAN Digital Precision Cancer Medicine Flagship, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland

  14. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  15. Vanderbilt University

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

  16. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Epithelial Biology Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  17. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Mucosal Inflammation and Cancer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt University, Nashville, TN, USA

    Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  18. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Department of Biochemistry, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, TN 37232, USA

    Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  19. Vanderbilt University · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Mucosal Inflammation and Cancer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

  20. Christopher S. Williams corresponding

    Vanderbilt University · VA Tennessee Valley Healthcare System · Vanderbilt University Medical Center

    Affiliation as printed

    Center for Mucosal Inflammation and Cancer, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Department of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology, and Nutrition, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Program in Cancer Biology, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Veterans Affairs Tennessee Valley Health Care System, Nashville, Tennessee, 37232, USA

    Medical Scientist Training Program, Vanderbilt University School of Medicine, Nashville, Tennessee, 373, USA

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References 92