Tumor protein p63, typically referred to as p63, also known as transformation-related protein 63, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TP63 (also known as the p63) gene. [5] [6] [7] [8]
The TP63 gene was discovered 20 years after the discovery of the p53 tumor suppressor gene and along with p73 constitutes the p53 gene family based on their structural similarity. [9] Despite being discovered significantly later than p53, phylogenetic analysis of p53, p63 and p73, suggest that p63 was the original member of the family from which p53 and p73 evolved. [10]
Tumor protein p63 is a member of the p53 family of transcription factors. p63 -/- mice have several developmental defects which include the lack of limbs and other tissues, such as teeth and mammary glands, which develop as a result of interactions between mesenchyme and epithelium. TP63 encodes for two main isoforms by alternative promoters (TAp63 and ΔNp63). ΔNp63 is involved in multiple functions during skin development and in adult stem/progenitor cell regulation. [11] In contrast, TAp63 has been mostly restricted to its apoptotic function and more recently as the guardian of oocyte integrity. [12] Recently, two new functions have been attributed to TAp63 in heart development [13] and premature aging. [14]
In mice, p63 is required for normal skin development via direct transcription of the membrane protein PERP. TP63 can also regulate PERP expression with TP53 in human cancer. [15]
In oocytes, a unique quality control system has evolved that eliminates by apoptosis those oocytes in which chromosomes do not align correctly, or in which chromosomes cannot be repaired. [16] This monitoring system is conserved from fruit flies and nematodes to humans, and central to this system is the p53 protein family and, in vertebrates in particular, the p63 protein. [16] Oocytes that are unable to repair DNA double-strand breaks produced during meiosis by the process of homologous recombination are eliminated by apoptosis that is linked to p63. [16]
At least 42 disease-causing mutations in this gene have been discovered. [17] TP63 mutations underlie several malformation syndromes that include cleft lip and/or palate as a hallmark feature. [18] Mutations in the TP63 gene are associated with ectrodactyly-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft syndrome in which a midline cleft lip is a common feature, [18] cleft lip/palate syndrome 3 (EEC3); ectrodactyly (also known as split-hand/foot malformation 4 (SHFM4)); ankyloblepharon-ectodermal dysplasia-cleft lip/palate (AEC) or Hay–Wells syndrome in which a midline cleft lip is also a common feature, [18] Acro–dermato–ungual–lacrimal–tooth syndrome (ADULT); limb-mammary syndrome; Rap-Hodgkin syndrome (RHS); and orofacial cleft 8.
Both cleft lip with or without a cleft palate and cleft palate only features have been seen to segregate within the same family with a TP63 mutation. [18] Recently, induced pluripotent stem cells have been produced from patients affected by EEC syndromes by cell reprogramming. The defective epithelial commitment could be partially rescued by a small therapeutic compound. [19]
Transcription factor p63 is a key regulator of epidermal keratinocyte proliferation and differentiation. In a recent study, researchers used EEC-patient-derived skin keratinocytes carrying heterozygous p63 DNA-binding domain mutations as the cellular model to characterize the global gene regulatory alteration. The epidermal cell identity was compromised in p63 mutant keratinocytes. Besides, p63-binding loss and loss of active enhancers occurs at a genome-wide scale in patient keratinocytes carrying heterozygous EEC mutations. [20] Besides, using a multi-omics approach, the deregulated function of DNA loops mediated by p63 and CTCF represents an additional layer to the disease mechanism. It seems that a number of loci nearby epidermal genes were organized into a ‘regulatory chromatin hub’ within the chromatin interactions, mediated by CTCF in epidermal keratinocytes. Such hubs contain multiple connecting DNA loops that require not only CTCF binding that is rather static but also binding of cell type-specific TFs, like p63, for the transcriptional activity. In this model, p63 may be essential to make the DNA loops active in transcription. [21]
TP63 has been observed overexpressed in Vulvar Squamous Cell Carcinoma samples, in association with hypermethylation-Induced inactivation of the IRF6 tumor suppressor gene. [22] Indeed, mRNA levels of TP63 tested higher in Vulvar cancer samples when compared with those of normal skin and preneoplastic vulvar lesions, thus underscoring an epigenetic cross-link between IRF6 gene and the oncogene TP63. [22]
p63 immunostaining has utility for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas, differentiating prostatic adenocarcinoma (the most common type of prostate cancer) and benign prostatic tissue; [23] the nuclei of the basal cells of normal prostatic glands stain with p63, while the malignant glands in prostatic adenocarcinoma (which lacks these cells) do not. [24] P63 is also helpful in distinguishing poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma from small cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma. P63 should be strongly stained in poorly differentiated squamous cell, but negative in small cell or adenocarcinoma. [25]
Cytoplasmic staining on immunohistochemistry is seen in cells with muscle differentiation. [26]
TP63 has been shown to interact with HNRPAB. [27] It also activates IRF6 transcription through the IRF6 enhancer element. [18]
There is some evidence that the expression of p63 is regulated by the microRNA miR-203 [28] [29] and USP28 at protein level [30] [31]
Carcinoma is a malignancy that develops from epithelial cells. Specifically, a carcinoma is a cancer that begins in a tissue that lines the inner or outer surfaces of the body, and that arises from cells originating in the endodermal, mesodermal or ectodermal germ layer during embryogenesis.
Keratinocytes are the primary type of cell found in the epidermis, the outermost layer of the skin. In humans, they constitute 90% of epidermal skin cells. Basal cells in the basal layer of the skin are sometimes referred to as basal keratinocytes. Keratinocytes form a barrier against environmental damage by heat, UV radiation, water loss, pathogenic bacteria, fungi, parasites, and viruses. A number of structural proteins, enzymes, lipids, and antimicrobial peptides contribute to maintain the important barrier function of the skin. Keratinocytes differentiate from epidermal stem cells in the lower part of the epidermis and migrate towards the surface, finally becoming corneocytes and eventually being shed, which happens every 40 to 56 days in humans.
Popliteal pterygium syndrome (PPS) is an inherited condition affecting the face, limbs, and genitalia. The syndrome goes by a number of names including the popliteal web syndrome and, more inclusively, the facio-genito-popliteal syndrome. The term PPS was coined by Gorlin et al. in 1968 on the basis of the most unusual anomaly, the popliteal pterygium.
Interferon regulatory factor 6 also known as IRF6 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the IRF6 gene.
Ectrodactyly–ectodermal dysplasia–cleft syndrome, or EEC, and also referred to as EEC syndrome and split hand–split foot–ectodermal dysplasia–cleft syndrome is a rare form of ectodermal dysplasia, an autosomal dominant disorder inherited as a genetic trait. EEC is characterized by the triad of ectrodactyly, ectodermal dysplasia, and facial clefts. Other features noted in association with EEC include vesicoureteral reflux, recurrent urinary tract infections, obstruction of the nasolacrimal duct, decreased pigmentation of the hair and skin, missing or abnormal teeth, enamel hypoplasia, absent punctae in the lower eyelids, photophobia, occasional cognitive impairment and kidney anomalies, and conductive hearing loss.
p16, is a protein that slows cell division by slowing the progression of the cell cycle from the G1 phase to the S phase, thereby acting as a tumor suppressor. It is encoded by the CDKN2A gene. A deletion in this gene can result in insufficient or non-functional p16, accelerating the cell cycle and resulting in many types of cancer.
Hay–Wells syndrome is one of at least 150 known types of ectodermal dysplasia. These disorders affect tissues that arise from the ectodermal germ layer, such as skin, hair, and nails.
Rosselli–Gulienetti syndrome, also known as Zlotogora–Ogur syndrome and Bowen–Armstrong syndrome, is a type of congenital ectodermal dysplasia syndrome. The syndrome is relatively rare and has only been described in a few cases.
S100 calcium-binding protein A2 (S100A2) is a protein that in humans is encoded by the S100A2 gene and it is located on chromosome 1q21 with other S100 proteins.
SRY -box 2, also known as SOX2, is a transcription factor that is essential for maintaining self-renewal, or pluripotency, of undifferentiated embryonic stem cells. Sox2 has a critical role in maintenance of embryonic and neural stem cells.
Protein patched homolog 1 is a protein that is the member of the patched family and in humans is encoded by the PTCH1 gene.
Cadherin-3, also known as P-Cadherin, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the CDH3 gene.
Forkhead box protein E1 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the FOXE1 gene.
Transcription factor AP-2 alpha, also known as TFAP2A, is a protein that in humans is encoded by the TFAP2A gene.
Histone-lysine N-methyltransferase 2D (KMT2D), also known as MLL4 and sometimes MLL2 in humans and Mll4 in mice, is a major mammalian histone H3 lysine 4 (H3K4) mono-methyltransferase. It is part of a family of six Set1-like H3K4 methyltransferases that also contains KMT2A, KMT2B, KMT2C, KMT2F, and KMT2G.
PHD finger protein 8 is a protein that in humans is encoded by the PHF8 gene.
In molecular biology miR-203 is a short non-coding RNA molecule. MicroRNAs function to regulate the expression levels of other genes by several mechanisms, such as translational repression and Argonaute-catalyzed messenger RNA cleavage. miR-203 has been identified as a skin-specific microRNA, and it forms an expression gradient that defines the boundary between proliferative epidermal basal progenitors and terminally differentiating suprabasal cells. It has also been found upregulated in psoriasis and differentially expressed in some types of cancer.
Squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung is a histologic type of non-small-cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). It is the second most prevalent type of lung cancer after lung adenocarcinoma and it originates in the bronchi. Its tumor cells are characterized by a squamous appearance, similar to the one observed in epidermal cells. Squamous-cell carcinoma of the lung is strongly associated with tobacco smoking, more than any other forms of NSCLC.
Acro–dermato–ungual–lacrimal–tooth syndrome is a rare genetic disease. It is an autosomal dominant form of ectodermal dysplasia, a group of disorders that affects the hair, teeth, nails, sweat glands, and extremities. The syndrome arises from a mutation in the TP63 gene. This disease was previously thought to be a form of ectrodactyly–ectodermal dysplasia–cleft syndrome (EEC), but was classified as a different disease in 1993 by Propping and Zerres.
Squamous-cell carcinoma (SCC), also known as epidermoid carcinoma, comprises a number of different types of cancer that begin in squamous cells. These cells form on the surface of the skin, on the lining of hollow organs in the body, and on the lining of the respiratory and digestive tracts.