101
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Srinivasachar Badarinarayan S, Shcherbakova I, Langer S, Koepke L, Preising A, Hotter D, Kirchhoff F, Sparrer KMJ, Schotta G, Sauter D. HIV-1 infection activates endogenous retroviral promoters regulating antiviral gene expression. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:10890-10908. [PMID: 33021676 PMCID: PMC7641743 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa832] [Citation(s) in RCA: 47] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 09/14/2020] [Accepted: 09/17/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Although endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) are known to harbor cis-regulatory elements, their role in modulating cellular immune responses remains poorly understood. Using an RNA-seq approach, we show that several members of the ERV9 lineage, particularly LTR12C elements, are activated upon HIV-1 infection of primary CD4+ T cells. Intriguingly, HIV-1-induced ERVs harboring transcription start sites are primarily found in the vicinity of immunity genes. For example, HIV-1 infection activates LTR12C elements upstream of the interferon-inducible genes GBP2 and GBP5 that encode for broad-spectrum antiviral factors. Reporter assays demonstrated that these LTR12C elements drive gene expression in primary CD4+ T cells. In line with this, HIV-1 infection triggered the expression of a unique GBP2 transcript variant by activating a cryptic transcription start site within LTR12C. Furthermore, stimulation with HIV-1-induced cytokines increased GBP2 and GBP5 expression in human cells, but not in macaque cells that naturally lack the GBP5 gene and the LTR12C element upstream of GBP2. Finally, our findings suggest that GBP2 and GBP5 have already been active against ancient viral pathogens as they suppress the maturation of the extinct retrovirus HERV-K (HML-2). In summary, our findings uncover how human cells can exploit remnants of once-infectious retroviruses to regulate antiviral gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Irina Shcherbakova
- Molecular Biology Division, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Simon Langer
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany.,Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA
| | - Lennart Koepke
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Andrea Preising
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Dominik Hotter
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | - Frank Kirchhoff
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
| | | | - Gunnar Schotta
- Molecular Biology Division, Biomedical Center, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, Planegg-Martinsried 82152, Germany
| | - Daniel Sauter
- Institute of Molecular Virology, Ulm University Medical Center, Ulm 89081, Germany
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102
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Greve G, Schüler J, Grüning BA, Berberich B, Stomper J, Zimmer D, Gutenkunst L, Bönisch U, Meier R, Blagitko-Dorfs N, Grishina O, Pfeifer D, Weichenhan D, Plass C, Lübbert M. Decitabine Induces Gene Derepression on Monosomic Chromosomes: In Vitro and In Vivo Effects in Adverse-Risk Cytogenetics AML. Cancer Res 2020; 81:834-846. [PMID: 33203699 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-20-1430] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2020] [Revised: 08/21/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Hypomethylating agents (HMA) have become the backbone of nonintensive acute myeloid leukemia/myelodysplastic syndrome (AML/MDS) treatment, also by virtue of their activity in patients with adverse genetics, for example, monosomal karyotypes, often with losses on chromosome 7, 5, or 17. No comparable activity is observed with cytarabine, a cytidine analogue without DNA-hypomethylating properties. As evidence exists for compounding hypermethylation and gene silencing of hemizygous tumor suppressor genes (TSG), we thus hypothesized that this effect may preferentially be reversed by the HMAs decitabine and azacitidine. An unbiased RNA-sequencing approach was developed to interrogate decitabine-induced transcriptome changes in AML cell lines with or without a deletion of chromosomes 7q, 5q or 17p. HMA treatment preferentially upregulated several hemizygous TSG in this genomic region, significantly derepressing endogenous retrovirus (ERV)3-1, with promoter demethylation, enhanced chromatin accessibility, and increased H3K4me3 levels. Decitabine globally reactivated multiple transposable elements, with activation of the dsRNA sensor RIG-I and interferon regulatory factor (IRF)7. Induction of ERV3-1 and RIG-I mRNA was also observed during decitabine treatment in vivo in serially sorted peripheral blood AML blasts. In patient-derived monosomal karyotype AML murine xenografts, decitabine treatment resulted in superior survival rates compared with cytarabine. Collectively, these data demonstrate preferential gene derepression and ERV reactivation in AML with chromosomal deletions, providing a mechanistic explanation that supports the clinical observation of superiority of HMA over cytarabine in this difficult-to-treat patient group. SIGNIFICANCE: These findings unravel the molecular mechanism underlying the intriguing clinical activity of HMAs in AML/MDS patients with chromosome 7 deletions and other monosomal karyotypes.See related commentary by O'Hagan et al., p. 813.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriele Greve
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julia Schüler
- Charles River Discovery Research Services Germany GmbH, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Björn A Grüning
- Bioinformatics Group, Department of Computer Science, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bettina Berberich
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Julia Stomper
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dennis Zimmer
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lea Gutenkunst
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ulrike Bönisch
- Deep Sequencing Facility, Max Planck Institute of Immunobiology and Epigenetics, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Ruth Meier
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Clinic for Pediatric and Adolescent Medicine Klinikum Karlsruhe, Karlsruhe, Germany
| | - Nadja Blagitko-Dorfs
- Institute for Immunodeficiency, Center for Chronic Immunodeficiency (CCI), Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Olga Grishina
- Clinical Trials Unit, Medical Center-University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dietmar Pfeifer
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dieter Weichenhan
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Plass
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Lübbert
- Department of Medicine I, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Faculty of Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany. .,DKTK Partner Site Freiburg, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
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103
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Saini SK, Ørskov AD, Bjerregaard AM, Unnikrishnan A, Holmberg-Thydén S, Borch A, Jensen KV, Anande G, Bentzen AK, Marquard AM, Tamhane T, Treppendahl MB, Gang AO, Dufva IH, Szallasi Z, Ternette N, Pedersen AG, Eklund AC, Pimanda J, Grønbæk K, Hadrup SR. Human endogenous retroviruses form a reservoir of T cell targets in hematological cancers. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5660. [PMID: 33168830 PMCID: PMC7653045 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19464-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/02/2020] [Accepted: 10/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Human endogenous retroviruses (HERV) form a substantial part of the human genome, but mostly remain transcriptionally silent under strict epigenetic regulation, yet can potentially be reactivated by malignant transformation or epigenetic therapies. Here, we evaluate the potential for T cell recognition of HERV elements in myeloid malignancies by mapping transcribed HERV genes and generating a library of 1169 potential antigenic HERV-derived peptides predicted for presentation by 4 HLA class I molecules. Using DNA barcode-labeled MHC-I multimers, we find CD8+ T cell populations recognizing 29 HERV-derived peptides representing 18 different HERV loci, of which HERVH-5, HERVW-1, and HERVE-3 have more profound responses; such HERV-specific T cells are present in 17 of the 34 patients, but less frequently in healthy donors. Transcriptomic analyses reveal enhanced transcription of the HERVs in patients; meanwhile DNA-demethylating therapy causes a small and heterogeneous enhancement in HERV transcription without altering T cell recognition. Our study thus uncovers T cell recognition of HERVs in myeloid malignancies, thereby implicating HERVs as potential targets for immunotherapeutic therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sunil Kumar Saini
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andreas Due Ørskov
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Anne-Mette Bjerregaard
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ashwin Unnikrishnan
- Adult Cancer Program, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Staffan Holmberg-Thydén
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Department of Haematology, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Annie Borch
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Kathrine Valentini Jensen
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Govardhan Anande
- Adult Cancer Program, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
| | - Amalie Kai Bentzen
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Andrea Marion Marquard
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Tripti Tamhane
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Anne Ortved Gang
- Department of Haematology, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Inge Høgh Dufva
- Department of Haematology, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Herlev, Denmark
| | - Zoltan Szallasi
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Bioinformatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
- Computational Health Informatics Program (CHIP), Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Nicola Ternette
- Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Anders Gorm Pedersen
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Bioinformatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Aron Charles Eklund
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Bioinformatics, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark
| | - John Pimanda
- Adult Cancer Program, Lowy Cancer Research Centre, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Prince of Wales Clinical School, UNSW, Sydney, NSW, 2052, Australia
- Haematology Department, South Eastern Area Laboratory Services, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, NSW, 2031, Australia
| | - Kirsten Grønbæk
- Department of Haematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology (DanStem), University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Sine Reker Hadrup
- Department of Health Technology, Section of Experimental and Translational Immunology, Technical University of Denmark, Kongens Lyngby, Denmark.
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104
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Tunbak H, Enriquez-Gasca R, Tie CHC, Gould PA, Mlcochova P, Gupta RK, Fernandes L, Holt J, van der Veen AG, Giampazolias E, Burns KH, Maillard PV, Rowe HM. The HUSH complex is a gatekeeper of type I interferon through epigenetic regulation of LINE-1s. Nat Commun 2020; 11:5387. [PMID: 33144593 PMCID: PMC7609715 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-19170-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2019] [Accepted: 09/28/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The Human Silencing Hub (HUSH) complex is necessary for epigenetic repression of LINE-1 elements. We show that HUSH-depletion in human cell lines and primary fibroblasts leads to induction of interferon-stimulated genes (ISGs) through JAK/STAT signaling. This effect is mainly attributed to MDA5 and RIG-I sensing of double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). This coincides with upregulation of primate-conserved LINE-1s, as well as increased expression of full-length hominid-specific LINE-1s that produce bidirectional RNAs, which may form dsRNA. Notably, LTRs nearby ISGs are derepressed likely rendering these genes more responsive to interferon. LINE-1 shRNAs can abrogate the HUSH-dependent response, while overexpression of an engineered LINE-1 construct activates interferon signaling. Finally, we show that the HUSH component, MPP8 is frequently downregulated in diverse cancers and that its depletion leads to DNA damage. These results suggest that LINE-1s may drive physiological or autoinflammatory responses through dsRNA sensing and gene-regulatory roles and are controlled by the HUSH complex.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hale Tunbak
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Rocio Enriquez-Gasca
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | | | - Poppy A Gould
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Petra Mlcochova
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB2 0AF, Cambridge, UK
| | - Ravindra K Gupta
- Department of Medicine, University of Cambridge, CB2 0AF, Cambridge, UK
| | - Liane Fernandes
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - James Holt
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Annemarthe G van der Veen
- The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
- Leiden University Medical Centre, Department of Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion, Albinusdreef 2, 2333 ZA, Leiden, The Netherlands
| | | | - Kathleen H Burns
- Department of Pathology, John Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, 21205, USA
| | - Pierre V Maillard
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK
| | - Helen M Rowe
- Centre for Immunobiology, Blizard Institute, Queen Mary University of London, London, E1 2AT, UK.
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105
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Sood AK, Nemeth M, Wang J, Wu Y, Gandhi S. Opportunities for Antigen Discovery in Metastatic Breast Cancer. Front Immunol 2020; 11:570049. [PMID: 33193348 PMCID: PMC7661635 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.570049] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2020] [Accepted: 10/06/2020] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Immune checkpoint inhibitor-based immunotherapy (ICI) of breast cancer is currently efficacious in a fraction of triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) as these cancers generally carry high tumor mutation burden (TMB) and show increased tumor infiltration by CD8+ T cells. However, most estrogen receptor positive breast cancers (ERBC) have low TMB and/or are infiltrated with immunosuppressive regulatory T cells (Tregs) and thus fail to induce a significant anti-tumor immune response. Our understanding of the immune underpinning of the anti-tumor effects of CDK4/6 inhibitor (CDKi) treatment coupled with new knowledge about the mechanisms of tolerance to self-antigens suggests a way forward, specifically via characterizing and exploiting the repertoire of tumor antigens expressed by metastatic ERBC. These treatment-associated tumor antigens (TATA) may include the conventional tumor neoantigens (TNA) encoded by single nucleotide mutations, TNA encoded by tumor specific aberrant RNA transcription, splicing and DNA replication induced frameshift (FS) events as well as the shared tumor antigens. The latter may include the conventional tumor associated antigens (TAA), cancer-testis antigens (CTA) and antigens encoded by the endogenous retroviral (ERV) like sequences and repetitive DNA sequences induced by ET and CDKi treatment. An approach to identifying these antigens is outlined as this will support the development of a multi-antigen-based immunotherapy strategy for improved targeting of metastatic disease with potential for minimal autoimmune toxicity against normal tissues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashwani K. Sood
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Michael Nemeth
- Department of Immunology, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Jianmin Wang
- Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Yun Wu
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University at Buffalo, The State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, United States
| | - Shipra Gandhi
- Department of Medicine, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY, United States
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106
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The PWWP2A Histone Deacetylase Complex Represses Intragenic Spurious Transcription Initiation in mESCs. iScience 2020; 23:101741. [PMID: 33235983 PMCID: PMC7670215 DOI: 10.1016/j.isci.2020.101741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2020] [Revised: 09/22/2020] [Accepted: 10/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Transcriptional fidelity depends on accurate promoter selection and initiation from the correct sites. In yeast, H3K36me3-mediated recruitment of the Rpd3S HDAC complex to gene bodies suppresses spurious transcription initiation. Here we describe an equivalent pathway in metazoans. PWWP2A/B is an H3K36me3 reader that forms a stable complex with HDAC1/2. We used CAGE-seq to profile all transcription initiation sites in wild-type mESCs and cells lacking PWWP2A/B. Loss of PWWP2A/B enhances spurious initiation from intragenic sites present in wild-type mESCs, and this effect is associated with increased levels of initiating Pol-II and histone acetylation. Spurious initiation events in Pwwp2a/b DKO mESCs do not overlap in genomic location or chromatin features with spurious sites that arise in Dnmt3b KO mESCs, previously reported to function in the suppression of intragenic transcriptional initiation, suggesting these pathways function cooperatively in maintaining the fidelity of transcription initiation in metazoans. Loss of PWWP2A/B leads to increased levels of spurious transcription initiation Spurious TSS sites are predominantly in the gene bodies of highly expressed genes Spurious sites are marked with increased histone acetylation and initiating Pol II PWWP2-spurious TSSs are distinct from those caused by DNMT3B loss
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107
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Buonaguro L, Tagliamonte M. Selecting Target Antigens for Cancer Vaccine Development. Vaccines (Basel) 2020; 8:vaccines8040615. [PMID: 33080888 PMCID: PMC7711972 DOI: 10.3390/vaccines8040615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2020] [Revised: 10/12/2020] [Accepted: 10/13/2020] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
One of the principal goals of cancer immunotherapy is the development of efficient therapeutic cancer vaccines that are able to elicit an effector as well as memory T cell response specific to tumor antigens. In recent years, the attention has been focused on the personalization of cancer vaccines. However, the efficacy of therapeutic cancer vaccines is still disappointing despite the large number of vaccine strategies targeting different tumors that have been evaluated in recent years. While the preclinical data have frequently shown encouraging results, clinical trials have not provided satisfactory data to date. The main reason for such failures is the complexity of identifying specific target tumor antigens that should be unique or overexpressed only by the tumor cells compared to normal cells. Most of the tumor antigens included in cancer vaccines are non-mutated overexpressed self-antigens, eliciting mainly T cells with low-affinity T cell receptors (TCR) unable to mediate an effective anti-tumor response. In this review, the target tumor antigens employed in recent years in the development of therapeutic cancer vaccine strategies are described, along with potential new classes of tumor antigens such as the human endogenous retroviral elements (HERVs), unconventional antigens, and/or heteroclitic peptides.
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108
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Espinet E, Gu Z, Imbusch CD, Giese NA, Büscher M, Safavi M, Weisenburger S, Klein C, Vogel V, Falcone M, Insua-Rodríguez J, Reitberger M, Thiel V, Kossi SO, Muckenhuber A, Sarai K, Lee AYL, Backx E, Zarei S, Gaida MM, Rodríguez-Paredes M, Donato E, Yen HY, Eils R, Schlesner M, Pfarr N, Hackert T, Plass C, Brors B, Steiger K, Weichenhan D, Arda HE, Rooman I, Kopp JL, Strobel O, Weichert W, Sprick MR, Trumpp A. Aggressive PDACs Show Hypomethylation of Repetitive Elements and the Execution of an Intrinsic IFN Program Linked to a Ductal Cell of Origin. Cancer Discov 2020; 11:638-659. [PMID: 33060108 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-1202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 60] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/18/2020] [Revised: 09/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is characterized by extensive desmoplasia, which challenges the molecular analyses of bulk tumor samples. Here we FACS-purified epithelial cells from human PDAC and normal pancreas and derived their genome-wide transcriptome and DNA methylome landscapes. Clustering based on DNA methylation revealed two distinct PDAC groups displaying different methylation patterns at regions encoding repeat elements. Methylationlow tumors are characterized by higher expression of endogenous retroviral transcripts and double-stranded RNA sensors, which lead to a cell-intrinsic activation of an interferon signature (IFNsign). This results in a protumorigenic microenvironment and poor patient outcome. Methylationlow/IFNsignhigh and Methylationhigh/IFNsignlow PDAC cells preserve lineage traits, respective of normal ductal or acinar pancreatic cells. Moreover, ductal-derived Kras G12D/Trp53 -/- mouse PDACs show higher expression of IFNsign compared with acinar-derived counterparts. Collectively, our data point to two different origins and etiologies of human PDACs, with the aggressive Methylationlow/IFNsignhigh subtype potentially targetable by agents blocking intrinsic IFN signaling. SIGNIFICANCE: The mutational landscapes of PDAC alone cannot explain the observed interpatient heterogeneity. We identified two PDAC subtypes characterized by differential DNA methylation, preserving traits from normal ductal/acinar cells associated with IFN signaling. Our work suggests that epigenetic traits and the cell of origin contribute to PDAC heterogeneity.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 521.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elisa Espinet
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Zuguang Gu
- Bioinformatics and Omics Data Analytics, DKFZ, Heidelberg, Germany.,Heidelberg Center for Personalized Oncology (DKFZ-HIPO), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Charles D Imbusch
- Division of Applied Bioinformatics, DKFZ and NCT, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Nathalia A Giese
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Magdalena Büscher
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mariam Safavi
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Silke Weisenburger
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Corinna Klein
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vanessa Vogel
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mattia Falcone
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jacob Insua-Rodríguez
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Manuel Reitberger
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Vera Thiel
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Steffi O Kossi
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Karnjit Sarai
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Science Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Alex Y L Lee
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Science Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Elyne Backx
- Laboratory of Molecular and Medical Oncology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Soheila Zarei
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Science Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Matthias M Gaida
- Institute of Pathology, University Hospital of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, University Medical Center JGU Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | | | - Elisa Donato
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Hsi-Yu Yen
- Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Roland Eils
- Heidelberg Center for Personalized Oncology (DKFZ-HIPO), Heidelberg, Germany.,Digital Health Centre, Berlin Institute of Health and Charité Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Berlin, Germany.,Health Data Science Unit, University Hospital and University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Nicole Pfarr
- Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Thilo Hackert
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Benedikt Brors
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Applied Bioinformatics, DKFZ and NCT, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Katja Steiger
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Dieter Weichenhan
- Heidelberg Center for Personalized Oncology (DKFZ-HIPO), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - H Efsun Arda
- Laboratory of Receptor Biology and Gene Expression, Center of Cancer Research, NCI, NIH, Bethesda, Maryland
| | - Ilse Rooman
- Laboratory of Molecular and Medical Oncology, Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Janel L Kopp
- Department of Cellular and Physiological Sciences, Life Science Institute, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Oliver Strobel
- Department of General and Visceral Surgery, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany.,National Center of Tumor Diseases, NCT, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Wilko Weichert
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,Institute of Pathology, Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Martin R Sprick
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Andreas Trumpp
- HI-STEM-Heidelberg Institute for Stem Cell Technology and Experimental Medicine gGmbH, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Division of Stem Cells and Cancer, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and DKFZ-ZMBH Alliance, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
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109
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Chen F, Zhang W, Xie D, Gao T, Dong Z, Lu X. Histone chaperone FACT represses retrotransposon MERVL and MERVL-derived cryptic promoters. Nucleic Acids Res 2020; 48:10211-10225. [PMID: 32894293 PMCID: PMC7544220 DOI: 10.1093/nar/gkaa732] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2020] [Revised: 08/19/2020] [Accepted: 08/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) were usually silenced by various histone modifications on histone H3 variants and respective histone chaperones in embryonic stem cells (ESCs). However, it is still unknown whether chaperones of other histones could repress ERVs. Here, we show that H2A/H2B histone chaperone FACT plays a critical role in silencing ERVs and ERV-derived cryptic promoters in ESCs. Loss of FACT component Ssrp1 activated MERVL whereas the re-introduction of Ssrp1 rescued the phenotype. Additionally, Ssrp1 interacted with MERVL and suppressed cryptic transcription of MERVL-fused genes. Remarkably, Ssrp1 interacted with and recruited H2B deubiquitinase Usp7 to Ssrp1 target genes. Suppression of Usp7 caused similar phenotypes as loss of Ssrp1. Furthermore, Usp7 acted by deubiquitinating H2Bub and thereby repressed the expression of MERVL-fused genes. Taken together, our study uncovers a unique mechanism by which FACT complex silences ERVs and ERV-derived cryptic promoters in ESCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuquan Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
- College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Weiyu Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
- College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Dan Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
- College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Tingting Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
- College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
| | - Zhiqiang Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
- College of Life Sciences, Nankai University, Tianjin 300307, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinyi Lu
- State Key Laboratory of Medicinal Chemical Biology, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
- College of Pharmacy, Nankai University, Tianjin 300350, People's Republic of China
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110
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Gomez S, Tabernacki T, Kobyra J, Roberts P, Chiappinelli KB. Combining epigenetic and immune therapy to overcome cancer resistance. Semin Cancer Biol 2020; 65:99-113. [PMID: 31877341 PMCID: PMC7308208 DOI: 10.1016/j.semcancer.2019.12.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 91] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/03/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
Cancer undergoes "immune editing" to evade destruction by cells of the host immune system including natural killer (NK) cells and cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs). Current adoptive cellular immune therapies include CAR T cells and dendritic cell vaccines, strategies that have yet to show success for a wide range of tumors. Cancer resistance to immune therapy is driven by extrinsic factors and tumor cell intrinsic factors that contribute to immune evasion. These extrinsic factors include immunosuppressive cell populations such as regulatory T cells (Tregs), tumor-associated macrophages (TAMS), and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs). These cells produce and secrete immunosuppressive factors and express inhibitory ligands that interact with receptors on T cells including PD-1 and CTLA-4. Immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) therapies such as anti-PD-1 and anti-CTLA-4 have shown success by increasing immune activation to eradicate cancer, though both primary and acquired resistance remain a problem. Tumor cell intrinsic factors driving primary and acquired resistance to these immune therapies include genetic and epigenetic mechanisms. Epigenetic therapies for cancer including DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi), histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), and histone methyltransferase inhibitors (HMTi) can stimulate anti-tumor immunity in both tumor cells and host immune cells. Here we discuss in detail tumor mechanisms of immune evasion and how common epigenetic therapies for cancer may be used to reverse immune evasion. Lastly, we summarize current clinical trials combining epigenetic therapies with immune therapies to reverse cancer immune resistance mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie Gomez
- The George Washington University Cancer Center, United States; The Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Tomasz Tabernacki
- The George Washington University Cancer Center, United States; The Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Julie Kobyra
- The George Washington University Cancer Center, United States; The Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Paige Roberts
- The George Washington University Cancer Center, United States; The Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Katherine B Chiappinelli
- The George Washington University Cancer Center, United States; The Department of Microbiology, Immunology, & Tropical Medicine, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, United States.
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111
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Cusack M, King HW, Spingardi P, Kessler BM, Klose RJ, Kriaucionis S. Distinct contributions of DNA methylation and histone acetylation to the genomic occupancy of transcription factors. Genome Res 2020; 30:1393-1406. [PMID: 32963030 PMCID: PMC7605266 DOI: 10.1101/gr.257576.119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic modifications on chromatin play important roles in regulating gene expression. Although chromatin states are often governed by multilayered structure, how individual pathways contribute to gene expression remains poorly understood. For example, DNA methylation is known to regulate transcription factor binding but also to recruit methyl-CpG binding proteins that affect chromatin structure through the activity of histone deacetylase complexes (HDACs). Both of these mechanisms can potentially affect gene expression, but the importance of each, and whether these activities are integrated to achieve appropriate gene regulation, remains largely unknown. To address this important question, we measured gene expression, chromatin accessibility, and transcription factor occupancy in wild-type or DNA methylation-deficient mouse embryonic stem cells following HDAC inhibition. We observe widespread increases in chromatin accessibility at retrotransposons when HDACs are inhibited, and this is magnified when cells also lack DNA methylation. A subset of these elements has elevated binding of the YY1 and GABPA transcription factors and increased expression. The pronounced additive effect of HDAC inhibition in DNA methylation-deficient cells demonstrates that DNA methylation and histone deacetylation act largely independently to suppress transcription factor binding and gene expression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Cusack
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Hamish W King
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Paolo Spingardi
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom
| | - Benedikt M Kessler
- Target Discovery Institute, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7FZ, United Kingdom
| | - Robert J Klose
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX1 3QU, United Kingdom
| | - Skirmantas Kriaucionis
- Ludwig Institute for Cancer Research, University of Oxford, Oxford, OX3 7DQ, United Kingdom;
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112
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Miao B, Fu S, Lyu C, Gontarz P, Wang T, Zhang B. Tissue-specific usage of transposable element-derived promoters in mouse development. Genome Biol 2020; 21:255. [PMID: 32988383 PMCID: PMC7520981 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-020-02164-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Transposable elements (TEs) are a significant component of eukaryotic genomes and play essential roles in genome evolution. Mounting evidence indicates that TEs are highly transcribed in early embryo development and contribute to distinct biological functions and tissue morphology. RESULTS We examine the epigenetic dynamics of mouse TEs during the development of five tissues: intestine, liver, lung, stomach, and kidney. We found that TEs are associated with over 20% of open chromatin regions during development. Close to half of these accessible TEs are only activated in a single tissue and a specific developmental stage. Most accessible TEs are rodent-specific. Across these five tissues, 453 accessible TEs are found to create the transcription start sites of downstream genes in mouse, including 117 protein-coding genes and 144 lincRNA genes, 93.7% of which are mouse-specific. Species-specific TE-derived transcription start sites are found to drive the expression of tissue-specific genes and change their tissue-specific expression patterns during evolution. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that TE insertions increase the regulatory potential of the genome, and some TEs have been domesticated to become a crucial component of gene and regulate tissue-specific expression during mouse tissue development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Benpeng Miao
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA
- Department of Genetics, Edison Family Center for Genomic Sciences and Systems Biology, McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA
| | - Shuhua Fu
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA
| | - Cheng Lyu
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA
| | - Paul Gontarz
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Edison Family Center for Genomic Sciences and Systems Biology, McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
| | - Bo Zhang
- Department of Developmental Biology, Center of Regenerative Medicine, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
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113
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Targeting the epigenetic regulation of antitumour immunity. Nat Rev Drug Discov 2020; 19:776-800. [PMID: 32929243 DOI: 10.1038/s41573-020-0077-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 293] [Impact Index Per Article: 73.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/30/2020] [Indexed: 01/10/2023]
Abstract
Dysregulation of the epigenome drives aberrant transcriptional programmes that promote cancer onset and progression. Although defective gene regulation often affects oncogenic and tumour-suppressor networks, tumour immunogenicity and immune cells involved in antitumour responses may also be affected by epigenomic alterations. This could have important implications for the development and application of both epigenetic therapies and cancer immunotherapies, and combinations thereof. Here, we review the role of key aberrant epigenetic processes - DNA methylation and post-translational modification of histones - in tumour immunogenicity, as well as the effects of epigenetic modulation on antitumour immune cell function. We emphasize opportunities for small-molecule inhibitors of epigenetic regulators to enhance antitumour immune responses, and discuss the challenges of exploiting the complex interplay between cancer epigenetics and cancer immunology to develop treatment regimens combining epigenetic therapies with immunotherapies.
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114
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Epigenetic Regulation of NRF2/KEAP1 by Phytochemicals. Antioxidants (Basel) 2020; 9:antiox9090865. [PMID: 32938017 PMCID: PMC7555619 DOI: 10.3390/antiox9090865] [Citation(s) in RCA: 50] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetics has provided a new dimension to our understanding of nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2/Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (human NRF2/KEAP1 and murine Nrf2/Keap1) signaling. Unlike the genetic changes affecting DNA sequence, the reversible nature of epigenetic alterations provides an attractive avenue for cancer interception. Thus, targeting epigenetic mechanisms in the corresponding signaling networks represents an enticing strategy for therapeutic intervention with dietary phytochemicals acting at transcriptional, post-transcriptional, and post-translational levels. This regulation involves the interplay of histone modifications and DNA methylation states in the human NFE2L2/KEAP1 and murine Nfe2l2/Keap1 genes, acetylation of lysine residues in NRF2 and Nrf2, interaction with bromodomain and extraterminal domain (BET) acetyl “reader” proteins, and non-coding RNAs such as microRNA (miRNA) and long non-coding RNA (lncRNA). Phytochemicals documented to modulate NRF2 signaling act by reversing hypermethylated states in the CpG islands of NFE2L2 or Nfe2l2, via the inhibition of DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs) and histone deacetylases (HDACs), through the induction of ten-eleven translocation (TET) enzymes, or by inducing miRNA to target the 3′-UTR of the corresponding mRNA transcripts. To date, fewer than twenty phytochemicals have been reported as NRF2 epigenetic modifiers, including curcumin, sulforaphane, resveratrol, reserpine, and ursolic acid. This opens avenues for exploring additional dietary phytochemicals that regulate the human epigenome, and the potential for novel strategies to target NRF2 signaling with a view to beneficial interception of cancer and other chronic diseases.
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115
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Epigenetic Regulation of the Non-Coding Genome: Opportunities for Immuno-Oncology. EPIGENOMES 2020; 4:epigenomes4030022. [PMID: 34968293 PMCID: PMC8594693 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes4030022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The contribution of the non-coding genome to disease and its therapeutic potential have been largely unexplored. Recently, several epigenetic drugs developed for cancer treatment have been described to mediate therapeutic effects through the reactivation of the expression of transposable elements in cancer cells. This event activates innate immunity-related pathways and promotes the generation of neoantigens in tumor cells, improving the efficacy of immunotherapeutic treatments. This review focuses on the regulation of transposable elements by epigenetic inhibitors and its implications for immuno-oncology.
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116
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D'Anna F, Van Dyck L, Xiong J, Zhao H, Berrens RV, Qian J, Bieniasz-Krzywiec P, Chandra V, Schoonjans L, Matthews J, De Smedt J, Minnoye L, Amorim R, Khorasanizadeh S, Yu Q, Zhao L, De Borre M, Savvides SN, Simon MC, Carmeliet P, Reik W, Rastinejad F, Mazzone M, Thienpont B, Lambrechts D. DNA methylation repels binding of hypoxia-inducible transcription factors to maintain tumor immunotolerance. Genome Biol 2020; 21:182. [PMID: 32718321 PMCID: PMC7384226 DOI: 10.1186/s13059-020-02087-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/23/2020] [Accepted: 06/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Hypoxia is pervasive in cancer and other diseases. Cells sense and adapt to hypoxia by activating hypoxia-inducible transcription factors (HIFs), but it is still an outstanding question why cell types differ in their transcriptional response to hypoxia. RESULTS We report that HIFs fail to bind CpG dinucleotides that are methylated in their consensus binding sequence, both in in vitro biochemical binding assays and in vivo studies of differentially methylated isogenic cell lines. Based on in silico structural modeling, we show that 5-methylcytosine indeed causes steric hindrance in the HIF binding pocket. A model wherein cell-type-specific methylation landscapes, as laid down by the differential expression and binding of other transcription factors under normoxia, control cell-type-specific hypoxia responses is observed. We also discover ectopic HIF binding sites in repeat regions which are normally methylated. Genetic and pharmacological DNA demethylation, but also cancer-associated DNA hypomethylation, expose these binding sites, inducing HIF-dependent expression of cryptic transcripts. In line with such cryptic transcripts being more prone to cause double-stranded RNA and viral mimicry, we observe low DNA methylation and high cryptic transcript expression in tumors with high immune checkpoint expression, but not in tumors with low immune checkpoint expression, where they would compromise tumor immunotolerance. In a low-immunogenic tumor model, DNA demethylation upregulates cryptic transcript expression in a HIF-dependent manner, causing immune activation and reducing tumor growth. CONCLUSIONS Our data elucidate the mechanism underlying cell-type-specific responses to hypoxia and suggest DNA methylation and hypoxia to underlie tumor immunotolerance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Flora D'Anna
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Laurien Van Dyck
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jieyi Xiong
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Hui Zhao
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Rebecca V Berrens
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
- The Old Schools, University of Cambridge, Trinity Lane Cambridge, CB2 1TN, UK
| | - Junbin Qian
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Pawel Bieniasz-Krzywiec
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Vikas Chandra
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Luc Schoonjans
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongsan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Jason Matthews
- Institute of Basic Medical Sciences, University of Oslo, 0372, Oslo, Norway
| | - Julie De Smedt
- Laboratory of Dermatology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liesbeth Minnoye
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Ricardo Amorim
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Sepideh Khorasanizadeh
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Qian Yu
- Laboratory for Functional Epigenetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Liyun Zhao
- Laboratory for Functional Epigenetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Marie De Borre
- Laboratory for Functional Epigenetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Savvas N Savvides
- Unit for Structural Biology, Department of Biochemistry and Microbiology, Ghent University, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
- VIB Center for Inflammation Research, 9052, Ghent, Belgium
| | - M Celeste Simon
- Abramson Family Cancer Research Institute, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, 19104, USA
| | - Peter Carmeliet
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- State Key Laboratory of Ophthalmology, Zhongsan Ophthalmic Center, Sun Yat-Sen University, Guangzhou, China
- Laboratory of Angiogenesis and Vascular Metabolism, Department of Oncology, Leuven Cancer Institute, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Wolf Reik
- Epigenetics Programme, Babraham Institute, Cambridge, CB22 3AT, UK
- Centre for Trophoblast Research, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
- Wellcome Trust Sanger Institute, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SA, UK
- Department of Physiology, Development and Neuroscience, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 3EG, UK
| | - Fraydoon Rastinejad
- Target Discovery Institute, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
- Clinical and Experimental Endocrinology, Department of Chronic Diseases, Metabolism and Ageing, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Massimiliano Mazzone
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory of Tumor Inflammation and Angiogenesis, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium
| | - Bernard Thienpont
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory for Functional Epigenetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
| | - Diether Lambrechts
- Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
- Laboratory of Translational Genetics, Department of Human Genetics, KU Leuven, 3000, Leuven, Belgium.
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117
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Endogenous retroviruses are a source of enhancers with oncogenic potential in acute myeloid leukaemia. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3506. [PMID: 32665538 PMCID: PMC7360734 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-17206-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/28/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) is characterised by a series of genetic and epigenetic alterations that result in deregulation of transcriptional networks. One understudied source of transcriptional regulators are transposable elements (TEs), whose aberrant usage could contribute to oncogenic transcriptional circuits. However, the regulatory influence of TEs and their links to AML pathogenesis remain unexplored. Here we identify six endogenous retrovirus (ERV) families with AML-associated enhancer chromatin signatures that are enriched in binding of key regulators of hematopoiesis and AML pathogenesis. Using both locus-specific genetic editing and simultaneous epigenetic silencing of multiple ERVs, we demonstrate that ERV deregulation directly alters the expression of adjacent genes in AML. Strikingly, deletion or epigenetic silencing of an ERV-derived enhancer suppresses cell growth by inducing apoptosis in leukemia cell lines. This work reveals that ERVs are a previously unappreciated source of AML enhancers that may be exploited by cancer cells to help drive tumour heterogeneity and evolution. Transposable elements are a potential source of transcriptional regulators, but how these sequences contribute to oncogenesis remains poorly understood. Here, the authors identify endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) with acute myeloid leukemia (AML)-associated enhancer chromatin signatures, and provide evidence that ERV activation provides an additional layer of gene regulation in AML.
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118
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Le NT, Harukawa Y, Miura S, Boer D, Kawabe A, Saze H. Epigenetic regulation of spurious transcription initiation in Arabidopsis. Nat Commun 2020; 11:3224. [PMID: 32591528 PMCID: PMC7319988 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-020-16951-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2019] [Accepted: 06/01/2020] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
In plants, epigenetic regulation is critical for silencing transposons and maintaining proper gene expression. However, its impact on the genome-wide transcription initiation landscape remains elusive. By conducting a genome-wide analysis of transcription start sites (TSSs) using cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE) sequencing, we show that thousands of TSSs are exclusively activated in various epigenetic mutants of Arabidopsis thaliana and referred to as cryptic TSSs. Many have not been identified in previous studies, of which up to 65% are contributed by transposons. They possess similar genetic features to regular TSSs and their activation is strongly associated with the ectopic recruitment of RNAPII machinery. The activation of cryptic TSSs significantly alters transcription of nearby TSSs, including those of genes important for development and stress responses. Our study, therefore, sheds light on the role of epigenetic regulation in maintaining proper gene functions in plants by suppressing transcription from cryptic TSSs. Epigenetic regulation can silence transposons and maintain gene expression. Here the authors survey Arabidopsis mutants defective in epigenetic regulation and show ectopic activation of thousands of cryptic TSSs and altered expression of nearby genes demonstrating the importance of suppressing spurious transcription.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ngoc Tu Le
- Plant Epigenetics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Yoshiko Harukawa
- Plant Epigenetics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Saori Miura
- Plant Epigenetics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan
| | - Damian Boer
- Wageningen University & Research, Droevendaalsesteeg 4, 6708 PB Wageningen, Netherlands
| | - Akira Kawabe
- Faculty of Life Sciences, Kyoto Sangyo University, Kyoto, 603-8555, Japan
| | - Hidetoshi Saze
- Plant Epigenetics Unit, Okinawa Institute of Science and Technology (OIST), 1919-1 Tancha, Onna-son, Kunigami-gun, Okinawa, 904-0495, Japan.
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119
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Lanciano S, Cristofari G. Measuring and interpreting transposable element expression. Nat Rev Genet 2020; 21:721-736. [PMID: 32576954 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-020-0251-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 168] [Impact Index Per Article: 42.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/19/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) are insertional mutagens that contribute greatly to the plasticity of eukaryotic genomes, influencing the evolution and adaptation of species as well as physiology or disease in individuals. Measuring TE expression helps to understand not only when and where TE mobilization can occur but also how this process alters gene expression, chromatin accessibility or cellular signalling pathways. Although genome-wide gene expression assays such as RNA sequencing include transposon-derived transcripts, most computational analytical tools discard or misinterpret TE-derived reads. Emerging approaches are improving the identification of expressed TE loci and helping to discriminate TE transcripts that permit TE mobilization from chimeric gene-TE transcripts or pervasive transcription. Here we review the main challenges associated with the detection of TE expression, including mappability, insertional and internal sequence polymorphisms, and the diversity of the TE transcriptional landscape, as well as the different experimental and computational strategies to solve them.
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Pisano MP, Grandi N, Tramontano E. High-Throughput Sequencing is a Crucial Tool to Investigate the Contribution of Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs) to Human Biology and Development. Viruses 2020; 12:E633. [PMID: 32545287 PMCID: PMC7354619 DOI: 10.3390/v12060633] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/24/2020] [Revised: 06/07/2020] [Accepted: 06/10/2020] [Indexed: 01/19/2023] Open
Abstract
Human Endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) are remnants of ancient retroviral infections that represent a large fraction of our genome. Their transcriptional activity is finely regulated in early developmental stages and their expression is modulated in different cell types and tissues. Such activity has an impact on human physiology and pathology that is only partially understood up to date. Novel high-throughput sequencing tools have recently allowed for a great advancement in elucidating the various HERV expression patterns in different tissues as well as the mechanisms controlling their transcription, and overall, have helped in gaining better insights in an all-inclusive understanding of the impact of HERVs in biology of the host.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Paola Pisano
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (M.P.P.); (N.G.)
| | - Nicole Grandi
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (M.P.P.); (N.G.)
| | - Enzo Tramontano
- Laboratory of Molecular Virology, Department of Life and Environmental Sciences, University of Cagliari, 09042 Cagliari, Italy; (M.P.P.); (N.G.)
- Istituto di Ricerca Genetica e Biomedica, Consiglio Nazionale delle Ricerche, 09042 Cagliari, Italy
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van Tilburg CM, Witt R, Heiss M, Pajtler KW, Plass C, Poschke I, Platten M, Harting I, Sedlaczek O, Freitag A, Meyrath D, Taylor L, Balasubramanian GP, Jäger N, Pfaff E, Jones BC, Milde T, Pfister SM, Jones DTW, Kopp-Schneider A, Witt O. INFORM2 NivEnt: The first trial of the INFORM2 biomarker driven phase I/II trial series: the combination of nivolumab and entinostat in children and adolescents with refractory high-risk malignancies. BMC Cancer 2020; 20:523. [PMID: 32503469 PMCID: PMC7275428 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-020-07008-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2020] [Accepted: 05/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Pediatric patients with relapsed or refractory disease represent a population with a desperate medical need. The aim of the INFORM (INdividualized Therapy FOr Relapsed Malignancies in Childhood) program is to translate next generation molecular diagnostics into a biomarker driven treatment strategy. The program consists of two major foundations: the INFORM registry providing a molecular screening platform and the INFORM2 series of biomarker driven phase I/II trials. The INFORM2 NivEnt trial aims to determine the recommended phase 2 dose (RP2D) of the combination treatment of nivolumab and entinostat (phase I) and to evaluate activity and safety (phase II). Methods This is an exploratory non-randomized, open-label, multinational and multicenter seamless phase I/II trial in children and adolescents with relapsed / refractory or progressive high-risk solid tumors and CNS tumors. The phase I is divided in 2 age cohorts: 12–21 years and 6–11 years and follows a 3 + 3 design with two dose levels for entinostat (2 mg/m2 and 4 mg/m2 once per week) and fixed dose nivolumab (3 mg/kg every 2 weeks). Patients entering the trial on RP2D can seamlessly enter phase II which consists of a biomarker defined four group basket trial: high mutational load (group A), high PD-L1 mRNA expression (group B), focal MYC(N) amplification (group C), low mutational load and low PD-L1 mRNA expression and no MYC(N) amplification (group D). A Bayesian adaptive design will be used to early stop cohorts that fail to show evidence of activity. The maximum number of patients is 128. Discussion This trial intends to exploit the immune enhancing effects of entinostat on nivolumab using an innovative biomarker driven approach in order to maximize the chance of detecting signs of activity. It prevents exposure to unnecessary risks by applying the Bayesian adaptive design for early stopping for futility. The adaptive biomarker driven design provides an innovative approach accelerating drug development and reducing exposure to investigational treatments in these vulnerable children at the same time. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03838042. Registered on 12 February 2019.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cornelis M van Tilburg
- KiTZ Clinical Trial Unit, Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany. .,Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany. .,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.
| | - Ruth Witt
- KiTZ Clinical Trial Unit, Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Melanie Heiss
- KiTZ Clinical Trial Unit, Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Kristian W Pajtler
- KiTZ Clinical Trial Unit, Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Christoph Plass
- Division of Cancer Epigenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Isabel Poschke
- DKTK Immune Monitoring Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Michael Platten
- DKTK Immune Monitoring Unit, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and National Center for Tumor Diseases (NCT), Heidelberg, Germany.,DKTK CCU Neuroimmunology and Brain Tumor Immunology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Inga Harting
- Department of Neuroradiology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Oliver Sedlaczek
- Radiology Cooperation Uni/DKFZ, Division of Radiology, NCT, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Angelika Freitag
- NCT Trial Center, National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany.,German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David Meyrath
- Pharmacy Department, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Lenka Taylor
- Pharmacy Department, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gnana Prakash Balasubramanian
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Natalie Jäger
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elke Pfaff
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Barbara C Jones
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Till Milde
- KiTZ Clinical Trial Unit, Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan M Pfister
- KiTZ Clinical Trial Unit, Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - David T W Jones
- Pediatric Glioma Research Group, Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Olaf Witt
- KiTZ Clinical Trial Unit, Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and Heidelberg University Hospital, Im Neuenheimer Feld 430, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany.,Clinical Cooperation Unit Pediatric Oncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,Hopp Children's Cancer Center Heidelberg (KiTZ), Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
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de Cubas AA, Dunker W, Zaninovich A, Hongo RA, Bhatia A, Panda A, Beckermann KE, Bhanot G, Ganesan S, Karijolich J, Rathmell WK. DNA hypomethylation promotes transposable element expression and activation of immune signaling in renal cell cancer. JCI Insight 2020; 5:137569. [PMID: 32493845 PMCID: PMC7308050 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.137569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 04/29/2020] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Recently, we reported that expression of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) is associated with response to immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) in renal cell carcinoma (RCC). We show that decitabine, a DNA hypomethylating agent, activates transposable element (TE) expression (LINE1 and ERVs ERV3-2 and ERV4700) and antiviral signaling to potentially enhance response to ICB in kidney cancer cell lines and primary cells. KO of RIGI and MDA5 dsRNA sensors attenuated activation of antiviral signaling associated with DNA hypomethylation, and RIGI and MDA5 IPs showed increased ERV binding with decitabine treatment. Bioinformatic analyses showed the decitabine-induced signature could be associated with increased immune infiltration and response to ICB. Cytokine secretion induced by decitabine could modestly improve T cell activation and robustly enhanced T cell migration. In a small retrospective cohort of metastatic clear cell RCC (ccRCC) patients treated with anti-PD1/PDL1 blockade, activation of some antiviral genes was significantly higher in responders. Thus, we identified a potential strategy to induce TE expression through inhibition of DNA methylation in modulating T cell action via regulation of the innate antiviral pathway.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aguirre A. de Cubas
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and
| | - William Dunker
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - Andrew Zaninovich
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and
| | - Rachel A. Hongo
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and
| | - Anuj Bhatia
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and
| | - Anshuman Panda
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
| | - Kathryn E. Beckermann
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and
| | - Gyan Bhanot
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Physics and Astronomy and
- Department of Molecular Biology and Biochemistry, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
- Moores Cancer Center at UCSD Health, La Jolla, California, USA
| | - Shridar Ganesan
- Rutgers Cancer Institute of New Jersey, New Brunswick, New Jersey, USA
- Department of Medicine, Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School, Rutgers University, Piscataway, New Jersey, USA
| | - John Karijolich
- Department of Pathology, Microbiology, and Immunology, Vanderbilt Center for Immunobiology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tennessee, USA
| | - W. Kimryn Rathmell
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, Department of Medicine, Vanderbilt-Ingram Cancer Center, and
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AP-TSS: A New Method for the Analysis of RNA Expression from Particular and Challenging Transcription Start Sites. Biomolecules 2020; 10:biom10060827. [PMID: 32481529 PMCID: PMC7355800 DOI: 10.3390/biom10060827] [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: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 05/12/2020] [Accepted: 05/21/2020] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Alternative promoter usage involved in the regulation of transcription, splicing, and translation contributes to proteome diversity and is involved in a large number of diseases, in particular, cancer. Epigenetic mechanisms and cis regulatory elements are involved in alternative promoter activity. Multiple transcript isoforms can be produced from a gene, due to the initiation of transcription at different transcription start sites (TSS). These transcripts may not have regions that allow discrimination during RT-qPCR, making quantification technically challenging. This study presents a general method for the relative quantification of a transcript synthesized from a particular TSS that we called AP-TSS (analysis of particular TSS). AP-TSS is based on the specific elongation of the cDNA of interest, followed by its quantification by qPCR. As proof of principle, AP-TSS was applied to two non-coding RNA: telomeric repeat-containing RNAs (TERRA) from a particular subtelomeric TSS, and Alu transcripts. The treatment of cells with a DNA methylation inhibitor was associated with a global increase of the total TERRA level, but the TERRA expression from the TSS of interest did not change in HT1080 cells, and only modestly increased in HeLa cells. This result suggests that TERRA upregulation induced by global demethylation of the genome is mainly due to activation from sites other than this particular TSS. For Alu RNA, the signal obtained by AP-TSS is specific for the RNA Polymerase III-dependent Alu transcript. In summary, our method provides a tool to study regulation of gene expression from a given transcription start site, in different conditions that could be applied to many genes. In particular, AP-TSS can be used to investigate the epigenetic regulation of alternative TSS usage that is of importance for the development of epigenetic-targeted therapies.
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Ohtani H, Ørskov AD, Helbo AS, Gillberg L, Liu M, Zhou W, Ungerstedt J, Hellström-Lindberg E, Sun W, Liang G, Jones PA, Grønbæk K. Activation of a Subset of Evolutionarily Young Transposable Elements and Innate Immunity Are Linked to Clinical Responses to 5-Azacytidine. Cancer Res 2020; 80:2441-2450. [PMID: 32245794 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-19-1696] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2019] [Revised: 08/06/2019] [Accepted: 03/24/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
The DNA methyltransferase inhibitors (DNMTi) 5-azacytidine and 5-aza-2-deoxycytidine have been approved for the treatment of different types of hematologic malignancies. However, only about 50% of patients respond to treatment. Therefore, a more comprehensive understanding of the molecular changes in patients treated with DNMTi is needed. Here, we examined gene expression profiles in a total of 150 RNA samples from two adult cohorts and one pediatric cohort with hematologic cancers taken before, during, and after treatment with 5-azacytidine (40 patients; 15 nonresponders, 25 responders). Using each patient as their own control, malignant cells showed preferential activation of a subset of evolutionarily young transposable elements (TE), including endogenous retroviral long terminal repeats (LTR), short and long interspersed nuclear elements (SINE and LINE), and the type I IFN pathway in responders, all independent of disease classification. Transfection of eight upregulated LTRs into recipient human cells in culture showed robust and heterogenous activation of six genes in the type I IFN pathway. These results, obtained in diverse hematologic disease entities, show that common targets (TE) activated by the same drug (5-azacytidine) elicit an immune response, which may be important for patient's responses to DNMTi. SIGNIFICANCE: Activation of specific classes of evolutionarily young transposable elements can lead to activation of the innate immune system.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Andreas D Ørskov
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Alexandra S Helbo
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Linn Gillberg
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Minmin Liu
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Wanding Zhou
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan
| | - Johanna Ungerstedt
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Division of Hematology Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Eva Hellström-Lindberg
- Center for Hematology and Regenerative Medicine, Department of Medicine Huddinge, Division of Hematology Karolinska Institutet, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Weili Sun
- Department of Pediatrics, Pediatric Hematology Oncology, City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California
| | - Gangning Liang
- Department of Urology, Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, California
| | - Peter A Jones
- Van Andel Research Institute, Grand Rapids, Michigan.
| | - Kirsten Grønbæk
- Department of Hematology, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
- Novo Nordisk Foundation Center for Stem Cell Biology, DanStem, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Milstone ZJ, Saheera S, Bourke LM, Shpilka T, Haynes CM, Trivedi CM. Histone deacetylases 1 and 2 silence cryptic transcription to promote mitochondrial function during cardiogenesis. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2020; 6:eaax5150. [PMID: 32300642 PMCID: PMC7148095 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.aax5150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2020] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
Cryptic transcription occurs widely across the eukaryotic genome; however, its regulation during vertebrate development is not understood. Here, we show that two class I histone deacetylases, Hdac1 and Hdac2, silence cryptic transcription to promote mitochondrial function in developing murine hearts. Mice lacking Hdac1 and Hdac2 in heart exhibit defective developmental switch from anaerobic to mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), severe defects in mitochondrial mass, mitochondrial function, and complete embryonic lethality. Hdac1/Hdac2 promotes the transition to OXPHOS by enforcing transcriptional fidelity of metabolic gene programs. Mechanistically, Hdac1/Hdac2 deacetylates histone residues including H3K23, H3K14, and H4K16 to suppress cryptic transcriptional initiation within the coding regions of actively transcribed metabolic genes. Thus, Hdac1/2-mediated epigenetic silencing of cryptic transcription is essential for mitochondrial function during early vertebrate development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zachary J. Milstone
- Cardiovascular Medicine, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Medicine, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Sherin Saheera
- Cardiovascular Medicine, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Medicine, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Lauren M. Bourke
- Cardiovascular Medicine, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Medicine, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Tomer Shpilka
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Cole M. Haynes
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
| | - Chinmay M. Trivedi
- Cardiovascular Medicine, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Medicine, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Department of Molecular, Cell, and Cancer Biology, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
- Li-Weibo Institute for Rare Diseases Research, UMass Medical School, Worcester, MA 01605, USA
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126
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Reustle A, Di Marco M, Meyerhoff C, Nelde A, Walz JS, Winter S, Kandabarau S, Büttner F, Haag M, Backert L, Kowalewski DJ, Rausch S, Hennenlotter J, Stühler V, Scharpf M, Fend F, Stenzl A, Rammensee HG, Bedke J, Stevanović S, Schwab M, Schaeffeler E. Integrative -omics and HLA-ligandomics analysis to identify novel drug targets for ccRCC immunotherapy. Genome Med 2020; 12:32. [PMID: 32228647 PMCID: PMC7106651 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-020-00731-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is the dominant subtype of renal cancer. With currently available therapies, cure of advanced and metastatic ccRCC is achieved only in rare cases. Here, we developed a workflow integrating different -omics technologies to identify ccRCC-specific HLA-presented peptides as potential drug targets for ccRCC immunotherapy. Methods We analyzed HLA-presented peptides by MS-based ligandomics of 55 ccRCC tumors (cohort 1), paired non-tumor renal tissues, and 158 benign tissues from other organs. Pathways enriched in ccRCC compared to its cell type of origin were identified by transcriptome and gene set enrichment analyses in 51 tumor tissues of the same cohort. To retrieve a list of candidate targets with involvement in ccRCC pathogenesis, ccRCC-specific pathway genes were intersected with the source genes of tumor-exclusive peptides. The candidates were validated in an independent cohort from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA KIRC, n = 452). DNA methylation (TCGA KIRC, n = 273), somatic mutations (TCGA KIRC, n = 392), and gene ontology (GO) and correlations with tumor metabolites (cohort 1, n = 30) and immune-oncological markers (cohort 1, n = 37) were analyzed to characterize regulatory and functional involvements. CD8+ T cell priming assays were used to identify immunogenic peptides. The candidate gene EGLN3 was functionally investigated in cell culture. Results A total of 34,226 HLA class I- and 19,325 class II-presented peptides were identified in ccRCC tissue, of which 443 class I and 203 class II peptides were ccRCC-specific and presented in ≥ 3 tumors. One hundred eighty-five of the 499 corresponding source genes were involved in pathways activated by ccRCC tumors. After validation in the independent cohort from TCGA, 113 final candidate genes remained. Candidates were involved in extracellular matrix organization, hypoxic signaling, immune processes, and others. Nine of the 12 peptides assessed by immunogenicity analysis were able to activate naïve CD8+ T cells, including peptides derived from EGLN3. Functional analysis of EGLN3 revealed possible tumor-promoting functions. Conclusions Integration of HLA ligandomics, transcriptomics, genetic, and epigenetic data leads to the identification of novel functionally relevant therapeutic targets for ccRCC immunotherapy. Validation of the identified targets is recommended to expand the treatment landscape of ccRCC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Reustle
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.,University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Moreno Di Marco
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Carolin Meyerhoff
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.,University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Annika Nelde
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Juliane S Walz
- Clinical Collaboration Unit Translational Immunology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,iFIT Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Winter
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.,University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Siahei Kandabarau
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.,University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Florian Büttner
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.,University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Mathias Haag
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.,University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Linus Backert
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Daniel J Kowalewski
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Steffen Rausch
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jörg Hennenlotter
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Viktoria Stühler
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Marcus Scharpf
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Falko Fend
- Institute of Pathology and Neuropathology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Arnulf Stenzl
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Hans-Georg Rammensee
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,iFIT Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Jens Bedke
- Department of Urology, University Hospital Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Stefan Stevanović
- Department of Immunology, Institute for Cell Biology, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,iFIT Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
| | - Matthias Schwab
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany. .,University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. .,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Partner Site Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. .,iFIT Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany. .,Departments of Clinical Pharmacology, Pharmacy and Biochemistry, University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.
| | - Elke Schaeffeler
- Dr. Margarete Fischer-Bosch Institute of Clinical Pharmacology, Stuttgart, Germany.,University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany.,iFIT Cluster of Excellence (EXC 2180) "Image-Guided and Functionally Instructed Tumor Therapies", University of Tuebingen, Tuebingen, Germany
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Ishak CA, De Carvalho DD. Reactivation of Endogenous Retroelements in Cancer Development and Therapy. ANNUAL REVIEW OF CANCER BIOLOGY-SERIES 2020. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-cancerbio-030419-033525] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Abstract
Domesticated retroelements contribute extensively as regulatory elements within host gene networks. Upon germline integration, retroelement mobilization is restricted through epigenetic silencing, mutational degradation, and innate immune defenses described as the viral mimicry response. Recent discoveries reveal how early events in tumorigenesis reactivate retroelements to facilitate onco-exaptation, replication stress, retrotransposition, mitotic errors, and sterile inflammation, which collectively disrupt genome integrity. The characterization of altered epigenetic homeostasis at retroelements in cancer cells also reveals new epigenetic targets whose inactivation can bolster responses to cancer therapies. Recent discoveries reviewed here frame reactivated retroelements as both drivers of tumorigenesis and therapy responses, where their reactivation by emerging epigenetic therapies can potentiate immune checkpoint blockade, cancer vaccines, and other standard therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A. Ishak
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada
| | - Daniel D. De Carvalho
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5G 2M9, Canada
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128
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Ma W, Qiao J, Zhou J, Gu L, Deng D. Characterization of novel LncRNA P14AS as a protector of ANRIL through AUF1 binding in human cells. Mol Cancer 2020; 19:42. [PMID: 32106863 PMCID: PMC7045492 DOI: 10.1186/s12943-020-01150-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/06/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The CDKN2A/B locus contains crucial tumor suppressors and a lncRNA gene ANRIL. However, the mechanisms that coordinately regulate their expression levels are not clear. Methods Novel RNAs transcribed from the CDKN2A gene were screened by CDKN2A-specific RNA capture deep-sequencing and confirmed by Northern blotting and clone-sequencing. Long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) binding proteins were characterized by RNA pull-down combined with mass spectrometry and RNA immunoprecipitation. LncRNA functions in human cells were studied using a set of biological assays in vitro and in vivo. Results We characterized a novel lncRNA, P14AS with its promoter in the antisense strand of the fragment near CDKN2A exon 1b in human cells. The mature P14AS is a three-exon linear cytoplasmic lncRNA (1043-nt), including an AU-rich element (ARE) in exon 1. P14AS decreases AUF1-ANRIL/P16 RNA interaction and then increases ANRIL/P16 expression by competitively binding to AUF1 P37 and P40 isoforms. Interestingly, P14AS significantly promoted the proliferation of cancer cells and tumor formation in NOD-SCID mice in a P16-independent pattern. Moreover, in human colon cancer tissues, the expression levels of P14AS and ANRIL lncRNAs were significantly upregulated compared with the paired normal tissues. Conclusion A novel lncRNA, P14AS, transcribed from the antisense strand of the CDKN2A/P14 gene, promotes colon cancer development by cis upregulating the expression of oncogenic ANRIL.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Jing Zhou
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Division of Etiology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Fu-Cheng-Lu #52, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Liankun Gu
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Division of Etiology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Fu-Cheng-Lu #52, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China
| | - Dajun Deng
- Key Laboratory of Carcinogenesis and Translational Research (Ministry of Education/Beijing), Division of Etiology, Peking University Cancer Hospital & Institute, Fu-Cheng-Lu #52, Haidian District, Beijing, 100142, China.
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129
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Shoaib M, Nair N, Sørensen CS. Chromatin Landscaping At Mitotic Exit Orchestrates Genome Function. Front Genet 2020; 11:103. [PMID: 32158468 PMCID: PMC7052122 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2020.00103] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Accepted: 01/29/2020] [Indexed: 11/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin architecture is highly dynamic during different phases of cell cycle to accommodate DNA-based processes. This is particularly obvious during mitotic exit, where highly condensed rod-like chromatids need to be rapidly decondensed. Such chromatin structural transitions are tightly controlled and organized as any perturbance in this dynamic process can lead to genome dysfunction which may culminate in loss of cellular fitness. However, the mechanisms underlying cell cycle-dependent chromatin structural changes are not fully understood. In this mini review, we highlight our current knowledge of chromatin structural organization, focusing on mitotic exit. In this regard, we examine how nuclear processes are orchestrated during chromatin unfolding and compartmentalization and discuss the critical importance of cell cycle-controlled chromatin landscaping in maintaining genome integrity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Shoaib
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Nidhi Nair
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Claus Storgaard Sørensen
- Biotech Research and Innovation Centre (BRIC), Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark
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130
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Janelle V, Rulleau C, Del Testa S, Carli C, Delisle JS. T-Cell Immunotherapies Targeting Histocompatibility and Tumor Antigens in Hematological Malignancies. Front Immunol 2020; 11:276. [PMID: 32153583 PMCID: PMC7046834 DOI: 10.3389/fimmu.2020.00276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/03/2020] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the last decades, T-cell immunotherapy has revealed itself as a powerful, and often curative, strategy to treat blood cancers. In hematopoietic cell transplantation, most of the so-called graft-vs.-leukemia (GVL) effect hinges on the recognition of histocompatibility antigens that reflect immunologically relevant genetic variants between donors and recipients. Whether other variants acquired during the neoplastic transformation, or the aberrant expression of gene products can yield antigenic targets of similar relevance as the minor histocompatibility antigens is actively being pursued. Modern genomics and proteomics have enabled the high throughput identification of candidate antigens for immunotherapy in both autologous and allogeneic settings. As such, these major histocompatibility complex-associated tumor-specific (TSA) and tumor-associated antigens (TAA) can allow for the targeting of multiple blood neoplasms, which is a limitation for other immunotherapeutic approaches, such as chimeric antigen receptor (CAR)-modified T cells. We review the current strategies taken to translate these discoveries into T-cell therapies and propose how these could be introduced in clinical practice. Specifically, we discuss the criteria that are used to select the antigens with the greatest therapeutic value and we review the various T-cell manufacturing approaches in place to either expand antigen-specific T cells from the native repertoire or genetically engineer T cells with minor histocompatibility antigen or TSA/TAA-specific recombinant T-cell receptors. Finally, we elaborate on the current and future incorporation of these therapeutic T-cell products into the treatment of hematological malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valérie Janelle
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Caroline Rulleau
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Simon Del Testa
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Cédric Carli
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
| | - Jean-Sébastien Delisle
- Centre de Recherche de l'Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Département de Médecine, Université de Montréal, Montréal, QC, Canada.,Division Hématologie et Oncologie, Hôpital Maisonneuve-Rosemont, Montréal, QC, Canada
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131
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Lee AK, Pan D, Bao X, Hu M, Li F, Li CY. Endogenous Retrovirus Activation as a Key Mechanism of Anti-Tumor Immune Response in Radiotherapy. Radiat Res 2020; 193:305-317. [PMID: 32074012 DOI: 10.1667/rade-20-00013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
The generation of DNA double-strand breaks has historically been taught as the mechanism through which radiotherapy kills cancer cells. Recently, radiation-induced cytosolic DNA release and activation of the cGAS/STING pathway, with ensuing induction of interferon secretion and immune activation, have been recognized as important mechanisms for radiation-mediated anti-tumor efficacy. Here we demonstrate that radiation-induced activation of endogenous retroviruses (ERVs) also plays a major role in regulating the anti-tumor immune response during irradiation. Radiation-induced ERV-associated dsRNA transcription and subsequent activation of the innate antiviral MDA5/MAVS/TBK1 pathway led to downstream transcription of interferon-stimulated genes. Additionally, genetic knockout of KAP1, a chromatin modulator responsible for suppressing ERV transcription sites within the genome, enhanced the effect of radiation-induced anti-tumor response in vivo in two different tumor models. This anti-tumor response was immune-mediated and required an intact host immune system. Our findings indicate that radiation-induced ERV-dsRNA expression and subsequent immune response play critical roles in clinical radiotherapy, and manipulation of epigenetic regulators and the dsRNA-sensing innate immunity pathway could be promising targets to enhance the efficacy of radiotherapy and cancer immunotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew K Lee
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Graduate School, Durham, North Carolina
| | | | | | | | | | - Chuan-Yuan Li
- Department of Pharmacology and Cancer Biology, Duke University Graduate School, Durham, North Carolina.,Department of Dermatology.,Department of Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina
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132
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Sundaram V, Wysocka J. Transposable elements as a potent source of diverse cis-regulatory sequences in mammalian genomes. Philos Trans R Soc Lond B Biol Sci 2020; 375:20190347. [PMID: 32075564 PMCID: PMC7061989 DOI: 10.1098/rstb.2019.0347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 103] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Eukaryotic gene regulation is mediated by cis-regulatory elements, which are embedded within the vast non-coding genomic space and recognized by the transcription factors in a sequence- and context-dependent manner. A large proportion of eukaryotic genomes, including at least half of the human genome, are composed of transposable elements (TEs), which in their ancestral form carried their own cis-regulatory sequences able to exploit the host trans environment to promote TE transcription and facilitate transposition. Although not all present-day TE copies have retained this regulatory function, the preexisting regulatory potential of TEs can provide a rich source of cis-regulatory innovation for the host. Here, we review recent evidence documenting diverse contributions of TE sequences to gene regulation by functioning as enhancers, promoters, silencers and boundary elements. We discuss how TE-derived enhancer sequences can rapidly facilitate changes in existing gene regulatory networks and mediate species- and cell-type-specific regulatory innovations, and we postulate a unique contribution of TEs to species-specific gene expression divergence in pluripotency and early embryogenesis. With advances in genome-wide technologies and analyses, systematic investigation of TEs' cis-regulatory potential is now possible and our understanding of the biological impact of genomic TEs is increasing. This article is part of a discussion meeting issue 'Crossroads between transposons and gene regulation'.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vasavi Sundaram
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Joanna Wysocka
- Department of Chemical and Systems Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.,Department of Developmental Biology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA.,Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, USA
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133
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134
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Morioka MS, Kawaji H, Nishiyori-Sueki H, Murata M, Kojima-Ishiyama M, Carninci P, Itoh M. Cap Analysis of Gene Expression (CAGE): A Quantitative and Genome-Wide Assay of Transcription Start Sites. Methods Mol Biol 2020; 2120:277-301. [PMID: 32124327 DOI: 10.1007/978-1-0716-0327-7_20] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Cap analysis of gene expression (CAGE) is an approach to identify and monitor the activity (transcription initiation frequency) of transcription start sites (TSSs) at single base-pair resolution across the genome. It has been effectively used to identify active promoter and enhancer regions in cancer cells, with potential utility to identify key factors to immunotherapy. Here, we overview a series of CAGE protocols and describe detailed experimental steps of the latest protocol based on the Illumina sequencing platform; both experimental steps (see Subheadings 3.1-3.11) and computational processing steps (see Subheadings 3.12-3.20) are described.
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Affiliation(s)
- Masaki Suimye Morioka
- Preventive Medicine and Applied Genomics Unit, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Hideya Kawaji
- Preventive Medicine and Applied Genomics Unit, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.,RIKEN Preventive Medicine and Diagnosis Innovation Program (PMI), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.,Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Medical Science, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Hiromi Nishiyori-Sueki
- Laboratory for Transcriptome Technology, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Mitsuyoshi Murata
- Laboratory for Transcriptome Technology, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Miki Kojima-Ishiyama
- Laboratory for Transcriptome Technology, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Piero Carninci
- Laboratory for Transcriptome Technology, RIKEN Center for Integrative Medical Sciences (IMS), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Masayoshi Itoh
- RIKEN Preventive Medicine and Diagnosis Innovation Program (PMI), Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
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135
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Kazachenka A, Young GR, Attig J, Kordella C, Lamprianidou E, Zoulia E, Vrachiolias G, Papoutselis M, Bernard E, Papaemmanuil E, Kotsianidis I, Kassiotis G. Epigenetic therapy of myelodysplastic syndromes connects to cellular differentiation independently of endogenous retroelement derepression. Genome Med 2019; 11:86. [PMID: 31870430 PMCID: PMC6929315 DOI: 10.1186/s13073-019-0707-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/07/2019] [Accepted: 12/15/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) and acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) are characterised by abnormal epigenetic repression and differentiation of bone marrow haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs). Drugs that reverse epigenetic repression, such as 5-azacytidine (5-AZA), induce haematological improvement in half of treated patients. Although the mechanisms underlying therapy success are not yet clear, induction of endogenous retroelements (EREs) has been hypothesised. METHODS Using RNA sequencing (RNA-seq), we compared the transcription of EREs in bone marrow HSCs from a new cohort of MDS and chronic myelomonocytic leukaemia (CMML) patients before and after 5-AZA treatment with HSCs from healthy donors and AML patients. We further examined ERE transcription using the most comprehensive annotation of ERE-overlapping transcripts expressed in HSCs, generated here by de novo transcript assembly and supported by full-length RNA-seq. RESULTS Consistent with prior reports, we found that treatment with 5-AZA increased the representation of ERE-derived RNA-seq reads in the transcriptome. However, such increases were comparable between treatment responses and failures. The extended view of HSC transcriptional diversity offered by de novo transcript assembly argued against 5-AZA-responsive EREs as determinants of the outcome of therapy. Instead, it uncovered pre-treatment expression and alternative splicing of developmentally regulated gene transcripts as predictors of the response of MDS and CMML patients to 5-AZA treatment. CONCLUSIONS Our study identifies the developmentally regulated transcriptional signatures of protein-coding and non-coding genes, rather than EREs, as correlates of a favourable response of MDS and CMML patients to 5-AZA treatment and offers novel candidates for further evaluation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anastasiya Kazachenka
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - George R Young
- Retrovirus-Host Interactions, The Francis Crick Institute, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Jan Attig
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK
| | - Chrysoula Kordella
- Department of Haematology, Democritus University of Thrace Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Eleftheria Lamprianidou
- Department of Haematology, Democritus University of Thrace Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Emmanuela Zoulia
- Department of Haematology, Democritus University of Thrace Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - George Vrachiolias
- Department of Haematology, Democritus University of Thrace Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Menelaos Papoutselis
- Department of Haematology, Democritus University of Thrace Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - Elsa Bernard
- Center for Molecular Oncology, Center for Heme Malignancies and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Elli Papaemmanuil
- Center for Molecular Oncology, Center for Heme Malignancies and Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Ioannis Kotsianidis
- Department of Haematology, Democritus University of Thrace Medical School, Alexandroupolis, Greece
| | - George Kassiotis
- Retroviral Immunology, The Francis Crick Institute, 1 Midland Road, London, NW1 1AT, UK.
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, London, W2 1PG, UK.
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136
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Pehrsson EC, Choudhary MNK, Sundaram V, Wang T. The epigenomic landscape of transposable elements across normal human development and anatomy. Nat Commun 2019; 10:5640. [PMID: 31822674 PMCID: PMC6904449 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-019-13555-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 11/12/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Transposable elements (TEs) have deposited functional regulatory elements throughout the human genome. Although most are silenced, certain TEs have been co-opted by the host. However, a comprehensive, multidimensional picture of the contribution of TEs to normal human gene regulation is still lacking. Here, we quantify the epigenomic status of TEs across human anatomy and development using data from the Roadmap Epigenomics Project. We find that TEs encompass a quarter of the human regulatory epigenome, and 47% of elements can be in an active regulatory state. We demonstrate that SINEs are enriched relative to other classes for active and transcribed marks, that TEs encompass a higher proportion of enhancer states in the hematopoietic lineage, and that DNA methylation of Alu elements decreases with age, corresponding with a loss of CpG islands. Finally, we identify TEs that may perform an evolutionarily conserved regulatory function, providing a systematic profile of TE activity in normal human tissue.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erica C Pehrsson
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
| | - Mayank N K Choudhary
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
| | - Vasavi Sundaram
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory, European Bioinformatics Institute, Wellcome Genome Campus, Hinxton, Cambridge, CB10 1SD, UK
| | - Ting Wang
- Department of Genetics, Washington University School of Medicine, 4515 McKinley Avenue, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- The Edison Family Center for Genome Sciences and Systems Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63110, USA.
- McDonnell Genome Institute, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO, 63108, USA.
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137
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Type I Interferons and Cancer: An Evolving Story Demanding Novel Clinical Applications. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11121943. [PMID: 31817234 PMCID: PMC6966569 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11121943] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/24/2019] [Revised: 11/20/2019] [Accepted: 11/30/2019] [Indexed: 01/05/2023] Open
Abstract
The first report on the antitumor effects of interferon α/β (IFN-I) in mice was published 50 years ago. IFN-α were the first immunotherapeutic drugs approved by the FDA for clinical use in cancer. However, their clinical use occurred at a time when most of their mechanisms of action were still unknown. These cytokines were being used as either conventional cytostatic drugs or non-specific biological response modifiers. Specific biological activities subsequently ascribed to IFN-I were poorly considered for their clinical use. Notably, a lot of the data in humans and mice underlines the importance of endogenous IFN-I, produced by both immune and tumor cells, in the control of tumor growth and in the response to antitumor therapies. While many oncologists consider IFN-I as “dead drugs”, recent studies reveal new mechanisms of action with potential implications in cancer control and immunotherapy response or resistance, suggesting novel rationales for their usage in target and personalized anti-cancer treatments. In this Perspectives Article, we focus on the following aspects: (1) the added value of IFN-I for enhancing the antitumor impact of standard anticancer treatments (chemotherapy and radiotherapy) and new therapeutic approaches, such as check point inhibitors and epigenetic drugs; (2) the role of IFN-I in the control of cancer stem cells growth and its possible implications for the development of novel antitumor therapies; and (3) the role of IFN-I in the development of cancer vaccines and the intriguing therapeutic possibilities offered by in situ delivery of ex vivo IFN-stimulated dendritic cells.
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138
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Lübbert M, Grishina O, Schmoor C, Schlenk RF, Jost E, Crysandt M, Heuser M, Thol F, Salih HR, Schittenhelm MM, Germing U, Kuendgen A, Götze KS, Lindemann HW, Müller-Tidow C, Heil G, Scholl S, Bug G, Schwaenen C, Giagounidis A, Neubauer A, Krauter J, Brugger W, De Wit M, Wäsch R, Becker H, May AM, Duyster J, Döhner K, Ganser A, Hackanson B, Döhner H. Valproate and Retinoic Acid in Combination With Decitabine in Elderly Nonfit Patients With Acute Myeloid Leukemia: Results of a Multicenter, Randomized, 2 × 2, Phase II Trial. J Clin Oncol 2019; 38:257-270. [PMID: 31794324 DOI: 10.1200/jco.19.01053] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
PURPOSE DNA-hypomethylating agents are studied in combination with other epigenetic drugs, such as histone deacetylase inhibitors or differentiation inducers (eg, retinoids), in myeloid neoplasias. A randomized, phase II trial with a 2 × 2 factorial design was conducted to investigate the effects of the histone deacetylase inhibitor valproate and all-trans retinoic acid (ATRA) in treatment-naive elderly patients with acute myeloid leukemia (AML). PATIENTS AND METHODS Two hundred patients (median age, 76 years; range, 61-92 years) ineligible for induction chemotherapy received decitabine (20 mg/m2 intravenously, days 1 to 5) alone (n = 47) or in combination with valproate (n = 57), ATRA (n = 46), or valproate + ATRA (n = 50). The primary endpoint was objective response, defined as complete and partial remission, tested at a one-sided significance level of α = .10. Key secondary endpoints were overall survival, event-free survival, and progression-free survival and safety. RESULTS The addition of ATRA resulted in a higher remission rate (21.9% with ATRA v 13.5% without ATRA; odds ratio, 1.80; 95% CI, 0.86 to 3.79; one-sided P = .06). For valproate, no effect was observed (17.8% with valproate v 17.2% without valproate; odds ratio, 1.06; 95% CI, 0.51 to 2.21; one-sided P = .44). Median overall survival was 8.2 months with ATRA v 5.1 months without ATRA (hazard ratio, 0.65; 95% CI, 0.48 to 0.89; two-sided P = .006). Improved survival was observed across risk groups, including patients with adverse cytogenetics, and was associated with longer response duration. With valproate, no survival difference was observed. Toxicities were predominantly hematologic, without relevant differences between the 4 arms. CONCLUSION The addition of ATRA to decitabine resulted in a higher remission rate and a clinically meaningful survival extension in these patients with difficult-to-treat disease, without added toxicity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael Lübbert
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Freiburg, Germany
| | - Olga Grishina
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Claudia Schmoor
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Richard F Schlenk
- University Hospital of Ulm, Ulm, Germany.,Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edgar Jost
- University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | - Martina Crysandt
- University Hospital Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
| | | | | | - Helmut R Salih
- German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Tübingen, Germany
| | | | - Ulrich Germing
- Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Andrea Kuendgen
- Faculty of Medicine, Heinrich-Heine University, Düsseldorf, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Katharina S Götze
- Technical University of Munich, Munich, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Munich, Germany
| | | | - Carsten Müller-Tidow
- Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany.,University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | | | - Gesine Bug
- University Hospital Frankfurt, Goethe University, Frankfurt, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Carsten Schwaenen
- Hospital Esslingen, Esslingen, Germany.,Offenburg Hospital, Offenburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Jürgen Krauter
- Städtisches Klinikum Braunschweig, Braunschweig, Germany
| | - Wolfram Brugger
- Hospital Villingen-Schwenningen, Villingen-Schwenningen, Germany
| | | | - Ralph Wäsch
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Heiko Becker
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Freiburg, Germany
| | - Annette M May
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Justus Duyster
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,German Cancer Consortium (DKTK) and German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Freiburg, Germany
| | | | | | - Björn Hackanson
- Faculty of Medicine and Medical Center, University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany.,Universitätsklinikum Augsburg, Augsburg, Germany
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139
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Wei W, Hennig BP, Wang J, Zhang Y, Piazza I, Pareja Sanchez Y, Chabbert CD, Adjalley SH, Steinmetz LM, Pelechano V. Chromatin-sensitive cryptic promoters putatively drive expression of alternative protein isoforms in yeast. Genome Res 2019; 29:1974-1984. [PMID: 31740578 PMCID: PMC6886497 DOI: 10.1101/gr.243378.118] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2018] [Accepted: 10/07/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Cryptic transcription is widespread and generates a heterogeneous group of RNA molecules of unknown function. To improve our understanding of cryptic transcription, we investigated their transcription start site (TSS) usage, chromatin organization, and posttranscriptional consequences in Saccharomyces cerevisiae We show that TSSs of chromatin-sensitive internal cryptic transcripts retain comparable features of canonical TSSs in terms of DNA sequence, directionality, and chromatin accessibility. We define the 5' and 3' boundaries of cryptic transcripts and show that, contrary to RNA degradation-sensitive ones, they often overlap with the end of the gene, thereby using the canonical polyadenylation site, and associate to polyribosomes. We show that chromatin-sensitive cryptic transcripts can be recognized by ribosomes and may produce truncated polypeptides from downstream, in-frame start codons. Finally, we confirm the presence of the predicted polypeptides by reanalyzing N-terminal proteomic data sets. Our work suggests that a fraction of chromatin-sensitive internal cryptic promoters initiates the transcription of alternative truncated mRNA isoforms. The expression of these chromatin-sensitive isoforms is conserved from yeast to human, expanding the functional consequences of cryptic transcription and proteome complexity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wu Wei
- Center for Biomedical Informatics, Shanghai Engineering Research Center for Big Data in Pediatric Precision Medicine, Shanghai Children's Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Shanghai 200040, China.,CAS Key Laboratory of Computational Biology, CAS-MPG Partner Institute for Computational Biology, Shanghai Institute of Nutrition and Health, Shanghai Institutes for Biological Sciences, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai 200031, China.,Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA
| | - Bianca P Hennig
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jingwen Wang
- SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Yujie Zhang
- SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Ilaria Piazza
- Institute of Molecular Systems Biology, Department of Biology, ETH Zürich, 8093 Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Yerma Pareja Sanchez
- SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
| | - Christophe D Chabbert
- European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany
| | | | - Lars M Steinmetz
- Stanford Genome Technology Center, Stanford University, Palo Alto, California 94304, USA.,European Molecular Biology Laboratory (EMBL), Genome Biology Unit, 69117 Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Genetics, School of Medicine, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305, USA
| | - Vicent Pelechano
- SciLifeLab, Department of Microbiology, Tumor and Cell Biology, Karolinska Institutet, 171 65 Solna, Sweden
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140
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Yang IV, Konigsberg I, MacPhail K, Li L, Davidson EJ, Mroz PM, Hamzeh N, Gillespie M, Silveira LJ, Fingerlin TE, Maier LA. DNA Methylation Changes in Lung Immune Cells Are Associated with Granulomatous Lung Disease. Am J Respir Cell Mol Biol 2019; 60:96-105. [PMID: 30141971 DOI: 10.1165/rcmb.2018-0177oc] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Epigenetic marks are likely to explain variability of response to antigen in granulomatous lung disease. The objective of this study was to identify DNA methylation and gene expression changes associated with chronic beryllium disease (CBD) and sarcoidosis in lung cells obtained by BAL. BAL cells from CBD (n = 8), beryllium-sensitized (n = 8), sarcoidosis (n = 8), and additional progressive sarcoidosis (n = 9) and remitting (n = 15) sarcoidosis were profiled on the Illumina 450k methylation and Affymetrix/Agilent gene expression microarrays. Statistical analyses were performed to identify DNA methylation and gene expression changes associated with CBD, sarcoidosis, and disease progression in sarcoidosis. DNA methylation array findings were validated by pyrosequencing. We identified 52,860 significant (P < 0.005 and q < 0.05) CpGs associated with CBD; 2,726 CpGs near 1,944 unique genes have greater than 25% methylation change. A total of 69% of differentially methylated genes are significantly (q < 0.05) differentially expressed in CBD, with many canonical inverse relationships of methylation and expression in genes critical to T-helper cell type 1 differentiation, chemokines and their receptors, and other genes involved in immunity. Testing of these CBD-associated CpGs in sarcoidosis reveals that methylation changes only approach significance, but are methylated in the same direction, suggesting similarities between the two diseases with more heterogeneity in sarcoidosis that limits power with the current sample size. Analysis of progressive versus remitting sarcoidosis identified 15,215 CpGs (P < 0.005 and q < 0.05), but only 801 of them have greater than 5% methylation change, demonstrating that DNA methylation marks of disease progression changes are more subtle. Our study highlights the significance of epigenetic marks in lung immune response in granulomatous lung disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivana V Yang
- 1 Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.,2 Department of Epidemiology, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado.,3 Center for Genes, Environment, and Health
| | - Iain Konigsberg
- 1 Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | - Li Li
- 4 Department of Medicine, and
| | - Elizabeth J Davidson
- 1 Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado
| | | | | | | | | | - Tasha E Fingerlin
- 1 Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.,3 Center for Genes, Environment, and Health.,5 Department of Biomedical Research, National Jewish Health, Denver, Colorado; and.,6 Department of Biostatistics and Bioinformatics and
| | - Lisa A Maier
- 1 Department of Medicine, University of Colorado School of Medicine, Aurora, Colorado.,4 Department of Medicine, and.,7 Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Colorado School of Public Health, Aurora, Colorado
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141
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Weaver BD, Goodman JR, Jensen R. Concurrent Radiosurgery and Systemic Therapies for Melanoma Brain Metastases: A Systematic Review. Cureus 2019; 11:e6147. [PMID: 31886081 PMCID: PMC6907724 DOI: 10.7759/cureus.6147] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Intracranial metastatic melanoma is a major challenge for neuro-oncological teams. Historically, treatment has focused on surgical or radiosurgical treatment of appropriate lesions, mostly for palliative purposes. Immunotherapies and other targeted therapies (BRAF/mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase inhibitors (BRAFi/MEKi)) are mainstays of advanced melanoma therapy, yet the optimal timing and synergistic properties of concurrent combinations of these systemic therapies and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are poorly understood. We performed a systematic review of the MEDLINE and Scopus databases focused on outcomes after therapy using SRS and either immunotherapies or targeted therapies in an effort to define the optimal timing. We defined concurrent therapy as SRS within three months of treatment with any systemic therapy. End points included local control, distant control, overall survival, and toxicities. We identified five retrospective cohort studies from the literature. These studies found that concurrent SRS plus immunotherapy or BRAFi/MEKi is well tolerated by most patients and generally improved local control, distant control, and overall survival. Importantly, no significant increases in toxicities were noted with concurrent therapy. Combining concurrent SRS with immunotherapy or BRAFi/MEKi may offer important advances for patients with intracranial metastatic melanoma. To address interstudy heterogeneity, we propose reporting two major time intervals defining “concurrent treatment”: concurrent-SRS (≤4 weeks) and peri-SRS (≤3 months). Future large-scale, prospective trials considering truly concurrent SRS therapies with systemic therapies are desperately needed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - James R Goodman
- Anesthesiology, Oregon Health & Science University, Portland, USA
| | - Randy Jensen
- Neurosurgery, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, USA
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142
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The Concomitant Expression of Human Endogenous Retroviruses and Embryonic Genes in Cancer Cells under Microenvironmental Changes is a Potential Target for Antiretroviral Drugs. CANCER MICROENVIRONMENT 2019; 12:105-118. [PMID: 31691184 DOI: 10.1007/s12307-019-00231-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2019] [Accepted: 08/20/2019] [Indexed: 01/26/2023]
Abstract
In our genomes there are thousands of copies of human endogenous retroviruses (HERVs) originated from the integration of exogenous retroviruses that infected germ line cells millions of years ago, and currently an altered expression of this elements has been associated to the onset, progression and acquisition of aggressiveness features of many cancers. The transcriptional reactivation of HERVs is mainly an effect of their responsiveness to some factors in cell microenvironment, such as nutrients, hormones and cytokines. We have already demonstrated that, under pressure of microenvironmental changes, HERV-K (HML-2) activation is required to maintain human melanoma cell plasticity and CD133+ cancer stem cells survival. In the present study, the transcriptional activity of HERV-K (HML-2), HERV-H, CD133 and the embryonic transcription factors OCT4, NANOG and SOX2 was evaluated during the in vitro treatment with antiretroviral drugs in cells from melanoma, liver and lung cancers exposed to microenvironmental changes. The exposure to stem cell medium induced a phenotype switching with the generation of sphere-like aggregates, characterized by the concomitant increase of HERV-K (HML-2) and HERV-H, CD133 and embryonic genes transcriptional activity. Although with heterogenic response among the different cell lines, the in vitro treatment with antiretroviral drugs affected HERVs transcriptional activity in parallel with the reduction of CD133 and embryonic genes expression, clonogenic activity and cell growth, accompanied by the induction of apoptosis. The responsiveness to antiretroviral drugs treatment of cancer cells with stemness features and expressing HERVs suggests the use of these drugs as innovative approach to treat aggressive tumours in combination with chemotherapeutic/radiotherapy regimens.
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143
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The role of DNA-demethylating agents in cancer therapy. Pharmacol Ther 2019; 205:107416. [PMID: 31626871 DOI: 10.1016/j.pharmthera.2019.107416] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
DNA methylation patterns are frequently altered in cancer cells as compared to normal cells. A large body of research associates these DNA methylation aberrations with cancer initiation and progression. Moreover, cancer cells seem to depend upon these aberrant DNA methylation profiles to thrive. Finally, DNA methylation modifications are reversible, highlighting the potential to target the global methylation patterns for cancer therapy. In this review, we will discuss the scientific and clinical aspects of DNA methylation in cancer. We will review the limited success of targeting DNA methylation in the clinic, the associated clinical challenges, the impact of novel DNA methylation inhibitors and how combination therapies are improving patient outcomes.
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144
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Gambacorta V, Gnani D, Vago L, Di Micco R. Epigenetic Therapies for Acute Myeloid Leukemia and Their Immune-Related Effects. Front Cell Dev Biol 2019; 7:207. [PMID: 31681756 PMCID: PMC6797914 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2019.00207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Over the past decades, our molecular understanding of acute myeloid leukemia (AML) pathogenesis dramatically increased, thanks also to the advent of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies. Many of these findings, however, have not yet translated into new prognostic markers or rationales for treatments. We now know that AML is a highly heterogeneous disease characterized by a very low mutational burden. Interestingly, the few mutations identified mainly reside in epigenetic regulators, which shape and define leukemic cell identity. In the light of these discoveries and given the increasing number of drugs targeting epigenetic regulators in clinical development and testing, great interest is emerging for the use of small molecules targeting leukemia epigenome. Together with their effects on leukemia cell-intrinsic properties, such as proliferation and survival, epigenetic drugs may affect the way leukemic cells communicate with the surrounding components of the tumor and immune microenvironment. Here, we review current knowledge on alterations in the AML epigenetic landscape and discuss the promises of epigenetic therapies for AML treatment. Finally, we summarize emerging molecular studies elucidating how epigenetic rewiring in cancer cells may as well exert immune-modulatory functions, boost the immune system, and potentially contribute to better patient outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Valentina Gambacorta
- Unit of Senescence in Stem Cell Aging, Differentiation and Cancer, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Milano-Bicocca University, Milan, Italy
| | - Daniela Gnani
- Unit of Senescence in Stem Cell Aging, Differentiation and Cancer, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Luca Vago
- Unit of Immunogenetics, Leukemia Genomics and Immunobiology, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy.,Unit of Hematology and Bone Marrow Transplantation, IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
| | - Raffaella Di Micco
- Unit of Senescence in Stem Cell Aging, Differentiation and Cancer, San Raffaele Telethon Institute for Gene Therapy (SR-TIGET), IRCCS San Raffaele Scientific Institute, Milan, Italy
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145
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Soudet J, Stutz F. Regulation of Gene Expression and Replication Initiation by Non‐Coding Transcription: A Model Based on Reshaping Nucleosome‐Depleted Regions. Bioessays 2019; 41:e1900043. [DOI: 10.1002/bies.201900043] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2019] [Revised: 08/19/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Julien Soudet
- Department of Cell BiologyUniversity of Geneva 1211 Geneva Switzerland
| | - Françoise Stutz
- Department of Cell BiologyUniversity of Geneva 1211 Geneva Switzerland
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146
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Canli T. A model of human endogenous retrovirus (HERV) activation in mental health and illness. Med Hypotheses 2019; 133:109404. [PMID: 31557593 DOI: 10.1016/j.mehy.2019.109404] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2019] [Accepted: 09/18/2019] [Indexed: 01/04/2023]
Abstract
Despite strong evidence for the heritability of major depressive disorder (MDD), efforts to identify causal genes have been disappointing. Furthermore, although there is strong support for life stress as a major predictor of MDD, there are also considerable individual differences in susceptibility and resilience that remain poorly understood. Efforts to identify specific gene-by-environment risk factors produced results that were initially encouraging, but that were not supported by later large-scale studies. Here I propose a novel mechanism that could address the "missing heritability" of MDD, the role of environmental risk factors, and individual differences in susceptibility and resilience. This mechanism focuses on a class of transposable elements, Human Endogenous Retroviruses (HERVs), which make up approximately 8% of the human genome as the result of ancient retroviral infections that entered mammalian germ lines throughout the course of evolution. My primary hypothesis is that exposure to either exogenous viruses or traumatic experiences can activate HERVs in the brain to cause depressive (and possibly other psychiatric) symptoms. My secondary hypothesis is that individual differences in vulnerability or resilience result from the balance of activated HERVs with pathogenic versus protective functions in the brain. Future research can test these hypotheses by analysis of postmortem human brain tissue from donors with known viral or trauma histories; animal studies manipulating HERV expression; cell culture studies examining regulatory mechanisms of HERV expression; and from brain imaging studies of individuals with known HERV-expression. Such research may reveal novel functions of HERVs in neural tissue and may lead to a new generation of psychiatric interventions designed to target aberrant HERV activation.
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MESH Headings
- Animals
- Brain/virology
- Cells, Cultured
- Cytokines/physiology
- Depressive Disorder, Major/etiology
- Depressive Disorder, Major/genetics
- Depressive Disorder, Major/immunology
- Depressive Disorder, Major/virology
- Disease Models, Animal
- Endogenous Retroviruses/genetics
- Endogenous Retroviruses/physiology
- Environmental Exposure
- Epigenesis, Genetic
- Gene Expression Regulation, Viral
- Gene-Environment Interaction
- Genes, Viral
- Humans
- Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins/physiology
- Mice, Transgenic
- Models, Biological
- Models, Psychological
- Schizophrenia/pathology
- Schizophrenia/virology
- Stress, Psychological
- Terminal Repeat Sequences/genetics
- Virus Activation
- Virus Diseases/complications
- Virus Diseases/psychology
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Affiliation(s)
- Turhan Canli
- Departments of Psychology and Psychiatry, Stony Brook University, Stony Brook, NY 11794-2500, USA.
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147
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Ettayebi I, Yau HL, De Carvalho DD. Methods to detect endogenous dsRNA induction and recognition. Methods Enzymol 2019; 629:35-51. [PMID: 31727248 DOI: 10.1016/bs.mie.2019.07.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Nucleic acid sensing is a central mechanism for innate immune defense against foreign molecules that culminates with an activation of interferon signaling pathways. This involves detection of molecular patterns associated with extracellular or intracellular pathogens by specialized receptors within the cell. In addition to foreign molecules, cells also sense endogenous molecules. One specific arm of nucleic acid sensors detects dsRNA structures. In this chapter, we discuss principles of dsRNA recognition and downstream activation of signaling pathways important in the process of antiviral responses. We also discuss various mechanisms by which endogenous dsRNA can form in a cell, in particular, through epigenetic regulation. Finally, we provide approaches for measuring and quantifying dsRNA accumulation and downstream activation in human colorectal cancer cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ilias Ettayebi
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Helen Loo Yau
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Daniel D De Carvalho
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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148
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Zhu C, Cai Y, Zhu J, Zhang L, Xing A, Pan L, Jia H, Mo S, Feng CG, Shen H, Chen X, Zhang Z. Histone deacetylase inhibitors impair the host immune response against Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Tuberculosis (Edinb) 2019; 118:101861. [PMID: 31526947 DOI: 10.1016/j.tube.2019.101861] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2019] [Revised: 07/19/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 01/14/2023]
Abstract
Histone deacetylase inhibitors (HDACi), a novel class of anti-cancer drug, have been recently reported to suppress host immunity and increase susceptibility to infection. Tuberculosis, a leading infectious disease killer caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M.tb), is basically the product of the interaction between bacterial virulence and host resistance. However, the effects of HDACi in host immunity against M.tb is largely unknown. In this study, we found that HDACi including Trichostatin A (TSA) and suberoylanilide hydroxamic acid (SAHA) significantly impaired phagocytosis and killing activity of macrophage. In line with these findings, we noted that M.tb induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) production and autophagy are significantly suppressed by TSA. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the suppression of autophagy by TSA might due to its inhibiting autophagy-regulating genes such as CACNA2D3, which regulates intracellular Ca2+ levels. Finally, we confirmed that HDACi including TSA and SAHA significantly exacerbated the histopathological damage and M.tb load in the lung of M.tb infected mice. Taken together, our results indicated that HDACi at least TSA and SAHA significantly impaired macrophage immunity against M.tb and therefore increase susceptibility to TB, our findings raised the concern that the potential side effects of HDACi on latent TB reactivation should be considered in clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chuanzhi Zhu
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Drug Resistance Tuberculosis Research, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, 101149, China
| | - Yi Cai
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Jialou Zhu
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Lanyue Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Drug Resistance Tuberculosis Research, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, 101149, China
| | - Aiying Xing
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Drug Resistance Tuberculosis Research, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, 101149, China
| | - Liping Pan
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Drug Resistance Tuberculosis Research, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, 101149, China
| | - Hongyan Jia
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Drug Resistance Tuberculosis Research, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, 101149, China
| | - Siwei Mo
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China
| | - Carl G Feng
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China; Immunology and Host Defense Group, Department of Infectious Diseases and Immunology, Sydney Medical School, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, 2006, Australia
| | - Hongbo Shen
- Unit of Anti-Tuberculosis Immunity, Institute Pasteur of Shanghai, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Shanghai, 200031, China
| | - Xinchun Chen
- Department of Pathogen Biology, Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Regional Immunity and Diseases, Shenzhen University School of Medicine, Shenzhen, 518060, Guangdong, China.
| | - Zongde Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Biology, Beijing Key Laboratory for Drug Resistance Tuberculosis Research, Beijing Chest Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing Tuberculosis and Thoracic Tumor Research Institute, Beijing, 101149, China.
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149
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Smith CC, Selitsky SR, Chai S, Armistead PM, Vincent BG, Serody JS. Alternative tumour-specific antigens. Nat Rev Cancer 2019; 19:465-478. [PMID: 31278396 PMCID: PMC6874891 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-019-0162-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 204] [Impact Index Per Article: 40.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/29/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
The study of tumour-specific antigens (TSAs) as targets for antitumour therapies has accelerated within the past decade. The most commonly studied class of TSAs are those derived from non-synonymous single-nucleotide variants (SNVs), or SNV neoantigens. However, to increase the repertoire of available therapeutic TSA targets, 'alternative TSAs', defined here as high-specificity tumour antigens arising from non-SNV genomic sources, have recently been evaluated. Among these alternative TSAs are antigens derived from mutational frameshifts, splice variants, gene fusions, endogenous retroelements and other processes. Unlike the patient-specific nature of SNV neoantigens, some alternative TSAs may have the advantage of being widely shared by multiple tumours, allowing for universal, off-the-shelf therapies. In this Opinion article, we will outline the biology, available computational tools, preclinical and/or clinical studies and relevant cancers for each alternative TSA class, as well as discuss both current challenges preventing the therapeutic application of alternative TSAs and potential solutions to aid in their clinical translation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christof C Smith
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC School of Medicine, Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Sara R Selitsky
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Bioinformatics Core, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Shengjie Chai
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC School of Medicine, Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Paul M Armistead
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA
| | - Benjamin G Vincent
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC School of Medicine, Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Curriculum in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Program in Computational Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
| | - Jonathan S Serody
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, UNC School of Medicine, Marsico Hall, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Medicine, Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
- Program in Computational Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.
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150
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Abstract
Maintenance of genome stability requires control over the expression of transposable elements (TEs), whose activity can have substantial deleterious effects on the host. Chemical modification of DNA is a commonly used strategy to achieve this, and it has long been argued that the emergence of 5-methylcytosine (5mC) in many species was driven by the requirement to silence TEs. Potential roles in TE regulation have also been suggested for other DNA modifications, such as N6-methyladenine and oxidation derivatives of 5mC, although the underlying mechanistic relationships are poorly understood. Here, we discuss current evidence implicating DNA modifications and DNA-modifying enzymes in TE regulation across different species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Özgen Deniz
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL, London, UK
| | - Jennifer M Frost
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL, London, UK
| | - Miguel R Branco
- Blizard Institute, Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry, QMUL, London, UK.
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