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ERG Factor and Its Multiple Functions: New Insights

A special issue of International Journal of Molecular Sciences (ISSN 1422-0067). This special issue belongs to the section "Molecular Pathology, Diagnostics, and Therapeutics".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 November 2022)

Special Issue Editors

Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (Bi.N.D.), University of Palermo, Palermo, Italy, Corso Tukory 211, Palermo, 90134 Italy
Interests: ageing; inflammation; innate immunuty; age-related diseases (particularly cardiovascular diseases); translation medicine; stem cell therapy
Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Interests: innate immunity; adaptive immunity; study of complement system in diseases; cancer biology; tumor immunology; tumor microenvironment; solid tumors; hematological malignancies; immunotherapy; personalized medicine
Tumor Immunology Unit, Department of Health Science, School of Medicine, University of Palermo, 90133 Palermo, Italy
Interests: cell biology; cancer biology; stem cell biology; tumor immunology; molecular biology; tumor microenvironment; DNA damage; hematological malignancies; solid tumors

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Among the 28 mammalian ETS (for E-26 transformation specific) transcription factors, the transcription factor ERG has emerged in the recent years as essential regulator of differentiation and maintenance of the endothelial lineage, and, therefore, for the development and maintenance of healthy vasculature. In addition, it also shows the role of promoter of oncogenesis, when ectopically expressed. Such multiple ERG actions are related to its binding to several ERG-dependent gene targets and pathways in the endothelium, including VEGF, Notch, Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathways. Recently, other physiological and pathological non-vasculature roles of ERG have been identified. For example, ERG is required for the physiological functions of primitive and adult hematopoiesis, as well as for bone and cartilage development, but also in pathogenesis of multiple cancers with ectopic expression (as above mentioned).

Although substantial progresses in understanding the functions of ERG have been made, much remains to be discovered. Thus, in this Special Issue, we widely recruit original articles that describe new discoveries on ERG factor in any relevant topics, such as physiological functions, regulation of new gene targets and signaling pathways, activation or inhibition of crucial human tissue mechanisms, as well as its roles in human diseases, such as multiple cancers. The identification of binding partners regulating ERG activity, the regulation of ERG function by post-translational modifications and by upstream signals, might provide insight into novel approaches to promote vascular health, as well as possible therapeutic options to selectively target the oncogenic function of ERG in cancer or other human pathologies. We also welcome review articles and commentaries.

Prof. Dr. Carmela Rita Balistreri
Dr. Beatrice Belmonte
Dr. Valeria Cancila
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • Transcription factor ERG
  • Endothelial cells
  • Angiogenesis Vascular development
  • Endothelial homeostasis
  • ERG-dependent gene targets and pathways
  • Binding partners regulating ERG activity
  • The regulation of ERG function
  • ERG in non-vasculature human tissues
  • ERG in cancer
  • ERG in other human pathologies

Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

17 pages, 2031 KiB  
Article
The Endothelial Transcription Factor ERG Mediates a Differential Role in the Aneurysmatic Ascending Aorta with Bicuspid or Tricuspid Aorta Valve: A Preliminary Study
by Calogera Pisano, Sonia Terriaca, Maria Giovanna Scioli, Paolo Nardi, Claudia Altieri, Augusto Orlandi, Giovanni Ruvolo and Carmela Rita Balistreri
Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2022, 23(18), 10848; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijms231810848 - 16 Sep 2022
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1508
Abstract
The pathobiology of ascending aorta aneurysms (AAA) onset and progression is not well understood and only partially characterized. AAA are also complicated in case of bicuspid aorta valve (BAV) anatomy. There is emerging evidence about the crucial role of endothelium-related pathways, which show [...] Read more.
The pathobiology of ascending aorta aneurysms (AAA) onset and progression is not well understood and only partially characterized. AAA are also complicated in case of bicuspid aorta valve (BAV) anatomy. There is emerging evidence about the crucial role of endothelium-related pathways, which show in AAA an altered expression and function. Here, we examined the involvement of ERG-related pathways in the differential progression of disease in aortic tissues from patients having a BAV or tricuspid aorta valve (TAV) with or without AAA. Our findings identified ERG as a novel endothelial-specific regulator of TGF-β-SMAD, Notch, and NO pathways, by modulating a differential fibrotic or calcified AAA progression in BAV and TAV aortas. We provided evidence that calcification is correlated to different ERG expression (as gene and protein), which appears to be under control of Notch signaling. The latter, when increased, associated with an early calcification in aortas with BAV valve and aneurysmatic, was demonstrated to favor the progression versus severe complications, i.e., dissection or rupture. In TAV aneurysmatic aortas, ERG appeared to modulate fibrosis. Therefore, we proposed that ERG may represent a sensitive tissue biomarker to monitor AAA progression and a target to develop therapeutic strategies and influence surgical procedures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue ERG Factor and Its Multiple Functions: New Insights)
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