VHL

Gene Summary

Gene:VHL; von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor
Aliases: RCA1, VHL1, pVHL, HRCA1
Location:3p25.3
Summary:Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome (VHL) is a dominantly inherited familial cancer syndrome predisposing to a variety of malignant and benign tumors. A germline mutation of this gene is the basis of familial inheritance of VHL syndrome. The protein encoded by this gene is a component of the protein complex that includes elongin B, elongin C, and cullin-2, and possesses ubiquitin ligase E3 activity. This protein is involved in the ubiquitination and degradation of hypoxia-inducible-factor (HIF), which is a transcription factor that plays a central role in the regulation of gene expression by oxygen. RNA polymerase II subunit POLR2G/RPB7 is also reported to be a target of this protein. Alternatively spliced transcript variants encoding distinct isoforms have been observed. [provided by RefSeq, Jul 2008]
Databases:OMIM, HGNC, Ensembl, GeneCard, Gene
Protein:von Hippel-Lindau disease tumor suppressor
Source:NCBIAccessed: 01 September, 2019

Ontology:

What does this gene/protein do?
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Pathways:What pathways are this gene/protein implicaed in?
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Cancer Overview

Research Indicators

Publications Per Year (1994-2019)
Graph generated 01 September 2019 using data from PubMed using criteria.

Literature Analysis

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Tag cloud generated 01 September, 2019 using data from PubMed, MeSH and CancerIndex

Specific Cancers (7)

Data table showing topics related to specific cancers and associated disorders. Scope includes mutations and abnormal protein expression.

Note: list is not exhaustive. Number of papers are based on searches of PubMed (click on topic title for arbitrary criteria used).

Latest Publications: VHL (cancer-related)

Minervini G, Quaglia F, Tabaro F, Tosatto SCE
Genotype-phenotype relations of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor inferred from a large-scale analysis of disease mutations and interactors.
PLoS Comput Biol. 2019; 15(4):e1006478 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Familiar cancers represent a privileged point of view for studying the complex cellular events inducing tumor transformation. Von Hippel-Lindau syndrome, a familiar predisposition to develop cancer is a clear example. Here, we present our efforts to decipher the role of von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL) in cancer insurgence. We collected high quality information about both pVHL mutations and interactors to investigate the association between patient phenotypes, mutated protein surface and impaired interactions. Our data suggest that different phenotypes correlate with localized perturbations of the pVHL structure, with specific cell functions associated to different protein surfaces. We propose five different pVHL interfaces to be selectively involved in modulating proteins regulating gene expression, protein homeostasis as well as to address extracellular matrix (ECM) and ciliogenesis associated functions. These data were used to drive molecular docking of pVHL with its interactors and guide Petri net simulations of the most promising alterations. We predict that disruption of pVHL association with certain interactors can trigger tumor transformation, inducing metabolism imbalance and ECM remodeling. Collectively taken, our findings provide novel insights into VHL-associated tumorigenesis. This highly integrated in silico approach may help elucidate novel treatment paradigms for VHL disease.

Lim JH, Kim DG, Yu DY, et al.
Stabilization of E2-EPF UCP protein is implicated in hepatitis B virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma progression.
Cell Mol Life Sci. 2019; 76(13):2647-2662 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
Hepatitis B virus (HBV) X protein (HBx) is associated with hepatocarcinogenesis. E2-EPF ubiquitin carrier protein (UCP) catalyzes ubiquitination of itself and von Hippel-Lindau protein (pVHL) for degradation and associates with tumor growth and metastasis. However, it remains unknown whether HBx modulates the enzyme activity of UCP and thereby influences hepatocarcinogenesis. Here, we show that UCP is highly expressed in liver tissues of HBx-transgenic mice, but not non-transgenic mice. UCP was more frequently expressed in HBV-positive liver cancers than in HBV-negative liver cancers. HBx binds to UCP specifically and serotype independently, and forms a ternary complex with UCP and pVHL. HBx inhibits self-ubiquitination of UCP, but enhances UCP-mediated pVHL ubiquitination, resulting in stabilization of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α and -2α. HBx and UCP stabilize each other by mutually inhibiting their ubiquitination. HBx promotes cellular proliferation and metastasis via UCP. Our findings suggest that UCP plays a key role in HBV-related hepatocarcinogenesis.

Palui R, Kamalanathan S, Sahoo J, et al.
Adrenal adenoma in von Hippel-Lindau syndrome: A case report with review of literature.
J Cancer Res Ther. 2019; 15(Supplement):S163-S166 [PubMed] Related Publications
A 29-year-old hypertensive male with von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome came to the Endocrinology department for evaluation. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography of the abdomen revealed an adrenal mass, bilateral renal cell carcinoma, and multiple pancreatic cysts. The hormonal investigations for adrenal mass were normal. He underwent left-sided adrenalectomy, and the histopathological report was suggestive of an adrenocortical adenoma. Genetic analysis of VHL gene in this patient revealed a heterogeneous 5' splice site variation of intron 1 of the VHL gene that affects splice site of exon 1 (c. 340 + 1G > A). Adrenocortical adenoma is very rare in VHL syndrome. Only two cases of adrenocortical adenoma in VHL have been reported in the literature, and both were associated with pheochromocytoma. This is probably the first reported case of adrenocortical adenoma in VHL syndrome without accompanying pheochromocytoma.

Huang Y, Wang J, Jia P, et al.
Clonal architectures predict clinical outcome in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Nat Commun. 2019; 10(1):1245 [PubMed] Free Access to Full Article Related Publications
The genetic landscape of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) had been investigated extensively but its evolution patterns remained unclear. Here we analyze the clonal architectures of 473 patients from three different populations. We find that the mutational signatures vary substantially across different populations and evolution stages. The evolution patterns of ccRCC have great inter-patient heterogeneities, with del(3p) being regarded as the common earliest event followed by three early departure points: VHL and PBRM1 mutations, del(14q) and other somatic copy number alterations (SCNAs) including amp(7), del(1p) and del(6q). We identify three prognostic subtypes of ccRCC with distinct clonal architectures and immune infiltrates: long-lived patients, enriched with VHL but depleted of BAP1 mutations, have high levels of Th17 and CD8

Miikkulainen P, Högel H, Seyednasrollah F, et al.
Hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF)-prolyl hydroxylase 3 (PHD3) maintains high
J Biol Chem. 2019; 294(10):3760-3771 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
Most clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) have inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau tumor suppressor protein (pVHL), resulting in the accumulation of hypoxia-inducible factor α-subunits (HIF-α) and their downstream targets. HIF-2α expression is particularly high in ccRCC and is associated with increased ccRCC growth and aggressiveness. In the canonical HIF signaling pathway, HIF-prolyl hydroxylase 3 (PHD3) suppresses HIF-2α protein by post-translational hydroxylation under sufficient oxygen availability. Here, using immunoblotting and immunofluorescence staining, qRT-PCR, and siRNA-mediated gene silencing, we show that unlike in the canonical pathway, PHD3 silencing in ccRCC cells leads to down-regulation of HIF-2α protein and mRNA. Depletion of other PHD family members had no effect on HIF-2α expression, and PHD3 knockdown in non-RCC cells resulted in the expected increase in HIF-2α protein expression. Accordingly, PHD3 knockdown decreased HIF-2α target gene expression in ccRCC cells and expression was restored upon forced HIF-2α expression. The effect of PHD3 depletion was pinpointed to

Batavia AA, Schraml P, Moch H
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma with wild-type von Hippel-Lindau gene: a non-existent or new tumour entity?
Histopathology. 2019; 74(1):60-67 [PubMed] Related Publications
The current World Health Organisation (WHO) classification of renal tumours is based on characteristic histological features or specific molecular alterations. von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) alteration is the hallmark of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (RCC). After identification of the MiT translocation family of tumours, clear cell papillary renal cancer and others, the group of ccRCC with wild-type VHL is small. TCEB1 mutation combined with chromosome 8q loss is an emerging tumour entity with wild-type VHL. Inactivation of TCEB1 increases HIF stabilisation via the same mechanism as VHL inactivation. Importantly, recent molecular analyses suggest the existence of another 'VHL wild-type' evolutionary subtype of clear cell RCC in addition to TCEB1 mutated RCC and clear cell papillary renal cancer. These tumours are characterised by an aggressive behaviour, high tumour cell proliferation rate, elevated chromosomal instability and frequent presence of sarcomatoid differentiation. Future clinicopathological studies will have to provide data to determine whether TCEB1 tumours and clear cell RCC with wild-type VHL are separate tumour entities or represent variants of a clear cell RCC tumour family.

Trotta AM, Santagata S, Zanotta S, et al.
Mutated Von Hippel-Lindau-renal cell carcinoma (RCC) promotes patients specific natural killer (NK) cytotoxicity.
J Exp Clin Cancer Res. 2018; 37(1):297 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
BACKGROUND: Previous evidence demonstrated that restoration of wild type VHL in human renal cancer cells decreased in vitro NK susceptibility. To investigate on the role of tumoral VHL status versus NK capability in renal cancer patients, 51 RCC patients were characterized for VHL mutational status and NK function.
METHODS: VHL mutational status was determined by direct DNA sequencing on tumor tissue. NK cytotoxicity was measured against specific target cells K562, VHL-wild type (CAKI-1) and VHL-mutated (A498) human renal cancer cells through externalization of CD107a and IFN-γ production. Activating NK receptors, NKp30, NKp44, NKp46, NKG2D, DNAM-1, NCAM-1 and FcγRIIIa were evaluated through quantitative RT-PCR. RCC tumoral Tregs were characterized as CD4
RESULTS: VHL mutations were detected in 26/55 (47%) RCC patients. IL-2 activated whole-blood samples (28 VHL-WT-RCC and 23 VHL-MUT-RCC) were evaluated for NK cytotoxicity toward human renal cancer cells A498, VHL-MUT and CAKI-1, VHL-WT. Efficient NK degranulation and increase in IFN-γ production was detected when IL-2 activated whole-blood from VHL-MUT-RCC patients were tested toward A498 as compared to CAKI-1 cells (CD107a
CONCLUSIONS: VHL tumoral mutations improve NKs effectiveness in RCC patients and need to be considered in the evaluation of immune response. Moreover therapeutic strategies designed to target NK cells could be beneficial in VHL-mutated-RCCs alone or in association with immune checkpoints inhibitors.

Wu X, Chen L, Zhang Y, et al.
A novel mutation in the VHL gene in a Chinese family with von Hippel-Lindau disease.
BMC Med Genet. 2018; 19(1):204 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
BACKGROUND: Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is an autosomal dominant inherited cancer syndrome, and VHL is identified as a tumor suppressor gene. The main objective of this study was to identify disease-causing mutations in a Chinese family affected with VHL disease.
METHODS: Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood from a Chinese family with VHL. A predicted pathogenic variant was identified by targeted exome capture technology and next-generation sequencing.
RESULTS: A novel heterozygous mutation (c.349 T > A, p.W117R) was detected in affected family members. No mutation was detected in unaffected family members or in the 150 normal controls. The mutation segregated with the disease phenotype throughout three generations. Histopathological examination revealed the characteristics of hemangioblastoma.
CONCLUSIONS: A novel W117R was detected in the VHL gene that caused retinal hemangioblastomas in affected members of a Chinese family.

Shao Y, Liu Z, Liu J, et al.
Expression and epigenetic regulatory mechanism of BNIP3 in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Int J Oncol. 2019; 54(1):348-360 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
The majority of clear cell renal cell carcinomas (ccRCCs) are caused by an accumulation of hypoxia‑inducible factor (HIF) and the overexpression of downstream genes in response to the von Hippel‑Lindau (VHL) gene becoming inactivated. In the present study, our hypothesis was that BNIP3, a gene positioned downstream of HIF, would be expressed at a higher level in ccRCC; however, instead, lower levels of BNIP3 expression were identified in RCC tumor tissues compared with adjacent non‑tumor tissues. These changes were associated with lower levels of VHL, and higher levels of HIF and vascular endothelial growth factor. BNIP3 was also undetectable in three investigated RCC cell lines (786‑O, ACHN, A498) and GRC‑1‑1 cells. Methylation of the BNIP3 promoter was not detected, and neither did treatment with a methylation inhibitor cause cell proliferation. However, treatment with a histone deacetylation inhibitor, trichostatin A (TSA), inhibited cultured RCC cell proliferation, promoted apoptosis and restored BNIP3 expression. Furthermore, histone deacetylation of the BNIP3 promoter was identified in ACHN and 786‑O cells, and the acetylation status was restored following TSA treatment. Taken together, the results of the present study suggest that histone deacetylation, but not methylation, is most likely to cause BNIP3 inactivation in RCC. The data also indicated that restoration of BNIP3 expression by a histone deacetylation inhibitor led to growth inhibition and apoptotic promotion in RCC.

Liao L, Liu ZZ, Langbein L, et al.
Multiple tumor suppressors regulate a HIF-dependent negative feedback loop via ISGF3 in human clear cell renal cancer.
Elife. 2018; 7 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
Whereas

Kang CH, Lee DH, Lee CO, et al.
Induced protein degradation of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) by proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC).
Biochem Biophys Res Commun. 2018; 505(2):542-547 [PubMed] Related Publications
Recently, proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) technology is highlighted in drug discovery area as a new therapeutic approach. PROTAC as a heterobifunctional molecule is comprised of two ligands, which recruit target protein and E3 ligase, respectively. To degrade the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) fusion protein, such as NPM-ALK or EML4-ALK, we generated several ALK-PROTAC molecules consisted of ceritinib, one of the ALK inhibitors, and ligand of von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ligase. Among these molecules, TD-004 effectively induced ALK degradation and inhibited the growth of ALK fusion positive cell lines, SU-DHL-1 and H3122. We also confirmed that TD-004 significantly reduced the tumor growth in H3122 xenograft model.

Shmueli MD, Levy-Kanfo L, Haj E, et al.
Arginine refolds, stabilizes, and restores function of mutant pVHL proteins in animal model of the VHL cancer syndrome.
Oncogene. 2019; 38(7):1038-1049 [PubMed] Related Publications
The von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) syndrome is a rare inherited cancer, caused by mutations in the VHL gene, many of which render the VHL protein (pVHL) unstable. pVHL is a tumor-suppressor protein implicated in a variety of cellular processes, most notably in response to changes in oxygen availability, due to its role as part of an E3-ligase complex which targets the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) for degradation. Previously we reported, using in silico and in vitro analyses, that common oncogenic VHL mutations render pVHL less stable than the wild-type protein, distort its core domain and as a result reduce the ability of the protein to bind its target HIF-1α. Among various chemical chaperones tested, arginine was the most effective in refolding mutant of pVHL. Here we examined the consequences of administering L- or D-arginine to a Drosophila VHL model and to human renal carcinoma cells, both expressing misfolded versions of human pVHL. Arginine treatment increased pVHL solubility in both models and increased the half-life of the mutant pVHL proteins in the cell culture. In both models, L- as well as D-arginine enhanced the ability of wild-type pVHL and certain misfolded mutant versions of pVHL to bind ODD, the HIF-derived target peptide, reflecting restoration of pVHL function. Moreover, continuous feeding of Drosophila expressing misfolded versions of pVHL either L- or D-arginine rich diet rescued their lethal phenotype. Collectively, these in vivo results suggest that arginine supplementation should be examined as a potential novel treatment for VHL cancer syndrome.

Kim HS, Kim JH, Jang HJ, et al.
Clinicopathologic Significance of
Int J Mol Sci. 2018; 19(9) [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
The

Tarade D, Robinson CM, Lee JE, Ohh M
HIF-2α-pVHL complex reveals broad genotype-phenotype correlations in HIF-2α-driven disease.
Nat Commun. 2018; 9(1):3359 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
It is definitively established that mutations in transcription factor HIF-2α are causative of both neuroendocrine tumors (class 1 disease) and polycythemia (class 2 disease). However, the molecular mechanism that underlies this emergent genotype-phenotype relationship has remained unclear. Here, we report the structure of HIF-2α peptide bound to pVHL-elongin B-elongin C (VBC) heterotrimeric complex, which shows topographical demarcation of class 1 and 2 mutations affecting residues predicted, and demonstrated via biophysical analyses, to differentially impact HIF-2α-pVHL interaction interface stability. Concordantly, biochemical experiments showed that class 1 mutations disrupt pVHL affinity to HIF-2α more adversely than class 2 mutations directly or indirectly via impeding PHD2-mediated hydroxylation. These findings suggest that neuroendocrine tumor pathogenesis requires a higher HIF-2α dose than polycythemia, which requires only a mild increase in HIF-2α activity. These biophysical data reveal a structural basis that underlies, and can be used to predict de novo, broad genotype-phenotype correlations in HIF-2α-driven disease.

Mitchell TJ, Rossi SH, Klatte T, Stewart GD
Genomics and clinical correlates of renal cell carcinoma.
World J Urol. 2018; 36(12):1899-1911 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
PURPOSE: Clear cell, papillary cell, and chromophobe renal cell carcinomas (RCCs) have now been well characterised thanks to large collaborative projects such as The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). Not only has knowledge of the genomic landscape helped inform the development of new drugs, it also promises to fine tune prognostication.
METHODS: A literature review was performed summarising the current knowledge on the genetic basis of RCC.
RESULTS: The Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumour suppressor gene undergoes bi-allelic knockout in the vast majority of clear cell RCCs. The next most prevalent aberrations include a cohort of chromatin-modifying genes with diverse roles including PBRM1, SETD2, BAP1, and KMD5C. The most common non-clear cell renal cancers have also undergone genomic profiling and are characterised by distinct genomic landscapes. Many recurrent mutations have prognostic value and show promise in aiding decisions regarding treatment stratification. Intra-tumour heterogeneity appears to hamper the clinical applicability of sparsely sampled tumours. Ways to abrogate heterogeneity will be required to optimise the genomic classification of tumours.
CONCLUSION: The somatic mutational landscape of the more common renal cancers is well known. Correlation with outcome needs to be more comprehensively furnished, particularly for small renal masses, rarer non-clear cell renal cancers, and for all tumours undergoing targeted therapy.

Renfrow JJ, Soike MH, Debinski W, et al.
Hypoxia-inducible factor 2α: a novel target in gliomas.
Future Med Chem. 2018; 10(18):2227-2236 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
Hypoxia is an important contributor to aggressive behavior and resistance mechanisms in glioblastoma. Upregulation of hypoxia inducible transcription factors (HIFs) is the primary adaptive cellular response to a hypoxic environment. While HIF1α has been widely studied in cancer, HIF2α offers a potentially more specific and appealing target in glioblastoma given expression in glioma stem cells and not normal neural progenitors, activation in states of chronic hypoxia and expression that correlates with glioma patient survival. A first-in-class HIF2α inhibitor, PT2385, is in clinical trials for renal cell carcinoma, and provides the first opportunity to therapeutically target this important pathway in glioma biology.

Feng J, Zhang Y, She X, et al.
Hypermethylated gene ANKDD1A is a candidate tumor suppressor that interacts with FIH1 and decreases HIF1α stability to inhibit cell autophagy in the glioblastoma multiforme hypoxia microenvironment.
Oncogene. 2019; 38(1):103-119 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
Ectopic epigenetic mechanisms play important roles in facilitating tumorigenesis. Here, we first demonstrated that ANKDD1A is a functional tumor suppressor gene, especially in the hypoxia microenvironment. ANKDD1A directly interacts with FIH1 and inhibits the transcriptional activity of HIF1α by upregulating FIH1. In addition, ANKDD1A decreases the half-life of HIF1α by upregulating FIH1, decreases glucose uptake and lactate production, inhibits glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) autophagy, and induces apoptosis in GBM cells under hypoxia. Moreover, ANKDD1A is highly frequently methylated in GBM. The tumor-specific methylation of ANKDD1A indicates that it could be used as a potential epigenetic biomarker as well as a possible therapeutic target.

Hamaidi I, Coquard C, Danilin S, et al.
The Lim1 oncogene as a new therapeutic target for metastatic human renal cell carcinoma.
Oncogene. 2019; 38(1):60-72 [PubMed] Related Publications
Metastatic clear cell renal cell carcinoma (CCC) remains incurable despite advances in the development of anti-angiogenic targeted therapies and the emergence of immune checkpoint inhibitors. We have previously shown that the sonic hedgehog-Gli signaling pathway is oncogenic in CCC allowing us to identify the developmental Lim1 transcription factor as a Gli target and as a new oncogene in CCC regulating cell proliferation and apoptosis, and promoting tumor growth. In this previous study, preliminary in vitro results also suggested that Lim1 may be implicated in metastatic spread. Here we investigated the potential pro-metastatic role of Lim1 in advanced CCC (1) in vitro using a panel of CCC cell lines expressing or not the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene either naturally or by gene transfer and (2) ex vivo in 30 CCC metastatic tissues, including lymph nodes, lung, skin, bone, and adrenal metastases, and (3) in vivo, using a metastatic model by intravenous injection of siRNA-transfected cells into Balb/c nude. Our in vitro results reveal that Lim1 knockdown time-dependently decreased CCC cell motility, migration, invasion, and clonogenicity by up to 50% regardless of their VHL status. Investigating the molecular machinery involved in these processes, we identified a large panel of Lim1 targets known to be involved in cell adhesion (paxillin and fibronectin), epithelial-mesenchymal transition (Twist1/2 and snail), invasion (MMP1/2/3/8/9), and metastatic progression (CXCR4, SDF-1, and ANG-1). Importantly, Lim1 was found constitutively expressed in all metastatic tissues. The H-score in metastatic tissues being significantly superior to the score in the corresponding primary tumor tissues (P value = 0.009). Furthermore, we showed that Lim1 silencing decreases pulmonary metastasis development in terms of number and size in the in vivo metastatic model of human CCC. Taken together, these experiments strengthen the potential therapeutic value of Lim1 targeting as a promising novel approach for treating metastatic human CCC.

Gattolliat CH, Couvé S, Meurice G, et al.
Integrative analysis of dysregulated microRNAs and mRNAs in multiple recurrent synchronized renal tumors from patients with von Hippel-Lindau disease.
Int J Oncol. 2018; 53(4):1455-1468 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is a rare autosomal dominant syndrome that is the main cause of inherited clear-cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC), which generally occurs in the form of multiple recurrent synchronized tumors. Affected patients are carriers of a germline mutation in the VHL tumor suppressor gene. Somatic mutations of this gene are also found in sporadic ccRCC and numerous pan-genomic studies have reported a dysregulation of microRNA (miRNA) expression in these sporadic tumors. In order to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the pathogenesis of VHL-associated ccRCC, particularly in the context of multiple tumors, the present study characterized the mRNA and miRNA transcriptome through an integrative analysis compared with sporadic renal tumors. In the present study, two series of ccRCC samples were used. The first set consisted of several samples from different tumors occurring in the same patient, for two independent patients affected with VHL disease. The second set consisted of 12 VHL-associated tumors and 22 sporadic ccRCC tumors compared with a pool of normal renal tissue. For each sample series, an expression analysis of miRNAs and mRNAs was conducted using microarrays. The results indicated that multiple tumors within the kidney of a patient with VHL disease featured a similar pattern of miRNA and gene expression. In addition, the expression levels of miRNA were able to distinguish VHL-associated tumors from sporadic ccRCC, and it was identified that 103 miRNAs and 2,474 genes were differentially expressed in the ccRCC series compared with in normal renal tissue. The majority of dysregulated genes were implicated in 'immunity' and 'metabolism' pathways. Taken together, these results allow a better understanding of the occurrence of ccRCC in patients with VHL disease, by providing insights into dysregulated miRNA and mRNA. In the set of patients with VHL disease, there were few differences in miRNA and mRNA expression, thus indicating a similar molecular evolution of these synchronous tumors and suggesting that the same molecular mechanisms underlie the pathogenesis of these hereditary tumors.

Zhang J, Wu T, Simon J, et al.
VHL substrate transcription factor ZHX2 as an oncogenic driver in clear cell renal cell carcinoma.
Science. 2018; 361(6399):290-295 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
Inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) E3 ubiquitin ligase protein is a hallmark of clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC). Identifying how pathways affected by VHL loss contribute to ccRCC remains challenging. We used a genome-wide in vitro expression strategy to identify proteins that bind VHL when hydroxylated. Zinc fingers and homeoboxes 2 (ZHX2) was found as a VHL target, and its hydroxylation allowed VHL to regulate its protein stability. Tumor cells from ccRCC patients with

Kim YE, Lee M, Gu H, et al.
HIF-1α activation in myeloid cells accelerates dextran sodium sulfate-induced colitis progression in mice.
Dis Model Mech. 2018; 11(7) [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 08/03/2020 Related Publications
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disease, in which the intestinal epithelium loses its barrier function. Given the existence of the oxygen gradient in the intestinal epithelium and that inflammation further contributes to the tissue hypoxia, we investigated the role of hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF), a transcription factor activated under hypoxic conditions in myeloid cells, in the progression of IBD. To do this, we utilized myeloid-specific knockout (KO) mice targeting HIF pathways, created by a Cre-loxP system with human MRP8 (hMRP8), an intracellular calcium-binding protein, as the myeloid promoter. By feeding 5% dextran sodium sulfate (DSS) to hMRP8 von Hippel Lindau (

Muscarella LA, Bisceglia M, Galliani CA, et al.
Extraneuraxial hemangioblastoma: A clinicopathologic study of 10 cases with molecular analysis of the VHL gene.
Pathol Res Pract. 2018; 214(8):1156-1165 [PubMed] Related Publications
Less than 250 extraneuraxial hemangioblastomas occurring in paraneuraxial or peripheral sites have been reported to date, sporadically or in the setting of von Hippel-Lindau disease. Seventeen such cases underwent molecular genetic analysis, using either the patient's peripheral blood in 9 cases or paraffin embedded tumor tissue in the rest. VHL gene mutations were documented in 3/9 cases in which DNA from peripheral blood lymphocytes was used, all with clinically manifest von Hippel-Lindau disease; instead, no VHL gene alterations were found in all of the 8 cases with sporadic extraneuraxial hemangioblastoma in which DNA from tumor tissue was analyzed. Our aim is to investigate the molecular genetic profile of the VHL gene in extraneuraxial hemangioblastoma using paraffin embedded tumor tissues. The clinical features, histopathology, and molecular investigations of 10 extraneuraxial hemangioblastomas (7 females, 3 males; median age: 47 years) are presented herein. The histopathologic diagnosis was supported by immunohistochemistry (10/10) and electron microscopy (4/10). Molecular genetic analysis was conducted (10/10) for VHL gene mutations, LOH, and gene promoter methylation. Two of the present cases were already published with only limited or no molecular investigations. Four tumors of the present series were paraneuraxial, and 6 peripheral (2 involved soft tissues, and 4 the kidney). One tumor was von Hippel-Lindau disease-associated, 1 was classified as "hemangioblastoma-only VHLD", 7 were sporadic, and one was unknown. All were histopathologically analogous to their counterpart located inside the central nervous system. Immunophenotypically, all tumors expressed vimentin, S-100, NSE, and alpha-inhibin (10/10). Ultrastructurally, unbound lipid droplets filled the cytoplasms of the stromal cells. Molecular analysis revealed 3 inactivating mutations (1 germline, two somatic) in the coding sequence of the VHL gene in 2 different extraneuraxial hemangioblastomas, and LOH in 4 (two as a double hit), all non-renal extraneuraxial hemangioblastomas. Methylation analysis failed to disclose promoter methylation in any case. In conclusion, we report eight new cases from the wide category of extraneuraxial hemangioblastomas (4 paraneuraxial, and 4 renal), one of which was von Hippel-Lindau disease-associated and 7 sporadic. VHL gene alterations were found not only in the von Hippel-Lindau disease-associated tumor, but - for the first time - also in 3 sporadic ones, two of which with novel mutations.

Conemans EB, Lodewijk L, Moelans CB, et al.
DNA methylation profiling in MEN1-related pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors reveals a potential epigenetic target for treatment.
Eur J Endocrinol. 2018; 179(3):153-160 [PubMed] Related Publications
OBJECTIVE: Epigenetic changes contribute to pancreatic neuroendocrine tumor (PanNET) development. Hypermethylation of promoter DNA as a cause of tumor suppressor gene silencing is a well-established oncogenic mechanism that is potentially reversible and therefore an interesting therapeutic target. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 (MEN1) is the most frequent cause of inherited PanNETs. The aim of this study was to determine promoter methylation profiles in MEN1-related PanNETs.
DESIGN AND METHODS: Methylation-specific multiplex ligation-dependent probe amplification was used to assess promoter methylation of 56 tumor suppressor genes in MEN1-related (
RESULTS: We found promoter methylation of a large number of potential tumor suppressor genes. CMI (median CMI: 912 vs 876,
CONCLUSION: Promoter hypermethylation is a frequent event in MEN1-related and sporadic PanNETs. Targeting DNA methylation could be of therapeutic value in MEN1 patients with advanced PanNETs.

Defeudis G, Fioriti E, Palermo A, et al.
A case of pheochromocytoma with negative MIBG scintigraphy, PET-CT and genetic tests (VHL included) and a rare case of post-operative erectile dysfunction.
Hormones (Athens). 2018; 17(2):279-284 [PubMed] Related Publications
BACKGROUND: Pheochromocytoma (Ph) is a rare catecholamine-secreting neuroendocrine tumour that arises from the chromaffin cells of the adrenal medulla. Ph usually presents with symptoms including paroxysmal headache, sweating, palpitations, and hypertension.
CLINICAL CASE: During a computed tomography (CT) scan in a normotensive 49-year-old man, an incidentaloma of 4.5 cm was detected. Hypercortisolism was excluded after the dexamethasone suppression test, levels of DHEAS all falling within the normal range. After a 24-h urine collection, normal urinary metanephrines and a 4-fold higher level compared to the normal range of urinary normetanephrines were observed. Cortisoluria levels were within the normal range. Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 2 (MEN 2) was also excluded. Before the adrenalectomy,
CONCLUSIONS: This is a case report in which, in a normotensive patient with Ph, both MIBG and FDG PET-CT were negative, as were also genetic exams, including VHL, this underlining the difficulties in diagnosing this condition; furthermore, a rare case of ED occurred after surgery.

Ding XF, Zhou J, Chen G, Wu YL
VHL loss predicts response to Aurora kinase A inhibitor in renal cell carcinoma cells.
Mol Med Rep. 2018; 18(1):1206-1210 [PubMed] Related Publications
The majority of molecular targets of anticancer agents are limited to a subset of patients, and therefore identification of more specific biomarkers that can be used to improve clinical outcomes is of increasing interest. The present study showed that von Hippel‑Lindau tumor suppressor (VHL) tumor‑suppressor activity may influence the therapeutic response to Aurora kinase A (AURKA) inhibitors in human renal cell carcinoma (RCC). VHL protein (pVHL) expression was evaluated by immunoblotting in the human RCC cell lines CAKI, ACHN, 786‑O, 769‑P and A498. The anti‑tumor activities of alisertib, an AURKA‑specific chemical inhibitor, were detected by Cell Counting Kit‑8 assay in vitro and mouse xenograft model in vivo. Additionally, the VHL‑mediated anti‑tumor activity was assessed in 769‑P and CAKI cells via the loss or gain of VHL. The results revealed that VHL‑deficient 786‑O, 769‑P and A498 cells were sensitive to alisertib. By contrast, alisertib‑resistant CAKI and ACHN cells expressed the wild type VHL gene. In addition, rescue or knockdown of VHL was observed to increase or decrease alisertib anti‑proliferation activity, respectively, in RCC cells. The inverse correlation between the VHL gene expression profile and alisertib sensitivity was further confirmed in human cancer xenografts models. Taken together, these results suggested that VHL loss could potentially serve as a biomarker for predicting the efficacy of AURKA inhibitors.

Wang Y, Chen D, Chen M, et al.
A Comprehensive Procedure to Evaluate the In Vitro Performance of the Putative Hemangioblastoma Neovascularization Using the Spheroid Sprouting Assay.
J Vis Exp. 2018; (134) [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 12/04/2020 Related Publications
The inactivation of the von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) tumor suppressor gene plays a crucial role in the development of hemangioblastomas (HBs) within the human central nervous system (CNS). However, both the cytological origin and the evolutionary process of HBs (including neovascularization) remain controversial, and anti-angiogenesis for VHL-HBs, based on classic HB angiogenesis, have produced disappointing results in clinical trials. One major obstacle to the successful clinical translation of anti-vascular treatment is the lack of a thorough understanding of neovascularization in this vascular tumor. In this article, we present a comprehensive procedure to evaluate in vitro whether classic tumor angiogenesis exists in HBs, as well as its role in HBs. With this procedure, researchers can accurately understand the complexity of HB neovascularization and identify the function of this common form of angiogenesis in HBs. These protocols can be used to evaluate the most promising anti-vascular therapy for tumors, which has high translational potential either for tumors treatment or for aiding in the optimization of the anti-angiogenic treatment for HBs in future translations. The results highlight the complexity of HB neovascularization and suggest that this common form angiogenesis is only a complementary mechanism in HB neovascularization.

Maher ER
Hereditary renal cell carcinoma syndromes: diagnosis, surveillance and management.
World J Urol. 2018; 36(12):1891-1898 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 12/04/2020 Related Publications
PURPOSE: Genetic factors have been implicated in the pathogenesis of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), with around 3% of cases having a family history. A greater knowledge of the genetics of inherited RCC has the potential to translate into novel therapeutic targets for sporadic RCC.
METHODS: A literature review was performed summarising the current knowledge on hereditary RCC diagnosis, surveillance and management.
RESULTS: Familial RCC is usually inherited in an autosomal dominant manner, although inherited RCC may present without a relevant family history. A number of familial RCC syndromes have been identified. Familial non-syndromic RCC is suspected when ≥ 2 relatives are affected in the absence of syndromic features, although clear diagnostic criteria are lacking. Young age at onset and bilateral/multicentric tumours are recognised characteristics which should prompt molecular genetic analysis. Surveillance in individuals at risk of inherited RCC aims to prevent morbidity and mortality via early detection of tumours. Though screening and management guidelines for some inherited RCC syndromes (e.g. von Hippel-Lindau disease, Birt-Hogg-Dube syndrome, hereditary leiomyomatosis) are well defined for rare cause of inherited RCC (e.g. germline BAP1 mutations), there is limited information regarding the lifetime RCC risks and the most appropriate screening modalities.
CONCLUSION: Increasing knowledge of the natural history and genetic basis has led to characterisation and tailored management of hereditary RCC syndromes. International data sharing of inherited RCC gene variant information may enable evidence-based improvements in the diagnosis, surveillance protocols and management of these rare conditions.

Mitchell TJ, Turajlic S, Rowan A, et al.
Timing the Landmark Events in the Evolution of Clear Cell Renal Cell Cancer: TRACERx Renal.
Cell. 2018; 173(3):611-623.e17 [PubMed] Article available free on PMC after 12/04/2020 Related Publications
Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is characterized by near-universal loss of the short arm of chromosome 3, deleting several tumor suppressor genes. We analyzed whole genomes from 95 biopsies across 33 patients with clear cell renal cell carcinoma. We find hotspots of point mutations in the 5' UTR of TERT, targeting a MYC-MAX-MAD1 repressor associated with telomere lengthening. The most common structural abnormality generates simultaneous 3p loss and 5q gain (36% patients), typically through chromothripsis. This event occurs in childhood or adolescence, generally as the initiating event that precedes emergence of the tumor's most recent common ancestor by years to decades. Similar genomic changes drive inherited ccRCC. Modeling differences in age incidence between inherited and sporadic cancers suggests that the number of cells with 3p loss capable of initiating sporadic tumors is no more than a few hundred. Early development of ccRCC follows well-defined evolutionary trajectories, offering opportunity for early intervention.

Chakraborty C, Mitra S, Roychowdhury A, et al.
Deregulation of LIMD1-VHL-HIF-1α-VEGF pathway is associated with different stages of cervical cancer.
Biochem J. 2018; 475(10):1793-1806 [PubMed] Related Publications
To understand the mechanism of cellular stress in basal-parabasal layers of normal cervical epithelium and during different stages of cervical carcinoma, we analyzed the alterations (expression/methylation/copy number variation/mutation) of HIF-1α and its associated genes LIMD1, VHL and VEGF in disease-free normal cervix (

Liu SJ, Wang JY, Peng SH, et al.
Genotype and phenotype correlation in von Hippel-Lindau disease based on alteration of the HIF-α binding site in VHL protein.
Genet Med. 2018; 20(10):1266-1273 [PubMed] Related Publications
PURPOSE: Von Hippel-Lindau (VHL) disease is a rare hereditary cancer syndrome that reduces life expectancy. We aimed to construct a more valuable genotype-phenotype correlation based on alterations in VHL protein (pVHL).
METHODS: VHL patients (n = 339) were recruited and grouped based on mutation types: HIF-α binding site missense (HM) mutations, non-HIF-α binding site missense (nHM) mutations, and truncating (TR) mutations. Age-related risks of VHL-associated tumors and patient survival were compared.
RESULTS: Missense mutations conferred an increased risk of pheochromocytoma (HR = 1.854, p = 0.047) compared with truncating mutations. The risk of pheochromocytoma was lower in the HM group than in the nHM group (HR = 0.298, p = 0.003) but was similar between HM and TR groups (HR = 0.901, p = 0.810). Patients in the nHM group had a higher risk of pheochromocytoma (HR = 3.447, p < 0.001) and lower risks of central nervous system hemangioblastoma (CHB) (HR = 0.700, p = 0.045), renal cell carcinoma (HR = 0.610, p = 0.024), and pancreatic tumor (HR = 0.382, p < 0.001) than those in the combined HM and TR (HMTR) group. Moreover, nHM mutations were independently associated with better overall survival (HR = 0.345, p = 0.005) and CHB-specific survival (HR = 0.129, p = 0.005) than HMTR mutations.
CONCLUSION: The modified genotype-phenotype correlation links VHL gene mutation, substrate binding site, and phenotypic diversity (penetrance and survival), and provides more accurate information for genetic counseling and pathogenesis studies.

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