1
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Katsura Y, Shigenobu S, Satta Y. Adaptive Evolution and Functional Differentiation of Testis-Expressed Genes in Theria. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:2316. [PMID: 39199849 PMCID: PMC11350913 DOI: 10.3390/ani14162316] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2024] [Revised: 07/29/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 09/01/2024] Open
Abstract
Gene expression patterns differ in different tissues, and the expression pattern of genes in the mammalian testis is known to be extremely variable in different species. To clarify how the testis transcriptomic pattern has evolved in particular species, we examined the evolution of the adult testis transcriptome in Theria using 10 species: two marsupials (opossum and Tasmanian devil), six eutherian (placental) mammals (human, chimpanzee, bonobo, gorilla, rhesus macaque, and mouse), and two outgroup species (platypus and chicken). We show that 22 testis-expressed genes are marsupial-specific, suggesting their acquisition in the stem lineage of marsupials after the divergence from eutherians. Despite the time length of the eutherian stem lineage being similar to that of the marsupial lineage, acquisition of testis-expressed genes was not found in the stem lineage of eutherians; rather, their expression patterns differed by species, suggesting rapid gene evolution in the eutherian ancestors. Fifteen testis-expressed genes are therian-specific, and for three of these genes, the evolutionary tempo is markedly faster in eutherians than in marsupials. Our phylogenetic analysis of Rho GTPase-activating protein 28 (ARHGAP28) suggests the adaptive evolution of this gene in the eutherians, probably together with the expression pattern differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukako Katsura
- Center for the Evolutionary Origins of Human Behavior, Kyoto University, Inuyama 484-8506, Japan
| | - Shuji Shigenobu
- NIBB Core Research Facilities, National Institute for Basic Biology, Okazaki 444-0867, Japan;
| | - Yoko Satta
- Research Center for Integrative Evolutionary Science, SOKENDAI (The Graduate University for Advanced Studies), Hayama 240-0193, Japan;
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2
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Harding EF, Mercer LK, Yan GJH, Waters PD, White PA. Invasion and Amplification of Endogenous Retroviruses in Dasyuridae Marsupial Genomes. Mol Biol Evol 2024; 41:msae160. [PMID: 39101626 PMCID: PMC11334065 DOI: 10.1093/molbev/msae160] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/30/2023] [Revised: 06/05/2024] [Accepted: 07/25/2024] [Indexed: 08/06/2024] Open
Abstract
Retroviruses are an ancient viral family that have globally coevolved with vertebrates and impacted their evolution. In Australia, a continent that has been geographically isolated for millions of years, little is known about retroviruses in wildlife, despite the devastating impacts of a retrovirus on endangered koala populations. We therefore sought to identify and characterize Australian retroviruses through reconstruction of endogenous retroviruses from marsupial genomes, in particular the Tasmanian devil due to its high cancer incidence. We screened 19 marsupial genomes and identified over 80,000 endogenous retrovirus fragments which we classified into eight retrovirus clades. The retroviruses were similar to either Betaretrovirus (5/8) or Gammaretrovirus (3/8) retroviruses, but formed distinct phylogenetic clades compared to extant retroviruses. One of the clades (MEBrv 3) lost an envelope but retained retrotranspositional activity, subsequently amplifying throughout all Dasyuridae genomes. Overall, we provide insights into Australian retrovirus evolution and identify a highly active endogenous retrovirus within Dasyuridae genomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma F Harding
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Lewis K Mercer
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Grace J H Yan
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Paul D Waters
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Peter A White
- School of Biotechnology and Biomolecular Science, UNSW Sydney, Sydney, Australia
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3
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Sun S, Li J, Wang S, Li J, Ren J, Bao Z, Sun L, Ma X, Zheng F, Ma S, Sun L, Wang M, Yu Y, Ma M, Wang Q, Chen Z, Ma H, Wang X, Wu Z, Zhang H, Yan K, Yang Y, Zhang Y, Zhang S, Lei J, Teng ZQ, Liu CM, Bai G, Wang YJ, Li J, Wang X, Zhao G, Jiang T, Belmonte JCI, Qu J, Zhang W, Liu GH. CHIT1-positive microglia drive motor neuron ageing in the primate spinal cord. Nature 2023; 624:611-620. [PMID: 37907096 DOI: 10.1038/s41586-023-06783-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2022] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023]
Abstract
Ageing is a critical factor in spinal-cord-associated disorders1, yet the ageing-specific mechanisms underlying this relationship remain poorly understood. Here, to address this knowledge gap, we combined single-nucleus RNA-sequencing analysis with behavioural and neurophysiological analysis in non-human primates (NHPs). We identified motor neuron senescence and neuroinflammation with microglial hyperactivation as intertwined hallmarks of spinal cord ageing. As an underlying mechanism, we identified a neurotoxic microglial state demarcated by elevated expression of CHIT1 (a secreted mammalian chitinase) specific to the aged spinal cords in NHP and human biopsies. In the aged spinal cord, CHIT1-positive microglia preferentially localize around motor neurons, and they have the ability to trigger senescence, partly by activating SMAD signalling. We further validated the driving role of secreted CHIT1 on MN senescence using multimodal experiments both in vivo, using the NHP spinal cord as a model, and in vitro, using a sophisticated system modelling the human motor-neuron-microenvironment interplay. Moreover, we demonstrated that ascorbic acid, a geroprotective compound, counteracted the pro-senescent effect of CHIT1 and mitigated motor neuron senescence in aged monkeys. Our findings provide the single-cell resolution cellular and molecular landscape of the aged primate spinal cord and identify a new biomarker and intervention target for spinal cord degeneration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shuhui Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Jiaming Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Si Wang
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China
- The Fifth People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Jingyi Li
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China
| | - Jie Ren
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China
- Key Laboratory of RNA Science and Engineering, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
| | - Zhaoshi Bao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- The Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, Beijing, China
| | - Le Sun
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Xibo Ma
- MAIS, State Key Laboratory of Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Artificial Intelligence, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine and Biomedical Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Fangshuo Zheng
- The Fifth People's Hospital of Chongqing, Chongqing, China
| | - Shuai Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China
| | - Liang Sun
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China
- The MOH Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, China
| | - Min Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Science and Technology of China, Hefei, China
| | - Yan Yu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Miyang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoran Wang
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zhiyuan Chen
- MAIS, State Key Laboratory of Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- School of Artificial Intelligence, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - He Ma
- MAIS, State Key Laboratory of Multimodal Artificial Intelligence Systems, Institute of Automation, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- College of Medicine and Biomedical Information Engineering, Northeastern University, Shenyang, China
| | - Xuebao Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zeming Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Hui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Kaowen Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
| | - Yuanhan Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yixin Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Sheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jinghui Lei
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Zhao-Qian Teng
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Chang-Mei Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Ge Bai
- The MOE Frontier Research Center of Brain & Brain-Machine Integration, Zhejiang University School of Brain Science and Brain Medicine, Hangzhou, China
| | - Yan-Jiang Wang
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China
- Department of Neurology, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Trauma and Chemical Poisoning, Daping Hospital, Third Military Medical University, Chongqing, China
| | - Jian Li
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China
- The MOH Key Laboratory of Geriatrics, Beijing Hospital, National Center of Gerontology, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoqun Wang
- Beijing Institute of Brain Disorders, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- State Key Laboratory of Cognitive Neuroscience and Learning, IDG/McGovern Institute for Brain Research, New Cornerstone Science Laboratory, Beijing Normal University, Beijing, China
| | - Guoguang Zhao
- Department of Neurosurgery, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Clinical Research Center for Epilepsy Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Beijing, China
| | - Tao Jiang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
- The Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas, Beijing, China
- Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Beijing, China
| | | | - Jing Qu
- State Key Laboratory of Stem Cell and Reproductive Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China.
| | - Weiqi Zhang
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- CAS Key Laboratory of Genomic and Precision Medicine, Beijing Institute of Genomics, Chinese Academy of Sciences and China National Center for Bioinformation, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China.
| | - Guang-Hui Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Membrane Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Institute for Stem Cell and Regeneration, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Beijing Institute for Stem Cell and Regenerative Medicine, Beijing, China.
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China.
- Advanced Innovation Center for Human Brain Protection, and National Clinical Research Center for Geriatric Disorders, Xuanwu Hospital Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
- Aging Translational Medicine Center, International Center for Aging and Cancer, Beijing Municipal Geriatric Medical Research Center, Xuanwu Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.
- Aging Biomarker Consortium, Beijing, China.
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4
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Harvey E, Mifsud JCO, Holmes EC, Mahar JE. Divergent hepaciviruses, delta-like viruses, and a chu-like virus in Australian marsupial carnivores (dasyurids). Virus Evol 2023; 9:vead061. [PMID: 37941997 PMCID: PMC10630069 DOI: 10.1093/ve/vead061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2023] [Revised: 10/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Although Australian marsupials are characterised by unique biology and geographic isolation, little is known about the viruses present in these iconic wildlife species. The Dasyuromorphia are an order of marsupial carnivores found only in Australia that include both the extinct Tasmanian tiger (thylacine) and the highly threatened Tasmanian devil. Several other members of the order are similarly under threat of extinction due to habitat loss, hunting, disease, and competition and predation by introduced species such as feral cats. We utilised publicly available RNA-seq data from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) Sequence Read Archive (SRA) database to document the viral diversity within four Dasyuromorph species. Accordingly, we identified fifteen novel virus sequences from five DNA virus families (Adenoviridae, Anelloviridae, Gammaherpesvirinae, Papillomaviridae, and Polyomaviridae) and three RNA virus taxa: the order Jingchuvirales, the genus Hepacivirus, and the delta-like virus group. Of particular note was the identification of a marsupial-specific clade of delta-like viruses that may indicate an association of deltaviruses with marsupial species. In addition, we identified a highly divergent hepacivirus in a numbat liver transcriptome that falls outside of the larger mammalian clade. We also detect what may be the first Jingchuvirales virus in a mammalian host-a chu-like virus in Tasmanian devils-thereby expanding the host range beyond invertebrates and ectothermic vertebrates. As many of these Dasyuromorphia species are currently being used in translocation efforts to reseed populations across Australia, understanding their virome is of key importance to prevent the spread of viruses to naive populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin Harvey
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jonathon C O Mifsud
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Edward C Holmes
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Jackie E Mahar
- Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, School of Medical Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
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5
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Mármol-Sánchez E, Fromm B, Oskolkov N, Pochon Z, Kalogeropoulos P, Eriksson E, Biryukova I, Sekar V, Ersmark E, Andersson B, Dalén L, Friedländer MR. Historical RNA expression profiles from the extinct Tasmanian tiger. Genome Res 2023; 33:1299-1316. [PMID: 37463752 PMCID: PMC10552650 DOI: 10.1101/gr.277663.123] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/05/2023] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 07/20/2023]
Abstract
Paleogenomics continues to yield valuable insights into the evolution, population dynamics, and ecology of our ancestors and other extinct species. However, DNA sequencing cannot reveal tissue-specific gene expression, cellular identity, or gene regulation, which are only attainable at the transcriptional level. Pioneering studies have shown that useful RNA can be extracted from ancient specimens preserved in permafrost and historical skins from extant canids, but no attempts have been made so far on extinct species. We extract, sequence, and analyze historical RNA from muscle and skin tissue of a ∼130-year-old Tasmanian tiger (Thylacinus cynocephalus) preserved in desiccation at room temperature in a museum collection. The transcriptional profiles closely resemble those of extant species, revealing specific anatomical features such as slow muscle fibers or blood infiltration. Metatranscriptomic analysis, RNA damage, tissue-specific RNA profiles, and expression hotspots genome-wide further confirm the thylacine origin of the sequences. RNA sequences are used to improve protein-coding and noncoding annotations, evidencing missing exonic loci and the location of ribosomal RNA genes while increasing the number of annotated thylacine microRNAs from 62 to 325. We discover a thylacine-specific microRNA isoform that could not have been confirmed without RNA evidence. Finally, we detect traces of RNA viruses, suggesting the possibility of profiling viral evolution. Our results represent the first successful attempt to obtain transcriptional profiles from an extinct animal species, providing thought-to-be-lost information on gene expression dynamics. These findings hold promising implications for the study of RNA molecules across the vast collections of natural history museums and from well-preserved permafrost remains.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emilio Mármol-Sánchez
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Bastian Fromm
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden
- The Arctic University Museum of Norway, UiT - The Arctic University of Norway, 9006 Tromsø, Norway
| | - Nikolay Oskolkov
- Department of Biology, National Bioinformatics Infrastructure Sweden, Science for Life Laboratory, Lund University, 223 62 Lund, Sweden
| | - Zoé Pochon
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Archaeology and Classical Studies, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Panagiotis Kalogeropoulos
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eli Eriksson
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Inna Biryukova
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Vaishnovi Sekar
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Erik Ersmark
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Björn Andersson
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology (CMB), Karolinska Institute, 171 77 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Love Dalén
- Centre for Palaeogenetics, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden;
- Department of Bioinformatics and Genetics, Swedish Museum of Natural History, 104 05 Stockholm, Sweden
- Department of Zoology, Stockholm University, 106 91 Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Marc R Friedländer
- Department of Molecular Biosciences, The Wenner-Gren Institute, Science for Life Laboratory, Stockholm University, 114 18 Stockholm, Sweden;
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6
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Russell GG, Palmieri C, Darby J, Morris GP, Fountain-Jones NM, Pye RJ, Flies AS. Automated Analysis of PD1 and PDL1 Expression in Lymph Nodes and the Microenvironment of Transmissible Tumors in Tasmanian Devils. Immunol Invest 2023:1-20. [PMID: 37267050 DOI: 10.1080/08820139.2023.2217845] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/04/2023]
Abstract
The wild Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population has suffered a devastating decline due to two clonal transmissible cancers. The first devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) was observed in 1996, followed by a second genetically distinct transmissible tumor, the devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2), in 2014. DFT1/2 frequently metastasize, with lymph nodes being common metastatic sites. MHC-I downregulation by DFT1 cells is a primary means of evading allograft immunity aimed at polymorphic MHC-I proteins. DFT2 cells constitutively express MHC-I, and MHC-I is upregulated on DFT1/2 cells by interferon gamma, suggesting other immune evasion mechanisms may contribute to overcoming allograft and anti-tumor immunity. Human clinical trials have demonstrated PD1/PDL1 blockade effectively treats patients showing increased expression of PD1 in tumor draining lymph nodes, and PDL1 on peritumoral immune cells and tumor cells. The effects of DFT1/2 on systemic immunity remain largely uncharacterized. This study applied the open-access software QuPath to develop a semiautomated pipeline for whole slide analysis of stained tissue sections to quantify PD1/PDL1 expression in devil lymph nodes. The QuPath protocol provided strong correlations to manual counting. PD-1 expression was approximately 10-fold higher than PD-L1 expression in lymph nodes and was primarily expressed in germinal centers, whereas PD-L1 expression was more widely distributed throughout the lymph nodes. The density of PD1 positive cells was increased in lymph nodes containing DFT2 metastases, compared to DFT1. This suggests PD1/PDL1 exploitation may contribute to the poorly immunogenic nature of transmissible tumors in some devils and could be targeted in therapeutic or prophylactic treatments.Abbreviations: PD1: programmed cell death protein 1; PDL1: programmed death ligand 1; DFT1: devil facial tumor 1; DFT2: devil facial tumor 2; DFTD: devil facial tumor disease; MCC: Matthew's correlation coefficient; DAB: diaminobenzidine; ROI: region of interest.
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Affiliation(s)
- Grace G Russell
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Chiara Palmieri
- School of Veterinary Science, The University of Queensland, Gatton, Queensland, Australia
| | - Jocelyn Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Gary P Morris
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Nicholas M Fountain-Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, College of Science and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania, Australia
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7
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Stammnitz MR, Gori K, Kwon YM, Harry E, Martin FJ, Billis K, Cheng Y, Baez-Ortega A, Chow W, Comte S, Eggertsson H, Fox S, Hamede R, Jones M, Lazenby B, Peck S, Pye R, Quail MA, Swift K, Wang J, Wood J, Howe K, Stratton MR, Ning Z, Murchison EP. The evolution of two transmissible cancers in Tasmanian devils. Science 2023; 380:283-293. [PMID: 37079675 PMCID: PMC7614631 DOI: 10.1126/science.abq6453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/20/2023] [Indexed: 04/22/2023]
Abstract
Tasmanian devils have spawned two transmissible cancer lineages, named devil facial tumor 1 (DFT1) and devil facial tumor 2 (DFT2). We investigated the genetic diversity and evolution of these clones by analyzing 78 DFT1 and 41 DFT2 genomes relative to a newly assembled, chromosome-level reference. Time-resolved phylogenetic trees reveal that DFT1 first emerged in 1986 (1982 to 1989) and DFT2 in 2011 (2009 to 2012). Subclone analysis documents transmission of heterogeneous cell populations. DFT2 has faster mutation rates than DFT1 across all variant classes, including substitutions, indels, rearrangements, transposable element insertions, and copy number alterations, and we identify a hypermutated DFT1 lineage with defective DNA mismatch repair. Several loci show plausible evidence of positive selection in DFT1 or DFT2, including loss of chromosome Y and inactivation of MGA, but none are common to both cancers. This study reveals the parallel long-term evolution of two transmissible cancers inhabiting a common niche in Tasmanian devils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maximilian R. Stammnitz
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kevin Gori
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Young Mi Kwon
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ed Harry
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Fergal J. Martin
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Konstantinos Billis
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - Adrian Baez-Ortega
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - William Chow
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Sebastien Comte
- School of Nature Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- Vertebrate Pest Research Unit, NSW Department of Primary Industries, Orange, Australia
| | | | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Hobart, Australia
- Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, Ohio 43609, USA
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Nature Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
- CANCEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Nature Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Billie Lazenby
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Hobart, Australia
| | - Sarah Peck
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Hobart, Australia
| | - Ruth Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Michael A. Quail
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kate Swift
- Mount Pleasant Laboratories, Tasmanian Department of Natural Resources and Environment, Prospect, Australia
| | - Jinhong Wang
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Jonathan Wood
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kerstin Howe
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | | | - Zemin Ning
- Wellcome Sanger Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, UK
| | - Elizabeth P. Murchison
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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8
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Dong LF, Rohlena J, Zobalova R, Nahacka Z, Rodriguez AM, Berridge MV, Neuzil J. Mitochondria on the move: Horizontal mitochondrial transfer in disease and health. J Cell Biol 2023; 222:213873. [PMID: 36795453 PMCID: PMC9960264 DOI: 10.1083/jcb.202211044] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 28.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2022] [Revised: 01/12/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2023] [Indexed: 02/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Mammalian genes were long thought to be constrained within somatic cells in most cell types. This concept was challenged recently when cellular organelles including mitochondria were shown to move between mammalian cells in culture via cytoplasmic bridges. Recent research in animals indicates transfer of mitochondria in cancer and during lung injury in vivo, with considerable functional consequences. Since these pioneering discoveries, many studies have confirmed horizontal mitochondrial transfer (HMT) in vivo, and its functional characteristics and consequences have been described. Additional support for this phenomenon has come from phylogenetic studies. Apparently, mitochondrial trafficking between cells occurs more frequently than previously thought and contributes to diverse processes including bioenergetic crosstalk and homeostasis, disease treatment and recovery, and development of resistance to cancer therapy. Here we highlight current knowledge of HMT between cells, focusing primarily on in vivo systems, and contend that this process is not only (patho)physiologically relevant, but also can be exploited for the design of novel therapeutic approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan-Feng Dong
- https://ror.org/02sc3r913School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, Australia,Lan-Feng Dong:
| | - Jakub Rohlena
- https://ror.org/00wzqmx94Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague-West, Czech Republic
| | - Renata Zobalova
- https://ror.org/00wzqmx94Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague-West, Czech Republic
| | - Zuzana Nahacka
- https://ror.org/00wzqmx94Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague-West, Czech Republic
| | | | | | - Jiri Neuzil
- https://ror.org/02sc3r913School of Pharmacy and Medical Sciences, Griffith University, Southport, Australia,https://ror.org/00wzqmx94Institute of Biotechnology, Academy of Sciences of the Czech Republic, Prague-West, Czech Republic,Faculty of Science, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic,First Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague, Czech Republic,Correspondence to Jiri Neuzil: ,
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9
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Gaertner K, Michell C, Tapanainen R, Goffart S, Saari S, Soininmäki M, Dufour E, Pohjoismäki JLO. Molecular phenotyping uncovers differences in basic housekeeping functions among closely related species of hares (
Lepus
spp., Lagomorpha: Leporidae). Mol Ecol 2022. [PMID: 36320183 DOI: 10.1111/mec.16755] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2022] [Revised: 09/16/2022] [Accepted: 10/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/15/2022]
Abstract
Speciation is a fundamental evolutionary process, which results in genetic differentiation of populations and manifests as discrete morphological, physiological and behavioural differences. Each species has travelled its own evolutionary trajectory, influenced by random drift and driven by various types of natural selection, making the association of genetic differences between the species with the phenotypic differences extremely complex to dissect. In the present study, we have used an in vitro model to analyse in depth the genetic and gene regulation differences between fibroblasts of two closely related mammals, the arctic/subarctic mountain hare (Lepus timidus Linnaeus) and the temperate steppe-climate adapted brown hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas). We discovered the existence of a species-specific expression pattern of 1623 genes, manifesting in differences in cell growth, cell cycle control, respiration, and metabolism. Interspecific differences in the housekeeping functions of fibroblast cells suggest that speciation acts on fundamental cellular processes, even in these two interfertile species. Our results help to understand the molecular constituents of a species difference on a cellular level, which could contribute to the maintenance of the species boundary.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kateryna Gaertner
- Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology FI‐33014 Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Craig Michell
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences FI‐80101 University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
- Red Sea Research Center, Division of Biological and Environmental Science and Engineering King Abdullah University of Science and Technology (KAUST) Thuwal Saudi Arabia
| | - Riikka Tapanainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences FI‐80101 University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Steffi Goffart
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences FI‐80101 University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Sina Saari
- Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology FI‐33014 Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Manu Soininmäki
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences FI‐80101 University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
| | - Eric Dufour
- Mitochondrial Bioenergetics and Metabolism, Faculty of Medicine and Health Technology FI‐33014 Tampere University Tampere Finland
| | - Jaakko L. O. Pohjoismäki
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences FI‐80101 University of Eastern Finland Kuopio Finland
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10
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Peel E, Silver L, Brandies P, Zhu Y, Cheng Y, Hogg CJ, Belov K. Best genome sequencing strategies for annotation of complex immune gene families in wildlife. Gigascience 2022; 11:giac100. [PMID: 36310247 PMCID: PMC9618407 DOI: 10.1093/gigascience/giac100] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2022] [Revised: 08/10/2022] [Accepted: 09/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The biodiversity crisis and increasing impact of wildlife disease on animal and human health provides impetus for studying immune genes in wildlife. Despite the recent boom in genomes for wildlife species, immune genes are poorly annotated in nonmodel species owing to their high level of polymorphism and complex genomic organisation. Our research over the past decade and a half on Tasmanian devils and koalas highlights the importance of genomics and accurate immune annotations to investigate disease in wildlife. Given this, we have increasingly been asked the minimum levels of genome quality required to effectively annotate immune genes in order to study immunogenetic diversity. Here we set out to answer this question by manually annotating immune genes in 5 marsupial genomes and 1 monotreme genome to determine the impact of sequencing data type, assembly quality, and automated annotation on accurate immune annotation. RESULTS Genome quality is directly linked to our ability to annotate complex immune gene families, with long reads and scaffolding technologies required to reassemble immune gene clusters and elucidate evolution, organisation, and true gene content of the immune repertoire. Draft-quality genomes generated from short reads with HiC or 10× Chromium linked reads were unable to achieve this. Despite mammalian BUSCOv5 scores of up to 94.1% amongst the 6 genomes, automated annotation pipelines incorrectly annotated up to 59% of manually annotated immune genes regardless of assembly quality or method of automated annotation. CONCLUSIONS Our results demonstrate that long reads and scaffolding technologies, alongside manual annotation, are required to accurately study the immune gene repertoire of wildlife species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Peel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Luke Silver
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Parice Brandies
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Ying Zhu
- Sichuan Provincial Academy of Natural Resource Sciences, Chengdu, Sichuan 610000, China
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
- Australian Research Council Centre of Excellence for Innovations in Peptide and Protein Science, University of Sydney, Sydney NSW 2006, Australia
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11
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Ong CEB, Cheng Y, Siddle HV, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Flies AS. Class II transactivator induces expression of MHC-I and MHC-II in transmissible Tasmanian devil facial tumours. Open Biol 2022; 12:220208. [PMID: 36259237 PMCID: PMC9579919 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.220208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
MHC-I and MHC-II molecules are critical components of antigen presentation and T cell immunity to pathogens and cancer. The two monoclonal transmissible devil facial tumours (DFT1, DFT2) exploit MHC-I pathways to overcome immunological anti-tumour and allogeneic barriers. This exploitation underpins the ongoing transmission of DFT cells across the wild Tasmanian devil population. We have previously shown that the overexpression of NLRC5 in DFT1 and DFT2 cells can regulate components of the MHC-I pathway but not MHC-II, establishing the stable upregulation of MHC-I on the cell surface. As MHC-II molecules are crucial for CD4+ T cell activation, MHC-II expression in tumour cells is beginning to gain traction in the field of immunotherapy and cancer vaccines. The overexpression of Class II transactivator in transfected DFT1 and DFT2 cells induced the transcription of several genes of the MHC-I and MHC-II pathways. This was further supported by the upregulation of MHC-I protein on DFT1 and DFT2 cells, but interestingly MHC-II protein was upregulated only in DFT1 cells. This new insight into the regulation of MHC-I and MHC-II pathways in cells that naturally overcome allogeneic barriers can inform vaccine, immunotherapy and tissue transplant strategies for human and veterinary medicine.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie E. B. Ong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - Hannah V. Siddle
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - A. Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, Australia
| | - Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S. Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
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12
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Espejo C, Wilson R, Pye RJ, Ratcliffe JC, Ruiz-Aravena M, Willms E, Wolfe BW, Hamede R, Hill AF, Jones ME, Woods GM, Lyons AB. Cathelicidin-3 Associated With Serum Extracellular Vesicles Enables Early Diagnosis of a Transmissible Cancer. Front Immunol 2022; 13:858423. [PMID: 35422813 PMCID: PMC9004462 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2022.858423] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2022] [Accepted: 03/01/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
The identification of practical early diagnostic biomarkers is a cornerstone of improved prevention and treatment of cancers. Such a case is devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a highly lethal transmissible cancer afflicting virtually an entire species, the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Despite a latent period that can exceed one year, to date DFTD diagnosis requires visual identification of tumor lesions. To enable earlier diagnosis, which is essential for the implementation of effective conservation strategies, we analyzed the extracellular vesicle (EV) proteome of 87 Tasmanian devil serum samples using data-independent acquisition mass spectrometry approaches. The antimicrobial peptide cathelicidin-3 (CATH3), released by innate immune cells, was enriched in serum EV samples of both devils with clinical DFTD (87.9% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity) and devils with latent infection (i.e., collected while overtly healthy, but 3-6 months before subsequent DFTD diagnosis; 93.8% sensitivity and 94.1% specificity). Although high expression of antimicrobial peptides has been mostly related to inflammatory diseases, our results suggest that they can be also used as accurate cancer biomarkers, suggesting a mechanistic role in tumorous processes. This EV-based approach to biomarker discovery is directly applicable to improving understanding and diagnosis of a broad range of diseases in other species, and these findings directly enhance the capacity of conservation strategies to ensure the viability of the imperiled Tasmanian devil population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Espejo
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Julian C Ratcliffe
- La Trobe University Bioimaging Platform, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Manuel Ruiz-Aravena
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.,Department of Microbiology and Cell Biology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, United States
| | - Eduard Willms
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia
| | - Barrett W Wolfe
- Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.,CANECEV, Centre de Recherches Ecologiques et Evolutives sur le Cancer, Montpellier, France
| | - Andrew F Hill
- Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, School of Agriculture, Biomedicine and Environment, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, Australia.,Institute for Health and Sport, Victoria University, Footscray, VIC, Australia
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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13
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Hussey K, Caldwell A, Kreiss A, Skjødt K, Gastaldello A, Pye R, Hamede R, Woods GM, Siddle HV. Expression of the Nonclassical MHC Class I, Saha-UD in the Transmissible Cancer Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). Pathogens 2022; 11:pathogens11030351. [PMID: 35335675 PMCID: PMC8953681 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11030351] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/02/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) is a transmissible cancer that has circulated in the Tasmanian devil population for >25 years. Like other contagious cancers in dogs and devils, the way DFTD escapes the immune response of its host is a central question to understanding this disease. DFTD has a low major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC-I) expression due to epigenetic modifications, preventing host immune recognition of mismatched MHC-I molecules by T cells. However, the total MHC-I loss should result in natural killer (NK) cell activation due to the ‘missing self’. Here, we have investigated the expression of the nonclassical MHC-I, Saha-UD as a potential regulatory or suppressive mechanism for DFTD. A monoclonal antibody was generated against the devil Saha-UD that binds recombinant Saha-UD by Western blot, with limited crossreactivity to the classical MHC-I, Saha-UC and nonclassical Saha-UK. Using this antibody, we confirmed the expression of Saha-UD in 13 DFTD tumours by immunohistochemistry (n = 15) and demonstrated that Saha-UD expression is heterogeneous, with 12 tumours showing intratumour heterogeneity. Immunohistochemical staining for the Saha-UD showed distinct patterns of expression when compared with classical MHC-I molecules. The nonclassical Saha-UD expression by DFTD tumours in vivo may be a mechanism for immunosuppression, and further work is ongoing to characterise its ligand on immune cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn Hussey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; (K.H.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Alison Caldwell
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; (K.H.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Alexandre Kreiss
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (A.K.); (R.P.); (G.M.W.)
| | - Karsten Skjødt
- Department of Cancer and Inflammation, University of Southern Denmark, 5230 Odense, Denmark;
| | - Annalisa Gastaldello
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; (K.H.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
| | - Ruth Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (A.K.); (R.P.); (G.M.W.)
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7005, Australia;
| | - Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (A.K.); (R.P.); (G.M.W.)
| | - Hannah V. Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK; (K.H.); (A.C.); (A.G.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Li J, Zhao B, Huang T, Qin Z, Wang SM. Human BRCA pathogenic variants were originated during recent human history. Life Sci Alliance 2022; 5:5/5/e202101263. [PMID: 35165121 PMCID: PMC8860097 DOI: 10.26508/lsa.202101263] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2021] [Revised: 01/25/2022] [Accepted: 01/26/2022] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
BRCA1 and BRCA2 (BRCA) play essential roles in maintaining genome stability. BRCA germline pathogenic variants increase cancer risk. However, the evolutionary origin of human BRCA pathogenic variants remains largely elusive. We tested the 2,972 human BRCA1 and 3,652 human BRCA2 pathogenic variants from ClinVar database in 100 vertebrates across eight clades, but failed to find evidence to show cross-species evolution conservation as the origin; we searched the variants in 2,792 ancient human genome data, and identified 28 BRCA1 and 22 BRCA2 pathogenic variants in 44 cases dated from 45,000 to 300 yr ago; we analyzed the haplotype-dated human BRCA pathogenic founder variants, and observed that they were mostly arisen within the past 3,000 yr; we traced ethnic distribution of human BRCA pathogenic variants, and found that the majority were present in single or a few ethnic populations. Based on the data, we propose that human BRCA pathogenic variants were highly likely arisen in recent human history after the latest out-of-Africa migration, and the expansion of modern human population could largely increase the variation spectrum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiaheng Li
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, Cancer Center and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Bojin Zhao
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, Cancer Center and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Teng Huang
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, Cancer Center and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - Zixin Qin
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, Cancer Center and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
| | - San Ming Wang
- MoE Frontiers Science Center for Precision Oncology, Cancer Center and Institute of Translational Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Macau, Macau, China
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15
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Espejo C, Patchett AL, Wilson R, Lyons AB, Woods GM. Challenges of an Emerging Disease: The Evolving Approach to Diagnosing Devil Facial Tumour Disease. Pathogens 2021; 11:27. [PMID: 35055975 PMCID: PMC8780694 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens11010027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/08/2021] [Accepted: 12/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD) is an emerging infectious disease that provides an excellent example of how diagnostic techniques improve as disease-specific knowledge is generated. DFTD manifests as tumour masses on the faces of Tasmanian devils, first noticed in 1996. As DFTD became more prevalent among devils, karyotyping of the lesions and their devil hosts demonstrated that DFTD was a transmissible cancer. The subsequent routine diagnosis relied on microscopy and histology to characterise the facial lesions as cancer cells. Combined with immunohistochemistry, these techniques characterised the devil facial tumours as sarcomas of neuroectodermal origin. More sophisticated molecular methods identified the origin of DFTD as a Schwann cell, leading to the Schwann cell-specific protein periaxin to discriminate DFTD from other facial lesions. After the discovery of a second facial cancer (DFT2), cytogenetics and the absence of periaxin expression confirmed the independence of the new cancer from DFT1 (the original DFTD). Molecular studies of the two DFTDs led to the development of a PCR assay to differentially diagnose the cancers. Proteomics and transcriptomic studies identified different cell phenotypes among the two DFTD cell lines. Phenotypic differences were also reflected in proteomics studies of extracellular vesicles (EVs), which yielded an early diagnostic marker that could detect DFTD in its latent stage from serum samples. A mesenchymal marker was also identified that could serve as a serum-based differential diagnostic. The emergence of two transmissible cancers in one species has provided an ideal opportunity to better understand transmissible cancers, demonstrating how fundamental research can be translated into applicable and routine diagnostic techniques.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Espejo
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (C.E.); (A.B.L.)
| | - Amanda L. Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;
| | - A. Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (C.E.); (A.B.L.)
| | - Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia;
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16
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Silva RCMC, Panis C, Pires BRB. Lessons from transmissible cancers for immunotherapy and transplant. Immunol Med 2021; 45:146-161. [PMID: 34962854 DOI: 10.1080/25785826.2021.2018783] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/19/2022] Open
Abstract
The emergence of horizontal transmission of cancer between vertebrates is an issue that interests scientists and medical society. Transmission requires: (i) a mechanism by which cancer cells can transfer to another organism and (ii) a repressed immune response on the part of the recipient. Transmissible tumors are unique models to comprehend the responses and mechanisms mediated by the major histocompatibility complex (MHC), which can be transposed for transplant biology. Here, we discuss the mechanisms involved in immune-mediated tissue rejection, making a parallel with transmissible cancers. We also discuss cellular and molecular mechanisms involved in cancer immunotherapy and anti-rejection therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rafael Cardoso Maciel Costa Silva
- Laboratory of Immunoreceptors and Signaling, Instituto de Biofísica Carlos Chagas Filho, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
| | - Carolina Panis
- Laboratory of Tumor Biology, State University of West Paraná, UNIOESTE, Francisco Beltrão, Brazil
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17
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Wojtusik J, Curry E, Roth TL. Rhinoceros Serum microRNAs: Identification, Characterization, and Evaluation of Potential Iron Overload Biomarkers. Front Vet Sci 2021; 8:711576. [PMID: 34977204 PMCID: PMC8716540 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2021.711576] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/17/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Iron overload disorder (IOD) in critically endangered Sumatran (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) and black (Diceros bicornis) rhinoceros is an over-accumulation of iron in organs which may exacerbate other diseases and indicate metabolic disturbances. IOD in rhinos is not well understood and diagnostics and therapeutics are limited in effectiveness. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs capable of altering protein synthesis. miRNA expression responds to physiological states and could serve as the basis for development of diagnostics and therapeutics. This study aimed to identify miRNAs differentially expressed among healthy rhinos and those afflicted with IOD or other diseases ("unhealthy"), and assess expression of select miRNAs to evaluate their potential as biomarkers of IOD. miRNAs in serum of black (n = 11 samples; five individuals) and Sumatran (n = 7 samples; four individuals) rhinos, representing individuals categorized as healthy (n = 9), unhealthy (n = 5), and afflicted by IOD (n = 3) were sequenced. In total, 715 miRNAs were identified, of which 160 were novel, 131 were specific to black rhinos, and 108 were specific to Sumatran rhinos. Additionally, 95 miRNAs were specific to healthy individuals, 31 specific to unhealthy, and 63 were specific to IOD individuals. Among healthy, unhealthy, and IOD states, 21 miRNAs were differentially expressed (P ≤ 0.01). Five known miRNAs (let-7g, miR-16b, miR-30e, miR-143, and miR-146a) were selected for further assessment via RT-qPCR in serum from black (n = 61 samples; seven individuals) and Sumatran (n = 38 samples; five individuals) rhinos. let-7g, miR-30e, and miR-143 all showed significant increased expression (P ≤ 0.05) during IOD (between 1 and 2 years prior to death) and late IOD (within 1 year of death) compared to healthy and unhealthy individuals. miR-16b expression increased (P ≤ 0.05) in late IOD, but was not different among IOD, healthy, and unhealthy states (P > 0.05). Expression of miR-146a increased in IOD and late IOD as compared to unhealthy samples (P ≤ 0.05) but was not different from the healthy state (P > 0.05). Selected serum miRNAs of black and Sumatran rhinos, in particular let-7g, miR-30e, and miR-143, could therefore provide a tool for advancing rhino IOD diagnostics that should be further investigated.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessye Wojtusik
- Center for Conservation and Research of Endangered Wildlife (CREW), Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, Cincinnati, OH, United States
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18
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Espejo C, Wilson R, Willms E, Ruiz-Aravena M, Pye RJ, Jones ME, Hill AF, Woods GM, Lyons AB. Extracellular vesicle proteomes of two transmissible cancers of Tasmanian devils reveal tenascin-C as a serum-based differential diagnostic biomarker. Cell Mol Life Sci 2021; 78:7537-7555. [PMID: 34655299 PMCID: PMC11073120 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-021-03955-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The iconic Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is endangered due to the transmissible cancer Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), of which there are two genetically independent subtypes (DFT1 and DFT2). While DFT1 and DFT2 can be differentially diagnosed using tumour biopsies, there is an urgent need to develop less-invasive biomarkers that can detect DFTD and distinguish between subtypes. Extracellular vesicles (EVs), the nano-sized membrane-enclosed vesicles present in most biofluids, represent a valuable resource for biomarker discovery. Here, we characterized the proteome of EVs from cultured DFTD cells using data-independent acquisition-mass spectrometry and an in-house spectral library of > 1500 proteins. EVs from both DFT1 and DFT2 cell lines expressed higher levels of proteins associated with focal adhesion functions. Furthermore, hallmark proteins of epithelial-mesenchymal transition were enriched in DFT2 EVs relative to DFT1 EVs. These findings were validated in EVs derived from serum samples, revealing that the mesenchymal marker tenascin-C was also enriched in EVs derived from the serum of devils infected with DFT2 relative to those infected with DFT1 and healthy controls. This first EV-based investigation of DFTD increases our understanding of the cancers' EVs and their possible involvement in DFTD progression, such as metastasis. Finally, we demonstrated the potential of EVs to differentiate between DFT1 and DFT2, highlighting their potential use as less-invasive liquid biopsies for the Tasmanian devil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Camila Espejo
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7005, Australia
| | - Eduard Willms
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Manuel Ruiz-Aravena
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT, 59717, USA
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Menna E Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Andrew F Hill
- Department of Biochemistry and Genetics, La Trobe Institute for Molecular Science, La Trobe University, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
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19
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Owen RS, Ramarathinam SH, Bailey A, Gastaldello A, Hussey K, Skipp PJ, Purcell AW, Siddle HV. The differentiation state of the Schwann cell progenitor drives phenotypic variation between two contagious cancers. PLoS Pathog 2021; 17:e1010033. [PMID: 34780568 PMCID: PMC8629380 DOI: 10.1371/journal.ppat.1010033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2021] [Revised: 11/29/2021] [Accepted: 10/13/2021] [Indexed: 01/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Contagious cancers are a rare pathogenic phenomenon in which cancer cells gain the ability to spread between genetically distinct hosts. Nine examples have been identified across marine bivalves, dogs and Tasmanian devils, but the Tasmanian devil is the only mammalian species known to have given rise to two distinct lineages of contagious cancer, termed Devil Facial Tumour 1 (DFT1) and 2 (DFT2). Remarkably, DFT1 and DFT2 arose independently from the same cell type, a Schwann cell, and while their ultra-structural features are highly similar they exhibit variation in their mutational signatures and infection dynamics. As such, DFT1 and DFT2 provide a unique framework for investigating how a common progenitor cell can give rise to distinct contagious cancers. Using a proteomics approach, we show that DFT1 and DFT2 are derived from Schwann cells in different differentiation states, with DFT2 carrying a molecular signature of a less well differentiated Schwann cell. Under inflammatory signals DFT1 and DFT2 have different gene expression profiles, most notably involving Schwann cell markers of differentiation, reflecting the influence of their distinct origins. Further, DFT2 cells express immune cell markers typically expressed during nerve repair, consistent with an ability to manipulate their extracellular environment, facilitating the cell’s ability to transmit between individuals. The emergence of two contagious cancers in the Tasmanian devil suggests that the inherent plasticity of Schwann cells confers a vulnerability to the formation of contagious cancers. Cancer can be an infectious pathogen, with nine known cases, infecting bivalves, dogs and two independent tumours circulating in the endangered Tasmanian devil. These cancers, known as Devil Facial Tumour 1 (DFT1) and Devil Facial Tumour 2 (DFT2), spread through the wild population much like parasites, moving between genetically distinct hosts during social biting behaviours and persisting in the population. As DFT1 and DFT2 are independent contagious cancers that arose from the same cell type, a Schwann cell, they provide a unique model system for studying the emergence of phenotypic variation in cancers derived from a single progenitor cell. In this study, we have shown that these two remarkably similar tumours have emerged from Schwann cells in different differentiation states. The differentiation state of the progenitor has altered the characteristics of each tumour, resulting in different responses to external signals. This work demonstrates that the cellular origin of infection can direct the phenotype of a contagious cancer and how it responds to signals from the host environment. Further, the plasticity of Schwann cells may make these cells more prone to forming contagious cancers, raising the possibility that further parasitic cancers could emerge from this cell type.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S. Owen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Sri H. Ramarathinam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Alistair Bailey
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Annalisa Gastaldello
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Kathryn Hussey
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Paul J. Skipp
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
| | - Anthony W. Purcell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Australia
| | - Hannah V. Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, United Kingdom
- * E-mail:
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20
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Between the Devil and the Deep Blue Sea: Non-Coding RNAs Associated with Transmissible Cancers in Tasmanian Devil, Domestic Dog and Bivalves. Noncoding RNA 2021; 7:ncrna7040072. [PMID: 34842768 PMCID: PMC8628904 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna7040072] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2021] [Revised: 11/05/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Currently there are nine known examples of transmissible cancers in nature. They have been observed in domestic dog, Tasmanian devil, and six bivalve species. These tumours can overcome host immune defences and spread to other members of the same species. Non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) are known to play roles in tumorigenesis and immune system evasion. Despite their potential importance in transmissible cancers, there have been no studies on ncRNA function in this context to date. Here, we present possible applications of the CRISPR/Cas system to study the RNA biology of transmissible cancers. Specifically, we explore how ncRNAs may play a role in the immortality and immune evasion ability of these tumours.
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21
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Profile of Jennifer Marshall Graves. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2021; 118:2116850118. [PMID: 34686610 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2116850118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 09/13/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
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22
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Wang P, Yue C, Liu K, Lu D, Liu S, Yao S, Li X, Su X, Ren K, Chai Y, Qi J, Zhao Y, Lou Y, Sun Z, Gao GF, Liu WJ. Peptide Presentations of Marsupial MHC Class I Visualize Immune Features of Lower Mammals Paralleled with Bats. THE JOURNAL OF IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 207:2167-2178. [PMID: 34535575 DOI: 10.4049/jimmunol.2100350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 08/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Marsupials are one of three major mammalian lineages that include the placental eutherians and the egg-laying monotremes. The marsupial brushtail possum is an important protected species in the Australian forest ecosystem. Molecules encoded by the MHC genes are essential mediators of adaptive immune responses in virus-host interactions. Yet, nothing is known about the peptide presentation features of any marsupial MHC class I (MHC I). This study identified a series of possum MHC I Trvu-UB*01:01 binding peptides derived from wobbly possum disease virus (WPDV), a lethal virus of both captive and feral possum populations, and unveiled the structure of marsupial peptide/MHC I complex. Notably, we found the two brushtail possum-specific insertions, the 3-aa Ile52Glu53Arg54 and 1-aa Arg154 insertions are located in the Trvu-UB*01:01 peptide binding groove (PBG). The 3-aa insertion plays a pivotal role in maintaining the stability of the N terminus of Trvu-UB*01:01 PBG. This aspect of marsupial PBG is unexpectedly similar to the bat MHC I Ptal-N*01:01 and is shared with lower vertebrates from elasmobranch to monotreme, indicating an evolution hotspot that may have emerged from the pathogen-host interactions. Residue Arg154 insertion, located in the α2 helix, is available for TCR recognition, and it has a particular influence on promoting the anchoring of peptide WPDV-12. These findings add significantly to our understanding of adaptive immunity in marsupials and its evolution in vertebrates. Our findings have the potential to impact the conservation of the protected species brushtail possum and other marsupial species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pengyan Wang
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Can Yue
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - Kefang Liu
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Dan Lu
- Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China
| | - Sai Liu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Sijia Yao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Li
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoling Su
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Keyi Ren
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - Yan Chai
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Jianxun Qi
- CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - Yingze Zhao
- NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Yongliang Lou
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China
| | - Zeyu Sun
- State Key Laboratory for Diagnosis and Treatment of Infectious Diseases, The First Affiliated Hospital, School of Medicine, Zhejiang University, Hangzhou, Zhejiang, China
| | - George F Gao
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; .,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China.,Savaid Medical School, University of Chinese Academy of Science, Beijing, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Pathogenic Microbiology and Immunology, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China; and
| | - William J Liu
- School of Laboratory Medicine and Life Sciences, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China; .,NHC Key Laboratory of Biosafety, National Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
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23
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Spatial variation in gene expression of Tasmanian devil facial tumors despite minimal host transcriptomic response to infection. BMC Genomics 2021; 22:698. [PMID: 34579650 PMCID: PMC8477496 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-021-07994-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Accepted: 09/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transmissible cancers lie at the intersection of oncology and infectious disease, two traditionally divergent fields for which gene expression studies are particularly useful for identifying the molecular basis of phenotypic variation. In oncology, transcriptomics studies, which characterize the expression of thousands of genes, have identified processes leading to heterogeneity in cancer phenotypes and individual prognoses. More generally, transcriptomics studies of infectious diseases characterize interactions between host, pathogen, and environment to better predict population-level outcomes. Tasmanian devils have been impacted dramatically by a transmissible cancer (devil facial tumor disease; DFTD) that has led to widespread population declines. Despite initial predictions of extinction, populations have persisted at low levels, due in part to heterogeneity in host responses, particularly between sexes. However, the processes underlying this variation remain unknown. RESULTS We sequenced transcriptomes from healthy and DFTD-infected devils, as well as DFTD tumors, to characterize host responses to DFTD infection, identify differing host-tumor molecular interactions between sexes, and investigate the extent to which tumor gene expression varies among host populations. We found minimal variation in gene expression of devil lip tissues, either with respect to DFTD infection status or sex. However, 4088 genes were differentially expressed in tumors among our sampling localities. Pathways that were up- or downregulated in DFTD tumors relative to normal tissues exhibited the same patterns of expression with greater intensity in tumors from localities that experienced DFTD for longer. No mRNA sequence variants were associated with expression variation. CONCLUSIONS Expression variation among localities may reflect morphological differences in tumors that alter ratios of normal-to-tumor cells within biopsies. Phenotypic variation in tumors may arise from environmental variation or differences in host immune response that were undetectable in lip biopsies, potentially reflecting variation in host-tumor coevolutionary relationships among sites that differ in the time since DFTD arrival.
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24
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Cheng Y, Grueber C, Hogg CJ, Belov K. Improved high-throughput MHC typing for non-model species using long-read sequencing. Mol Ecol Resour 2021; 22:862-876. [PMID: 34551192 PMCID: PMC9293008 DOI: 10.1111/1755-0998.13511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/06/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
The major histocompatibility complex (MHC) plays a critical role in the vertebrate immune system. Accurate MHC typing is critical to understanding not only host fitness and disease susceptibility, but also the mechanisms underlying host‐pathogen co‐evolution. However, due to the high degree of gene duplication and diversification of MHC genes, it is often technically challenging to accurately characterise MHC genetic diversity in non‐model species. Here we conducted a systematic review to identify common issues associated with current widely used MHC typing approaches. Then to overcome these challenges, we developed a long‐read based MHC typing method along with a new analysis pipeline. Our approach enables the sequencing of fully phased MHC alleles spanning all key functional domains and the separation of highly similar alleles as well as the removal of technical artefacts such as PCR heteroduplexes and chimeras. Using this approach, we performed population‐scale MHC typing in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii), revealing previously undiscovered MHC functional diversity in this endangered species. Our new method provides a better solution for addressing research questions that require high MHC typing accuracy. Since the method is not limited by species or the number of genes analysed, it will be applicable for studying not only the MHC but also other complex gene families.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Cheng
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Catherine Grueber
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Carolyn J Hogg
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia.,San Diego Zoo Wildlife Alliance, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
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25
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Ní Leathlobhair M, Yetsko K, Farrell JA, Iaria C, Marino G, Duffy DJ, Murchison EP. Genotype data not consistent with clonal transmission of sea turtle fibropapillomatosis or goldfish schwannoma. Wellcome Open Res 2021; 6:219. [PMID: 34622016 PMCID: PMC8459624 DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17073.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 08/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Recent discoveries of transmissible cancers in multiple bivalve species suggest that direct transmission of cancer cells within species may be more common than previously thought, particularly in aquatic environments. Fibropapillomatosis occurs with high prevalence in green sea turtles ( Chelonia mydas) and the geographic range of disease has increased since fibropapillomatosis was first reported in this species. Widespread incidence of schwannomas, benign tumours of Schwann cell origin, reported in aquarium-bred goldfish (Carassius auratus), suggest an infectious aetiology. We investigated the hypothesis that cancers in these species arise by clonal transmission of cancer cells. Through analysis of polymorphic microsatellite alleles, we demonstrate concordance of host and tumour genotypes in diseased animals. These results imply that the tumours examined arose from independent oncogenic transformation of host tissue and were not clonally transmitted. Further, failure to experimentally transmit goldfish schwannoma via water exposure or inoculation suggest that this disease is unlikely to have an infectious aetiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Máire Ní Leathlobhair
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, UK
- Big Data Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Kelsey Yetsko
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, Florida, 32080, USA
| | - Jessica A. Farrell
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, Florida, 32080, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Carmelo Iaria
- Centre of Experimental Fish Pathology of Sicily (CISS), Viale Giovanni Palatucci, University of Messina, 98168, Messina, Italy
- Department of Chemical, Biological, Pharmaceutical and Environmental Sciences, Viale Ferdinando Stagno d'Alcontres, n 31, University of Messina, 98166, Messina, Italy
| | - Gabriele Marino
- Department of Veterinary Sciences, Viale Giovanni Palatucci, University of Messina, 98168, Messina, Italy
| | - David J. Duffy
- The Whitney Laboratory for Marine Bioscience, Sea Turtle Hospital, University of Florida, St. Augustine, Florida, 32080, USA
- Department of Biology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, 32611, USA
| | - Elizabeth P. Murchison
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
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26
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Stahlke AR, Epstein B, Barbosa S, Margres MJ, Patton AH, Hendricks SA, Veillet A, Fraik AK, Schönfeld B, McCallum HI, Hamede R, Jones ME, Storfer A, Hohenlohe PA. Contemporary and historical selection in Tasmanian devils ( Sarcophilus harrisii) support novel, polygenic response to transmissible cancer. Proc Biol Sci 2021; 288:20210577. [PMID: 34034517 PMCID: PMC8150010 DOI: 10.1098/rspb.2021.0577] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) are evolving in response to a unique transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour disease (DFTD), first described in 1996. Persistence of wild populations and the recent emergence of a second independently evolved transmissible cancer suggest that transmissible cancers may be a recurrent feature in devils. Here, we compared signatures of selection across temporal scales to determine whether genes or gene pathways under contemporary selection (six to eight generations) have also been subject to historical selection (65-85 Myr). First, we used targeted sequencing, RAD-capture, in approximately 2500 devils in six populations to identify genomic regions subject to rapid evolution. We documented genome-wide contemporary evolution, including 186 candidate genes related to cell cycling and immune response. Then we used a molecular evolution approach to identify historical positive selection in devils compared to other marsupials and found evidence of selection in 1773 genes. However, we found limited overlap across time scales, with only 16 shared candidate genes, and no overlap in enriched functional gene sets. Our results are consistent with a novel, multi-locus evolutionary response of devils to DFTD. Our results can inform conservation by identifying high priority targets for genetic monitoring and guiding maintenance of adaptive potential in managed populations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda R. Stahlke
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Brendan Epstein
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Soraia Barbosa
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
- Department of Fish and Wildlife Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Mark J. Margres
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology, University of South Florida, Tampa, FL 33620, USA
| | - Austin H. Patton
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
- Department of Integrative Biology and Museum of Vertebrate Zoology, University of California, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Sarah A. Hendricks
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Anne Veillet
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
| | - Alexandra K. Fraik
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Barbara Schönfeld
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Hamish I. McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Nathan, Queensland 4111, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Paul A. Hohenlohe
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies (IBEST), University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83844, USA
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27
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Kattner P, Zeiler K, Herbener VJ, Ferla-Brühl KL, Kassubek R, Grunert M, Burster T, Brühl O, Weber AS, Strobel H, Karpel-Massler G, Ott S, Hagedorn A, Tews D, Schulz A, Prasad V, Siegelin MD, Nonnenmacher L, Fischer-Posovszky P, Halatsch ME, Debatin KM, Westhoff MA. What Animal Cancers teach us about Human Biology. Theranostics 2021; 11:6682-6702. [PMID: 34093847 PMCID: PMC8171098 DOI: 10.7150/thno.56623] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2020] [Accepted: 03/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancers in animals present a large, underutilized reservoir of biomedical information with critical implication for human oncology and medicine in general. Discussing two distinct areas of tumour biology in non-human hosts, we highlight the importance of these findings for our current understanding of cancer, before proposing a coordinated strategy to harvest biomedical information from non-human resources and translate it into a clinical setting. First, infectious cancers that can be transmitted as allografts between individual hosts, have been identified in four distinct, unrelated groups, dogs, Tasmanian devils, Syrian hamsters and, surprisingly, marine bivalves. These malignancies might hold the key to improving our understanding of the interaction between tumour cell and immune system and, thus, allow us to devise novel treatment strategies that enhance anti-cancer immunosurveillance, as well as suggesting more effective organ and stem cell transplantation strategies. The existence of these malignancies also highlights the need for increased scrutiny when considering the existence of infectious cancers in humans. Second, it has long been understood that no linear relationship exists between the number of cells within an organism and the cancer incidence rate. To resolve what is known as Peto's Paradox, additional anticancer strategies within different species have to be postulated. These naturally occurring idiosyncrasies to avoid carcinogenesis represent novel potential therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Patricia Kattner
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Katharina Zeiler
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Verena J. Herbener
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | | | - Michael Grunert
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, German Armed Forces Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Timo Burster
- Department of Biology, School of Sciences and Humanities, Nazarbayev University, Nur-Sultan, Kazakhstan Republic
| | - Oliver Brühl
- Laboratorio Analisi Sicilia Catania, Lentini; SR, Italy
| | - Anna Sarah Weber
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Hannah Strobel
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Georg Karpel-Massler
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sibylle Ott
- Animal Research Center, University of Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Daniel Tews
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | - Ansgar Schulz
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Vikas Prasad
- Department of Nuclear Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Markus D. Siegelin
- Department of Pathology & Cell Biology, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lisa Nonnenmacher
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Pamela Fischer-Posovszky
- Division of Pediatric Endocrinology and Diabetes, Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center, Ulm, Germany
| | | | - Klaus-Michael Debatin
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
| | - Mike-Andrew Westhoff
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Medical Center Ulm, Ulm, Germany
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28
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Ong CEB, Patchett AL, Darby JM, Chen J, Liu GS, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Flies AS. NLRC5 regulates expression of MHC-I and provides a target for anti-tumor immunity in transmissible cancers. J Cancer Res Clin Oncol 2021; 147:1973-1991. [PMID: 33797607 PMCID: PMC8017436 DOI: 10.1007/s00432-021-03601-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Accepted: 03/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
Purpose Downregulation of MHC class I (MHC-I) is a common immune evasion strategy of many cancers. Similarly, two allogeneic clonal transmissible cancers have killed thousands of wild Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) and also modulate MHC-I expression to evade anti-cancer and allograft responses. IFNG treatment restores MHC-I expression on devil facial tumor (DFT) cells but is insufficient to control tumor growth. Transcriptional co-activator NLRC5 is a master regulator of MHC-I in humans and mice but its role in transmissible cancers remains unknown. In this study, we explored the regulation and role of MHC-I in these unique genetically mis-matched tumors. Methods We used transcriptome and flow cytometric analyses to determine how MHC-I shapes allogeneic and anti-tumor responses. Cell lines that overexpress NLRC5 to drive antigen presentation, and B2M-knockout cell lines incapable of presenting antigen on MHC-I were used to probe the role of MHC-I in rare cases of tumor regressions. Results Transcriptomic results suggest that NLRC5 plays a major role in MHC-I regulation in devils. NLRC5 was shown to drive the expression of many components of the antigen presentation pathway but did not upregulate PDL1. Serum from devils with tumor regressions showed strong binding to IFNG-treated and NLRC5 cell lines; antibody binding to IFNG-treated and NRLC5 transgenic tumor cells was diminished or absent following B2M knockout. Conclusion MHC-I could be identified as a target for anti-tumor and allogeneic immunity. Consequently, NLRC5 could be a promising target for immunotherapy and vaccines to protect devils from transmissible cancers and inform development of transplant and cancer therapies for humans. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s00432-021-03601-x.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chrissie E B Ong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Jocelyn M Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Jinying Chen
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.,Department of Ophthalmology, The First Affiliated Hospital of Jinan University, Guangzhou, China
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 23, Hobart TAS 7000, Australia.
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29
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Patchett AL, Tovar C, Blackburn NB, Woods GM, Lyons AB. Mesenchymal plasticity of devil facial tumour cells during in vivo vaccine and immunotherapy trials. Immunol Cell Biol 2021; 99:711-723. [PMID: 33667023 DOI: 10.1111/imcb.12451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2020] [Revised: 01/12/2021] [Accepted: 03/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Immune evasion is critical to the growth and survival of cancer cells. This is especially pertinent to transmissible cancers, which evade immune detection across genetically diverse hosts. The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is threatened by the emergence of Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD), comprising two transmissible cancers (DFT1 and DFT2). The development of effective prophylactic vaccines and therapies against DFTD has been restricted by an incomplete understanding of how allogeneic DFT1 and DFT2 cells maintain immune evasion upon activation of tumour-specific immune responses. In this study, we used RNA sequencing to examine tumours from three experimental DFT1 cases. Two devils received a vaccine prior to inoculation with live DFT1 cells, providing an opportunity to explore changes to DFT1 cancers under immune pressure. Analysis of DFT1 in the non-immunised devil revealed a 'myelinating Schwann cell' phenotype, reflecting both natural DFT1 cancers and the DFT1 cell line used for the experimental challenge. Comparatively, immunised devils exhibited a 'dedifferentiated mesenchymal' DFT1 phenotype. A third 'immune-enriched' phenotype, characterised by increased PDL1 and CTLA-4 expression, was detected in a DFT1 tumour that arose after immunotherapy. In response to immune pressure, mesenchymal plasticity and upregulation of immune checkpoint molecules are used by human cancers to evade immune responses. Similar mechanisms are associated with immune evasion by DFTD cancers, providing novel insights that will inform modification of DFTD vaccines. As DFT1 and DFT2 are clonal cancers transmitted across genetically distinct hosts, the Tasmanian devil provides a 'natural' disease model for more broadly exploring these immune evasion mechanisms in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Cesar Tovar
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia.,School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Nicholas B Blackburn
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, Australia
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30
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Ikonomopoulou MP, Lopez-Mancheño Y, Novelle MG, Martinez-Uña M, Gangoda L, Pal M, Costa-Machado LF, Fernandez-Marcos PJ, Ramm GA, Fernandez-Rojo MA. LXR stimulates a metabolic switch and reveals cholesterol homeostasis as a statin target in Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease. Cell Rep 2021; 34:108851. [PMID: 33730574 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.108851] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/01/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) and its lack of available therapies are propelling the Tasmanian devil population toward extinction. This study demonstrates that cholesterol homeostasis and carbohydrate energy metabolism sustain the proliferation of DFTD cells in a cell-type-dependent manner. In addition, we show that the liver-X nuclear receptor-β (LXRβ), a major cholesterol cellular sensor, and its natural ligand 24S-hydroxycholesterol promote the proliferation of DFTD cells via a metabolic switch toward aerobic glycolysis. As a proof of concept of the role of cholesterol homeostasis on DFTD proliferation, we show that atorvastatin, an FDA-approved statin-drug subtype used against human cardiovascular diseases that inhibits cholesterol synthesis, shuts down DFTD energy metabolism and prevents tumor growth in an in vivo DFTD-xenograft model. In conclusion, we show that intervention against cholesterol homeostasis and carbohydrate-dependent energy metabolism by atorvastatin constitutes a feasible biochemical treatment against DFTD, which may assist in the conservation of the Tasmanian devil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria P Ikonomopoulou
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Translational Venomics Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain.
| | - Yaiza Lopez-Mancheño
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Marta G Novelle
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Maite Martinez-Uña
- Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | - Lahiru Gangoda
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Martin Pal
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, 1G Royal Parade, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, Melbourne, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Luis Filipe Costa-Machado
- Metabolic Syndrome Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain
| | | | - Grant A Ramm
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia
| | - Manuel Alejandro Fernandez-Rojo
- QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; The University of Queensland, Brisbane, QLD, Australia; Hepatic Regenerative Medicine Laboratory, Madrid Institute for Advanced Studies (IMDEA) Food, Madrid 28049, Spain.
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31
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Gastaldello A, Ramarathinam SH, Bailey A, Owen R, Turner S, Kontouli N, Elliott T, Skipp P, Purcell AW, Siddle HV. The immunopeptidomes of two transmissible cancers and their host have a common, dominant peptide motif. Immunology 2021; 163:169-184. [PMID: 33460454 PMCID: PMC8114214 DOI: 10.1111/imm.13307] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Revised: 12/16/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Transmissible cancers are malignant cells that can spread between individuals of a population, akin to both a parasite and a mobile graft. The survival of the Tasmanian devil, the largest remaining marsupial carnivore, is threatened by the remarkable emergence of two independent lineages of transmissible cancer, devil facial tumour (DFT) 1 and devil facial tumour 2 (DFT2). To aid the development of a vaccine and to interrogate how histocompatibility barriers can be overcome, we analysed the peptides bound to major histocompatibility complex class I (MHC‐I) molecules from Tasmanian devil cells and representative cell lines of each transmissible cancer. Here, we show that DFT1 + IFN‐γ and DFT2 cell lines express a restricted repertoire of MHC‐I allotypes compared with fibroblast cells, potentially reducing the breadth of peptide presentation. Comparison of the peptidomes from DFT1 + IFNγ, DFT2 and host fibroblast cells demonstrates a dominant motif, despite differences in MHC‐I allotypes between the cell lines, with preference for a hydrophobic leucine residue at position 3 and position Ω of peptides. DFT1 and DFT2 both present peptides derived from neural proteins, which reflects a shared cellular origin that could be exploited for vaccine design. These results suggest that polymorphisms in MHC‐I molecules between tumours and host can be ‘hidden’ by a common peptide motif, providing the potential for permissive passage of infectious cells and demonstrating complexity in mammalian histocompatibility barriers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sri H Ramarathinam
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Alistair Bailey
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Rachel Owen
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Steven Turner
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - N Kontouli
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Tim Elliott
- Centre for Cancer Immunology, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Paul Skipp
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Anthony W Purcell
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology and the Infection and Immunity Program, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Hannah V Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
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32
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Wong C, Darby JM, Murphy PR, Pinfold TL, Lennard PR, Woods GM, Lyons AB, Flies AS. Tasmanian devil CD28 and CTLA4 capture CD80 and CD86 from adjacent cells. DEVELOPMENTAL AND COMPARATIVE IMMUNOLOGY 2021; 115:103882. [PMID: 33039410 DOI: 10.1016/j.dci.2020.103882] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2020] [Revised: 08/20/2020] [Accepted: 08/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Immune checkpoint immunotherapy is a pillar of human oncology treatment with potential for non-human species. The first checkpoint immunotherapy approved for human cancers targeted the CTLA4 protein. CTLA4 can inhibit T cell activation by capturing and internalizing CD80 and CD86 from antigen presenting cells, a process called trans-endocytosis. Similarly, CD28 can capture CD80 and CD86 via trogocytosis and retain the captured ligands on the surface of the CD28-expressing cells. The wild Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) population has declined by 77% due to transmissible cancers that evade immune defenses despite genetic mismatches between the host and tumors. We used a live cell-based assay to demonstrate that devil CTLA4 and CD28 can capture CD80 and CD86. Mutation of evolutionarily conserved motifs in CTLA4 altered functional interactions with CD80 and CD86 in accordance with patterns observed in other species. These results suggest that checkpoint immunotherapies can be translated to evolutionarily divergent species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Candida Wong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Jocelyn M Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Peter R Murphy
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia; University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Terry L Pinfold
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Patrick R Lennard
- The Roslin Institute and Royal School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian, EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
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33
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Deakin JE, Potter S. Marsupial chromosomics: bridging the gap between genomes and chromosomes. Reprod Fertil Dev 2020; 31:1189-1202. [PMID: 30630589 DOI: 10.1071/rd18201] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2018] [Accepted: 12/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Marsupials have unique features that make them particularly interesting to study, and sequencing of marsupial genomes is helping to understand their evolution. A decade ago, it was a huge feat to sequence the first marsupial genome. Now, the advances in sequencing technology have made the sequencing of many more marsupial genomes possible. However, the DNA sequence is only one component of the structures it is packaged into: chromosomes. Knowing the arrangement of the DNA sequence on each chromosome is essential for a genome assembly to be used to its full potential. The importance of combining sequence information with cytogenetics has previously been demonstrated for rapidly evolving regions of the genome, such as the sex chromosomes, as well as for reconstructing the ancestral marsupial karyotype and understanding the chromosome rearrangements involved in the Tasmanian devil facial tumour disease. Despite the recent advances in sequencing technology assisting in genome assembly, physical anchoring of the sequence to chromosomes is required to achieve a chromosome-level assembly. Once chromosome-level assemblies are achieved for more marsupials, we will be able to investigate changes in the packaging and interactions between chromosomes to gain an understanding of the role genome architecture has played during marsupial evolution.
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Affiliation(s)
- Janine E Deakin
- Institute for Applied Ecology, University of Canberra, Bruce, ACT 2617, Australia
| | - Sally Potter
- Research School of Biology, Australian National University, Acton, ACT 2601, Australia
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34
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Patchett AL, Flies AS, Lyons AB, Woods GM. Curse of the devil: molecular insights into the emergence of transmissible cancers in the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:2507-2525. [PMID: 31900624 PMCID: PMC11104928 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03435-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2019] [Revised: 12/17/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the only mammalian species known to be affected by multiple transmissible cancers. Devil facial tumours 1 and 2 (DFT1 and DFT2) are independent neoplastic cell lineages that produce large, disfiguring cancers known as devil facial tumour disease (DFTD). The long-term persistence of wild Tasmanian devils is threatened due to the ability of DFTD cells to propagate as contagious allografts and the high mortality rate of DFTD. Recent studies have demonstrated that both DFT1 and DFT2 cancers originated from founder cells of the Schwann cell lineage, an uncommon origin of malignant cancer in humans. This unprecedented finding has revealed a potential predisposition of Tasmanian devils to transmissible cancers of the Schwann cell lineage. In this review, we compare the molecular nature of human Schwann cells and nerve sheath tumours with DFT1 and DFT2 to gain insights into the emergence of transmissible cancers in the Tasmanian devil. We discuss a potential mechanism, whereby Schwann cell plasticity and frequent wounding in Tasmanian devils combine with an inherent cancer predisposition and low genetic diversity to give rise to transmissible Schwann cell cancers in devils on rare occasions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
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35
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Flies AS, Darby JM, Lennard PR, Murphy PR, Ong CEB, Pinfold TL, De Luca A, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Patchett AL. A novel system to map protein interactions reveals evolutionarily conserved immune evasion pathways on transmissible cancers. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:6/27/eaba5031. [PMID: 32937435 PMCID: PMC7458443 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aba5031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 04/20/2020] [Indexed: 05/02/2023]
Abstract
Around 40% of humans and Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) develop cancer in their lifetime, compared to less than 10% for most species. In addition, devils are affected by two of the three known transmissible cancers in mammals. Immune checkpoint immunotherapy has transformed human medicine, but a lack of species-specific reagents has limited checkpoint immunology in most species. We developed a cut-and-paste reagent development system and used the fluorescent fusion protein system to show that immune checkpoint interactions are conserved across 160,000,000 years of evolution, CD200 is highly expressed on transmissible tumor cells, and coexpression of CD200R1 can block CD200 surface expression. The system's versatility across species was demonstrated by fusing a fluorescent reporter to a camelid-derived nanobody that binds human programmed death ligand 1. The evolutionarily conserved pathways suggest that naturally occurring cancers in devils and other species can be used to advance our understanding of cancer and immunological tolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia.
| | - Jocelyn M Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Patrick R Lennard
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
- The Roslin Institute and Royal School of Veterinary Studies, University of Edinburgh, Easter Bush Campus, Midlothian EH25 9RG, UK
| | - Peter R Murphy
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
- University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Translational Research Institute, Woolloongabba, QLD, Australia
| | - Chrissie E B Ong
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Terry L Pinfold
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Alana De Luca
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
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Pulido M, Chamorro V, Romero I, Algarra I, S-Montalvo A, Collado A, Garrido F, Garcia-Lora AM. Restoration of MHC-I on Tumor Cells by Fhit Transfection Promotes Immune Rejection and Acts as an Individualized Immunotherapeutic Vaccine. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E1563. [PMID: 32545680 PMCID: PMC7352176 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12061563] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
The capacity of cytotoxic-T lymphocytes to recognize and destroy tumor cells depends on the surface expression by tumor cells of MHC class I molecules loaded with tumor antigen peptides. Loss of MHC-I expression is the most frequent mechanism by which tumor cells evade the immune response. The restoration of MHC-I expression in cancer cells is crucial to enhance their immune destruction, especially in response to cancer immunotherapy. Using mouse models, we recovered MHC-I expression in the MHC-I negative tumor cell lines and analyzed their oncological and immunological profile. Fhit gene transfection induces the restoration of MHC-I expression in highly oncogenic MHC-I-negative murine tumor cell lines and genes of the IFN-γ transduction signal pathway are involved. Fhit-transfected tumor cells proved highly immunogenic, being rejected by a T lymphocyte-mediated immune response. Strikingly, this immune rejection was more frequent in females than in males. The immune response generated protected hosts against the tumor growth of non-transfected cells and against other tumor cells in our murine tumor model. Finally, we also observed a direct correlation between FHIT expression and HLA-I surface expression in human breast tumors. Recovery of Fhit expression on MHC class I negative tumor cells may be a useful immunotherapeutic strategy and may even act as an individualized immunotherapeutic vaccine.
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Grants
- 15-1166 Worldwide Cancer Research
- PI12/02031, PI14/01978, PI15/00528, PI17/00197, PI19/01179, PT13/0010/0039 and PT17/0015/0041 Instituto de Salud Carlos III
- Group CTS-143, CTS-3952, CVI-4740 grants Consejería de Economía, Innovación, Ciencia y Empleo, Junta de Andalucía
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Affiliation(s)
- María Pulido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain; (M.P.); (V.C.); (A.S.-M.); (F.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Virginia Chamorro
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain; (M.P.); (V.C.); (A.S.-M.); (F.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Irene Romero
- UGC Laboratorios, Complejo Hospitalario de Jaén, 23007 Jaén, Spain;
| | - Ignacio Algarra
- Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud, Universidad de Jaén, 23071 Jaén, Spain;
| | - Alba S-Montalvo
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain; (M.P.); (V.C.); (A.S.-M.); (F.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, 18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Antonia Collado
- Unidad de Biobanco, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, 18014 Granada, Spain;
| | - Federico Garrido
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain; (M.P.); (V.C.); (A.S.-M.); (F.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, 18012 Granada, Spain
- Departamento de Bioquímica, Biología Molecular e Inmunología III, Universidad de Granada, 18071 Granada, Spain
| | - Angel M. Garcia-Lora
- Servicio de Análisis Clínicos e Inmunología, UGC Laboratorio Clínico, Hospital Universitario Virgen de las Nieves, Av. de las Fuerzas Armadas 2, 18014 Granada, Spain; (M.P.); (V.C.); (A.S.-M.); (F.G.)
- Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria ibs.GRANADA, 18012 Granada, Spain
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37
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Fraik AK, Margres MJ, Epstein B, Barbosa S, Jones M, Hendricks S, Schönfeld B, Stahlke AR, Veillet A, Hamede R, McCallum H, Lopez-Contreras E, Kallinen SJ, Hohenlohe PA, Kelley JL, Storfer A. Disease swamps molecular signatures of genetic-environmental associations to abiotic factors in Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) populations. Evolution 2020; 74:1392-1408. [PMID: 32445281 DOI: 10.1111/evo.14023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 05/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Landscape genomics studies focus on identifying candidate genes under selection via spatial variation in abiotic environmental variables, but rarely by biotic factors (i.e., disease). The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is found only on the environmentally heterogeneous island of Tasmania and is threatened with extinction by a transmissible cancer, devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). Devils persist in regions of long-term infection despite epidemiological model predictions of species' extinction, suggesting possible adaptation to DFTD. Here, we test the extent to which spatial variation and genetic diversity are associated with the abiotic environment (i.e., climatic variables, elevation, vegetation cover) and/or DFTD. We employ genetic-environment association analyses using 6886 SNPs from 3287 individuals sampled pre- and post-disease arrival across the devil's geographic range. Pre-disease, we find significant correlations of allele frequencies with environmental variables, including 365 unique loci linked to 71 genes, suggesting local adaptation to abiotic environment. The majority of candidate loci detected pre-DFTD are not detected post-DFTD arrival. Several post-DFTD candidate loci are associated with disease prevalence and were in linkage disequilibrium with genes involved in tumor suppression and immune response. Loss of apparent signal of abiotic local adaptation post-disease suggests swamping by strong selection resulting from the rapid onset of DFTD.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandra K Fraik
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
| | - Mark J Margres
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
| | - Brendan Epstein
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164.,Plant Biology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota, 55455
| | - Soraia Barbosa
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, Idaho, 83844
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7004, Australia
| | - Sarah Hendricks
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, Idaho, 83844
| | - Barbara Schönfeld
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7004, Australia
| | - Amanda R Stahlke
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, Idaho, 83844
| | - Anne Veillet
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, Idaho, 83844
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7004, Australia
| | - Hamish McCallum
- School of Environment, Griffith University Nathan, Nathan, QLD, 4111, Australia
| | - Elisa Lopez-Contreras
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
| | - Samantha J Kallinen
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
| | - Paul A Hohenlohe
- Department of Biological Sciences, Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, University of Idaho, 875 Perimeter Drive, Moscow, Idaho, 83844
| | - Joanna L Kelley
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington, 99164
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Patchett AL, Coorens THH, Darby J, Wilson R, McKay MJ, Kamath KS, Rubin A, Wakefield M, Mcintosh L, Mangiola S, Pye RJ, Flies AS, Corcoran LM, Lyons AB, Woods GM, Murchison EP, Papenfuss AT, Tovar C. Two of a kind: transmissible Schwann cell cancers in the endangered Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii). Cell Mol Life Sci 2020; 77:1847-1858. [PMID: 31375869 PMCID: PMC11104932 DOI: 10.1007/s00018-019-03259-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2019] [Revised: 07/25/2019] [Accepted: 07/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Devil facial tumour disease (DFTD) comprises two genetically distinct transmissible cancers (DFT1 and DFT2) endangering the survival of the Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) in the wild. DFT1 first arose from a cell of the Schwann cell lineage; however, the tissue-of-origin of the recently discovered DFT2 cancer is unknown. In this study, we compared the transcriptome and proteome of DFT2 tumours to DFT1 and normal Tasmanian devil tissues to determine the tissue-of-origin of the DFT2 cancer. Our findings demonstrate that DFT2 expresses a range of Schwann cell markers and exhibits expression patterns consistent with a similar origin to the DFT1 cancer. Furthermore, DFT2 cells express genes associated with the repair response to peripheral nerve damage. These findings suggest that devils may be predisposed to transmissible cancers of Schwann cell origin. The combined effect of factors such as frequent nerve damage from biting, Schwann cell plasticity and low genetic diversity may allow these cancers to develop on rare occasions. The emergence of two independent transmissible cancers from the same tissue in the Tasmanian devil presents an unprecedented opportunity to gain insight into cancer development, evolution and immune evasion in mammalian species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia.
| | - Tim H H Coorens
- Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Jocelyn Darby
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Richard Wilson
- Central Science Laboratory, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7001, Australia
| | - Matthew J McKay
- Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Karthik S Kamath
- Australian Proteome Analysis Facility, Department of Molecular Sciences, Macquarie University, Sydney, NSW, 2109, Australia
| | - Alan Rubin
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Matthew Wakefield
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Lachlan Mcintosh
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Mathematics and Statistics, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Stefano Mangiola
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Surgery, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Lynn M Corcoran
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
| | | | - Anthony T Papenfuss
- Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia
| | - Cesar Tovar
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, 17 Liverpool Street, Hobart, TAS, 7000, Australia
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39
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Woods GM, Lyons AB, Bettiol SS. A Devil of a Transmissible Cancer. Trop Med Infect Dis 2020; 5:tropicalmed5020050. [PMID: 32244613 PMCID: PMC7345153 DOI: 10.3390/tropicalmed5020050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2019] [Revised: 03/26/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Devil facial tumor disease (DFTD) encompasses two independent transmissible cancers that have killed the majority of Tasmanian devils. The cancer cells are derived from Schwann cells and are spread between devils during biting, a common behavior during the mating season. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) defines a parasite as "An organism that lives on or in a host organism and gets its food from, or at, the expense of its host." Most cancers, including DFTD, live within a host organism and derive resources from its host, and consequently have parasitic-like features. Devil facial tumor disease is a transmissible cancer and, therefore, DFTD shares one additional feature common to most parasites. Through direct contact between devils, DFTD has spread throughout the devil population. However, unlike many parasites, the DFTD cancer cells have a simple lifecycle and do not have either independent, vector-borne, or quiescent phases. To facilitate a description of devil facial tumor disease, this review uses life cycles of parasites as an analogy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M. Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
- Correspondence:
| | - A. Bruce Lyons
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (A.B.L.); (S.S.B.)
| | - Silvana S. Bettiol
- Tasmanian School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia; (A.B.L.); (S.S.B.)
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40
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Affiliation(s)
- Amanda Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia
| | - Gregory Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, Hobart, Tasmania 7000, Australia.
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41
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Flies AS, Flies EJ, Fox S, Gilbert A, Johnson SR, Liu GS, Lyons AB, Patchett AL, Pemberton D, Pye RJ. An oral bait vaccination approach for the Tasmanian devil facial tumor diseases. Expert Rev Vaccines 2020; 19:1-10. [PMID: 31971036 DOI: 10.1080/14760584.2020.1711058] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Introduction: The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the largest extant carnivorous marsupial. Since 1996, its population has declined by 77% primarily due to a clonal transmissible tumor, known as devil facial tumor (DFT1) disease. In 2014, a second transmissible devil facial tumor (DFT2) was discovered. DFT1 and DFT2 are nearly 100% fatal.Areas covered: We review DFT control approaches and propose a rabies-style oral bait vaccine (OBV) platform for DFTs. This approach has an extensive safety record and was a primary tool in large-scale rabies virus elimination from wild carnivores across diverse landscapes. Like rabies virus, DFTs are transmitted by oral contact, so immunizing the oral cavity and stimulating resident memory cells could be advantageous. Additionally, exposing infected devils that already have tumors to OBVs could serve as an oncolytic virus immunotherapy. The primary challenges may be identifying appropriate DFT-specific antigens and optimization of field delivery methods.Expert opinion: DFT2 is currently found on a peninsula in southern Tasmania, so an OBV that could eliminate DFT2 should be the priority for this vaccine approach. Translation of an OBV approach to control DFTs will be challenging, but the approach is feasible for combatting ongoing and future disease threats.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Emily J Flies
- School of Natural Sciences, College of Sciences and Engineering, University of Tasmania, Sandy Bay, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE, Hobart, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, Toledo, OH, USA
| | - Amy Gilbert
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Shylo R Johnson
- National Wildlife Research Center, USDA, APHIS, Wildlife Services, Fort Collins, CO, USA
| | - Guei-Sheung Liu
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia.,Ophthalmology, Department of Surgery, University of Melbourne, East Melbourne, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | - Amanda L Patchett
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
| | | | - Ruth J Pye
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Australia
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42
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Martyn GV, Shurin GV, Keskinov AA, Bunimovich YL, Shurin MR. Schwann cells shape the neuro-immune environs and control cancer progression. Cancer Immunol Immunother 2019; 68:1819-1829. [PMID: 30607548 PMCID: PMC11028256 DOI: 10.1007/s00262-018-02296-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/27/2018] [Accepted: 12/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
At present, significant experimental and clinical data confirm the active involvement of the peripheral nervous system (PNS) in different phases of cancer development and progression. Most of the research effort focuses on the impact of distinct neuronal types, e.g., adrenergic, cholinergic, dopaminergic, etc. in carcinogenesis, generally ignoring neuroglia. The very fact that these cells far outnumber the other cellular types may also play an important role worthy of study in this context. The most prevalent neuroglia within the PNS consists of Schwann cells (SCs). These cells play a substantial role in maintaining homeostasis within the nervous system. They possess distinct immunomodulatory, inflammatory and regenerative capacities-also, one should consider their broad distribution throughout the body; this makes them a perfect target for malignant cells during the initial stages of cancer development and the very formation of the tumor microenvironment itself. We show that SCs in the tumor milieu attract different subsets of immune regulators and augment their ability to suppress effector T cells. SCs may also up-regulate invasiveness of tumor cells and support metastatic disease. We outline the interactive potential of SCs juxtaposed with cancerous cells, referring to data from various external sources alongside data of our own.
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Affiliation(s)
- German V Martyn
- Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Galina V Shurin
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Anton A Keskinov
- Centre for Strategic Planning and Management of Biomedical Health Risks, Ministry of Health, Moscow, Russia
| | - Yuri L Bunimovich
- Department of Dermatology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
| | - Michael R Shurin
- Department of Pathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Department of Immunology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, USA.
- Clinical Immunopathology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Clinical Lab Bldg, Room 4024, 3477 Euler Way, Pittsburgh, PA, 15213, USA.
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43
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Burr ML, Sparbier CE, Chan KL, Chan YC, Kersbergen A, Lam EYN, Azidis-Yates E, Vassiliadis D, Bell CC, Gilan O, Jackson S, Tan L, Wong SQ, Hollizeck S, Michalak EM, Siddle HV, McCabe MT, Prinjha RK, Guerra GR, Solomon BJ, Sandhu S, Dawson SJ, Beavis PA, Tothill RW, Cullinane C, Lehner PJ, Sutherland KD, Dawson MA. An Evolutionarily Conserved Function of Polycomb Silences the MHC Class I Antigen Presentation Pathway and Enables Immune Evasion in Cancer. Cancer Cell 2019; 36:385-401.e8. [PMID: 31564637 PMCID: PMC6876280 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2019.08.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 368] [Impact Index Per Article: 73.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/27/2019] [Revised: 06/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/24/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Loss of MHC class I (MHC-I) antigen presentation in cancer cells can elicit immunotherapy resistance. A genome-wide CRISPR/Cas9 screen identified an evolutionarily conserved function of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) that mediates coordinated transcriptional silencing of the MHC-I antigen processing pathway (MHC-I APP), promoting evasion of T cell-mediated immunity. MHC-I APP gene promoters in MHC-I low cancers harbor bivalent activating H3K4me3 and repressive H3K27me3 histone modifications, silencing basal MHC-I expression and restricting cytokine-induced upregulation. Bivalent chromatin at MHC-I APP genes is a normal developmental process active in embryonic stem cells and maintained during neural progenitor differentiation. This physiological MHC-I silencing highlights a conserved mechanism by which cancers arising from these primitive tissues exploit PRC2 activity to enable immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marian L Burr
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK.
| | - Christina E Sparbier
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Kah Lok Chan
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Yih-Chih Chan
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Ariena Kersbergen
- ACRF Cancer Biology and Stem Cell Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Enid Y N Lam
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | | | - Dane Vassiliadis
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Charles C Bell
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Omer Gilan
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Susan Jackson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia
| | - Lavinia Tan
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Stephen Q Wong
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Sebastian Hollizeck
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Ewa M Michalak
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Hannah V Siddle
- Department of Biological Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK; Institute for Life Sciences, University of Southampton, Southampton, UK
| | - Michael T McCabe
- Epigenetics Research Unit, Oncology R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA
| | - Rab K Prinjha
- Epigenetics Research Unit, Oncology R&D, GlaxoSmithKline, Collegeville, PA, USA; Epigenetics Research Unit, GlaxoSmithKline, Stevenage, UK
| | - Glen R Guerra
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Benjamin J Solomon
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Shahneen Sandhu
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Sarah-Jane Dawson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia
| | - Paul A Beavis
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Richard W Tothill
- Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia; Department of Clinical Pathology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, Australia
| | - Carleen Cullinane
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia
| | - Paul J Lehner
- Cambridge Institute for Medical Research, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Hills Road, Cambridge CB2 0XY, UK
| | - Kate D Sutherland
- ACRF Cancer Biology and Stem Cell Division, Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Department of Medical Biology, The University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3010, Australia
| | - Mark A Dawson
- Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, 305 Grattan Street, Melbourne, VIC 3000, Australia; Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, VIC 3052, Australia; Centre for Cancer Research, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Australia.
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44
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Abstract
The Tasmanian devil is the only mammalian species to harbour two independent lineages of contagious cancer. Devil facial tumour 1 (DFT1) emerged in the 1990s and has caused significant population declines. Devil facial tumour 2 (DFT2) was identified in 2014, and evidence indicates that this new tumour has emerged independently of DFT1. While DFT1 is widespread across Tasmania, DFT2 is currently found only on the Channel Peninsula in south east Tasmania. Allograft transmission of cancer cells should be prevented by major histocompatibility complex (MHC) molecules. DFT1 avoids immune detection by downregulating MHC class I expression, which can be reversed by treatment with interferon-gamma (IFNγ), while DFT2 currently circulates in hosts with a similar MHC class I genotype to the tumour. Wild Tasmanian devil numbers have not recovered from the emergence of DFT1, and it is feared that widespread transmission of DFT2 will be devastating to the remaining wild population. A preventative solution for the management of the disease is needed. Here, we review the current research on immune responses to devil facial tumours and vaccine strategies against DFT1 and outline our plans moving forward to develop a specific, effective vaccine to support the wild Tasmanian devil population against the threat of these two transmissible tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel S Owen
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
| | - Hannah V Siddle
- School of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Environmental and Life Sciences, University of Southampton , Southampton , UK.,Institute for Life Sciences, Faculty of Medicine, University of Southampton , Southampton , UK
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45
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Woods GM, Fox S, Flies AS, Tovar CD, Jones M, Hamede R, Pemberton D, Lyons AB, Bettiol SS. Two Decades of the Impact of Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease. Integr Comp Biol 2019; 58:1043-1054. [PMID: 30252058 DOI: 10.1093/icb/icy118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil, a marsupial carnivore, has been restricted to the island state of Tasmania since its extinction on the Australian mainland about 3000 years ago. In the past two decades, this species has experienced severe population decline due to the emergence of devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), a transmissible cancer. During these 20 years, scientists have puzzled over the immunological and evolutionary responses by the Tasmanian devil to this transmissible cancer. Targeted strategies in population management and disease control have been developed as well as comparative processes to identify variation in tumor and host genetics. A multi-disciplinary approach with multi-institutional teams has produced considerable advances over the last decade. This has led to a greater understanding of the molecular pathogenesis and genomic classification of this cancer. New and promising developments in the Tasmanian devil's story include evidence that most immunized, and some wild devils, can produce an immune response to DFTD. Furthermore, epidemiology combined with genomic studies suggest a rapid evolution to the disease and that DFTD will become an endemic disease. Since 1998 there have been more than 350 publications, distributed over 37 Web of Science categories. A unique endemic island species has become an international curiosity that is in the spotlight of integrative and comparative biology research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia.,Toledo Zoo, 2605 Broadway, Toledo, OH 43609, USA
| | - Andrew S Flies
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Cesar D Tovar
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia.,School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Menna Jones
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - Rodrigo Hamede
- School of Natural Sciences, University of Tasmania, Private Bag 55, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - David Pemberton
- Save the Tasmanian Devil Program, DPIPWE, GPO Box 44, Hobart, Tasmania 7001, Australia
| | - A Bruce Lyons
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
| | - Silvana S Bettiol
- School of Medicine, College of Health and Medicine, University of Tasmania, Hobart, Tasmania 7005, Australia
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46
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Cheng Y, Makara M, Peel E, Fox S, Papenfuss AT, Belov K. Tasmanian devils with contagious cancer exhibit a constricted T-cell repertoire diversity. Commun Biol 2019; 2:99. [PMID: 30886908 PMCID: PMC6416256 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-019-0342-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/07/2019] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is threatened by a contagious cancer, known as Devil Facial Tumour Disease (DFTD). A highly diverse T-cell receptor (TCR) repertoire is crucial for successful host defence against cancers. By investigating TCR beta chain diversity in devils of different ages, we show that the T-cell repertoire in devils constricts in their second year of life, which may explain the higher DFTD prevalence in older devils. Unexpectedly, we also observed a pronounced decline in TCR diversity and T cell clonal expansion in devils after DFTD infection. These findings overturned the previous assumption that DFTD did not directly impact host immunity. Yuanyuan Cheng et al. showed that the T-cell repertoire diversity of Tasmanian devils diminishes during their second year of life which may explain the prevalence of devil facial tumor disease in older devils. Infection with this disease also impacts T-cell diversity highlighting a previously unknown effect of the devil facial tumor disease on host immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuanyuan Cheng
- UQ Genomics Initiative, The University of Queensland, St. Lucia, QLD, 4072, Australia
| | - Mariano Makara
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Emma Peel
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Samantha Fox
- Department of Primary Industries, Parks, Water and Environment, 134 Macquarie Street, Hobart, Tasmania, 7000, Australia
| | - Anthony T Papenfuss
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, VIC, 3052, Australia.,Computational Cancer Biology Program, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, VIC, 3000, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia.,Sir Peter MacCallum Department of Oncology, University of Melbourne, Melbourne, VIC, 3010, Australia
| | - Katherine Belov
- School of Life and Environmental Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia.
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Hohenlohe PA, McCallum HI, Jones ME, Lawrance MF, Hamede RK, Storfer A. Conserving adaptive potential: lessons from Tasmanian devils and their transmissible cancer. CONSERV GENET 2019; 20:81-87. [PMID: 31551664 PMCID: PMC6759055 DOI: 10.1007/s10592-019-01157-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/09/2019] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Maintenance of adaptive genetic variation has long been a goal of management of natural populations, but only recently have genomic tools allowed identification of specific loci associated with fitness-related traits in species of conservation concern. This raises the possibility of managing for genetic variation directly relevant to specific threats, such as those due to climate change or emerging infectious disease. Tasmanian devils (Sarcophilus harrisii) face the threat of a transmissible cancer, devil facial tumor disease (DFTD), that has decimated wild populations and led to intensive management efforts. Recent discoveries from genomic and modeling studies reveal how natural devil populations are responding to DFTD, and can inform management of both captive and wild devil populations. Notably, recent studies have documented genetic variation for disease-related traits and rapid evolution in response to DFTD, as well as potential mechanisms for disease resistance such as immune response and tumor regression in wild devils. Recent models predict dynamic persistence of devils with or without DFTD under a variety of modeling scenarios, although at much lower population densities than before DFTD emerged, contrary to previous predictions of extinction. As a result, current management that focuses on captive breeding and release for maintaining genome-wide genetic diversity or demographic supplementation of populations could have negative consequences. Translocations of captive devils into wild populations evolving with DFTD can cause outbreeding depression and/or increases in the force of infection and thereby the severity of the epidemic, and we argue that these risks outweigh any benefits of demographic supplementation in wild populations. We also argue that genetic variation at loci associated with DFTD should be monitored in both captive and wild populations, and that as our understanding of DFTD-related genetic variation improves, considering genetic management approaches to target this variation is warranted in developing conservation strategies for Tasmanian devils.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul A. Hohenlohe
- Institute for Bioinformatics and Evolutionary Studies, Department of Biological Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow, ID 83843, USA
| | - Hamish I. McCallum
- Environmental Futures Research Institute, Griffith University, Brisbane, QLD 4111, Australia
| | - Menna E. Jones
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Matthew F. Lawrance
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
| | - Rodrigo K. Hamede
- School of Biological Sciences, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7001, Australia
| | - Andrew Storfer
- School of Biological Sciences, Washington State University, Pullman, WA 99164, USA
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48
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Panchin AY, Aleoshin VV, Panchin YV. From tumors to species: a SCANDAL hypothesis. Biol Direct 2019; 14:3. [PMID: 30674330 PMCID: PMC6343361 DOI: 10.1186/s13062-019-0233-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/13/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
ᅟ Some tumor cells can evolve into transmissible parasites. Notable examples include the Tasmanian devil facial tumor disease, the canine transmissible venereal tumor and transmissible cancers of mollusks. We present a hypothesis that such transmissible tumors existed in the past and that some modern animal taxa are descendants of these tumors. We expect potential candidates for SCANDALs (speciated by cancer development animals) to be simplified relatives of more complex metazoans and have genomic alterations typical for cancer progression (such as deletions of universal apoptosis genes). We considered several taxa of simplified animals for our hypothesis: dicyemida, orthonectida, myxosporea and trichoplax. Based on genomic analysis we conclude that Myxosporea appear to be the most suitable candidates for a tumor ancestry. They are simplified parasitic cnidarians that universally lack major genes implicated in cancer progression including all genes with Caspase and BCL2 domains as well as any p53 and apoptotic protease activating factor – 1 (Apaf-1) homologs, suggesting the disruption of main apoptotic pathways in their early evolutionary history. Further comparative genomics and single-cell transcriptomic studies may be helpful to test our hypothesis of speciation via a cancerous stage. Reviewers This article was reviewed by Eugene Koonin, Mikhail Gelfand and Gregory M Woods. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s13062-019-0233-1) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Y Panchin
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Bolshoy Karetniy Pereulok 19/1, Moscow, Russian Federation, 127051.
| | - V V Aleoshin
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Bolshoy Karetniy Pereulok 19/1, Moscow, Russian Federation, 127051.,A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
| | - Y V Panchin
- Institute for Information Transmission Problems, Bolshoy Karetniy Pereulok 19/1, Moscow, Russian Federation, 127051.,A.N. Belozersky Institute of Physico-Chemical Biology, Moscow State University, Moscow, Russia
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49
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Kosack L, Wingelhofer B, Popa A, Orlova A, Agerer B, Vilagos B, Majek P, Parapatics K, Lercher A, Ringler A, Klughammer J, Smyth M, Khamina K, Baazim H, de Araujo ED, Rosa DA, Park J, Tin G, Ahmar S, Gunning PT, Bock C, Siddle HV, Woods GM, Kubicek S, Murchison EP, Bennett KL, Moriggl R, Bergthaler A. The ERBB-STAT3 Axis Drives Tasmanian Devil Facial Tumor Disease. Cancer Cell 2019; 35:125-139.e9. [PMID: 30645971 PMCID: PMC6335503 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.11.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 10/05/2018] [Accepted: 11/29/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
The marsupial Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) faces extinction due to transmissible devil facial tumor disease (DFTD). To unveil the molecular underpinnings of this transmissible cancer, we combined pharmacological screens with an integrated systems-biology characterization. Sensitivity to inhibitors of ERBB tyrosine kinases correlated with their overexpression. Proteomic and DNA methylation analyses revealed tumor-specific signatures linked to the evolutionary conserved oncogenic STAT3. ERBB inhibition blocked phosphorylation of STAT3 and arrested cancer cells. Pharmacological blockade of ERBB or STAT3 prevented tumor growth in xenograft models and restored MHC class I expression. This link between the hyperactive ERBB-STAT3 axis and major histocompatibility complex class I-mediated tumor immunosurveillance provides mechanistic insights into horizontal transmissibility and puts forward a dual chemo-immunotherapeutic strategy to save Tasmanian devils from DFTD. VIDEO ABSTRACT.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay Kosack
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bettina Wingelhofer
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexandra Popa
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Orlova
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt Agerer
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Bojan Vilagos
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Peter Majek
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Katja Parapatics
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Alexander Lercher
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Anna Ringler
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Johanna Klughammer
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Mark Smyth
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Kseniya Khamina
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Hatoon Baazim
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | | | - David A Rosa
- University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Jisung Park
- University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Gary Tin
- University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | - Siawash Ahmar
- University of Toronto, Mississauga, ON L5L 1C6, Canada
| | | | - Christoph Bock
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Department of Laboratory Medicine, Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Max Planck Institute for Informatics, Saarland Informatics Campus, 66123 Saarbrücken, Germany
| | - Hannah V Siddle
- Department of Biological Science, University of Southampton, Southampton SO17 1BJ, UK
| | - Gregory M Woods
- Menzies Institute for Medical Research, University of Tasmania, Hobart, TAS 7000, Australia
| | - Stefan Kubicek
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Elizabeth P Murchison
- Transmissible Cancer Group, Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB3 0ES, UK
| | - Keiryn L Bennett
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Richard Moriggl
- Institute of Animal Breeding and Genetics, University of Veterinary Medicine Vienna, 1210 Vienna, Austria; Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Cancer Research, 1090 Vienna, Austria; Medical University of Vienna, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Andreas Bergthaler
- CeMM Research Center for Molecular Medicine of the Austrian Academy of Sciences, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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50
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Schwenzer H, Fassati A. The Deadly Bite of STAT3. Cancer Cell 2019; 35:5-7. [PMID: 30645976 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2018.12.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
The Tasmanian devils' facial tumor disease (DFTD) is a transmissible cancer that spreads by biting and threatens extinction of this marsupial. In this issue of Cancer Cell, Kosack et al. describe how overexpression of ERBB and uncontrolled activation of STAT3 drive DFTD growth and immune evasion.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hagen Schwenzer
- Department of Oncology, Oxford University, Oxford OX3 7DQ, UK
| | - Ariberto Fassati
- Division of Infection and Immunity, University College London, London WC1E 4JF, UK.
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