1
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Fan J, Zhu J, Zhu H, Xu H. Potential therapeutic targets in myeloid cell therapy for overcoming chemoresistance and immune suppression in gastrointestinal tumors. Crit Rev Oncol Hematol 2024; 198:104362. [PMID: 38614267 DOI: 10.1016/j.critrevonc.2024.104362] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2023] [Revised: 03/26/2024] [Accepted: 04/10/2024] [Indexed: 04/15/2024] Open
Abstract
In the tumor microenvironment (TME), myeloid cells play a pivotal role. Myeloid-derived immunosuppressive cells, including tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) and myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs), are central components in shaping the immunosuppressive milieu of the tumor. Within the TME, a majority of TAMs assume an M2 phenotype, characterized by their pro-tumoral activity. These cells promote tumor cell growth, angiogenesis, invasion, and migration. In contrast, M1 macrophages, under appropriate activation conditions, exhibit cytotoxic capabilities against cancer cells. However, an excessive M1 response may lead to pro-tumoral inflammation. As a result, myeloid cells have emerged as crucial targets in cancer therapy. This review concentrates on gastrointestinal tumors, detailing methods for targeting macrophages to enhance tumor radiotherapy and immunotherapy sensitivity. We specifically delve into monocytes and tumor-associated macrophages' various functions, establishing an immunosuppressive microenvironment, promoting tumorigenic inflammation, and fostering neovascularization and stromal remodeling. Additionally, we examine combination therapeutic strategies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiawei Fan
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, PR China
| | - Jianshu Zhu
- Department of Spine Surgery, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, PR China
| | - He Zhu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, PR China
| | - Hong Xu
- Department of Gastroenterology, The First Hospital of Jilin University, 1 Xinmin Street, Changchun 130021, PR China.
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2
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Sharma S, Rani H, Mahesh Y, Jolly MK, Dixit J, Mahadevan V. Loss of p53 epigenetically modulates epithelial to mesenchymal transition in colorectal cancer. Transl Oncol 2024; 43:101848. [PMID: 38412660 PMCID: PMC10907866 DOI: 10.1016/j.tranon.2023.101848] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2023] [Revised: 11/10/2023] [Accepted: 11/21/2023] [Indexed: 02/29/2024] Open
Abstract
Epithelial to Mesenchymal transition (EMT) drives cancer metastasis and is governed by genetic and epigenetic alterations at multiple levels of regulation. It is well established that loss/mutation of p53 confers oncogenic function to cancer cells and promotes metastasis. Though transcription factors like ZEB1, SLUG, SNAIL and TWIST have been implied in EMT signalling, p53 mediated alterations in the epigenetic machinery accompanying EMT are not clearly understood. This work attempts to explore epigenetic signalling during EMT in colorectal cancer (CRC) cells with varying status of p53. Towards this, we have induced EMT using TGFβ on CRC cell lines with wild type, null and mutant p53 and have assayed epigenetic alterations after EMT induction. Transcriptomic profiling of the four CRC cell lines revealed that the loss of p53 confers more mesenchymal phenotype with EMT induction than its mutant counterparts. This was also accompanied by upregulation of epigenetic writer and eraser machinery suggesting an epigenetic signalling cascade triggered by TGFβ signalling in CRC. Significant agonist and antagonistic relationships observed between EMT factor SNAI1 and SNAI2 with epigenetic enzymes KDM6A/6B and the chromatin organiser SATB1 in p53 null CRC cells suggest a crosstalk between epigenetic and EMT factors. The observed epigenetic regulation of EMT factor SNAI1 correlates with poor clinical outcomes in 270 colorectal cancer patients taken from TCGA-COAD. This unique p53 dependent interplay between epigenetic enzymes and EMT factors in CRC cells may be exploited for development of synergistic therapies for CRC patients presenting to the clinic with loss of p53.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shreya Sharma
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Bangalore, India
| | - Harsha Rani
- Institute of Bioinformatics and Applied Biotechnology (IBAB), Bangalore, India
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3
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Gargiulo G, Serresi M, Marine JC. Cell States in Cancer: Drivers, Passengers, and Trailers. Cancer Discov 2024; 14:610-614. [PMID: 38571419 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-23-1510] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/05/2024]
Abstract
SUMMARY Cancer is traditionally perceived through a genetic lens, with therapeutic strategies targeting oncogenic driver mutations. We advocate an overarching framework recognizing tumors as comprising driver, passenger, and trailer cell states: Tailoring therapies to simultaneously target driver genetics and cell states may enhance effectiveness and durability. SIGNIFICANCE We redefine cancer progression by introducing a model that categorizes tumor cells into "driver," "passenger," and "trailer" phenotypes, expanding the focus on genetic aberrations to cellular behavior. This approach offers a roadmap to guide refining therapeutic strategies for more precise and durable cancer treatments that address tumor heterogeneity and plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Gargiulo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Michela Serresi
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Jean-Christophe Marine
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Center for Cancer Biology, VIB, Leuven, Belgium
- Laboratory for Molecular Cancer Biology, Department of Oncology, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium
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4
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Fang L, Zhang L, Wang M, He Y, Yang J, Huang Z, Tan Y, Fang K, Li J, Sun Z, Li Y, Tang Y, Liang W, Cui H, Zhu Q, Wu Z, Li Y, Hu Y, Chen W. Pooled CRISPR Screening Identifies P-Bodies as Repressors of Cancer Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition. Cancer Res 2024; 84:659-674. [PMID: 38190710 DOI: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-23-1693] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2023] [Revised: 11/07/2023] [Accepted: 01/03/2024] [Indexed: 01/10/2024]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a fundamental cellular process frequently hijacked by cancer cells to promote tumor progression, especially metastasis. EMT is orchestrated by a complex molecular network acting at different layers of gene regulation. In addition to transcriptional regulation, posttranscriptional mechanisms may also play a role in EMT. Here, we performed a pooled CRISPR screen analyzing the influence of 1,547 RNA-binding proteins on cell motility in colon cancer cells and identified multiple core components of P-bodies (PB) as negative modulators of cancer cell migration. Further experiments demonstrated that PB depletion by silencing DDX6 or EDC4 could activate hallmarks of EMT thereby enhancing cell migration in vitro as well as metastasis formation in vivo. Integrative multiomics analysis revealed that PBs could repress the translation of the EMT driver gene HMGA2, which contributed to PB-meditated regulation of EMT. This mechanism is conserved in other cancer types. Furthermore, endoplasmic reticulum stress was an intrinsic signal that induced PB disassembly and translational derepression of HMGA2. Taken together, this study has identified a function of PBs in the regulation of EMT in cancer. SIGNIFICANCE Systematic investigation of the influence of posttranscriptional regulation on cancer cell motility established a connection between P-body-mediated translational control and EMT, which could be therapeutically exploited to attenuate metastasis formation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liang Fang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Li Zhang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Mengran Wang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yuhao He
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Jiao Yang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Zengjin Huang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Ying Tan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Ke Fang
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Jun Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Zhiyuan Sun
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yanping Li
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yisen Tang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Weizheng Liang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Central Laboratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Hebei North University, Zhangjiakou, Hebei, P.R. China
| | - Huanhuan Cui
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Academy for Advanced Interdisciplinary Studies, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Qionghua Zhu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Zhe Wu
- Key Laboratory of Molecular Design for Plant Cell Factory of Guangdong Higher Education Institutes, Institute of Plant and Food Science, Department of Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yiming Li
- Department of Biomedical Engineering, College of Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Yuhui Hu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Pharmacology, School of Medicine, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
| | - Wei Chen
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Gene Regulation and Systems Biology, School of Life Sciences, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
- Department of Systems Biology, School of Life Science, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen, Guangdong, P.R. China
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5
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Gao M, Li Y, Cao P, Liu H, Chen J, Kang S. Exploring the therapeutic potential of targeting polycomb repressive complex 2 in lung cancer. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1216289. [PMID: 37909018 PMCID: PMC10613995 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1216289] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/02/2023] [Indexed: 11/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The pathogenesis of lung cancer (LC) is a multifaceted process that is influenced by a variety of factors. Alongside genetic mutations and environmental influences, there is increasing evidence that epigenetic mechanisms play a significant role in the development and progression of LC. The Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), composed of EZH1/2, SUZ12, and EED, is an epigenetic silencer that controls the expression of target genes and is crucial for cell identity in multicellular organisms. Abnormal expression of PRC2 has been shown to contribute to the progression of LC through several pathways. Although targeted inhibition of EZH2 has demonstrated potential in delaying the progression of LC and improving chemotherapy sensitivity, the effectiveness of enzymatic inhibitors of PRC2 in LC is limited, and a more comprehensive understanding of PRC2's role is necessary. This paper reviews the core subunits of PRC2 and their interactions, and outlines the mechanisms of aberrant PRC2 expression in cancer and its role in tumor immunity. We also summarize the important role of PRC2 in regulating biological behaviors such as epithelial mesenchymal transition, invasive metastasis, apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, autophagy, and PRC2-mediated resistance to LC chemotherapeutic agents in LC cells. Lastly, we explored the latest breakthroughs in the research and evaluation of medications that target PRC2, as well as the latest findings from clinical studies investigating the efficacy of these drugs in the treatment of various human cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Min Gao
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
- Inner Mongolia Medical University, First Clinical Medical College, Hohhot, China
| | - Yongwen Li
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Peijun Cao
- Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Hongyu Liu
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Jun Chen
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Lung Cancer Metastasis and Tumor Microenvironment, Tianjin Lung Cancer Institute, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
- Department of Lung Cancer Surgery, Tianjin Medical University General Hospital, Tianjin, China
| | - Shirong Kang
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, The Affiliated Hospital of Inner Mongolia Medical University, Hohhot, China
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6
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Ni YH, Wang R, Wang W, Li DZ, Liu G, Jiang CS, Wang Y, Lin X, Zeng XP. Tcf21 Alleviates Pancreatic Fibrosis by Regulating the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transformation of Pancreatic Stellate Cells. Dig Dis Sci 2023:10.1007/s10620-023-07849-w. [PMID: 36943591 DOI: 10.1007/s10620-023-07849-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2022] [Accepted: 01/25/2023] [Indexed: 03/23/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIMS The activation of pancreatic stellate cells (PSCs) plays a key role in the occurrence and development of chronic pancreatitis (CP) and pancreatic fibrosis, which is related to the process of epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT). This study was designed to investigate the effect and mechanism of Tcf21 (one of tumor suppressor genes) on pancreatic inflammation and fibrosis in vivo and in vitro. METHODS C57BL/6 male mice were intraperitoneally injected with caerulein for 6 weeks to establish CP animal model. Fixed pancreatic tissue paraffin-embedded sections were used for immunohistochemistry staining of Tcf21, fibrosis-related markers (α-SMA), interstitial markers (Vimentin) and epithelial markers (E-cadherin). Western blotting and qRT-PCR assay were performed to analyze the change of expression of the above markers after stimulation of TGF-β1 or overexpressed Tcf21 lentivirus transfection in human pancreatic stellate cells (HPSCs). RESULTS The pancreatic expression of α-SMA and Vimentin of CP mice significantly increased, while the expression of Tcf21 and E-cadherin significantly decreased. TGF-β1 could promote activation and EMT process of HPSCs, and inhibited the expression of Tcf21. Overexpression of Tcf21 could significantly down-regulate the expression of α-SMA, Fibronectin and Vimentin, and up-regulated the expression of ZO-1 of HPSCs. Cell Counting Kit-8 assay and scratch wound-healing assay results showed that overexpression of Tcf21 could significantly inhibit the cell migration and proliferation of HPSCs. CONCLUSIONS Overexpression of Tcf21 could significantly alleviate the activation, proliferation, migration of PSCs by regulating the EMT process. Tcf21 had a potential prospect of a new target for CP therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yan-Hong Ni
- Department of Digestive Diseases, 900TH Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Rong Wang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, 900TH Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Fuzong Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, 156 North Road of West No.2 Ring, Fuzhou, 350025, China
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wen Wang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, 900TH Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Fuzong Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, 156 North Road of West No.2 Ring, Fuzhou, 350025, China
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Da-Zhou Li
- Department of Digestive Diseases, 900TH Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Fuzong Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, 156 North Road of West No.2 Ring, Fuzhou, 350025, China
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Gang Liu
- Department of Digestive Diseases, 900TH Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Fuzong Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, 156 North Road of West No.2 Ring, Fuzhou, 350025, China
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chuan-Shen Jiang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, 900TH Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Fuzong Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, 156 North Road of West No.2 Ring, Fuzhou, 350025, China
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Yi Wang
- Department of Digestive Diseases, 900TH Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China
| | - Xia Lin
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Fuzong Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, 156 North Road of West No.2 Ring, Fuzhou, 350025, China
| | - Xiang-Peng Zeng
- Department of Digestive Diseases, 900TH Hospital of Joint Logistics Support Force, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
- College of Integrative Medicine, Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Fuzhou, China.
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Fuzong Clinical Medical College, Fujian Medical University, 156 North Road of West No.2 Ring, Fuzhou, 350025, China.
- Department of Digestive Diseases, Dongfang Hospital, Xiamen University, Fuzhou, China.
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7
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Xie Y, Sahin M, Wakamatsu T, Inoue-Yamauchi A, Zhao W, Han S, Nargund AM, Yang S, Lyu Y, Hsieh JJ, Leslie CS, Cheng EH. SETD2 regulates chromatin accessibility and transcription to suppress lung tumorigenesis. JCI Insight 2023; 8:e154120. [PMID: 36810256 PMCID: PMC9977508 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.154120] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/16/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2023] [Indexed: 02/23/2023] Open
Abstract
SETD2, a H3K36 trimethyltransferase, is the most frequently mutated epigenetic modifier in lung adenocarcinoma, with a mutation frequency of approximately 9%. However, how SETD2 loss of function promotes tumorigenesis remains unclear. Using conditional Setd2-KO mice, we demonstrated that Setd2 deficiency accelerated the initiation of KrasG12D-driven lung tumorigenesis, increased tumor burden, and significantly reduced mouse survival. An integrated chromatin accessibility and transcriptome analysis revealed a potentially novel tumor suppressor model of SETD2 in which SETD2 loss activates intronic enhancers to drive oncogenic transcriptional output, including the KRAS transcriptional signature and PRC2-repressed targets, through regulation of chromatin accessibility and histone chaperone recruitment. Importantly, SETD2 loss sensitized KRAS-mutant lung cancer to inhibition of histone chaperones, the FACT complex, or transcriptional elongation both in vitro and in vivo. Overall, our studies not only provide insight into how SETD2 loss shapes the epigenetic and transcriptional landscape to promote tumorigenesis, but they also identify potential therapeutic strategies for SETD2 mutant cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuchen Xie
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
- Gerstner Sloan Kettering Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, New York, New York, USA
| | - Merve Sahin
- Computational and Systems Biology Program, MSKCC, New York, New York, USA
- Tri-Institutional Training Program in Computational Biology and Medicine, New York, New York, USA
| | - Toru Wakamatsu
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Akane Inoue-Yamauchi
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Wanming Zhao
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Song Han
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Amrita M. Nargund
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Shaoyuan Yang
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
| | - Yang Lyu
- Molecular Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | - James J. Hsieh
- Molecular Oncology, Department of Medicine, Washington University, St. Louis, Missouri, USA
| | | | - Emily H. Cheng
- Human Oncology and Pathogenesis Program, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSKCC), New York, New York, USA
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, MSKCC, New York, New York, USA
- Weill Cornell Medical College, New York, New York, USA
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8
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van Weverwijk A, de Visser KE. Mechanisms driving the immunoregulatory function of cancer cells. Nat Rev Cancer 2023; 23:193-215. [PMID: 36717668 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-022-00544-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 54] [Impact Index Per Article: 54.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/13/2022] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
Tumours display an astonishing variation in the spatial distribution, composition and activation state of immune cells, which impacts their progression and response to immunotherapy. Shedding light on the mechanisms that govern the diversity and function of immune cells in the tumour microenvironment will pave the way for the development of more tailored immunomodulatory strategies for the benefit of patients with cancer. Cancer cells, by virtue of their paracrine and juxtacrine communication mechanisms, are key contributors to intertumour heterogeneity in immune contextures. In this Review, we discuss how cancer cell-intrinsic features, including (epi)genetic aberrations, signalling pathway deregulation and altered metabolism, play a key role in orchestrating the composition and functional state of the immune landscape, and influence the therapeutic benefit of immunomodulatory strategies. Moreover, we highlight how targeting cancer cell-intrinsic parameters or their downstream immunoregulatory pathways is a viable strategy to manipulate the tumour immune milieu in favour of antitumour immunity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Antoinette van Weverwijk
- Division of Tumour Biology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Karin E de Visser
- Division of Tumour Biology & Immunology, Oncode Institute, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.
- Department of Immunology, Leiden University Medical Centre, Leiden, Netherlands.
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9
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Chen F, Byrd AL, Liu J, Flight RM, DuCote TJ, Naughton KJ, Song X, Edgin AR, Lukyanchuk A, Dixon DT, Gosser CM, Esoe DP, Jayswal RD, Orkin SH, Moseley HNB, Wang C, Brainson CF. Polycomb deficiency drives a FOXP2-high aggressive state targetable by epigenetic inhibitors. Nat Commun 2023; 14:336. [PMID: 36670102 PMCID: PMC9859827 DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-35784-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2020] [Accepted: 01/02/2023] [Indexed: 01/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Inhibitors of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) histone methyltransferase EZH2 are approved for certain cancers, but realizing their wider utility relies upon understanding PRC2 biology in each cancer system. Using a genetic model to delete Ezh2 in KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinomas, we observed that Ezh2 haplo-insufficient tumors were less lethal and lower grade than Ezh2 fully-insufficient tumors, which were poorly differentiated and metastatic. Using three-dimensional cultures and in vivo experiments, we determined that EZH2-deficient tumors were vulnerable to H3K27 demethylase or BET inhibitors. PRC2 loss/inhibition led to de-repression of FOXP2, a transcription factor that promotes migration and stemness, and FOXP2 could be suppressed by BET inhibition. Poorly differentiated human lung cancers were enriched for an H3K27me3-low state, representing a subtype that may benefit from BET inhibition as a single therapy or combined with additional EZH2 inhibition. These data highlight diverse roles of PRC2 in KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinomas, and demonstrate the utility of three-dimensional cultures for exploring epigenetic drug sensitivities for cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Chen
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- Department of Medical Oncology, Sun Yat-sen University Cancer Center, State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-sen University, 510060, Guangzhou, P. R. China
| | - Aria L Byrd
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Robert M Flight
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Tanner J DuCote
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Kassandra J Naughton
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Xiulong Song
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Abigail R Edgin
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Alexsandr Lukyanchuk
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Danielle T Dixon
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Christian M Gosser
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Dave-Preston Esoe
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Rani D Jayswal
- Markey Cancer Center Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Shared Resource Facility, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Stuart H Orkin
- Department of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Hunter N B Moseley
- Department of Molecular & Cellular Biochemistry, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Chi Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Christine Fillmore Brainson
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
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10
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Byrd AL, Qu X, Lukyanchuk A, Liu J, Chen F, Naughton KJ, DuCote TJ, Song X, Bowman HC, Zhao Y, Edgin AR, Wang C, Liu J, Brainson CF. Dysregulated Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 contributes to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease by rewiring stem cell fate. Stem Cell Reports 2022; 18:289-304. [PMID: 36525966 PMCID: PMC9860081 DOI: 10.1016/j.stemcr.2022.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2021] [Revised: 11/11/2022] [Accepted: 11/14/2022] [Indexed: 12/23/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant lung cell differentiation is a hallmark of many lung diseases including chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The EZH2-containing Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) regulates embryonic lung stem cell fate, but its role in adult lung is obscure. Histological analysis of patient tissues revealed that loss of PRC2 activity was correlated with aberrant bronchiolar cell differentiation in COPD lung. Histological and single-cell RNA-sequencing analyses showed that loss of EZH2 in mouse lung organoids led to lowered self-renewal capability, increased squamous morphological development, and marked shifts in progenitor cell populations. Evaluation of in vivo models revealed that heterozygosity of Ezh2 in mice with ovalbumin-induced lung inflammation led to epithelial cell differentiation patterns similar to those in COPD lung. We also identified cystathionine-β-synthase as a possible upstream factor for PRC2 destabilization. Our findings suggest that PRC2 is integral to facilitating proper lung stem cell differentiation in humans and mice.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aria L. Byrd
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Xufeng Qu
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Alexsandr Lukyanchuk
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Fan Chen
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Kassandra J. Naughton
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Tanner J. DuCote
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Xiulong Song
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Hannah C. Bowman
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Yanming Zhao
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Abigail R. Edgin
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Chi Wang
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA,Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA
| | - Jinze Liu
- Department of Biostatistics, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA,Massey Cancer Center, Virginia Commonwealth University, Richmond, VA, USA
| | - Christine Fillmore Brainson
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA; Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, USA.
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11
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Zhang X, Lou HE, Gopalan V, Liu Z, Jafarah HM, Lei H, Jones P, Sayers CM, Yohe ME, Chittiboina P, Widemann BC, Thiele CJ, Kelly MC, Hannenhalli S, Shern JF. Single-cell sequencing reveals activation of core transcription factors in PRC2-deficient malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor. Cell Rep 2022; 40:111363. [PMID: 36130486 PMCID: PMC9585487 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.111363] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [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: 08/17/2021] [Revised: 05/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Loss-of-function mutations in the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) occur frequently in malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor, an aggressive sarcoma that arises from NF1-deficient Schwann cells. To define the oncogenic mechanisms underlying PRC2 loss, we use engineered cells that dynamically reassemble a competent PRC2 coupled with single-cell sequencing from clinical samples. We discover a two-pronged oncogenic process: first, PRC2 loss leads to remodeling of the bivalent chromatin and enhancer landscape, causing the upregulation of developmentally regulated transcription factors that enforce a transcriptional circuit serving as the cell's core vulnerability. Second, PRC2 loss reduces type I interferon signaling and antigen presentation as downstream consequences of hyperactivated Ras and its cross talk with STAT/IRF transcription factors. Mapping of the transcriptional program of these PRC2-deficient tumor cells onto a constructed developmental trajectory of normal Schwann cells reveals that changes induced by PRC2 loss enforce a cellular profile characteristic of a primitive mesenchymal neural crest stem cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyuan Zhang
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hannah E Lou
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Vishaka Gopalan
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Zhihui Liu
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Hilda M Jafarah
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Haiyan Lei
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Paige Jones
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Carly M Sayers
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Marielle E Yohe
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Prashant Chittiboina
- Neurosurgery Unit for Pituitary and Inheritable Diseases, National Institute of Neurological Diseases and Stroke, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Brigitte C Widemann
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Carol J Thiele
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Michael C Kelly
- Center for Cancer Research Single Cell Analysis Facility, Cancer Research Technology Program, Frederick National Laboratory, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Sridhar Hannenhalli
- Cancer Data Science Laboratory, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA
| | - Jack F Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
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12
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German B, Ellis L. Polycomb Directed Cell Fate Decisions in Development and Cancer. EPIGENOMES 2022; 6:28. [PMID: 36135315 PMCID: PMC9497807 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes6030028] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/03/2022] [Revised: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 09/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
The polycomb group (PcG) proteins are a subset of transcription regulators highly conserved throughout evolution. Their principal role is to epigenetically modify chromatin landscapes and control the expression of master transcriptional programs to determine cellular identity. The two mayor PcG protein complexes that have been identified in mammals to date are Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1) and 2 (PRC2). These protein complexes selectively repress gene expression via the induction of covalent post-translational histone modifications, promoting chromatin structure stabilization. PRC2 catalyzes the histone H3 methylation at lysine 27 (H3K27me1/2/3), inducing heterochromatin structures. This activity is controlled by the formation of a multi-subunit complex, which includes enhancer of zeste (EZH2), embryonic ectoderm development protein (EED), and suppressor of zeste 12 (SUZ12). This review will summarize the latest insights into how PRC2 in mammalian cells regulates transcription to orchestrate the temporal and tissue-specific expression of genes to determine cell identity and cell-fate decisions. We will specifically describe how PRC2 dysregulation in different cell types can promote phenotypic plasticity and/or non-mutational epigenetic reprogramming, inducing the development of highly aggressive epithelial neuroendocrine carcinomas, including prostate, small cell lung, and Merkel cell cancer. With this, EZH2 has emerged as an important actionable therapeutic target in such cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beatriz German
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
| | - Leigh Ellis
- Department of Medicine, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Cedars-Sinai Samuel Oschin Comprehensive Cancer Institute, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
- Center for Bioinformatics and Functional Genomics, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center, Los Angeles, CA 90048, USA
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13
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Critical Roles of Polycomb Repressive Complexes in Transcription and Cancer. Int J Mol Sci 2022; 23:ijms23179574. [PMID: 36076977 PMCID: PMC9455514 DOI: 10.3390/ijms23179574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2022] [Revised: 08/16/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Polycomp group (PcG) proteins are members of highly conserved multiprotein complexes, recognized as gene transcriptional repressors during development and shown to play a role in various physiological and pathological processes. PcG proteins consist of two Polycomb repressive complexes (PRCs) with different enzymatic activities: Polycomb repressive complexes 1 (PRC1), a ubiquitin ligase, and Polycomb repressive complexes 2 (PRC2), a histone methyltransferase. Traditionally, PRCs have been described to be associated with transcriptional repression of homeotic genes, as well as gene transcription activating effects. Particularly in cancer, PRCs have been found to misregulate gene expression, not only depending on the function of the whole PRCs, but also through their separate subunits. In this review, we focused especially on the recent findings in the transcriptional regulation of PRCs, the oncogenic and tumor-suppressive roles of PcG proteins, and the research progress of inhibitors targeting PRCs.
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14
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TP53-Status-Dependent Oncogenic EZH2 Activity in Pancreatic Cancer. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14143451. [PMID: 35884510 PMCID: PMC9320674 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14143451] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 07/04/2022] [Accepted: 07/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary Epigenetic alterations contribute to the aggressiveness and therapy resistance of Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC). However, epigenetic regulators, including Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2), reveal a strong context-dependent activity. Our study aimed to examine the context-defining molecular prerequisites of oncogenic EZH2 activity in PDAC to assess the therapeutic efficacy of targeting EZH2. Our preclinical study using diverse PDAC models demonstrates that the TP53 status determines oncogenic EZH2 activity. Only in TP53-wildtype (wt) PDAC subtypes was EZH2 blockade associated with a favorable PDAC prognosis mainly through cell-death response. We revealed that EZH2 depletion increases p53wt stability by the de-repression of CDKN2A. Therefore, our study provides preclinical evidence that an intact CDKN2A-p53wt axis is indispensable for a beneficial outcome of EZH2 depletion and highlights the significance of molecular stratification to improve epigenetic targeting in PDAC. Abstract Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma (PDAC) represents a lethal malignancy with a consistently poor outcome. Besides mutations in PDAC driver genes, the aggressive tumor biology of the disease and its remarkable therapy resistance are predominantly installed by potentially reversible epigenetic dysregulation. However, epigenetic regulators act in a context-dependent manner with opposing implication on tumor progression, thus critically determining the therapeutic efficacy of epigenetic targeting. Herein, we aimed at exploring the molecular prerequisites and underlying mechanisms of oncogenic Enhancer of Zeste Homolog 2 (EZH2) activity in PDAC progression. Preclinical studies in EZH2 proficient and deficient transgenic and orthotopic in vivo PDAC models and transcriptome analysis identified the TP53 status as a pivotal context-defining molecular cue determining oncogenic EZH2 activity in PDAC. Importantly, the induction of pro-apoptotic gene signatures and processes as well as a favorable PDAC prognosis upon EZH2 depletion were restricted to p53 wildtype (wt) PDAC subtypes. Mechanistically, we illustrate that EZH2 blockade de-represses CDKN2A transcription for the subsequent posttranslational stabilization of p53wt expression and function. Together, our findings suggest an intact CDKN2A-p53wt axis as a prerequisite for the anti-tumorigenic consequences of EZH2 depletion and emphasize the significance of molecular stratification for the successful implementation of epigenetic targeting in PDAC.
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15
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Shin DS, Park K, Garon E, Dubinett S. Targeting EZH2 to overcome the resistance to immunotherapy in lung cancer. Semin Oncol 2022; 49:S0093-7754(22)00045-8. [PMID: 35851153 DOI: 10.1053/j.seminoncol.2022.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Revised: 06/08/2022] [Accepted: 06/11/2022] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Abstract
Unleashing the immune system to fight cancer has been a major breakthrough in cancer therapeutics since 2014 when anti-PD-1 antibodies (pembrolizumab and nivolumab) were approved for patients with metastatic melanoma. Therapeutic indications have rapidly expanded for many types of advanced cancer, including lung cancer. A variety of antibodies targeting the PD-1/PD-L1 checkpoint are contributing to this paradigm shift. The field now confronts two salient challenges: first, to improve the therapeutic outcome given the low response rate across the histologies; second, to identify biomarkers for improved patient selection. Pre-clinical and clinical studies are underway to evaluate combinatorial treatments to improve the therapeutic outcome paired with correlative studies to identify the factors associated with response and resistance. One of the emerging strategies is to combine epigenetic modifiers with immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) based on the evidence that targeting epigenetic elements can enhance anti-tumor immunity by reshaping the tumor microenvironment (TME). We will briefly review pleotropic biological functions of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), the enzymatic subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), clinical developments of oral EZH2 inhibitors, and potentially promising approaches to combine EZH2 inhibitors and PD-1 blockade for patients with advanced solid tumors, focusing on lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniel Sanghoon Shin
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Division of Hematology/Oncology, CA, USA; Member of Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, CA, USA; Member of Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, CA, USA.
| | - Kevin Park
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA
| | - Edward Garon
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Member of Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, CA, USA
| | - Steven Dubinett
- Department of Medicine, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Departments of Pathology, Laboratory Medicine, University of California Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, USA; Department of Molecular and Medical Pharmacology University of California Los Angeles, CA, USA; VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Division of Hematology/Oncology, CA, USA; Member of Molecular Biology Institute, UCLA, CA, USA; Member of Jonsson Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCLA, CA, USA
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16
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EZH2 endorses cell plasticity to non-small cell lung cancer cells facilitating mesenchymal to epithelial transition and tumour colonization. Oncogene 2022; 41:3611-3624. [PMID: 35680984 DOI: 10.1038/s41388-022-02375-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2021] [Revised: 05/25/2022] [Accepted: 05/31/2022] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Reversible transition between the epithelial and mesenchymal states are key aspects of carcinoma cell dissemination and the metastatic disease, and thus, characterizing the molecular basis of the epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) is crucial to find druggable targets and more effective therapeutic approaches in cancer. Emerging studies suggest that epigenetic regulators might endorse cancer cells with the cell plasticity required to conduct dynamic changes in cell state during EMT. However, epigenetic mechanisms involved remain mostly unknown. Polycomb Repressive Complexes (PRCs) proteins are well-established epigenetic regulators of development and stem cell differentiation, but their role in different cancer systems is inconsistent and sometimes paradoxical. In this study, we have analysed the role of the PRC2 protein EZH2 in lung carcinoma cells. We found that besides its described role in CDKN2A-dependent cell proliferation, EZH2 upholds the epithelial state of cancer cells by repressing the transcription of hundreds of mesenchymal genes. Chemical inhibition or genetic removal of EZH2 promotes the residence of cancer cells in the mesenchymal state during reversible epithelial-mesenchymal transition. In fitting, analysis of human patient samples and tumour xenograft models indicate that EZH2 is required to efficiently repress mesenchymal genes and facilitate tumour colonization in vivo. Overall, this study discloses a novel role of PRC2 as a master regulator of EMT in carcinoma cells. This finding has important implications for the design of therapies based on EZH2 inhibitors in human cancer patients.
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17
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Genome-wide CRISPR screen identifies PRC2 and KMT2D-COMPASS as regulators of distinct EMT trajectories that contribute differentially to metastasis. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:554-564. [PMID: 35411083 PMCID: PMC9037576 DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00877-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 22.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2021] [Revised: 02/07/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) programs operate within carcinoma
cells in which they generate phenotypes associated with malignant progression.
In their various manifestations, EMT programs enable epithelial cells to enter
into a series of intermediate states arrayed along the E-M phenotypic spectrum.
At present, we lack a coherent understanding of how carcinoma cells control
their entrance into and continued residence in these various states, and which
of these states favor the process of metastasis. Here, we characterize a layer
of EMT-regulating machinery that governs E-M plasticity (EMP). This machinery
consists of two chromatin-modifying complexes, PRC2 and KMT2D-COMPASS, that
operate as critical regulators to maintain a stable epithelial state.
Interestingly, loss of these two complexes unlocks two distinct EMT
trajectories. Dysfunction of PRC2, but not KMT2D-COMPASS, yields a
quasi-mesenchymal state that is associated with highly metastatic capabilities
and poor survival of breast cancer patients, suggesting great caution should be
applied when PRC2 inhibitors are evaluated clinically in certain patient
cohorts. These observations identify epigenetic factors that regulate E-M
plasticity, determine specific intermediate EMT states and, as a direct
consequence, govern the metastatic ability of carcinoma cells.
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18
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Koutelou E, Dent SYR. Navigating EMT with COMPASS and PRC2. Nat Cell Biol 2022; 24:412-414. [DOI: 10.1038/s41556-022-00876-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
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19
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RAS activation induces synthetic lethality of MEK inhibition with mitochondrial oxidative metabolism in acute myeloid leukemia. Leukemia 2022; 36:1237-1252. [PMID: 35354920 PMCID: PMC9061298 DOI: 10.1038/s41375-022-01541-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2021] [Revised: 02/22/2022] [Accepted: 03/07/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Despite recent advances in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) molecular characterization and targeted therapies, a majority of AML cases still lack therapeutically actionable targets. In 127 AML cases with unmet therapeutic needs, as defined by the exclusion of ELN favorable cases and of FLT3-ITD mutations, we identified 51 (40%) cases with alterations in RAS pathway genes (RAS+, mostly NF1, NRAS, KRAS, and PTPN11 genes). In 79 homogeneously treated AML patients from this cohort, RAS+ status were associated with higher white blood cell count, higher LDH, and reduced survival. In AML models of oncogenic addiction to RAS-MEK signaling, the MEK inhibitor trametinib demonstrated antileukemic activity in vitro and in vivo. However, the efficacy of trametinib was heterogeneous in ex vivo cultures of primary RAS+ AML patient specimens. From repurposing drug screens in RAS-activated AML cells, we identified pyrvinium pamoate, an anti-helminthic agent efficiently inhibiting the growth of RAS+ primary AML cells ex vivo, preferentially in trametinib-resistant PTPN11- or KRAS-mutated samples. Metabolic and genetic complementarity between trametinib and pyrvinium pamoate translated into anti-AML synergy in vitro. Moreover, this combination inhibited the propagation of RA+ AML cells in vivo in mice, indicating a potential for future clinical development of this strategy in AML.
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20
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Chen F, Liu J, Song X, DuCote TJ, Byrd AL, Wang C, Brainson CF. EZH2 inhibition confers PIK3CA-driven lung tumors enhanced sensitivity to PI3K inhibition. Cancer Lett 2022; 524:151-160. [PMID: 34655667 PMCID: PMC8743034 DOI: 10.1016/j.canlet.2021.10.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/08/2021] [Revised: 09/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/06/2021] [Indexed: 01/03/2023]
Abstract
Members of the PI3K signaling pathway, especially PIK3CA, the gene encoding the catalytic subunit of the PI3K complex, are highly mutated and amplified in various cancer types, including non-small cell lung cancer. Although PI3K inhibitors have been used in clinics for follicular lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukemia, no agents targeting PI3K aberrations in lung cancer have been approved by the FDA so far. In this study, we observed that PIK3CA-E545K, the most common mutation in lung cancer, harbored a modest induction of stem-like properties in lung epithelial cells, and drove development of adenocarcinoma autochthonously when paired with p53 loss in a murine mouse model. We also found that PIK3CA-mutant of amplified lung cancer cells were sensitive to EZH2 inhibition. EZH2 inhibition synergized with PI3K inhibition in human cancer cells in vitro and worked together efficiently in vivo. Mechanistically, EZH2 inhibition cooperated with PI3K inhibition to produce a more potent suppression of phospho-AKT downstream of PI3K. This study suggests a promising combination therapy to combat lung cancers with PIK3CA mutation or amplification. Both copanlisib, the PI3K inhibitor, and tazemetostat, the EZH2 inhibitor, are FDA-approved, which should enhance the clinical translation of this work.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fan Chen
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Jinpeng Liu
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Xiulong Song
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Tanner J. DuCote
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Aria L. Byrd
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Chi Wang
- Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA,Department of Internal Medicine, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA
| | - Christine F. Brainson
- Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA,Markey Cancer Center, University of Kentucky, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA,Corresponding author. Department of Toxicology and Cancer Biology Markey Cancer Center University of Kentucky, 1095 VA Drive, HSRB 456, Lexington, KY, 40536, USA.
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21
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Mieczkowska IK, Pantelaiou-Prokaki G, Prokakis E, Schmidt GE, Müller-Kirschbaum LC, Werner M, Sen M, Velychko T, Jannasch K, Dullin C, Napp J, Pantel K, Wikman H, Wiese M, Kramm CM, Alves F, Wegwitz F. Decreased PRC2 activity supports the survival of basal-like breast cancer cells to cytotoxic treatments. Cell Death Dis 2021; 12:1118. [PMID: 34845197 PMCID: PMC8630036 DOI: 10.1038/s41419-021-04407-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/15/2021] [Revised: 11/01/2021] [Accepted: 11/09/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer occurring in women but also rarely develops in men. Recent advances in early diagnosis and development of targeted therapies have greatly improved the survival rate of BC patients. However, the basal-like BC subtype (BLBC), largely overlapping with the triple-negative BC subtype (TNBC), lacks such drug targets and conventional cytotoxic chemotherapies often remain the only treatment option. Thus, the development of resistance to cytotoxic therapies has fatal consequences. To assess the involvement of epigenetic mechanisms and their therapeutic potential increasing cytotoxic drug efficiency, we combined high-throughput RNA- and ChIP-sequencing analyses in BLBC cells. Tumor cells surviving chemotherapy upregulated transcriptional programs of epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EMT) and stemness. To our surprise, the same cells showed a pronounced reduction of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) activity via downregulation of its subunits Ezh2, Suz12, Rbbp7 and Mtf2. Mechanistically, loss of PRC2 activity leads to the de-repression of a set of genes through an epigenetic switch from repressive H3K27me3 to activating H3K27ac mark at regulatory regions. We identified Nfatc1 as an upregulated gene upon loss of PRC2 activity and directly implicated in the transcriptional changes happening upon survival to chemotherapy. Blocking NFATc1 activation reduced epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, aggressiveness, and therapy resistance of BLBC cells. Our data demonstrate a previously unknown function of PRC2 maintaining low Nfatc1 expression levels and thereby repressing aggressiveness and therapy resistance in BLBC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iga K. Mieczkowska
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Garyfallia Pantelaiou-Prokaki
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Evangelos Prokakis
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Geske E. Schmidt
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Gastroenterology, GI-Oncology and Endocrinology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Lukas C. Müller-Kirschbaum
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Marcel Werner
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Madhobi Sen
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Taras Velychko
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Katharina Jannasch
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christian Dullin
- grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Joanna Napp
- grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Klaus Pantel
- grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Harriet Wikman
- grid.13648.380000 0001 2180 3484Institute of Tumor Biology, University Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Maria Wiese
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Christof M. Kramm
- grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Division of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Frauke Alves
- grid.419522.90000 0001 0668 6902Translational Molecular Imaging, Max Planck Institute for Experimental Medicine, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Clinic for Haematology and Medical Oncology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany ,grid.411984.10000 0001 0482 5331Institute for Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany
| | - Florian Wegwitz
- Department of General, Visceral and Pediatric Surgery, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany. .,Department of Gynecology and Obstetrics, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany.
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22
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Kitchen GB, Hopwood T, Gali Ramamoorthy T, Downton P, Begley N, Hussell T, Dockrell DH, Gibbs JE, Ray DW, Loudon ASI. The histone methyltransferase Ezh2 restrains macrophage inflammatory responses. FASEB J 2021; 35:e21843. [PMID: 34464475 PMCID: PMC8573545 DOI: 10.1096/fj.202100044rrr] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2021] [Revised: 07/06/2021] [Accepted: 07/23/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Robust inflammatory responses are critical to survival following respiratory infection, with current attention focused on the clinical consequences of the Coronavirus pandemic. Epigenetic factors are increasingly recognized as important determinants of immune responses, and EZH2 is a prominent target due to the availability of highly specific and efficacious antagonists. However, very little is known about the role of EZH2 in the myeloid lineage. Here, we show EZH2 acts in macrophages to limit inflammatory responses to activation, and in neutrophils for chemotaxis. Selective genetic deletion in macrophages results in a remarkable gain in protection from infection with the prevalent lung pathogen, pneumococcus. In contrast, neutrophils lacking EZH2 showed impaired mobility in response to chemotactic signals, and resulted in increased susceptibility to pneumococcus. In summary, EZH2 shows complex, and divergent roles in different myeloid lineages, likely contributing to the earlier conflicting reports. Compounds targeting EZH2 are likely to impair mucosal immunity; however, they may prove useful for conditions driven by pulmonary neutrophil influx, such as adult respiratory distress syndrome.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gareth B. Kitchen
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences CentreManchesterUK
- Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust, Manchester Academic Health Science CentreManchesterUK
| | - Thomas Hopwood
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences CentreManchesterUK
| | - Thanuja Gali Ramamoorthy
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences CentreManchesterUK
| | - Polly Downton
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences CentreManchesterUK
| | - Nicola Begley
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences CentreManchesterUK
| | - Tracy Hussell
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences CentreManchesterUK
| | - David H. Dockrell
- Department of Infection Medicine and MRC Centre for Inflammation ResearchUniversity of EdinburghEdinburghUK
| | - Julie E. Gibbs
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences CentreManchesterUK
| | - David W. Ray
- NIHR Oxford Biomedical Research Centre, John Radcliffe HospitalOxfordUK
- Oxford Centre for Diabetes, Endocrinology and MetabolismUniversity of OxfordOxfordUK
| | - Andrew S. I. Loudon
- Faculty of Biology, Medicine and HealthUniversity of Manchester, Manchester Academic Health Sciences CentreManchesterUK
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23
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Ho JSY, Di Tullio F, Schwarz M, Low D, Incarnato D, Gay F, Tabaglio T, Zhang J, Wollmann H, Chen L, An O, Chan THM, Hall Hickman A, Zheng S, Roudko V, Chen S, Karz A, Ahmed M, He HH, Greenbaum BD, Oliviero S, Serresi M, Gargiulo G, Mann KM, Hernando E, Mulholland D, Marazzi I, Wee DKB, Guccione E. HNRNPM controls circRNA biogenesis and splicing fidelity to sustain cancer cell fitness. eLife 2021; 10:e59654. [PMID: 34075878 PMCID: PMC8346284 DOI: 10.7554/elife.59654] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 05/30/2021] [Indexed: 12/25/2022] Open
Abstract
High spliceosome activity is a dependency for cancer cells, making them more vulnerable to perturbation of the splicing machinery compared to normal cells. To identify splicing factors important for prostate cancer (PCa) fitness, we performed pooled shRNA screens in vitro and in vivo. Our screens identified heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoprotein M (HNRNPM) as a regulator of PCa cell growth. RNA- and eCLIP-sequencing identified HNRNPM binding to transcripts of key homeostatic genes. HNRNPM binding to its targets prevents aberrant exon inclusion and backsplicing events. In both linear and circular mis-spliced transcripts, HNRNPM preferentially binds to GU-rich elements in long flanking proximal introns. Mimicry of HNRNPM-dependent linear-splicing events using splice-switching-antisense-oligonucleotides was sufficient to inhibit PCa cell growth. This suggests that PCa dependence on HNRNPM is likely a result of mis-splicing of key homeostatic coding and non-coding genes. Our results have further been confirmed in other solid tumors. Taken together, our data reveal a role for HNRNPM in supporting cancer cell fitness. Inhibition of HNRNPM activity is therefore a potential therapeutic strategy in suppressing growth of PCa and other solid tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica SY Ho
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)SingaporeSingapore
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Federico Di Tullio
- Center for Therapeutics Discovery, department of Oncological Sciences and Pharmacological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Megan Schwarz
- Center for Therapeutics Discovery, department of Oncological Sciences and Pharmacological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Diana Low
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)SingaporeSingapore
| | - Danny Incarnato
- IIGM (Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine)TorinoItaly
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi Università di TorinoTorinoItaly
- Department of Molecular Genetics, Groningen Biomolecular Sciences and Biotechnology Institute (GBB), University of GroningenGroningenNetherlands
| | - Florence Gay
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)SingaporeSingapore
| | - Tommaso Tabaglio
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)SingaporeSingapore
| | - JingXian Zhang
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)SingaporeSingapore
| | - Heike Wollmann
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)SingaporeSingapore
| | - Leilei Chen
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
- Department of Anatomy, Yong Loo Lin School of Medicine, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Omer An
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Tim Hon Man Chan
- Cancer Science Institute of Singapore, National University of SingaporeSingaporeSingapore
| | - Alexander Hall Hickman
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)SingaporeSingapore
| | - Simin Zheng
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- NTU Institute of Structural Biology, Nanyang Technological UniversitySingaporeSingapore
| | - Vladimir Roudko
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Sujun Chen
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health NetworkTorontoCanada
- Ontario Institute for Cancer ResearchTorontoCanada
| | - Alcida Karz
- Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, New York University Langone Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - Musaddeque Ahmed
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health NetworkTorontoCanada
| | - Housheng Hansen He
- Department of Medical Biophysics, University of TorontoTorontoCanada
- Princess Margaret Cancer Center, University Health NetworkTorontoCanada
| | - Benjamin D Greenbaum
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Medicine, Hematology and Medical Oncology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Pathology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Salvatore Oliviero
- IIGM (Italian Institute for Genomic Medicine)TorinoItaly
- Dipartimento di Scienze della Vita e Biologia dei Sistemi Università di TorinoTorinoItaly
| | - Michela Serresi
- Max Delbruck Center for Molecular MedicineBerlin-BuchGermany
| | | | - Karen M Mann
- Department of Molecular Oncology, Moffitt Cancer CenterTampaUnited States
| | - Eva Hernando
- Interdisciplinary Melanoma Cooperative Group, New York University Langone Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Pathology, New York University Langone Medical CenterNew YorkUnited States
| | - David Mulholland
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Ivan Marazzi
- Department of Microbiology, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
| | - Dave Keng Boon Wee
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)SingaporeSingapore
| | - Ernesto Guccione
- Institute of Molecular and Cell Biology (IMCB), Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR)SingaporeSingapore
- Center for Therapeutics Discovery, department of Oncological Sciences and Pharmacological Sciences, Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Tisch Cancer Institute, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
- Department of Oncological Sciences, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount SinaiNew YorkUnited States
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24
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Abstract
The epigenetic landscape, which in part includes DNA methylation, chromatin organization, histone modifications, and noncoding RNA regulation, greatly contributes to the heterogeneity that makes developing effective therapies for lung cancer challenging. This review will provide an overview of the epigenetic alterations that have been implicated in all aspects of cancer pathogenesis and progression as well as summarize clinical applications for targeting epigenetics in the treatment of lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yvonne L Chao
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
| | - Chad V Pecot
- Department of Medicine, Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27514, USA
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25
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Wang HX, Qin XH, Shen J, Liu QH, Shi YB, Xue L. Proteomic Analysis Reveals That Placenta-Specific Protein 9 Inhibits Proliferation and Stimulates Motility of Human Bronchial Epithelial Cells. Front Oncol 2021; 11:628480. [PMID: 34123785 PMCID: PMC8194706 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2021.628480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/13/2020] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Placenta-specific protein 9 (PLAC9) is a putative secretory protein that was initially identified in the placenta and is involved in cell proliferation and motility. Bioinformatics analyses revealed that PLAC9 is repressed in lung cancers (LCs), especially lung adenocarcinomas, compared to that in the paired adjacent normal tissues, indicating that PLAC9 might be involved in the pathogenesis of pulmonary diseases. To investigate the potential role of PLAC9 in the abnormal reprogramming of airway epithelial cells (AECs), a key cause of pulmonary diseases, we constructed a stable PLAC9-overexpressing human bronchial epithelial cell line (16HBE-GFP-Plac9). We utilized the proteomic approach isobaric tag for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) to analyze the effect of PLAC9 on cellular protein composition. Gene ontology (GO) and pathway analyses revealed that GO terms and pathways associated with cell proliferation, cell cycle progression, and cell motility and migration were significantly enriched among the proteins regulated by PLAC9. Our in vitro results showed that PLAC9 overexpression reduced cell proliferation, altered cell cycle progression, and increased cell motility, including migration and invasion. Our findings suggest that PLAC9 inhibits cell proliferation through S phase arrest by altering the expression levels of cyclin/cyclin-dependent kinases (CDKs) and promotes cell motility, likely via the concerted actions of cyclins, E-cadherin, and vimentin. Since these mechanisms may underlie PLAC9-mediated abnormal human bronchial pathogenesis, our study provides a basis for the development of molecular targeted treatments for LCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hai-Xia Wang
- Institute for Medical Biology and Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Protection and Application of Special Plants in Wuling Area of China, College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Xu-Hui Qin
- Institute for Medical Biology and Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Protection and Application of Special Plants in Wuling Area of China, College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Jinhua Shen
- Institute for Medical Biology and Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Protection and Application of Special Plants in Wuling Area of China, College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Qing-Hua Liu
- Institute for Medical Biology and Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Protection and Application of Special Plants in Wuling Area of China, College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China
| | - Yun-Bo Shi
- Section on Molecular Morphogenesis, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
| | - Lu Xue
- Institute for Medical Biology and Hubei Provincial Key Laboratory for Protection and Application of Special Plants in Wuling Area of China, College of Life Sciences, South-Central University for Nationalities, Wuhan, China.,Section on Molecular Morphogenesis, Eunice Kennedy Shriver National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (NICHD), National Institutes of Health (NIH), Bethesda, MD, United States
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26
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Polycomb-group proteins in the initiation and progression of cancer. J Genet Genomics 2021; 48:433-443. [PMID: 34266781 DOI: 10.1016/j.jgg.2021.03.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The Polycomb group (PcG) proteins are a family of chromatin regulators and critical for the maintenance of cellular identity. The PcG machinery can be categorized into at least three multi-protein complexes, namely Polycomb Repressive Complex 1 (PRC1), PRC2, and Polycomb Repressive DeUBiquitinase (PR-DUB). Their deregulation has been associated with human cancer initiation and progression. Here we review the updated understanding for PcG proteins in transcription regulation and DNA damage repair and highlight increasing links to the hallmarks in cancer. Accordingly, we discuss some of the recent advances in drug development or strategies against cancers caused by the gain or loss of PcG functions.
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27
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Tong X, Chen Y, Zhu X, Ye Y, Xue Y, Wang R, Gao Y, Zhang W, Gao W, Xiao L, Chen H, Zhang P, Ji H. Nanog maintains stemness of Lkb1-deficient lung adenocarcinoma and prevents gastric differentiation. EMBO Mol Med 2021; 13:e12627. [PMID: 33439550 PMCID: PMC7933951 DOI: 10.15252/emmm.202012627] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2020] [Revised: 11/25/2020] [Accepted: 12/04/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Growing evidence supports that LKB1-deficient KRAS-driven lung tumors represent a unique therapeutic challenge, displaying strong cancer plasticity that promotes lineage conversion and drug resistance. Here we find that murine lung tumors from the KrasLSL-G12D/+ ; Lkb1flox/flox (KL) model show strong plasticity, which associates with up-regulation of stem cell pluripotency genes such as Nanog. Deletion of Nanog in KL model initiates a gastric differentiation program and promotes mucinous lung tumor growth. We find that NANOG is not expressed at a meaningful level in human lung adenocarcinoma (ADC), as well as in human lung invasive mucinous adenocarcinoma (IMA). Gastric differentiation involves activation of Notch signaling, and perturbation of Notch pathway by the γ-secretase inhibitor LY-411575 remarkably impairs mucinous tumor formation. In contrast to non-mucinous tumors, mucinous tumors are resistant to phenformin treatment. Such therapeutic resistance could be overcome through combined treatments with LY-411575 and phenformin. Overall, we uncover a previously unappreciated plasticity of LKB1-deficient tumors and identify the Nanog-Notch axis in regulating gastric differentiation, which holds important therapeutic implication for the treatment of mucinous lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyuan Tong
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Yueqing Chen
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Xinsheng Zhu
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryShanghai Pulmonary HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Yi Ye
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghai Tech UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yun Xue
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
| | - Rui Wang
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghaiChina
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Yijun Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Wenjing Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
| | - Weiqiang Gao
- State Key Laboratory of Oncogenes and Related GenesShanghai Cancer InstituteRenji HospitalShanghai Jiao Tong University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- Med‐X Research InstituteShanghai Jiao Tong UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Lei Xiao
- College of Animal Science and Zhejiang University School of MedicineZhejiang UniversityHangzhouChina
| | - Haiquan Chen
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryFudan University Shanghai Cancer CenterShanghaiChina
- Department of OncologyShanghai Medical CollegeFudan UniversityShanghaiChina
| | - Peng Zhang
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryShanghai Pulmonary HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
| | - Hongbin Ji
- State Key Laboratory of Cell BiologyShanghai Institute of Biochemistry and Cell BiologyCenter for Excellence in Molecular Cell ScienceChinese Academy of SciencesShanghaiChina
- University of Chinese Academy of SciencesBeijingChina
- Department of Thoracic SurgeryShanghai Pulmonary HospitalTongji University School of MedicineShanghaiChina
- School of Life Science and TechnologyShanghai Tech UniversityShanghaiChina
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28
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Schmitt MJ, Company C, Dramaretska Y, Barozzi I, Göhrig A, Kertalli S, Großmann M, Naumann H, Sanchez-Bailon MP, Hulsman D, Glass R, Squatrito M, Serresi M, Gargiulo G. Phenotypic Mapping of Pathologic Cross-Talk between Glioblastoma and Innate Immune Cells by Synthetic Genetic Tracing. Cancer Discov 2021; 11:754-777. [PMID: 33361384 PMCID: PMC7611210 DOI: 10.1158/2159-8290.cd-20-0219] [Citation(s) in RCA: 45] [Impact Index Per Article: 15.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 12/11/2020] [Indexed: 12/27/2022]
Abstract
Glioblastoma is a lethal brain tumor that exhibits heterogeneity and resistance to therapy. Our understanding of tumor homeostasis is limited by a lack of genetic tools to selectively identify tumor states and fate transitions. Here, we use glioblastoma subtype signatures to construct synthetic genetic tracing cassettes and investigate tumor heterogeneity at cellular and molecular levels, in vitro and in vivo. Through synthetic locus control regions, we demonstrate that proneural glioblastoma is a hardwired identity, whereas mesenchymal glioblastoma is an adaptive and metastable cell state driven by proinflammatory and differentiation cues and DNA damage, but not hypoxia. Importantly, we discovered that innate immune cells divert glioblastoma cells to a proneural-to-mesenchymal transition that confers therapeutic resistance. Our synthetic genetic tracing methodology is simple, scalable, and widely applicable to study homeostasis in development and diseases. In glioblastoma, the method causally links distinct (micro)environmental, genetic, and pharmacologic perturbations and mesenchymal commitment. SIGNIFICANCE: Glioblastoma is heterogeneous and incurable. Here, we designed synthetic reporters to reflect the transcriptional output of tumor cell states and signaling pathways' activity. This method is generally applicable to study homeostasis in normal tissues and diseases. In glioblastoma, synthetic genetic tracing causally connects cellular and molecular heterogeneity to therapeutic responses.This article is highlighted in the In This Issue feature, p. 521.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carlos Company
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Iros Barozzi
- Department of Surgery and Cancer, Imperial College London, London, United Kingdom
| | - Andreas Göhrig
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Sonia Kertalli
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Melanie Großmann
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Heike Naumann
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Danielle Hulsman
- Division of Molecular Genetics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Rainer Glass
- Neurosurgical Research, Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital, Munich, Germany
| | - Massimo Squatrito
- Seve Ballesteros Foundation Brain Tumor Group, Molecular Oncology Programme, Spanish National Cancer Research Center, Madrid, Spain
| | - Michela Serresi
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany
| | - Gaetano Gargiulo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Berlin, Germany.
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29
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Pyziak K, Sroka-Porada A, Rzymski T, Dulak J, Łoboda A. Potential of enhancer of zeste homolog 2 inhibitors for the treatment of SWI/SNF mutant cancers and tumor microenvironment modulation. Drug Dev Res 2021; 82:730-753. [PMID: 33565092 DOI: 10.1002/ddr.21796] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/10/2020] [Revised: 01/13/2021] [Accepted: 01/18/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Enhancer of zeste homolog 2 (EZH2), a catalytic component of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2), is commonly overexpressed or mutated in many cancer types, both of hematological and solid nature. Till now, plenty of EZH2 small molecule inhibitors have been developed and some of them have already been tested in clinical trials. Most of these inhibitors, however, are effective only in limited cases in the context of EZH2 gain-of-function mutated tumors such as lymphomas. Other cancer types with aberrant EZH2 expression and function require alternative approaches for successful treatment. One possibility is to exploit synthetic lethal strategy, which is based on the phenomenon that concurrent loss of two genes is detrimental but the deletion of either of them leaves cell viable. In the context of EZH2/PRC2, the most promising synthetic lethal target seems to be SWItch/Sucrose Non-Fermentable chromatin remodeling complex (SWI/SNF), which is known to counteract PRC2 functions. SWI/SNF is heavily involved in carcinogenesis and its subunits have been found mutated in approximately 20% of tumors of different kinds. In the current review, we summarize the existing knowledge of synthetic lethal relationships between EZH2/PRC2 and components of the SWI/SNF complex and discuss in detail the potential application of existing EZH2 inhibitors in cancer patients harboring mutations in SWI/SNF proteins. We also highlight recent discoveries of EZH2 involvement in tumor microenvironment regulation and consequences for future therapies. Although clinical studies are limited, the fundamental research might help to understand which patients are most likely to benefit from therapies using EZH2 inhibitors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karolina Pyziak
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland.,Biology R&D, Ryvu Therapeutics S.A., Kraków, Poland
| | | | | | - Józef Dulak
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
| | - Agnieszka Łoboda
- Department of Medical Biotechnology, Faculty of Biochemistry, Biophysics and Biotechnology, Jagiellonian University, Kraków, Poland
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30
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Serresi M, Kertalli S, Li L, Schmitt MJ, Dramaretska Y, Wierikx J, Hulsman D, Gargiulo G. Functional antagonism of chromatin modulators regulates epithelial-mesenchymal transition. SCIENCE ADVANCES 2021; 7:7/9/eabd7974. [PMID: 33627422 PMCID: PMC7904264 DOI: 10.1126/sciadv.abd7974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2020] [Accepted: 01/06/2021] [Indexed: 05/27/2023]
Abstract
Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a developmental process hijacked by cancer cells to modulate proliferation, migration, and stress response. Whereas kinase signaling is believed to be an EMT driver, the molecular mechanisms underlying epithelial-mesenchymal interconversion are incompletely understood. Here, we show that the impact of chromatin regulators on EMT interconversion is broader than that of kinases. By combining pharmacological modulation of EMT, synthetic genetic tracing, and CRISPR interference screens, we uncovered a minority of kinases and several chromatin remodelers, writers, and readers governing homeostatic EMT in lung cancer cells. Loss of ARID1A, DOT1L, BRD2, and ZMYND8 had nondeterministic and sometimes opposite consequences on epithelial-mesenchymal interconversion. Together with RNAPII and AP-1, these antagonistic gatekeepers control chromatin of active enhancers, including pan-cancer-EMT signature genes enabling supraclassification of anatomically diverse tumors. Thus, our data uncover general principles underlying transcriptional control of cancer cell plasticity and offer a platform to systematically explore chromatin regulators in tumor-state-specific therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Serresi
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Sonia Kertalli
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Lifei Li
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias Jürgen Schmitt
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Yuliia Dramaretska
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Jikke Wierikx
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Danielle Hulsman
- Division of Molecular Genetics, The Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, Netherlands
| | - Gaetano Gargiulo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany.
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31
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van den Berk P, Lancini C, Company C, Serresi M, Sanchez-Bailon MP, Hulsman D, Pritchard C, Song JY, Schmitt MJ, Tanger E, Popp O, Mertins P, Huijbers IJ, Jacobs H, van Lohuizen M, Gargiulo G, Citterio E. USP15 Deubiquitinase Safeguards Hematopoiesis and Genome Integrity in Hematopoietic Stem Cells and Leukemia Cells. Cell Rep 2020; 33:108533. [PMID: 33378683 PMCID: PMC7788286 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.108533] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2020] [Revised: 07/28/2020] [Accepted: 11/25/2020] [Indexed: 12/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Altering ubiquitination by disruption of deubiquitinating enzymes (DUBs) affects hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance. However, comprehensive knowledge of DUB function during hematopoiesis in vivo is lacking. Here, we systematically inactivate DUBs in mouse hematopoietic progenitors using in vivo small hairpin RNA (shRNA) screens. We find that multiple DUBs may be individually required for hematopoiesis and identify ubiquitin-specific protease 15 (USP15) as essential for HSC maintenance in vitro and in transplantations and Usp15 knockout (KO) mice in vivo. USP15 is highly expressed in human hematopoietic tissues and leukemias. USP15 depletion in murine progenitors and leukemia cells impairs in vitro expansion and increases genotoxic stress. In leukemia cells, USP15 interacts with and stabilizes FUS (fused in sarcoma), a known DNA repair factor, directly linking USP15 to the DNA damage response (DDR). Our study underscores the importance of DUBs in preserving normal hematopoiesis and uncovers USP15 as a critical DUB in safeguarding genome integrity in HSCs and leukemia cells. In vivo shRNAs screens for deubiquitinases identify regulators of murine hematopoiesis Usp15 deletion compromises HSC maintenance and reconstitution potential in vivo USP15 loss affects genome integrity and growth of mHSPCs and human leukemia cells In human leukemia cells, USP15 stabilizes its interactor, FUS, a DNA repair factor
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul van den Berk
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Cesare Lancini
- Division of Molecular Genetics, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Carlos Company
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Michela Serresi
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | | | - Danielle Hulsman
- Division of Molecular Genetics, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands; ONCODE Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Colin Pritchard
- Transgenic Core Facility, Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Aging (MCCA), the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Ji-Ying Song
- Division of Experimental Animal Pathology, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Matthias Jürgen Schmitt
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ellen Tanger
- Division of Molecular Genetics, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Oliver Popp
- Proteomics Platform, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Berlin Institute of Health, Robert Rössle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Philipp Mertins
- Proteomics Platform, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association and Berlin Institute of Health, Robert Rössle Strasse 10, 13125 Berlin, Germany
| | - Ivo J Huijbers
- Transgenic Core Facility, Mouse Clinic for Cancer and Aging (MCCA), the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Heinz Jacobs
- Division of Tumor Biology and Immunology, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands
| | - Maarten van Lohuizen
- Division of Molecular Genetics, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands; ONCODE Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands
| | - Gaetano Gargiulo
- Max-Delbrück-Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC), Robert-Rössle-Str. 10, 13092 Berlin, Germany.
| | - Elisabetta Citterio
- Division of Molecular Genetics, the Netherlands Cancer Institute, Plesmanlaan 121, Amsterdam 1066 CX, the Netherlands; ONCODE Institute, Utrecht, the Netherlands.
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32
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Das P, Taube JH. Regulating Methylation at H3K27: A Trick or Treat for Cancer Cell Plasticity. Cancers (Basel) 2020; 12:E2792. [PMID: 33003334 PMCID: PMC7600873 DOI: 10.3390/cancers12102792] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2020] [Revised: 09/21/2020] [Accepted: 09/23/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Properly timed addition and removal of histone 3 lysine 27 tri-methylation (H3K27me3) is critical for enabling proper differentiation throughout all stages of development and, likewise, can guide carcinoma cells into altered differentiation states which correspond to poor prognoses and treatment evasion. In early embryonic stages, H3K27me3 is invoked to silence genes and restrict cell fate. Not surprisingly, mutation or altered functionality in the enzymes that regulate this pathway results in aberrant methylation or demethylation that can lead to malignancy. Likewise, changes in expression or activity of these enzymes impact cellular plasticity, metastasis, and treatment evasion. This review focuses on current knowledge regarding methylation and de-methylation of H3K27 in cancer initiation and cancer cell plasticity.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Joseph H. Taube
- Department of Biology, Baylor University, Waco, TX 76706, USA;
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33
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LaFave LM, Kartha VK, Ma S, Meli K, Del Priore I, Lareau C, Naranjo S, Westcott PMK, Duarte FM, Sankar V, Chiang Z, Brack A, Law T, Hauck H, Okimoto A, Regev A, Buenrostro JD, Jacks T. Epigenomic State Transitions Characterize Tumor Progression in Mouse Lung Adenocarcinoma. Cancer Cell 2020; 38:212-228.e13. [PMID: 32707078 PMCID: PMC7641015 DOI: 10.1016/j.ccell.2020.06.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 123] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2019] [Revised: 02/20/2020] [Accepted: 06/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Regulatory networks that maintain functional, differentiated cell states are often dysregulated in tumor development. Here, we use single-cell epigenomics to profile chromatin state transitions in a mouse model of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD). We identify an epigenomic continuum representing loss of cellular identity and progression toward a metastatic state. We define co-accessible regulatory programs and infer key activating and repressive chromatin regulators of these cell states. Among these co-accessibility programs, we identify a pre-metastatic transition, characterized by activation of RUNX transcription factors, which mediates extracellular matrix remodeling to promote metastasis and is predictive of survival across human LUAD patients. Together, these results demonstrate the power of single-cell epigenomics to identify regulatory programs to uncover mechanisms and key biomarkers of tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lindsay M LaFave
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Vinay K Kartha
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Sai Ma
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Kevin Meli
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Isabella Del Priore
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Caleb Lareau
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Santiago Naranjo
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Peter M K Westcott
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Fabiana M Duarte
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Venkat Sankar
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Zachary Chiang
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Alison Brack
- Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA
| | - Travis Law
- Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Haley Hauck
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Annalisa Okimoto
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Aviv Regev
- Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Klarman Cell Observatory, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jason D Buenrostro
- Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Stem Cell and Regenerative Biology, Harvard University, Cambridge, MA 02138, USA.
| | - Tyler Jacks
- David H. Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Biology, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Howard Hughes Medical Institute, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA.
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34
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Shen H, Zheng E, Yang Z, Yang M, Xu X, Zhou Y, Ni J, Li R, Zhao G. YRDC is upregulated in non-small cell lung cancer and promotes cell proliferation by decreasing cell apoptosis. Oncol Lett 2020; 20:43-52. [PMID: 32565932 PMCID: PMC7285791 DOI: 10.3892/ol.2020.11560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) is the leading cause of cancer-associated mortality worldwide. yrdC N6-threonylcarbamoltransferase domain containing protein (YRDC) has been demonstrated to be involved in the formation of threonylcarbamoyladenosine in transfer ribonucleic acid. However, the molecular mechanisms underlying NSCLC progression remain largely unclear. The present study revealed that YRDC was upregulated in NSCLC samples compared with adjacent non-cancerous tissues by analyzing datasets obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus and The Cancer Genome Atlas. Higher expression of YRDC was associated with overall survival time and disease-free survival time in patients with NSCLC, particularly in lung adenocarcinoma. Furthermore, knockdown of YRDC in NSCLS cell lines significantly suppressed cell growth and cell colony formation in vitro. Additionally, the results demonstrated that silencing of YRDC induced apoptosis of A549 cells. Then, the protein-protein interaction networks associated with yrdC N6-threonylcarbamoltransferase domain containing protein (YRDC) in NSCLC were subsequently constructed to investigate the potential molecular mechanism underlying the role of YRDC in NSCLC. The results revealed that YRDC was involved in the regulation of spliceosomes, ribosomes, the p53 signaling pathway, proteasomes, the cell cycle and DNA replication. The present study demonstrated that YRDC may serve as a novel biomarker for the prognosis prediction and treatment of NSCLC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haibo Shen
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Enkuo Zheng
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Zhenhua Yang
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Minglei Yang
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Xiang Xu
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Yinjie Zhou
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Junjun Ni
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Rui Li
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
| | - Guofang Zhao
- Cardiothoracic Surgery Department, Hwa Mei Hospital, University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Ningbo, Zhejiang 315010, P.R. China
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35
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Richart L, Margueron R. Drugging histone methyltransferases in cancer. Curr Opin Chem Biol 2020; 56:51-62. [DOI: 10.1016/j.cbpa.2019.11.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2019] [Revised: 11/19/2019] [Accepted: 11/20/2019] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
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36
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Zhang X, Murray B, Mo G, Shern JF. The Role of Polycomb Repressive Complex in Malignant Peripheral Nerve Sheath Tumor. Genes (Basel) 2020; 11:genes11030287. [PMID: 32182803 PMCID: PMC7140867 DOI: 10.3390/genes11030287] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/21/2020] [Revised: 02/24/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors (MPNSTs) are aggressive soft tissue sarcomas that can arise most frequently in patients with neurofibromatosis type 1 (NF1). Despite an increasing understanding of the molecular mechanisms that underlie these tumors, there remains limited therapeutic options for this aggressive disease. One potentially critical finding is that a significant proportion of MPNSTs exhibit recurrent mutations in the genes EED or SUZ12, which are key components of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). Tumors harboring these genetic lesions lose the marker of transcriptional repression, trimethylation of lysine residue 27 on histone H3 (H3K27me3) and have dysregulated oncogenic signaling. Given the recurrence of PRC2 alterations, intensive research efforts are now underway with a focus on detailing the epigenetic and transcriptomic consequences of PRC2 loss as well as development of novel therapeutic strategies for targeting these lesions. In this review article, we will summarize the recent findings of PRC2 in MPNST tumorigenesis, including highlighting the functions of PRC2 in normal Schwann cell development and nerve injury repair, as well as provide commentary on the potential therapeutic vulnerabilities of a PRC2 deficient tumor cell.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiyuan Zhang
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Tumor Evolution and Genomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (X.Z.); (B.M.); (G.M.)
| | - Béga Murray
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Tumor Evolution and Genomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (X.Z.); (B.M.); (G.M.)
- The Patrick G Johnston Centre for Cancer Research, Queen’s University Belfast, 97 Lisburn road, Belfast BT9 7AE, UK
| | - George Mo
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Tumor Evolution and Genomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (X.Z.); (B.M.); (G.M.)
- SUNY Downstate Health Sciences University, Brooklyn, NY 11203, USA
| | - Jack F. Shern
- Pediatric Oncology Branch, Tumor Evolution and Genomics Section, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA; (X.Z.); (B.M.); (G.M.)
- Correspondence:
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37
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Suz12 inactivation cooperates with JAK3 mutant signaling in the development of T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia. Blood 2020; 134:1323-1336. [PMID: 31492675 DOI: 10.1182/blood.2019000015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2019] [Accepted: 08/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The polycomb repressive complex 2, with core components EZH2, SUZ12, and EED, is responsible for writing histone 3 lysine 27 trimethylation histone marks associated with gene repression. Analysis of sequence data from 419 T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL) cases demonstrated a significant association between SUZ12 and JAK3 mutations. Here we show that CRISPR/Cas9-mediated inactivation of Suz12 cooperates with mutant JAK3 to drive T-cell transformation and T-ALL development. Gene expression profiling integrated with ChIP-seq and ATAC-seq data established that inactivation of Suz12 led to increased PI3K/mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and WNT signaling. Moreover, a drug screen revealed that JAK3/Suz12 mutant leukemia cells were more sensitive to histone deacetylase (HDAC)6 inhibition than JAK3 mutant leukemia cells. Among the broad genome and gene expression changes observed on Suz12 inactivation, our integrated analysis identified the PI3K/mTOR, VEGF/VEGF receptor, and HDAC6/HSP90 pathways as specific vulnerabilities in T-ALL cells with combined JAK3 and SUZ12 mutations.
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38
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ONECUT2 overexpression promotes RAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma progression. Sci Rep 2019; 9:20021. [PMID: 31882655 PMCID: PMC6934839 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-019-56277-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/30/2019] [Accepted: 12/04/2019] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Aberrant differentiation, driven by activation of normally silent tissue-specific genes, results in a switch of cell identity and often leads to cancer progression. The underlying genetic and epigenetic events are largely unexplored. Here, we report ectopic activation of the hepatobiliary-, intestinal- and neural-specific gene one cut homeobox 2 (ONECUT2) in various subtypes of lung cancer. ONECUT2 expression was associated with poor prognosis of RAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma. ONECUT2 overexpression promoted the malignant growth and invasion of A549 lung cancer cells in vitro, as well as xenograft tumorigenesis and bone metastases of these cells in vivo. Integrative transcriptomics and epigenomics analyses suggested that ONECUT2 promoted the trans-differentiation of lung cancer cells by preferentially targeting and regulating the activity of bivalent chromatin domains through modulating Polycomb Repressive Complex 2 (PRC2) occupancy. Our findings demonstrate that ONECUT2 is a lineage-specific and context-dependent oncogene in lung adenocarcinoma and suggest that ONECUT2 is a potential therapeutic target for these tumors.
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39
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Kim JW, Abudayyeh OO, Yeerna H, Yeang CH, Stewart M, Jenkins RW, Kitajima S, Konieczkowski DJ, Medetgul-Ernar K, Cavazos T, Mah C, Ting S, Van Allen EM, Cohen O, Mcdermott J, Damato E, Aguirre AJ, Liang J, Liberzon A, Alexe G, Doench J, Ghandi M, Vazquez F, Weir BA, Tsherniak A, Subramanian A, Meneses-Cime K, Park J, Clemons P, Garraway LA, Thomas D, Boehm JS, Barbie DA, Hahn WC, Mesirov JP, Tamayo P. Decomposing Oncogenic Transcriptional Signatures to Generate Maps of Divergent Cellular States. Cell Syst 2019; 5:105-118.e9. [PMID: 28837809 DOI: 10.1016/j.cels.2017.08.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2016] [Revised: 05/01/2017] [Accepted: 08/03/2017] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
The systematic sequencing of the cancer genome has led to the identification of numerous genetic alterations in cancer. However, a deeper understanding of the functional consequences of these alterations is necessary to guide appropriate therapeutic strategies. Here, we describe Onco-GPS (OncoGenic Positioning System), a data-driven analysis framework to organize individual tumor samples with shared oncogenic alterations onto a reference map defined by their underlying cellular states. We applied the methodology to the RAS pathway and identified nine distinct components that reflect transcriptional activities downstream of RAS and defined several functional states associated with patterns of transcriptional component activation that associates with genomic hallmarks and response to genetic and pharmacological perturbations. These results show that the Onco-GPS is an effective approach to explore the complex landscape of oncogenic cellular states across cancers, and an analytic framework to summarize knowledge, establish relationships, and generate more effective disease models for research or as part of individualized precision medicine paradigms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jong Wook Kim
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Omar O Abudayyeh
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Huwate Yeerna
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
| | - Chen-Hsiang Yeang
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Institute of Statistical Science, Academia Sinica, Taipei, 11529, Taiwan
| | - Michelle Stewart
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Russell W Jenkins
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Shunsuke Kitajima
- Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - David J Konieczkowski
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Harvard Radiation Oncology Program, Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, MA 02114, USA
| | - Kate Medetgul-Ernar
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
| | - Taylor Cavazos
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
| | - Clarence Mah
- School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
| | - Stephanie Ting
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
| | - Eliezer M Van Allen
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Ofir Cohen
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - John Mcdermott
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Emily Damato
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Andrew J Aguirre
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jonathan Liang
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Arthur Liberzon
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Gabriella Alexe
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA; Graduate Program in Bioinformatics, Boston University, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - John Doench
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Mahmoud Ghandi
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Francisca Vazquez
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Barbara A Weir
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Aviad Tsherniak
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Aravind Subramanian
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Karina Meneses-Cime
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
| | - Jason Park
- Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
| | - Paul Clemons
- Center for the Science of Therapeutics, Broad Institute, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Levi A Garraway
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - David Thomas
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - Jesse S Boehm
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA
| | - David A Barbie
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - William C Hahn
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; Department of Medical Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, MA 02215, USA; Center for Cancer Genome Discovery, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA 02215, USA
| | - Jill P Mesirov
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA
| | - Pablo Tamayo
- Cancer Program, Eli and Edythe Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA 02142, USA; School of Medicine, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92093, USA; Moores Cancer Center, University of California San Diego, La Jolla, CA 92103, USA.
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40
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Jia Y, Vong JSL, Asafova A, Garvalov BK, Caputo L, Cordero J, Singh A, Boettger T, Günther S, Fink L, Acker T, Barreto G, Seeger W, Braun T, Savai R, Dobreva G. Lamin B1 loss promotes lung cancer development and metastasis by epigenetic derepression of RET. J Exp Med 2019; 216:1377-1395. [PMID: 31015297 PMCID: PMC6547854 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20181394] [Citation(s) in RCA: 44] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/22/2018] [Revised: 02/13/2019] [Accepted: 03/20/2019] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Although abnormal nuclear structure is an important criterion for cancer diagnostics, remarkably little is known about its relationship to tumor development. Here we report that loss of lamin B1, a determinant of nuclear architecture, plays a key role in lung cancer. We found that lamin B1 levels were reduced in lung cancer patients. Lamin B1 silencing in lung epithelial cells promoted epithelial-mesenchymal transition, cell migration, tumor growth, and metastasis. Mechanistically, we show that lamin B1 recruits the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) to alter the H3K27me3 landscape and repress genes involved in cell migration and signaling. In particular, epigenetic derepression of the RET proto-oncogene by loss of PRC2 recruitment, and activation of the RET/p38 signaling axis, play a crucial role in mediating the malignant phenotype upon lamin B1 disruption. Importantly, loss of a single lamin B1 allele induced spontaneous lung tumor formation and RET activation. Thus, lamin B1 acts as a tumor suppressor in lung cancer, linking aberrant nuclear structure and epigenetic patterning with malignancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanhan Jia
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Centre for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM) and European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Joaquim Si-Long Vong
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Alina Asafova
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Boyan K Garvalov
- Microvascular Biology and Pathobiology, European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Institute of Neuropathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Luca Caputo
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Julio Cordero
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Centre for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM) and European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Anshu Singh
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Centre for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM) and European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
| | - Thomas Boettger
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Stefan Günther
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Ludger Fink
- Institute of Pathology and Cytology, Überregionale Gemeinschaftspraxis für Pathologie (ÜGP), Wetzlar, Germany
| | - Till Acker
- Institute of Neuropathology, Justus Liebig University, Giessen, Germany
| | - Guillermo Barreto
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Werner Seeger
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
| | - Thomas Braun
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
| | - Rajkumar Savai
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Department of Internal Medicine, Justus Liebig University, Member of the German Center for Lung Research (DZL), Giessen, Germany
| | - Gergana Dobreva
- Max Planck Institute for Heart and Lung Research, Member of the German Center for Lung Research, Bad Nauheim, Germany
- Anatomy and Developmental Biology, Centre for Biomedicine and Medical Technology Mannheim (CBTM) and European Center for Angioscience (ECAS), Medical Faculty Mannheim, Heidelberg University, Mannheim, Germany
- Medical Faculty, J.W. Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
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41
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Moresi V, Adamo S, Berghella L. The JAK/STAT Pathway in Skeletal Muscle Pathophysiology. Front Physiol 2019; 10:500. [PMID: 31114509 PMCID: PMC6502894 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2019.00500] [Citation(s) in RCA: 64] [Impact Index Per Article: 12.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/25/2018] [Accepted: 04/08/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The Janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) pathway is a key intracellular mediator of a variety of metabolically relevant hormones and cytokines, including the interleukin-6 (IL-6) family of cytokines. The JAK/STAT pathway transmits extracellular signals to the nucleus, leading to the transcription of genes involved in multiple biological activities. The JAK/STAT pathway has been reported to be required for the homeostasis of different tissues and organs. Indeed, when deregulated, it promotes the initiation and progression of pathological conditions, including cancer, obesity, diabetes, and other metabolic diseases. In skeletal muscle, activation of the JAK/STAT pathway by the IL-6 cytokines accounts for opposite effects: on the one hand, it promotes muscle hypertrophy, by increasing the proliferation of satellite cells; on the other hand, it contributes to muscle wasting. The expression of IL-6 and of key members of the JAK/STAT pathway is regulated at the epigenetic level through histone methylation and histone acetylation mechanisms. Thus, manipulation of the JAK/STAT signaling pathway by specific inhibitors and/or drugs that modulate epigenetics is a promising therapeutic intervention for the treatment of numerous diseases. We focus this review on the JAK/STAT pathway functions in striated muscle pathophysiology and the potential role of IL-6 as an effector of the cross talk between skeletal muscle and other organs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Viviana Moresi
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, DAHFMO, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.,Interuniversity Institute of Myology, Rome, Italy
| | - Sergio Adamo
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, DAHFMO, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.,Interuniversity Institute of Myology, Rome, Italy
| | - Libera Berghella
- Unit of Histology and Medical Embryology, DAHFMO, University La Sapienza, Rome, Italy.,Division of Biology and Biological Engineering, California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, CA, United States
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42
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Zhan J, Wang P, Li S, Song J, He H, Wang Y, Liu Z, Wang F, Bai H, Fang W, Du Q, Ye M, Chang Z, Wang J, Zhang H. HOXB13 networking with ABCG1/EZH2/Slug mediates metastasis and confers resistance to cisplatin in lung adenocarcinoma patients. Am J Cancer Res 2019; 9:2084-2099. [PMID: 31037158 PMCID: PMC6485289 DOI: 10.7150/thno.29463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2018] [Accepted: 02/11/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Rationale: Distant metastasis and chemoresistance are the major causes of short survival after initial chemotherapy in lung adenocarcinoma patients. However, the underlying mechanisms remain elusive. Our pilot study identified high expression of the homeodomain transcription factor HOXB13 in chemoresistant lung adenocarcinomas. We aimed to investigate the role of HOXB13 in mediating lung adenocarcinoma chemoresistance. Methods: Immunohistochemistry assays were employed to assess HOXB13 protein levels in 148 non-small cell lung cancer patients. The role of HOXB13 in lung adenocarcinoma progression and resistance to cisplatin therapy was analyzed in cells, xenografted mice, and patient-derived xenografts. Needle biopsies from 15 lung adenocarcinoma patients who were resistant to cisplatin and paclitaxel therapies were analyzed for HOXB13 and EZH2 protein levels using immunohistochemistry. Results: High expression of HOXB13 observed in 17.8% of the lung adenocarcinoma patients in this study promoted cancer progression and predicted poor prognosis. HOXB13 upregulated an array of metastasis- and drug-resistance-related genes, including ABCG1, EZH2, and Slug, by directly binding to their promoters. Cisplatin induced HOXB13 expression in lung adenocarcinoma cells, and patient-derived xenografts and depletion of ABCG1 enhanced the sensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma cells to cisplatin therapy. Our results suggest that determining the combined expression of HOXB13 and its target genes can predict patient outcomes. Conclusions: A cisplatin-HOXB13-ABCG1/EZH2/Slug network may account for a novel mechanism underlying cisplatin resistance and metastasis after chemotherapy. Determining the levels of HOXB13 and its target genes from needle biopsy specimens may help predict the sensitivity of lung adenocarcinoma patients to platinum-based chemotherapy and patient outcomes.
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43
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Sang Y, Sun L, Wu Y, Yuan W, Liu Y, Li SW. Histone deacetylase 7 inhibits plakoglobin expression to promote lung cancer cell growth and metastasis. Int J Oncol 2019; 54:1112-1122. [PMID: 30628670 DOI: 10.3892/ijo.2019.4682] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/30/2018] [Accepted: 12/06/2018] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Plakoglobin is a tumor suppressor gene in lung cancer; however, the mechanism by which it is downregulated in lung cancer is largely unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether histone deacetylases (HDACs) regulate plakoglobin expression in lung cancer. The effects of overexpression or knockdown of HDAC7 on plakoglobin were determined using stably transfected lung cancer cell lines. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assays were performed to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the HDAC7‑induced suppression of plakoglobin. A Cell Counting Kit‑8 and Transwell assays were performed, and a nude mouse in vivo model was established to investigate the role of the HDAC7/plakoglobin pathway in cell migration, invasion and metastasis. Ectopic expression of HDAC7 was identified to suppress mRNA and protein levels of plakoglobin in lung cancer cells, whereas silencing HDAC7 with short hairpin RNA increased the expression of plakoglobin. HDAC7 was proposed to suppressed plakoglobin by directly binding to its promoter. Overexpression or knockdown of HDAC7 promoted or inhibited cell proliferation, migration and invasion, respectively. Furthermore, knockdown of HDAC7 significantly suppressed tumor growth and metastasis in vivo. In addition, overexpression of plakoglobin significantly reduced the enhanced cell proliferation, migration and invasion induced by ectopic HDAC7. In conclusion, suppression of plakoglobin by HDAC7 promoted the proliferation, migration, invasion and metastasis in lung cancer. This novel axis of HDAC7/plakoglobin may be valuable in the development of novel therapeutic strategies for treating patients with lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yi Sang
- Jiangxi Key Laboratory of Cancer Metastasis and Precision Treatment, Department of Center Laboratory, The Third Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330008, P.R. China
| | - Longhua Sun
- Department of Respiratory, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330008, P.R. China
| | - Yuanzhong Wu
- State Key Laboratory of Oncology in South China, Collaborative Innovation Center for Cancer Medicine, Sun Yat-Sen University Cancer Center, Guangzhou, Guangdong 510060, P.R. China
| | - Wenxin Yuan
- Department of Ultrasonography, The First Affiliated Hospital, Nanchang University, Nanchang, Jiangxi 330008, P.R. China
| | - Yanyan Liu
- Department of Nephrology, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, Hubei 430030, P.R. China
| | - Si-Wei Li
- Department of Radiation Oncology, Hubei Cancer Hospital, Wuhan, Hubei 430079, P.R. China
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44
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Altorki NK, Markowitz GJ, Gao D, Port JL, Saxena A, Stiles B, McGraw T, Mittal V. The lung microenvironment: an important regulator of tumour growth and metastasis. Nat Rev Cancer 2019; 19:9-31. [PMID: 30532012 PMCID: PMC6749995 DOI: 10.1038/s41568-018-0081-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 624] [Impact Index Per Article: 124.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023]
Abstract
Lung cancer is a major global health problem, as it is the leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Major advances in the identification of key mutational alterations have led to the development of molecularly targeted therapies, whose efficacy has been limited by emergence of resistance mechanisms. US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved therapies targeting angiogenesis and more recently immune checkpoints have reinvigorated enthusiasm in elucidating the prognostic and pathophysiological roles of the tumour microenvironment in lung cancer. In this Review, we highlight recent advances and emerging concepts for how the tumour-reprogrammed lung microenvironment promotes both primary lung tumours and lung metastasis from extrapulmonary neoplasms by contributing to inflammation, angiogenesis, immune modulation and response to therapies. We also discuss the potential of understanding tumour microenvironmental processes to identify biomarkers of clinical utility and to develop novel targeted therapies against lung cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nasser K Altorki
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuberger Berman Foundation Lung Cancer Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Geoffrey J Markowitz
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuberger Berman Foundation Lung Cancer Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Dingcheng Gao
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuberger Berman Foundation Lung Cancer Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Jeffrey L Port
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuberger Berman Foundation Lung Cancer Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Ashish Saxena
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Medicine, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Brendon Stiles
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Neuberger Berman Foundation Lung Cancer Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Timothy McGraw
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Biochemistry, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
| | - Vivek Mittal
- Department of Cardiothoracic Surgery, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Neuberger Berman Foundation Lung Cancer Research Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Meyer Cancer Center, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA.
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45
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Serresi M, Siteur B, Hulsman D, Company C, Schmitt MJ, Lieftink C, Morris B, Cesaroni M, Proost N, Beijersbergen RL, van Lohuizen M, Gargiulo G. Ezh2 inhibition in Kras-driven lung cancer amplifies inflammation and associated vulnerabilities. J Exp Med 2018; 215:3115-3135. [PMID: 30487290 PMCID: PMC6279402 DOI: 10.1084/jem.20180801] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2018] [Revised: 08/31/2018] [Accepted: 11/01/2018] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Kras-driven non–small-cell-lung cancers (NSCLCs) are a leading cause of death with limited therapeutic options. Serresi et al. show that inhibiting Ezh2 in orthotopic KrasG12D-driven NSCLC unleashes an inflammatory response rewiring tumor progression and amplifying associated vulnerabilities that could be therapeutically exploited. Kras-driven non–small-cell lung cancers (NSCLCs) are a leading cause of death with limited therapeutic options. Many NSCLCs exhibit high levels of Ezh2, the enzymatic subunit of polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2). We tested Ezh2 inhibitors as single agents or before chemotherapy in mice with orthotopic Kras-driven NSCLC grafts, which homogeneously express Ezh2. These tumors display sensitivity to EZH2 inhibition by GSK126 but also amplify an inflammatory program involving signaling through NF-κB and genes residing in PRC2-regulated chromatin. During this process, tumor cells overcome GSK126 antiproliferative effects. We identified oncogenes that may mediate progression through an in vivo RNAi screen aimed at targets of PRC2/NF-κB. An in vitro compound screening linked GSK126-driven inflammation and therapeutic vulnerability in human cells to regulation of RNA synthesis and proteostasis. Interestingly, GSK126-treated NSCLCs in vivo also showed an enhanced response to a combination of nimesulide and bortezomib. Thus, Ezh2 inhibition may restrict cell proliferation and promote defined adaptive responses. Targeting these responses potentially improves outcomes in Kras-driven NSCLCs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michela Serresi
- Molecular Oncology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Bjorn Siteur
- Mouse Cancer Clinic, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Danielle Hulsman
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Cancer Genomics Centre, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands.,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Carlos Company
- Molecular Oncology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Matthias J Schmitt
- Molecular Oncology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
| | - Cor Lieftink
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Netherlands Cancer Institute Robotics and Screening Center, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Ben Morris
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Netherlands Cancer Institute Robotics and Screening Center, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Matteo Cesaroni
- Fels Institute, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA
| | - Natalie Proost
- Mouse Cancer Clinic, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Roderick L Beijersbergen
- Division of Molecular Carcinogenesis and Netherlands Cancer Institute Robotics and Screening Center, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands
| | - Maarten van Lohuizen
- Division of Molecular Genetics and Cancer Genomics Centre, Netherlands Cancer Institute, Amsterdam, Netherlands .,Oncode Institute, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Gaetano Gargiulo
- Molecular Oncology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association, Berlin, Germany
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Camolotto SA, Pattabiraman S, Mosbruger TL, Jones A, Belova VK, Orstad G, Streiff M, Salmond L, Stubben C, Kaestner KH, Snyder EL. FoxA1 and FoxA2 drive gastric differentiation and suppress squamous identity in NKX2-1-negative lung cancer. eLife 2018; 7:38579. [PMID: 30475207 PMCID: PMC6303105 DOI: 10.7554/elife.38579] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/15/2018] [Accepted: 11/24/2018] [Indexed: 12/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Changes in cancer cell identity can alter malignant potential and therapeutic response. Loss of the pulmonary lineage specifier NKX2-1 augments the growth of KRAS-driven lung adenocarcinoma and causes pulmonary to gastric transdifferentiation. Here, we show that the transcription factors FoxA1 and FoxA2 are required for initiation of mucinous NKX2-1-negative lung adenocarcinomas in the mouse and for activation of their gastric differentiation program. Foxa1/2 deletion severely impairs tumor initiation and causes a proximal shift in cellular identity, yielding tumors expressing markers of the squamocolumnar junction of the gastrointestinal tract. In contrast, we observe downregulation of FoxA1/2 expression in the squamous component of both murine and human lung adenosquamous carcinoma. Using sequential in vivo recombination, we find that FoxA1/2 loss in established KRAS-driven neoplasia originating from SPC-positive alveolar cells induces keratinizing squamous cell carcinomas. Thus, NKX2-1, FoxA1 and FoxA2 coordinately regulate the growth and identity of lung cancer in a context-specific manner.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soledad A Camolotto
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Shrivatsav Pattabiraman
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Timothy L Mosbruger
- Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Alex Jones
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Veronika K Belova
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Grace Orstad
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Mitchell Streiff
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Lydia Salmond
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Chris Stubben
- Bioinformatics Shared Resource, Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
| | - Klaus H Kaestner
- Department of Genetics and Institute for Diabetes, Obesity, and Metabolism, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania, United States
| | - Eric L Snyder
- Department of Pathology and Huntsman Cancer Institute, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, United States
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47
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Li Y, Cao F, Li M, Li P, Yu Y, Xiang L, Xu T, Lei J, Tai YY, Zhu J, Yang B, Jiang Y, Zhang X, Duo L, Chen P, Yu X. Hydroxychloroquine induced lung cancer suppression by enhancing chemo-sensitization and promoting the transition of M2-TAMs to M1-like macrophages. JOURNAL OF EXPERIMENTAL & CLINICAL CANCER RESEARCH : CR 2018; 37:259. [PMID: 30373678 PMCID: PMC6206903 DOI: 10.1186/s13046-018-0938-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 68] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 10/18/2018] [Indexed: 01/17/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Lysosome-associated agents have been implicated as possible chemo-sensitizers and immune regulators for cancer chemotherapy. We investigated the potential roles and mechanisms of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) in combination with chemotherapy in lung cancer treatment. METHODS The effects of combined treatment on non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) were investigated using cell viability assays and animal models. The influence of HCQ on lysosomal pH was evaluated by lysosomal sensors and confocal microscopy. The effects of HCQ on the tumour immune microenvironment were analysed by flow cytometry. RESULTS HCQ elevates the lysosomal pH of cancer cells to inactivate P-gp while increasing drug release from the lysosome into the nucleus. Furthermore, single HCQ therapy inhibits lung cancer by inducing macrophage-modulated anti-tumour CD8+ T cell immunity. Moreover, HCQ could promote the transition of M2 tumour-associated macrophages (TAMs) into M1-like macrophages, leading to CD8+ T cell infiltration into the tumour microenvironment. CONCLUSIONS HCQ exerts anti-NSCLC cells effects by reversing the drug sequestration in lysosomes and enhancing the CD8+ T cell immune response. These findings suggest that HCQ could act as a promising chemo-sensitizer and immune regulator for lung cancer chemotherapy in the clinic.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yong Li
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Fengjun Cao
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Mingxing Li
- Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Tongji Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Pindong Li
- Cancer Center of Union Hospital, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430022, China
| | - Yuandong Yu
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China.,Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan, 430030, China
| | - Longchao Xiang
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Tao Xu
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Jinhua Lei
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Yun Yan Tai
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Jianyong Zhu
- Department of Respiratory Medicine, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Bingbing Yang
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China.,Teaching practice base of Oncology, Shiyan Renmin Hospital, Jinzhou Medical University, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Yingpin Jiang
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Xiufang Zhang
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China.,Teaching practice base of Oncology, Shiyan Renmin Hospital, Jinzhou Medical University, Shiyan, 442000, China
| | - Long Duo
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Ping Chen
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China
| | - Xiongjie Yu
- Department of Oncology, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, 39 Chaoyang middle Rd, Shiyan, 442000, Hubei, China. .,Institute of Cancer Research, Renmin Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, 442000, China.
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Liu Y, Siles L, Postigo A, Dean DC. Epigenetically distinct sister chromatids and asymmetric generation of tumor initiating cells. Cell Cycle 2018; 17:2221-2229. [PMID: 30290712 DOI: 10.1080/15384101.2018.1532254] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Cancer stem cells (CSC) are thought to be an important source of cancer cells in tumors of different origins. Mounting evidence suggests they are generated reversibly from existing cancer cells, and supply new cancer cells during tumor progression and following therapy. Elegant lineage mapping stud(ies are identifying progenitors, and in some cases differentiated cells, as targets of transformation in a variety of tumors. Recent evidence suggests resulting tumor initiating cells (TIC) might be distinct from CSC. Molecular pathways leading from cells of tumor origin to precancerous lesions and cancer cells are only beginning to be unraveled. We review a pathway where asymmetric division of precancerous cells generates TIC in a K-Ras-initiated model of lung cancer. And, we compare unexpected steps in this asymmetric division to those evident in well-studied stem cell models.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yongqing Liu
- a Molecular Targets Program , James Graham Brown Cancer Center , Louisville , Kentucky.,b Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.,c Birth Defects Center , University of Louisville Health Sciences Center
| | - Laura Siles
- d Group of Transcriptional Regulation of Gene Expression , Institut d'Investigacions BiomèdiquesAugust Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Antonio Postigo
- a Molecular Targets Program , James Graham Brown Cancer Center , Louisville , Kentucky.,d Group of Transcriptional Regulation of Gene Expression , Institut d'Investigacions BiomèdiquesAugust Pi i Sunyer (IDIBAPS) , Barcelona , Spain.,e ICREA , Barcelona , Spain
| | - Douglas C Dean
- a Molecular Targets Program , James Graham Brown Cancer Center , Louisville , Kentucky.,b Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences.,c Birth Defects Center , University of Louisville Health Sciences Center
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Gargiulo G. Next-Generation in vivo Modeling of Human Cancers. Front Oncol 2018; 8:429. [PMID: 30364119 PMCID: PMC6192385 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2018.00429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/28/2018] [Accepted: 09/13/2018] [Indexed: 12/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Animal models of human cancers played a major role in our current understanding of tumor biology. In pre-clinical oncology, animal models empowered drug target and biomarker discovery and validation. In turn, this resulted in improved care for cancer patients. In the quest for understanding and treating a diverse spectrum of cancer types, technological breakthroughs in genetic engineering and single cell "omics" offer tremendous potential to enhance the informative value of pre-clinical models. Here, I review the state-of-the-art in modeling human cancers with focus on animal models for human malignant gliomas. The review highlights the use of glioma models in dissecting mechanisms of tumor initiation, in the retrospective identification of tumor cell-of-origin, in understanding tumor heterogeneity and in testing the potential of immuno-oncology. I build on the deep review of glioma models as a basis for a more general discussion of the potential ways in which transformative technologies may shape the next-generation of pre-clinical models. I argue that refining animal models along the proposed lines will benefit the success rate of translation for pre-clinical research in oncology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gaetano Gargiulo
- Molecular Oncology, Max Delbrück Center for Molecular Medicine, Berlin, Germany
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50
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Feng S, Zhai J, Lu D, Lin J, Dong X, Liu X, Wu H, Roden AC, Brandi G, Tavolari S, Bille A, Cai K. TUSC3 accelerates cancer growth and induces epithelial-mesenchymal transition by upregulating claudin-1 in non-small-cell lung cancer cells. Exp Cell Res 2018; 373:44-56. [PMID: 30098333 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexcr.2018.08.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/07/2018] [Indexed: 12/23/2022]
Abstract
Lung cancer is the most frequent cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide, but its molecular pathogenesis is poorly understood. The tumor suppressor candidate 3 (TUSC3) gene is located on chromosome 8p22 and is universally acknowledged as a cancer suppressor. However, our research has demonstrated that TUSC3 expression is significantly upregulated in non-small-cell lung cancer compared to benign controls. In this study, we analyzed the consequences of TUSC3 knockdown or overexpression on the biological functions of non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines. To identify the molecules and signaling pathways with which TUSC3 might interact, we completed immunoblotting, quantitative polymerase chain reaction, microarray, co-immunoprecipitation, and immunofluorescence assays. We demonstrated that TUSC3 knockdown leads to decreased proliferation, migration, and invasion, and reduced xenograft tumor growth of non-small-cell lung cancer cell lines, whereas opposite results were observed with overexpression of TUSC3. In addition, TUSC3 knockdown suppressed epithelial-mesenchymal transition by downregulating the expression of claudin-1, which plays an indispensable role in EMT progress. On the contrary, overexpression of TUSC3 significantly enhanced EMT progress by upregulating claudin-1 expression. Overall, our observations suggest that TUSC3 accelerates cancer growth and induces the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in non-small-cell lung cancer cells; we also identified claudin-1 as a target of TUSC3.
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Affiliation(s)
- Siyang Feng
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Jianxue Zhai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Di Lu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Jie Lin
- Department of Pathology, Nanfang Hospital & School of Basic Medicine, Southern Medical University, 1838 Guangzhou Avenue, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Xiaoying Dong
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Xiguang Liu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Hua Wu
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China
| | - Anja C Roden
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, USA
| | - Giovanni Brandi
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University Hospital S. Orsola, Malpighi Bologna, via Massarenti 9, 40138, Italy
| | - Simona Tavolari
- Department of Experimental, Diagnostic and Specialty Medicine, University Hospital S. Orsola, Malpighi Bologna, via Massarenti 9, 40138, Italy
| | - Andrea Bille
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Guy's Hospital, London, UK
| | - Kaican Cai
- Department of Thoracic Surgery, Nanfang Hospital, Southern Medical University, Guangzhou 510515, PR China.
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