PUBLICATION

A chronic signaling TGFb zebrafish reporter identifies immune response in melanoma

Authors
Noonan, H.R., Thornock, A.M., Barbano, J., Xifaras, M.E., Baron, C.S., Yang, S., Koczirka, K., McConnell, A.M., Zon, L.I.
ID
ZDB-PUB-240615-4
Date
2024
Source
eLIFE   13: (Journal)
Registered Authors
Zon, Leonard I.
Keywords
TGFb, cancer biology, human, macrophages, melanoma, zebrafish
MeSH Terms
  • Animals
  • Animals, Genetically Modified*
  • Cell Line, Tumor
  • Gene Expression Regulation, Neoplastic
  • Genes, Reporter
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/genetics
  • Green Fluorescent Proteins/metabolism
  • Humans
  • Melanoma*/genetics
  • Melanoma*/immunology
  • Melanoma*/metabolism
  • Melanoma*/pathology
  • Signal Transduction*
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta/metabolism
  • Transforming Growth Factor beta1/metabolism
  • Zebrafish*
PubMed
38874379 Full text @ Elife
Abstract
Developmental signaling pathways associated with growth factors such as TGFb are commonly dysregulated in melanoma. Here we identified a human TGFb enhancer specifically activated in melanoma cells treated with TGFB1 ligand. We generated stable transgenic zebrafish with this TGFb Induced Enhancer driving green fluorescent protein (TIE:EGFP). TIE:EGFP was not expressed in normal melanocytes or early melanomas but was expressed in spatially distinct regions of advanced melanomas. Single-cell RNA-sequencing revealed that TIE:EGFP+ melanoma cells down-regulated interferon response while up-regulating a novel set of chronic TGFb target genes. ChIP-sequencing demonstrated that AP-1 factor binding is required for activation of chronic TGFb response. Overexpression of SATB2, a chromatin remodeler associated with tumor spreading, showed activation of TGFb signaling in early melanomas. Confocal imaging and flow cytometric analysis showed that macrophages localize to TIE:EGFP+ regions and preferentially phagocytose TIE:EGFP+ melanoma cells compared to TIE:EGFP- melanoma cells. This work identifies a TGFb induced immune response and demonstrates the need for the development of chronic TGFb biomarkers to predict patient response to TGFb inhibitors.
Genes / Markers
Figures
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Expression
Phenotype
Mutations / Transgenics
Human Disease / Model
Sequence Targeting Reagents
Fish
Antibodies
Orthology
Engineered Foreign Genes
Mapping