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Tamburri S, Rustichelli S, Amato S, Pasini D. Navigating the complexity of Polycomb repression: Enzymatic cores and regulatory modules. Mol Cell 2024:S1097-2765(24)00628-2. [PMID: 39178860 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.07.030] [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: 05/18/2024] [Revised: 07/12/2024] [Accepted: 07/30/2024] [Indexed: 08/26/2024]
Abstract
Polycomb proteins are a fundamental repressive system that plays crucial developmental roles by orchestrating cell-type-specific transcription programs that govern cell identity. Direct alterations of Polycomb activity are indeed implicated in human pathologies, including developmental disorders and cancer. General Polycomb repression is coordinated by three distinct activities that regulate the deposition of two histone post-translational modifications: tri-methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) and histone H2A at lysine 119 (H2AK119ub1). These activities exist in large and heterogeneous multiprotein ensembles consisting of common enzymatic cores regulated by heterogeneous non-catalytic modules composed of a large number of accessory proteins with diverse biochemical properties. Here, we have analyzed the current molecular knowledge, focusing on the functional interaction between the core enzymatic activities and their regulation mediated by distinct accessory modules. This provides a comprehensive analysis of the molecular details that control the establishment and maintenance of Polycomb repression, examining their underlying coordination and highlighting missing information and emerging new features of Polycomb-mediated transcriptional control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simone Tamburri
- IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy; University of Milan, Department of Health Sciences, Via A. di Rudinì 8, 20142 Milan, Italy.
| | - Samantha Rustichelli
- IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Simona Amato
- IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy
| | - Diego Pasini
- IEO, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Department of Experimental Oncology, Via Adamello 16, 20139 Milan, Italy; University of Milan, Department of Health Sciences, Via A. di Rudinì 8, 20142 Milan, Italy.
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2
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Wong LH, Tremethick DJ. Multifunctional histone variants in genome function. Nat Rev Genet 2024:10.1038/s41576-024-00759-1. [PMID: 39138293 DOI: 10.1038/s41576-024-00759-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 08/15/2024]
Abstract
Histones are integral components of eukaryotic chromatin that have a pivotal role in the organization and function of the genome. The dynamic regulation of chromatin involves the incorporation of histone variants, which can dramatically alter its structural and functional properties. Contrary to an earlier view that limited individual histone variants to specific genomic functions, new insights have revealed that histone variants exert multifaceted roles involving all aspects of genome function, from governing patterns of gene expression at precise genomic loci to participating in genome replication, repair and maintenance. This conceptual change has led to a new understanding of the intricate interplay between chromatin and DNA-dependent processes and how this connection translates into normal and abnormal cellular functions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lee H Wong
- Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Biomedicine Discovery Institute, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - David J Tremethick
- The John Curtin School of Medical Research, The Australian National University, Canberra, Australian Capial Territory, Australia.
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3
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Ryba A, Özdemir Z, Nissimov N, Hönikl L, Neidert N, Jakobs M, Kalasauskas D, Krigers A, Thomé C, Freyschlag C, Ringel F, Unterberg A, Dao Trong P, Beck J, Heiland D, Meyer B, Vajkoczy P, Onken J, Stummer W, Suero Molina E, Gempt J, Westphal M, Schüller U, Mohme M. Insights from a multicenter study on adult H3 K27M-mutated glioma: Surgical resection's limited influence on overall survival, ATRX as molecular prognosticator. Neuro Oncol 2024; 26:1479-1493. [PMID: 38507506 PMCID: PMC11300017 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noae061] [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: 11/04/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND H3 K27M-mutated gliomas were first described as a new grade 4 entity in the 2016 World Health Organization classification. Current studies have focused on its typical appearance in children and young adults, increasing the need to better understand the prognostic factors and impact of surgery on adults. Here, we report a multicentric study of this entity in adults. METHODS We included molecularly confirmed H3 K27M-mutated glioma cases in patients ≥ 18 years diagnosed between 2016 and 2022. Clinical, radiological, and surgical features were analyzed. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to identify prognostic factors. RESULTS Among 70 patients with a mean age of 36.1 years, the median overall survival (OS) was 13.6 ± 14 months. Gross-total resection was achieved in 14.3% of patients, whereas 30% had a subtotal resection and 54.3% a biopsy. Tumors located in telencephalon/diencephalon/myelencephalon were associated with a poorer OS, while a location in the mesencephalon/metencephalon showed a significantly longer OS (8.7 vs. 25.0 months, P = .007). Preoperative Karnofsky-Performance Score (KPS) ≤ 80 showed a reduced OS (4.2 vs. 18 months, P = .02). Furthermore, ATRX loss, found in 25.7%, was independently associated with an increased OS (31 vs. 8.3 months, P = .0029). Notably, patients undergoing resection showed no survival benefit over biopsy (12 vs. 11 months, P = .4006). CONCLUSIONS The present study describes surgical features of H3 K27M-mutated glioma in adulthood in a large multicentric study. Our data reveal that ATRX status, location and KPS significantly impact OS in H3 K27M-mutated glioma. Importantly, our dataset indicates that resection does not offer a survival advantage over biopsy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alice Ryba
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Zeynep Özdemir
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Nitzan Nissimov
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Hönikl
- Department of Neurosurgery, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Nicolas Neidert
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Martin Jakobs
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Stereotactic Neurosurgery, Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Darius Kalasauskas
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Aleksandrs Krigers
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Claudius Thomé
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | | | - Florian Ringel
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Medical Center Mainz, Mainz, Germany
| | - Andreas Unterberg
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Philip Dao Trong
- Department of Neurosurgery, Heidelberg University Hospital, Heidelberg, Germany
- Heidelberg University, Medical Faculty, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Jürgen Beck
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Dieter Henrik Heiland
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center - University of Freiburg, Freiburg, Germany
| | - Bernhard Meyer
- Department of Neurosurgery, Technical University Munich, Munich, Germany
| | - Peter Vajkoczy
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Julia Onken
- Department of Neurosurgery, Charité University Hospital Berlin, Berlin, Germany
| | - Walter Stummer
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Eric Suero Molina
- Department of Neurosurgery, University Hospital of Münster, Münster, Germany
| | - Jens Gempt
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Manfred Westphal
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Ulrich Schüller
- Institute of Neuropathology, Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
- Research Institute Children’s Cancer Center Hamburg, Hamburg, Germany
| | - Malte Mohme
- Department of Neurosurgery, Medical Center Hamburg-Eppendorf, Hamburg, Germany
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4
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Algranati D, Oren R, Dassa B, Fellus-Alyagor L, Plotnikov A, Barr H, Harmelin A, London N, Ron G, Furth N, Shema E. Dual targeting of histone deacetylases and MYC as potential treatment strategy for H3-K27M pediatric gliomas. eLife 2024; 13:RP96257. [PMID: 39093942 PMCID: PMC11296706 DOI: 10.7554/elife.96257] [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] [Indexed: 08/04/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) are aggressive and fatal pediatric tumors of the central nervous system that are highly resistant to treatments. Lysine to methionine substitution of residue 27 on histone H3 (H3-K27M) is a driver mutation in DMGs, reshaping the epigenetic landscape of these cells to promote tumorigenesis. H3-K27M gliomas are characterized by deregulation of histone acetylation and methylation pathways, as well as the oncogenic MYC pathway. In search of effective treatment, we examined the therapeutic potential of dual targeting of histone deacetylases (HDACs) and MYC in these tumors. Treatment of H3-K27M patient-derived cells with Sulfopin, an inhibitor shown to block MYC-driven tumors in vivo, in combination with the HDAC inhibitor Vorinostat, resulted in substantial decrease in cell viability. Moreover, transcriptome and epigenome profiling revealed synergistic effect of this drug combination in downregulation of prominent oncogenic pathways such as mTOR. Finally, in vivo studies of patient-derived orthotopic xenograft models showed significant tumor growth reduction in mice treated with the drug combination. These results highlight the combined treatment with PIN1 and HDAC inhibitors as a promising therapeutic approach for these aggressive tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Danielle Algranati
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Roni Oren
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Bareket Dassa
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Liat Fellus-Alyagor
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Alexander Plotnikov
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery of the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Haim Barr
- Wohl Institute for Drug Discovery of the Nancy and Stephen Grand Israel National Center for Personalized Medicine, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Alon Harmelin
- Department of Veterinary Resources, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Nir London
- Department of Chemical and Structural Biology, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Guy Ron
- Racah Institute of Physics, Hebrew UniversityJerusalemIsrael
| | - Noa Furth
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
| | - Efrat Shema
- Department of Immunology and Regenerative Biology, Weizmann Institute of ScienceRehovotIsrael
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5
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Johnston MJ, Lee JJY, Hu B, Nikolic A, Hasheminasabgorji E, Baguette A, Paik S, Chen H, Kumar S, Chen CCL, Jessa S, Balin P, Fong V, Zwaig M, Michealraj KA, Chen X, Zhang Y, Varadharajan S, Billon P, Juretic N, Daniels C, Rao AN, Giannini C, Thompson EM, Garami M, Hauser P, Pocza T, Ra YS, Cho BK, Kim SK, Wang KC, Lee JY, Grajkowska W, Perek-Polnik M, Agnihotri S, Mack S, Ellezam B, Weil A, Rich J, Bourque G, Chan JA, Yong VW, Lupien M, Ragoussis J, Kleinman C, Majewski J, Blanchette M, Jabado N, Taylor MD, Gallo M. TULIPs decorate the three-dimensional genome of PFA ependymoma. Cell 2024:S0092-8674(24)00697-4. [PMID: 38986619 DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2024.06.023] [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: 08/27/2021] [Revised: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/18/2024] [Indexed: 07/12/2024]
Abstract
Posterior fossa group A (PFA) ependymoma is a lethal brain cancer diagnosed in infants and young children. The lack of driver events in the PFA linear genome led us to search its 3D genome for characteristic features. Here, we reconstructed 3D genomes from diverse childhood tumor types and uncovered a global topology in PFA that is highly reminiscent of stem and progenitor cells in a variety of human tissues. A remarkable feature exclusively present in PFA are type B ultra long-range interactions in PFAs (TULIPs), regions separated by great distances along the linear genome that interact with each other in the 3D nuclear space with surprising strength. TULIPs occur in all PFA samples and recur at predictable genomic coordinates, and their formation is induced by expression of EZHIP. The universality of TULIPs across PFA samples suggests a conservation of molecular principles that could be exploited therapeutically.
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Affiliation(s)
- Michael J Johnston
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - John J Y Lee
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Bo Hu
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada; Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Ana Nikolic
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Elham Hasheminasabgorji
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Audrey Baguette
- Quantitative Life Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B9, Canada
| | - Seungil Paik
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Haifen Chen
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada
| | - Sachin Kumar
- Department of Neurological Surgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Carol C L Chen
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada
| | - Selin Jessa
- Quantitative Life Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B9, Canada
| | - Polina Balin
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Vernon Fong
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada
| | - Melissa Zwaig
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada
| | | | - Xun Chen
- Department of Anatomy and Cell Biology, Kyoto University, Kyoto 606-8501, Japan
| | - Yanlin Zhang
- School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada
| | - Srinidhi Varadharajan
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Pierre Billon
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Nikoleta Juretic
- Department of Pediatrics, McGill University and The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada
| | - Craig Daniels
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada
| | | | - Caterina Giannini
- Pediatric Hematology-Oncology, Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55905, USA
| | - Eric M Thompson
- Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, USA
| | - Miklos Garami
- Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Peter Hauser
- Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Timea Pocza
- Department of Pediatrics, Semmelweis University, H-1094 Budapest, Hungary
| | - Young Shin Ra
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Ulsan, Asan Medical Center, Seoul 05505, South Korea
| | - Byung-Kyu Cho
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul 30322, South Korea
| | - Seung-Ki Kim
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul 30322, South Korea
| | - Kyu-Chang Wang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul 30322, South Korea
| | - Ji Yeoun Lee
- Department of Neurosurgery, Division of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Seoul National University Children's Hospital, Seoul 30322, South Korea
| | - Wieslawa Grajkowska
- Department of Pathology, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, University of Warsaw, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Marta Perek-Polnik
- Department of Oncology, The Children's Memorial Health Institute, University of Warsaw, 04-730 Warsaw, Poland
| | - Sameer Agnihotri
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, United States of America
| | - Stephen Mack
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Benjamin Ellezam
- Department of Pathology, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Alex Weil
- Department of Pediatric Neurosurgery, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Sainte-Justine, Université de Montréal, Montreal, QC H3T 1C5, Canada
| | - Jeremy Rich
- University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Hillman Cancer Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA; Department of Neurology, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, PA 15213, USA
| | - Guillaume Bourque
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada; McGill Genome Centre, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Jennifer A Chan
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - V Wee Yong
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Oncology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Clinical Neurosciences, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Hotchkiss Brain Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada
| | - Mathieu Lupien
- Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, University Health Network, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Medical Biophysics, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; Ontario Institute for Cancer Research, Toronto, ON M5G 0A3, Canada
| | - Jiannis Ragoussis
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada; McGill Genome Centre, Montreal, QC H3A 0G1, Canada
| | - Claudia Kleinman
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada; Lady Davis Research Institute, Jewish General Hospital, Montreal, QC H3T 1E2, Canada
| | - Jacek Majewski
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada
| | - Mathieu Blanchette
- Quantitative Life Sciences, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 1B9, Canada; School of Computer Science, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 2A7, Canada
| | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC H2A 1B1, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, McGill University and The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC H4A 3J1, Canada; Division of Experimental Medicine, Department of Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC H3A 3J1, Canada.
| | - Michael D Taylor
- The Arthur and Sonia Labatt Brain Tumor Research Center, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Developmental & Stem Cell Biology Program, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON M5G 0A4, Canada; Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON M5G 1L7, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cancer and Hematology Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
| | - Marco Gallo
- Arnie Charbonneau Cancer Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Alberta Children's Hospital Research Institute, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB T2N 4N1, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Cancer and Hematology Center, Texas Children's Hospital, Houston, TX 77030, USA; Dan L Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center, Baylor College of Medicine, Houston, TX 77030, USA.
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6
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Saratsis AM, Knowles T, Petrovic A, Nazarian J. H3K27M mutant glioma: Disease definition and biological underpinnings. Neuro Oncol 2024; 26:S92-S100. [PMID: 37818718 PMCID: PMC11066930 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad164] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/06/2023] [Indexed: 10/12/2023] Open
Abstract
High-grade glioma (HGG) is the most common cause of cancer death in children and the most common primary central nervous system tumor in adults. While pediatric HGG was once thought to be biologically similar to the adult form of disease, research has shown these malignancies to be significantly molecularly distinct, necessitating distinct approaches to their clinical management. However, emerging data have shown shared molecular events in pediatric and adult HGG including the histone H3K27M mutation. This somatic missense mutation occurs in genes encoding one of two isoforms of the Histone H3 protein, H3F3A (H3.3), or HIST1H3B (H3.1), and is detected in up to 80% of pediatric diffuse midline gliomas and in up to 60% of adult diffuse gliomas. Importantly, the H3K27M mutation is associated with poorer overall survival and response to therapy compared to patients with H3 wild-type tumors. Here, we review the clinical features and biological underpinnings of pediatric and adult H3K27M mutant glioma, offering a groundwork for understanding current research and clinical approaches for the care of patients suffering with this challenging disease.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Antonela Petrovic
- DMG Research Center, Department of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital, University of Zürich, Zürich, Switzerland
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children’s National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- Brain Tumor Institute, Children’s National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- DMG Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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7
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Mueller S, Kline C, Franson A, van der Lugt J, Prados M, Waszak SM, Plasschaert SLA, Molinaro AM, Koschmann C, Nazarian J. Rational combination platform trial design for children and young adults with diffuse midline glioma: A report from PNOC. Neuro Oncol 2024; 26:S125-S135. [PMID: 38124481 PMCID: PMC11066905 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noad181] [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: 05/23/2023] [Indexed: 12/23/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is a devastating pediatric brain tumor unresponsive to hundreds of clinical trials. Approximately 80% of DMGs harbor H3K27M oncohistones, which reprogram the epigenome to increase the metabolic profile of the tumor cells. Methods We have previously shown preclinical efficacy of targeting both oxidative phosphorylation and glycolysis through treatment with ONC201, which activates the mitochondrial protease ClpP, and paxalisib, which inhibits PI3K/mTOR, respectively. Results ONC201 and paxalisib combination treatment aimed at inducing metabolic distress led to the design of the first DMG-specific platform trial PNOC022 (NCT05009992). Conclusions Here, we expand on the PNOC022 rationale and discuss various considerations, including liquid biome, microbiome, and genomic biomarkers, quality-of-life endpoints, and novel imaging modalities, such that we offer direction on future clinical trials in DMG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Mueller
- Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Cassie Kline
- Division of Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Andrea Franson
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | | | - Michael Prados
- Department of Neurosurgery and Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Sebastian M Waszak
- Department of Neurology, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
- Laboratory of Computational Neuro-Oncology, Swiss Institute for Experimental Cancer Research, School of Life Sciences, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | - Annette M Molinaro
- Division of Biomedical Statistics and Informatics, Department of Neurosurgery, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Carl Koschmann
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children’s National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- Brain Tumor Institute, Children’s National Health System, Washington, District of Columbia, USA
- DMG Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital, University of Zurich, Zürich, Switzerland
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8
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Arecco N, Mocavini I, Blanco E, Ballaré C, Libman E, Bonnal S, Irimia M, Di Croce L. Alternative splicing decouples local from global PRC2 activity. Mol Cell 2024; 84:1049-1061.e8. [PMID: 38452766 DOI: 10.1016/j.molcel.2024.02.011] [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: 03/01/2023] [Revised: 12/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/12/2024] [Indexed: 03/09/2024]
Abstract
The Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) mediates epigenetic maintenance of gene silencing in eukaryotes via methylation of histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27). Accessory factors define two distinct subtypes, PRC2.1 and PRC2.2, with different actions and chromatin-targeting mechanisms. The mechanisms orchestrating PRC2 assembly are not fully understood. Here, we report that alternative splicing (AS) of PRC2 core component SUZ12 generates an uncharacterized isoform SUZ12-S, which co-exists with the canonical SUZ12-L isoform in virtually all tissues and developmental stages. SUZ12-S drives PRC2.1 formation and favors PRC2 dimerization. While SUZ12-S is necessary and sufficient for the repression of target genes via promoter-proximal H3K27me3 deposition, SUZ12-L maintains global H3K27 methylation levels. Mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) lacking either isoform exit pluripotency more slowly and fail to acquire neuronal cell identity. Our findings reveal a physiological mechanism regulating PRC2 assembly and higher-order interactions in eutherians, with impacts on H3K27 methylation and gene repression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Niccolò Arecco
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Carrer del Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain.
| | - Ivano Mocavini
- Genome Biology Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Carrer del Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Enrique Blanco
- Genome Biology Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Carrer del Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Cecilia Ballaré
- Genome Biology Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Carrer del Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Elina Libman
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Carrer del Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Sophie Bonnal
- Genome Biology Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Carrer del Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain
| | - Manuel Irimia
- Systems and Synthetic Biology Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Carrer del Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Luciano Di Croce
- Genome Biology Unit, Centre for Genomic Regulation (CRG), The Barcelona Institute for Science and Technology, Carrer del Doctor Aiguader 88, Barcelona 08003, Spain; Universitat Pompeu Fabra (UPF), Barcelona, Spain; ICREA, Passeig Lluís Companys 23, 08010 Barcelona, Spain.
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9
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Gibson TJ, Larson ED, Harrison MM. Protein-intrinsic properties and context-dependent effects regulate pioneer factor binding and function. Nat Struct Mol Biol 2024; 31:548-558. [PMID: 38365978 PMCID: PMC11261375 DOI: 10.1038/s41594-024-01231-8] [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: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 01/22/2024] [Indexed: 02/18/2024]
Abstract
Chromatin is a barrier to the binding of many transcription factors. By contrast, pioneer factors access nucleosomal targets and promote chromatin opening. Despite binding to target motifs in closed chromatin, many pioneer factors display cell-type-specific binding and activity. The mechanisms governing pioneer factor occupancy and the relationship between chromatin occupancy and opening remain unclear. We studied three Drosophila transcription factors with distinct DNA-binding domains and biological functions: Zelda, Grainy head and Twist. We demonstrated that the level of chromatin occupancy is a key determinant of pioneering activity. Multiple factors regulate occupancy, including motif content, local chromatin and protein concentration. Regions outside the DNA-binding domain are required for binding and chromatin opening. Our results show that pioneering activity is not a binary feature intrinsic to a protein but occurs on a spectrum and is regulated by a variety of protein-intrinsic and cell-type-specific features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J Gibson
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Elizabeth D Larson
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA
| | - Melissa M Harrison
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA.
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10
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Satgunaseelan L, Sy J, Shivalingam B, Sim HW, Alexander KL, Buckland ME. Prognostic and predictive biomarkers in central nervous system tumours: the molecular state of play. Pathology 2024; 56:158-169. [PMID: 38233331 DOI: 10.1016/j.pathol.2023.11.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 01/19/2024]
Abstract
Central nervous system (CNS) tumours were one of the first cancer types to adopt and integrate molecular profiling into routine clinical diagnosis in 2016. The vast majority of these biomarkers, used to discriminate between tumour types, also offered prognostic information. With the advent of The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and other large genomic datasets, further prognostic sub-stratification was possible within tumour types, leading to increased precision in CNS tumour grading. This review outlines the evolution of the molecular landscape of adult CNS tumours, through the prism of World Health Organization (WHO) Classifications. We begin our journey in the pre-molecular era, where high-grade gliomas were divided into 'primary' and 'secondary' glioblastomas. Molecular alterations explaining these clinicopathological observations were the first branching points of glioma diagnostics, with the discovery of IDH1/2 mutations and 1p/19q codeletion. Subsequently, the rigorous characterisation of paediatric gliomas led to the unearthing of histone H3 alterations as a key event in gliomagenesis, which also had implications for young adult patients. Simultaneously, studies investigating prognostic biomarkers within tumour types were undertaken. Certain genomic phenotypes were found to portend unfavourable outcomes, for example, MYCN amplification in spinal ependymoma. The arrival of methylation profiling, having revolutionised the diagnosis of CNS tumours, now promises to bring increased prognostic accuracy, as has been shown in meningiomas. While MGMT promoter hypermethylation has remained a reliable biomarker of response to cytotoxic chemotherapy, targeted therapy in CNS tumours has unfortunately not had the success of other cancers. Therefore, predictive biomarkers have lagged behind the identification of prognostic biomarkers in CNS tumours. Emerging research from new clinical trials is cause for guarded optimism and may shift our conceptualisation of predictive biomarker testing in CNS tumours.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laveniya Satgunaseelan
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Neurosurgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Joanne Sy
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Brindha Shivalingam
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Neurosurgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Hao-Wen Sim
- Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Medical Oncology, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Kimberley L Alexander
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Department of Neurosurgery, Chris O'Brien Lifehouse, Sydney, NSW, Australia; School of Medical Sciences, Faculty of Medicine and Health, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia
| | - Michael E Buckland
- Department of Neuropathology, Royal Prince Alfred Hospital, Sydney, NSW, Australia; Sydney Medical School, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, The University of Sydney, Sydney, NSW, Australia.
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11
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Duchatel RJ, Jackson ER, Parackal SG, Kiltschewskij D, Findlay IJ, Mannan A, Staudt DE, Thomas BC, Germon ZP, Laternser S, Kearney PS, Jamaluddin MFB, Douglas AM, Beitaki T, McEwen HP, Persson ML, Hocke EA, Jain V, Aksu M, Manning EE, Murray HC, Verrills NM, Sun CX, Daniel P, Vilain RE, Skerrett-Byrne DA, Nixon B, Hua S, de Bock CE, Colino-Sanguino Y, Valdes-Mora F, Tsoli M, Ziegler DS, Cairns MJ, Raabe EH, Vitanza NA, Hulleman E, Phoenix TN, Koschmann C, Alvaro F, Dayas CV, Tinkle CL, Wheeler H, Whittle JR, Eisenstat DD, Firestein R, Mueller S, Valvi S, Hansford JR, Ashley DM, Gregory SG, Kilburn LB, Nazarian J, Cain JE, Dun MD. PI3K/mTOR is a therapeutically targetable genetic dependency in diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma. J Clin Invest 2024; 134:e170329. [PMID: 38319732 PMCID: PMC10940093 DOI: 10.1172/jci170329] [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: 03/08/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 02/08/2024] Open
Abstract
Diffuse midline glioma (DMG), including tumors diagnosed in the brainstem (diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma; DIPG), are uniformly fatal brain tumors that lack effective treatment. Analysis of CRISPR/Cas9 loss-of-function gene deletion screens identified PIK3CA and MTOR as targetable molecular dependencies across patient derived models of DIPG, highlighting the therapeutic potential of the blood-brain barrier-penetrant PI3K/Akt/mTOR inhibitor, paxalisib. At the human-equivalent maximum tolerated dose, mice treated with paxalisib experienced systemic glucose feedback and increased insulin levels commensurate with patients using PI3K inhibitors. To exploit genetic dependence and overcome resistance while maintaining compliance and therapeutic benefit, we combined paxalisib with the antihyperglycemic drug metformin. Metformin restored glucose homeostasis and decreased phosphorylation of the insulin receptor in vivo, a common mechanism of PI3K-inhibitor resistance, extending survival of orthotopic models. DIPG models treated with paxalisib increased calcium-activated PKC signaling. The brain penetrant PKC inhibitor enzastaurin, in combination with paxalisib, synergistically extended the survival of multiple orthotopic patient-derived and immunocompetent syngeneic allograft models; benefits potentiated in combination with metformin and standard-of-care radiotherapy. Therapeutic adaptation was assessed using spatial transcriptomics and ATAC-Seq, identifying changes in myelination and tumor immune microenvironment crosstalk. Collectively, this study has identified what we believe to be a clinically relevant DIPG therapeutic combinational strategy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryan J. Duchatel
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- Paediatric Stream, Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research, College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Evangeline R. Jackson
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- Paediatric Stream, Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research, College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sarah G. Parackal
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Dylan Kiltschewskij
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Izac J. Findlay
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- Paediatric Stream, Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research, College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Abdul Mannan
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Dilana E. Staudt
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- Paediatric Stream, Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research, College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Bryce C. Thomas
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- Paediatric Stream, Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research, College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Zacary P. Germon
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Sandra Laternser
- DIPG/DMG Research Center Zurich, Children’s Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Padraic S. Kearney
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - M. Fairuz B. Jamaluddin
- School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Alicia M. Douglas
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Tyrone Beitaki
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Holly P. McEwen
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Mika L. Persson
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- Paediatric Stream, Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research, College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Emily A. Hocke
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Vaibhav Jain
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Michael Aksu
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Elizabeth E. Manning
- School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Heather C. Murray
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Nicole M. Verrills
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Claire Xin Sun
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Paul Daniel
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ricardo E. Vilain
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David A. Skerrett-Byrne
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Brett Nixon
- Infertility and Reproduction Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Susan Hua
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Charles E. de Bock
- Children’s Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Yolanda Colino-Sanguino
- Children’s Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Fatima Valdes-Mora
- Children’s Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Maria Tsoli
- Children’s Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
| | - David S. Ziegler
- Children’s Cancer Institute, University of New South Wales (UNSW) Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Clinical Medicine, UNSW Medicine and Health, UNSW Sydney, Kensington, New South Wales, Australia
- Kids Cancer Centre, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Murray J. Cairns
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Eric H. Raabe
- Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, Baltimore, Maryland, USA
| | - Nicholas A. Vitanza
- Ben Towne Center for Childhood Cancer Research, Seattle Children’s Research Institute, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Seattle Children’s Hospital, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Esther Hulleman
- Princess Máxima Center for Pediatric Oncology, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Timothy N. Phoenix
- Division of Pharmaceutical Sciences, James L. Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio, USA
| | - Carl Koschmann
- Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA
| | - Frank Alvaro
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- John Hunter Children’s Hospital, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher V. Dayas
- School of Biomedical Science and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
| | - Christopher L. Tinkle
- Department of Radiation Oncology, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, Tennessee, USA
| | - Helen Wheeler
- Department of Radiation Oncology Northern Sydney Cancer Centre, Royal North Shore Hospital, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- The Brain Cancer group, St Leonards, New South Wales, Australia
- Sydney Medical School, University of Sydney, Sydney, Australia
| | - James R. Whittle
- Department of Medical Oncology, Peter MacCallum Cancer Centre, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
- Personalised Oncology Division, The Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Medical Biology, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - David D. Eisenstat
- Children’s Cancer Centre, The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
- Neuro-Oncology Laboratory, Murdoch Children’s Research Institute, Department of Paediatrics, University of Melbourne, Parkville, Victoria, Australia
| | - Ron Firestein
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Sabine Mueller
- DIPG/DMG Research Center Zurich, Children’s Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Department of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Pediatrics, University of California, San Francisco, California, USA
| | - Santosh Valvi
- Department of Paediatric and Adolescent Oncology/Haematology, Perth Children’s Hospital, Nedlands, Washington, Australia
- Brain Tumour Research Laboratory, Telethon Kids Institute, Nedlands, Washington, Australia
- Division of Paediatrics, University of Western Australia Medical School, Nedlands, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Jordan R. Hansford
- Michael Rice Centre for Hematology and Oncology, Women’s and Children’s Hospital, North Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- South Australia Health and Medical Research Institute, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
- South Australian Immunogenomics Cancer Institute, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, The University of Adelaide, Adelaide, South Australia, Australia
| | - David M. Ashley
- The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Simon G. Gregory
- Duke Molecular Physiology Institute, Duke University School of Medicine, Durham, North Carolina, USA
- The Preston Robert Tisch Brain Tumor Center at Duke, Department of Neurosurgery, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, USA
| | - Lindsay B. Kilburn
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
- The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Javad Nazarian
- DIPG/DMG Research Center Zurich, Children’s Research Center, Department of Pediatrics, University Children’s Hospital Zürich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Center for Genetic Medicine Research, Children’s National Hospital, Washington, DC, USA
- The George Washington University, School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Washington, DC, USA
| | - Jason E. Cain
- Centre for Cancer Research, Hudson Institute of Medical Research, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
- Department of Molecular and Translational Science, Monash University, Clayton, Victoria, Australia
| | - Matthew D. Dun
- Cancer Signalling Research Group, School of Biomedical Sciences and Pharmacy, College of Health, Medicine and Wellbeing, University of Newcastle, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
- Precision Medicine Research Program, Hunter Medical Research Institute, New Lambton Heights, New South Wales, Australia
- Paediatric Stream, Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research, College of Health, Medicine, and Wellbeing, Callaghan, New South Wales, Australia
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12
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Gestrich C, Grieco K, Lidov HG, Baird LC, Fehnel KP, Yeo KK, Meredith DM, Alexandrescu S. H3K27-altered diffuse midline gliomas with MAPK pathway alterations: Prognostic and therapeutic implications. J Neuropathol Exp Neurol 2023; 83:30-35. [PMID: 38037182 DOI: 10.1093/jnen/nlad103] [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] [Indexed: 12/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Large-scale sequencing led to the identification of driver molecular alterations such as FGFR1 and BRAF in occasional diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) H3K27-mutant but their significance has not been completely explored. We evaluated these associations in our institutional cohorts. We searched our archives for H3K2M7-mutant gliomas and analyzed the co-occurring genetic alterations. The demographics, clinical information, and pathology were reviewed. Oncoplots and Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated with the maftools R package. We identified 81 patients (age range 2-68, median 26), of which 79 (97%) were DMGs, and 2 were glioneuronal tumors. The 2 glioneuronal tumors (1 with BRAF fusion and 1 BRAF-V600E-mutant) were removed from the outcome analysis. Four cases had BRAF V600E mutation, 12 had FGFR1 hotspot mutations, and one each had KRAS and NRAS pathogenic mutations. The most common correlating anatomic location was the brainstem for the BRAF group and thalamus for the FGFR1group. Follow-up ranged from 0 to 78 months, average 20.4 months. The overall survival in FGFR1- and BRAF V600E-mutant DMGs was not statistically improved when compared with those that were wildtype. However, the possibility of targeted therapy argues for comprehensive sequencing of H3K27-altered gliomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Catherine Gestrich
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kristina Grieco
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Hart G Lidov
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Lissa C Baird
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Katie P Fehnel
- Department of Neurosurgery, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Kee Kiat Yeo
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana Farber/Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - David M Meredith
- Department of Pathology, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sanda Alexandrescu
- Department of Pathology, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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13
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Trouth A, Ravichandran K, Gafken PR, Martire S, Namciu SJ, Banaszynski LA, Sarthy JF, Ramachandran I. G1 length dictates heterochromatin landscape. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.12.05.570186. [PMID: 38106207 PMCID: PMC10723301 DOI: 10.1101/2023.12.05.570186] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/19/2023]
Abstract
Stem cells have lower facultative heterochromatin as defined by trimethylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27me3) compared to differentiated cells, however, the underlying mechanism for this observation has been unknown. Because H3K27me3 levels are diluted two-fold in every round of replication and then restored through the rest of the cycle, we reasoned that the cell cycle length could determine the time available for setting total H3K27me3 levels. Here, we demonstrate that a fast cell cycle sets low levels of H3K27me3 in serum-grown murine embryonic stem cells (mESCs). Extending the G1 phase leads to an increase in global H3K27me3 in mESCs due to the formation of de novo Polycomb domains, and the length of the G1/S block correlates with the extent of gain in H3K27me3, arguing that levels of the modification depend on the time available between successive rounds of replication. Similarly, accelerating the cell cycle in HEK293 cells decreases H3K27me3 levels. Finally, we applied this principle in tumor cells that, due to the dominant negative effect of the sub-stoichiometric H3K27M mutant, have reduced H3K27me3. Here, extending G1 using Palbociclib increased H3K27me3 levels, pointing to an unexpected means to rescue the effect of oncohistones. Our results suggest cell cycle length as a universal mechanism to modulate heterochromatin formation and, thus, cellular identity.
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14
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Serdyukova K, Swearingen AR, Coradin M, Nevo M, Tran H, Bajric E, Brumbaugh J. Leveraging dominant-negative histone H3 K-to-M mutations to study chromatin during differentiation and development. Development 2023; 150:dev202169. [PMID: 38771302 PMCID: PMC10617616 DOI: 10.1242/dev.202169] [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] [Indexed: 10/18/2023]
Abstract
Histone modifications are associated with regulation of gene expression that controls a vast array of biological processes. Often, these associations are drawn by correlating the genomic location of a particular histone modification with gene expression or phenotype; however, establishing a causal relationship between histone marks and biological processes remains challenging. Consequently, there is a strong need for experimental approaches to directly manipulate histone modifications. A class of mutations on the N-terminal tail of histone H3, lysine-to-methionine (K-to-M) mutations, was identified as dominant-negative inhibitors of histone methylation at their respective and specific residues. The dominant-negative nature of K-to-M mutants makes them a valuable tool for studying the function of specific methylation marks on histone H3. Here, we review recent applications of K-to-M mutations to understand the role of histone methylation during development and homeostasis. We highlight important advantages and limitations that require consideration when using K-to-M mutants, particularly in a developmental context.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ksenia Serdyukova
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Alison R. Swearingen
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Mariel Coradin
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Mika Nevo
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Huong Tran
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Emir Bajric
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
| | - Justin Brumbaugh
- Department of Molecular, Cellular, and Developmental Biology, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309, USA
- University of Colorado Cancer Center, Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
- Charles C. Gates Center for Regenerative Medicine, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO 80045, USA
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15
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Hamali B, Amine AAA, Al-Sady B. Regulation of the heterochromatin spreading reaction by trans-acting factors. Open Biol 2023; 13:230271. [PMID: 37935357 PMCID: PMC10645111 DOI: 10.1098/rsob.230271] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Accepted: 10/03/2023] [Indexed: 11/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Heterochromatin is a gene-repressive protein-nucleic acid ultrastructure that is initially nucleated by DNA sequences. However, following nucleation, heterochromatin can then propagate along the chromatin template in a sequence-independent manner in a reaction termed spreading. At the heart of this process are enzymes that deposit chemical information on chromatin, which attracts the factors that execute chromatin compaction and transcriptional or co/post-transcriptional gene silencing. Given that these enzymes deposit guiding chemical information on chromatin they are commonly termed 'writers'. While the processes of nucleation and central actions of writers have been extensively studied and reviewed, less is understood about how the spreading process is regulated. We discuss how the chromatin substrate is prepared for heterochromatic spreading, and how trans-acting factors beyond writer enzymes regulate it. We examine mechanisms by which trans-acting factors in Suv39, PRC2, SETDB1 and SIR writer systems regulate spreading of the respective heterochromatic marks across chromatin. While these systems are in some cases evolutionarily and mechanistically quite distant, common mechanisms emerge which these trans-acting factors exploit to tune the spreading reaction.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bulut Hamali
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- The G. W. Hooper Foundation, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- College of Dentistry, The Ohio State University, Columbus, OH, USA
| | - Ahmed A A Amine
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- The G. W. Hooper Foundation, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
| | - Bassem Al-Sady
- Department of Microbiology and Immunology, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
- The G. W. Hooper Foundation, San Francisco, CA 94143, USA
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16
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Espinoza Pereira KN, Shan J, Licht JD, Bennett RL. Histone mutations in cancer. Biochem Soc Trans 2023; 51:1749-1763. [PMID: 37721138 PMCID: PMC10657182 DOI: 10.1042/bst20210567] [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: 11/30/2022] [Revised: 09/07/2023] [Accepted: 09/08/2023] [Indexed: 09/19/2023]
Abstract
Genes encoding histone proteins are recurrently mutated in tumor samples, and these mutations may impact nucleosome stability, histone post-translational modification, or chromatin dynamics. The prevalence of histone mutations across diverse cancer types suggest that normal chromatin structure is a barrier to tumorigenesis. Oncohistone mutations disrupt chromatin structure and gene regulatory mechanisms, resulting in aberrant gene expression and the development of cancer phenotypes. Examples of oncohistones include the histone H3 K27M mutation found in pediatric brain cancers that blocks post-translational modification of the H3 N-terminal tail and the histone H2B E76K mutation found in some solid tumors that disrupts nucleosome stability. Oncohistones may comprise a limited fraction of the total histone pool yet cause global effects on chromatin structure and drive cancer phenotypes. Here, we survey histone mutations in cancer and review their function and role in tumorigenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Jixiu Shan
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| | - Jonathan D. Licht
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
| | - Richard L. Bennett
- UF Health Cancer Center, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL 32610, U.S.A
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17
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Salomoni P, Flanagan AM, Cottone L. (B)On(e)-cohistones and the epigenetic alterations at the root of bone cancer. Cell Death Differ 2023:10.1038/s41418-023-01227-9. [PMID: 37828086 DOI: 10.1038/s41418-023-01227-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Revised: 09/20/2023] [Accepted: 09/27/2023] [Indexed: 10/14/2023] Open
Abstract
Identification of mutations in histones in a number of human neoplasms and developmental syndromes represents the most compelling evidence to date for a causal role of epigenetic perturbations in human disease. In most cases, these mutations have gain of function properties that cause deviation from normal developmental processes leading to embryo defects and/or neoplastic transformation. These exciting discoveries represent a step-change in our understanding of the role of chromatin (dys)regulation in development and disease. However, the mechanisms of action of oncogenic histone mutations (oncohistones) remain only partially understood. Here, we critically assess existing literature on oncohistones focussing mainly on bone neoplasms. We show how it is possible to draw parallels with some of the cell-autonomous mechanisms of action described in paediatric brain cancer, although the functions of oncohistones in bone tumours remain under-investigated. In this respect, it is becoming clear that histone mutations targeting the same residues display, at least in part, tissue-specific oncogenic mechanisms. Furthermore, it is emerging that cancer cells carrying oncohistones can modify the surrounding microenvironment to support growth and/or alter differentiation trajectories. A better understanding of oncohistone function in different neoplasms provide potential for identification of signalling that could be targeted therapeutically. Finally, we discuss some of the main concepts and future directions in this research area, while also drawing possible connections and parallels with other cancer epigenetic mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paolo Salomoni
- Nuclear Function Group, German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE), 53127, Bonn, Germany.
| | - Adrienne M Flanagan
- Department of Histopathology, Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital, Stanmore, Middlesex, HA7 4LP, UK
- Department of Pathology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK
| | - Lucia Cottone
- Department of Pathology, UCL Cancer Institute, University College London, London, WC1E 6BT, UK.
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18
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Weiser A, Sanchez Bergman A, Machaalani C, Bennett J, Roth P, Reimann RR, Nazarian J, Guerreiro Stucklin AS. Bridging the age gap: a review of molecularly informed treatments for glioma in adolescents and young adults. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1254645. [PMID: 37781183 PMCID: PMC10533987 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1254645] [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: 07/07/2023] [Accepted: 08/14/2023] [Indexed: 10/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Gliomas are the most common primary central nervous system (CNS) tumors and a major cause of cancer-related mortality in children (age <15 years), adolescents and young adults (AYA, ages 15-39 years), and adults (age >39 years). Molecular pathology has helped enhance the characterization of these tumors, revealing a heterogeneous and ever more complex group of malignancies. Recent molecular analyses have led to an increased appreciation of common genomic alterations prevalent across all ages. The 2021 World Health Organization (WHO) CNS tumor classification, 5th edition (WHO CNS5) brings forward a nomenclature distinguishing "pediatric-type" and "adult-type" gliomas. The spectrum of gliomas in AYA comprises both "pediatric-like" and "adult-like" tumor entities but remains ill-defined. With fragmentation of clinical management between pediatric and adult centers, AYAs face challenges related to gaps in medical care, lower rates of enrollment in clinical trials and additional psychosocial and economic challenges. This calls for a rethinking of diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, to improve access to appropriate testing and potentially beneficial treatments to patients of all ages.
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Affiliation(s)
- Annette Weiser
- Translational Brain Tumor Research Group, Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Division of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Astrid Sanchez Bergman
- Translational Brain Tumor Research Group, Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Charbel Machaalani
- Translational Brain Tumor Research Group, Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Julie Bennett
- Division of Haematology/Oncology, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Division of Medical Oncology and Hematology, Princess Margaret Cancer Centre, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Patrick Roth
- Department of Neurology, University Hospital Zurich and University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Regina R. Reimann
- Institute of Neuropathology, University Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Department of Pediatrics, Diffuse Midline Glioma (DMG) / Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Glioma (DIPG) Center, Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Research Center for Genetic Medicine, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC, United States
| | - Ana S. Guerreiro Stucklin
- Translational Brain Tumor Research Group, Children’s Research Center, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
- Division of Oncology, University Children’s Hospital Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
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19
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Knowles T, Huang T, Qi J, An S, Burket N, Cooper S, Nazarian J, Saratsis AM. LIN28B and Let-7 in Diffuse Midline Glioma: A Review. Cancers (Basel) 2023; 15:3241. [PMID: 37370851 DOI: 10.3390/cancers15123241] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/18/2023] [Revised: 06/12/2023] [Accepted: 06/17/2023] [Indexed: 06/29/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is the most lethal of all childhood cancers. DMGs are driven by histone-tail-mutation-mediated epigenetic dysregulation and partner mutations in genes controlling proliferation and migration. One result of this epigenetic and genetic landscape is the overexpression of LIN28B RNA binding protein. In other systems, LIN28B has been shown to prevent let-7 microRNA biogenesis; however, let-7, when available, faithfully suppresses tumorigenic pathways and induces cellular maturation by preventing the translation of numerous oncogenes. Here, we review the current literature on LIN28A/B and the let-7 family and describe their role in gliomagenesis. Future research is then recommended, with a focus on the mechanisms of LIN28B overexpression and localization in DMG.
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Affiliation(s)
- Truman Knowles
- W.M. Keck Science Department, Scripps, Pitzer, and Claremont McKenna Colleges, Claremont, CA 91711, USA
| | - Tina Huang
- Department of Neurosurgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Jin Qi
- Department of Neurosurgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Shejuan An
- Department of Neurosurgery, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, IL 60611, USA
| | - Noah Burket
- Department of Neurosurgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Scott Cooper
- Department of Neurosurgery, Indiana University School of Medicine, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
| | - Javad Nazarian
- Department of Pediatrics, Children's National Hospital, Washington, DC 20010, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Zurich Children's Hospital, 8032 Zurich, Switzerland
| | - Amanda M Saratsis
- Department of Neurosurgery, Lutheran General Hospital, Park Ridge, IL 60068, USA
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20
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Ocasio JK, Budd KM, Roach JT, Andrews JM, Baker SJ. Oncohistones and disrupted development in pediatric-type diffuse high-grade glioma. Cancer Metastasis Rev 2023; 42:367-388. [PMID: 37119408 PMCID: PMC10441521 DOI: 10.1007/s10555-023-10105-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent, clonal somatic mutations in histone H3 are molecular hallmarks that distinguish the genetic mechanisms underlying pediatric and adult high-grade glioma (HGG), define biological subgroups of diffuse glioma, and highlight connections between cancer, development, and epigenetics. These oncogenic mutations in histones, now termed "oncohistones", were discovered through genome-wide sequencing of pediatric diffuse high-grade glioma. Up to 80% of diffuse midline glioma (DMG), including diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) and diffuse glioma arising in other midline structures including thalamus or spinal cord, contain histone H3 lysine 27 to methionine (K27M) mutations or, rarely, other alterations that result in a depletion of H3K27me3 similar to that induced by H3 K27M. This subgroup of glioma is now defined as diffuse midline glioma, H3K27-altered. In contrast, histone H3 Gly34Arg/Val (G34R/V) mutations are found in approximately 30% of diffuse glioma arising in the cerebral hemispheres of older adolescents and young adults, now classified as diffuse hemispheric glioma, H3G34-mutant. Here, we review how oncohistones modulate the epigenome and discuss the mutational landscape and invasive properties of histone mutant HGGs of childhood. The distinct mechanisms through which oncohistones and other mutations rewrite the epigenetic landscape provide novel insights into development and tumorigenesis and may present unique vulnerabilities for pHGGs. Lessons learned from these rare incurable brain tumors of childhood may have broader implications for cancer, as additional high- and low-frequency oncohistone mutations have been identified in other tumor types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer K Ocasio
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Kaitlin M Budd
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jordan T Roach
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
- St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memphis, TN, USA
- College of Medicine, University of Tennessee Health Sciences Center, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Jared M Andrews
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA
| | - Suzanne J Baker
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN, USA.
- St. Jude Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences, Memphis, TN, USA.
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21
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Wright GM, Menzel J, Tatman PD, Black JC. Transition from Transient DNA Rereplication to Inherited Gene Amplification Following Prolonged Environmental Stress. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.05.08.539886. [PMID: 37214911 PMCID: PMC10197558 DOI: 10.1101/2023.05.08.539886] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Cells require the ability to adapt to changing environmental conditions, however, it is unclear how these changes elicit stable permanent changes in genomes. We demonstrate that, in response to environmental metal exposure, the metallothionein (MT) locus undergoes DNA rereplication generating transient site-specific gene amplifications (TSSGs). Chronic metal exposure allows transition from MT TSSG to inherited MT gene amplification through homologous recombination within and outside of the MT locus. DNA rereplication of the MT locus is suppressed by H3K27me3 and EZH2. Long-term ablation of EZH2 activity eventually leads to integration and inheritance of MT gene amplifications without the selective pressure of metal exposure. The rereplication and inheritance of MT gene amplification is an evolutionarily conserved response to environmental metal from yeast to human. Our results describe a new paradigm for adaptation to environmental stress where targeted, transient DNA rereplication precedes stable inherited gene amplification.
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22
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Mota M, Sweha S, Pun M, Natarajan S, Ding Y, Chung C, Hawes D, Yang F, Judkins A, Samajdar S, Cao X, Xiao L, Parolia A, Chinnaiyan A, Venneti S. Targeting SWI/SNF ATPases in H3.3K27M diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 2023; 120:e2221175120. [PMID: 37094128 PMCID: PMC10161095 DOI: 10.1073/pnas.2221175120] [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: 12/13/2022] [Accepted: 03/30/2023] [Indexed: 04/26/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) including diffuse intrinsic pontine gliomas (DIPGs) bearing lysine-to-methionine mutations in histone H3 at lysine 27 (H3K27M) are lethal childhood brain cancers. These tumors harbor a global reduction in the transcriptional repressive mark H3K27me3 accompanied by an increase in the transcriptional activation mark H3K27ac. We postulated that H3K27M mutations, in addition to altering H3K27 modifications, reprogram the master chromatin remodeling switch/sucrose nonfermentable (SWI/SNF) complex. The SWI/SNF complex can exist in two main forms termed BAF and PBAF that play central roles in neurodevelopment and cancer. Moreover, BAF antagonizes PRC2, the main enzyme catalyzing H3K27me3. We demonstrate that H3K27M gliomas show increased protein levels of the SWI/SNF complex ATPase subunits SMARCA4 and SMARCA2, and the PBAF component PBRM1. Additionally, knockdown of mutant H3K27M lowered SMARCA4 protein levels. The proteolysis targeting chimera (PROTAC) AU-15330 that simultaneously targets SMARCA4, SMARCA2, and PBRM1 for degradation exhibits cytotoxicity in H3.3K27M but not H3 wild-type cells. AU-15330 lowered chromatin accessibility measured by ATAC-Seq at nonpromoter regions and reduced global H3K27ac levels. Integrated analysis of gene expression, proteomics, and chromatin accessibility in AU-15330-treated cells demonstrated reduction in the levels of FOXO1, a key member of the forkhead family of transcription factors. Moreover, genetic or pharmacologic targeting of FOXO1 resulted in cell death in H3K27M cells. Overall, our results suggest that H3K27M up-regulates SMARCA4 levels and combined targeting of SWI/SNF ATPases in H3.3K27M can serve as a potent therapeutic strategy for these deadly childhood brain tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateus Mota
- Laboratory of Brain Tumor Metabolism and Epigenetics, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Chad Carr Pediatric Tumor Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Stefan R. Sweha
- Laboratory of Brain Tumor Metabolism and Epigenetics, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Chad Carr Pediatric Tumor Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Matt Pun
- Laboratory of Brain Tumor Metabolism and Epigenetics, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Chad Carr Pediatric Tumor Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Siva Kumar Natarajan
- Laboratory of Brain Tumor Metabolism and Epigenetics, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Chad Carr Pediatric Tumor Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Yujie Ding
- Laboratory of Brain Tumor Metabolism and Epigenetics, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Chad Carr Pediatric Tumor Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Chan Chung
- Department of New Biology, Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology, Daegu42988, Korea
| | - Debra Hawes
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90027
| | - Fusheng Yang
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90027
| | - Alexander R. Judkins
- Department of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, Children’s Hospital Los Angeles, Keck School of Medicine University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA90027
| | - Susanta Samajdar
- Aurigene Discovery Technologies, Bengaluru, Karnataka560100, India
| | - Xuhong Cao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Lanbo Xiao
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Abhijit Parolia
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Arul M. Chinnaiyan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Department of Urology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- HHMI, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
| | - Sriram Venneti
- Laboratory of Brain Tumor Metabolism and Epigenetics, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Chad Carr Pediatric Tumor Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI48109
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23
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Andrade AF, Chen CCL, Jabado N. Oncohistones in brain tumors: the soil and seed. Trends Cancer 2023; 9:444-455. [PMID: 36933956 PMCID: PMC11075889 DOI: 10.1016/j.trecan.2023.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/11/2023] [Revised: 02/11/2023] [Accepted: 02/21/2023] [Indexed: 03/18/2023]
Abstract
Recurrent somatic mutations in histone 3 (H3) variants (termed 'oncohistones') have been identified in high-grade gliomas (HGGs) in children and young adults and induce tumorigenesis through disruption of chromatin states. Oncohistones occur with exquisite neuroanatomical specificity and are associated with specific age distribution and epigenome landscapes. Here, we review the known intrinsic ('seed') and the extrinsic ('soil') factors needed for their optimal oncogenic effect and highlight the many unresolved questions regarding their effects on development and crosstalk with the tumor microenvironment. The 'seed and soil' analogy, used to explain tumor metastatic niches, also applies to oncohistones, which mainly thrive and flourish in specific chromatin states during very narrow windows of development, creating exquisite vulnerabilities, which could provide effective therapies for these deadly cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Carol C L Chen
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada
| | - Nada Jabado
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada; Department of Pediatrics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, H3A 0C7, Canada; The Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, H4A 3J1, Canada.
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24
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Gibson TJ, Harrison MM. Protein-intrinsic properties and context-dependent effects regulate pioneer-factor binding and function. BIORXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR BIOLOGY 2023:2023.03.18.533281. [PMID: 37066406 PMCID: PMC10103944 DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.18.533281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
Chromatin is a barrier to the binding of many transcription factors. By contrast, pioneer factors access nucleosomal targets and promote chromatin opening. Despite binding to target motifs in closed chromatin, many pioneer factors display cell-type specific binding and activity. The mechanisms governing pioneer-factor occupancy and the relationship between chromatin occupancy and opening remain unclear. We studied three Drosophila transcription factors with distinct DNA-binding domains and biological functions: Zelda, Grainy head, and Twist. We demonstrated that the level of chromatin occupancy is a key determinant of pioneering activity. Multiple factors regulate occupancy, including motif content, local chromatin, and protein concentration. Regions outside the DNA-binding domain are required for binding and chromatin opening. Our results show that pioneering activity is not a binary feature intrinsic to a protein but occurs on a spectrum and is regulated by a variety of protein-intrinsic and cell-type-specific features.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tyler J. Gibson
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI
| | - Melissa M. Harrison
- Department of Biomolecular Chemistry, University of Wisconsin-Madison Madison, WI
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25
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Hwang EI, Hanson D, Filbin MG, Mack SC. Why haven't we solved intracranial pediatric ependymoma? Current questions and barriers to treatment advances. Neoplasia 2023; 39:100895. [PMID: 36944298 PMCID: PMC10036929 DOI: 10.1016/j.neo.2023.100895] [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: 12/05/2022] [Revised: 02/20/2023] [Accepted: 02/28/2023] [Indexed: 03/22/2023]
Abstract
Pediatric intracranial ependymoma has seen a recent exponential expansion of biological findings, rapidly dividing the diagnosis into several subgroups, each with specific molecular and clinical characteristics. While such subdivision may complicate clinical conclusions from historical trials, this knowledge also provides an opportunity for interrogating the major clinical and biological questions preventing near-term translation into effective therapy for children with ependymoma. In this article, we briefly review some of the most critical clinical questions facing both patient management and the construct of future trials in childhood ependymoma, as well as explore some of the current barriers to efficient translation of preclinical discovery to the clinic.
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Pun M, Pratt D, Nano PR, Joshi PK, Jiang L, Englinger B, Rao A, Cieslik M, Chinnaiyan AM, Aldape K, Pfister S, Filbin MG, Bhaduri A, Venneti S. Common molecular features of H3K27M DMGs and PFA ependymomas map to hindbrain developmental pathways. Acta Neuropathol Commun 2023; 11:25. [PMID: 36759899 PMCID: PMC9912509 DOI: 10.1186/s40478-023-01514-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/14/2022] [Accepted: 01/11/2023] [Indexed: 02/11/2023] Open
Abstract
Globally decreased histone 3, lysine 27 tri-methylation (H3K27me3) is a hallmark of H3K27-altered diffuse midline gliomas (DMGs) and group-A posterior fossa ependymomas (PFAs). H3K27-altered DMGs are largely characterized by lysine-to-methionine mutations in histone 3 at position 27 (H3K27M). Most PFAs overexpress EZH inhibitory protein (EZHIP), which possesses a region of similarity to the mutant H3K27M. Both H3K27M and EZHIP inhibit the function of the polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) responsible for H3K27me3 deposition. These tumors often arise in neighboring regions of the brainstem and posterior fossa. In rare cases PFAs harbor H3K27M mutations, and DMGs overexpress EZHIP. These findings together raise the possibility that certain cell populations in the developing hindbrain/posterior fossa are especially sensitive to modulation of H3K27me3 states. We identified shared molecular features by comparing genomic, bulk transcriptomic, chromatin-based profiles, and single-cell RNA-sequencing (scRNA-seq) data from the two tumor classes. Our approach demonstrated that 1q gain, a key biomarker in PFAs, is prognostic in H3.1K27M, but not H3.3K27M gliomas. Conversely, Activin A Receptor Type 1 (ACVR1), which is associated with mutations in H3.1K27M gliomas, is overexpressed in a subset of PFAs with poor outcome. Despite diffuse H3K27me3 reduction, previous work shows that both tumors maintain genomic H3K27me3 deposition at select sites. We demonstrate heterogeneity in shared patterns of residual H3K27me3 for both tumors that largely segregated with inferred anatomic tumor origins and progenitor populations of tumor cells. In contrast, analysis of genes linked to H3K27 acetylation (H3K27ac)-marked enhancers showed higher expression in astrocytic-like tumor cells. Finally, common H3K27me3-marked genes mapped closely to expression patterns in the human developing hindbrain. Overall, our data demonstrate developmentally relevant molecular similarities between PFAs and H3K27M DMGs and support the overall hypothesis that deregulated mechanisms of hindbrain development are central to the biology of both tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Matthew Pun
- Laboratory of Brain Tumor Metabolism and Epigenetics, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, 3520E MSRB 1, 1150 W. Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 41804, USA
- Chad Carr Pediatric Tumor Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Medical Scientist Training Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Drew Pratt
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Dr., Room 2S235, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Patricia R Nano
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Piyush K Joshi
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ) Heidelberg, Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Li Jiang
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Bernhard Englinger
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
- Department of Urology, Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University of Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
- Center for Cancer Research and Comprehensive Cancer Center, Medical University Vienna, 1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Arvind Rao
- Department of Computational Medicine and Bioinformatics, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Biostatistics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Radiation Oncology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Marcin Cieslik
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Arul M Chinnaiyan
- Michigan Center for Translational Pathology, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Department of Urology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
- Howard Hughes Medical Institute, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA
| | - Kenneth Aldape
- Laboratory of Pathology, Center for Cancer Research, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, 10 Center Dr., Room 2S235, Bethesda, MD, 20892, USA
| | - Stefan Pfister
- Hopp Children's Cancer Center (KiTZ) Heidelberg, Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Division of Pediatric Neurooncology, German Cancer Research Center (DKFZ), German Cancer Consortium (DKTK), 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
- Department of Pediatric Hematology and Oncology, Heidelberg University Hospital, 69120, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Mariella G Filbin
- Department of Pediatric Oncology, Dana-Farber Boston Children's Cancer and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
- Broad Institute of Harvard and MIT, Cambridge, MA, 02142, USA
| | - Aparna Bhaduri
- Department of Biological Chemistry, University of California, Los Angeles, Los Angeles, CA, 90095, USA
| | - Sriram Venneti
- Laboratory of Brain Tumor Metabolism and Epigenetics, Department of Pathology, University of Michigan, 3520E MSRB 1, 1150 W. Medical Center, Ann Arbor, MI, 41804, USA.
- Chad Carr Pediatric Tumor Center, Department of Pediatrics, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
- Cellular and Molecular Biology Program, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
- Rogel Cancer Center, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, 48109, USA.
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Jovanovich N, Habib A, Head J, Hameed F, Agnihotri S, Zinn PO. Pediatric diffuse midline glioma: Understanding the mechanisms and assessing the next generation of personalized therapeutics. Neurooncol Adv 2023; 5:vdad040. [PMID: 37152806 PMCID: PMC10162114 DOI: 10.1093/noajnl/vdad040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) is a pediatric cancer that originates in the midline structures of the brain. Prognosis of DMG patients remains poor due to the infiltrative nature of these tumors and the protection they receive from systemically delivered therapeutics via an intact blood-brain barrier (BBB), making treatment difficult. While the cell of origin remains disputed, it is believed to reside in the ventral pons. Recent research has pointed toward epigenetic dysregulation inducing an OPC-like transcriptomic signature in DMG cells. This epigenetic dysregulation is typically caused by a mutation (K27M) in one of two histone genes-H3F3A or HIST1H3B -and can lead to a differentiation block that increases these cells oncogenic potential. Standard treatment with radiation is not sufficient at overcoming the aggressivity of this cancer and only confers a survival benefit of a few months, and thus, discovery of new therapeutics is of utmost importance. In this review, we discuss the cell of origin of DMGs, as well as the underlying molecular mechanisms that contribute to their aggressivity and resistance to treatment. Additionally, we outline the current standard of care for DMG patients and the potential future therapeutics for this cancer that are currently being tested in preclinical and clinical trials.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolina Jovanovich
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Ahmed Habib
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Jeffery Head
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Farrukh Hameed
- Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
- Hillman Cancer Center, University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA
| | - Sameer Agnihotri
- Sameer Agnihtroi, PhD, 4401 Penn Avenue, Office 7126, Pittsburgh, PA 15224, USA ()
| | - Pascal O Zinn
- Corresponding Authors: Pascal O. Zinn, MD, PhD, 5150 Centre Ave. Suite 433, Pittsburgh, PA 15232, USA ()
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Di Nunno V, Franceschi E, Gatto L, Tosoni A, Bartolini S, Brandes AA. How to treat histone 3 altered gliomas: molecular landscape and therapeutic developments. Expert Rev Clin Pharmacol 2023; 16:17-26. [PMID: 36576307 DOI: 10.1080/17512433.2023.2163385] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/29/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) and diffuse hemispheric glioma (DHG) are both rare tumors characterized and recognized for specific alterations of histone 3 including H3K27 (DMG) and H3G34 (DHG). Despite these tumors arising from alterations of the same gene their clinical, radiological, and molecular behaviors strongly diverge, requiring a personalized therapeutic approach. AREAS COVERED We performed a review on Medline/PudMed aiming to search papers relative to prospective trials, retrospective studies, case series, and case reports of interest in order to investigate current knowledge toward the main clinical and molecular characteristics, radiology, and diagnosis, loco-regional and systemic treatments of these tumors. Moreover, we also evaluated the novel treatments under investigation. EXPERT OPINION Thanks to an increased knowledge of the genomic landscape of these rare tumors, there are novels promising therapeutic targets for these malignancies. However, the majority of available trials allowed enrollment only in DMG, while few studies are focused on or allow the inclusion of DHG patients.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Enrico Franceschi
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche Di Bologna, Italy
| | - Lidia Gatto
- Department of Oncology, AUSL Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alicia Tosoni
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche Di Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Bartolini
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche Di Bologna, Italy
| | - Alba Ariela Brandes
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, IRCCS Istituto Delle Scienze Neurologiche Di Bologna, Italy
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Groves A, Cooney TM. Epigenetic programming of pediatric high-grade glioma: Pushing beyond proof of concept to clinical benefit. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:1089898. [PMID: 36589742 PMCID: PMC9795020 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.1089898] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/04/2022] [Accepted: 12/05/2022] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGG) are a molecularly diverse group of malignancies, each incredibly aggressive and in dire need of treatment advancements. Genomic analysis has revolutionized our understanding of these tumors, identifying biologically relevant subgroups with differing canonical mutational profiles that vary based on tumor location and age. In particular, the discovery of recurrent histone H3 mutations (H3K27M in diffuse midline glioma, H3G34R/V in hemispheric pediatric high-grade gliomas) as unique "oncohistone" drivers revealed epigenetic dysregulation as a hallmark of pediatric high-grade gliomas oncogenesis. While reversing this signature through epigenetic programming has proven effective in several pre-clinical survival models, early results from pediatric high-grade gliomas clinical trials suggest that epigenetic modifier monotherapy will likely not provide long-term disease control. In this review we summarize the genetic, epigenetic, and cellular heterogeneity of pediatric high-grade gliomas, and highlight potential paths forward for epigenetic programming in this devastating disease.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew Groves
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital, Iowa City, IA, United States,*Correspondence: Andrew Groves,
| | - Tabitha M. Cooney
- Dana Farber/Boston Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorder Center, Boston, MA, United States
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K27M in canonical and noncanonical H3 variants occurs in distinct oligodendroglial cell lineages in brain midline gliomas. Nat Genet 2022; 54:1865-1880. [PMID: 36471070 PMCID: PMC9742294 DOI: 10.1038/s41588-022-01205-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/12/2021] [Accepted: 09/16/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022]
Abstract
Canonical (H3.1/H3.2) and noncanonical (H3.3) histone 3 K27M-mutant gliomas have unique spatiotemporal distributions, partner alterations and molecular profiles. The contribution of the cell of origin to these differences has been challenging to uncouple from the oncogenic reprogramming induced by the mutation. Here, we perform an integrated analysis of 116 tumors, including single-cell transcriptome and chromatin accessibility, 3D chromatin architecture and epigenomic profiles, and show that K27M-mutant gliomas faithfully maintain chromatin configuration at developmental genes consistent with anatomically distinct oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs). H3.3K27M thalamic gliomas map to prosomere 2-derived lineages. In turn, H3.1K27M ACVR1-mutant pontine gliomas uniformly mirror early ventral NKX6-1+/SHH-dependent brainstem OPCs, whereas H3.3K27M gliomas frequently resemble dorsal PAX3+/BMP-dependent progenitors. Our data suggest a context-specific vulnerability in H3.1K27M-mutant SHH-dependent ventral OPCs, which rely on acquisition of ACVR1 mutations to drive aberrant BMP signaling required for oncogenesis. The unifying action of K27M mutations is to restrict H3K27me3 at PRC2 landing sites, whereas other epigenetic changes are mainly contingent on the cell of origin chromatin state and cycling rate.
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Day CA, Hinchcliffe EH, Robinson JP. H3K27me3 in Diffuse Midline Glioma and Epithelial Ovarian Cancer: Opposing Epigenetic Changes Leading to the Same Poor Outcomes. Cells 2022; 11:cells11213376. [PMID: 36359771 PMCID: PMC9655269 DOI: 10.3390/cells11213376] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2022] [Revised: 10/19/2022] [Accepted: 10/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Histone post-translational modifications modulate gene expression through epigenetic gene regulation. The core histone H3 family members, H3.1, H3.2, and H3.3, play a central role in epigenetics. H3 histones can acquire many post-translational modifications, including the trimethylation of H3K27 (H3K27me3), which represses transcription. Triple methylation of H3K27 is performed by the histone methyltransferase Enhancer of Zeste Homologue 2 (EZH2), a component of the Polycomb Repressive Complex 2. Both global increases and decreases in H3K27me3 have been implicated in a wide range of cancer types. Here, we explore how opposing changes in H3K27me3 contribute to cancer by highlighting its role in two vastly different cancer types; (1) a form of glioma known as diffuse midline glioma H3K27-altered and (2) epithelial ovarian cancer. These two cancers vary widely in the age of onset, sex, associated mutations, and cell and organ type. However, both diffuse midline glioma and ovarian cancer have dysregulation of H3K27 methylation, triggering changes to the cancer cell transcriptome. In diffuse midline glioma, the loss of H3K27 methylation is a primary driving factor in tumorigenesis that promotes glial cell stemness and silences tumor suppressor genes. Conversely, hypermethylation of H3K27 occurs in late-stage epithelial ovarian cancer, which promotes tumor vascularization and tumor cell migration. By using each cancer type as a case study, this review emphasizes the importance of H3K27me3 in cancer while demonstrating that the mechanisms of histone H3 modification and subsequent gene expression changes are not a one-size-fits-all across cancer types.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles A. Day
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
- Mayo Clinic, Rochester, MN 55902, USA
- Correspondence:
| | - Edward H. Hinchcliffe
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
| | - James P. Robinson
- Hormel Institute, University of Minnesota, Austin, MN 55912, USA
- Masonic Cancer Center, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA
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Gonzalez Castro LN, Liu I, Filbin M. Characterizing the biology of primary brain tumors and their microenvironment via single-cell profiling methods. Neuro Oncol 2022; 25:234-247. [PMID: 36197833 PMCID: PMC9925698 DOI: 10.1093/neuonc/noac211] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Genomic and transcriptional heterogeneity is prevalent among the most common and aggressive primary brain tumors in children and adults. Over the past 20 years, advances in bioengineering, biochemistry and bioinformatics have enabled the development of an array of techniques to study tumor biology at single-cell resolution. The application of these techniques to study primary brain tumors has helped advance our understanding of their intra-tumoral heterogeneity and uncover new insights regarding their co-option of developmental programs and signaling from their microenvironment to promote tumor proliferation and invasion. These insights are currently being harnessed to develop new therapeutic approaches. Here we provide an overview of current single-cell techniques and discuss relevant biology and therapeutic insights uncovered by their application to primary brain tumors in children and adults.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Nicolas Gonzalez Castro
- Corresponding Author: L. Nicolas Gonzalez Castro, MD, PhD, Center for Neuro-Oncology, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Boston, MA, USA ()
| | | | - Mariella Filbin
- Pediatric Neuro-Oncology Program, Dana-Farber/Boston Children’s and Blood Disorders Center, Boston, MA, USA
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Newar K, Abdulla AZ, Salari H, Fanchon E, Jost D. Dynamical modeling of the H3K27 epigenetic landscape in mouse embryonic stem cells. PLoS Comput Biol 2022; 18:e1010450. [PMID: 36054209 PMCID: PMC9477427 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pcbi.1010450] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2022] [Revised: 09/15/2022] [Accepted: 07/28/2022] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The Polycomb system via the methylation of the lysine 27 of histone H3 (H3K27) plays central roles in the silencing of many lineage-specific genes during development. Recent experimental evidence suggested that the recruitment of histone modifying enzymes like the Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) at specific sites and their spreading capacities from these sites are key to the establishment and maintenance of a proper epigenomic landscape around Polycomb-target genes. Here, to test whether such mechanisms, as a minimal set of qualitative rules, are quantitatively compatible with data, we developed a mathematical model that can predict the locus-specific distributions of H3K27 modifications based on previous biochemical knowledge. Within the biological context of mouse embryonic stem cells, our model showed quantitative agreement with experimental profiles of H3K27 acetylation and methylation around Polycomb-target genes in wild-type and mutants. In particular, we demonstrated the key role of the reader-writer module of PRC2 and of the competition between the binding of activating and repressing enzymes in shaping the H3K27 landscape around transcriptional start sites. The predicted dynamics of establishment and maintenance of the repressive trimethylated H3K27 state suggest a slow accumulation, in perfect agreement with experiments. Our approach represents a first step towards a quantitative description of PcG regulation in various cellular contexts and provides a generic framework to better characterize epigenetic regulation in normal or disease situations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kapil Newar
- Univ Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, TIMC laboratory, UMR 5525, Grenoble, France
| | - Amith Zafal Abdulla
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, UMR 5239, Inserm, U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Hossein Salari
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, UMR 5239, Inserm, U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
| | - Eric Fanchon
- Univ Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, TIMC laboratory, UMR 5525, Grenoble, France
| | - Daniel Jost
- Univ Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, TIMC laboratory, UMR 5525, Grenoble, France
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, CNRS, UMR 5239, Inserm, U1293, Université Claude Bernard Lyon 1, Lyon, France
- * E-mail:
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Doyle EJ, Morey L, Conway E. Know when to fold 'em: Polycomb complexes in oncogenic 3D genome regulation. Front Cell Dev Biol 2022; 10:986319. [PMID: 36105358 PMCID: PMC9464936 DOI: 10.3389/fcell.2022.986319] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/04/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Chromatin is spatially and temporally regulated through a series of orchestrated processes resulting in the formation of 3D chromatin structures such as topologically associating domains (TADs), loops and Polycomb Bodies. These structures are closely linked to transcriptional regulation, with loss of control of these processes a frequent feature of cancer and developmental syndromes. One such oncogenic disruption of the 3D genome is through recurrent dysregulation of Polycomb Group Complex (PcG) functions either through genetic mutations, amplification or deletion of genes that encode for PcG proteins. PcG complexes are evolutionarily conserved epigenetic complexes. They are key for early development and are essential transcriptional repressors. PcG complexes include PRC1, PRC2 and PR-DUB which are responsible for the control of the histone modifications H2AK119ub1 and H3K27me3. The spatial distribution of the complexes within the nuclear environment, and their associated modifications have profound effects on the regulation of gene transcription and the 3D genome. Nevertheless, how PcG complexes regulate 3D chromatin organization is still poorly understood. Here we glean insights into the role of PcG complexes in 3D genome regulation and compaction, how these processes go awry during tumorigenesis and the therapeutic implications that result from our insights into these mechanisms.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma J. Doyle
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Lluis Morey
- Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Miami, FL, United States
- Department of Human Genetics, Biomedical Research Building, University of Miami Miller School of Medicine, Miami, FL, United States
| | - Eric Conway
- School of Biomolecular and Biomedical Science, Conway Institute, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
- Smurfit Institute of Genetics, Trinity College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
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Eytan K, Versano Z, Oren R, Jacob-Hirsch J, Leitner M, Harmelin A, Rechavi G, Toren A, Paglin S, Yalon M. Pediatric glioblastoma cells are sensitive to drugs that inhibit eIF2α dephosphorylation and its phosphomimetic S51D variant. Front Oncol 2022; 12:959133. [PMID: 36091130 PMCID: PMC9462064 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.959133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2022] [Accepted: 08/01/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
We found that pediatric glioblastoma (PED-GBM) cell lines from diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG) carrying the H3K27M mutation or from diffuse hemispheric glioma expressing the H3G34R mutation are sensitive to the combination of vorinostat (a histone deacetylase inhibitor) and PARP-1 inhibitors. The combined treatment increased the phosphorylation of eIF2α (P-eIF2α) relative to each drug alone and enhanced the decrease in cell survival. To explore the role played by increased P-eIF2α in modulating PED-GBM survival and response to treatments, we employed brain-penetrating inhibitors of P-eIF2α dephosphorylation: salubrinal and raphin-1. These drugs increased P-eIF2α, DNA damage, and cell death, similarly affecting the sensitivity of DIPG cells and derived neurospheres to PARP-1 inhibitors. Interestingly, these drugs also decreased the level of eIF2Bϵ (the catalytic subunit of eIF2B) and increased its phosphorylation, thereby enhancing the effect of increased P-eIF2α. Transient transfection with the S51D phosphomimetic eIF2α variant recapitulated the effect of salubrinal and raphin-1 on PED-GBM survival and sensitivity to PARP-1 inhibitors. Importantly, either salubrinal or raphin-1 dramatically increased the sensitivity of DIPG cells to radiation, the main treatment modality of PED-GBM. Finally, PED-GBM was more sensitive than normal human astrocytes to salubrinal, raphin-1, and the treatment combinations described herein. Our results indicate that combinations of histone deacetylase inhibitors and PARP-1 inhibitors should be evaluated for their toxicity and efficacy in PED-GBM patients and point to drugs that increase P-eIF2α or modulate its downstream effectors as a novel means of treating PED-GBM.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Eytan
- Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Edmond and Lilly Safra Children’s Hospital and Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Ziv Versano
- Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Edmond and Lilly Safra Children’s Hospital and Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Roni Oren
- Department of Veterinary Resources, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Jasmine Jacob-Hirsch
- Sheba Cancer Research Center (SCRC), Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Wohl Centre for Translational Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Moshe Leitner
- Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Edmond and Lilly Safra Children’s Hospital and Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Alon Harmelin
- Department of Veterinary Resources, The Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot, Israel
| | - Gideon Rechavi
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
- Sheba Cancer Research Center (SCRC), Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Wohl Centre for Translational Medicine, Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Amos Toren
- Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Edmond and Lilly Safra Children’s Hospital and Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Sackler School of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Shoshana Paglin
- Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Edmond and Lilly Safra Children’s Hospital and Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
| | - Michal Yalon
- Pediatric Hemato-Oncology, Edmond and Lilly Safra Children’s Hospital and Cancer Research Center, Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- Chaim Sheba Medical Center, Ramat Gan, Israel
- *Correspondence: Michal Yalon,
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36
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De Novo Polycomb Recruitment and Repressive Domain Formation. EPIGENOMES 2022; 6:epigenomes6030025. [PMID: 35997371 PMCID: PMC9397058 DOI: 10.3390/epigenomes6030025] [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: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Every cell of an organism shares the same genome; even so, each cellular lineage owns a different transcriptome and proteome. The Polycomb group proteins (PcG) are essential regulators of gene repression patterning during development and homeostasis. However, it is unknown how the repressive complexes, PRC1 and PRC2, identify their targets and elicit new Polycomb domains during cell differentiation. Classical recruitment models consider the pre-existence of repressive histone marks; still, de novo target binding overcomes the absence of both H3K27me3 and H2AK119ub. The CpG islands (CGIs), non-core proteins, and RNA molecules are involved in Polycomb recruitment. Nonetheless, it is unclear how de novo targets are identified depending on the physiological context and developmental stage and which are the leading players stabilizing Polycomb complexes at domain nucleation sites. Here, we examine the features of de novo sites and the accessory elements bridging its recruitment and discuss the first steps of Polycomb domain formation and transcriptional regulation, comprehended by the experimental reconstruction of the repressive domains through time-resolved genomic analyses in mammals.
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Di Nunno V, Franceschi E, Tosoni A, Gatto L, Bartolini S, Brandes AA. Tumor-Associated Microenvironment of Adult Gliomas: A Review. Front Oncol 2022; 12:891543. [PMID: 35875065 PMCID: PMC9301282 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.891543] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The glioma-associated tumor microenvironment involves a multitude of different cells ranging from immune cells to endothelial, glial, and neuronal cells surrounding the primary tumor. The interactions between these cells and glioblastoma (GBM) have been deeply investigated while very little data are available on patients with lower-grade gliomas. In these tumors, it has been demonstrated that the composition of the microenvironment differs according to the isocitrate dehydrogenase status (mutated/wild type), the presence/absence of codeletion, and the expression of specific alterations including H3K27 and/or other gene mutations. In addition, mechanisms by which the tumor microenvironment sustains the growth and proliferation of glioma cells are still partially unknown. Nonetheless, a better knowledge of the tumor-associated microenvironment can be a key issue in the optic of novel therapeutic drug development.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vincenzo Di Nunno
- Department of Oncology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale (AUSL) Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Enrico Franceschi
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
- *Correspondence: Enrico Franceschi,
| | - Alicia Tosoni
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Lidia Gatto
- Department of Oncology, Azienda Unità Sanitaria Locale (AUSL) Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Stefania Bartolini
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
| | - Alba Ariela Brandes
- Nervous System Medical Oncology Department, Istituto di Ricovero e Cura a Carattere Scientifico (IRCCS) Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Bologna, Italy
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Han J, Song X, Liu Y, Li L. Research progress on the function and mechanism of CXorf67 in PFA ependymoma. CHINESE SCIENCE BULLETIN-CHINESE 2022. [DOI: 10.1360/tb-2022-0565] [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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39
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Liu X, Liu X. PRC2, Chromatin Regulation, and Human Disease: Insights From Molecular Structure and Function. Front Oncol 2022; 12:894585. [PMID: 35800061 PMCID: PMC9255955 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2022.894585] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/11/2022] [Accepted: 05/17/2022] [Indexed: 01/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is a multisubunit histone-modifying enzyme complex that mediates methylation of histone H3 lysine 27 (H3K27). Trimethylated H3K27 (H3K27me3) is an epigenetic hallmark of gene silencing. PRC2 plays a crucial role in a plethora of fundamental biological processes, and PRC2 dysregulation has been repeatedly implicated in cancers and developmental disorders. Here, we review the current knowledge on mechanisms of cellular regulation of PRC2 function, particularly regarding H3K27 methylation and chromatin targeting. PRC2-related disease mechanisms are also discussed. The mode of action of PRC2 in gene regulation is summarized, which includes competition between H3K27 methylation and acetylation, crosstalk with transcription machinery, and formation of high-order chromatin structure. Recent progress in the structural biology of PRC2 is highlighted from the aspects of complex assembly, enzyme catalysis, and chromatin recruitment, which together provide valuable insights into PRC2 function in close-to-atomic detail. Future studies on the molecular function and structure of PRC2 in the context of native chromatin and in the presence of other regulators like RNAs will continue to deepen our understanding of the stability and plasticity of developmental transcriptional programs broadly impacted by PRC2.
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Furth N, Algranati D, Dassa B, Beresh O, Fedyuk V, Morris N, Kasper LH, Jones D, Monje M, Baker SJ, Shema E. H3-K27M-mutant nucleosomes interact with MLL1 to shape the glioma epigenetic landscape. Cell Rep 2022; 39:110836. [PMID: 35584667 DOI: 10.1016/j.celrep.2022.110836] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/09/2021] [Revised: 03/01/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer-associated mutations in genes encoding histones dramatically reshape chromatin and support tumorigenesis. Lysine to methionine substitution of residue 27 on histone H3 (K27M) is a driver mutation in high-grade pediatric gliomas, known to abrogate polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) activity. We applied single-molecule systems to image individual nucleosomes and delineate the combinatorial epigenetic patterns associated with H3-K27M expression. We found that chromatin marks on H3-K27M-mutant nucleosomes are dictated both by their incorporation preferences and by intrinsic properties of the mutation. Mutant nucleosomes not only preferentially bind PRC2 but also directly interact with MLL1, leading to genome-wide redistribution of H3K4me3. H3-K27M-mediated deregulation of repressive and active chromatin marks leads to unbalanced "bivalent" chromatin, which may support a poorly differentiated cellular state. This study provides evidence for a direct effect of H3-K27M oncohistone on the MLL1-H3K4me3 pathway and highlights the capability of single-molecule tools to reveal mechanisms of chromatin deregulation in cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noa Furth
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Danielle Algranati
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Bareket Dassa
- Bioinformatics Unit, Department of Life Sciences Core Facilities, Faculty of Biochemistry, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Olga Beresh
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Vadim Fedyuk
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Natasha Morris
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel
| | - Lawryn H Kasper
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | | | - Michelle Monje
- Department of Neurology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA 94305, USA
| | - Suzanne J Baker
- Department of Developmental Neurobiology, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA
| | - Efrat Shema
- Department of Biological Regulation, Weizmann Institute of Science, Rehovot 76100, Israel.
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Adult diffuse midline gliomas H3 K27-altered: review of a redefined entity. J Neurooncol 2022; 158:369-378. [PMID: 35567713 DOI: 10.1007/s11060-022-04024-5] [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: 03/04/2022] [Accepted: 04/23/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Diffuse midline glioma (DMG) H3 K27-altered is a type of high-grade gliomas first recognized as a new entity in the 2016 World Health Organization Classification of Central Nervous System (CNS) Tumors as DMG H3 K27M-mutant, recently renamed in the new 2021 WHO classification. The aim of this review is to describe the characteristics of diffuse midline gliomas H3 K27-altered in the adult population. METHODS We performed a review of the current literature regarding the genetic, clinical, imaging characteristics and management of diffuse midline gliomas H3 K27-altered in adult patients. RESULTS The 2021 WHO classification now designates the previously recognized DMG H3K27M-mutant as DMG H3 K27-altered, recognizing the alternative mechanisms by which the pathogenic pathway can be altered. Thus, the diagnostic criteria for this entity consist of diffuse growth pattern, midline anatomic location, and H3 K27-specific neuroglial mutations. DMGs' characteristic midline location makes them difficult to surgically resect and biopsy, carrying high mortality and morbidity rates, with median survival ranging from 9 to 12 months in adult patients. CONCLUSION The diagnosis of DMGs H3 K27-altered in adult patients should be considered upon neurological symptoms associated with an infiltrative midline brain tumor detected on imaging. Future studies are necessary to continue refining their characteristics in this age group.
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Prediction of H3 K27M-mutant in midline gliomas by magnetic resonance imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Neuroradiology 2022; 64:1311-1319. [PMID: 35416485 DOI: 10.1007/s00234-022-02947-4] [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: 01/08/2022] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE To summarize the predictive value of MRI for H3 K27M-mutant in midline gliomas using meta-analysis. METHODS Systematic electronic searches of the PubMed, Embase, ISI Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to Jun 31, 2021, were conducted by two experienced neuroradiologists with the keywords of "MRI," "Glioma," and "H3 K27M." The hierarchical summary receiver-operating characteristic (HSROC) model was used to calculate the pooled sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (LR +), negative likelihood ratio (LR -), and diagnostic odds ratio (DOR). Coupled forest plots were used to evaluate the heterogeneity of the included studies. RESULTS Of seven original studies with a total of 593 patients, 240 glioma patients were included, with 45.5-70.6% H3 K27M-mutant gliomas. Using MRI, a pooled sensitivity of 0.78 (95% CI, 0.66-0.87), specificity of 0.85 (95% CI, 0.76-0.91), LR + of 5.07 (95% CI, 3.19-8.08), LR - of 0.26 (95% CI, 0.16-0.42), and DOR of 19.80 (95% CI, 9.28-42.28) were achieved for H3 K27M-mutant prediction. Significant heterogeneity was observed among the studies in terms of sensitivity (Q = 16.83, df = 7, p = 0.02; I2 = 58.40 [95% CI, 25.83-90.97]), LR - (Q = 16.61, df = 7, p = 0.02; I2 = 57.87 [95% CI, 24.81-90.93]), and DOR (Q = 14.05, df = 7, p = 0.05; I2 = 50.18 [95% CI, 10.06-90.31]). CONCLUSIONS This meta-analysis demonstrated a clinical value of MRI to predict H3 K27M-mutant in midline gliomas with a pooled sensitivity of 0.78 and specificity of 0.85.
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Abstract
Chromatin dysfunction has been implicated in a growing number of cancers especially in children and young adults. In addition to chromatin modifying and remodeling enzymes, mutations in histone genes are linked to human cancers. Since the first reports of hotspot missense mutations affecting key residues at histone H3 tail, studies have revealed how these so-called "oncohistones" dominantly (H3K27M and H3K36M) or locally (H3.3G34R/W) inhibit corresponding histone methyltransferases and misregulate epigenome and transcriptome to promote tumorigenesis. More recently, widespread mutations in all four core histones are identified in diverse cancer types. Furthermore, an "oncohistone-like" protein EZHIP has been implicated in driving childhood ependymomas through a mechanism highly reminiscent of H3K27M mutation. We will review recent progresses on understanding the biochemical, molecular and biological mechanisms underlying the canonical and novel histone mutations. Importantly, these mechanistic insights have identified therapeutic opportunities for oncohistone-driven tumors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Varun Sahu
- Department of Genetics and Development and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA
| | - Chao Lu
- Department of Genetics and Development and Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY 10032, USA,Corresponding author: Chao Lu:
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44
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Buccoliero AM, Giunti L, Moscardi S, Castiglione F, Provenzano A, Sardi I, Scagnet M, Genitori L, Caporalini C. Pediatric High Grade Glioma Classification Criteria and Molecular Features of a Case Series. Genes (Basel) 2022; 13:genes13040624. [PMID: 35456430 PMCID: PMC9028123 DOI: 10.3390/genes13040624] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2022] [Revised: 03/21/2022] [Accepted: 03/28/2022] [Indexed: 02/04/2023] Open
Abstract
Pediatric high-grade gliomas (pHGGs) encompass a heterogeneous group of tumors. Three main molecular types (H3.3 mutant, IDH mutant, and H3.3/IDH wild-type) and a number of subtypes have been identified. We provide an overview of pHGGs and present a mono-institutional series. We studied eleven non-related pHGG samples through a combined approach of routine diagnostic tools and a gene panel. TP53 and H3F3A were the most mutated genes (six patients each, 54%). The third most mutated gene was EGFR (three patients, 27%), followed by PDGFRA and PTEN (two patients each, 18%). Variants in the EZHIP, MSH2, IDH1, IDH2, TERT, HRAS, NF1, BRAF, ATRX, and PIK3CA genes were relatively infrequent (one patient each, 9%). In one case, gene panel analysis documented the presence of a pathogenic IDH2 variant (c.419G>A, p.Arg140Gln) never described in gliomas. More than one-third of patients carry a variant in a gene associated with tumor-predisposing syndromes. The absence of constitutional DNA did not allow us to identify their constitutional origin.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Maria Buccoliero
- Pathology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.M.); (C.C.)
- Correspondence:
| | - Laura Giunti
- Neuro-Oncology Unit, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Meyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy; (L.G.); (I.S.)
| | - Selene Moscardi
- Pathology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.M.); (C.C.)
| | | | - Aldesia Provenzano
- Medical Genetics, Department of Experimental and Clinical Biomedical Sciences Mario Serio, University of Florence, 50139 Florence, Italy;
| | - Iacopo Sardi
- Neuro-Oncology Unit, Department of Pediatric Oncology, Meyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy; (L.G.); (I.S.)
| | - Mirko Scagnet
- Neurosurgery Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy; (M.S.); (L.G.)
| | - Lorenzo Genitori
- Neurosurgery Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy; (M.S.); (L.G.)
| | - Chiara Caporalini
- Pathology Unit, Meyer Children’s Hospital, 50139 Florence, Italy; (S.M.); (C.C.)
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45
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Murawska M, Braun S. Chaperoning heterochromatin: new roles of FACT in chromatin silencing. Trends Genet 2022; 38:646-649. [PMID: 35303999 DOI: 10.1016/j.tig.2022.02.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2022] [Revised: 02/11/2022] [Accepted: 02/23/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
The multitasking histone chaperone FACT (FAcilitates Chromatin Transcription) contributes to actively transcribed euchromatin and repressed heterochromatin. However, its precise role in gene silencing has remained obscure. Here, we discuss new insights into the silent chromatin functions and recruitment mechanisms of FACT, and their possible implications in cell identity and cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- Magdalena Murawska
- Physiological Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany.
| | - Sigurd Braun
- Physiological Chemistry, Biomedical Center, Faculty of Medicine, Ludwig-Maximilians-University Munich, 82152 Planegg-Martinsried, Germany; Institute for Genetics, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, 35392 Giessen, Germany
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46
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Deshmukh S, Ptack A, Krug B, Jabado N. Oncohistones: a roadmap to stalled development. FEBS J 2022; 289:1315-1328. [PMID: 33969633 PMCID: PMC9990449 DOI: 10.1111/febs.15963] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2021] [Revised: 04/17/2021] [Accepted: 05/07/2021] [Indexed: 01/18/2023]
Abstract
Since the discovery of recurrent mutations in histone H3 variants in paediatric brain tumours, so-called 'oncohistones' have been identified in various cancers. While their mechanism of action remains under active investigation, several studies have shed light on how they promote genome-wide epigenetic perturbations. These findings converge on altered post-translational modifications on two key lysine (K) residues of the H3 tail, K27 and K36, which regulate several cellular processes, including those linked to cell differentiation during development. We will review how these oncohistones affect the methylation of cognate residues, but also disrupt the distribution of opposing chromatin marks, creating genome-wide epigenetic changes which participate in the oncogenic process. Ultimately, tumorigenesis is promoted through the maintenance of a progenitor state at the expense of differentiation in defined cellular and developmental contexts. As these epigenetic disruptions are reversible, improved understanding of oncohistone pathogenicity can result in needed alternative therapies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shriya Deshmukh
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Adam Ptack
- Department of Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Brian Krug
- Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
| | - Nada Jabado
- Division of Experimental Medicine, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Pediatrics, Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada.,Department of Human Genetics, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada
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47
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Parreno V, Martinez AM, Cavalli G. Mechanisms of Polycomb group protein function in cancer. Cell Res 2022; 32:231-253. [PMID: 35046519 PMCID: PMC8888700 DOI: 10.1038/s41422-021-00606-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 25.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 02/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Cancer arises from a multitude of disorders resulting in loss of differentiation and a stem cell-like phenotype characterized by uncontrolled growth. Polycomb Group (PcG) proteins are members of multiprotein complexes that are highly conserved throughout evolution. Historically, they have been described as essential for maintaining epigenetic cellular memory by locking homeotic genes in a transcriptionally repressed state. What was initially thought to be a function restricted to a few target genes, subsequently turned out to be of much broader relevance, since the main role of PcG complexes is to ensure a dynamically choregraphed spatio-temporal regulation of their numerous target genes during development. Their ability to modify chromatin landscapes and refine the expression of master genes controlling major switches in cellular decisions under physiological conditions is often misregulated in tumors. Surprisingly, their functional implication in the initiation and progression of cancer may be either dependent on Polycomb complexes, or specific for a subunit that acts independently of other PcG members. In this review, we describe how misregulated Polycomb proteins play a pleiotropic role in cancer by altering a broad spectrum of biological processes such as the proliferation-differentiation balance, metabolism and the immune response, all of which are crucial in tumor progression. We also illustrate how interfering with PcG functions can provide a powerful strategy to counter tumor progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Parreno
- Institute of Human Genetics, UMR 9002, CNRS-University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Anne-Marie Martinez
- Institute of Human Genetics, UMR 9002, CNRS-University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
| | - Giacomo Cavalli
- Institute of Human Genetics, UMR 9002, CNRS-University of Montpellier, Montpellier, France.
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48
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Epigenetic mechanisms in paediatric brain tumours: regulators lose control. Biochem Soc Trans 2022; 50:167-185. [PMID: 35076654 DOI: 10.1042/bst20201227] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2021] [Revised: 11/28/2021] [Accepted: 12/23/2021] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Epigenetic mechanisms are essential to regulate gene expression during normal development. However, they are often disrupted in pathological conditions including tumours, where they contribute to their formation and maintenance through altered gene expression. In recent years, next generation genomic techniques has allowed a remarkable advancement of our knowledge of the genetic and molecular landscape of paediatric brain tumours and have highlighted epigenetic deregulation as a common hallmark in their pathogenesis. This review describes the main epigenetic dysregulations found in paediatric brain tumours, including at DNA methylation and histone modifications level, in the activity of chromatin-modifying enzymes and in the expression of non-coding RNAs. How these altered processes influence tumour biology and how they can be leveraged to dissect the molecular heterogeneity of these tumours and contribute to their classification is also addressed. Finally, the availability and value of preclinical models as well as the current clinical trials exploring targeting key epigenetic mediators in paediatric brain tumours are discussed.
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49
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Fischer S, Weber LM, Liefke R. Evolutionary adaptation of the Polycomb repressive complex 2. Epigenetics Chromatin 2022; 15:7. [PMID: 35193659 PMCID: PMC8864842 DOI: 10.1186/s13072-022-00439-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/06/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2022] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
The Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2) is an essential chromatin regulatory complex involved in repressing the transcription of diverse developmental genes. PRC2 consists of a core complex; possessing H3K27 methyltransferase activity and various associated factors that are important to modulate its function. During evolution, the composition of PRC2 and the functionality of PRC2 components have changed considerably. Here, we compare the PRC2 complex members of Drosophila and mammals and describe their adaptation to altered biological needs. We also highlight how the PRC2.1 subcomplex has gained multiple novel functions and discuss the implications of these changes for the function of PRC2 in chromatin regulation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabrina Fischer
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Tumor Research (IMT), Philipps University of Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Lisa Marie Weber
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Tumor Research (IMT), Philipps University of Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany
| | - Robert Liefke
- Institute of Molecular Biology and Tumor Research (IMT), Philipps University of Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany. .,Department of Hematology, Oncology, and Immunology, University Hospital Giessen and Marburg, 35043, Marburg, Germany.
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50
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Torres-Campana D, Horard B, Denaud S, Benoit G, Loppin B, Orsi GA. Three classes of epigenomic regulators converge to hyperactivate the essential maternal gene deadhead within a heterochromatin mini-domain. PLoS Genet 2022; 18:e1009615. [PMID: 34982772 PMCID: PMC8759638 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1009615] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 01/14/2022] [Accepted: 12/10/2021] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
The formation of a diploid zygote is a highly complex cellular process that is entirely controlled by maternal gene products stored in the egg cytoplasm. This highly specialized transcriptional program is tightly controlled at the chromatin level in the female germline. As an extreme case in point, the massive and specific ovarian expression of the essential thioredoxin Deadhead (DHD) is critically regulated in Drosophila by the histone demethylase Lid and its partner, the histone deacetylase complex Sin3A/Rpd3, via yet unknown mechanisms. Here, we identified Snr1 and Mod(mdg4) as essential for dhd expression and investigated how these epigenomic effectors act with Lid and Sin3A to hyperactivate dhd. Using Cut&Run chromatin profiling with a dedicated data analysis procedure, we found that dhd is intriguingly embedded in an H3K27me3/H3K9me3-enriched mini-domain flanked by DNA regulatory elements, including a dhd promoter-proximal element essential for its expression. Surprisingly, Lid, Sin3a, Snr1 and Mod(mdg4) impact H3K27me3 and this regulatory element in distinct manners. However, we show that these effectors activate dhd independently of H3K27me3/H3K9me3, and that dhd remains silent in the absence of these marks. Together, our study demonstrates an atypical and critical role for chromatin regulators Lid, Sin3A, Snr1 and Mod(mdg4) to trigger tissue-specific hyperactivation within a unique heterochromatin mini-domain. Multicellular development depends on a tight control of gene expression in each cell type. This relies on the coordinated activities of nuclear proteins that interact with DNA or its histone scaffold to promote or restrict gene transcription. For example, we previously showed that the histone modifying enzymes Lid and Sin3A/Rpd3 are required in Drosophila ovaries for the massive expression of deadhead (dhd), a gene encoding for a thioredoxin that is essential for fertility. In this paper, we have further identified two additional dhd regulators, Snr1 and Mod(mdg4) and dissected the mechanism behind hyperactivation of this gene. Using the epigenomic profiling method Cut&Run with a dedicated data analysis approach, we unexpectedly found that dhd is embedded in an unusual chromatin mini-domain featuring repressive histone modifications H3K27me3 and H3K9me3 and flanked by two regulatory elements. However, we further showed that Lid, Sin3A, Snr1 and Mod(mdg4) behave like obligatory activators of dhd independently of this mini-domain. Our study unveils how multiple broad-acting epigenomic effectors operate in non-canonical manners to ensure a critical and specialized gene activation event. These findings challenge our knowledge on these regulatory mechanisms and their roles in development and pathology.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daniela Torres-Campana
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS UMR5239, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Béatrice Horard
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS UMR5239, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Sandrine Denaud
- Institute of Human Genetics, UMR 9002, CNRS, Université de Montpellier, Montpellier, France
| | - Gérard Benoit
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS UMR5239, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
| | - Benjamin Loppin
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS UMR5239, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- * E-mail: (BL); (GAO)
| | - Guillermo A. Orsi
- Laboratoire de Biologie et Modélisation de la Cellule, CNRS UMR5239, École Normale Supérieure de Lyon, University of Lyon, Lyon, France
- * E-mail: (BL); (GAO)
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