ID helix-loop-helix proteins in cell growth, differentiation and tumorigenesis. (17/410)

The ubiquitously expressed family of ID helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins function as dominant negative regulators of basic HLH (bHLH) transcriptional regulators that drive cell lineage commitment and differentiation in metazoa. Recent data from cell line and in vivo studies have implicated the functions of ID proteins in other cellular processes besides negative regulation of cell differentiation. ID proteins play key roles in the regulation of lineage commitment, cell fate decisions and in the timing of differentiation during neurogenesis, lymphopoiesis and neovascularisation (angiogenesis). They are essential for embryogenesis and for cell cycle progression, and they function as positive regulators of cell proliferation. ID proteins also possess pro-apoptotic properties in a variety of cell types and function as cooperating or dominant oncoproteins in immortalisation of rodent and human cells and in tumour induction in Id-transgenic mice. In several human tumour types, the expression of ID proteins is deregulated, and loss- and gain-of-function studies implicate ID functions in the regulation of tumour growth, vascularisation, invasiveness and metastasis. More recent biochemical studies have also revealed an emerging 'molecular promiscuity' of mammalian ID proteins: they directly interact with and modulate the activities of several other families of transcriptional regulator, besides bHLH proteins.  (+info)

Id proteins are dynamically expressed in normal epidermis and dysregulated in squamous cell carcinoma. (18/410)

Helix-loop-helix genes regulate many developmental pathways, and growing evidence associates dysregulated expression with tumorigenesis. We observed Id-1, Id-2, and Id-3 mRNA expression in proliferating human keratinocytes in vitro with subsequent down-regulation with differentiation. Immunohistochemical analysis of human tissue sections identified cytoplasmic Id-1 expression and nuclear Id-2 and Id-3 expression in the proliferating layers of the epidermis. Furthermore, we observed a columnar pattern of Id-2 and Id-3 staining, which may relate to the epidermal proliferative unit. In squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, Id protein immunoreactivity was observed in the majority of malignant keratinocytes in the most poorly differentiated sections, with reduced staining in well-differentiated disease.  (+info)

Id helix-loop-helix proteins antagonize pax transcription factor activity by inhibiting DNA binding. (19/410)

The Id subfamily of helix-loop-helix (HLH) proteins plays a fundamental role in the regulation of cellular proliferation and differentiation. The major mechanism by which Id proteins are thought to inhibit differentiation is through interaction with other HLH proteins and inhibition of their DNA-binding activity. However, Id proteins have also been shown to interact with other proteins involved in regulating cellular proliferation and differentiation, suggesting a more widespread regulatory function. In this study we demonstrate functional interactions between Id proteins and members of the Pax-2/-5/-8 subfamily of paired-domain transcription factors. Members of the Pax transcription factor family have key functions in regulating several developmental processes exemplified by B lymphopoiesis, in which Pax-5 plays an essential role. Id proteins bind to Pax proteins in vitro and in vivo. Binding occurs through the paired DNA-binding domain of the Pax proteins and results in the disruption of DNA-bound complexes containing Pax-2, Pax-5, and Pax-8. In vivo, Id proteins modulate the transcriptional activity mediated by Pax-5 complexes on the B-cell-specific mb-1 promoter. Our results therefore demonstrate a novel facet of Id function in regulating cellular differentiation by functionally antagonizing the action of members of the Pax transcription factor family.  (+info)

Molecular cloning and characterization of a zinc finger protein involved in Id-1-stimulated mammary epithelial cell growth. (20/410)

Id proteins are dominant negative regulators of basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors. Previous work in our laboratory has shown that constitutive expression of Id-1 in SCp2 mouse mammary epithelial cells inhibits their differentiation and induces proliferation, invasion, and migration. Id-1 expression also correlates with the invasive and aggressive potential of human breast cancer cells. However, little is known about Id-1 target genes that are important for regulating normal and transformed breast epithelial cell phenotypes. Now we report the cloning of a novel zinc finger protein, Zfp289, using degenerate primers to specifically amplify cDNAs from Id-1-transfected SCp2 cells. Zfp289 has homology with a yeast zinc finger protein, the GTPase-activating protein Gcs-1, which was initially identified as a gene required for the re-entry of cells into the cell cycle after stationary phase growth. Zfp289 mRNA expression pattern correlates with Id-1 expression in SCp2 mammary epithelial cells under various experimental conditions as well as in the mouse mammary gland at different stages of development. It is predominantly present in the cytoplasm of the cells as evident from green fluorescent protein fusion protein localization. SCp2 mammary epithelial cells with constitutive expression of Zfp289 have a higher S-phase index, compared with control cells, when cultured in a serum-free medium. We conclude that the novel zinc finger protein Zfp289, which may represent the mammalian homologue of Gcs-1, is potentially an important mediator of the Id-1-induced proliferation pathway in mammary epithelial cells.  (+info)

Up-regulation of TRPM-2, MMP-7 and ID-1 during sex hormone-induced prostate carcinogenesis in the Noble rat. (21/410)

Prostate cancer is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in the Western world and changes in the ratio of testosterone and estrogens with advancing age is one of the potential risk factors in the development of this disease. However, the molecular mechanisms associated with hormone imbalance in prostate carcinogenesis are poorly understood. In this study we induced a high incidence of prostate hyperplasia, dysplasia and adenocarcinoma in the Noble rat using a combination of testosterone and estradiol-17beta. Using this animal model, we studied the gene expression profile during sex hormone-induced prostate carcinogenesis using a cDNA array technique; the results were further confirmed by RT-PCR, western blotting and immunohistochemical analyses. We found up-regulation of TRPM-2 (testosterone-repressed prostatic message-2), MMP-7 (matrix metalloproteinase-7) and Id-1 (inhibitor of differentiation or DNA binding) during development of sex hormone-induced prostate cancer. Increased expression of TRPM-2 and MMP-7 was observed in both premalignant and malignant tissues after sex hormone treatment, indicating their role in the early stages of hormone response and prostate cancer development. In contrast, Id-1 was expressed at relatively low levels in all premalignant samples but increased in malignant cells, suggesting its potential roles as a biomarker for prostate cancer cells. Furthermore, expression of Id-1 appeared to be stronger in poorly differentiated lesions than in well-differentiated carcinomas, suggesting that the levels of Id-1 expression may be correlated with the malignancy of tumors. Our results provide the first evidence of up-regulation of TRPM-2, MMP-7 and Id-1 during sex hormone-induced prostate carcinogenesis and strongly suggest their association with the development of prostate cancer.  (+info)

Id1 regulation of cellular senescence through transcriptional repression of p16/Ink4a. (22/410)

The Id family of helix-loop-helix (HLH) transcriptional regulatory proteins does not possess a basic DNA-binding domain and functions as a negative regulator of basic HLH transcription factors. Id proteins coordinate cell growth and differentiation pathways within mammalian cells and have been shown to regulate G(1)-S cell-cycle transitions. Although much recent data has implicated Id1 in playing a critical role in modulating cellular senescence, no direct genetic evidence has been reported to substantiate such work. Here we show that Id1-null primary mouse embryo fibroblasts undergo premature senescence despite normal growth profiles at early passage. These cells possess increased expression of the tumor-suppressor protein p16/Ink4a but not p19/ARF, and have decreased cyclin-dependent kinase (cdk) 2 and cdk4 kinase activity. We also show that Id1 is able to directly inhibit p16/Ink4a but not p19/ARF promoter activity via its HLH domain, and that Id1 inhibits transcriptional activation at E-boxes within the p16/Ink4a promoter. Our data provide, to our knowledge, the first genetic evidence for a role for Id1 as an inhibitor of cellular senescence and suggest that Id1 functions to delay cellular senescence through repression of p16/Ink4a. Because epigenetic and genetic abrogation of p16/Ink4a function has been implicated in the evolution of several human malignancies, we propose that transcriptional regulation of p16/Ink4a may also provide a mechanism for the dysregulation of normal cellular growth controls during the evolution of human malignancies.  (+info)

Regulation of Id gene expression by type I insulin-like growth factor: roles of Stat3 and the tyrosine 950 residue of the receptor. (23/410)

Id proteins are known to play important roles in the proliferation and differentiation of many cell types. The type 1 insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IR), activated by its ligand, induces the differentiation of 32D IGF-IR cells, a murine hematopoietic cell line, expressing a human IGF-IR. Expression in 32D IGF-IR cells of a dominant negative mutant of Stat3 (DNStat3) inhibits IGF-I-mediated differentiation. DNStat3 causes a dramatic increase in Id2 gene expression. This increase, however, is IGF-I dependent and is abrogated by a mutation at tyrosine 950 of the IGF-IR. These results indicate that in 32D cells, the IGF-IR regulates the expression of the Id2 gene and that this regulation is modulated by both positive and negative signals. Our results also suggest that in this model, Id2 proteins influence the differentiation program of cells but are not sufficient for the full stimulation of their proliferation program.  (+info)

Overexpression of Id-1 protein is a marker for unfavorable prognosis in early-stage cervical cancer. (24/410)

Inhibitor of differentiation/DNA binding (Id) proteins are transcription factors, involved in cell cycle regulation and neoangiogenesis. Using immunohistochemistry, we investigated the prognostic influence of Id-1, Id-2, and Id-3 expression in 89 patients with cervical cancer stage pT(1b). In univariate and multivariate analysis, patients with strong or moderate expression of Id-1 had a significant shorter overall survival time (P = 0.0144, log-rank test) and disease-free survival time (P = 0.0107, log-rank test) compared with those with low or absent Id-1 expression. Id-1 expression is an independent prognostic marker in early-stage cervical cancer.  (+info)