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Bock A, Irannejad R, Scott JD. cAMP signaling: a remarkably regional affair. Trends Biochem Sci 2024; 49:305-317. [PMID: 38310024 PMCID: PMC11175624 DOI: 10.1016/j.tibs.2024.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/02/2023] [Revised: 12/22/2023] [Accepted: 01/10/2024] [Indexed: 02/05/2024]
Abstract
Louis Pasteur once famously said 'in the fields of observation chance favors only the prepared mind'. Much of chance is being in the right place at the right time. This is particularly true in the crowded molecular environment of the cell where being in the right place is often more important than timing. Although Brownian motion argues that enzymes will eventually bump into substrates, this probability is greatly enhanced if both molecules reside in the same subcellular compartment. However, activation of cell signaling enzymes often requires the transmission of chemical signals from extracellular stimuli to intracellular sites of action. This review highlights new developments in our understanding of cAMP generation and the 3D utilization of this second messenger inside cells.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andreas Bock
- Rudolf Boehm Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Medical Faculty, Leipzig University, 04107 Leipzig, Germany.
| | - Roshanak Irannejad
- Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Biophysics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA.
| | - John D Scott
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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2
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Ma RK, Tsai PY, Farghli AR, Shumway A, Kanke M, Gordan JD, Gujral TS, Vakili K, Nukaya M, Noetzli L, Ronnekleiv-Kelly S, Broom W, Barrow J, Sethupathy P. DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion protein-regulated LINC00473 promotes tumor growth and alters mitochondrial fitness in fibrolamellar carcinoma. PLoS Genet 2024; 20:e1011216. [PMID: 38512964 PMCID: PMC11020935 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1011216] [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: 09/14/2023] [Revised: 04/16/2024] [Accepted: 03/08/2024] [Indexed: 03/23/2024] Open
Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare liver cancer that disproportionately affects adolescents and young adults. Currently, no standard of care is available and there remains a dire need for new therapeutics. Most patients harbor the fusion oncogene DNAJB1-PRKACA (DP fusion), but clinical inhibitors are not yet developed and it is critical to identify downstream mediators of FLC pathogenesis. Here, we identify long noncoding RNA LINC00473 among the most highly upregulated genes in FLC tumors and determine that it is strongly suppressed by RNAi-mediated inhibition of the DP fusion in FLC tumor epithelial cells. We show by loss- and gain-of-function studies that LINC00473 suppresses apoptosis, increases the expression of FLC marker genes, and promotes FLC growth in cell-based and in vivo disease models. Mechanistically, LINC00473 plays an important role in promoting glycolysis and altering mitochondrial activity. Specifically, LINC00473 knockdown leads to increased spare respiratory capacity, which indicates mitochondrial fitness. Overall, we propose that LINC00473 could be a viable target for this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Rosanna K. Ma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Pei-Yin Tsai
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Alaa R. Farghli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Alexandria Shumway
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Matt Kanke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - John D. Gordan
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Helen Diller Family Comprehensive Cancer Center, UCSF, San Francisco, California, United States of America
| | - Taranjit S. Gujral
- Human Biology Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, Washington, United States of America
| | - Khashayar Vakili
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Manabu Nukaya
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Leila Noetzli
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Sean Ronnekleiv-Kelly
- Department of Surgery, Division of Surgical Oncology, University of Wisconsin School of Medicine and Public Health, Madison, Wisconsin, United States of America
| | - Wendy Broom
- Alnylam Pharmaceuticals, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States of America
| | - Joeva Barrow
- Division of Nutritional Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York, United States of America
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3
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Lauer SM, Omar MH, Golkowski MG, Kenerson HL, Lee KS, Pascual BC, Lim HC, Forbush K, Smith FD, Gordan JD, Ong SE, Yeung RS, Scott JD. Recruitment of BAG2 to DNAJ-PKAc scaffolds promotes cell survival and resistance to drug-induced apoptosis in fibrolamellar carcinoma. Cell Rep 2024; 43:113678. [PMID: 38236773 PMCID: PMC10964278 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2024.113678] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Revised: 11/23/2023] [Accepted: 01/02/2024] [Indexed: 01/30/2024] Open
Abstract
The DNAJ-PKAc fusion kinase is a defining feature of fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC). FLC tumors are notoriously resistant to standard chemotherapies, with aberrant kinase activity assumed to be a contributing factor. By combining proximity proteomics, biochemical analyses, and live-cell photoactivation microscopy, we demonstrate that DNAJ-PKAc is not constrained by A-kinase anchoring proteins. Consequently, the fusion kinase phosphorylates a unique array of substrates, including proteins involved in translation and the anti-apoptotic factor Bcl-2-associated athanogene 2 (BAG2), a co-chaperone recruited to the fusion kinase through association with Hsp70. Tissue samples from patients with FLC exhibit increased levels of BAG2 in primary and metastatic tumors. Furthermore, drug studies implicate the DNAJ-PKAc/Hsp70/BAG2 axis in potentiating chemotherapeutic resistance. We find that the Bcl-2 inhibitor navitoclax enhances sensitivity to etoposide-induced apoptosis in cells expressing DNAJ-PKAc. Thus, our work indicates BAG2 as a marker for advanced FLC and a chemotherapeutic resistance factor in DNAJ-PKAc signaling scaffolds.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophia M Lauer
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Mitchell H Omar
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Martin G Golkowski
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Heidi L Kenerson
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Kyung-Soon Lee
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Bryan C Pascual
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Huat C Lim
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Katherine Forbush
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - F Donelson Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - John D Gordan
- Division of Hematology and Oncology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94158, USA
| | - Shao-En Ong
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Raymond S Yeung
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - John D Scott
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA.
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Akins RB, Ostberg K, Cherlin T, Tsiouplis NJ, Loher P, Rigoutsos I. The Typical tRNA Co-Expresses Multiple 5' tRNA Halves Whose Sequences and Abundances Depend on Isodecoder and Isoacceptor and Change with Tissue Type, Cell Type, and Disease. Noncoding RNA 2023; 9:69. [PMID: 37987365 PMCID: PMC10660753 DOI: 10.3390/ncrna9060069] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2023] [Revised: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Transfer RNA-derived fragments (tRFs) are noncoding RNAs that arise from either mature transfer RNAs (tRNAs) or their precursors. One important category of tRFs comprises the tRNA halves, which are generated through cleavage at the anticodon. A given tRNA typically gives rise to several co-expressed 5'-tRNA halves (5'-tRHs) that differ in the location of their 3' ends. These 5'-tRHs, even though distinct, have traditionally been treated as indistinguishable from one another due to their near-identical sequences and lengths. We focused on co-expressed 5'-tRHs that arise from the same tRNA and systematically examined their exact sequences and abundances across 10 different human tissues. To this end, we manually curated and analyzed several hundred human RNA-seq datasets from NCBI's Sequence Run Archive (SRA). We grouped datasets from the same tissue into their own collection and examined each group separately. We found that a given tRNA produces different groups of co-expressed 5'-tRHs in different tissues, different cell lines, and different diseases. Importantly, the co-expressed 5'-tRHs differ in their sequences, absolute abundances, and relative abundances, even among tRNAs with near-identical sequences from the same isodecoder or isoacceptor group. The findings suggest that co-expressed 5'-tRHs that are produced from the same tRNA or closely related tRNAs have distinct, context-dependent roles. Moreover, our analyses show that cell lines modeling the same tissue type and disease may not be interchangeable when it comes to experimenting with tRFs.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | | | | | - Isidore Rigoutsos
- Computational Medical Center, Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA 19107, USA
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5
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Hung YH, Capeling M, Villanueva JW, Kanke M, Shanahan MT, Huang S, Cubitt R, Rinaldi VD, Schimenti JC, Spence JR, Sethupathy P. Integrative genome-scale analyses reveal post-transcriptional signatures of early human small intestinal development in a directed differentiation organoid model. BMC Genomics 2023; 24:641. [PMID: 37884859 PMCID: PMC10601309 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-023-09743-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2023] [Accepted: 10/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are important post-transcriptional gene regulators controlling cellular lineage specification and differentiation during embryonic development, including the gastrointestinal system. However, miRNA-mediated regulatory mechanisms involved in early embryonic development of human small intestine (SI) remains underexplored. To explore candidate roles for miRNAs in prenatal SI lineage specification in humans, we used a multi-omic analysis strategy in a directed differentiation model that programs human pluripotent stem cells toward the SI lineage. RESULTS We leveraged small RNA-seq to define the changing miRNA landscape, and integrated chromatin run-on sequencing (ChRO-seq) and RNA-seq to define genes subject to significant post-transcriptional regulation across the different stages of differentiation. Small RNA-seq profiling revealed temporal dynamics of miRNA signatures across different developmental events of the model, including definitive endoderm formation, SI lineage specification and SI regional patterning. Our multi-omic, integrative analyses showed further that the elevation of miR-182 and reduction of miR-375 are key events during SI lineage specification. We demonstrated that loss of miR-182 leads to an increase in the foregut master marker SOX2. We also used single-cell analyses in murine adult intestinal crypts to support a life-long role for miR-375 in the regulation of Zfp36l2. Finally, we uncovered opposing roles of SMAD4 and WNT signaling in regulating miR-375 expression during SI lineage specification. Beyond the mechanisms highlighted in this study, we also present a web-based application for exploration of post-transcriptional regulation and miRNA-mediated control in the context of early human SI development. CONCLUSION The present study uncovers a novel facet of miRNAs in regulating prenatal SI development. We leveraged multi-omic, systems biology approaches to discover candidate miRNA regulators associated with early SI developmental events in a human organoid model. In this study, we highlighted miRNA-mediated post-transcriptional regulation relevant to the event of SI lineage specification. The candidate miRNA regulators that we identified for the other stages of SI development also warrant detailed characterization in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yu-Han Hung
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Meghan Capeling
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Jonathan W Villanueva
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Matt Kanke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Michael T Shanahan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Sha Huang
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Rebecca Cubitt
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Vera D Rinaldi
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - John C Schimenti
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Jason R Spence
- Department of Cell and Developmental Biology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Department of Internal Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.
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Zhang W, Xu Y, Wang X, Oikawa T, Su G, Wauthier E, Wu G, Sethupathy P, He Z, Liu J, Reid LM. Fibrolamellar carcinomas-growth arrested by paracrine signals complexed with synthesized 3-O sulfated heparan sulfate oligosaccharides. Matrix Biol 2023; 121:194-216. [PMID: 37402431 DOI: 10.1016/j.matbio.2023.06.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2023] [Revised: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 06/28/2023] [Indexed: 07/06/2023]
Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinomas (FLCs), lethal tumors occurring in children to young adults, have genetic signatures implicating derivation from biliary tree stem cell (BTSC) subpopulations, co-hepato/pancreatic stem cells, involved in hepatic and pancreatic regeneration. FLCs and BTSCs express pluripotency genes, endodermal transcription factors, and stem cell surface, cytoplasmic and proliferation biomarkers. The FLC-PDX model, FLC-TD-2010, is driven ex vivo to express pancreatic acinar traits, hypothesized responsible for this model's propensity for enzymatic degradation of cultures. A stable ex vivo model of FLC-TD-2010 was achieved using organoids in serum-free Kubota's Medium (KM) supplemented with 0.1% hyaluronans (KM/HA). Heparins (10 ng/ml) caused slow expansion of organoids with doubling times of ∼7-9 days. Spheroids, organoids depleted of mesenchymal cells, survived indefinitely in KM/HA in a state of growth arrest for more than 2 months. Expansion was restored with FLCs co-cultured with mesenchymal cell precursors in a ratio of 3:7, implicating paracrine signaling. Signals identified included FGFs, VEGFs, EGFs, Wnts, and others, produced by associated stellate and endothelial cell precursors. Fifty-three, unique heparan sulfate (HS) oligosaccharides were synthesized, assessed for formation of high affinity complexes with paracrine signals, and each complex screened for biological activity(ies) on organoids. Ten distinct HS-oligosaccharides, all 10-12 mers or larger, and in specific paracrine signal complexes elicited particular biological responses. Of note, complexes of paracrine signals and 3-O sulfated HS-oligosaccharides elicited slowed growth, and with Wnt3a, elicited growth arrest of organoids for months. If future efforts are used to prepare HS-oligosaccharides resistant to breakdown in vivo, then [paracrine signal-HS-oligosaccharide] complexes are potential therapeutic agents for clinical treatments of FLCs, an exciting prospect for a deadly disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wencheng Zhang
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200335, China; Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Yongmei Xu
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Glycan Therapeutics Corporation, 617 Hutton Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
| | - Xicheng Wang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200335, China; Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Tsunekazu Oikawa
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Guowei Su
- Glycan Therapeutics Corporation, 617 Hutton Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
| | - Eliane Wauthier
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States
| | - Guoxiu Wu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200335, China; Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Division of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, United States
| | - Zhiying He
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200123, China; Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai 200335, China; Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai 200120, China
| | - Jian Liu
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Glycan Therapeutics Corporation, 617 Hutton Street, Raleigh, NC 27606, United States
| | - Lola M Reid
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States; Program in Molecular Biology and Biotechnology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, United States.
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Lauer SM, Omar MH, Golkowski MG, Kenerson HL, Pascual BC, Forbush K, Smith FD, Gordan J, Ong SE, Yeung RS, Scott JD. Recruitment of BAG2 to DNAJ-PKAc scaffolds promotes cell survival and resistance to drug-induced apoptosis in fibrolamellar carcinoma. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.06.28.546958. [PMID: 37425703 PMCID: PMC10327129 DOI: 10.1101/2023.06.28.546958] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/11/2023]
Abstract
The DNAJ-PKAc fusion kinase is a defining feature of the adolescent liver cancer fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC). A single lesion on chromosome 19 generates this mutant kinase by creating a fused gene encoding the chaperonin binding domain of Hsp40 (DNAJ) in frame with the catalytic core of protein kinase A (PKAc). FLC tumors are notoriously resistant to standard chemotherapies. Aberrant kinase activity is assumed to be a contributing factor. Yet recruitment of binding partners, such as the chaperone Hsp70, implies that the scaffolding function of DNAJ- PKAc may also underlie pathogenesis. By combining proximity proteomics with biochemical analyses and photoactivation live-cell imaging we demonstrate that DNAJ-PKAc is not constrained by A-kinase anchoring proteins. Consequently, the fusion kinase phosphorylates a unique array of substrates. One validated DNAJ-PKAc target is the Bcl-2 associated athanogene 2 (BAG2), a co-chaperone recruited to the fusion kinase through association with Hsp70. Immunoblot and immunohistochemical analyses of FLC patient samples correlate increased levels of BAG2 with advanced disease and metastatic recurrences. BAG2 is linked to Bcl-2, an anti-apoptotic factor that delays cell death. Pharmacological approaches tested if the DNAJ- PKAc/Hsp70/BAG2 axis contributes to chemotherapeutic resistance in AML12 DNAJ-PKAc hepatocyte cell lines using the DNA damaging agent etoposide and the Bcl-2 inhibitor navitoclax. Wildtype AML12 cells were susceptible to each drug alone and in combination. In contrast, AML12 DNAJ-PKAc cells were moderately affected by etoposide, resistant to navitoclax, but markedly susceptible to the drug combination. These studies implicate BAG2 as a biomarker for advanced FLC and a chemotherapeutic resistance factor in DNAJ-PKAc signaling scaffolds.
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Hochberg JT, Sohal A, Handa P, Maliken BD, Kim TK, Wang K, Gochanour E, Li Y, Rose JB, Nelson JE, Lindor KD, LaRusso NF, Kowdley KV. Serum miRNA profiles are altered in patients with primary sclerosing cholangitis receiving high-dose ursodeoxycholic acid. JHEP Rep 2023; 5:100729. [PMID: 37179785 PMCID: PMC10172698 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhepr.2023.100729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2023] [Accepted: 02/27/2023] [Indexed: 05/15/2023] Open
Abstract
Background & Aims Primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) is a chronic, progressive cholestatic liver disease that can lead to end-stage liver disease and cholangiocarcinoma. High-dose ursodeoxycholic acid (hd-UDCA, 28-30 mg/kg/day) was evaluated in a previous multicentre, randomised placebo-controlled trial; however, the study was discontinued early because of increased liver-related serious adverse events (SAEs), despite improvement in serum liver biochemical tests. We investigated longitudinal changes in serum miRNA and cytokine profiles over time among patients treated with either hd-UDCA or placebo in this trial as potential biomarkers for PSC and response to hd-UDCA, as well as to understand the toxicity associated with hd-UDCA treatment. Methods Thirty-eight patients with PSC were enrolled in a multicentred, randomised, double-blinded trial of hd-UDCA vs. placebo. Results Significant alterations in serum miRNA profiles were found over time in both patients treated with hd-UDCA or placebo. Additionally, there were striking differences between miRNA profiles in patients treated with hd-UDCA compared with placebo. In patients treated with placebo, the changes in concentration of serum miRNAs miR-26a, miR-199b-5p, miR-373, and miR-663 suggest alterations of inflammatory and cell proliferative processes consistent with disease progression. However, patients treated with hd-UDCA exhibited a more pronounced differential expression of serum miRNAs, suggesting that hd-UDCA induces significant cellular miRNA changes and tissue injury. Pathway enrichment analysis for UDCA-associated miRNAs suggested unique dysregulation of cell cycle and inflammatory response pathways. Conclusions Patients with PSC have distinct miRNAs in the serum and bile, although the implications of these unique patterns have not been studied longitudinally or in relation to adverse events related to hd-UDCA. Our study demonstrates marked changes in miRNA serum profiles with hd-UDCA treatment and suggests mechanisms for the increased liver toxicity with therapy. Impact and implications Using serum samples from patients with PSC enrolled in a clinical trial comparing hd-UDCA with placebo, our study found distinct miRNA changes in patients with PSC who are treated with hd-UDCA over a period of time. Our study also noted distinct miRNA patterns in patients who developed SAEs during the study period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jessica T. Hochberg
- Liver Institute Northwest, Seattle, WA, USA
- Seattle Children’s Hospital/University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Miami Transplant Institute at University of Miami, Miami, FL, USA
| | | | - Priya Handa
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Kai Wang
- Institute for Systems Biology, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | - Yu Li
- Benaroya Research Institute, Seattle, WA, USA
| | | | | | - Keith D. Lindor
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Mayo Clinic Rochester, MN, USA
| | | | - Kris V. Kowdley
- Liver Institute Northwest, Seattle, WA, USA
- Corresponding author. Address: Liver Institute Northwest, 3216 NE 45th Pl Suite 212, Seattle, WA 98105, USA; Tel.: +1(206) 536-3030.
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Villanueva JW, Kwong L, Han T, Martinez SA, Shanahan MT, Kanke M, Dow LE, Danko CG, Sethupathy P. Comprehensive microRNA analysis across genome-edited colorectal cancer organoid models reveals miR-24 as a candidate regulator of cell survival. BMC Genomics 2022; 23:792. [DOI: 10.1186/s12864-022-09018-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/26/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
AbstractSomatic mutations drive colorectal cancer (CRC) by disrupting gene regulatory mechanisms. Distinct combinations of mutations can result in unique changes to regulatory mechanisms leading to variability in the efficacy of therapeutics. MicroRNAs are important regulators of gene expression, and their activity can be altered by oncogenic mutations. However, it is unknown how distinct combinations of CRC-risk mutations differentially affect microRNAs. Here, using genetically-modified mouse intestinal organoid (enteroid) models, we identify 12 different modules of microRNA expression patterns across different combinations of mutations common in CRC. We also show that miR-24-3p is aberrantly upregulated in genetically-modified mouse enteroids irrespective of mutational context. Furthermore, we identify an enrichment of miR-24-3p predicted targets in downregulated gene lists from various mutational contexts compared to WT. In follow-up experiments, we demonstrate that miR-24-3p promotes CRC cell survival in multiple cell contexts. Our novel characterization of genotype-specific patterns of miRNA expression offer insight into the mechanisms that drive inter-tumor heterogeneity and highlight candidate microRNA therapeutic targets for the advancement of precision medicine for CRC.
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Whyte SS, Karns R, Min K, Cho J, Lee S, Lake C, Bondoc A, Yoon J, Shin S. Integrated analysis using ToppMiR uncovers altered miRNA- mRNA regulatory networks in pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma-A pilot study. Cancer Rep (Hoboken) 2022; 6:e1685. [PMID: 35859536 PMCID: PMC9875636 DOI: 10.1002/cnr2.1685] [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: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 06/23/2022] [Accepted: 07/12/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Pediatric hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a group of liver cancers whose mechanisms behind their pathogenesis and progression are poorly understood. AIM We aimed to identify alterations in the expression of miRNAs and their putative target mRNAs in not only tumor tissues of patients with pediatric HCC but also in corresponding non-tumorous background livers by using liver tissues without underlying liver disease as a control. METHODS AND RESULTS We performed a small-scale miRNA and mRNA profiling of pediatric HCC (consisting of fibrolamellar carcinoma [FLC] and non-FLC HCC) and paired liver tissues to identify miRNAs whose expression levels differed significantly from control livers without underlying liver disease. ToppMiR was used to prioritize both miRNAs and their putative target mRNAs in a gene-annotation network, and the mRNA profile was used to refine the prioritization. Our analysis generated prioritized lists of miRNAs and mRNAs from the following three sets of analyses: (a) pediatric HCC versus control; (b) FLC versus control; and (c) corresponding non-tumorous background liver tissues from the same patients with pediatric HCC versus control. No liver disease liver tissues were used as the control group for all analyses. Many miRNAs whose expressions were deregulated in pediatric HCC were consistent with their roles in adult HCC and/or other non-hepatic cancers. Our gene ontology analysis of target mRNAs revealed enrichment of biological processes related to the sustenance and propagation of cancer and significant downregulation of metabolic processes. CONCLUSION Our pilot study indicates that alterations in miRNA-mRNA networks were detected in not only tumor tissues but also corresponding non-tumorous liver tissues from patients with pediatric HCC, suggesting multi-faceted roles of miRNAs in disease progression. Our results may lead to novel hypotheses for future large-scale studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Senyo S. Whyte
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic SurgeryCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Rebekah Karns
- Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & NutritionCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Kyung‐Won Min
- Department of BiologyGangneung‐Wonju National UniversityGangneungRepublic of Korea
| | - Jung‐Hyun Cho
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Sanghoon Lee
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic SurgeryCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Charissa Lake
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic SurgeryCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Alexander Bondoc
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic SurgeryCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterCincinnatiOhioUSA,Department of SurgeryUniversity of Cincinnati College of MedicineCincinnatiOhioUSA
| | - Je‐Hyun Yoon
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular BiologyMedical University of South CarolinaCharlestonSouth CarolinaUSA
| | - Soona Shin
- Division of Pediatric General and Thoracic SurgeryCincinnati Children's Hospital Medical CenterCincinnatiOhioUSA,Department of SurgeryUniversity of Cincinnati College of MedicineCincinnatiOhioUSA
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11
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Francisco AB, Li J, Farghli AR, Kanke M, Shui B, Munn PR, Grenier JK, Soloway PD, Wang Z, Reid LM, Liu J, Sethupathy P. Chemical, Molecular, and Single-nucleus Analysis Reveal Chondroitin Sulfate Proteoglycan Aberrancy in Fibrolamellar Carcinoma. CANCER RESEARCH COMMUNICATIONS 2022; 2:663-678. [PMID: 36923282 PMCID: PMC10010304 DOI: 10.1158/2767-9764.crc-21-0177] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/20/2021] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 06/22/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is an aggressive liver cancer with no effective therapeutic options. The extracellular environment of FLC tumors is poorly characterized and may contribute to cancer growth and/or metastasis. To bridge this knowledge gap, we assessed pathways relevant to proteoglycans, a major component of the extracellular matrix. We first analyzed gene expression data from FLC and nonmalignant liver tissue (n = 27) to identify changes in glycosaminoglycan (GAG) biosynthesis pathways and found that genes associated with production of chondroitin sulfate, but not other GAGs, are significantly increased by 8-fold. We then implemented a novel LC/MS-MS based method to quantify the abundance of different types of GAGs in patient tumors (n = 16) and found that chondroitin sulfate is significantly more abundant in FLC tumors by 6-fold. Upon further analysis of GAG-associated proteins, we found that versican (VCAN) expression is significantly upregulated at the mRNA and protein levels, the latter of which was validated by IHC. Finally, we performed single-cell assay for transposase-accessible chromatin sequencing on FLC tumors (n = 3), which revealed for the first time the different cell types in FLC tumors and also showed that VCAN is likely produced not only from FLC tumor epithelial cells but also activated stellate cells. Our results reveal a pathologic aberrancy in chondroitin (but not heparan) sulfate proteoglycans in FLC and highlight a potential role for activated stellate cells. Significance This study leverages a multi-disciplinary approach, including state-of-the-art chemical analyses and cutting-edge single-cell genomic technologies, to identify for the first time a marked chondroitin sulfate aberrancy in FLC that could open novel therapeutic avenues in the future.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam B Francisco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Jine Li
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina.,Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Alaa R Farghli
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Matt Kanke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Bo Shui
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Paul R Munn
- Genomics Innovation Hub, Biotechnology Resource Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Jennifer K Grenier
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York.,Genomics Innovation Hub, Biotechnology Resource Center, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Paul D Soloway
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
| | - Zhangjie Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Microbial Resources, Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, P.R. China
| | - Lola M Reid
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, School of Medicine, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Jian Liu
- Division of Chemical Biology and Medicinal Chemistry, Eshelman School of Pharmacy, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
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12
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Dinh TA, Utria AF, Barry KC, Ma R, Abou-Alfa GK, Gordan JD, Jaffee EM, Scott JD, Zucman-Rossi J, O’Neill AF, Furth ME, Sethupathy P. A framework for fibrolamellar carcinoma research and clinical trials. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol 2022; 19:328-342. [PMID: 35190728 PMCID: PMC9516439 DOI: 10.1038/s41575-022-00580-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC), a rare, lethal hepatic cancer, occurs primarily in adolescents and young adults. Unlike hepatocellular carcinoma, FLC has no known association with viral, metabolic or chemical agents that cause cirrhosis. Currently, surgical resection is the only treatment demonstrated to achieve cure, and no standard of care exists for systemic therapy. Progress in FLC research illuminates a transition from an obscure cancer to one for which an interactive community seems poised to uncover fundamental mechanisms and initiate translation towards novel therapies. In this Roadmap, we review advances since the seminal discovery in 2014 that nearly all FLC tumours express a signature oncogene (DNAJB1-PRKACA) encoding a fusion protein (DNAJ-PKAc) in which the J-domain of a heat shock protein 40 (HSP40) co-chaperone replaces an amino-terminal segment of the catalytic subunit of the cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinase (PKA). Important gains include increased understanding of oncogenic pathways driven by DNAJ-PKAc; identification of potential therapeutic targets; development of research models; elucidation of immune mechanisms with potential for the development of immunotherapies; and completion of the first multicentre clinical trials of targeted therapy for FLC. In each of these key areas we propose a Roadmap for future progress.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A. Dinh
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA.,Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,These authors contributed equally: Timothy A. Dinh, Alan F. Utria, Kevin C. Barry
| | - Alan F. Utria
- Department of Surgery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA.,These authors contributed equally: Timothy A. Dinh, Alan F. Utria, Kevin C. Barry
| | - Kevin C. Barry
- Translational Research Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA, USA.,These authors contributed equally: Timothy A. Dinh, Alan F. Utria, Kevin C. Barry
| | - Rosanna Ma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA
| | - Ghassan K. Abou-Alfa
- Department of Medicine, Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.,Department of Medicine, Weill Medical College at Cornell University, New York, NY, USA
| | - John D. Gordan
- Gastrointestinal oncology, University of California at San Francisco Comprehensive Cancer Center, San Francisco, CA, USA
| | - Elizabeth M. Jaffee
- Department of oncology, Kimmel Comprehensive Cancer Center at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - John D. Scott
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jessica Zucman-Rossi
- Centre de Recherche des Cordeliers, Sorbonne université, Inserm, Université de Paris, Functional Genomics of Solid Tumors, Paris, France
| | - Allison F. O’Neill
- Department of Paediatric Hematology/oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard University, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Mark E. Furth
- Fibrolamellar Cancer Foundation, Greenwich, CT, USA.,;
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, USA.,;
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13
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Francisco AB, Kanke M, Massa AP, Dinh TA, Sritharan R, Vakili K, Bardeesy N, Sethupathy P. Multi-omic analysis of microRNA-mediated regulation reveals a proliferative axis involving miR-10b in fibrolamellar carcinoma. JCI Insight 2022; 7:154743. [PMID: 35482409 PMCID: PMC9220943 DOI: 10.1172/jci.insight.154743] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/03/2021] [Accepted: 04/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is an aggressive liver cancer primarily afflicting adolescents and young adults. Most patients with FLC harbor a heterozygous deletion on chromosome 19 that leads to the oncogenic gene fusion, DNAJB1-PRKACA. There are currently no effective therapeutics for FLC. To address that, it is critical to gain deeper mechanistic insight into FLC pathogenesis. We assembled a large sample set of FLC and nonmalignant liver tissue (n = 52) and performed integrative multiomic analysis. Specifically, we carried out small RNA sequencing to define altered microRNA expression patterns in tumor samples and then coupled this analysis with RNA sequencing and chromatin run-on sequencing data to identify candidate master microRNA regulators of gene expression in FLC. We also evaluated the relationship between DNAJB1-PRKACA and microRNAs of interest in several human and mouse cell models. Finally, we performed loss-of-function experiments for a specific microRNA in cells established from a patient-derived xenograft (PDX) model. We identified miR-10b-5p as the top candidate pro-proliferative microRNA in FLC. In multiple human cell models, overexpression of DNAJB1-PRKACA led to significant upregulation of miR-10b-5p. Inhibition of miR-10b in PDX-derived cells increased the expression of several potentially novel target genes, concomitant with a significant reduction in metabolic activity, proliferation, and anchorage-independent growth. This study highlights a potentially novel proliferative axis in FLC and provides a rich resource for further investigation of FLC etiology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam B Francisco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, United States of America
| | - Matt Kanke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, United States of America
| | - Andrew P Massa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, United States of America
| | - Timothy A Dinh
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, United States of America
| | - Ramja Sritharan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, United States of America
| | - Khashayar Vakili
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, United States of America
| | - Nabeel Bardeesy
- Department of Medicine, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States of America
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University, Ithaca, United States of America
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14
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Kim SS, Kycia I, Karski M, Ma RK, Bordt EA, Kwan J, Karki A, Winter E, Aktas RG, Wu Y, Emili A, Bauer DE, Sethupathy P, Vakili K. DNAJB1-PRKACA in HEK293T cells induces LINC00473 overexpression that depends on PKA signaling. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0263829. [PMID: 35167623 PMCID: PMC8846505 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0263829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/20/2021] [Accepted: 01/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/19/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a primary liver cancer that most commonly arises in adolescents and young adults in a background of normal liver tissue and has a poor prognosis due to lack of effective chemotherapeutic agents. The DNAJB1-PRKACA gene fusion (DP) has been reported in the majority of FLC tumors; however, its oncogenic mechanisms remain unclear. Given the paucity of cellular models, in particular FLC tumor cell lines, we hypothesized that engineering the DP fusion gene in HEK293T cells would provide insight into the cellular effects of the fusion gene. We used CRISPR/Cas9 to engineer HEK293T clones expressing DP fusion gene (HEK-DP) and performed transcriptomic, proteomic, and mitochondrial studies to characterize this cellular model. Proteomic analysis of DP interacting partners identified mitochondrial proteins as well as proteins in other subcellular compartments. HEK-DP cells demonstrated significantly elevated mitochondrial fission, which suggests a role for DP in altering mitochondrial dynamics. Transcriptomic analysis of HEK-DP cells revealed a significant increase in LINC00473 expression, similar to what has been observed in primary FLC samples. LINC00473 overexpression was reversible with siRNA targeting of PRKACA as well as pharmacologic targeting of PKA and Hsp40 in HEK-DP cells. Therefore, our model suggests that LINC00473 is a candidate marker for DP activity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephanie S. Kim
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Ina Kycia
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Michael Karski
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Rosanna K. Ma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Evan A. Bordt
- Department of Pediatrics, Lurie Center for Autism, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Julian Kwan
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Networks Systems Biology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Anju Karki
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Elle Winter
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Ranan G. Aktas
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Yuxuan Wu
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Broad Institute, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Andrew Emili
- Department of Biochemistry, Center for Networks Systems Biology, Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Daniel E. Bauer
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Harvard Stem Cell Institute, Broad Institute, Boston, MA, United States of America
- Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, United States of America
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY, United States of America
| | - Khashayar Vakili
- Department of Surgery, Boston Children’s Hospital, Boston, MA, United States of America
- * E-mail:
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15
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Jhan JH, Hsu WC, Lee YC, Li WM, Huang AM, Lin HH, Wang CS, Wu YR, Li CC, Wu WJ, Ke HL. MicroRNA-375-3p Suppresses Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma Cell Migration and Invasion via Targeting Derlin-1. Cancers (Basel) 2022; 14:cancers14040880. [PMID: 35205628 PMCID: PMC8869792 DOI: 10.3390/cancers14040880] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2022] [Revised: 02/02/2022] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Little is known regarding the molecular characterization of upper tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). Novel therapeutic targets and prognostic predictors are imminent. In the present study, we aim to examine the oncogenic function and molecular mechanism of Derlin-1 in UTUC. Derlin-1 overexpression is significantly associated with poor prognosis in patients with UTUC. In vitro, knockdown or over-expression of Derlin-1 markedly regulated UTUC cell invasion and migration. We further discovered miR-375-3p suppresses cell invasion and migration by inversely regulating Derlin-1 and blocking EMT in UTUC cells. Taking this together, miR-375-3p functions as a tumor suppressive microRNA by directly targeting Derlin-1 and blocking epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) in UTUC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jhen-Hao Jhan
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (J.-H.J.); (W.-C.H.); (W.-M.L.); (H.-H.L.); (C.-C.L.); (W.-J.W.)
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan;
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Municipal Siaogang Hospital, Kaohsiung 81267, Taiwan
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Wei-Chi Hsu
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (J.-H.J.); (W.-C.H.); (W.-M.L.); (H.-H.L.); (C.-C.L.); (W.-J.W.)
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Yi-Chen Lee
- Department of Anatomy, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Wei-Ming Li
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (J.-H.J.); (W.-C.H.); (W.-M.L.); (H.-H.L.); (C.-C.L.); (W.-J.W.)
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan;
- Department of Urology, Ministry of Health and Welfare, Pingtung Hospital, Pingtung 90054, Taiwan
| | - A-Mei Huang
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Hui-Hui Lin
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (J.-H.J.); (W.-C.H.); (W.-M.L.); (H.-H.L.); (C.-C.L.); (W.-J.W.)
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan;
| | - Chien-Sheng Wang
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Clinical Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Yi-Ru Wu
- General Division, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan;
| | - Ching-Chia Li
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (J.-H.J.); (W.-C.H.); (W.-M.L.); (H.-H.L.); (C.-C.L.); (W.-J.W.)
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan;
| | - Wen-Jeng Wu
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (J.-H.J.); (W.-C.H.); (W.-M.L.); (H.-H.L.); (C.-C.L.); (W.-J.W.)
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
| | - Hung-Lung Ke
- Department of Urology, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan; (J.-H.J.); (W.-C.H.); (W.-M.L.); (H.-H.L.); (C.-C.L.); (W.-J.W.)
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80756, Taiwan;
- Graduate Institute of Medicine, College of Medicine, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80708, Taiwan
- Department of Urology, Kaohsiung Municipal Ta-Tung Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University Hospital, Kaohsiung Medical University, Kaohsiung 80145, Taiwan
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +886-07-3121101 (ext. 6694); Fax: +886-07-3211033
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16
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Song S, Li N, Bai L, Gai P, Li F. Photo-Assisted Robust Anti-Interference Self-Powered Biosensing of MicroRNA Based on Pt-S Bonds and the Inorganic-Organic Hybridization Strategy. Anal Chem 2022; 94:1654-1660. [PMID: 35025211 DOI: 10.1021/acs.analchem.1c04135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/14/2022]
Abstract
Photo-assisted biofuel cell-based self-powered biosensors (PBFC-SPBs) possess the advantages of no need for external power supply, ease of sensing design, and simple instruments. In this work, a robust anti-interference PBFC-SPB for microRNA detection was constructed based on the Pt-S bond and the inorganic-organic hybridization strategy. The organic semiconductor [6,6]-phenyl-C61-butyric acid methylester@anthraquinone (PCBM@anthraquinone) served as an efficient light-harvesting material, and gold nanoparticle@Pt (AuNP@Pt) nanomaterials were immobilized on the surface via electrostatic adsorption for the binding of DNA. Notably, compared to Au-S bonds for DNA immobilization, the Pt-S bond exhibited better anti-interference ability. Ingeniously, cadmium sulfide quantum dots (CdS QDs) were close to the PCBM@anthraquinone substrate electrode to form sensitization structures, which was beneficial to enhance the photocurrent signal. Combining with the laccase-mimicking activity Cu2+/carbon nanotubes (Cu2+/CNTs) cathode, the PBFC-SPB for microRNA detection was achieved. Once the target existed, the identical sequence complementary microRNA would make DNA2/CdS dissociate and break away from the electrode, leading to a low signal. The linear detection range was 10 fM-100 pM, with the limit of determination of 2.4 fM (3S/N). The as-proposed strategy not only paves a new way for the design of photoelectrochemical biosensing but also opens a door for the construction of robust anti-interference bioassay for microRNA detection.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shichao Song
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Na Li
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Lipeng Bai
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Panpan Gai
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, People's Republic of China
| | - Feng Li
- College of Chemistry and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Qingdao Agricultural University, Qingdao 266109, People's Republic of China
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17
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Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare malignant entity arising from the liver and primarily affecting patients in late adolescence and young adulthood. FLC tumors are characterized by their unique histologic features and an only recently discovered genomic alteration: a chimeric fusion protein found in nearly all tumors. The rarity of these tumors coupled with the only recent acknowledgement of this genomic abnormality has likely led to disease under-recognition and de-prioritization of collaborative efforts aimed at establishing an evidence-guided standard of care. Surgical resection undoubtedly remains a mainstay of therapy and a necessity for cure but given the incidence of metastatic disease at diagnosis and high rates of distant relapse, systemic therapies remain a key component of disease control. There are few systemic therapies that have demonstrated proven benefit. Recent efforts have galvanized around single-institute or small consortia-based studies specifically focused on the enrollment of patients with FLC or use of agents with biologic rationale. This review will outline the current state of FLC epidemiology, histology, biology and trialed therapies derived from available published literature.
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18
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Wang X, Zhang W, Yang Y, Wang J, Qiu H, Liao L, Oikawa T, Wauthier E, Sethupathy P, Reid LM, Liu Z, He Z. A MicroRNA-Based Network Provides Potential Predictive Signatures and Reveals the Crucial Role of PI3K/AKT Signaling for Hepatic Lineage Maturation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2021; 9:670059. [PMID: 34141708 PMCID: PMC8204022 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2021.670059] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2021] [Accepted: 04/07/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Functions of miRNAs involved in tumorigenesis are well reported, yet, their roles in normal cell lineage commitment remain ambiguous. Here, we investigated a specific "transcription factor (TF)-miRNA-Target" regulatory network during the lineage maturation of biliary tree stem cells (BTSCs) into adult hepatocytes (hAHeps). Method Bioinformatic analysis was conducted based on our RNA-seq and microRNA-seq datasets with four human hepatic-lineage cell lines, including hBTSCs, hepatic stem cells (hHpSCs), hepatoblasts (hHBs), and hAHeps. Short time-series expression miner (STEM) analysis was performed to reveal the time-dependent dynamically changed miRNAs and mRNAs. GO and KEGG analyses were applied to reveal the potential function of key miRNAs and mRNAs. Then, the miRDB, miRTarBase, TargetScan, miRWalk, and DIANA-microT-CDS databases were adopted to predict the potential targets of miRNAs while the TransmiR v2.0 database was used to obtain the experimentally supported TFs that regulate miRNAs. The TCGA, Kaplan-Meier Plotter, and human protein atlas (HPA) databases and more than 10 sequencing data, including bulk RNA-seq, microRNA-seq, and scRNA-seq data related to hepatic development or lineage reprogramming, were obtained from both our or other published studies for validation. Results STEM analysis showed that during the maturation from hBTSCs to hAHeps, 52 miRNAs were downwardly expressed and 928 mRNA were upwardly expressed. Enrichment analyses revealed that those 52 miRNAs acted as pluripotency regulators for stem cells and participated in various novel signaling pathways, including PI3K/AKT, MAPK, and etc., while 928 mRNAs played important roles in liver-functional metabolism. With an extensive sorting of those key miRNAs and mRNAs based on the target prediction results, 23 genes were obtained which not only functioned as the targets of 17 miRNAs but were considered critical for the hepatic lineage commitment. A "TF-miRNA-Target" regulatory network for hepatic lineage commitment was therefore established and had been well validated by various datasets. The network revealed that the PI3K/AKT pathway was gradually suppressed during the hepatic commitment. Conclusion A total of 17 miRNAs act as suppressors during hepatic maturation mainly by regulating 23 targets and modulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. The regulatory network uncovers possible signatures and guidelines enabling us to identify or obtain the functional hepatocytes for future study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xicheng Wang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
| | - Wencheng Zhang
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
| | - Yong Yang
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Jiansong Wang
- Department of Traumatology, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Hua Qiu
- The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanchang University, Nanchang, China
| | - Lijun Liao
- Department of Anesthesiology and Pain Management, Shanghai East Hospital, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China
| | - Tsunekazu Oikawa
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Jikei University School of Medicine, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Eliane Wauthier
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine, Ithaca, NY, United States
| | - Lola M Reid
- Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, UNC School of Medicine, Chapel Hill, NC, United States
| | - Zhongmin Liu
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
| | - Zhiying He
- Institute for Regenerative Medicine, Shanghai East Hospital, School of Life Sciences and Technology, Tongji University School of Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Engineering Research Center of Stem Cells Translational Medicine, Shanghai, China.,Shanghai Institute of Stem Cell Research and Clinical Translation, Shanghai, China
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19
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MicroRNAs Regulating Hippo-YAP Signaling in Liver Cancer. Biomedicines 2021; 9:biomedicines9040347. [PMID: 33808155 PMCID: PMC8067275 DOI: 10.3390/biomedicines9040347] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2021] [Revised: 03/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/25/2021] [Indexed: 12/17/2022] Open
Abstract
Liver cancer is one of the most common cancers worldwide, and its prevalence and mortality rate are increasing due to the lack of biomarkers and effective treatments. The Hippo signaling pathway has long been known to control liver size, and genetic depletion of Hippo kinases leads to liver cancer in mice through activation of the downstream effectors yes-associated protein (YAP) and transcriptional coactivator with PDZ-binding motif (TAZ). Both YAP and TAZ not only reprogram tumor cells but also alter the tumor microenvironment to exert carcinogenic effects. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms of YAP/TAZ-mediated liver tumorigenesis will help overcome liver cancer. For decades, small noncoding RNAs, microRNAs (miRNAs), have been reported to play critical roles in the pathogenesis of many cancers, including liver cancer. However, the interactions between miRNAs and Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling in the liver are still largely unknown. Here, we review miRNAs that influence the proliferation, migration and apoptosis of tumor cells by modulating Hippo-YAP/TAZ signaling during hepatic tumorigenesis. Previous findings suggest that these miRNAs are potential biomarkers and therapeutic targets for the diagnosis, prognosis, and treatment of liver cancer.
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20
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Wang H, Cai X, Ma L. Curcumin Modifies Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition in Colorectal Cancer Through Regulation of miR-200c/EPM5. Cancer Manag Res 2020; 12:9405-9415. [PMID: 33061628 PMCID: PMC7534868 DOI: 10.2147/cmar.s260129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2020] [Accepted: 08/21/2020] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The serious side effect of current conventional treatments for patients with metastatic colorectal cancer (CRC) highlights the requirement of an alternative treatment strategy. Natural compounds, such as curcumin, have been gained much attention due to its low toxicity and anti-tumor effect. Methods qPCR and Western blot were used to measure the molecular changes induced by curcumin. Wound-healing assay and transwell assay were conducted to study the effect on cell migration and invasion. RT1 PCR array was performed to identify the miRNAs involved in curcumin-repressed EMT. Three algorithms and luciferase reporter assay were used to identify EPM5 as a target of miR-200c. The bioinformatical analysis of TCGA-COAD and other CRC cohorts were used to examine the association of EPM5 with EMT signatures and clinical relevance. The ectopic expression or siRNA-mediated knockdown of EPM5 was applied to study the role of EPM5 in CRC. Results Treatment with curcumin changed the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related gene expression, repressed cell migration and invasion in CRC cells. Its anti-tumor capability required the upregulation of miR-200c. EPM5 was a direct target of miR-200c and enriched in the consensus molecular subtype (CMS) 4 of CRC. Ectopic expression of EPM5 alone was sufficient to induce EMT in CRC. Downregulation of EPM5 was necessary for curcumin-repressed EMT, migration, and invasion. Higher expression of EPM5 was associated with the advanced TNM stages and poor survival in CRC. Conclusion Our data provide the first evidence that the curcumin inhibits EMT in CRC by upregulation of miR-200c and downregulation of EPM5, and the use of curcumin might be able to prevent or delay CRC progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hui Wang
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Xiaolong Cai
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
| | - Longyang Ma
- Department of Emergency Surgery, Shaanxi Provincial People's Hospital, Xi'an, Shaanxi Province, People's Republic of China
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21
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Exposure to desflurane anesthesia confers colorectal cancer cells metastatic capacity through deregulation of miR-34a/LOXL3. Eur J Cancer Prev 2020; 30:143-153. [PMID: 32658033 DOI: 10.1097/cej.0000000000000608] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
Due to high potency and low toxicity, desflurane has been widely used during surgery. Recent evidence that the use of desflurane was associated with colorectal cancer (CRC) tumor metastasis and poor prognosis raising concerns about the safety of desflurane. However, the mechanism was uncovered. CRC cells were exposed to desflurane, the changes in morphology and epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related genes were evaluated. Transwell assay was used to study the migration and invasion effect. Xenograft was performed to study the tumor formation ability of desflurane-treated cells in vivo. Dual-luciferase reporter assay was conducted to verify the target of microRNA (miR)-34a. Knockdown or overexpression of LOXL3 was used to investigate the mechanism of desflurane-induced EMT. The association of LOXL3 with CRC molecular subtypes and clinical relevance was studied by analysis of public datasets. Exposure to desflurane induced EMT, migration, and invasion in CRC cells. Mice injected with desflurane-treated cells formed more tumors in the lungs. Downregulation of miR-34a and upregulation of LOXL3 were required for desflurane-induced EMT in CRC cells. LOXL3 was a direct target of miR-34a. Overexpression of LOXL3 rescued miR-34a-repressed EMT after exposure to desflurane. Elevated expression of LOXL3 was enriched in CMS4 and CRIS-B subtypes. Patients with high expression of LOXL3 showed more lymph node metastasis, as well as poor survival. Desflurane induced EMT and metastasis in CRC through deregulation of miR-34a/LOXL3 axis. Clinical miR-34a mimic or inhibitor targeting LOXL3 might have a potential protective role when patients with CRC anesthetized by desflurane.
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22
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de Oliveira S, Houseright RA, Korte BG, Huttenlocher A. DnaJ-PKAc fusion induces liver inflammation in a zebrafish model of fibrolamellar carcinoma. Dis Model Mech 2020; 13:dmm042564. [PMID: 32102783 PMCID: PMC7197716 DOI: 10.1242/dmm.042564] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2019] [Accepted: 02/14/2020] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare liver cancer that affects adolescents and young adults. Genomic analysis of FLC has revealed a 400 kb deletion in chromosome 19 that leads to the chimeric transcript DNAJB1-PRKACA (DnaJ-PKAc), comprised of the first exon of heat shock protein 40 (DNAJB1) and exons 2-10 of the catalytic subunit of protein kinase A (PRKACA). Here, we report a new zebrafish model of FLC induced by ectopic expression of zebrafish Dnaja-Pkaca (zfDnaJa-Pkaca) in hepatocytes that is amenable to live imaging of early innate immune inflammation. Expression of zfDnaJa-Pkaca in hepatocytes induces hepatomegaly and increased hepatocyte size. In addition, FLC larvae exhibit early innate immune inflammation characterized by early infiltration of neutrophils and macrophages into the liver microenvironment. Increased Caspase-a (the zebrafish homolog for human caspase-1) activity was also found in the liver of FLC larvae, and pharmacological inhibition of Tnfα and caspase-a decreased liver size and inflammation. Overall, these findings show that innate immune inflammation is an early feature in a zebrafish model of FLC and that pharmacological inhibition of TNFα or caspase-1 activity might be targets to treat inflammation and progression in FLC patients.This article has an associated First Person interview with the first author of the paper.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sofia de Oliveira
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Ruth A Houseright
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Benjamin G Korte
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
| | - Anna Huttenlocher
- Department of Medical Microbiology and Immunology, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53706, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI 53792, USA
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23
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Dinh TA, Sritharan R, Smith FD, Francisco AB, Ma RK, Bunaciu RP, Kanke M, Danko CG, Massa AP, Scott JD, Sethupathy P. Hotspots of Aberrant Enhancer Activity in Fibrolamellar Carcinoma Reveal Candidate Oncogenic Pathways and Therapeutic Vulnerabilities. Cell Rep 2020; 31:107509. [PMID: 32294439 PMCID: PMC7474926 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2020.03.073] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 02/11/2020] [Accepted: 03/23/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is a rare, therapeutically intractable liver cancer that disproportionately affects youth. Although FLC tumors exhibit a distinct gene expression profile, the chromatin regulatory landscape and the genes most critical for tumor cell survival remain unclear. Here, we use chromatin run-on sequencing to discover ∼7,000 enhancers and 141 enhancer hotspots activated in FLC relative to nonmalignant liver. Bioinformatic analyses reveal aberrant ERK/MEK signaling and candidate master transcriptional regulators. We also define the genes most strongly associated with hotspots of FLC enhancer activity, including CA12 and SLC16A14. Treatment of FLC cell models with inhibitors of CA12 or SLC16A14 independently reduce cell viability and/or significantly enhance the effect of the MEK inhibitor cobimetinib. These findings highlight molecular targets for drug development, as well as drug combination approaches.
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Affiliation(s)
- Timothy A Dinh
- Curriculum in Genetics & Molecular Biology, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC 27599, USA; Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Ramja Sritharan
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - F Donelson Smith
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Adam B Francisco
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Rosanna K Ma
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Rodica P Bunaciu
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Matt Kanke
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Charles G Danko
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA; Baker Institute for Animal Health, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - Andrew P Massa
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA
| | - John D Scott
- Department of Pharmacology, University of Washington Medical Center, Seattle, WA 98195, USA
| | - Praveen Sethupathy
- Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Cornell University, Ithaca, NY 14853, USA.
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24
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Vyas M, Hechtman JF, Zhang Y, Benayed R, Yavas A, Askan G, Shia J, Klimstra DS, Basturk O. DNAJB1-PRKACA fusions occur in oncocytic pancreatic and biliary neoplasms and are not specific for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. Mod Pathol 2020; 33:648-656. [PMID: 31676785 PMCID: PMC7125037 DOI: 10.1038/s41379-019-0398-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Accepted: 10/02/2019] [Indexed: 12/19/2022]
Abstract
Recently discovered DNAJB1-PRKACA oncogenic fusions have been considered diagnostic for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma. In this study, we describe six pancreatobiliary neoplasms with PRKACA fusions, five of which harbor the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion. All neoplasms were subjected to a hybridization capture-based next-generation sequencing assay (MSK-IMPACT), which enables the identification of sequence mutations, copy number alterations, and selected structural rearrangements involving ≥410 genes (n = 6) and/or to a custom targeted, RNA-based panel (MSK-Fusion) that utilizes Archer Anchored Multiplex PCR technology and next-generation sequencing to detect gene fusions in 62 genes (n = 2). Selected neoplasms also underwent FISH analysis, albumin mRNA in-situ hybridization, and arginase-1 immunohistochemical labeling (n = 3). Five neoplasms were pancreatic, and one arose in the intrahepatic bile ducts. All revealed at least focal oncocytic morphology: three cases were diagnosed as intraductal oncocytic papillary neoplasms, and three as intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms with mixed oncocytic and pancreatobiliary or gastric features. Four cases had an invasive carcinoma component composed of oncocytic cells. Five cases revealed DNAJB1-PRKACA fusions and one revealed an ATP1B1-PRKACA fusion. None of the cases tested were positive for albumin or arginase-1. Our data prove that DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion is neither exclusive nor diagnostic for fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, and caution should be exercised in diagnosing liver tumors with DNAJB1-PRKACA fusions as fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, particularly if a pancreatic lesion is present. Moreover, considering DNAJB1-PRKACA fusions lead to upregulated protein kinase activity and that this upregulated protein kinase activity has a significant role in tumorigenesis of fibrolamellar hepatocellular carcinoma, protein kinase inhibition could have therapeutic potential in the treatment of these pancreatobiliary neoplasms as well, once a suitable drug is developed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monika Vyas
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY, US
| | | | | | | | | | - Gokce Askan
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY, US
| | - Jinru Shia
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, NY, US
| | | | - Olca Basturk
- Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
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25
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Jewell ML, Gibson JR, Guy CD, Hyun J, Du K, Oh SH, Premont RT, Hsu DS, Ribar T, Gregory SG, Diehl AME. Single-Cell RNA Sequencing Identifies Yes-Associated Protein 1-Dependent Hepatic Mesothelial Progenitors in Fibrolamellar Carcinoma. THE AMERICAN JOURNAL OF PATHOLOGY 2020; 190:93-107. [PMID: 31669305 PMCID: PMC10069284 DOI: 10.1016/j.ajpath.2019.09.018] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2019] [Revised: 08/23/2019] [Accepted: 09/26/2019] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
Fibrolamellar carcinoma (FLC) is characterized by in-frame fusion of DnaJ heat shock protein family (Hsp40) member B1 (DNAJB1) with protein kinase cAMP-activated catalytic subunit α (PRKACA) and by dense desmoplasia. Surgery is the only effective treatment because mechanisms supporting tumor survival are unknown. We used single-cell RNA sequencing to characterize a patient-derived FLC xenograft model and identify therapeutic targets. Human FLC cells segregated into four discrete clusters that all expressed the oncogene Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1). The two communities most enriched with cells coexpressing FLC markers [CD68, A-kinase anchoring protein 12 (AKAP12), cytokeratin 7, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EPCAM), and carbamoyl palmitate synthase-1] also had the most cells expressing YAP1 and its proproliferative target genes (AREG and CCND1), suggesting these were proliferative FLC cell clusters. The other two clusters were enriched with cells expressing profibrotic YAP1 target genes, ACTA2, ELN, and COL1A1, indicating these were fibrogenic FLC cells. All clusters expressed the YAP1 target gene and mesothelial progenitor marker mesothelin, and many mesothelin-positive cells coexpressed albumin. Trajectory analysis predicted that the four FLC communities were derived from a single cell type transitioning among phenotypic states. After establishing a novel FLC cell line that harbored the DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion, YAP1 was inhibited, which significantly reduced expression of known YAP1 target genes as well as cell growth and migration. Thus, both FLC epithelial and stromal cells appear to arise from DNAJB1-PRKACA fusion in a YAP1-dependent liver mesothelial progenitor, identifying YAP1 as a target for FLC therapy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mark L Jewell
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jason R Gibson
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Cynthia D Guy
- Department of Pathology, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Jeongeun Hyun
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Kuo Du
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Seh-Hoon Oh
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Richard T Premont
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - David S Hsu
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Thomas Ribar
- Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Simon G Gregory
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina
| | - Anna Mae E Diehl
- Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Medicine, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina.
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