TFEB (Transcription factor EB) represents an emerging player in the biology of cardiovascular
system. TFEB was originally described to be translocated in a juvenile subset of paediatric renal cell carcinoma but
whole genome sequencing reported somatic mutations sporadically found in many different cancers. Besides its
oncogenic activity, TFEB controls the autophagy-lysosomal pathway by recognizing a recurrent motif present in the
promoter regions of a set of genes that participate to lysosome biogenesis and its dysregulation is instrumental in
the pathogenesis of lysosomal storage diseases. Emerging findings suggest that TFEB exerts wider regulatory
activities in response to stress encompassing immunity, longevity and metabolism. In this seminar I’ll summarize
the data of my Lab obtained by the specific deletion of Tfeb in mouse endothelial and epicardial cells. Our data
demonstrate that TFEB activates specific genetic programs respectively regulating cell-cycle in endothelial cells and
epithelial-mesenchymal transition in epicardial cells. Recognizing vascular and epicardial TFEB as a hub of a
network of signals between tissues and bloodstream provides a fresh perspective on the molecular principles
regulating organogenesis and tissue functions in physiology and pathology.
04/06/2021, Prof. Federico Bussolino, Department of Oncology, University of Torino Candiolo Cancer Institute-IRCCS-FPO