151
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Menyhárt O, Győrffy B. Principles of tumorigenesis and emerging molecular drivers of SHH-activated medulloblastomas. Ann Clin Transl Neurol 2019; 6:990-1005. [PMID: 31139698 PMCID: PMC6529984 DOI: 10.1002/acn3.762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2019] [Revised: 02/26/2019] [Accepted: 02/27/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
SHH-activated medulloblastomas (SHH-MB) account for 25-30% of all medulloblastomas (MB) and occur with a bimodal age distribution, encompassing many infant and adult, but fewer childhood cases. Different age groups are characterized by distinct survival outcomes and age-specific alterations of regulatory pathways. Here, we review SHH-specific genetic aberrations and signaling pathways. Over 95% of SHH-MBs contain at least one driver event - the activating mutations frequently affect sonic hedgehog signaling (PTCH1, SMO, SUFU), genome maintenance (TP53), and chromatin modulation (KMT2D, KMT2C, HAT complexes), while genes responsible for transcriptional regulation (MYCN) are recurrently amplified. SHH-MBs have the highest prevalence of damaging germline mutations among all MBs. TP53-mutant MBs are enriched among older children and have the worst prognosis among all SHH-MBs. Numerous genetic aberrations, including mutations of TERT, DDX3X, and the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway are almost exclusive to adult patients. We elaborate on the newest development within the evolution of molecular subclassification, and compare proposed risk categories across emerging classification systems. We discuss discoveries based on preclinical models and elaborate on the applicability of potential new therapies, including BET bromodomain inhibitors, statins, inhibitors of SMO, AURK, PLK, cMET, targeting stem-like cells, and emerging immunotherapeutic strategies. An enormous amount of data on the genetic background of SHH-MB have accumulated, nevertheless, subgroup affiliation does not provide reliable prediction about response to therapy. Emerging subtypes within SHH-MB offer more layered risk stratifications. Rational clinical trial designs with the incorporation of available molecular knowledge are inevitable. Improved collaboration across the scientific community will be imperative for therapeutic breakthroughs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Otília Menyhárt
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics Semmelweis University H-1094 Budapest Hungary.,MTA TTK Lendület Cancer Biomarker Research Group Institute of Enzymology Hungarian Academy of Sciences Magyar tudósok körútja 2 Budapest Hungary
| | - Balázs Győrffy
- 2nd Department of Pediatrics Semmelweis University H-1094 Budapest Hungary.,MTA TTK Lendület Cancer Biomarker Research Group Institute of Enzymology Hungarian Academy of Sciences Magyar tudósok körútja 2 Budapest Hungary
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152
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Tao R, Murad N, Xu Z, Zhang P, Okonechnikov K, Kool M, Rivero-Hinojosa S, Lazarski C, Zheng P, Liu Y, Eberhart CG, Rood BR, Packer R, Pei Y. MYC Drives Group 3 Medulloblastoma through Transformation of Sox2 + Astrocyte Progenitor Cells. Cancer Res 2019; 79:1967-1980. [PMID: 30862721 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-1787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2018] [Revised: 08/07/2018] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
A subset of group 3 medulloblastoma frequently harbors amplification or overexpression of MYC lacking additional focal aberrations, yet it remains unclear whether MYC overexpression alone can induce tumorigenesis and which cells give rise to these tumors. Here, we showed that astrocyte progenitors in the early postnatal cerebellum were susceptible to transformation by MYC. The resulting tumors specifically resembled human group 3 medulloblastoma based on histology and gene-expression profiling. Gene-expression analysis of MYC-driven medulloblastoma cells revealed altered glucose metabolic pathways with marked overexpression of lactate dehydrogenase A (LDHA). LDHA abundance correlated positively with MYC expression and was associated with poor prognosis in human group 3 medulloblastoma. Inhibition of LDHA significantly reduced growth of both mouse and human MYC-driven tumors but had little effect on normal cerebellar cells or SHH-associated medulloblastoma. By generating a new mouse model, we demonstrated for the first time that astrocyte progenitors can be transformed by MYC and serve as the cells of origin for group 3 medulloblastoma. Moreover, we identified LDHA as a novel, specific therapeutic target for this devastating disease. SIGNIFICANCE: Insights from a new model identified LDHA as a novel target for group 3 medulloblastoma, paving the way for the development of effective therapies against this disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ran Tao
- Center for Cancer and Immunology, Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC
| | - Najiba Murad
- Center for Cancer and Immunology, Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC
| | - Zhenhua Xu
- Center for Cancer and Immunology, Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC
| | - Peng Zhang
- Division of Immunotherapy, Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Konstantin Okonechnikov
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center, NCT, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Pediatric Neuro-oncology of the German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer Consortium, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center, NCT, Heidelberg, Germany.,Division of Pediatric Neuro-oncology of the German Cancer Research Center and German Cancer Consortium, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Samuel Rivero-Hinojosa
- Center for Cancer and Immunology, Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC
| | - Christopher Lazarski
- Center for Cancer and Immunology, Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC
| | - Pan Zheng
- Division of Immunotherapy, Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Yang Liu
- Division of Immunotherapy, Institute of Human Virology, School of Medicine, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
| | - Charles G Eberhart
- Division of Neuropathology, Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Brian R Rood
- Center for Cancer and Immunology, Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC
| | - Roger Packer
- Center for Cancer and Immunology, Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC
| | - Yanxin Pei
- Center for Cancer and Immunology, Brain Tumor Institute, Children's National Health System, Washington, DC.
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153
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Differential Expression of Mitochondrial Biogenesis Markers in Mouse and Human SHH-Subtype Medulloblastoma. Cells 2019; 8:cells8030216. [PMID: 30841515 PMCID: PMC6468894 DOI: 10.3390/cells8030216] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/31/2018] [Revised: 02/27/2019] [Accepted: 02/28/2019] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is a brain tumor that arises predominantly in infants and children. It is the most common pediatric brain malignancy. Around 25% of medulloblastomas are driven by constitutive activation of the Hedgehog signaling pathway. Hedgehog-driven medulloblastoma is often studied in the laboratory using genetic mouse models with overactive Hedgehog signaling, which recapitulate many of the pathological features of human Hedgehog-dependent tumors. However, we show here that on a molecular level the human and mouse HH-dependent MB are quite distinct, with human, but not mouse, tumors characterized by the presence of markers of increased oxidative phosphorylation and mitochondrial biogenesis. The latter suggests that, unlike for many other types of tumors, a switch to glycolytic metabolism might not be co-opted by human SHH-MB to perpetuate their survival and growth. This needs to be taken into consideration and could potentially be exploited in the design of therapies.
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154
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Fults DW, Taylor MD, Garzia L. Leptomeningeal dissemination: a sinister pattern of medulloblastoma growth. J Neurosurg Pediatr 2019; 23:613-621. [PMID: 30771762 DOI: 10.3171/2018.11.peds18506] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/13/2018] [Accepted: 11/21/2018] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Leptomeningeal dissemination (LMD) is the defining pattern of metastasis for medulloblastoma. Although LMD is responsible for virtually 100% of medulloblastoma deaths, it remains the least well-understood part of medulloblastoma pathogenesis. The fact that medulloblastomas rarely metastasize outside the CNS but rather spread almost exclusively to the spinal and intracranial leptomeninges has fostered the long-held belief that medulloblastoma cells spread directly through the CSF, not the bloodstream. In this paper the authors discuss selected molecules for which experimental evidence explains how the effects of each molecule on cell physiology contribute mechanistically to LMD. A model of medulloblastoma LMD is described, analogous to the invasion-metastasis cascade of hematogenous metastasis of carcinomas. The LMD cascade is based on the molecular themes that 1) transcription factors launch cell programs that mediate cell motility and invasiveness and maintain tumor cells in a stem-like state; 2) disseminating medulloblastoma cells escape multiple death threats by subverting apoptosis; and 3) inflammatory chemokine signaling promotes LMD by creating an oncogenic microenvironment. The authors also review recent experimental evidence that challenges the belief that CSF spread is the sole mechanism of LMD and reveal an alternative scheme in which medulloblastoma cells can enter the bloodstream and subsequently home to the leptomeninges.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel W Fults
- 1Department of Neurosurgery, University of Utah School of Medicine and Huntsman Cancer Institute, Salt Lake City, Utah
| | - Michael D Taylor
- 2Division of Neurosurgery, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Center, and Program in Developmental and Stem Cell Biology, Hospital for Sick Children, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada; and
| | - Livia Garzia
- 3Cancer Research Program, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Center and Department of Surgery, McGill University, Montreal, Quebec, Canada
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155
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Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) comprises a biologically heterogeneous group of embryonal tumours of the cerebellum. Four subgroups of MB have been described (WNT, sonic hedgehog (SHH), Group 3 and Group 4), each of which is associated with different genetic alterations, age at onset and prognosis. These subgroups have broadly been incorporated into the WHO classification of central nervous system tumours but still need to be accounted for to appropriately tailor disease risk to therapy intensity and to target therapy to disease biology. In this Primer, the epidemiology (including MB predisposition), molecular pathogenesis and integrative diagnosis taking histomorphology, molecular genetics and imaging into account are reviewed. In addition, management strategies, which encompass surgical resection of the tumour, cranio-spinal irradiation and chemotherapy, are discussed, together with the possibility of focusing more on disease biology and robust molecularly driven patient stratification in future clinical trials.
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156
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Wojcinski A, Morabito M, Lawton AK, Stephen DN, Joyner AL. Genetic deletion of genes in the cerebellar rhombic lip lineage can stimulate compensation through adaptive reprogramming of ventricular zone-derived progenitors. Neural Dev 2019; 14:4. [PMID: 30764875 PMCID: PMC6375182 DOI: 10.1186/s13064-019-0128-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/19/2018] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The cerebellum is a foliated posterior brain structure involved in coordination of motor movements and cognition. The cerebellum undergoes rapid growth postnataly due to Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) signaling-dependent proliferation of ATOH1+ granule cell precursors (GCPs) in the external granule cell layer (EGL), a key step for generating cerebellar foliation and the correct number of granule cells. Due to its late development, the cerebellum is particularly vulnerable to injury from preterm birth and stress around birth. We recently uncovered an intrinsic capacity of the developing cerebellum to replenish ablated GCPs via adaptive reprogramming of Nestin-expressing progenitors (NEPs). However, whether this compensation mechanism occurs in mouse mutants affecting the developing cerebellum and could lead to mis-interpretation of phenotypes was not known. METHODS We used two different approaches to remove the main SHH signaling activator GLI2 in GCPs: 1) Our mosaic mutant analysis with spatial and temporal control of recombination (MASTR) technique to delete Gli2 in a small subset of GCPs; 2) An Atoh1-Cre transgene to delete Gli2 in most of the EGL. Genetic Inducible Fate Mapping (GIFM) and live imaging were used to analyze the behavior of NEPs after Gli2 deletion. RESULTS Mosaic analysis demonstrated that SHH-GLI2 signaling is critical for generating the correct pool of granule cells by maintaining GCPs in an undifferentiated proliferative state and promoting their survival. Despite this, inactivation of GLI2 in a large proportion of GCPs in the embryo did not lead to the expected dramatic reduction in the size of the adult cerebellum. GIFM uncovered that NEPs do indeed replenish GCPs in Gli2 conditional mutants, and then expand and partially restore the production of granule cells. Furthermore, the SHH signaling-dependent NEP compensation requires Gli2, demonstrating that the activator side of the pathway is involved. CONCLUSION We demonstrate that a mouse conditional mutation that results in loss of SHH signaling in GCPs is not sufficient to induce long term severe cerebellum hypoplasia. The ability of the neonatal cerebellum to regenerate after loss of cells via a response by NEPs must therefore be considered when interpreting the phenotypes of Atoh1-Cre conditional mutants affecting GCPs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alexandre Wojcinski
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 511, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Morgane Morabito
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 511, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Andrew K Lawton
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 511, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Daniel N Stephen
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 511, New York, NY, 10065, USA
| | - Alexandra L Joyner
- Developmental Biology Program, Sloan Kettering Institute, 1275 York Avenue, Box 511, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
- Biochemistry, Cell and Molecular Biology Program, Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, New York, NY, 10065, USA.
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157
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Beckmann PJ, Larson JD, Larsson AT, Ostergaard JP, Wagner S, Rahrmann EP, Shamsan GA, Otto GM, Williams RL, Wang J, Lee C, Tschida BR, Das P, Dubuc AM, Moriarity BS, Picard D, Wu X, Rodriguez FJ, Rosemarie Q, Krebs RD, Molan AM, Demer AM, Frees MM, Rizzardi AE, Schmechel SC, Eberhart CG, Jenkins RB, Wechsler-Reya RJ, Odde DJ, Huang A, Taylor MD, Sarver AL, Largaespada DA. Sleeping Beauty Insertional Mutagenesis Reveals Important Genetic Drivers of Central Nervous System Embryonal Tumors. Cancer Res 2019; 79:905-917. [PMID: 30674530 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-18-1261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2018] [Revised: 11/07/2018] [Accepted: 12/31/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma and central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal tumors (CNS-PNET) are aggressive, poorly differentiated brain tumors with limited effective therapies. Using Sleeping Beauty (SB) transposon mutagenesis, we identified novel genetic drivers of medulloblastoma and CNS-PNET. Cross-species gene expression analyses classified SB-driven tumors into distinct medulloblastoma and CNS-PNET subgroups, indicating they resemble human Sonic hedgehog and group 3 and 4 medulloblastoma and CNS neuroblastoma with FOXR2 activation. This represents the first genetically induced mouse model of CNS-PNET and a rare model of group 3 and 4 medulloblastoma. We identified several putative proto-oncogenes including Arhgap36, Megf10, and Foxr2. Genetic manipulation of these genes demonstrated a robust impact on tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. We also determined that FOXR2 interacts with N-MYC, increases C-MYC protein stability, and activates FAK/SRC signaling. Altogether, our study identified several promising therapeutic targets in medulloblastoma and CNS-PNET. SIGNIFICANCE: A transposon-induced mouse model identifies several novel genetic drivers and potential therapeutic targets in medulloblastoma and CNS-PNET.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pauline J Beckmann
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Jon D Larson
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Alex T Larsson
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Jason P Ostergaard
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Sandra Wagner
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Eric P Rahrmann
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.,Cancer Research UK, Cambridge Institute, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom
| | - Ghaidan A Shamsan
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - George M Otto
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.,Department of Molecular and Cellular Biology, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California
| | - Rory L Williams
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.,Department of Bioengineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California
| | - Jun Wang
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Catherine Lee
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - Barbara R Tschida
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Paramita Das
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Adrian M Dubuc
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Branden S Moriarity
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Daniel Picard
- Department of Pediatric Neuro-Oncogenomics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ) and German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), Heidelberg, Germany.,Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Xiaochong Wu
- Division of Neurosurgery, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | | | - Quincy Rosemarie
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.,McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin
| | - Ryan D Krebs
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Amy M Molan
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.,Department of Biochemistry, Molecular Biology, and Biophysics, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Addison M Demer
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Michelle M Frees
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Anthony E Rizzardi
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Stephen C Schmechel
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.,Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Medicine, Florida State University, Sarasota, Florida
| | - Charles G Eberhart
- Department of Pathology, Ophthalmology and Oncology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland
| | - Robert B Jenkins
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic and Foundation, 200 First Street Southwest, Rochester, Minnesota
| | - Robert J Wechsler-Reya
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California
| | - David J Odde
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - Annie Huang
- Division of Hematology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Division of Neurosurgery, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Aaron L Sarver
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota
| | - David A Largaespada
- Masonic Cancer Center, Department of Pediatrics, and Center for Genome Engineering, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
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158
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Dobson THW, Tao RH, Swaminathan J, Maegawa S, Shaik S, Bravo-Alegria J, Sharma A, Kennis B, Yang Y, Callegari K, Haltom AR, Taylor P, Kogiso M, Qi L, Khatua S, Goldman S, Lulla RR, Fangusaro J, MacDonald TJ, Li XN, Hawkins C, Rajaram V, Gopalakrishnan V. Transcriptional repressor REST drives lineage stage-specific chromatin compaction at Ptch1 and increases AKT activation in a mouse model of medulloblastoma. Sci Signal 2019; 12:12/565/eaan8680. [PMID: 30670636 DOI: 10.1126/scisignal.aan8680] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
In medulloblastomas (MBs), the expression and activity of RE1-silencing transcription factor (REST) is increased in tumors driven by the sonic hedgehog (SHH) pathway, specifically the SHH-α (children 3 to 16 years) and SHH-β (infants) subgroups. Neuronal maturation is greater in SHH-β than SHH-α tumors, but both correlate with poor overall patient survival. We studied the contribution of REST to MB using a transgenic mouse model (RESTTG ) wherein conditional NeuroD2-controlled REST transgene expression in lineage-committed Ptch1 +/- cerebellar granule neuron progenitors (CGNPs) accelerated tumorigenesis and increased penetrance and infiltrative disease. This model revealed a neuronal maturation context-specific antagonistic interplay between the transcriptional repressor REST and the activator GLI1 at Ptch1 Expression of Arrb1, which encodes β-arrestin1 (a GLI1 inhibitor), was substantially reduced in proliferating and, to a lesser extent, lineage-committed RESTTG cells compared with wild-type proliferating CGNPs. Lineage-committed RESTTG cells also had decreased GLI1 activity and increased histone H3K9 methylation at the Ptch1 locus, which correlated with premature silencing of Ptch1 These cells also had decreased expression of Pten, which encodes a negative regulator of the kinase AKT. Expression of PTCH1 and GLI1 were less, and ARRB1 was somewhat greater, in patient SHH-β than SHH-α MBs, whereas that of PTEN was similarly lower in both subtypes than in others. Inhibition of histone modifiers or AKT reduced proliferation and induced apoptosis, respectively, in cultured REST-high MB cells. Our findings linking REST to differentiation-specific chromatin remodeling, PTCH1 silencing, and AKT activation in MB tissues reveal potential subgroup-specific therapeutic targets for MB patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tara H W Dobson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Rong-Hua Tao
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | | | - Shinji Maegawa
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Shavali Shaik
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Javiera Bravo-Alegria
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Ajay Sharma
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Bridget Kennis
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Yanwen Yang
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Keri Callegari
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Amanda R Haltom
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Pete Taylor
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Mari Kogiso
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Lin Qi
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Soumen Khatua
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA
| | - Stewart Goldman
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Rishi R Lulla
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jason Fangusaro
- Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | | | - Xiao-Nan Li
- Texas Children's Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Department of Pediatrics, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Cynthia Hawkins
- Department of Pathology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Veena Rajaram
- Department of Pathology, UT Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Vidya Gopalakrishnan
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA. .,Molecular and Cellular Oncology, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Brain Tumor Center, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,Center for Cancer Epigenetics, University of Texas, MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77030, USA.,The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center-University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Houston, TX 77030, USA
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159
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Robson JP, Remke M, Kool M, Julian E, Korshunov A, Pfister SM, Osborne GW, Taylor MD, Wainwright B, Reynolds BA. Identification of CD24 as a marker of Patched1 deleted medulloblastoma-initiating neural progenitor cells. PLoS One 2019; 14:e0210665. [PMID: 30657775 PMCID: PMC6338368 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0210665] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/25/2018] [Accepted: 12/28/2018] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
High morbidity and mortality are common traits of malignant tumours and identification of the cells responsible is a focus of on-going research. Many studies are now reporting the use of antibodies specific to Clusters of Differentiation (CD) cell surface antigens to identify tumour-initiating cell (TIC) populations in neural tumours. Medulloblastoma is one of the most common malignant brain tumours in children and despite a considerable amount of research investigating this tumour, the identity of the TICs, and the means by which such cells can be targeted remain largely unknown. Current prognostication and stratification of medulloblastoma using clinical factors, histology and genetic profiling have classified this tumour into four main subgroups: WNT, Sonic hedgehog (SHH), Group 3 and Group 4. Of these subgroups, SHH remains one of the most studied tumour groups due to the ability to model medulloblastoma formation through targeted deletion of the Shh pathway inhibitor Patched1 (Ptch1). Here we sought to utilise CD antibody expression to identify and isolate TIC populations in Ptch1 deleted medulloblastoma, and determine if these antibodies can help classify the identity of human medulloblastoma subgroups. Using a fluorescence-activated cell sorted (FACS) CD antibody panel, we identified CD24 as a marker of TICs in Ptch1 deleted medulloblastoma. CD24 expression was not correlated with markers of astrocytes or oligodendrocytes, but co-labelled with markers of neural progenitor cells. In conjunction with CD15, proliferating CD24+/CD15+ granule cell precursors (GCPs) were identified as a TIC population in Ptch1 deleted medulloblastoma. On human medulloblastoma, CD24 was found to be highly expressed on Group 3, Group 4 and SHH subgroups compared with the WNT subgroup, which was predominantly positive for CD15, suggesting CD24 is an important marker of non-WNT medulloblastoma initiating cells and a potential therapeutic target in human medulloblastoma. This study reports the use of CD24 and CD15 to isolate a GCP-like TIC population in Ptch1 deleted medulloblastoma, and suggests CD24 expression as a marker to help stratify human WNT tumours from other medulloblastoma subgroups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jonathan P. Robson
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Development, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- * E-mail:
| | - Marc Remke
- Department of Pediatric Neuro-Oncogenomics, German Cancer Research Centre and the German Cancer Consortium, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology, and Clinical Immunology, Medical Faculty, University Hospital Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
- Department of Neuropathology, Medical Faculty, Heinrich-Heine University Düsseldorf, Düsseldorf, Germany
| | - Marcel Kool
- Hopp Children´s Cancer Center at the National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Elaine Julian
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Development, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Andrey Korshunov
- Division of Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Cancer Research Centre, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stefan M. Pfister
- Hopp Children´s Cancer Center at the National Center for Tumor Diseases, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Geoffrey W. Osborne
- Queensland Brain Institute, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- The Australian Institute for Bioengineering and Nanotechnology, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Michael D. Taylor
- Division of Neurosurgery, Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
| | - Brandon Wainwright
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Development, Institute for Molecular Biosciences, University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Brent A. Reynolds
- Department of Neurosurgery, McKnight Brain Institute, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, United States of America
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160
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Synthesis and evaluation of third generation vitamin D3 analogues as inhibitors of Hedgehog signaling. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 162:495-506. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2018.11.028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2018] [Revised: 11/09/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
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161
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Yin WC, Satkunendran T, Mo R, Morrissy S, Zhang X, Huang ES, Uusküla-Reimand L, Hou H, Son JE, Liu W, Liu YC, Zhang J, Parker J, Wang X, Farooq H, Selvadurai H, Chen X, Ngan ESW, Cheng SY, Dirks PB, Angers S, Wilson MD, Taylor MD, Hui CC. Dual Regulatory Functions of SUFU and Targetome of GLI2 in SHH Subgroup Medulloblastoma. Dev Cell 2018; 48:167-183.e5. [PMID: 30554998 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2018.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2018] [Revised: 10/07/2018] [Accepted: 11/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/09/2023]
Abstract
SUFU alterations are common in human Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) subgroup medulloblastoma (MB). However, its tumorigenic mechanisms have remained elusive. Here, we report that loss of Sufu alone is unable to induce MB formation in mice, due to insufficient Gli2 activation. Simultaneous loss of Spop, an E3 ubiquitin ligase targeting Gli2, restores robust Gli2 activation and induces rapid MB formation in Sufu knockout background. We also demonstrated a tumor-promoting role of Sufu in Smo-activated MB (∼60% of human SHH MB) by maintaining robust Gli activity. Having established Gli2 activation as a key driver of SHH MB, we report a comprehensive analysis of its targetome. Furthermore, we identified Atoh1 as a target and molecular accomplice of Gli2 that activates core SHH MB signature genes in a synergistic manner. Overall, our work establishes the dual role of SUFU in SHH MB and provides mechanistic insights into transcriptional regulation underlying Gli2-mediated SHH MB tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wen-Chi Yin
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Thevagi Satkunendran
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Rong Mo
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Sorana Morrissy
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Arthur and Sonic Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Biochemistry & Molecular Biology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada
| | - Xiaoyun Zhang
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Eunice Shiao Huang
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Liis Uusküla-Reimand
- Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Huayun Hou
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Joe Eun Son
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Weifan Liu
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Yulu C Liu
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jianing Zhang
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Joint Institute of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Zhejiang University and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Jessica Parker
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xin Wang
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Arthur and Sonic Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hamza Farooq
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Arthur and Sonic Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Hayden Selvadurai
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Arthur and Sonic Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Xin Chen
- Joint Institute of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Zhejiang University and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Elly Sau-Wai Ngan
- Department of Surgery, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong SAR, China
| | - Steven Y Cheng
- Department of developmental Genetics, School of Basic Medical Sciences, Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peter B Dirks
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Arthur and Sonic Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Stephane Angers
- Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D Wilson
- Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Program in Genetics and Genome Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Arthur and Sonic Labatt Brain Tumour Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Chi-Chung Hui
- Program in Developmental & Stem Cell Biology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Molecular Genetics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada; Joint Institute of Genetics and Genomic Medicine, Zhejiang University and University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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162
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Samadani AA, Norollahi SE, Rashidy-Pour A, Mansour-Ghanaei F, Nemati S, Joukar F, Afshar AM, Ghazanfari S, Safizadeh M, Rostami P, Gatei M. Cancer signaling pathways with a therapeutic approach: An overview in epigenetic regulations of cancer stem cells. Biomed Pharmacother 2018; 108:590-599. [DOI: 10.1016/j.biopha.2018.09.048] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/01/2018] [Revised: 09/08/2018] [Accepted: 09/08/2018] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
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163
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Multifocal Supra and Infratentorial Medulloblastoma in an Adult: Histologic, Immunohistochemical, and Molecular Evaluation of a Rare Case and Review of the Literature. Appl Immunohistochem Mol Morphol 2018; 25:e89-e94. [PMID: 27801730 DOI: 10.1097/pai.0000000000000447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
Abstract
Multifocal medulloblastomas (MMBs) in adults are exceedingly rare with only 5 reported cases to date. Medulloblastoma in adult differ from its childhood counterpart by being more often lateral in location, desmoplastic in morphology, and better in clinical prognosis. Little is known, however, about the characteristic features of MMB. This is particularly true for their molecular profiles. To date, molecular characteristics of multifocal medulloblastoma have been reported only once. Here, we present the second case of multifocal medulloblastoma along with its detailed morphology, imaging features, and molecular profiles with a critical review of the literature. We believe that MMB should be reported in detail to better understand their behavior, characterize their molecular profiles, and establish therapeutic protocols.
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164
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Martirosian V, Neman J. Medulloblastoma: Challenges and advances in treatment and research. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2018; 2:e1146. [PMCID: PMC7941576 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1146] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/17/2018] [Revised: 10/04/2018] [Accepted: 10/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Medulloblastoma (MB) is a pediatric brain tumor occurring in the posterior fossa. MB is a highly heterogeneous tumor, which can be grouped into four main subgroups: WNT, SHH, Group 3, and Group 4. Each subgroup is different both in its implicated pathways and pathology, as well as how they are treated in the clinic. Recent Findings Standard protocol for MB treatment consists of maximal safe resection, followed by craniospinal radiation (in patients 3 years and older) and adjuvant chemotherapy. Advances in clinical stratification of this tumor have allowed establishment of treatment de‐escalation trials aimed at reducing long‐term side effects. However, there have been few advances in identifying novel therapeutic strategies for MB patients due to difficulties in creating chemotherapeutics that can bypass the blood‐brain‐barrier—among other factors. On the other hand, with the help of whole genome sequencing technologies, molecular pathways involved in MB pathogenesis have become clearer and have helped drive MB research. Regardless, this advance in research has yet to translate to the clinic, which may be due to the inability of current in vivo and in vitro models to accurately recapitulate this heterogeneous tumor in humans. Conclusions There have been significant advances in knowledge and treatment of medulloblastoma over the last few decades. Whole genome sequencing has helped elucidate clear differences between the subgroups of MB, allowing physicians to better tailor treatments to each patient in an effort to reduce long‐term sequelae. However, there are still many more obstacles to overcome, including less cytotoxic therapies in the clinic and better modeling systems to accurately replicate this disease in the laboratory. Scientists and physicians must work in a more cohesive manner to create translatable results from the laboratory to the clinic—helping improve therapies for medulloblastoma patients.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vahan Martirosian
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of MedicineUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
| | - Josh Neman
- Department of Neurological Surgery, Keck School of MedicineUniversity of Southern CaliforniaLos AngelesCaliforniaUSA
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165
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The Transcriptional Regulator SnoN Promotes the Proliferation of Cerebellar Granule Neuron Precursors in the Postnatal Mouse Brain. J Neurosci 2018; 39:44-62. [PMID: 30425119 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.0688-18.2018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/15/2018] [Revised: 10/16/2018] [Accepted: 10/22/2018] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Control of neuronal precursor cell proliferation is essential for normal brain development, and deregulation of this fundamental developmental event contributes to brain diseases. Typically, neuronal precursor cell proliferation extends over long periods of time during brain development. However, how neuronal precursor proliferation is regulated in a temporally specific manner remains to be elucidated. Here, we report that conditional KO of the transcriptional regulator SnoN in cerebellar granule neuron precursors robustly inhibits the proliferation of these cells and promotes their cell cycle exit at later stages of cerebellar development in the postnatal male and female mouse brain. In laser capture microdissection followed by RNA-Seq, designed to profile gene expression specifically in the external granule layer of the cerebellum, we find that SnoN promotes the expression of cell proliferation genes and concomitantly represses differentiation genes in granule neuron precursors in vivo Remarkably, bioinformatics analyses reveal that SnoN-regulated genes contain binding sites for the transcription factors N-myc and Pax6, which promote the proliferation and differentiation of granule neuron precursors, respectively. Accordingly, we uncover novel physical interactions of SnoN with N-myc and Pax6 in cells. In behavior analyses, conditional KO of SnoN impairs cerebellar-dependent learning in a delayed eye-blink conditioning paradigm, suggesting that SnoN-regulation of granule neuron precursor proliferation bears functional consequences at the organismal level. Our findings define a novel function and mechanism for the major transcriptional regulator SnoN in the control of granule neuron precursor proliferation in the mammalian brain.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT This study reports the discovery that the transcriptional regulator SnoN plays a crucial role in the proliferation of cerebellar granule neuron precursors in the postnatal mouse brain. Conditional KO of SnoN in granule neuron precursors robustly inhibits the proliferation of these cells and promotes their cycle exit specifically at later stages of cerebellar development, with biological consequences of impaired cerebellar-dependent learning. Genomics and bioinformatics analyses reveal that SnoN promotes the expression of cell proliferation genes and concomitantly represses cell differentiation genes in vivo Although SnoN has been implicated in distinct aspects of the development of postmitotic neurons, this study identifies a novel function for SnoN in neuronal precursors in the mammalian brain.
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166
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Abstract
Although we have come a long way in our understanding of the signals that drive cancer growth, and how these signals can be targeted, effective control of this disease remains a key scientific and medical challenge. The therapy resistance and relapse that are commonly seen are driven in large part by the inherent heterogeneity within cancers that allows drugs to effectively eliminate some, but not all, malignant cells. Here, we focus on the fundamental drivers of this heterogeneity by examining emerging evidence that shows that these traits are often controlled by the disruption of normal cell fate and aberrant adoption of stem cell signals. We discuss how undifferentiated cells are preferentially primed for transformation and often serve as the cell of origin for cancers. We also consider evidence showing that activation of stem cell programmes in cancers can lead to progression, therapy resistance and metastatic growth and that targeting these attributes may enable better control over a difficult disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nikki K Lytle
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Alison G Barber
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
- Moores Cancer Center, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA
| | - Tannishtha Reya
- Departments of Pharmacology and Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Sanford Consortium for Regenerative Medicine, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA.
- Moores Cancer Center, San Diego School of Medicine, University of California, La Jolla, CA, USA.
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167
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Kumar R, Liu AP, Orr BA, Northcott PA, Robinson GW. Advances in the classification of pediatric brain tumors through DNA methylation profiling: From research tool to frontline diagnostic. Cancer 2018; 124:4168-4180. [PMID: 30255939 PMCID: PMC6263826 DOI: 10.1002/cncr.31583] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/02/2018] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/23/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Despite significant improvements in pediatric brain tumor therapy and outcome, too many children still die of disease, and too many survivors experience significant sequelae as a result of conventional therapies. The molecular characterization of pediatric brain tumors has afforded tremendous insight into the basic biology and clinical management of these deadly childhood diseases. Genomic, epigenomic, and transcriptional profiling have facilitated the identification of significant heterogeneity among previously uniform disease entities. In particular, DNA methylation profiling has emerged as a robust tool for identifying key disease-specific subgroups that can exhibit distinct clinical outcomes. These approaches, which also complement classic histologic techniques, can suggest key mechanistic underpinnings of tumorigenesis and open the door for better informed and more tailored therapy. By leveraging the results of large-scale classifications of disease cohorts, novel driver mutations and pathways can be uncovered, enabling the generation of faithful animal models, promoting targeted drug design, informing developmental biology, and ultimately translating into improved clinical management. In this review, progress in the epigenetic classification of common malignant pediatric brain tumors, namely medulloblastoma, ependymoma, high-grade glioma, atypical teratoid/rhabdoid tumor, and central nervous system embryonal tumors, will be discussed, and the potential role of DNA methylation profiling as a frontline diagnostic modality will be emphasized.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rahul Kumar
- Division of Brain Tumor Research, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
- St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memphis, TN
| | - Anthony P.Y. Liu
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Brent A. Orr
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Paul A. Northcott
- Division of Brain Tumor Research, Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
| | - Giles W. Robinson
- Division of Neuro-Oncology, Department of Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN
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168
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Zhang H, Kuick R, Park SS, Peabody C, Yoon J, Fernández EC, Wang J, Thomas D, Viollet B, Inoki K, Camelo-Piragua S, Rual JF. Loss of AMPKα2 Impairs Hedgehog-Driven Medulloblastoma Tumorigenesis. Int J Mol Sci 2018; 19:ijms19113287. [PMID: 30360486 PMCID: PMC6274763 DOI: 10.3390/ijms19113287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/08/2018] [Revised: 10/11/2018] [Accepted: 10/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) is a sensor of cellular energy status that has a dual role in cancer, i.e., pro- or anti-tumorigenic, depending on the context. In medulloblastoma, the most frequent malignant pediatric brain tumor, several in vitro studies previously showed that AMPK suppresses tumor cell growth. The role of AMPK in this disease context remains to be tested in vivo. Here, we investigate loss of AMPKα2 in a genetically engineered mouse model of sonic hedgehog (SHH)-medulloblastoma. In contrast to previous reports, our study reveals that AMPKα2 KO impairs SHH medulloblastoma tumorigenesis. Moreover, we performed complementary molecular and genomic analyses that support the hypothesis of a pro-tumorigenic SHH/AMPK/CNBP axis in medulloblastoma. In conclusion, our observations further underline the context-dependent role of AMPK in cancer, and caution is warranted for the previously proposed hypothesis that AMPK agonists may have therapeutic benefits in medulloblastoma patients. Note: an abstract describing the project was previously submitted to the American Society for Investigative Pathology PISA 2018 conference and appears in The American Journal of Pathology (Volume 188, Issue 10, October 2018, Page 2433).
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Affiliation(s)
- Honglai Zhang
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Rork Kuick
- Department of Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Sung-Soo Park
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Claire Peabody
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Justin Yoon
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Ester Calvo Fernández
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Junying Wang
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Dafydd Thomas
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Benoit Viollet
- Inserm, U1016, Institut Cochin, 75014 Paris, France.
- CNRS, UMR8104, 75014 Paris, France.
- Université Paris Descartes, Sorbonne Paris cité, 75014 Paris, France.
| | - Ken Inoki
- Life Sciences Institute, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Sandra Camelo-Piragua
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
| | - Jean-François Rual
- Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA.
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169
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Testa U, Castelli G, Pelosi E. Genetic Abnormalities, Clonal Evolution, and Cancer Stem Cells of Brain Tumors. Med Sci (Basel) 2018; 6:E85. [PMID: 30279357 PMCID: PMC6313628 DOI: 10.3390/medsci6040085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2018] [Revised: 09/19/2018] [Accepted: 09/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Brain tumors are highly heterogeneous and have been classified by the World Health Organization in various histological and molecular subtypes. Gliomas have been classified as ranging from low-grade astrocytomas and oligodendrogliomas to high-grade astrocytomas or glioblastomas. These tumors are characterized by a peculiar pattern of genetic alterations. Pediatric high-grade gliomas are histologically indistinguishable from adult glioblastomas, but they are considered distinct from adult glioblastomas because they possess a different spectrum of driver mutations (genes encoding histones H3.3 and H3.1). Medulloblastomas, the most frequent pediatric brain tumors, are considered to be of embryonic derivation and are currently subdivided into distinct subgroups depending on histological features and genetic profiling. There is emerging evidence that brain tumors are maintained by a special neural or glial stem cell-like population that self-renews and gives rise to differentiated progeny. In many instances, the prognosis of the majority of brain tumors remains negative and there is hope that the new acquisition of information on the molecular and cellular bases of these tumors will be translated in the development of new, more active treatments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ugo Testa
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Germana Castelli
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
| | - Elvira Pelosi
- Department of Oncology, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, 00161 Rome, Italy.
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170
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Pallavicini G, Sgrò F, Garello F, Falcone M, Bitonto V, Berto GE, Bianchi FT, Gai M, Chiotto AM, Filippi M, Cutrin JC, Ala U, Terreno E, Turco E, Cunto FD. Inactivation of Citron Kinase Inhibits Medulloblastoma Progression by Inducing Apoptosis and Cell Senescence. Cancer Res 2018; 78:4599-4612. [DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-4060] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/30/2017] [Revised: 05/01/2018] [Accepted: 06/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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171
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Debaugnies M, Sánchez-Danés A, Rorive S, Raphaël M, Liagre M, Parent MA, Brisebarre A, Salmon I, Blanpain C. YAP and TAZ are essential for basal and squamous cell carcinoma initiation. EMBO Rep 2018; 19:embr.201845809. [PMID: 29875149 DOI: 10.15252/embr.201845809] [Citation(s) in RCA: 59] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/16/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/14/2018] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
YAP and TAZ are key downstream regulators of the Hippo pathway, regulating cell proliferation and differentiation. YAP and TAZ activation has been reported in different cancer types. However, it remains unclear whether they are required for the initiation of major skin malignancies like basal cell carcinoma (BCC) and squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). Here, we analyze the expression of YAP and TAZ in these skin cancers and evaluate cancer initiation in knockout mouse models. We show that YAP and TAZ are nuclear and highly expressed in different BCC types in both human and mice. Further, we find that cells with nuclear YAP and TAZ localize to the invasive front in well-differentiated SCC, whereas nuclear YAP is homogeneously expressed in spindle cell carcinoma undergoing EMT We also show that mouse BCC and SCC are enriched for YAP gene signatures. Finally, we find that the conditional deletion of YAP and TAZ in mouse models of BCC and SCC prevents tumor formation. Thus, YAP and TAZ are key determinants of skin cancer initiation, suggesting that targeting the YAP and TAZ signaling pathway might be beneficial for the treatment of skin cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maud Debaugnies
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Adriana Sánchez-Danés
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Sandrine Rorive
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, University Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Maylis Raphaël
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Mélanie Liagre
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Marie-Astrid Parent
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Audrey Brisebarre
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Isabelle Salmon
- Department of Pathology, Erasme University Hospital, University Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Cédric Blanpain
- Laboratory of Stem Cells and Cancer, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium .,WELBIO, Université Libre de Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
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172
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Antonelli F, Casciati A, Tanori M, Tanno B, Linares-Vidal MV, Serra N, Bellés M, Pannicelli A, Saran A, Pazzaglia S. Alterations in Morphology and Adult Neurogenesis in the Dentate Gyrus of Patched1 Heterozygous Mice. Front Mol Neurosci 2018; 11:168. [PMID: 29875630 PMCID: PMC5974030 DOI: 10.3389/fnmol.2018.00168] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 05/03/2018] [Indexed: 01/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Many genes controlling neuronal development also regulate adult neurogenesis. We investigated in vivo the effect of Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling activation on patterning and neurogenesis of the hippocampus and behavior of Patched1 (Ptch1) heterozygous mice (Ptch1+/−). We demonstrated for the first time, that Ptch1+/− mice exhibit morphological, cellular and molecular alterations in the dentate gyrus (DG), including elongation and reduced width of the DG as well as deregulations at multiple steps during lineage progression from neural stem cells to neurons. By using stage-specific cellular markers, we detected reduction of quiescent stem cells, newborn neurons and astrocytes and accumulation of proliferating intermediate progenitors, indicative of defects in the dynamic transition among neural stages. Phenotypic alterations in Ptch1+/− mice were accompanied by expression changes in Notch pathway downstream components and TLX nuclear receptor, as well as perturbations in inflammatory and synaptic networks and mouse behavior, pointing to complex biological interactions and highlighting cooperation between Shh and Notch signaling in the regulation of neurogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Francesca Antonelli
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Arianna Casciati
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Mirella Tanori
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Barbara Tanno
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Maria V Linares-Vidal
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Rovira I Virgili University (URV), Reus, Spain.,Physiology Unit, School of Medicine, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Noemi Serra
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Rovira I Virgili University (URV), Reus, Spain.,Physiology Unit, School of Medicine, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Monserrat Bellés
- Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Rovira I Virgili University (URV), Reus, Spain.,Physiology Unit, School of Medicine, Institut d'Investigació Sanitària Pere Virgili (IISPV), Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Tarragona, Spain
| | - Alessandro Pannicelli
- Technical Unit of Energetic Efficiency, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Saran
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Pazzaglia
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Agenzia Nazionale per le Nuove Tecnologie, l'Energia e lo Sviluppo Economico Sostenibile (ENEA), Rome, Italy
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173
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Azzarelli R, Simons BD, Philpott A. The developmental origin of brain tumours: a cellular and molecular framework. Development 2018; 145:145/10/dev162693. [PMID: 29759978 PMCID: PMC6001369 DOI: 10.1242/dev.162693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 75] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
The development of the nervous system relies on the coordinated regulation of stem cell self-renewal and differentiation. The discovery that brain tumours contain a subpopulation of cells with stem/progenitor characteristics that are capable of sustaining tumour growth has emphasized the importance of understanding the cellular dynamics and the molecular pathways regulating neural stem cell behaviour. By focusing on recent work on glioma and medulloblastoma, we review how lineage tracing contributed to dissecting the embryonic origin of brain tumours and how lineage-specific mechanisms that regulate stem cell behaviour in the embryo may be subverted in cancer to achieve uncontrolled proliferation and suppression of differentiation. Summary: Lineage-tracing work in glioma and medulloblastoma reveals similarities between neuronal development and brain tumours, identifying potential new therapeutic avenues that exploit vulnerabilities in tumour growth patterns.
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Affiliation(s)
- Roberta Azzarelli
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK.,Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK.,Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Benjamin D Simons
- Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK.,The Wellcome Trust/Cancer Research UK Gurdon Institute, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QN, UK.,Cavendish Laboratory, Department of Physics, University of Cambridge, JJ Thomson Avenue, Cambridge CB3 0HE, UK
| | - Anna Philpott
- Department of Oncology, University of Cambridge, Hutchison/MRC Research Centre, Cambridge Biomedical Campus, Cambridge CB2 0XZ, UK .,Wellcome Trust Centre for Stem Cell Research, University of Cambridge, Tennis Court Road, Cambridge CB2 1QR, UK
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174
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Freret ME, Gutmann DH. Insights into optic pathway glioma vision loss from mouse models of neurofibromatosis type 1. J Neurosci Res 2018; 97:45-56. [PMID: 29704429 DOI: 10.1002/jnr.24250] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/12/2018] [Accepted: 04/09/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1) is a common cancer predisposition syndrome caused by mutations in the NF1 gene. The NF1-encoded protein (neurofibromin) is an inhibitor of the oncoprotein RAS and controls cell growth and survival. Individuals with NF1 are prone to developing low-grade tumors of the optic nerves, chiasm, tracts, and radiations, termed optic pathway gliomas (OPGs), which can cause vision loss. A paucity of surgical tumor specimens and of patient-derived xenografts for investigative studies has limited our understanding of human NF1-associated OPG (NF1-OPG). However, mice genetically engineered to harbor Nf1 gene mutations develop optic gliomas that share many features of their human counterparts. These genetically engineered mouse (GEM) strains have provided important insights into the cellular and molecular determinants that underlie mouse Nf1 optic glioma development, maintenance, and associated vision loss, with relevance by extension to human NF1-OPG disease. Herein, we review our current understanding of NF1-OPG pathobiology and describe the mechanisms responsible for tumor initiation, growth, and associated vision loss in Nf1 GEM models. We also discuss how Nf1 GEM and other preclinical models can be deployed to identify and evaluate molecularly targeted therapies for OPG, particularly as they pertain to future strategies aimed at preventing or improving tumor-associated vision loss in children with NF1.
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Affiliation(s)
- Morgan E Freret
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
| | - David H Gutmann
- Department of Neurology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, Missouri
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175
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Wang J, Garancher A, Ramaswamy V, Wechsler-Reya RJ. Medulloblastoma: From Molecular Subgroups to Molecular Targeted Therapies. Annu Rev Neurosci 2018; 41:207-232. [PMID: 29641939 DOI: 10.1146/annurev-neuro-070815-013838] [Citation(s) in RCA: 76] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Brain tumors are the leading cause of cancer-related death in children, and medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor. Advances in surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy have improved the survival of MB patients. But despite these advances, 25-30% of patients still die from the disease, and survivors suffer severe long-term side effects from the aggressive therapies they receive. Although MB is often considered a single disease, molecular profiling has revealed a significant degree of heterogeneity, and there is a growing consensus that MB consists of multiple subgroups with distinct driver mutations, cells of origin, and prognosis. Here, we review recent progress in MB research, with a focus on the genes and pathways that drive tumorigenesis, the animal models that have been developed to study tumor biology, and the advances in conventional and targeted therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jun Wang
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA;
| | - Alexandra Garancher
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA;
| | - Vijay Ramaswamy
- Division of Haematology/Oncology and Department of Paediatrics, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
| | - Robert J Wechsler-Reya
- Tumor Initiation and Maintenance Program, NCI-Designated Cancer Center, Sanford Burnham Prebys Medical Discovery Institute, La Jolla, California 92037, USA;
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176
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Presutti D, Ceccarelli M, Micheli L, Papoff G, Santini S, Samperna S, Lalli C, Zentilin L, Ruberti G, Tirone F. Tis21-gene therapy inhibits medulloblastoma growth in a murine allograft model. PLoS One 2018. [PMID: 29538458 PMCID: PMC5851620 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194206] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB), the tumor of the cerebellum, is the most frequent brain cancer in childhood and a major cause of pediatric mortality. Based on gene profiling, four MB subgroups have been identified, i.e., Wnt or Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) types, and subgroup 3 or 4. The Shh-type MB has been shown to arise from the cerebellar precursors of granule neurons (GCPs), where a hyperactivation of the Shh pathway leads to their neoplastic transformation. We have previously shown that the gene Tis21 (PC3/Btg2) inhibits the proliferation and promotes the differentiation and migration of GCPs. Moreover, the overexpression or the deletion of Tis21 in Patched1 heterozygous mice, a model of spontaneous Shh-type MB, highly reduces or increases, respectively, the frequency of MB. Here we tested whether Tis21 can inhibit MB allografts. Athymic nude mice were subcutaneously grafted with MB cells explanted from Patched1 heterozygous mice. MB allografts were then injected with adeno-associated viruses either carrying Tis21 (AAV-Tis21) or empty (AAV-CBA). We observed that the treatment with AAV-Tis21 significantly inhibited the growth of tumor nodules, as judged by their volume, and reduced the number of proliferating tumor cells (labeled with Ki67 or BrdU), relative to AAV-CBA-treated control mice. In parallel, AAV-Tis21 increased significantly tumor cells labeled with early and late neural differentiation markers. Overall the results suggest that Tis21-gene therapy slows down MB tumor growth through inhibition of proliferation and enhancement of neural differentiation. These results validate Tis21 as a relevant target for MB therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dario Presutti
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBCN-CNR), Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Manuela Ceccarelli
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBCN-CNR), Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Micheli
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBCN-CNR), Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuliana Papoff
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBCN-CNR), Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Simonetta Santini
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBCN-CNR), Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Simone Samperna
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBCN-CNR), Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Cristiana Lalli
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBCN-CNR), Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorena Zentilin
- International Centre for Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology (ICGEB), Padriciano, Trieste, Italy
| | - Giovina Ruberti
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBCN-CNR), Monterotondo, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail: (GR); (FT)
| | - Felice Tirone
- Institute of Cell Biology and Neurobiology, National Research Council (IBCN-CNR), Fondazione Santa Lucia, Rome, Italy
- * E-mail: (GR); (FT)
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177
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Dennis DJ, Han S, Schuurmans C. bHLH transcription factors in neural development, disease, and reprogramming. Brain Res 2018; 1705:48-65. [PMID: 29544733 DOI: 10.1016/j.brainres.2018.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 120] [Impact Index Per Article: 20.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2017] [Revised: 03/07/2018] [Accepted: 03/10/2018] [Indexed: 01/16/2023]
Abstract
The formation of functional neural circuits in the vertebrate central nervous system (CNS) requires that appropriate numbers of the correct types of neuronal and glial cells are generated in their proper places and times during development. In the embryonic CNS, multipotent progenitor cells first acquire regional identities, and then undergo precisely choreographed temporal identity transitions (i.e. time-dependent changes in their identity) that determine how many neuronal and glial cells of each type they will generate. Transcription factors of the basic-helix-loop-helix (bHLH) family have emerged as key determinants of neural cell fate specification and differentiation, ensuring that appropriate numbers of specific neuronal and glial cell types are produced. Recent studies have further revealed that the functions of these bHLH factors are strictly regulated. Given their essential developmental roles, it is not surprising that bHLH mutations and de-regulated expression are associated with various neurological diseases and cancers. Moreover, the powerful ability of bHLH factors to direct neuronal and glial cell fate specification and differentiation has been exploited in the relatively new field of cellular reprogramming, in which pluripotent stem cells or somatic stem cells are converted to neural lineages, often with a transcription factor-based lineage conversion strategy that includes one or more of the bHLH genes. These concepts are reviewed herein.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel J Dennis
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4N3M5, Canada
| | - Sisu Han
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4N3M5, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Carol Schuurmans
- Sunnybrook Research Institute, 2075 Bayview Ave, Toronto, ON M4N3M5, Canada; Department of Biochemistry, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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178
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Lateral cerebellum is preferentially sensitive to high sonic hedgehog signaling and medulloblastoma formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018. [PMID: 29531057 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1717815115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The main cell of origin of the Sonic hedgehog (SHH) subgroup of medulloblastoma (MB) is granule cell precursors (GCPs), a SHH-dependent transient amplifying population in the developing cerebellum. SHH-MBs can be further subdivided based on molecular and clinical parameters, as well as location because SHH-MBs occur preferentially in the lateral cerebellum (hemispheres). Our analysis of adult patient data suggests that tumors with Smoothened (SMO) mutations form more specifically in the hemispheres than those with Patched 1 (PTCH1) mutations. Using sporadic mouse models of SHH-MB with the two mutations commonly seen in adult MB, constitutive activation of Smo (SmoM2) or loss-of-Ptch1, we found that regardless of timing of induction or type of mutation, tumors developed primarily in the hemispheres, with SmoM2-mutants indeed showing a stronger specificity. We further uncovered that GCPs in the hemispheres are more susceptible to high-level SHH signaling compared with GCPs in the medial cerebellum (vermis), as more SmoM2 or Ptch1-mutant hemisphere cells remain undifferentiated and show increased tumorigenicity when transplanted. Finally, we identified location-specific GCP gene-expression profiles, and found that deletion of the genes most highly expressed in the hemispheres (Nr2f2) or vermis (Engrailed1) showed opposing effects on GCP differentiation. Our studies thus provide insights into intrinsic differences within GCPs that impact on SHH-MB progression.
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179
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Yang W, Liu Y, Gao R, Yu H, Sun T. HDAC6 inhibition induces glioma stem cells differentiation and enhances cellular radiation sensitivity through the SHH/Gli1 signaling pathway. Cancer Lett 2018; 415:164-176. [PMID: 29222038 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2017.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 55] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2017] [Revised: 11/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/21/2022]
Abstract
The existence of small numbers of stem-like cells, called glioma stem cells (GSCs), in human glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is responsible for recurrence due to resistance to radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Inhibition of histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) enhanced radiosensitivity of cancer cells. However, the effect of inhibiting HDAC6 on stemness and radioresistance of GSCs and its molecular mechanism are largely unknown. In the present study, we found that HDAC6 was upregulated in GSCs comparing to non-stem tumor cells. Inhibiting HDAC6 downregulated glioma-associated oncogene homolog 1 (Gli1), Patched (Ptch1 and Ptch2) receptors, components of SHH signal, expression and activity in GSCs. Restraining HDAC6 decreased cell proliferation, induces differentiation and increased apoptosis of GSCs via inactivation of SHH/Gli1 signaling pathway. Moreover, HDAC6 inhibition decreased DNA damage repair capacity of GSCs through degradation of checkpoint kinase (CHK) 1 caused by X-linked inhibitor of apoptosis (XIAP) downregulation, leading to elevated radiosensitivity. Taken together, these findings indicate that HDAC6 inhibition decreased stemness of GSCs and enhanced GSCs radiosensitivity through inactivating SHH/Gli1 pathway. This provides a promising novel drug target to overcome GSCs stemness and radioresistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wei Yang
- School of Radiological Medicine and Protection, Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China.
| | - Yingying Liu
- School of Radiological Medicine and Protection, Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Ruoling Gao
- School of Radiological Medicine and Protection, Medical College of Soochow University, Collaborative Innovation Center of Radiation Medicine of Jiangsu Higher Education Institutions, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215123, China
| | - Hongquan Yu
- Department of Neurosurgery of the First Affiliated Hospital of Jilin University, Changchun, Jilin, 130021, China
| | - Ting Sun
- Neurosurgery and Brain and Nerve Research Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, 215006, China.
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180
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Phi LTH, Sari IN, Yang YG, Lee SH, Jun N, Kim KS, Lee YK, Kwon HY. Cancer Stem Cells (CSCs) in Drug Resistance and their Therapeutic Implications in Cancer Treatment. Stem Cells Int 2018; 2018:5416923. [PMID: 29681949 PMCID: PMC5850899 DOI: 10.1155/2018/5416923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 518] [Impact Index Per Article: 86.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 12/14/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSCs), also known as tumor-initiating cells (TICs), are suggested to be responsible for drug resistance and cancer relapse due in part to their ability to self-renew themselves and differentiate into heterogeneous lineages of cancer cells. Thus, it is important to understand the characteristics and mechanisms by which CSCs display resistance to therapeutic agents. In this review, we highlight the key features and mechanisms that regulate CSC function in drug resistance as well as recent breakthroughs of therapeutic approaches for targeting CSCs. This promises new insights of CSCs in drug resistance and provides better therapeutic rationales to accompany novel anticancer therapeutics.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lan Thi Hanh Phi
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ita Novita Sari
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Ying-Gui Yang
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Sang-Hyun Lee
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Nayoung Jun
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Kwang Seock Kim
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Yun Kyung Lee
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea
| | - Hyog Young Kwon
- Soonchunhyang Institute of Medi-bio Science (SIMS), Soonchunhyang University, Asan, Republic of Korea
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181
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Bay SN, Long AB, Caspary T. Disruption of the ciliary GTPase Arl13b suppresses Sonic hedgehog overactivation and inhibits medulloblastoma formation. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2018; 115:1570-1575. [PMID: 29378965 PMCID: PMC5816136 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1706977115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, and overactivation of the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) signaling pathway, which requires the primary cilium, causes 30% of MBs. Current treatments have known negative side effects or resistance mechanisms, so new treatments are necessary. Shh signaling mutations, like those that remove Patched1 (Ptch1) or activate Smoothened (Smo), cause tumors dependent on the presence of cilia. Genetic ablation of cilia prevents these tumors by removing Gli activator, but cilia are a poor therapeutic target since they support many biological processes. A more appropriate strategy would be to identify a protein that functionally disentangles Gli activation and ciliogenesis. Our mechanistic understanding of the ciliary GTPase Arl13b predicts that it could be such a target. Arl13b mutants retain short cilia, and loss of Arl13b results in ligand-independent, constitutive, low-level pathway activation but prevents maximal signaling without disrupting Gli repressor. Here, we show that deletion of Arl13b reduced Shh signaling levels in the presence of oncogenic SmoA1, suggesting Arl13b acts downstream of known tumor resistance mechanisms. Knockdown of ARL13B in human MB cell lines and in primary mouse MB cell culture decreased proliferation. Importantly, loss of Arl13b in a Ptch1-deleted mouse model of MB inhibited tumor formation. Postnatal depletion of Arl13b does not lead to any overt phenotypes in the epidermis, liver, or cerebellum. Thus, our in vivo and in vitro studies demonstrate that disruption of Arl13b inhibits cilia-dependent oncogenic Shh overactivation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sarah N Bay
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
- Genetics and Molecular Biology Program, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Alyssa B Long
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322
| | - Tamara Caspary
- Department of Human Genetics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA 30322;
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182
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Gordon RE, Zhang L, Peri S, Kuo YM, Du F, Egleston BL, Ng JMY, Andrews AJ, Astsaturov I, Curran T, Yang ZJ. Statins Synergize with Hedgehog Pathway Inhibitors for Treatment of Medulloblastoma. Clin Cancer Res 2018; 24:1375-1388. [PMID: 29437795 DOI: 10.1158/1078-0432.ccr-17-2923] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2017] [Revised: 12/01/2017] [Accepted: 01/09/2018] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Purpose: The role of cholesterol biosynthesis in hedgehog pathway activity and progression of hedgehog pathway medulloblastoma (Hh-MB) were examined in vivo Statins, commonly used cholesterol-lowering agents, were utilized to validate cholesterol biosynthesis as a therapeutic target for Hh-MB.Experimental Design: Bioinformatic analysis was performed to evaluate the association between cholesterol biosynthesis with hedgehog group medulloblastoma in human biospecimens. Alterations in hedgehog signaling were evaluated in medulloblastoma cells after inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis. The progression of endogenous medulloblastoma in mice was examined after genetic blockage of cholesterol biosynthesis in tumor cells. Statins alone, or in combination with vismodegib (an FDA-approved Smoothened antagonist), were utilized to inhibit medulloblastoma growth in vivoResults: Cholesterol biosynthesis was markedly enhanced in Hh-MB from both humans and mice. Inhibition of cholesterol biosynthesis dramatically decreased Hh pathway activity and reduced proliferation of medulloblastoma cells. Statins effectively inhibited medulloblastoma growth in vivo and functioned synergistically in combination with vismodegib.Conclusions: Cholesterol biosynthesis is required for Smoothened activity in the hedgehog pathway, and it is indispensable for the growth of Hh-MB. Targeting cholesterol biosynthesis represents a promising strategy for treatment of Hh-MB. Clin Cancer Res; 24(6); 1375-88. ©2018 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata E Gordon
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.,Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia
| | - Li Zhang
- Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Suraj Peri
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yin-Ming Kuo
- Cancer Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Fang Du
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Brian L Egleston
- Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Research Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jessica M Y Ng
- Children's Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Andrew J Andrews
- Cancer Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Igor Astsaturov
- Institute of Fundamental Medicine and Biology, Kazan Federal University, Kazan, Russia.,Molecular Therapeutics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Tom Curran
- Children's Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Zeng-Jie Yang
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. .,Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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183
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Shimada IS, Hwang SH, Somatilaka BN, Wang X, Skowron P, Kim J, Kim M, Shelton JM, Rajaram V, Xuan Z, Taylor MD, Mukhopadhyay S. Basal Suppression of the Sonic Hedgehog Pathway by the G-Protein-Coupled Receptor Gpr161 Restricts Medulloblastoma Pathogenesis. Cell Rep 2018; 22:1169-1184. [PMID: 29386106 PMCID: PMC5813698 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2018.01.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/21/2017] [Revised: 01/02/2018] [Accepted: 01/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh) determines cerebellar granule cell (GC) progenitor proliferation and medulloblastoma pathogenesis. However, the pathways regulating GC progenitors during embryogenesis before Shh production by Purkinje neurons and their roles in tumorigenesis remain unclear. The cilium-localized G-protein-coupled receptor Gpr161 suppresses Shh-mediated signaling in the neural tube. Here, by deleting Gpr161 in mouse neural stem cells or GC progenitors, we establish Gpr161 as a tumor suppressor in Shh subtype medulloblastoma. Irrespective of Shh production in the cerebellum, Gpr161 deletion increased downstream activity of the Shh pathway by restricting Gli3-mediated repression, causing more extensive generation and proliferation of GC progenitors. Moreover, earlier deletion of Gpr161 during embryogenesis increased tumor incidence and severity. GC progenitor overproduction during embryogenesis from Gpr161 deletion was cilium dependent, unlike normal development. Low GPR161 expression correlated with poor survival of SHH subtype medulloblastoma patients. Gpr161 restricts GC progenitor production by preventing premature and Shh-dependent pathway activity, highlighting the importance of basal pathway suppression in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Issei S Shimada
- Department of Cell Biology , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Sun-Hee Hwang
- Department of Cell Biology , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Bandarigoda N Somatilaka
- Department of Cell Biology , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Xin Wang
- Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5C 1X8, Canada
| | - Patryk Skowron
- Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5C 1X8, Canada
| | - Jiwoong Kim
- Department of Bioinformatics , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Min Kim
- Department of Bioinformatics , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - John M Shelton
- Department of Internal Medicine , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Veena Rajaram
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children's Health, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA
| | - Zhenyu Xuan
- Department of Biological Sciences, Center for Systems Biology, University of Texas at Dallas, Richardson, TX 75080, USA
| | - Michael D Taylor
- Division of Neurosurgery, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5C 1X8, Canada
| | - Saikat Mukhopadhyay
- Department of Cell Biology , University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center, Dallas, TX 75390, USA.
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184
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Driver AM, Shumrick C, Stottmann RW. Ttc21b Is Required in Bergmann Glia for Proper Granule Cell Radial Migration. J Dev Biol 2017; 5:E18. [PMID: 29615573 PMCID: PMC5831799 DOI: 10.3390/jdb5040018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/26/2017] [Revised: 11/30/2017] [Accepted: 12/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Proper cerebellar development is dependent on tightly regulated proliferation, migration, and differentiation events. Disruptions in any of these leads to a range of cerebellar phenotypes from ataxia to childhood tumors. Animal models have shown that proper regulation of sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling is crucial for normal cerebellar architecture, and increased signaling leads to cerebellar tumor formation. Primary cilia are known to be required for the proper regulation of multiple developmental signaling pathways, including Shh. Tetratricopeptide Repeat Domain 21B (Ttc21b) is required for proper primary cilia form and function, and is primarily thought to restrict Shh signaling. Here we investigated a role for Ttc21b in cerebellar development. Surprisingly, Ttc21b ablation in Bergmann glia resulted in the accumulation of ectopic granule cells in the lower/posterior lobes of the cerebellum and a reduction in Shh signaling. Ttc21b ablation in just Purkinje cells resulted in a similar phenotype seen in fewer cells, but across the entire extent of the cerebellum. These results suggest that Ttc21b expression is required for Bergmann glia structure and signaling in the developing cerebellum, and in some contexts, augments rather than attenuates Shh signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ashley M Driver
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
| | - Christopher Shumrick
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
| | - Rolf W Stottmann
- Division of Human Genetics, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
- Division of Developmental Biology, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, OH 45229, USA.
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185
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Wu CC, Hou S, Orr BA, Kuo BR, Youn YH, Ong T, Roth F, Eberhart CG, Robinson GW, Solecki DJ, Taketo MM, Gilbertson RJ, Roussel MF, Han YG. mTORC1-Mediated Inhibition of 4EBP1 Is Essential for Hedgehog Signaling-Driven Translation and Medulloblastoma. Dev Cell 2017; 43:673-688.e5. [PMID: 29103956 PMCID: PMC5736446 DOI: 10.1016/j.devcel.2017.10.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/25/2017] [Revised: 08/29/2017] [Accepted: 10/07/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Mechanistic target of rapamycin (MTOR) cooperates with Hedgehog (HH) signaling, but the underlying mechanisms are incompletely understood. Here we provide genetic, biochemical, and pharmacologic evidence that MTOR complex 1 (mTORC1)-dependent translation is a prerequisite for HH signaling. The genetic loss of mTORC1 function inhibited HH signaling-driven growth of the cerebellum and medulloblastoma. Inhibiting translation or mTORC1 blocked HH signaling. Depleting 4EBP1, an mTORC1 target that inhibits translation, alleviated the dependence of HH signaling on mTORC1. Consistent with this, phosphorylated 4EBP1 levels were elevated in HH signaling-driven medulloblastomas in mice and humans. In mice, an mTORC1 inhibitor suppressed medulloblastoma driven by a mutant SMO that is inherently resistant to existing SMO inhibitors, prolonging the survival of the mice. Our study reveals that mTORC1-mediated translation is a key component of HH signaling and an important target for treating medulloblastoma and other cancers driven by HH signaling.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chang-Chih Wu
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Shirui Hou
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Brent A Orr
- Department of Pathology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Bryan R Kuo
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Yong Ha Youn
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Taren Ong
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Fanny Roth
- Sorbonne Universités, UPMC Paris 06, INSERM, Centre de Recherche en Myologie (CRM), GH Pitié Salpêtrière, 47 Boulevard de l'hôpital, Paris 13, Paris, France
| | - Charles G Eberhart
- Department of Pathology, The Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Ross Building 558, 720 Rutland Avenue, Baltimore, MD 21205, USA
| | - Giles W Robinson
- Department of Oncology, Division of Neuro-Oncology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - David J Solecki
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Makoto M Taketo
- Division of Experimental Therapeutics, Graduate School of Medicine, Kyoto University, Yoshida-Konoé-cho, Sakyo, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Richard J Gilbertson
- Department of Oncology and CRUK Cambridge Institute, Robinson Way, Cambridge CB2 0RE, England
| | - Martine F Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Young-Goo Han
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, Neurobiology and Brain Tumor Program, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 262 Danny Thomas Place, Memphis, TN 38105, USA.
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186
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Wijayatunge R, Liu F, Shpargel KB, Wayne NJ, Chan U, Boua JV, Magnuson T, West AE. The histone demethylase Kdm6b regulates a mature gene expression program in differentiating cerebellar granule neurons. Mol Cell Neurosci 2017; 87:4-17. [PMID: 29254825 DOI: 10.1016/j.mcn.2017.11.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/11/2017] [Revised: 10/21/2017] [Accepted: 11/06/2017] [Indexed: 02/09/2023] Open
Abstract
The histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) demethylase Kdm6b (Jmjd3) can promote cellular differentiation, however its physiological functions in neurons remain to be fully determined. We studied the expression and function of Kdm6b in differentiating granule neurons of the developing postnatal mouse cerebellum. At postnatal day 7, Kdm6b is expressed throughout the layers of the developing cerebellar cortex, but its expression is upregulated in newborn cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). Atoh1-Cre mediated conditional knockout of Kdm6b in CGN precursors either alone or in combination with Kdm6a did not disturb the gross morphological development of the cerebellum. Furthermore, RNAi-mediated knockdown of Kdm6b in cultured CGN precursors did not alter the induced expression of early neuronal marker genes upon cell cycle exit. By contrast, knockdown of Kdm6b significantly impaired the induction of a mature neuronal gene expression program, which includes gene products required for functional synapse maturation. Loss of Kdm6b also impaired the ability of Brain-Derived Neurotrophic Factor (BDNF) to induce expression of Grin2c and Tiam1 in maturing CGNs. Taken together, these data reveal a previously unknown role for Kdm6b in the postmitotic stages of CGN maturation and suggest that Kdm6b may work, at least in part, by a transcriptional mechanism that promotes gene sensitivity to regulation by BDNF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ranjula Wijayatunge
- Dept. of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| | - Fang Liu
- Dept. of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| | - Karl B Shpargel
- Dept. of Genetics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Nicole J Wayne
- Dept. of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| | - Urann Chan
- Dept. of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| | - Jane-Valeriane Boua
- Dept. of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States
| | - Terry Magnuson
- Dept. of Genetics and Lineberger Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Anne E West
- Dept. of Neurobiology, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States.
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187
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Sankar S, Patterson E, Lewis EM, Waller LE, Tong C, Dearborn J, Wozniak D, Rubin JB, Kroll KL. Geminin deficiency enhances survival in a murine medulloblastoma model by inducing apoptosis of preneoplastic granule neuron precursors. Genes Cancer 2017; 8:725-744. [PMID: 29234490 PMCID: PMC5724806 DOI: 10.18632/genesandcancer.157] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most common malignant brain cancer of childhood. Further understanding of tumorigenic mechanisms may define new therapeutic targets. Geminin maintains genome fidelity by controlling re-initiation of DNA replication within a cell cycle. In some contexts, Geminin inhibition induces cancer-selective cell cycle arrest and apoptosis and/or sensitizes cancer cells to Topoisomerase IIα inhibitors such as etoposide, which is used in combination chemotherapies for medulloblastoma. However, Geminin's potential role in medulloblastoma tumorigenesis remained undefined. Here, we found that Geminin is highly expressed in human and mouse medulloblastomas and in murine granule neuron precursor (GNP) cells during cerebellar development. Conditional Geminin loss significantly enhanced survival in the SmoA1 mouse medulloblastoma model. Geminin loss in this model also reduced numbers of preneoplastic GNPs persisting at one postnatal month, while at two postnatal weeks these cells exhibited an elevated DNA damage response and apoptosis. Geminin knockdown likewise impaired human medulloblastoma cell growth, activating G2 checkpoint and DNA damage response pathways, triggering spontaneous apoptosis, and enhancing G2 accumulation of cells in response to etoposide treatment. Together, these data suggest preneoplastic and cancer cell-selective roles for Geminin in medulloblastoma, and suggest that targeting Geminin may impair tumor growth and enhance responsiveness to Topoisomerase IIα-directed chemotherapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Savita Sankar
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Ethan Patterson
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Emily M Lewis
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Laura E Waller
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Caili Tong
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joshua Dearborn
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - David Wozniak
- Department of Psychiatry, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Joshua B Rubin
- Department of Pediatrics, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
| | - Kristen L Kroll
- Department of Developmental Biology, Washington University School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA
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188
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Zarei S, Zarei K, Fritzsch B, Elliott KL. Sonic hedgehog antagonists reduce size and alter patterning of the frog inner ear. Dev Neurobiol 2017; 77:1385-1400. [PMID: 29030893 PMCID: PMC5693645 DOI: 10.1002/dneu.22544] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2017] [Revised: 09/28/2017] [Accepted: 10/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling plays a major role in vertebrate development, from regulation of proliferation to the patterning of various organs. In amniotes, Shh affects dorsoventral patterning in the inner ear but affects anteroposterior patterning in teleost ears. It remains unknown how altered function of Shh relates to morphogenetic changes that coincide with the evolution of limbs and novel auditory organs in the ear. In this study, we used the tetrapod, Xenopus laevis, to test how increasing concentrations of the Shh signal pathway antagonist, Vismodegib, affects ear development. Vismodegib treatment dose dependently alters the development of the ear, hypaxial muscle, and indirectly the Mauthner cell through its interaction with the inner ear afferents. Together, these phenotypes have an effect on escape response. The altered Mauthner cell likely contributes to the increased time to respond to a stimulus. In addition, the increased hypaxial muscle in the trunk likely contributes to the subtle change in animal C-start flexion angle. In the ear, Vismodegib treatment results in decreasing segregation between the gravistatic sensory epithelia as the concentration of Vismodegib increases. Furthermore, at higher doses, there is a loss of the horizontal canal but no enantiomorphic transformation, as in bony fish lacking Shh. Like in amniotes, Shh signaling in frogs affects dorsoventral patterning in the ear, suggesting that auditory sensory evolution in sarcopterygians/tetrapods evolved with a shift of Shh function in axis specification. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol 77: 1385-1400, 2017.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanam Zarei
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
- Carver College of Medicine, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Kasra Zarei
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Bernd Fritzsch
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
| | - Karen L. Elliott
- Department of Biology, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA 52242, USA
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189
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Cellular Functions of the Autism Risk Factor PTCHD1 in Mice. J Neurosci 2017; 37:11993-12005. [PMID: 29118110 DOI: 10.1523/jneurosci.1393-17.2017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2017] [Revised: 10/11/2017] [Accepted: 10/16/2017] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The gene patched domain containing 1 (PTCHD1) is mutated in patients with autism spectrum disorders and intellectual disabilities and has been hypothesized to contribute to Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling and synapse formation. We identify a panel of Ptchd1-interacting proteins that include postsynaptic density proteins and the retromer complex, revealing a link to critical regulators of dendritic and postsynaptic trafficking. Ptchd1 knock-out (KO) male mice exhibit cognitive alterations, including defects in a novel object recognition task. To test whether Ptchd1 is required for Shh-dependent signaling, we examined two Shh-dependent cell populations that express high levels of Ptchd1 mRNA: cerebellar granule cell precursors and dentate granule cells in the hippocampus. We found that proliferation of these neuronal precursors was not altered significantly in Ptchd1 KO male mice. We used whole-cell electrophysiology and anatomical methods to assess synaptic function in Ptchd1-deficient dentate granule cells. In the absence of Ptchd1, we observed profound disruption in excitatory/inhibitory balance despite normal dendritic spine density on dentate granule cells. These findings support a critical role of the Ptchd1 protein in the dentate gyrus, but indicate that it is not required for structural synapse formation in dentate granule cells or for Shh-dependent neuronal precursor proliferation.SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT The mechanisms underlying neuronal and cellular alterations resulting from patched domain containing 1 (Ptchd1) gene mutations are unknown. The results from this study support an association with dendritic trafficking complexes of Ptchd1. Loss-of-function experiments do not support a role in sonic hedgehog-dependent signaling, but reveal a disruption of synaptic transmission in the mouse dentate gyrus. The findings will help to guide ongoing efforts to understand the etiology of neurodevelopmental disorders arising from Ptchd1 deficiency.
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190
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Neumann JE, Swartling FJ, Schüller U. Medulloblastoma: experimental models and reality. Acta Neuropathol 2017; 134:679-689. [PMID: 28725965 DOI: 10.1007/s00401-017-1753-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/13/2017] [Revised: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 07/16/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma is the most frequent malignant brain tumor in childhood, but it may also affect infants, adolescents, and young adults. Recent advances in the understanding of the disease have shed light on molecular and clinical heterogeneity, which is now reflected in the updated WHO classification of brain tumors. At the same time, it is well accepted that preclinical research and clinical trials have to be subgroup-specific. Hence, valid models have to be generated specifically for every medulloblastoma subgroup to properly mimic molecular fingerprints, clinical features, and responsiveness to targeted therapies. This review summarizes the availability of experimental medulloblastoma models with a particular focus on how well these models reflect the actual disease subgroup. We further describe technical advantages and disadvantages of the models and finally point out how some models have successfully been used to introduce new drugs and why some medulloblastoma subgroups are extraordinary difficult to model.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julia E Neumann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Fredrik J Swartling
- Department of Immunology, Genetics and Pathology, Science for Life Laboratory, Rudbeck Laboratory, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany.
- Research Institute Children's Cancer Center, Martinistrasse 52, 20251, Hamburg, Germany.
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191
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Tanno B, Leonardi S, Babini G, Giardullo P, De Stefano I, Pasquali E, Saran A, Mancuso M. Nanog-driven cell-reprogramming and self-renewal maintenance in Ptch1 +/- granule cell precursors after radiation injury. Sci Rep 2017; 7:14238. [PMID: 29079783 PMCID: PMC5660207 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-14506-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2017] [Accepted: 10/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is the most common pediatric brain tumor, comprising four distinct molecular variants, one of which characterized by activation of the Sonic Hedgehog (SHH) pathway, driving 25–30% of sporadic MB. SHH-dependent MBs arise from granule cell precursors (GCPs), are fatal in 40–70% of cases and radioresistance strongly contributes to poor prognosis and tumor recurrence. Patched1 heterozygous (Ptch1+/−) mice, carrying a germ-line heterozygous inactivating mutation in the Ptch1 gene, the Shh receptor and negative regulator of the pathway, are uniquely susceptible to MB development after radiation damage in neonatal cerebellum. Here, we irradiated ex-vivo GCPs isolated from cerebella of neonatal WT and Ptch1+/− mice. Our results highlight a less differentiated status of Ptch1-mutated cells after irradiation, influencing DNA damage response. Increased expression levels of pluripotency genes Nanog, Oct4 and Sal4, together with greater clonogenic potential, clearly suggest that radiation induces expansion of the stem-like cell compartment through cell-reprogramming and self-renewal maintenance, and that this mechanism is strongly dependent on Nanog. These results contribute to clarify the molecular mechanisms that control radiation-induced Shh-mediated tumorigenesis and may suggest Nanog as a potential target to inhibit for adjuvant radiotherapy in treatment of SHH-dependent MB.
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Affiliation(s)
- Barbara Tanno
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Simona Leonardi
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | | | - Paola Giardullo
- Department of Radiation Physics, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy.,Department of Sciences, Roma Tre University, Rome, Italy
| | - Ilaria De Stefano
- Department of Radiation Physics, Guglielmo Marconi University, Rome, Italy
| | - Emanuela Pasquali
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy
| | - Anna Saran
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy.
| | - Mariateresa Mancuso
- Laboratory of Biomedical Technologies, Italian National Agency for New Technologies, Energy and Sustainable Economic Development (ENEA), Rome, Italy.
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192
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Liu Y, Yuelling LW, Wang Y, Du F, Gordon RE, O'Brien JA, Ng JMY, Robins S, Lee EH, Liu H, Curran T, Yang ZJ. Astrocytes Promote Medulloblastoma Progression through Hedgehog Secretion. Cancer Res 2017; 77:6692-6703. [PMID: 28986380 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-17-1463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 39] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/13/2017] [Revised: 08/10/2017] [Accepted: 09/26/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
Astrocytes, the most abundant type of glial cells in the brain, play critical roles in supporting neuronal development and brain function. Although astrocytes have been frequently detected in brain tumors, including medulloblastoma (MB), their functions in tumorigenesis are not clear. Here, we demonstrate that astrocytes are essential components of the MB tumor microenvironment. Tumor-associated astrocytes (TAA) secrete the ligand sonic hedgehog (Shh), which is required for maintaining MB cell proliferation despite the absence of its primary receptor Patched-1 (Ptch1). Shh drives expression of Nestin in MB cells through a smoothened-dependent, but Gli1-independent mechanism. Ablation of TAA dramatically suppresses Nestin expression and blocks tumor growth. These findings demonstrate an indispensable role for astrocytes in MB tumorigenesis and reveal a novel Ptch1-independent Shh pathway involved in MB progression. Cancer Res; 77(23); 6692-703. ©2017 AACR.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqiang Liu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Larra W Yuelling
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Yuan Wang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
| | - Fang Du
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Renata E Gordon
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jenny A O'Brien
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Jessica M Y Ng
- Children's Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Shannon Robins
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Eric H Lee
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Hailong Liu
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
| | - Tom Curran
- Children's Research Institute, Children's Mercy Kansas City, Kansas City, Missouri
| | - Zeng-Jie Yang
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China
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193
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Kawauchi D, Ogg RJ, Liu L, Shih DJH, Finkelstein D, Murphy BL, Rehg JE, Korshunov A, Calabrese C, Zindy F, Phoenix T, Kawaguchi Y, Gronych J, Gilbertson RJ, Lichter P, Gajjar A, Kool M, Northcott PA, Pfister SM, Roussel MF. Novel MYC-driven medulloblastoma models from multiple embryonic cerebellar cells. Oncogene 2017; 36:5231-5242. [PMID: 28504719 PMCID: PMC5605674 DOI: 10.1038/onc.2017.110] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/04/2016] [Revised: 02/22/2017] [Accepted: 03/12/2017] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Group3 medulloblastoma (MBG3) that predominantly occur in young children are usually associated with MYC amplification and/or overexpression, frequent metastasis and a dismal prognosis. Physiologically relevant MBG3 models are currently lacking, making inferences related to their cellular origin thus far limited. Using in utero electroporation, we here report that MBG3 mouse models can be developed in situ from different multipotent embryonic cerebellar progenitor cells via conditional expression of Myc and loss of Trp53 function in several Cre driver mouse lines. The Blbp-Cre driver that targets embryonic neural progenitors induced tumors exhibiting a large-cell/anaplastic histopathology adjacent to the fourth ventricle, recapitulating human MBG3. Enforced co-expression of luciferase together with Myc and a dominant-negative form of Trp53 revealed that GABAergic neuronal progenitors as well as cerebellar granule cells give rise to MBG3 with their distinct growth kinetics. Cross-species gene expression analysis revealed that these novel MBG3 models shared molecular characteristics with human MBG3, irrespective of their cellular origin. We here developed MBG3 mouse models in their physiological environment and we show that oncogenic insults drive this MB subgroup in different cerebellar lineages rather than in a specific cell of origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- D Kawauchi
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
- Division of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R J Ogg
- Department of Radiological Sciences, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - L Liu
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - D J H Shih
- The Hospital for Sick Children, Peter Gilgan Centre for Research and Learning, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - D Finkelstein
- Department of Computational Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - B L Murphy
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - J E Rehg
- Department of Veterinary Pathology Core, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - A Korshunov
- Clinical Cooperation Unit Neuropathology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Department of Neuropathology, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - C Calabrese
- Department of Small Animal Imaging Core, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - F Zindy
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - T Phoenix
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Y Kawaguchi
- Department of Clinical Application, Center for iPS Cell Research and Application, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan
| | - J Gronych
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - R J Gilbertson
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - P Lichter
- Department of Molecular Genetics, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - A Gajjar
- Department of Oncology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - M Kool
- Division of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
| | - P A Northcott
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
| | - S M Pfister
- Division of Pediatric Neuro-Oncology, German Cancer Research Centre (DKFZ), Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - M F Roussel
- Department of Tumor Cell Biology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital (SJCRH), Memphis, TN, USA
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194
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Mir SE, Smits M, Biesmans D, Julsing M, Bugiani M, Aronica E, Kaspers GJL, Cloos J, Würdinger T, Hulleman E. Trimethylation of H3K27 during human cerebellar development in relation to medulloblastoma. Oncotarget 2017; 8:78978-78988. [PMID: 29108280 PMCID: PMC5668013 DOI: 10.18632/oncotarget.20741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2015] [Accepted: 08/17/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant childhood brain tumor, encompasses a collection of four clinically and molecularly distinct tumor subgroups, i.e. WNT, SHH, Group 3 and Group 4. These tumors are believed to originate from precursor cells during cerebellar development. Although the exact etiology of these brain tumors is not yet known, histone modifications are increasingly recognized as key events during cerebellum development and MB tumorigenesis. Recent studies show that key components involved in post-translational modifications of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27) are commonly deregulated in MB. In this descriptive study, we have investigated the trimethylation status of H3K27, as well as the expression of the H3K27 methylase EZH2 and demethylases KDM6A and KDM6B, during human cerebellum development in relation to MB. H3K27 Trimethylation status differed between the MB subgroups. Moreover, trimethylation of H3K27 and expression of its modifiers EZH2, KDM6A and KDM6B were detected in a spatio-temporal manner during development of the human cerebellum, with consistent high occurrence in the four proliferative zones, which are believed to harbor the precursor cells of the different MB subgroups. Our results suggest that H3K27 trimethylation in MB is deregulated by EZH2, KDM6A and KDM6B. Moreover, we provide evidence that during development of the human cerebellum H3K27me3 and its regulators are expressed in a spatio-temporal manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shahryar E Mir
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Michiel Smits
- Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Dennis Biesmans
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Machteld Julsing
- Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Marianna Bugiani
- Department of Pathology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Eleonora Aronica
- Department of (Neuro) Pathology, Academic Medical Center and Swammerdam Institute for Life Sciences, Center for Neuroscience, University of Amsterdam, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Gertjan J L Kaspers
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Jacqueline Cloos
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Thomas Würdinger
- Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Esther Hulleman
- Department of Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.,Neuro-oncology Research Group, Departments of Neurosurgery and Pediatric Oncology/Hematology, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
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195
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Belcher SM, Burton CC, Cookman CJ, Kirby M, Miranda GL, Saeed FO, Wray KE. Estrogen and soy isoflavonoids decrease sensitivity of medulloblastoma and central nervous system primitive neuroectodermal tumor cells to chemotherapeutic cytotoxicity. BMC Pharmacol Toxicol 2017; 18:63. [PMID: 28877739 PMCID: PMC5585986 DOI: 10.1186/s40360-017-0160-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2016] [Accepted: 06/22/2017] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Our previous studies demonstrated that growth and migration of medulloblastoma (MB), the most common malignant brain tumor in children, are stimulated by 17β-estradiol. The growth stimulating effects of estrogens are mediated through ERβ and insulin-like growth factor 1 signaling to inhibit caspase 3 activity and reduce tumor cell apoptosis. The objective of this study was to determine whether estrogens decreased sensitivity of MB cells to cytotoxic actions of chemotherapeutic drugs. METHODS Using in vitro cell viability and clonogenic survival assays, concentration response analysis was used to determine whether the cytoprotective effects of estradiol protected human D283 Med MB cells from the cytotoxic actions of the MB chemotherapeutic drugs cisplatin, vincristine, or lomustine. Additional experiments were done to determine whether the ER antagonist fulvestrant or the selective ER modulator tamoxifen blocked the cytoprotective actions of estradiol. ER-selective agonists and antagonists were used to define receptor specificity, and the impacts of the soy-derived phytoestrogens genistein, daidzein, and s-equol on chemosensitivity were evaluated. RESULTS In D283 Med cells the presence of 10 nM estradiol increased the IC50 for cisplatin-induced inhibition of viability 2-fold from ~5 μM to >10 μM. In clonogenic survival assays estradiol decreased the chemosensitivity of D283 Med cells exposed to cisplatin, lomustine and vincristine. The ERβ selective agonist DPN and low physiological concentrations of the soy-derived phytoestrogens genistein, daidzein, and s-equol also decreased sensitivity of D283 Med cells to cisplatin. The protective effects of estradiol were blocked by the antiestrogens 4-hydroxytamoxifen, fulvestrant (ICI 182,780) and the ERβ selective antagonist PPHTP. Whereas estradiol also decreased chemosensitivity of PFSK-1 cells, estradiol increased sensitivity of Daoy cell to cisplatin, suggesting that ERβ mediated effects may vary in different MB celltypes. CONCLUSIONS These findings demonstrate that E2 and environmental estrogens decrease sensitivity of MB to cytotoxic chemotherapeutics, and that ERβ selective and non-selective inhibition of estrogen receptor activity blocks these cytoprotective actions. These findings support the therapeutic potential of antiestrogen adjuvant therapies for MB, and findings that soy phytoestrogens also decrease sensitivity of MB cells to cytotoxic chemotherapeutics suggest that decreased exposure to environmental estrogens may benefit MB patient responses to chemotherapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Scott M. Belcher
- Department of Biological Science and Center for Human Health and the Environment, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, NC USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, Summer Undergraduate Research Program University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Pharmacology PhD Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Caleb C. Burton
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, Summer Undergraduate Research Program University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Clifford J. Cookman
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Pharmacology PhD Graduate Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Michelle Kirby
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Gabriel L. Miranda
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, Summer Undergraduate Research Program University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Fatima O. Saeed
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, Molecular, Cellular and Biochemical Pharmacology Masters in Safety Pharmacology Training Program, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
| | - Kathleen E. Wray
- Department of Pharmacology and Cell Biophysics, Summer Undergraduate Research Program University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH USA
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196
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Holgado BL, Guerreiro Stucklin A, Garzia L, Daniels C, Taylor MD. Tailoring Medulloblastoma Treatment Through Genomics: Making a Change, One Subgroup at a Time. Annu Rev Genomics Hum Genet 2017; 18:143-166. [DOI: 10.1146/annurev-genom-091416-035434] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Borja L. Holgado
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Ana Guerreiro Stucklin
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Livia Garzia
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Craig Daniels
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
| | - Michael D. Taylor
- Developmental and Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Centre, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 0A4, Canada
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario M5S 1A1, Canada
- Division of Neurosurgery, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario M5G 1X8, Canada
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197
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Gordon RE, Zhang L, Yang ZJ. Restore the brake on tumor progression. Biochem Pharmacol 2017; 138:1-6. [PMID: 28389227 DOI: 10.1016/j.bcp.2017.04.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2017] [Accepted: 04/03/2017] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
Abstract
Sonic hedgehog (Shh) signaling plays a key role in regulation of normal development. The negative feedback mechanism mediated by the transcriptional factor, Gli3, acts to finely tune Shh signaling, providing tight control of normal developmental processes. Hyperactivation of Shh signaling often leads to many human malignancies, including basal cell carcinoma and medulloblastoma (MB). However, how tumor cells sustain the aberrant activation of Shh signaling is still not completely understood. We recently revealed that during MB formation, tumor cells express Nestin, a type VI intermediate filament protein, which maintains uncontrolled Shh signaling by abolishing negative feedback by Gli3. Therefore, Nestin expression is a necessary step for MB formation. These findings highlight the novel function of Nestin in regulating Shh signaling, as well as the important role of a disrupted negative feedback mechanism in MB tumorigenesis. Further, restoration of the intrinsic negative feedback by repressing Nestin expression represents a promising approach to treat MB as well as other Shh signaling associated malignancies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Renata E Gordon
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA
| | - Li Zhang
- Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215021, China
| | - Zeng-Jie Yang
- Cancer Biology Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Temple University Health System, Philadelphia, PA 19111, USA; Laboratory of Molecular Neuropathology, College of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Soochow University, Suzhou, Jiangsu 215021, China.
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198
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Zhao F, Li C, Zhou Q, Qu P, Wang B, Wang X, Zhang S, Wang X, Zhao C, Zhang J, Luo L, Ai L, Xu L, Liu P. Distinctive localization and MRI features correlate of molecular subgroups in adult medulloblastoma. J Neurooncol 2017; 135:353-360. [PMID: 28808827 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-017-2581-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2017] [Accepted: 07/23/2017] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is recognized as comprising four molecular subgroups with distinct transcriptional profiles, clinical features, and outcomes. Previous studies demonstrate that pediatric MBs present with subgroup-specific MRI manifestations. We hypothesized that combination of anatomical localization and conventional features based on MR imaging can predict these subgroups in adult MBs. MR Imaging manifestations of 125 adult patients with MB were analyzed retrospectively based on pre-operative MRI scans. MB molecular subgroups were evaluated by the expression profiling array and immunohistochemistry. A pediatric MB cohort of 60 patients were analyzed for comparison with data of adult patients. Multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that tumor location (P < 0.0001) and pattern of enhancement (P = 0.0048) were significantly correlated with molecular subgroups in adult MBs. Ninety-two percent of adult MBs were correctly predicted by using logistic regression model based on the anatomical localization patterns and pattern of enhancement. Exclusively intra-cerebellar growth, localization in the rostral cerebellum, and no brainstem contact were specific to adult SHH-MBs. Group 4-MBs in adult were characterized by minimal/no enhancement compared with other two subgroups. Infant SHH-MBs represented significant different localization patterns compared with SHH tumors in children and adults. We identified that molecular subgroups of adult MBs could be well predicted by tumor localization patterns and enhancement pattern. Our study also provided important evidence that MB subgroups in adult possibly derived from different cellular origins.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fu Zhao
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
| | - Chunde Li
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Qiangyi Zhou
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Peiran Qu
- Department of Neuroimaging and Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Bo Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Xin Wang
- Department of Neuroimaging and Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China.,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Shun Zhang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Xingchao Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China
| | - Chi Zhao
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Zhang
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Luo
- Department of Neuropathology, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lin Ai
- Department of Neuroimaging and Nuclear Medicine, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Lei Xu
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Massachusetts General Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Pinan Liu
- Department of Neural Reconstruction, Beijing Neurosurgical Institute, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China. .,Department of Neurosurgery, Beijing Tian Tan Hospital, Capital Medical University, No. 6 Tiantan Xili, Dongcheng District, Beijing, China.
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199
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Miele E, Po A, Begalli F, Antonucci L, Mastronuzzi A, Marras CE, Carai A, Cucchi D, Abballe L, Besharat ZM, Catanzaro G, Infante P, Di Marcotullio L, Canettieri G, De Smaele E, Screpanti I, Locatelli F, Ferretti E. β-arrestin1-mediated acetylation of Gli1 regulates Hedgehog/Gli signaling and modulates self-renewal of SHH medulloblastoma cancer stem cells. BMC Cancer 2017; 17:488. [PMID: 28716052 PMCID: PMC5512842 DOI: 10.1186/s12885-017-3477-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2016] [Accepted: 07/09/2017] [Indexed: 02/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Aberrant Sonic Hedgehog/Gli (Hh/Gli) signaling pathway is a critical regulator of Sonic hedgehog medulloblastoma (SHH-MB). Cancer stem cells (CSCs), thought to be largely responsible for tumor initiation, maintenance, dissemination and relapse, have been identified in SHH-MB. Since we previously demonstrated that Hh/Gli signaling controls CSCs features in SHH-MB and that in these tumors miR-326 is down regulated, here we investigated whether there is a functional link between Hh/Gli signaling and miR-326. Methods We evaluated β-arrestin1 (Arrb1) and its intragenic miR-326 levels in CSCs derived from SHH-MB. Subsequently, we modulated the expression of Arrb1 and miR-326 in CSCs in order to gain insight into their biological role. We also analyzed the mechanism by which Arrb1 and miR-326 control Hh/Gli signaling and self-renewal, using luciferase and protein immunoprecipitation assays. Results Low levels of Arrb1 and miR-326 represent a feature of CSCs derived from SHH-MB. We observed that re-expression of Arrb1 and miR-326 inhibits Hh/Gli signaling pathway at multiple levels, which cause impaired proliferation and self-renewal, accompanied by down regulation of Nanog levels. In detail, miR-326 negatively regulates two components of the Hh/Gli pathway the receptor Smoothened (Smo) and the transcription factor Gli2, whereas Arrb1 suppresses the transcriptional activity of Gli1, by potentiating its p300-mediated acetylation. Conclusions Our results identify a new molecular mechanism involving miR-326 and Arrb1 as regulators of SHH-MB CSCs. Specifically, low levels of Arrb1 and miR-326 trigger and maintain Hh/Gli signaling and self-renewal.
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Affiliation(s)
- Evelina Miele
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Department of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Agnese Po
- Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Federica Begalli
- Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Laura Antonucci
- Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Angela Mastronuzzi
- Department of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Carlo Efisio Marras
- Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Neurosurgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Andrea Carai
- Department of Neuroscience and Neurorehabilitation, Neurosurgery Unit, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy
| | - Danilo Cucchi
- Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Luana Abballe
- Department of Experimental Medicine Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291 - 00161, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Zein Mersini Besharat
- Department of Experimental Medicine Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291 - 00161, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Giuseppina Catanzaro
- Department of Experimental Medicine Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291 - 00161, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Paola Infante
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | | | | | - Enrico De Smaele
- Department of Experimental Medicine Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291 - 00161, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Isabella Screpanti
- Center for Life NanoScience@Sapienza, Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia, 00161, Rome, Italy.,Department of Molecular Medicine Sapienza University, 00161, Rome, Italy
| | - Franco Locatelli
- Department of Hematology/Oncology and Stem Cell Transplantation, Bambino Gesù Children's Hospital, IRCCS, 00165, Rome, Italy.,Department of Pediatric Science, University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
| | - Elisabetta Ferretti
- Department of Experimental Medicine Sapienza University, Viale Regina Elena, 291 - 00161, 00161, Rome, Italy. .,Neuromed Institute, 86077, Pozzilli, Italy.
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200
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Investigation of brain tissue infiltration by medulloblastoma cells in an ex vivo model. Sci Rep 2017; 7:5297. [PMID: 28706234 PMCID: PMC5509741 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-017-05573-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/31/2017] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Medulloblastoma (MB) is a paediatric cancer of the cerebellum that can develop cerebellar and leptomeningeal metastases. Local brain tissue infiltration, the underlying cause of metastasis and relapse, remains unexplored. We developed a novel approach to investigate tissue infiltration of MB using organotypic cerebellum slice culture (OCSC). We show that cellular and structural components of cerebellar tissue in OCSCs are maintained for up to 30 days ex vivo, and that OCSCs foster tumour growth and cell proliferation. Using cell-based models of sonic hedgehog (SHH) and group 3 (G3) MB, we quantified tumour growth and infiltration and determined the morphological characteristics of the infiltrating cells. We observed basal levels of dissemination occurring in both subgroups with cells migrating either individually or collectively as clusters. Collective cerebellar tissue infiltration of SHH MB cells was further enhanced by EGF but not HGF, demonstrating differential tumour cell responses to microenvironmental cues. We found G3 cells to be hyper proliferative and observed aggressive tumour expansion even in the absence of exogenous growth factors. Our study thus provides unprecedented insights into brain tissue infiltration of SHH and G3 MB cells and reveals the cellular basis of the tumour progressing functions of EGF in SHH MB.
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