Title : System methods to define master regulator of cell identity in development and diseases
Abstract:
A cell type is determined by the network function of its cell identity genes, including master transcription factors that govern the expression status of this network. Cell identity transition is fundamental in normal differentiation and development, whereas a cell that loses its normal identity may cause disease including cancers. Targeting the driver genes for an abnormal cell identity holds great promise for new therapy. However, our understanding of cell identity regulators is incomplete. Integrating over >10,000 genomic and epigenomic profiles, we uncovered that cell identity genes as a unique group are distinct from other genes in the mechanisms to regulate their expression. These including epigenetic mechanism from the regulation of transcription by chromatin modifications to the post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression by RNA modifications. These discoveries laid the foundation for us to develop novel machine learning techniques, which utilize expression regulation mechanisms for systematic identification of driver genes for normal cell differentiation. By applying these techniques to endothelial cell, we successfully recaptured reported endothelial lineage factors. The techniques further revealed new endothelial lineage regulators, which were experimentally verified as required for the maintenance of normal endothelial cell identity, the differentiation from iPSCs to endothelial lineage, and the development of blood vessels. Applying these techniques to cancer samples further revealed new tumor suppressors and oncogenes that were hard to identify by conventional mutation analysis methods. The driver genes identified by our new techniques will lead to new therapeutic targets and diagnostic markers, as successfully verified in cell, xenograft, and PDX model for cancers, and thus, will benefit numerous patients.
Audience Take Away:
- Epigenetic regulation mechanism at cell identity genes.
- Artificial intelligence techniques to uncover cell identity genes.
- Cell identity regulation in cell differentiation and tissue development.
- Role of MECOM in endothelial cell identity regulation and cardiovascular diseases.