Surrogate R-spondins for tissue-specific potentiation of Wnt Signaling

Secreted R-spondin1-4 proteins (RSPO1-4) orchestrate stem cell renewal and tissue homeostasis by potentiating Wnt/β-catenin signaling. RSPOs induce the turnover of negative Wnt regulators RNF43 and ZNRF3 through a process that requires RSPO interactions with Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptors (LGRs), or through an LGR-independent mechanism that is enhanced by RSPO binding to heparin sulfate proteoglycans (HSPGs). Here, we describe the engineering of 'surrogate RSPOs' that function independently of LGRs to potentiate Wnt signaling on cell types expressing a target surface marker. These bispecific proteins were generated by fusing an RNF43- or ZNRF3-specific single chain antibody variable fragment (scFv) to the immune cytokine IL-2. Surrogate RSPOs mimic the function of natural RSPOs by crosslinking the extracellular domain (ECD) of RNF43 or ZNRF3 to the ECD of the IL-2 receptor CD25, which sequesters the complex and results in highly selective amplification of Wnt signaling on CD25+ cells. Furthermore, surrogate RSPOs were able substitute for wild type RSPO in a colon organoid growth assay when intestinal stem cells were transduced to express CD25. Our results provide proof-of-concept for a technology that may be adapted for use on a broad range of cell- or tissue-types and will open new avenues for the development of Wnt-based therapeutics for regenerative medicine.

Medienart:

E-Artikel

Erscheinungsjahr:

2020

Erschienen:

2020

Enthalten in:

Zur Gesamtaufnahme - volume:15

Enthalten in:

PloS one - 15(2020), 1 vom: 04., Seite e0226928

Sprache:

Englisch

Beteiligte Personen:

Luca, Vincent C [VerfasserIn]
Miao, Yi [VerfasserIn]
Li, Xingnan [VerfasserIn]
Hollander, Michael J [VerfasserIn]
Kuo, Calvin J [VerfasserIn]
Garcia, K Christopher [VerfasserIn]

Links:

Volltext

Themen:

EC 2.3.2.27
IL2RA protein, human
Interleukin-2 Receptor alpha Subunit
Journal Article
RNF43 protein, human
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
Single-Chain Antibodies
Thrombospondins
Ubiquitin-Protein Ligases
ZNRF3 protein, human

Anmerkungen:

Date Completed 06.04.2020

Date Revised 03.06.2023

published: Electronic-eCollection

Citation Status MEDLINE

doi:

10.1371/journal.pone.0226928

funding:

Förderinstitution / Projekttitel:

PPN (Katalog-ID):

NLM30513793X