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Gong B, Guo D, Zheng C, Ma Z, Zhang J, Qu Y, Li X, Li G, Zhang L, Wang Y. Complement C3a activates astrocytes to promote medulloblastoma progression through TNF-α. J Neuroinflammation 2022; 19:159. [PMID: 35725556 PMCID: PMC9208237 DOI: 10.1186/s12974-022-02516-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2021] [Accepted: 06/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Approximately one-third of MB patients remain incurable. Understanding the molecular mechanism of MB tumorigenesis is, therefore, critical for developing specific and effective treatment strategies. Our previous work demonstrated that astrocytes constitute the tumor microenvironment (TME) of MB and play an indispensable role in MB progression. However, the underlying mechanisms by which astrocytes are regulated and activated to promote MB remain elusive. Methods By taking advantage of Math1-Cre/Ptch1loxp/loxp mice, which spontaneously develop MB, primary MB cells and astrocytes were isolated and then subjected to administration and coculture in vitro. Immunohistochemistry was utilized to determine the presence of C3a in MB sections. MB cell proliferation was evaluated by immunofluorescent staining. GFAP and cytokine expression levels in C3a-stimulated astrocytes were assessed by immunofluorescent staining, western blotting, q-PCR and ELISA. C3a receptor and TNF-α receptor expression was determined by PCR and immunofluorescent staining. p38 MAPK pathway activation was detected by western blotting. Transplanted MB mice were treated with a C3a receptor antagonist or TNF-α receptor antagonist to investigate their role in MB progression in vivo. Results We found that complement C3a, a fragment released from intact complement C3 following complement activation, was enriched in both human and murine MB tumor tissue, and its receptor was highly expressed on tumor-associated astrocytes (TAAs). We demonstrated that C3a activated astrocytes and promoted MB cell proliferation via the p38 MAPK pathway. Moreover, we discovered that C3a upregulated the production of proinflammatory cytokines, such as IL-6 and TNF-α in astrocytes. Application of the conditioned medium of C3a-stimulated astrocytes promoted MB cell proliferation, which was abolished by preincubation with a TNF-α receptor antagonist, indicating a TNF-α-dependent event. Indeed, we further demonstrated that administration of a selective C3a receptor or TNF-α receptor antagonist to mice subcutaneously transplanted with MB suppressed tumor progression in vivo. Conclusions C3a was released during MB development. C3a triggered astrocyte activation and TNF-α production via the p38 pathway, which promoted MB cell proliferation. Our findings revealed the novel role of C3a-mediated TNF-α production by astrocytes in MB progression. These findings imply that targeting C3a and TNF-α may represent a potential novel therapeutic approach for human MB. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12974-022-02516-9.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biao Gong
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Duancheng Guo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Chaonan Zheng
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Zhen Ma
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Jie Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yanghui Qu
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Xinhua Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Gen Li
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Li Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
| | - Yuan Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China.
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Marney CB, Anderson ES, Baum R, Schmitt AM. A Unique Spectrum of Spontaneous Tumors in Dino Knockout Mice Identifies Tissue-Specific Requirements for Tumor Suppression. Cells 2022; 11:cells11111818. [PMID: 35681513 PMCID: PMC9180304 DOI: 10.3390/cells11111818] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/15/2022] [Revised: 05/27/2022] [Accepted: 05/29/2022] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Here, we report that Dino, a lncRNA required for p53 signaling, suppresses spontaneous tumorigenesis in mice. Dino−/− mice develop significantly more malignant tumors than Dino+/+ littermate controls, consisting predominantly of sarcomas, B cell lymphomas and additional rare tumors. While the prevalence of lymphomas and sarcomas in Dino−/− mice is similar to that of mice with p53 loss, important distinctions emerged. p53-null mice predominantly develop T cell lymphomas; however, no spontaneous T cell lymphoma was observed in Dino−/− mice. Rather than being a phenocopy of the p53-null tumor spectrum, spontaneous tumors in Dino−/− mice resemble the spectrum of human cancers in which DINO is recurrently silenced by methylation in a manner that is mutually exclusive with TP53 alterations, suggesting that similar tissues in human and mouse require DINO for tumor suppression. Consistent with a tissue-specific role for Dino in tumor suppression, loss of Dino had no impact on the development of radiation-induced T cell lymphoma and oncogene-driven medulloblastoma, tumors that are accelerated by the loss of p53. Taken together, these data indicate that Dino serves as a potent tumor suppressor molecule specific to a select subset of tissues in mice and humans.
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George J, Chen Y, Abdelfattah N, Yamamoto K, Gallup TD, Adamson SI, Rybinski B, Srivastava A, Kumar P, Lee MG, Baskin DS, Jiang W, Choi JM, Flavahan W, Chuang JH, Kim BY, Xu J, Jung SY, Yun K. Cancer stem cells, not bulk tumor cells, determine mechanisms of resistance to SMO inhibitors. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:402-416. [PMID: 36688010 PMCID: PMC9853917 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-22-0124] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/23/2022] [Revised: 05/05/2022] [Accepted: 05/11/2022] [Indexed: 02/01/2023]
Abstract
The emergence of treatment resistance significantly reduces the clinical utility of many effective targeted therapies. Although both genetic and epigenetic mechanisms of drug resistance have been reported, whether these mechanisms are stochastically selected in individual tumors or governed by a predictable underlying principle is unknown. Here, we report that the dependence of cancer stem cells (CSCs), not bulk tumor cells, on the targeted pathway determines the molecular mechanism of resistance in individual tumors. Using both spontaneous and transplantable mouse models of sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma (MB) treated with an SHH/Smoothened inhibitor, sonidegib/LDE225, we show that genetic-based resistance occurs only in tumors that contain SHH-dependent CSCs (SD-CSCs). In contrast, SHH MBs containing SHH-dependent bulk tumor cells but SHH-independent CSCs (SI-CSCs) acquire resistance through epigenetic reprogramming. Mechanistically, elevated proteasome activity in SMOi-resistant SI-CSC MBs alters the tumor cell maturation trajectory through enhanced degradation of specific epigenetic regulators, including histone acetylation machinery components, resulting in global reductions in H3K9Ac, H3K14Ac, H3K56Ac, H4K5Ac, and H4K8Ac marks and gene expression changes. These results provide new insights into how selective pressure on distinct tumor cell populations contributes to different mechanisms of resistance to targeted therapies. This insight provides a new conceptual framework to understand responses and resistance to SMOis and other targeted therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Joshy George
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Yaohui Chen
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute and Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston, Texas
- The Kenneth R. Peak Brain and Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center, Houston Methodist, Houston Texas
| | - Nourhan Abdelfattah
- Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Hospital and Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
| | - Keiko Yamamoto
- The Jackson Laboratory-Mammalian Genetics, Bar Harbor, Maine
| | - Thomas D. Gallup
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Scott I. Adamson
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
- Department of Genetics and Genome Sciences, UConn Health, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Brad Rybinski
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Anuj Srivastava
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Parveen Kumar
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
| | - Min Gyu Lee
- Department of Molecular and Cellular Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - David S. Baskin
- Department of Neurosurgery, Houston Methodist Neurological Institute and Institute for Academic Medicine, Houston, Texas
- The Kenneth R. Peak Brain and Pituitary Tumor Treatment Center, Houston Methodist, Houston Texas
- Department of Neurosurgery, Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
| | - Wen Jiang
- Department of Radiation Oncology, The University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, Texas
| | - Jong Min Choi
- Advanced Technology Core, Mass Spectrometry Proteomics Core, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - William Flavahan
- Department of Molecular, Cell and Cancer Biology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, Massachusetts
| | - Jeffrey H. Chuang
- The Jackson Laboratory for Genomic Medicine, Farmington, Connecticut
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Maryland Medical Center, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Betty Y.S. Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas
| | - Jiaqiong Xu
- Center for Outcomes Research, Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston Texas
| | - Sung Yun Jung
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, Texas
| | - Kyuson Yun
- Department of Neurology, Houston Methodist Hospital and Houston Methodist Research Institute, Houston, Texas
- Department of Neurology, Weill-Cornell Medical College, New York, New York
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Antonica F, Aiello G, Soldano A, Abballe L, Miele E, Tiberi L. Modeling Brain Tumors: A Perspective Overview of in vivo and Organoid Models. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:818696. [PMID: 35706426 PMCID: PMC9190727 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.818696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2021] [Accepted: 03/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors are a large and heterogeneous group of neoplasms that affect the central nervous system and include some of the deadliest cancers. Almost all the conventional and new treatments fail to hinder tumoral growth of the most malignant brain tumors. This is due to multiple factors, such as intra-tumor heterogeneity, the microenvironmental properties of the human brain, and the lack of reliable models to test new therapies. Therefore, creating faithful models for each tumor and discovering tailored treatments pose great challenges in the fight against brain cancer. Over the years, different types of models have been generated, and, in this review, we investigated the advantages and disadvantages of the models currently used.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesco Antonica
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Aiello
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Alessia Soldano
- Laboratory of Translational Genomics, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Evelina Miele
- Department of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology and Cellular and Gene Therapy, Bambino Gesù Children’s Hospital, Scientific Institute for Research, Hospitalization and Healthcare (IRCCS), Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Tiberi
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, Department of Cellular, Computational and Integrative Biology (CIBIO), University of Trento, Trento, Italy
- *Correspondence: Luca Tiberi,
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Nagao K, Kato C, Ikemoto Y, Motojima T, Fujii K, Umezawa A, Miyashita T. PTCH1-null induced pluripotent stem cells exclusively differentiate into immature ectodermal cells with large areas of medulloblastoma-like tissue. Discov Oncol 2022; 13:36. [PMID: 35618979 PMCID: PMC9135936 DOI: 10.1007/s12672-022-00498-x] [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] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome (NBCCS) is an autosomal dominant disorder with an increased incidence of tumors, such as basal cell carcinomas and medulloblastomas. The PTCH1 gene, responsible for NBCCS, suppresses the hedgehog signaling pathway, which is recognized as one of the important pathways in tumorigenesis and, thus, is a therapeutic target in cancer. In the present study, we generated PTCH1-/- induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) from NBCCS patient-derived iPSCs (PTCH1+/-) by gene editing. The proliferation of PTCH1-/- iPSCs was accelerated due to the activation of the hedgehog signaling pathway. When PTCH1-/- iPSCs were subcutaneously injected into immunodeficient mice, the resulting teratomas almost exclusively contained immature ectodermal lineage cells expressing medulloblastoma markers, and the percentages of the area occupied by medulloblastoma-like tissue were larger in PTCH1-/- teratomas than in PTCH1+/- teratomas. In contrast, in PTCH1+/+ teratomas, medulloblastoma-like tissue positive for all of these medulloblastoma markers was not observed. The present results indicate the importance of PTCH1 in medulloblastoma formation and the suitability of these gene-edited iPSCs and PTCH1-/- teratomas as models for the formation of tumors, such as medulloblastomas and Hh-related tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kazuaki Nagao
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, 252-0374, Japan.
| | - Chise Kato
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, 252-0374, Japan
| | - Yu Ikemoto
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, 252-0374, Japan
- Department of Reproductive Biology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan
| | - Toshino Motojima
- Department of Pediatrics, Motojima General Hospital, Gunnma, 373-0033, Japan
| | - Katsunori Fujii
- Department of Pediatrics, Graduate School of Medicine, International University of Health and Welfare, Chiba, 286-8686, Japan
| | - Akihiro Umezawa
- Department of Reproductive Biology, National Center for Child Health and Development, Tokyo, 157-8535, Japan
| | - Toshiyuki Miyashita
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Kitasato University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, 1-15-1 Kitasato, Minami-ku, Sagamihara, 252-0374, Japan
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56
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Smit MJ, Martini TEI, Armandari I, Bočkaj I, Zomerman WW, de Camargo Magalhães ES, Siragna Z, Meeuwsen TGJ, Scherpen FJG, Schoots MH, Ritsema M, den Dunnen WFA, Hoving EW, Paridaen JTML, de Haan G, Guryev V, Bruggeman SWM. The developmental stage of the medulloblastoma cell-of-origin restricts Hedgehog pathway usage and drug sensitivity. J Cell Sci 2022; 135:275628. [PMID: 35535520 PMCID: PMC9234672 DOI: 10.1242/jcs.258608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2021] [Accepted: 05/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (SHH) medulloblastoma originates from the cerebellar granule neuron progenitor (CGNP) lineage, which depends on Hedgehog signaling for its perinatal expansion. Whereas SHH tumors exhibit overall deregulation of this pathway, they also show patient age-specific aberrations. To investigate whether the developmental stage of the CGNP can account for these age-specific lesions, we analyzed developing murine CGNP transcriptomes and observed highly dynamic gene expression as a function of age. Cross-species comparison with human SHH medulloblastoma showed partial maintenance of these expression patterns, and highlighted low primary cilium expression as hallmark of infant medulloblastoma and early embryonic CGNPs. This coincided with reduced responsiveness to upstream SHH pathway component Smoothened, whereas sensitivity to downstream components SUFU and GLI family proteins was retained. Together, these findings can explain the preference for SUFU mutations in infant medulloblastoma and suggest that drugs targeting the downstream SHH pathway will be most appropriate for infant patients. Summary: There is a relationship between the age of the medulloblastoma patient and the developmental age of the tumor cell-of-origin, and this influences the SHH pathway signaling route used by the tumor.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marlinde J Smit
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Tosca E I Martini
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Inna Armandari
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Irena Bočkaj
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Walderik W Zomerman
- Department of Pediatrics/Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eduardo S de Camargo Magalhães
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.,Glial Cell Biology Laboratory, Biomedical Sciences Institute, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, 21949-590, Brazil
| | - Zillah Siragna
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Tiny G J Meeuwsen
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Frank J G Scherpen
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Mirthe H Schoots
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Martha Ritsema
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Wilfred F A den Dunnen
- Department of Pathology and Medical Biology, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Eelco W Hoving
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Lundlaan 6, 3584 EA Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Judith T M L Paridaen
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Gerald de Haan
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands.,Present address: Department of Hematopoiesis, Sanquin Research and Landsteiner Laboratory, Amsterdam UMC, University of Amsterdam, 1066CX Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Victor Guryev
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
| | - Sophia W M Bruggeman
- European Research Institute for the Biology of Ageing/ERIBA, University Medical Center Groningen, University of Groningen, Hanzeplein 1, 9700 RB, Groningen, the Netherlands
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Solecki DJ. Neuronal Polarity Pathways as Central Integrators of Cell-Extrinsic Information During Interactions of Neural Progenitors With Germinal Niches. Front Mol Neurosci 2022; 15:829666. [PMID: 35600073 PMCID: PMC9116468 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2022.829666] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/06/2021] [Accepted: 03/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Germinal niche interactions and their effect on developing neurons have become the subject of intense investigation. Dissecting the complex interplay of cell-extrinsic and cell-intrinsic factors at the heart of these interactions reveals the critical basic mechanisms of neural development and how it goes awry in pediatric neurologic disorders. A full accounting of how developing neurons navigate their niches to mature and integrate into a developing neural circuit requires a combination of genetic characterization of and physical access to neurons and their supporting cell types plus transformative imaging to determine the cell biological and gene-regulatory responses to niche cues. The mouse cerebellar cortex is a prototypical experimental system meeting all of these criteria. The lessons learned therein have been scaled to other model systems and brain regions to stimulate discoveries of how developing neurons make many developmental decisions. This review focuses on how mouse cerebellar granule neuron progenitors interact with signals in their germinal niche and how that affects the neuronal differentiation and cell polarization programs that underpin lamination of the developing cerebellum. We show how modeling of these mechanisms in other systems has added to the growing evidence of how defective neuronal polarity contributes to developmental disease.
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58
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Wang W, Shiraishi R, Kawauchi D. Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Cerebellar Development and Cancer. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:864035. [PMID: 35573667 PMCID: PMC9100414 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.864035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
The sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway regulates the development of the central nervous system in vertebrates. Aberrant regulation of SHH signaling pathways often causes neurodevelopmental diseases and brain tumors. In the cerebellum, SHH secreted by Purkinje cells is a potent mitogen for granule cell progenitors, which are the most abundant cell type in the mature brain. While a reduction in SHH signaling induces cerebellar structural abnormalities, such as hypoplasia in various genetic disorders, the constitutive activation of SHH signaling often induces medulloblastoma (MB), one of the most common pediatric malignant brain tumors. Based on the existing literature on canonical and non-canonical SHH signaling pathways, emerging basic and clinical studies are exploring novel therapeutic approaches for MB by targeting SHH signaling at distinct molecular levels. In this review, we discuss the present consensus on SHH signaling mechanisms, their roles in cerebellar development and tumorigenesis, and the recent advances in clinical trials for MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wanchen Wang
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Shiraishi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
- Department of NCNP Brain Physiology and Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kawauchi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
- *Correspondence: Daisuke Kawauchi,
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59
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Beiriger J, Habib A, Jovanovich N, Kodavali CV, Edwards L, Amankulor N, Zinn PO. The Subventricular Zone in Glioblastoma: Genesis, Maintenance, and Modeling. Front Oncol 2022; 12:790976. [PMID: 35359410 PMCID: PMC8960165 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.790976] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2021] [Accepted: 02/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Glioblastoma (GBM) is a malignant tumor with a median survival rate of 15-16 months with standard care; however, cases of successful treatment offer hope that an enhanced understanding of the pathology will improve the prognosis. The cell of origin in GBM remains controversial. Recent evidence has implicated stem cells as cells of origin in many cancers. Neural stem/precursor cells (NSCs) are being evaluated as potential initiators of GBM tumorigenesis. The NSCs in the subventricular zone (SVZ) have demonstrated similar molecular profiles and share several distinctive characteristics to proliferative glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) in GBM. Genomic and proteomic studies comparing the SVZ and GBM support the hypothesis that the tumor cells and SVZ cells are related. Animal models corroborate this connection, demonstrating migratory patterns from the SVZ to the tumor. Along with laboratory and animal research, clinical studies have demonstrated improved progression-free survival in patients with GBM after radiation to the ipsilateral SVZ. Additionally, key genetic mutations in GBM for the most part carry regulatory roles in the SVZ as well. An exciting avenue towards SVZ modeling and determining its role in gliomagenesis in the human context is human brain organoids. Here we comprehensively discuss and review the role of the SVZ in GBM genesis, maintenance, and modeling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jamison Beiriger
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA, United States
| | - Ahmed Habib
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA, United States
| | - Nicolina Jovanovich
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA, United States
| | - Chowdari V Kodavali
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA, United States
| | - Lincoln Edwards
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA, United States
| | - Nduka Amankulor
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA, United States
| | - Pascal O Zinn
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA, United States.,Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh PA, United States
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60
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Gabriel NN, Balaji K, Jayachandran K, Inkman M, Zhang J, Dahiya S, Goldstein M. Loss of H3K27 trimethylation promotes radiotherapy resistance in medulloblastoma and induces an actionable vulnerability to BET inhibition. Cancer Res 2022; 82:2019-2030. [PMID: 35315927 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-21-0871] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/18/2021] [Revised: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma has been categorized into four subgroups based on genetic, epigenetic, and transcriptional profiling. Radiation is used for treating medulloblastoma regardless of the subgroup. A better understanding of the molecular pathways determining radiotherapy response could help improve medulloblastoma treatment. Here, we investigated the role of the EZH2-dependent histone H3K27 trimethylation in radiotherapy response in medulloblastoma. The tumors in 47.2% of group 3 and 4 medulloblastoma patients displayed H3K27me3 deficiency. Loss of H3K27me3 was associated with a radioresistant phenotype, high relapse rates, and poor overall survival. In H3K27me3-deficient medulloblastoma cells, an epigenetic switch from H3K27me3 to H3K27ac occurred at specific genomic loci, altering the transcriptional profile. The resulting upregulation of EPHA2 stimulated excessive activation of the pro-survival AKT signaling pathway, leading to radiotherapy resistance. BET inhibition overcame radiation resistance in H3K27me3-deficient medulloblastoma cells by suppressing H3K27ac levels, blunting EPHA2 overexpression, and mitigating excessive AKT signaling. Additionally, BET inhibition sensitized medulloblastoma cells to radiation by enhancing the apoptotic response through suppression of Bcl-xL and upregulation of Bim. This work demonstrates a novel mechanism of radiation resistance in medulloblastoma and identifies an epigenetic marker predictive of radiotherapy response. Based on these findings, we propose an epigenetically guided treatment approach targeting radiotherapy resistance in medulloblastoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nishanth N Gabriel
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kumaresh Balaji
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Kay Jayachandran
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, United States
| | - Matthew Inkman
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, United States
| | - Jin Zhang
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri, United States
| | - Sonika Dahiya
- Washington University in St. Louis School of Medicine, St Louis, MO, United States
| | - Michael Goldstein
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, United States
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61
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Pastore SF, Ko SY, Frankland PW, Hamel PA, Vincent JB. PTCHD1: Identification and Neurodevelopmental Contributions of an Autism Spectrum Disorder and Intellectual Disability Susceptibility Gene. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:527. [PMID: 35328080 PMCID: PMC8953913 DOI: 10.3390/genes13030527] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2022] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 03/03/2022] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last one and a half decades, copy number variation and whole-genome sequencing studies have illuminated the considerable genetic heterogeneity that underlies the etiologies of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and intellectual disability (ID). These investigations support the idea that ASD may result from complex interactions between susceptibility-related genetic variants (single nucleotide variants or copy number variants) and the environment. This review outlines the identification and neurobiological characterization of two such genes located in Xp22.11, Patched domain-containing 1 (PTCHD1), and its antisense lncRNA PTCHD1-AS. Animal models of Ptchd1 disruption have recapitulated a subset of clinical symptoms related to ASD as well as to ID. Furthermore, these Ptchd1 mouse knockout studies implicate the expression of Ptchd1 in both the thalamic and the hippocampal brain regions as being crucial for proper neurodevelopment and cognitive function. Altered kynurenine metabolic signalling has been postulated as a disease mechanism in one of these animal studies. Additionally, ASD patient-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) carrying a copy number loss impacting the antisense non-coding RNA PTCHD1-AS have been used to generate 2D neuronal cultures. While copy number loss of PTCHD1-AS does not affect the transcription of PTCHD1, the neurons exhibit diminished miniature excitatory postsynaptic current frequency, supporting its role in ASD etiology. A more thorough understanding of risk factor genes, such as PTCHD1 and PTCHD1-AS, will help to clarify the intricate genetic and biological mechanisms that underlie ASD and ID, providing a foundation for meaningful therapeutic interventions to enhance the quality of life of individuals who experience these conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephen F. Pastore
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development (MiND) Lab, Molecular Brain Science Research Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M5T 1RS, Canada;
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
| | - Sangyoon Y. Ko
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada;
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Paul W. Frankland
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
- Program in Neurosciences and Mental Health, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada;
- Department of Physiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
- Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 3G3, Canada
| | - Paul A. Hamel
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
| | - John B. Vincent
- Molecular Neuropsychiatry and Development (MiND) Lab, Molecular Brain Science Research Department, Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute, Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, ON M5T 1RS, Canada;
- Institute of Medical Science, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada;
- Department of Psychiatry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5T 1R8, Canada
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62
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Hwang EI, Sayour EJ, Flores CT, Grant G, Wechsler-Reya R, Hoang-Minh LB, Kieran MW, Salcido J, Prins RM, Figg JW, Platten M, Candelario KM, Hale PG, Blatt JE, Governale LS, Okada H, Mitchell DA, Pollack IF. The current landscape of immunotherapy for pediatric brain tumors. NATURE CANCER 2022; 3:11-24. [PMID: 35121998 DOI: 10.1038/s43018-021-00319-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/08/2020] [Accepted: 11/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric central nervous system tumors are the most common solid malignancies in childhood, and aggressive therapy often leads to long-term sequelae in survivors, making these tumors challenging to treat. Immunotherapy has revolutionized prospects for many cancer types in adults, but the intrinsic complexity of treating pediatric patients and the scarcity of clinical studies of children to inform effective approaches have hampered the development of effective immunotherapies in pediatric settings. Here, we review recent advances and ongoing challenges in pediatric brain cancer immunotherapy, as well as considerations for efficient clinical translation of efficacious immunotherapies into pediatric settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Eugene I Hwang
- Division of Oncology, Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA.
| | - Elias J Sayour
- Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Catherine T Flores
- Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Gerald Grant
- Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Stanford University, Palo Alto, CA, USA
| | - Robert Wechsler-Reya
- Tumor Initiation & Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Lan B Hoang-Minh
- Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | | | | | - Robert M Prins
- Departments of Neurosurgery and Molecular and Medical Pharmacology, David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - John W Figg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Michael Platten
- Department of Neurology, Medical Faculty Mannheim, MCTN, Heidelberg University and CCU Brain Tumor Immunology, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kate M Candelario
- Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Paul G Hale
- Children's Brain Trust, Coral Springs, FL, USA
| | - Jason E Blatt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Lance S Governale
- Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Hideho Okada
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Duane A Mitchell
- Department of Neurosurgery, Preston A. Wells, Jr. Center for Brain Tumor Therapy, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Ian F Pollack
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA
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63
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Westphal MS, Lee E, Schadt EE, Sholler GS, Zhu J. Identification of Let-7 miRNA Activity as a Prognostic Biomarker of SHH Medulloblastoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 14:cancers14010139. [PMID: 35008302 PMCID: PMC8750188 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14010139] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2021] [Revised: 12/22/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric embryonal brain tumor. The current consensus classifies MB into four molecular subgroups: sonic hedgehog-activated (SHH), wingless-activated (WNT), Group 3, and Group 4. MYCN and let-7 play a critical role in MB. Thus, we inferred the activity of miRNAs in MB by using the ActMiR procedure. SHH-MB has higher MYCN expression than the other subgroups. We showed that high MYCN expression with high let-7 activity is significantly associated with worse overall survival, and this association was validated in an independent MB dataset. Altogether, our results suggest that let-7 activity and MYCN can further categorize heterogeneous SHH tumors into more and less-favorable prognostic subtypes, which provide critical information for personalizing treatment options for SHH-MB. Comparing the expression differences between the two SHH-MB prognostic subtypes with compound perturbation profiles, we identified FGFR inhibitors as one potential treatment option for SHH-MB patients with the less-favorable prognostic subtype.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Eunjee Lee
- Sema4, 333 Ludlow St., Stamford, CT 06902, USA; (M.S.W.); (E.L.); (E.E.S.)
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Eric E. Schadt
- Sema4, 333 Ludlow St., Stamford, CT 06902, USA; (M.S.W.); (E.L.); (E.E.S.)
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA
| | - Giselle S. Sholler
- Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA;
- College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University, Grand Rapids, MI 49503, USA
| | - Jun Zhu
- Sema4, 333 Ludlow St., Stamford, CT 06902, USA; (M.S.W.); (E.L.); (E.E.S.)
- Department of Genetics and Genomic Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA
- The Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai, 1 Gustave L. Levy Pl, New York, NY 10029, USA
- Correspondence:
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64
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Cell-of-Origin and Genetic, Epigenetic, and Microenvironmental Factors Contribute to the Intra-Tumoral Heterogeneity of Pediatric Intracranial Ependymoma. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13236100. [PMID: 34885210 PMCID: PMC8657076 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13236100] [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: 10/18/2021] [Revised: 11/24/2021] [Accepted: 12/01/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Intra-tumoral heterogeneity (ITH) is a complex multifaceted phenomenon that posits major challenges for the clinical management of cancer patients. Genetic, epigenetic, and microenvironmental factors are concurrent drivers of diversity among the distinct populations of cancer cells. ITH may also be installed by cancer stem cells (CSCs), that foster unidirectional hierarchy of cellular phenotypes or, alternatively, shift dynamically between distinct cellular states. Ependymoma (EPN), a molecularly heterogeneous group of tumors, shows a specific spatiotemporal distribution that suggests a link between ependymomagenesis and alterations of the biological processes involved in embryonic brain development. In children, EPN most often arises intra-cranially and is associated with an adverse outcome. Emerging evidence shows that EPN displays large intra-patient heterogeneity. In this review, after touching on EPN inter-tumoral heterogeneity, we focus on the sources of ITH in pediatric intra-cranial EPN in the framework of the CSC paradigm. We also examine how single-cell technology has shed new light on the complexity and developmental origins of EPN and the potential impact that this understanding may have on the therapeutic strategies against this deadly pediatric malignancy.
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65
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Tanigawa S, Fujita M, Moyama C, Ando S, Ii H, Kojima Y, Fujishita T, Aoki M, Takeuchi H, Yamanaka T, Takahashi Y, Hashimoto N, Nakata S. Inhibition of Gli2 suppresses tumorigenicity in glioblastoma stem cells derived from a de novo murine brain cancer model. Cancer Gene Ther 2021; 28:1339-1352. [PMID: 33414520 DOI: 10.1038/s41417-020-00282-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2020] [Revised: 11/26/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
The prognosis of glioblastoma remains poor despite intensive research efforts. Glioblastoma stem cells (GSCs) contribute to tumorigenesis, invasive capacity, and therapy resistance. Leucine-rich repeat-containing G-protein coupled receptor 5 (Lgr5), a stem cell marker, is involved in the maintenance of GSCs, although the properties of Lgr5-positive GSCs remain unclear. Here, the Sleeping-Beauty transposon-induced glioblastoma model was used in Lgr5-GFP knock-in mice identify GFP-positive cells in neurosphere cultures from mouse glioblastoma tissues. Global gene expression analysis showed that Gli2 was highly expressed in GFP-positive GSCs. Gli2 knockdown using lentiviral-mediated shRNA downregulated Hedgehog-related and Wnt signaling pathway-related genes, including Lgr5; suppressed tumor cell proliferation and invasion capacity; and induced apoptosis. Pharmacological Gli inhibition with GANT61 suppressed tumor cell proliferation. Silencing Gli2 suppressed the tumorigenicity of GSCs in an orthotopic transplantation model in vivo. These findings suggest that Gli2 affects the Hedgehog and Wnt pathways and plays an important role in GSC maintenance, suggesting Gli2 as a therapeutic target for glioblastoma treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Seisuke Tanigawa
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan.,Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto Prefectural University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Mitsugu Fujita
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Medicine, Kindai University, Osaka, Japan
| | - Chiami Moyama
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Shota Ando
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Hiromi Ii
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yasushi Kojima
- Division of Pathophysiology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Teruaki Fujishita
- Division of Pathophysiology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Masahiro Aoki
- Division of Pathophysiology, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Nagoya, Japan.,Department of Cancer Physiology, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya, Japan
| | - Hayato Takeuchi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto Prefectural University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Takumi Yamanaka
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto Prefectural University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Yoshinobu Takahashi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto Prefectural University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Naoya Hashimoto
- Department of Neurosurgery, Kyoto Prefectural University Graduate School of Medical Science, Kyoto, Japan
| | - Susumu Nakata
- Department of Clinical Oncology, Kyoto Pharmaceutical University, Kyoto, Japan.
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66
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Voskamp MJ, Li S, van Daalen KR, Crnko S, ten Broeke T, Bovenschen N. Immunotherapy in Medulloblastoma: Current State of Research, Challenges, and Future Perspectives. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:5387. [PMID: 34771550 PMCID: PMC8582409 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13215387] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/22/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB), a primary tumor of the central nervous system, is among the most prevalent pediatric neoplasms. The median age of diagnosis is six. Conventional therapies include surgical resection of the tumor with subsequent radiation and chemotherapy. However, these therapies often cause severe brain damage, and still, approximately 75% of pediatric patients relapse within a few years. Because the conventional therapies cause such severe damage, especially in the pediatric developing brain, there is an urgent need for better treatment strategies such as immunotherapy, which over the years has gained accumulating interest. Cancer immunotherapy aims to enhance the body's own immune response to tumors and is already widely used in the clinic, e.g., in the treatment of melanoma and lung cancer. However, little is known about the possible application of immunotherapy in brain cancer. In this review, we will provide an overview of the current consensus on MB classification and the state of in vitro, in vivo, and clinical research concerning immunotherapy in MB. Based on existing evidence, we will especially focus on immune checkpoint inhibition and CAR T-cell therapy. Additionally, we will discuss challenges associated with these immunotherapies and relevant strategies to overcome those.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marije J. Voskamp
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (M.J.V.); (S.L.); (S.C.); (T.t.B.)
| | - Shuang Li
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (M.J.V.); (S.L.); (S.C.); (T.t.B.)
| | - Kim R. van Daalen
- Cardiovascular Epidemiology Unit, Department of Public Health & Primary Care, University of Cambridge, Cambridge CB1 8RN, UK;
| | - Sandra Crnko
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (M.J.V.); (S.L.); (S.C.); (T.t.B.)
| | - Toine ten Broeke
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (M.J.V.); (S.L.); (S.C.); (T.t.B.)
| | - Niels Bovenschen
- Department of Pathology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands; (M.J.V.); (S.L.); (S.C.); (T.t.B.)
- Center for Translational Immunology, University Medical Center Utrecht, 3584 CX Utrecht, The Netherlands
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67
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Villani R, Murigneux V, Alexis J, Sim SL, Wagels M, Saunders N, Soyer HP, Parmentier L, Nikolaev S, Fink JL, Roy E, Khosrotehrani K. Subtype-Specific Analyses Reveal Infiltrative Basal Cell Carcinomas Are Highly Interactive with their Environment. J Invest Dermatol 2021; 141:2380-2390. [PMID: 33865912 DOI: 10.1016/j.jid.2021.02.760] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2020] [Revised: 02/11/2021] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Little is known regarding the molecular differences between basal cell carcinoma (BCC) subtypes, despite clearly distinct phenotypes and clinical outcomes. In particular, infiltrative BCCs have poorer clinical outcomes in terms of response to therapy and propensity for dissemination. In this project, we aimed to use exome sequencing and RNA sequencing to identify somatic mutations and molecular pathways leading to infiltrative BCCs. Using whole-exome sequencing of 36 BCC samples (eight infiltrative) combined with previously reported exome data (58 samples), we determine that infiltrative BCCs do not contain a distinct somatic variant profile and carry classical UV-induced mutational signatures. RNA sequencing on both datasets revealed key differentially expressed genes, such as POSTN and WISP1, suggesting increased integrin and Wnt signaling. Immunostaining for periostin and WISP1 clearly distinguished infiltrative BCCs, and nuclear β-catenin staining patterns further validated the resulting increase in Wnt signaling in infiltrative BCCs. Of significant interest, in BCCs with mixed morphology, infiltrative areas expressed WISP1, whereas nodular areas did not, supporting a continuum between subtypes. In conclusion, infiltrative BCCs do not differ in their genomic alteration in terms of initiating mutations. They display a specific type of interaction with the extracellular matrix environment regulating Wnt signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rehan Villani
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Valentine Murigneux
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; QCIF Facility for Advanced Bioinformatics, Institute for Molecular Bioscience, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Josue Alexis
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Plastic Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Seen-Ling Sim
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Michael Wagels
- Department of Plastic Surgery, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Nicholas Saunders
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - H Peter Soyer
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Dermatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Australia
| | | | - Sergey Nikolaev
- INSERM U981, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Université Paris Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - J Lynn Fink
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Edwige Roy
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia
| | - Kiarash Khosrotehrani
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia; Department of Dermatology, Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health, Brisbane, Australia.
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68
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Di Giulio S, Colicchia V, Pastorino F, Pedretti F, Fabretti F, Nicolis di Robilant V, Ramponi V, Scafetta G, Moretti M, Licursi V, Belardinilli F, Peruzzi G, Infante P, Goffredo BM, Coppa A, Canettieri G, Bartolazzi A, Ponzoni M, Giannini G, Petroni M. A combination of PARP and CHK1 inhibitors efficiently antagonizes MYCN-driven tumors. Oncogene 2021; 40:6143-6152. [PMID: 34508175 PMCID: PMC8553625 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-02003-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/17/2020] [Revised: 08/18/2021] [Accepted: 08/27/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
MYCN drives aggressive behavior and refractoriness to chemotherapy, in several tumors. Since MYCN inactivation in clinical settings is not achievable, alternative vulnerabilities of MYCN-driven tumors need to be explored to identify more effective and less toxic therapies. We previously demonstrated that PARP inhibitors enhance MYCN-induced replication stress and promote mitotic catastrophe, counteracted by CHK1. Here, we showed that PARP and CHK1 inhibitors synergized to induce death in neuroblastoma cells and in primary cultures of SHH-dependent medulloblastoma, their combination being more effective in MYCN amplified and MYCN overexpressing cells compared to MYCN non-amplified cells. Although the MYCN amplified IMR-32 cell line carrying the p.Val2716Ala ATM mutation showed the highest sensitivity to the drug combination, this was not related to ATM status, as indicated by CRISPR/Cas9-based correction of the mutation. Suboptimal doses of the CHK1 inhibitor MK-8776 plus the PARP inhibitor olaparib led to a MYCN-dependent accumulation of DNA damage and cell death in vitro and significantly reduced the growth of four in vivo models of MYCN-driven tumors, without major toxicities. Our data highlight the combination of PARP and CHK1 inhibitors as a new potential chemo-free strategy to treat MYCN-driven tumors, which might be promptly translated into clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stefano Di Giulio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valeria Colicchia
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Department of Biology, University Tor Vergata, 00173, Rome, Italy
| | - Fabio Pastorino
- Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Flaminia Pedretti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Experimental Therapeutics Group, Vall d'Hebron Institute of Oncology (VHIO), Vall d'Hebron Research Institute (VHIR), Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francesca Fabretti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Valentina Ramponi
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Cellular Plasticity and Disease Group, Institute for Research in Biomedicine (IRB Barcelona), Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology (BIST), 08028, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Giorgia Scafetta
- Pathology Research Laboratory, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Moretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Valerio Licursi
- Department of Biology and Biotechnologies "Charles Darwin", University La Sapienza, 00185, Rome, Italy
| | | | - Giovanna Peruzzi
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Infante
- Center for Life Nano- & Neuro-Science, Fondazione Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Anna Coppa
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Canettieri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Armando Bartolazzi
- Pathology Research Laboratory, Sant'Andrea University Hospital, 00189, Rome, Italy
| | - Mirco Ponzoni
- Laboratory of Experimental Therapies in Oncology, IRCCS Istituto Giannina Gaslini, 16147, Genoa, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy. .,Istituto Pasteur-Fondazione Cenci Bolognetti, 00161, Rome, Italy.
| | - Marialaura Petroni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, University La Sapienza, 00161, Rome, Italy
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69
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Yuan L, Zhang H, Liu J, Malhotra A, Dey A, Yu B, Jella KK, McSwain LF, Schniederjan MJ, MacDonald TJ. STAT3 is required for Smo-dependent signaling and mediates Smo-targeted treatment resistance and tumorigenesis in Shh medulloblastoma. Mol Oncol 2021; 16:1009-1025. [PMID: 34482626 PMCID: PMC8847987 DOI: 10.1002/1878-0261.13097] [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: 03/05/2021] [Revised: 07/20/2021] [Accepted: 09/03/2021] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh)‐driven medulloblastoma (Shh MB) cells are dependent on constitutive Shh signaling, but targeted treatment of Shh MB has been ineffective due to drug resistance. The purpose of this study was to address the critical role of signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) in Shh signaling and drug resistance in Shh MB cells. Herein, we show that STAT3 is required for Smoothened (Smo)‐dependent Shh signaling and, in turn, is reciprocally regulated by Shh signaling, and demonstrate that STAT3 activity is critical for expression of HCK proto‐oncogene, Src family tyrosine kinase (Hck) in Shh MB. We also demonstrate that maintained STAT3 activity suppresses p21 expression and promotes colony formation of Shh MB cells, whereas dual treatment with inhibitors of both Smo and STAT3 results in marked synergistic killing and overcomes drug resistance in vitro of Smo antagonist‐resistant Shh MB cells. Finally, STAT3 inhibitor treatment significantly prevents in vivo tumor formation in genetically engineered Shh MB mice. Collectively, we show that STAT3 is necessary to maintain Shh signaling and thus is a potential therapeutic target to treat Shh MB and overcome anti‐Smo drug resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liangping Yuan
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Hongying Zhang
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Jingbo Liu
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Anshu Malhotra
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Abhinav Dey
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Bing Yu
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Kishore Kumar Jella
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Leon F McSwain
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Matthew J Schniederjan
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
| | - Tobey J MacDonald
- Department of Pediatrics, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA.,Aflac Cancer & Blood Disorders Center, Children's Healthcare of Atlanta, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, USA
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Liu F, Shao J, Yang H, Yang G, Zhu Q, Wu Y, Zhu L, Wu H. Disruption of rack1 suppresses SHH-type medulloblastoma formation in mice. CNS Neurosci Ther 2021; 27:1518-1530. [PMID: 34480519 PMCID: PMC8611787 DOI: 10.1111/cns.13728] [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: 03/30/2021] [Revised: 08/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Medulloblastoma (MB) is a malignant pediatric brain tumor that arises in the cerebellar granular neurons. Sonic Hedgehog subtype of MB (SHH‐MB) is one of the major subtypes of MB in the clinic. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying MB tumorigenesis are still not fully understood. Aims Our previous work demonstrated that the receptor for activated C kinase 1 (Rack1) is essential for SHH signaling activation in granule neuron progenitors (GNPs) during cerebellar development. To investigate the potential role of Rack1 in MB development, human MB tissue array and SHH‐MB genetic mouse model were used to study the expression of function of Rack1 in MB pathogenesis. Results We found that the expression of Rack1 was significantly upregulated in the majority of human cerebellar MB tumors. Genetic ablation of Rack1 expression in SHH‐MB tumor mice could significantly inhibit MB proliferation, reduce the tumor size, and prolong the survival of tumor rescue mice. Interestingly, neither apoptosis nor autophagy levels were affected in Rack1‐deletion rescue mice compared to WT mice, but the expression of Gli1 and HDAC2 was significantly decreased suggesting the inactivation of SHH signaling pathway in rescue mice. Conclusion Our results demonstrated that Rack1 may serve as a potential candidate for the diagnostic marker and therapeutic target of MB, including SHH‐MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fengjiao Liu
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jingyuan Shao
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haihong Yang
- Department of Anesthesiology, The General Hospital of Western Theater Command, Chengdu, China
| | - Guochao Yang
- School of Basic Medicine, Qingdao University, Qingdao, China
| | - Qian Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yan Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Lingling Zhu
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Haitao Wu
- Department of Neurobiology, Beijing Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, Beijing, China.,Key Laboratory of Neuroregeneration, Co-innovation Center of Neuroregeneration, Nantong University, Nantong, China.,Chinese Institute for Brain Research, Beijing, China
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Armas P, Coux G, Weiner AMJ, Calcaterra NB. What's new about CNBP? Divergent functions and activities for a conserved nucleic acid binding protein. Biochim Biophys Acta Gen Subj 2021; 1865:129996. [PMID: 34474118 DOI: 10.1016/j.bbagen.2021.129996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/26/2021] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cellular nucleic acid binding protein (CNBP) is a conserved single-stranded nucleic acid binding protein present in most eukaryotes, but not in plants. Expansions in the CNBP gene cause myotonic dystrophy type 2. Initially reported as a transcriptional regulator, CNBP was then also identified acting as a translational regulator. SCOPE OF REVIEW The focus of this review was to link the CNBP structural features and newly reported biochemical activities with the recently described biological functions, in the context of its pathological significance. MAJOR CONCLUSIONS Several post-translational modifications affect CNBP subcellular localization and activity. CNBP participates in the transcriptional and translational regulation of a wide range of genes by remodeling single-stranded nucleic acid secondary structures and/or by modulating the activity of trans-acting factors. CNBP is required for proper neural crest and heart development, and plays a role in cell proliferation control. Besides, CNBP has been linked with neurodegenerative, inflammatory, and congenital diseases, as well as with tumor processes. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE This review provides an insight into the growing functions of CNBP in cell biology. A unique and robust mechanistic or biochemical connection among these roles has yet not been elucidated. However, the ability of CNBP to dynamically integrate signaling pathways and to act as nucleic acid chaperone may explain most of the roles and functions identified so far.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pablo Armas
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONIeCET), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Esmeralda y Ocampo 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Argentina
| | - Gabriela Coux
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONIeCET), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Esmeralda y Ocampo 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Argentina
| | - Andrea M J Weiner
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONIeCET), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Esmeralda y Ocampo 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Argentina
| | - Nora B Calcaterra
- Instituto de Biología Molecular y Celular de Rosario (IBR), Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas (CONIeCET), Facultad de Ciencias Bioquímicas y Farmacéuticas, Universidad Nacional de Rosario, Esmeralda y Ocampo 531, S2002LRK Rosario, Argentina.
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72
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Zheng T, Ghasemi DR, Okonechnikov K, Korshunov A, Sill M, Maass KK, Benites Goncalves da Silva P, Ryzhova M, Gojo J, Stichel D, Arabzade A, Kupp R, Benzel J, Taya S, Adachi T, Shiraishi R, Gerber NU, Sturm D, Ecker J, Sievers P, Selt F, Chapman R, Haberler C, Figarella-Branger D, Reifenberger G, Fleischhack G, Rutkowski S, Donson AM, Ramaswamy V, Capper D, Ellison DW, Herold-Mende CC, Schüller U, Brandner S, Driever PH, Kros JM, Snuderl M, Milde T, Grundy RG, Hoshino M, Mack SC, Gilbertson RJ, Jones DTW, Kool M, von Deimling A, Pfister SM, Sahm F, Kawauchi D, Pajtler KW. Cross-Species Genomics Reveals Oncogenic Dependencies in ZFTA/C11orf95 Fusion-Positive Supratentorial Ependymomas. Cancer Discov 2021; 11:2230-2247. [PMID: 33879448 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-0963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2020] [Revised: 02/16/2021] [Accepted: 04/16/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Molecular groups of supratentorial ependymomas comprise tumors with ZFTA-RELA or YAP1-involving fusions and fusion-negative subependymoma. However, occasionally supratentorial ependymomas cannot be readily assigned to any of these groups due to lack of detection of a typical fusion and/or ambiguous DNA methylation-based classification. An unbiased approach with a cohort of unprecedented size revealed distinct methylation clusters composed of tumors with ependymal but also various other histologic features containing alternative translocations that shared ZFTA as a partner gene. Somatic overexpression of ZFTA-associated fusion genes in the developing cerebral cortex is capable of inducing tumor formation in vivo, and cross-species comparative analyses identified GLI2 as a key downstream regulator of tumorigenesis in all tumors. Targeting GLI2 with arsenic trioxide caused extended survival of tumor-bearing animals, indicating a potential therapeutic vulnerability in ZFTA fusion-positive tumors. SIGNIFICANCE: ZFTA-RELA fusions are a hallmark feature of supratentorial ependymoma. We find that ZFTA acts as a partner for alternative transcriptional activators in oncogenic fusions of supratentorial tumors with various histologic characteristics. Establishing representative mouse models, we identify potential therapeutic targets shared by ZFTA fusion-positive tumors, such as GLI2.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 2113.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tuyu Zheng
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David R Ghasemi
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Konstantin Okonechnikov
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andrey Korshunov
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Martin Sill
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kendra K Maass
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Patricia Benites Goncalves da Silva
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marina Ryzhova
- Department of Neuropathology, NN Burdenko Neurosurgical Institute, Moscow, Russia
| | - Johannes Gojo
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine and Comprehensive Center for Pediatrics, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | - Damian Stichel
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Amir Arabzade
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
- Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Rice University, Houston, Texas
| | - Robert Kupp
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - Julia Benzel
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Faculty of Biosciences, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Shinichiro Taya
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Toma Adachi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Ryo Shiraishi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Nicolas U Gerber
- Department of Oncology, University Children's Hospital, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Dominik Sturm
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Pediatric Glioma Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jonas Ecker
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philipp Sievers
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Florian Selt
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Rebecca Chapman
- Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Christine Haberler
- Division of Neuropathology and Neurochemistry, Department of Neurology, Medical University of Vienna, Vienna, Austria
| | | | - Guido Reifenberger
- Institute of Neuropathology, Heinrich Heine University, Medical Faculty, Duesseldorf, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Essen/Duesseldorf, Germany
| | - Gudrun Fleischhack
- Pediatric Oncology and Hematology, Pediatrics III, University Hospital of Essen, Essen, Germany
| | - Stefan Rutkowski
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Andrew M Donson
- University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, Colorado
| | - Vijay Ramaswamy
- Department of Paediatrics, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - David Capper
- Department of Neuropathology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, corporate member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Berlin, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David W Ellison
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee
| | | | - Ulrich Schüller
- Department of Paediatric Haematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Institute, Children's Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Sebastian Brandner
- Division of Neuropathology, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology and The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, University College London Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom
- Department of Neurodegenerative Disease, UCL Queen Square Institute of Neurology, London, UK
| | - Pablo Hernáiz Driever
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, Charité-Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Corporate Member of Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, and Berlin Institute of Health, Berlin, Germany
| | - Johan M Kros
- Department of Pathology, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Matija Snuderl
- Division of Neuropathology, Department of Pathology, NYU Langone Health, New York, New York
| | - Till Milde
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Consortium for Translational Cancer Research (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Richard G Grundy
- Children's Brain Tumour Research Centre, School of Medicine, University of Nottingham, Nottingham, United Kingdom
| | - Mikio Hoshino
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Stephen C Mack
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology and Oncology, Baylor College of Medicine, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, Texas
| | - Richard J Gilbertson
- Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Li Ka Shing Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge, United Kingdom
| | - David T W Jones
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Pediatric Glioma Research Group, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Princess Máxima Centre for Paediatric Oncology, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Andreas von Deimling
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Felix Sahm
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Daisuke Kawauchi
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Institute of Neuroscience, NCNP, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Kristian W Pajtler
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany.
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Immunology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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Decoding the Roles of Astrocytes and Hedgehog Signaling in Medulloblastoma. ACTA ACUST UNITED AC 2021; 28:3058-3070. [PMID: 34436033 PMCID: PMC8395412 DOI: 10.3390/curroncol28040267] [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: 06/10/2021] [Revised: 08/01/2021] [Accepted: 08/04/2021] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
The molecular evolution of medulloblastoma is more complex than previously imagined, as emerging evidence suggests that multiple interactions between the tumor cells and components of the tumor microenvironment (TME) are important for tumor promotion and progression. The identification of several molecular networks within the TME, which interact with tumoral cells, has provided new clues to understand the tumorigenic roles of many TME components as well as potential therapeutic targets. In this review, we discuss the most recent studies regarding the roles of astrocytes in supporting sonic hedgehog (SHH) subgroup medulloblastoma (MB) and provide an overview of MB progression through SHH expression and signal transduction mechanisms into the complex tumor microenvironment. In addition, we highlight the associations between tumor and stromal cells as possible prognostic markers that could be targeted with new therapeutic strategies.
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74
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Adolphe C, Millar A, Kojic M, Barkauskas DS, Sundström A, Swartling FJ, Hediyeh-Zadeh S, Tan CW, Davis MJ, Genovesi LA, Wainwright BJ. SOX9 Defines Distinct Populations of Cells in SHH Medulloblastoma but Is Not Required for Math1-Driven Tumor Formation. Mol Cancer Res 2021; 19:1831-1839. [PMID: 34330843 DOI: 10.1158/1541-7786.mcr-21-0117] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/21/2021] [Revised: 05/18/2021] [Accepted: 07/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor and there is an urgent need for molecularly targeted and subgroup-specific therapies. The stem cell factor SOX9, has been proposed as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of Sonic Hedgehog medulloblastoma (SHH-MB) subgroup tumors, given its role as a downstream target of Hedgehog signaling and in functionally promoting SHH-MB metastasis and treatment resistance. However, the functional requirement for SOX9 in the genesis of medulloblastoma remains to be determined. Here we report a previously undocumented level of SOX9 expression exclusively in proliferating granule cell precursors (GCP) of the postnatal mouse cerebellum, which function as the medulloblastoma-initiating cells of SHH-MBs. Wild-type GCPs express comparatively lower levels of SOX9 than neural stem cells and mature astroglia and SOX9low GCP-like tumor cells constitute the bulk of both infant (Math1Cre:Ptch1lox/lox ) and adult (Ptch1LacZ/+ ) SHH-MB mouse models. Human medulloblastoma single-cell RNA data analyses reveal three distinct SOX9 populations present in SHH-MB and noticeably absent in other medulloblastoma subgroups: SOX9 + MATH1 + (GCP), SOX9 + GFAP + (astrocytes) and SOX9 + MATH1 + GFAP + (potential tumor-derived astrocytes). To functionally address whether SOX9 is required as a downstream effector of Hedgehog signaling in medulloblastoma tumor cells, we ablated Sox9 using a Math1Cre model system. Surprisingly, targeted ablation of Sox9 in GCPs (Math1Cre:Sox9lox/lox ) revealed no overt phenotype and loss of Sox9 in SHH-MB (Math1Cre:Ptch1lox/lox;Sox9lox/lox ) does not affect tumor formation. IMPLICATIONS: Despite preclinical data indicating SOX9 plays a key role in SHH-MB biology, our data argue against SOX9 as a viable therapeutic target.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christelle Adolphe
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Amanda Millar
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Marija Kojic
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Deborah S Barkauskas
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Anders Sundström
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Science For Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Fredrik J Swartling
- Department of Immunology, Genetics, and Pathology, Science For Life Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Soroor Hediyeh-Zadeh
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Chin Wee Tan
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Melissa J Davis
- Bioinformatics Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Medical Biology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.,Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Dentistry and Health Sciences, The University of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
| | - Laura A Genovesi
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brandon J Wainwright
- The University of Queensland Diamantina Institute, University of Queensland, Woolloongabba, Queensland, Australia.
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Ceccarelli M, D'Andrea G, Micheli L, Gentile G, Cavallaro S, Merlino G, Papoff G, Tirone F. Tumor Growth in the High Frequency Medulloblastoma Mouse Model Ptch1 +/-/Tis21 KO Has a Specific Activation Signature of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR Pathway and Is Counteracted by the PI3K Inhibitor MEN1611. Front Oncol 2021; 11:692053. [PMID: 34395258 PMCID: PMC8362831 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.692053] [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: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 07/12/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We have previously generated a mouse model (Ptch1+/−/Tis21KO), which displays high frequency spontaneous medulloblastoma, a pediatric tumor of the cerebellum. Early postnatal cerebellar granule cell precursors (GCPs) of this model show, in consequence of the deletion of Tis21, a defect of the Cxcl3-dependent migration. We asked whether this migration defect, which forces GCPs to remain in the proliferative area at the cerebellar surface, would be the only inducer of their high frequency transformation. In this report we show, by further bioinformatic analysis of our microarray data of Ptch1+/−/Tis21KO GCPs, that, in addition to the migration defect, they show activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway, as the mRNA levels of several activators of this pathway (e.g., Lars, Rraga, Dgkq, Pdgfd) are up-regulated, while some inhibitors (e.g. Smg1) are down-regulated. No such change is observed in the Ptch1+/− or Tis21KO background alone, indicating a peculiar synergy between these two genotypes. Thus we investigated, by mRNA and protein analysis, the role of PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling in MBs and in nodules from primary Ptch1+/−/Tis21KO MB allografted in the flanks of immunosuppressed mice. Activation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway is seen in full-blown Ptch1+/−/Tis21KO MBs, relative to Ptch1+/−/Tis21WT MBs. In Ptch1+/−/Tis21KO MBs we observe that the proliferation of neoplastic GCPs increases while apoptosis decreases, in parallel with hyper-phosphorylation of the mTOR target S6, and, to a lower extent, of AKT. In nodules derived from primary Ptch1+/−/Tis21KO MBs, treatment with MEN1611, a novel PI3K inhibitor, causes a dramatic reduction of tumor growth, inhibiting proliferation and, conversely, increasing apoptosis, also of tumor CD15+ stem cells, responsible for long-term relapses. Additionally, the phosphorylation of AKT, S6 and 4EBP1 was significantly inhibited, indicating inactivation of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Thus, PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway activation contributes to Ptch1+/−/Tis21KO MB development and to high frequency tumorigenesis, observed when the Tis21 gene is down-regulated. MEN1611 could provide a promising therapy for MB, especially for patient with down-regulation of Btg2 (human ortholog of the murine Tis21 gene), which is frequently deregulated in Shh-type MBs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Manuela Ceccarelli
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Giorgio D'Andrea
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Micheli
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Giulia Gentile
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Catania, Italy
| | - Sebastiano Cavallaro
- Institute for Biomedical Research and Innovation, National Research Council (IRIB-CNR), Catania, Italy
| | | | - Giuliana Papoff
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy
| | - Felice Tirone
- Institute of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, National Research Council (IBBC-CNR), Rome, Italy
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76
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Guo D, Wang Y, Cheng Y, Liao S, Hu J, Du F, Xu G, Liu Y, Cai KQ, Cheung M, Wainwright BJ, Lu QR, Zhao Y, Yang ZJ. Tumor cells generate astrocyte-like cells that contribute to SHH-driven medulloblastoma relapse. J Exp Med 2021; 218:212465. [PMID: 34254999 PMCID: PMC8282281 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20202350] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2020] [Revised: 04/26/2021] [Accepted: 06/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Astrocytes, a major glial cell type in the brain, play a critical role in supporting the progression of medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. Through lineage tracing analyses and single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrate that astrocytes are predominantly derived from the transdifferentiation of tumor cells in relapsed MB (but not in primary MB), although MB cells are generally believed to be neuronal-lineage committed. Such transdifferentiation of MB cells relies on Sox9, a transcription factor critical for gliogenesis. Our studies further reveal that bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) stimulate the transdifferentiation of MB cells by inducing the phosphorylation of Sox9. Pharmacological inhibition of BMP signaling represses MB cell transdifferentiation into astrocytes and suppresses tumor relapse. Our studies establish the distinct cellular sources of astrocytes in primary and relapsed MB and provide an avenue to prevent and treat MB relapse by targeting tumor cell transdifferentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duancheng Guo
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA.,Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yuan Wang
- Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Shengyou Liao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing, Advanced Computer Research Center, Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Jian Hu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Fang Du
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Gang Xu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Yongqiang Liu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Kathy Q Cai
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Martin Cheung
- School of Biomedical Sciences, Li Ka Shing Faculty of Medicine, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Brandon J Wainwright
- Institute for Molecular Bioscience, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Q Richard Lu
- Experimental Hematology and Cancer Biology, Brain Tumor Center, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH
| | - Yi Zhao
- Key Laboratory of Intelligent Information Processing, Advanced Computer Research Center, Institute of Computing Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zeng-Jie Yang
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA
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77
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Luo W, Lin GN, Song W, Zhang Y, Lai H, Zhang M, Miao J, Cheng X, Wang Y, Li W, Wei W, Gao WQ, Yang R, Wang J. Single-cell spatial transcriptomic analysis reveals common and divergent features of developing postnatal granule cerebellar cells and medulloblastoma. BMC Biol 2021; 19:135. [PMID: 34210306 PMCID: PMC8247169 DOI: 10.1186/s12915-021-01071-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2020] [Accepted: 06/09/2021] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Cerebellar neurogenesis involves the generation of large numbers of cerebellar granule neurons (GNs) throughout development of the cerebellum, a process that involves tight regulation of proliferation and differentiation of granule neuron progenitors (GNPs). A number of transcriptional regulators, including Math1, and the signaling molecules Wnt and Shh have been shown to have important roles in GNP proliferation and differentiation, and deregulation of granule cell development has been reported to be associated with the pathogenesis of medulloblastoma. While the progenitor/differentiation states of cerebellar granule cells have been broadly investigated, a more detailed association between developmental differentiation programs and spatial gene expression patterns, and how these lead to differential generation of distinct types of medulloblastoma remains poorly understood. Here, we provide a comparative single-cell spatial transcriptomics analysis to better understand the similarities and differences between developing granule and medulloblastoma cells. RESULTS To acquire an enhanced understanding of the precise cellular states of developing cerebellar granule cells, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of 24,919 murine cerebellar cells from granule neuron-specific reporter mice (Math1-GFP; Dcx-DsRed mice). Our single-cell analysis revealed that there are four major states of developing cerebellar granule cells, including two subsets of granule progenitors and two subsets of differentiating/differentiated granule neurons. Further spatial transcriptomics technology enabled visualization of their spatial locations in cerebellum. In addition, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing of 18,372 cells from Patched+/- mutant mice and found that the transformed granule cells in medulloblastoma closely resembled developing granule neurons of varying differentiation states. However, transformed granule neuron progenitors in medulloblastoma exhibit noticeably less tendency to differentiate compared with cells in normal development. CONCLUSION In sum, our study revealed the cellular and spatial organization of the detailed states of cerebellar granule cells and provided direct evidence for the similarities and discrepancies between normal cerebellar development and tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenqin Luo
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Rd., Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Guan Ning Lin
- School of Biomedical Engineering, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Weichen Song
- Shanghai Mental Health Center, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Yu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Rd., Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Huadong Lai
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Man Zhang
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Juju Miao
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Xiaomu Cheng
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China
| | - Yongjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Rd., Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Wang Li
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Rd., Shanghai, 200127, China
| | - Wenxiang Wei
- Department of Cell Biology, School of Medicine, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Wei-Qiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Rd., Shanghai, 200127, China.
- School of Biomedical Engineering & Med-X Research Institute, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai, 200030, China.
| | - Ru Yang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Rd., Shanghai, 200127, China.
| | - Jia Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related Genes, Renji-Med X Clinical Stem Cell Research Center, Ren Ji Hospital, School of Medicine, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, 160 Pujian Rd., Shanghai, 200127, China.
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78
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Martirosian V, Deshpande K, Zhou H, Shen K, Smith K, Northcott P, Lin M, Stepanosyan V, Das D, Remsik J, Isakov D, Boire A, De Feyter H, Hurth K, Li S, Wiemels J, Nakamura B, Shao L, Danilov C, Chen T, Neman J. Medulloblastoma uses GABA transaminase to survive in the cerebrospinal fluid microenvironment and promote leptomeningeal dissemination. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109302. [PMID: 34192534 PMCID: PMC8848833 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109302] [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: 07/08/2020] [Revised: 10/02/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a malignant pediatric brain tumor arising in the cerebellum. Although abnormal GABAergic receptor activation has been described in MB, studies have not yet elucidated the contribution of receptor-independent GABA metabolism to MB pathogenesis. We find primary MB tumors globally display decreased expression of GABA transaminase (ABAT), the protein responsible for GABA metabolism, compared with normal cerebellum. However, less aggressive WNT and SHH subtypes express higher ABAT levels compared with metastatic G3 and G4 tumors. We show that elevated ABAT expression results in increased GABA catabolism, decreased tumor cell proliferation, and induction of metabolic and histone characteristics mirroring GABAergic neurons. Our studies suggest ABAT expression fluctuates depending on metabolite changes in the tumor microenvironment, with nutrient-poor conditions upregulating ABAT expression. We find metastatic MB cells require ABAT to maintain viability in the metabolite-scarce cerebrospinal fluid by using GABA as an energy source substitute, thereby facilitating leptomeningeal metastasis formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahan Martirosian
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; USC Brain Tumor Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Krutika Deshpande
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; USC Brain Tumor Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Hao Zhou
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Keyue Shen
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, Viterbi School of Engineering, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Kyle Smith
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Paul Northcott
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Michelle Lin
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Vazgen Stepanosyan
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Diganta Das
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Jan Remsik
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Department of Neuro-Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Danielle Isakov
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Department of Neuro-Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Adrienne Boire
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Department of Neuro-Oncology, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY 10065, USA
| | - Henk De Feyter
- Magnetic Resonance Research Center, Department of Radiology and Biomedical Imaging, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT 06510, USA
| | - Kyle Hurth
- Department of Pathology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; USC Brain Tumor Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Shaobo Li
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Preventative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Joseph Wiemels
- Center for Genetic Epidemiology, Department of Preventative Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Brooke Nakamura
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Ling Shao
- Division of Gastrointestinal and Liver Diseases, Department of Medicine, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Camelia Danilov
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Thomas Chen
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; USC Brain Tumor Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA
| | - Josh Neman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA; USC Brain Tumor Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA 90089, USA.
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79
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Shiraishi R, Kawauchi D. Epigenetic regulation in medulloblastoma pathogenesis revealed by genetically engineered mouse models. Cancer Sci 2021; 112:2948-2957. [PMID: 34050694 PMCID: PMC8353939 DOI: 10.1111/cas.14990] [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: 04/07/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2021] [Accepted: 05/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant cerebellar tumor in children. Recent technological advances in multilayered ’omics data analysis have revealed 4 molecular subgroups of medulloblastoma (Wingless/int, Sonic hedgehog, Group3, and Group4). (Epi)genomic and transcriptomic profiling on human primary medulloblastomas has shown distinct oncogenic drivers and cellular origin(s) across the subgroups. Despite tremendous efforts to identify the molecular signals driving tumorigenesis, few of the identified targets were druggable; therefore, a further understanding of the etiology of tumors is required to establish effective molecular‐targeted therapies. Chromatin regulators are frequently mutated in medulloblastoma, prompting us to investigate epigenetic changes and the accompanying activation of oncogenic signaling during tumorigenesis. For this purpose, we have used germline and non‐germline genetically engineered mice to model human medulloblastoma and to conduct useful, molecularly targeted, preclinical studies. This review discusses the biological implications of chromatin regulator mutations during medulloblastoma pathogenesis, based on recent in vivo animal studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Shiraishi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan.,Department of NCNP Brain Physiology and Pathology, Graduate School of Medical and Dental Sciences, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Daisuke Kawauchi
- Department of Biochemistry and Cellular Biology, National Center of Neurology and Psychiatry (NCNP), Tokyo, Japan
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80
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Paul MR, Zage PE. Overview and recent advances in the targeting of medulloblastoma cancer stem cells. Expert Rev Anticancer Ther 2021; 21:957-974. [PMID: 34047251 DOI: 10.1080/14737140.2021.1932472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Introduction: Medulloblastoma, an embryonal small round blue cell tumor primarily arising in the posterior fossa, is the most common malignancy of the central nervous system in children and requires intensive multi-modality therapy for cure. Overall 5-year survival is approximately 75% in children with primary disease, but outcomes for relapsed disease are very poor. Recent advances have identified molecular subgroups with excellent prognosis, with 5-year overall survival rates >90%, and subgroups with very poor prognosis with overall survival rates <50%. Molecular subtyping has allowed for more sophisticated risk stratification of patients, but new treatments for the highest risk patients have not yet improved outcomes. Targeting cancer stem cells may improve outcomes, and several candidate targets and novel drugs are under investigation.Areas covered: We discuss medulloblastoma epidemiology, biology, treatment modalities, risk stratification, and molecular subgroup analysis, links between subgroup and developmental biology, cancer stem cell biology in medulloblastoma including previously described cancer stem cell markers and proposed targeted treatments in the current literature.Expert opinion: The understanding of cancer stem cells in medulloblastoma will advance therapies targeting the most treatment-resistant cells within the tumor and therefore reduce the incidence of treatment refractory and relapsed disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Megan Rose Paul
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA (M.R.P., P.E.Z.); Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
| | - Peter E Zage
- Department of Pediatrics, Division of Hematology-Oncology, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, California, USA (M.R.P., P.E.Z.); Peckham Center for Cancer and Blood Disorders, Rady Children's Hospital-San Diego, San Diego, California, USA
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81
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Ballabio C, Gianesello M, Lago C, Okonechnikov K, Anderle M, Aiello G, Antonica F, Zhang T, Gianno F, Giangaspero F, Hassan BA, Pfister SM, Tiberi L. Notch1 switches progenitor competence in inducing medulloblastoma. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/26/eabd2781. [PMID: 34162555 PMCID: PMC8221631 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd2781] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/11/2020] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
The identity of the cell of origin is a key determinant of cancer subtype, progression, and prognosis. Group 3 medulloblastoma (MB) is a malignant childhood brain cancer with poor prognosis and few candidates as putative cell of origin. We overexpressed the group 3 MB genetic drivers MYC and Gfi1 in different candidate cells of origin in the postnatal mouse cerebellum. We found that S100b+ cells are competent to initiate group 3 MB, and we observed that S100b+ cells have higher levels of Notch1 pathway activity compared to Math1+ cells. We found that additional activation of Notch1 in Math1+ and Sox2+ cells was sufficient to induce group 3 MB upon MYC/Gfi1 expression. Together, our data suggest that the Notch1 pathway plays a critical role in group 3 MB initiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Claudio Ballabio
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Matteo Gianesello
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Chiara Lago
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Konstantin Okonechnikov
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer Consortium, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marica Anderle
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Aiello
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Francesco Antonica
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Tingting Zhang
- Paris Brain Institute-Institut du Cerveau, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 8, Paris, France
| | - Francesca Gianno
- Dept. of Radiologic, Oncologic and Anatomo Pathological Sciences, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
| | - Felice Giangaspero
- Dept. of Radiologic, Oncologic and Anatomo Pathological Sciences, University Sapienza of Rome, Rome, Italy
- IRCCS Neuromed, Pozzilli, Isernia, Italy
| | - Bassem A Hassan
- Paris Brain Institute-Institut du Cerveau, Sorbonne Université, Inserm, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, 8, Paris, France
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer Consortium, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Luca Tiberi
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Cancer, Department CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy.
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82
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Zhang T, Liu T, Mora N, Guegan J, Bertrand M, Contreras X, Hansen AH, Streicher C, Anderle M, Danda N, Tiberi L, Hippenmeyer S, Hassan BA. Generation of excitatory and inhibitory neurons from common progenitors via Notch signaling in the cerebellum. Cell Rep 2021; 35:109208. [PMID: 34107249 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2021.109208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2020] [Revised: 03/29/2021] [Accepted: 05/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Brain neurons arise from relatively few progenitors generating an enormous diversity of neuronal types. Nonetheless, a cardinal feature of mammalian brain neurogenesis is thought to be that excitatory and inhibitory neurons derive from separate, spatially segregated progenitors. Whether bi-potential progenitors with an intrinsic capacity to generate both lineages exist and how such a fate decision may be regulated are unknown. Using cerebellar development as a model, we discover that individual progenitors can give rise to both inhibitory and excitatory lineages. Gradations of Notch activity determine the fates of the progenitors and their daughters. Daughters with the highest levels of Notch activity retain the progenitor fate, while intermediate levels of Notch activity generate inhibitory neurons, and daughters with very low levels of Notch signaling adopt the excitatory fate. Therefore, Notch-mediated binary cell fate choice is a mechanism for regulating the ratio of excitatory to inhibitory neurons from common progenitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tingting Zhang
- Institut du Cerveau (ICM), Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France; Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Tengyuan Liu
- Institut du Cerveau (ICM), Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France; Doctoral School of Biomedical Sciences, KU Leuven, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Natalia Mora
- Institut du Cerveau (ICM), Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Justine Guegan
- Institut du Cerveau (ICM), Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Mathilde Bertrand
- Institut du Cerveau (ICM), Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Ximena Contreras
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Andi H Hansen
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Carmen Streicher
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Marica Anderle
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Natasha Danda
- Institut du Cerveau (ICM), Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France
| | - Luca Tiberi
- Armenise-Harvard Laboratory of Brain Disorders and Cancer, CIBIO, University of Trento, Via Sommarive 9, 38123 Trento, Italy
| | - Simon Hippenmeyer
- Institute of Science and Technology Austria, Am Campus 1, 3400 Klosterneuburg, Austria
| | - Bassem A Hassan
- Institut du Cerveau (ICM), Sorbonne Université, INSERM, CNRS, Hôpital Pitié-Salpêtrière, Paris, France.
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83
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Malawsky DS, Weir SJ, Ocasio JK, Babcock B, Dismuke T, Cleveland AH, Donson AM, Vibhakar R, Wilhelmsen K, Gershon TR. Cryptic developmental events determine medulloblastoma radiosensitivity and cellular heterogeneity without altering transcriptomic profile. Commun Biol 2021; 4:616. [PMID: 34021242 PMCID: PMC8139976 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02099-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
It is unclear why medulloblastoma patients receiving similar treatments experience different outcomes. Transcriptomic profiling identified subgroups with different prognoses, but in each subgroup, individuals remain at risk of incurable recurrence. To investigate why similar-appearing tumors produce variable outcomes, we analyzed medulloblastomas triggered in transgenic mice by a common driver mutation expressed at different points in brain development. We genetically engineered mice to express oncogenic SmoM2, starting in multipotent glio-neuronal stem cells, or committed neural progenitors. Both groups developed medulloblastomas with similar transcriptomic profiles. We compared medulloblastoma progression, radiosensitivity, and cellular heterogeneity, determined by single-cell transcriptomic analysis (scRNA-seq). Stem cell-triggered medulloblastomas progressed faster, contained more OLIG2-expressing stem-like cells, and consistently showed radioresistance. In contrast, progenitor-triggered MBs progressed slower, down-regulated stem-like cells and were curable with radiation. Progenitor-triggered medulloblastomas also contained more diverse stromal populations, with more Ccr2+ macrophages and fewer Igf1+ microglia, indicating that developmental events affected the subsequent tumor microenvironment. Reduced mTORC1 activity in M-Smo tumors suggests that differential Igf1 contributed to differences in phenotype. Developmental events in tumorigenesis that were obscure in transcriptomic profiles thus remained cryptic determinants of tumor composition and outcome. Precise understanding of medulloblastoma pathogenesis and prognosis requires supplementing transcriptomic/methylomic studies with analyses that resolve cellular heterogeneity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Shiloh Malawsky
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Seth J Weir
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Jennifer Karin Ocasio
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Benjamin Babcock
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Taylor Dismuke
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Abigail H Cleveland
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- UNC Cancer Cell Biology Training Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Andrew M Donson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's, Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Rajeev Vibhakar
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA
- Morgan Adams Foundation Pediatric Brain Tumor Research Program, Children's, Hospital Colorado, Aurora, CO, USA
| | - Kirk Wilhelmsen
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Department of Genetics, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- RENCI, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Timothy R Gershon
- Department of Neurology, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- UNC Neuroscience Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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84
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Depletion of kinesin motor KIF20A to target cell fate control suppresses medulloblastoma tumour growth. Commun Biol 2021; 4:552. [PMID: 33976373 PMCID: PMC8113472 DOI: 10.1038/s42003-021-02075-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
During mammalian brain development, neural progenitor cells proliferate extensively but can ensure the production of correct numbers of various types of mature cells by balancing symmetric proliferative versus asymmetric differentiative cell divisions. This process of cell fate determination may be harnessed for developing cancer therapy. Here, we test this idea by targeting KIF20A, a mitotic kinesin crucial for the control of cell division modes, in a genetic model of medulloblastoma (MB) and human MB cells. Inducible Kif20a knockout in both normal and MB-initiating granule neuron progenitors (GNPs) causes early cell cycle exit and precocious neuronal differentiation without causing cytokinesis failure and suppresses the development of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH)-activated MB. Inducible KIF20A knockdown in human MB cells inhibits proliferation both in cultures and in growing tumors. Our results indicate that targeting the fate specification process of nascent daughter cells presents a novel avenue for developing anti-proliferation treatment for malignant brain tumors. Runxiang Qiu et al find that conditional knockout of Kif20a, a regulator of cytokinesis and neural progenitor cell fate, induces early cell cycle exit and precocious neuronal differentiation of cerebellar granule neuron progenitors. They show that Kif20a depletion suppresses tumour formation in genetic and xenograft mouse models of medulloblastoma, indicating the value of targeting daughter cell fate specification.
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85
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Marca JEL, Somers WG. The Drosophila gonads: models for stem cell proliferation, self-renewal, and differentiation. AIMS GENETICS 2021. [DOI: 10.3934/genet.2014.1.55] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
AbstractThe male and female gonads of Drosophila melanogaster have developed into powerful model systems for both the study of stem cell behaviours, and for understanding how stem cell misregulation can lead to cancers. Using these systems, one is able to observe and manipulate the resident stem cell populations in vivo with a great deal of licence. The tractability of the testis and ovary also allow researchers to explore a range of cellular mechanisms, such as proliferation and polarity, as well as the influence exerted by the local environment through a host of highly-conserved signalling pathways. Importantly, many of the cellular behaviours and processes studied in the Drosophila testis and ovary are known to be disrupted, or otherwise misregulated, in human tumourigenic cells. Here, we review the mechanisms relating to stem cell behaviour, though we acknowledge there are many other fascinating aspects of gametogenesis, including the invasive behaviour of migratory border cells in the Drosophila ovary that, though relevant to the study of tumourigenesis, will unfortunately not be covered.
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Affiliation(s)
- John E. La Marca
- Department of Genetics, La Trobe University, Melbourne, VIC 3086, Australia
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86
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Cheng Y, Liao S, Xu G, Hu J, Guo D, Du F, Contreras A, Cai KQ, Peri S, Wang Y, Corney DC, Noronha AM, Chau LQ, Zhou G, Wiest DL, Bellacosa A, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Zhao Y, Yang ZJ. NeuroD1 Dictates Tumor Cell Differentiation in Medulloblastoma. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107782. [PMID: 32579914 PMCID: PMC7357167 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.107782] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/06/2019] [Revised: 04/01/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Tumor cells are characterized by unlimited proliferation and perturbed differentiation. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we demonstrate that tumor cells in medulloblastoma (MB) retain their capacity to differentiate in a similar way as their normal originating cells, cerebellar granule neuron precursors. Once they differentiate, MB cells permanently lose their proliferative capacity and tumorigenic potential. Differentiated MB cells highly express NeuroD1, a helix-loop-helix transcription factor, and forced expression of NeuroD1 promotes the differentiation of MB cells. The expression of NeuroD1 in bulk MB cells is repressed by trimethylation of histone 3 lysine-27 (H3K27me3). Inhibition of the histone lysine methyltransferase EZH2 prevents H3K27 trimethylation, resulting in increased NeuroD1 expression and enhanced differentiation in MB cells, which consequently reduces tumor growth. These studies reveal the mechanisms underlying MB cell differentiation and provide rationales to treat MB (potentially other malignancies) by stimulating tumor cell differentiation. Cheng et al. demonstrate that medulloblastoma cells retain the capacity to undergo differentiation. The differentiation of tumor cells is regulated by NeuroD1 expression, which is repressed by H3K27me3 in tumor cells. EZH2 inhibitors suppress medulloblastoma growth by stimulating tumor cell differentiation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan Cheng
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Shengyou Liao
- Bioinformatics Research Group, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Gang Xu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Jian Hu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA; Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Duancheng Guo
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - Fang Du
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alejandra Contreras
- Blood Cell Development and Function, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Kathy Q Cai
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Suraj Peri
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yuan Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, China
| | - David C Corney
- Genomics and Molecular Genetics, GENEWIZ Co., South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | | | - Lianne Q Chau
- Tumor Initiation& Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Ginger Zhou
- Genomics and Molecular Genetics, GENEWIZ Co., South Plainfield, NJ, USA
| | - David L Wiest
- Blood Cell Development and Function, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Alfonso Bellacosa
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Robert J Wechsler-Reya
- Tumor Initiation& Maintenance Program, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Yi Zhao
- Bioinformatics Research Group, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Zeng-Jie Yang
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
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87
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Selvadurai HJ, Luis E, Desai K, Lan X, Vladoiu MC, Whitley O, Galvin C, Vanner RJ, Lee L, Whetstone H, Kushida M, Nowakowski T, Diamandis P, Hawkins C, Bader G, Kriegstein A, Taylor MD, Dirks PB. Medulloblastoma Arises from the Persistence of a Rare and Transient Sox2 + Granule Neuron Precursor. Cell Rep 2021; 31:107511. [PMID: 32294450 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.075] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2019] [Revised: 08/10/2019] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a neoplasm linked to dysregulated cerebellar development. Previously, we demonstrated that the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) subgroup grows hierarchically, with Sox2+ cells at the apex of tumor progression and relapse. To test whether this mechanism is rooted in a normal developmental process, we studied the role of Sox2 in cerebellar development. We find that the external germinal layer (EGL) is derived from embryonic Sox2+ precursors and that the EGL maintains a rare fraction of Sox2+ cells during the first postnatal week. Through lineage tracing and single-cell analysis, we demonstrate that these Sox2+ cells are within the Atoh1+ lineage, contribute extensively to adult granule neurons, and resemble Sox2+ tumor cells. Critically, constitutive activation of the SHH pathway leads to their aberrant persistence in the EGL and rapid tumor onset. We propose that failure to eliminate this rare but potent developmental population is the tumor initiation mechanism in SHH-subgroup MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hayden J Selvadurai
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Erika Luis
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Kinjal Desai
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Xiaoyang Lan
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Maria C Vladoiu
- Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Owen Whitley
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, ON M5T 1W1, Canada
| | - Ciaran Galvin
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Robert J Vanner
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Lilian Lee
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Heather Whetstone
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Michelle Kushida
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Tomasz Nowakowski
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Phedias Diamandis
- Department of Pathology, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada; Division of Pathology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Cynthia Hawkins
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Pathology, Toronto General Hospital, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 2C4, Canada; Division of Pathology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Gary Bader
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; The Donnelly Centre, University of Toronto, ON M5T 1W1, Canada
| | - Arnold Kriegstein
- Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regeneration Medicine and Stem Cell Research, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada
| | - Peter B Dirks
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada; Division of Neurosurgery, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5S 1A8, Canada.
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88
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Curry RN, Glasgow SM. The Role of Neurodevelopmental Pathways in Brain Tumors. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:659055. [PMID: 34012965 PMCID: PMC8127784 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.659055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/26/2021] [Accepted: 03/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Disruptions to developmental cell signaling pathways and transcriptional cascades have been implicated in tumor initiation, maintenance and progression. Resurgence of aberrant neurodevelopmental programs in the context of brain tumors highlights the numerous parallels that exist between developmental and oncologic mechanisms. A deeper understanding of how dysregulated developmental factors contribute to brain tumor oncogenesis and disease progression will help to identify potential therapeutic targets for these malignancies. In this review, we summarize the current literature concerning developmental signaling cascades and neurodevelopmentally-regulated transcriptional programs. We also examine their respective contributions towards tumor initiation, maintenance, and progression in both pediatric and adult brain tumors and highlight relevant differentiation therapies and putative candidates for prospective treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rachel N. Curry
- Department of Neuroscience, Baylor College of Medicine, Center for Cell and Gene Therapy, Houston, TX, United States
- Integrative Molecular and Biomedical Sciences, Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX, United States
| | - Stacey M. Glasgow
- Neurobiology Section, Division of Biological Sciences, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Neurosciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
- Biomedical Sciences Graduate Program, University of California, San Diego, San Diego, CA, United States
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89
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Zaragoza-Ojeda M, Apatiga-Vega E, Arenas-Huertero F. Role of aryl hydrocarbon receptor in central nervous system tumors: Biological and therapeutic implications. Oncol Lett 2021; 21:460. [PMID: 33907570 PMCID: PMC8063300 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2021.12721] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 01/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is a ligand-activated transcription factor, whose canonical pathway mainly regulates the genes involved in xenobiotic metabolism. However, it can also regulate several responses in a non-canonical manner, such as proliferation, differentiation, cell death and cell adhesion. AhR plays an important role in central nervous system tumors, as it can regulate several cellular responses via different pathways. The polymorphisms of the AHR gene have been associated with the development of gliomas. In addition, the metabolism of tumor cells promotes tumor growth, particularly in tryptophan synthesis, where some metabolites, such as kynurenine, can activate the AhR pathway, triggering cell proliferation in astrocytomas, medulloblastomas and glioblastomas. Furthermore, as part of the changes in neuroblastomas, AHR is able to downregulate the expression of proto-oncogene c-Myc, induce differentiation in tumor cells, and cause cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. Collectively, these data suggested that the modulation of the AhR pathway may downregulate tumor growth, providing a novel strategy for applications for the treatment of certain tumors through the control of the AhR pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Montserrat Zaragoza-Ojeda
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Patología Experimental, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City 06720, México.,Posgrado en Ciencias Biológicas, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Mexico City 04510, México
| | - Elisa Apatiga-Vega
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Patología Experimental, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City 06720, México
| | - Francisco Arenas-Huertero
- Laboratorio de Investigación en Patología Experimental, Hospital Infantil de México Federico Gómez, Mexico City 06720, México
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90
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Li Z, Langhans SA. In Vivo and Ex Vivo Pediatric Brain Tumor Models: An Overview. Front Oncol 2021; 11:620831. [PMID: 33869004 PMCID: PMC8047472 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.620831] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2020] [Accepted: 03/15/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
After leukemia, tumors of the brain and spine are the second most common form of cancer in children. Despite advances in treatment, brain tumors remain a leading cause of death in pediatric cancer patients and survivors often suffer from life-long consequences of side effects of therapy. The 5-year survival rates, however, vary widely by tumor type, ranging from over 90% in more benign tumors to as low as 20% in the most aggressive forms such as glioblastoma. Even within historically defined tumor types such as medulloblastoma, molecular analysis identified biologically heterogeneous subgroups each with different genetic alterations, age of onset and prognosis. Besides molecularly driven patient stratification to tailor disease risk to therapy intensity, such a diversity demonstrates the need for more precise and disease-relevant pediatric brain cancer models for research and drug development. Here we give an overview of currently available in vitro and in vivo pediatric brain tumor models and discuss the opportunities that new technologies such as 3D cultures and organoids that can bridge limitations posed by the simplicity of monolayer cultures and the complexity of in vivo models, bring to accommodate better precision in drug development for pediatric brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Sigrid A. Langhans
- Nemours Biomedical Research, Alfred I. duPont Hospital for Children, Wilmington, DE, United States
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91
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Dash RC, Wen J, Zaino AM, Morel SR, Chau LQ, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Hadden MK. Structure-based virtual screening identifies an 8-hydroxyquinoline as a small molecule GLI1 inhibitor. Mol Ther Oncolytics 2021; 20:265-276. [PMID: 33614910 PMCID: PMC7873571 DOI: 10.1016/j.omto.2021.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
The glioma-associated family of transcription factors (GLI) have emerged as a promising therapeutic target for a variety of human cancers. In particular, GLI1 plays a central role as a transcriptional regulator for multiple oncogenic signaling pathways, including the hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway. We undertook a computational screening approach to identify small molecules that directly bind GLI1 for potential development as inhibitors of GLI-mediated transcription. Through these studies, we identified compound 1, which is an 8-hydroxyquinoline, as a high-affinity binder of GLI1. Compound 1 inhibits GLI1-mediated transcriptional activity in several Hh-dependent cellular models, including a primary model of murine medulloblastoma. We also performed a series of computational analyses to define more clearly the mechanism(s) through which 1 inhibits GLI1 function after binding. Our results strongly suggest that binding of 1 to GLI1 does not prevent GLI1/DNA binding nor disrupt the GLI1/DNA complex, but rather, it induces specific conformational changes in the overall complex that prevent proper GLI function. These results highlight the potential of this compound for further development as an anti-cancer agent that targets GLI1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Radha Charan Dash
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, 69 N. Eagleville Rd., Unit 3092, Storrs, CT 06269-3092, USA
| | - Jiachen Wen
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, 69 N. Eagleville Rd., Unit 3092, Storrs, CT 06269-3092, USA
| | - Angela M. Zaino
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, 69 N. Eagleville Rd., Unit 3092, Storrs, CT 06269-3092, USA
| | - Shana R. Morel
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, 69 N. Eagleville Rd., Unit 3092, Storrs, CT 06269-3092, USA
| | - Lianne Q. Chau
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Robert J. Wechsler-Reya
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, 10901 North Torrey Pines Road, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - M. Kyle Hadden
- Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Connecticut, 69 N. Eagleville Rd., Unit 3092, Storrs, CT 06269-3092, USA
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92
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Yang Y, Qu Y, Cheng Y, Guo D, Fan Q, Yang ZJ. Purification of differentiated tumor cells from medulloblastoma for transplantation into mouse cerebellum. STAR Protoc 2021; 2:100409. [PMID: 33870218 PMCID: PMC8039855 DOI: 10.1016/j.xpro.2021.100409] [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: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
This protocol provides the procedures for isolating differentiated tumor cells from medulloblastoma (MB) in mice. Procedures for transplantation into cerebella are also included to examine the tumorigenesis of differentiated MB cells. This protocol outlines the detailed steps required for (1) isolation of tumor cells from mouse MB, (2) purification of differentiated tumor cells by fluorescence-activated cell sorting, and (3) transplantation of tumor cells into cerebella. This protocol is useful to purify differentiated tumor cells for investigating mechanisms underlying MB progression. For complete details on the use and execution of this protocol, please refer to Cheng et. al. (2020). Procedures for isolating tumor cells from mouse medulloblastoma Purification of differentiated medulloblastoma cells by FACS Technical details for injecting live tumor cells into mouse cerebella
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Affiliation(s)
- Yijun Yang
- Cancer biology program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Yanghui Qu
- Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Yan Cheng
- Cancer biology program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - Duancheng Guo
- Cancer biology program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Qianhai Fan
- Cancer biology program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA.,Pediatric Cancer Center, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Zeng-Jie Yang
- Cancer biology program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA, USA
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93
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Xue Y, Fu Y, Zhao F, Gui G, Li Y, Rivero-Hinojosa S, Liu G, Li Y, Xia S, Eberhart CG, Ying M. Frondoside A Inhibits an MYC-Driven Medulloblastoma Model Derived from Human-Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells. Mol Cancer Ther 2021; 20:1199-1209. [PMID: 33722850 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-20-0603] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/15/2020] [Revised: 12/17/2020] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. MYC-driven MBs, commonly found in the group 3 MB, are aggressive and metastatic with the worst prognosis. Modeling MYC-driven MB is the foundation of therapeutic development. Here, we applied a synthetic mRNA-driven strategy to generate neuronal precursors from human-induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs). These neuronal precursors were transformed by the MYC oncogene combined with p53 loss of function to establish an MYC-driven MB model recapitulating the histologic and transcriptomic hallmarks of group 3 MB. We further show that the marine compound Frondoside A (FA) effectively inhibits this MYC-driven MB model without affecting isogenic neuronal precursors with undetectable MYC expression. Consistent results from a panel of MB models support that MYC levels are positively correlated with FA's antitumor potency. Next, we show that FA suppresses MYC expression and its downstream gene targets in MB cells, suggesting a potential mechanism underlying FA's inhibitory effects on MYC-driven cancers. In orthotopic xenografts of MYC-driven MB, intratumoral FA administration potently induces cytotoxicity in tumor xenografts, significantly extends the survival of tumor-bearing animals, and enhances the recruitment of microglia/macrophages and cytotoxic T lymphocytes to tumors. Moreover, we show that MYC levels also predict FA potency in glioblastoma and non-small cell lung cancer cells. Taken together, this study provides an efficient human iPSC-based strategy for personalizable cancer modeling, widely applicable to mechanistic studies (e.g., genetic predisposition to cancer) and drug discovery. Our preclinical results justify the clinical translation of FA in treating MYC-driven MB and other human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yingchao Xue
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yi Fu
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Fenghong Zhao
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Gege Gui
- Department of Biostatistics, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yuguo Li
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Samuel Rivero-Hinojosa
- Center for Cancer and Immunology Research, Children's National Research Institute, Washington, District of Columbia
| | - Guanshu Liu
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Radiology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Yunqing Li
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Shuli Xia
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland.,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Charles G Eberhart
- Department of Pathology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Mingyao Ying
- Hugo W. Moser Research Institute at Kennedy Krieger, Baltimore, Maryland. .,Department of Neurology, Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
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94
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Werbowetski-Ogilvie TE. From sorting to sequencing in the molecular era: the evolution of the cancer stem cell model in medulloblastoma. FEBS J 2021; 289:1765-1778. [PMID: 33714236 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15817] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/10/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
The cancer stem cell (CSC) model posits that tumors contain subpopulations that display defining features of normal stem cells including self-renewal capacity and differentiation. Tumor cells exhibiting these features are now considered to be responsible for tumor propagation and drug resistance in a wide variety of cancers. Therefore, the identification of robust CSC markers and characterization of CSC-specific molecular signatures may lead to the identification of novel therapeutics that selectively abolish this clinically relevant cell population while preserving normal tissue. Brain tumor researchers have been at the forefront of the CSC field. From initial in vitro cell sorting experiments to the sophisticated bioinformatic technologies that now exquisitely resolve primary brain tumors at a single-cell level, recent glioma and medulloblastoma (MB) studies have integrated developmental state with genomic and transcriptome data to identify the spectrum of cell types that may drive tumor progression. This review will examine the last two decades of CSC studies in the field. Seminal discoveries, emerging controversies, and outstanding questions will be covered with a particular focus on MB, the most common malignant primary brain tumor in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tamra E Werbowetski-Ogilvie
- Department of Biochemistry and Medical Genetics and Regenerative Medicine Program, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada.,Research Institute in Oncology and Hematology, CancerCare Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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95
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Di Magno L, Manni S, Di Pastena F, Coni S, Macone A, Cairoli S, Sambucci M, Infante P, Moretti M, Petroni M, Nicoletti C, Capalbo C, De Smaele E, Di Marcotullio L, Giannini G, Battistini L, Goffredo BM, Iorio E, Agostinelli E, Maroder M, Canettieri G. Phenformin Inhibits Hedgehog-Dependent Tumor Growth through a Complex I-Independent Redox/Corepressor Module. Cell Rep 2021; 30:1735-1752.e7. [PMID: 32049007 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.01.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2018] [Revised: 12/16/2019] [Accepted: 01/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The antidiabetic drug phenformin displays potent anticancer activity in different tumors, but its mechanism of action remains elusive. Using Shh medulloblastoma as model, we show here that at clinically relevant concentrations, phenformin elicits a significant therapeutic effect through a redox-dependent but complex I-independent mechanism. Phenformin inhibits mitochondrial glycerophosphate dehydrogenase (mGPD), a component of the glycerophosphate shuttle, and causes elevations of intracellular NADH content. Inhibition of mGPD mimics phenformin action and promotes an association between corepressor CtBP2 and Gli1, thereby inhibiting Hh transcriptional output and tumor growth. Because ablation of CtBP2 abrogates the therapeutic effect of phenformin in mice, these data illustrate a biguanide-mediated redox/corepressor interplay, which may represent a relevant target for tumor therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Di Magno
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Manni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Fiorella Di Pastena
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Sonia Coni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Alberto Macone
- Department of Biochemical Sciences A. Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy
| | - Sara Cairoli
- Division of Metabolism and Research Unit of metabolic Biochemistry, Children's Hospital and Research Institute Bambino Gesù IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Manolo Sambucci
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Neuroimmunology Unit, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Infante
- Center for Life Nano Science@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marta Moretti
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Marialaura Petroni
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Carmine Nicoletti
- Department of Anatomy, Histology, Forensic Medicine and Orthopaedics, Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Capalbo
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Lucia Di Marcotullio
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; Istituto Pasteur, Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppe Giannini
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Luca Battistini
- IRCCS Santa Lucia Foundation, Neuroimmunology Unit, 00143 Rome, Italy
| | - Bianca Maria Goffredo
- Division of Metabolism and Research Unit of metabolic Biochemistry, Children's Hospital and Research Institute Bambino Gesù IRCCS, 00146 Rome, Italy
| | - Egidio Iorio
- Core Facilities, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Enzo Agostinelli
- Department of Biochemical Sciences A. Rossi Fanelli, Sapienza University of Rome, 00185 Rome, Italy; International Polyamines Foundation-ONLUS, 00159 Rome, Italy
| | - Marella Maroder
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy
| | - Gianluca Canettieri
- Department of Molecular Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; Istituto Pasteur, Fondazione Cenci-Bolognetti, Sapienza University of Rome, 00161 Rome, Italy; International Polyamines Foundation-ONLUS, 00159 Rome, Italy.
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96
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Panagopoulos D, Karydakis P, Giakoumettis D, Themistocleous M. The 100 most cited papers about medulloblastomas. INTERDISCIPLINARY NEUROSURGERY 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.inat.2020.100855] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
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97
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Statins repress hedgehog signaling in medulloblastoma with no bone toxicities. Oncogene 2021; 40:2258-2272. [PMID: 33649536 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-021-01701-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2020] [Revised: 01/30/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
The Hedgehog (Hh) pathway plays an indispensable role in bone development and genetic activation of the pathway results in medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant brain tumor in children. Inhibitors of Hh pathway (such as vismodegib and sonedigib), which are used to treat MB, cause irreversible defects in bone growth in young children. Cholesterol is required for the activation of the Hh pathway, and statins, inhibitors of cholesterol biosynthesis, suppress MB growth by repressing Hh signaling in tumor cells. Here, we investigate the role of cholesterol biosynthesis in the proliferation and Hh signaling in chondrocytes, and examine the bone development in mice after statin treatment. Statins significantly inhibited MB growth in young mice, but caused no defects in bone development. Conditional deletion of NADP steroid dehydrogenase-like (NSDHL), an enzyme necessary for cholesterol biosynthesis, suppressed cholesterol synthesis in chondrocytes, and disrupted the growth plate in mouse femur and tibia, indicating the important function of intracellular cholesterol in bone development. Hh pathway activation and the proliferation of chondrocytes were inhibited by statin treatment in vitro; however, statins did not impair bone growth in vivo due to insufficient penetration into the bone. Our studies reveal a critical role of cholesterol in bone development, and support the utilization of statins for treatment of MB as well as other Hh pathway-associated malignancies.
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98
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Iegiani G, Gai M, Di Cunto F, Pallavicini G. CENPE Inhibition Leads to Mitotic Catastrophe and DNA Damage in Medulloblastoma Cells. Cancers (Basel) 2021; 13:cancers13051028. [PMID: 33804489 PMCID: PMC7957796 DOI: 10.3390/cancers13051028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/18/2021] [Revised: 02/17/2021] [Accepted: 02/24/2021] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most frequent brain tumor in children. The standard treatment consists in surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These therapies are only partially effective, since many patients still die and those who survive suffer from neurological and endocrine disorders. Therefore, more effective therapies are needed. CENPE is a gene critical for normal proliferation and survival of neural progenitors. Since there is evidence that MB cells are very similar to neural progenitors, we hypothesized that CENPE could be an effective target for MB treatment. In MB cell lines, CENPE depletion induced defects in division and resulted in cell death. To consolidate CENPE as a target for MB treatment, we tested GSK923295, a specific inhibitor already in clinical trials for other cancer types. GSK923295 induced effects similar to CENPE depletion at low nM levels, supporting the idea that CENPE’s inhibition could be a viable strategy for MB treatment. Abstract Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most frequent brain tumor in children. The standard treatment consists in surgery, followed by radiotherapy and chemotherapy. These therapies are only partially effective since many patients still die and those who survive suffer from neurological and endocrine disorders. Therefore, more effective therapies are needed. Primary microcephaly (MCPH) is a rare disorder caused by mutations in 25 different genes. Centromere-associated protein E (CENPE) heterozygous mutations cause the MCPH13 syndrome. As for other MCPH genes, CENPE is required for normal proliferation and survival of neural progenitors. Since there is evidence that MB shares many molecular features with neural progenitors, we hypothesized that CENPE could be an effective target for MB treatment. In ONS-76 and DAOY cells, CENPE knockdown induced mitotic defects and apoptosis. Moreover, CENPE depletion induced endogenous DNA damage accumulation, activating TP53 or TP73 as well as cell death signaling pathways. To consolidate CENPE as a target for MB treatment, we tested GSK923295, an allosteric inhibitor already in clinical trial for other cancer types. GSK923295, induced effects similar to CENPE depletion with higher penetrance, at low nM levels, suggesting that CENPE’s inhibition could be a therapeutic strategy for MB treatment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giorgia Iegiani
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, 10043 Turin, Italy;
- Department of Neuroscience ‘Rita Levi Montalcini’, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
| | - Marta Gai
- Department of Molecular Biotechnology and Health Sciences, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy;
| | - Ferdinando Di Cunto
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, 10043 Turin, Italy;
- Department of Neuroscience ‘Rita Levi Montalcini’, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.D.C.); (G.P.)
| | - Gianmarco Pallavicini
- Neuroscience Institute Cavalieri Ottolenghi, 10043 Turin, Italy;
- Department of Neuroscience ‘Rita Levi Montalcini’, University of Turin, 10126 Turin, Italy
- Correspondence: (F.D.C.); (G.P.)
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99
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Danilenko M, Clifford SC, Schwalbe EC. Inter and intra-tumoral heterogeneity as a platform for personalized therapies in medulloblastoma. Pharmacol Ther 2021; 228:107828. [PMID: 33662447 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2021.107828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 02/16/2021] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant CNS tumor of childhood, affecting ~350 patients/year in the USA. In 2020, most children are cured of their disease, however, survivors are left with life-long late-effects as a consequence of intensive surgery, and application of chemo- and radio-therapy to the developing brain. A major contributor to improvements in patient survival has been the development of risk-stratified treatments derived from a better understanding of the prognostic value of disease biomarkers. The characterization and validation of these biomarkers has engendered a comprehensive understanding of the extensive heterogeneity that exists within the disease, which can occur both between and within tumors (inter- and intra-tumoral heterogeneity, respectively). In this review, we discuss inter-tumoral heterogeneity, describing the early characterization of clinical and histopathological disease heterogeneity, the more recent elucidation of molecular disease subgroups, and the potential for novel therapies based on specific molecular defects. We reflect on the limitations of current approaches when applied to a rare disease. We then review early investigations of intra-tumoral heterogeneity using FISH and immunohistochemical approaches, and focus on the application of next generation sequencing on bulk tumors to elucidate intra-tumoral heterogeneity. Finally, we critically appraise the applications of single-cell sequencing approaches and discuss their potential to drive next biological insights, and for routine clinical application.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marina Danilenko
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Steven C Clifford
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK
| | - Edward C Schwalbe
- Newcastle University Centre for Cancer, Translational and Clinical Research Institute, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Newcastle University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK; Department of Applied Sciences, Northumbria University, Newcastle upon Tyne, UK.
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100
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Kopinke D, Norris AM, Mukhopadhyay S. Developmental and regenerative paradigms of cilia regulated hedgehog signaling. Semin Cell Dev Biol 2021; 110:89-103. [PMID: 32540122 PMCID: PMC7736055 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcdb.2020.05.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2020] [Revised: 05/25/2020] [Accepted: 05/29/2020] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
Primary cilia are immotile appendages that have evolved to receive and interpret a variety of different extracellular cues. Cilia play crucial roles in intercellular communication during development and defects in cilia affect multiple tissues accounting for a heterogeneous group of human diseases called ciliopathies. The Hedgehog (Hh) signaling pathway is one of these cues and displays a unique and symbiotic relationship with cilia. Not only does Hh signaling require cilia for its function but the majority of the Hh signaling machinery is physically located within the cilium-centrosome complex. More specifically, cilia are required for both repressing and activating Hh signaling by modifying bifunctional Gli transcription factors into repressors or activators. Defects in balancing, interpreting or establishing these repressor/activator gradients in Hh signaling either require cilia or phenocopy disruption of cilia. Here, we will summarize the current knowledge on how spatiotemporal control of the molecular machinery of the cilium allows for a tight control of basal repression and activation states of the Hh pathway. We will then discuss several paradigms on how cilia influence Hh pathway activity in tissue morphogenesis during development. Last, we will touch on how cilia and Hh signaling are being reactivated and repurposed during adult tissue regeneration. More specifically, we will focus on mesenchymal stem cells within the connective tissue and discuss the similarities and differences of how cilia and ciliary Hh signaling control the formation of fibrotic scar and adipose tissue during fatty fibrosis of several tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Kopinke
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA.
| | - Alessandra M Norris
- Department of Pharmacology and Therapeutics, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, USA
| | - Saikat Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Cell Biology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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