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...

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Main Authors: Vincent C Luca, Yi Miao, Xingnan Li, Michael J Hollander, Calvin J Kuo, K Christopher Garcia
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Public Library of Science (PLoS) 2020-01-01
Series:PLoS ONE
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226928
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author Vincent C Luca
Yi Miao
Xingnan Li
Michael J Hollander
Calvin J Kuo
K Christopher Garcia
author_facet Vincent C Luca
Yi Miao
Xingnan Li
Michael J Hollander
Calvin J Kuo
K Christopher Garcia
author_sort Vincent C Luca
collection DOAJ
description 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.
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spelling doaj.art-1cf31de1e0034f3a918cc3919c3afbe42023-06-05T05:32:35ZengPublic Library of Science (PLoS)PLoS ONE1932-62032020-01-01151e022692810.1371/journal.pone.0226928Surrogate R-spondins for tissue-specific potentiation of Wnt Signaling.Vincent C LucaYi MiaoXingnan LiMichael J HollanderCalvin J KuoK Christopher GarciaSecreted 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.https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226928
spellingShingle Vincent C Luca
Yi Miao
Xingnan Li
Michael J Hollander
Calvin J Kuo
K Christopher Garcia
Surrogate R-spondins for tissue-specific potentiation of Wnt Signaling.
PLoS ONE
title Surrogate R-spondins for tissue-specific potentiation of Wnt Signaling.
title_full Surrogate R-spondins for tissue-specific potentiation of Wnt Signaling.
title_fullStr Surrogate R-spondins for tissue-specific potentiation of Wnt Signaling.
title_full_unstemmed Surrogate R-spondins for tissue-specific potentiation of Wnt Signaling.
title_short Surrogate R-spondins for tissue-specific potentiation of Wnt Signaling.
title_sort surrogate r spondins for tissue specific potentiation of wnt signaling
url https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0226928
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