The Sox2 transcription factor is necessary for the long-term self-renewal of neural stem cells (NSC). Its mechanism of action is still poorly defined. To identify molecules regulated by Sox2, and acting in mouse NSC maintenance, we transduced, individually or in combination, into Sox2deleted NSC, genes whose expression is strongly downregulated following Sox2 loss (Fos, Jun, Egr2). Fos alone rescued long-term proliferation, as shown by in vitro cell growth and clonal analysis. Further, Fos requirement for efficient long-term proliferation was demonstrated by the strong reduction of NSC clones capable of long-term expansion following CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Fos inactivation. Previous work showed that the Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (Socs3) gene is strongly downregulated following Sox2 deletion, and its reexpression by lentiviral transduction rescues long-term NSC proliferation. Fos appears to be an upstream regulator of Socs3, possibly together with Jun and Egr2; indeed, Sox2 reexpression in Sox2-deleted NSC progressively activates both Fos and Socs3 expression; in turn, Fos transduction activates Socs3 expression. Based on available SOX2 ChIPseq and ChIA-PET data, as well as results from the literature, we propose a model whereby Sox2 is a direct activator of both Socs3 and Fos, as well as possibly Jun and Egr2; in turn, Fos, Jun and Egr2 may activate Socs3. These results provide the basis for developing a model of a network of interactions, regulating critical effectors of NSC proliferation and long-term maintenance. Significance statementProliferation and maintenance of NSC are essential during normal brain development, and, postnatally, for the maintenance of hippocampal function and memory until advanced age. Little is known about the molecular mechanisms that maintain the critical aspects of NSC biology (quiescence and proliferation) in postnatal age. Our work provides a methodology, transduction of genes deregulated following Sox2 deletion, that allows to test many candidate genes for their ability to sustain NSC proliferation. In principle, this may have interesting implications for identifying targets for pharmacological manipulations.
The Sox2 transcription factor is necessary for the long-term self-renewal of neural stem cells (NSCs). Its mechanism of action is still poorly defined. To identify molecules regulated by Sox2, and acting in mouse NSC maintenance, we transduced, into Sox2-deleted NSC, genes whose expression is strongly downregulated following Sox2 loss (Fos, Jun, Egr2), individually or in combination. Fos alone rescued long-term proliferation, as shown by in vitro cell growth and clonal analysis. Furthermore, pharmacological inhibition by T-5224 of FOS/JUN AP1 complex binding to its targets decreased cell proliferation and expression of the putative target Suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (Socs3). Additionally, Fos requirement for efficient long-term proliferation was demonstrated by the reduction of NSC clones capable of long-term expansion following CRISPR/Cas9-mediated Fos inactivation. Previous work showed that the Socs3 gene is strongly downregulated following Sox2 deletion, and its re-expression by lentiviral transduction rescues long-term NSC proliferation. Fos appears to be an upstream regulator of Socs3, possibly together with Jun and Egr2; indeed, Sox2 re-expression in Sox2-deleted NSC progressively activates both Fos and Socs3 expression; in turn, Fos transduction activates Socs3 expression. Based on available SOX2 ChIPseq and ChIA-PET data, we propose a model whereby Sox2 is a direct activator of both Socs3 and Fos, as well as possibly Jun and Egr2; furthermore, we provide direct evidence for FOS and JUN binding on Socs3 promoter, suggesting direct transcriptional regulation. These results provide the basis for developing a model of a network of interactions, regulating critical effectors of NSC proliferation and long-term maintenance.
The Sox2 transcription factor is expressed in different neural tumors. In particular, it is active within the "cancer stem cell" (CSC) subpopulation of tumor cells, able to reinitiate tumorigenesis after conventional chemotherapy (to which it is usually resistant). This led to hypothesize that Sox2 (and its downstream regulated genes) may qualify as promising targets for therapeutic strategies directed against CSC. However, the potential relevance of Sox2 in this regard depends on whether it is functionally important to maintain CSC. Here, we comparatively examine the effects of Sox2 genetic ablation within mouse models of different neural tumor types. Sox2 ablation in mouse glioma (and in human glioblastomaderived CSC) demonstrated a critical function for Sox2 in the maintenance of CSC. Surprisingly, however, Sox2 ablation in two different mouse models of melanoma (a neural crest-related tumor), and in a mouse model of medulloblastoma of the Sonic Hedgehog subgroup, showed that, in these contexts, Sox2 is dispensable for tumorigenesis. This heterogeneous situation has a parallel in the normal development of the nervous system, where generalized Sox2 ablation in neural stem/ progenitor cells selectively affects the development of some neural regions, but not other ones. Molecular mechanisms underlying these specificities may involve the regulation, by Sox2, of different sets of target genes in different tumors, but also a redundant regulation of the same targets by different Sox transcription factors, differentially coexpressed with Sox2 in different tumors. Collectively, these findings point to the need to experimentally address the requirement for Sox2, and its downstream targets, within different tumor types, as a prerequisite to fully exploit its potential as a target for novel therapeutic approaches.
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